New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#172)

As folks quibble back and forth about what mild superstar should play the Super Bowl Halftime Show, so many great artists, songs, and albums are out there awaiting your discovery that are way more enriching.

The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to.

Newest Additions:

Kenny Whitmire “I Gave Her The Moon” – A lot of anticipation preceded this release, and it paid off in spades in this excellent track from Kenny Whitmire. It gives strong Keith Whitley and Don Williams vibes, and sets the perfect mood for a classic country song. “I Gave Her The Moon” does what so many country songs try to do, but fall short of in modern times.

Trey Hensley – “Tucson” – Trey Hensley deserves to be near or at the top of your list of superlative bluegrass flatpickers, and “Tucson” is perfect evidence of this. Hensley has officially launched a solo career after working with Rob Ickes for many years. His album Can’t Outrun the Blues comes out March 6th.

Tyler James-Kelly – “One Mile At A Time” – Great, twangy single from this hard-driving road dog that is singing what he lives, and specifically the push and pull of the road vs. the home life. Tyler James-Kelly just continues to impress. Caleb Melo on steel guitar.

Carlisle Wright – “Half My Heroes” – This song just hits right at the heart of every classic country fan. Since our country heroes loom so large and never go out-of-style, you’re always having to hear about the heartbreaking loss of another. Wright encapsulates that perfectly in this track co-written with Jack Rauton.

Red McAdam w/ Nicky Diamonds – “Crown Vic” – Wow, what a powerful piece of spoken word poetry set to song from this Austin-based songwriter. It’s one of two songs he just released in collaboration with Nicky Diamonds. Give yourself the patience to listen to this one. Storytelling at its best.

The Kruse Brothers – “Making Mama Cry” – Giving you strong Johnny PayCheck vibes with this well-written traditional country track, this young brother duo from Arizona are definitely ones to get on your radar. Debut album Heartbreak & Honky-Tonk out now.

Doug Armento and the Iron Mules – “Keep Your Powder Dry” – Super clever songwriting that takes old Western themes and wisdom, and applies them today’s very online world. It comes from Doug Armento’s new album River of No Return.

Emily Scott Robinson – “Dirtbag Saloon” – This song is set in the rural Colorado mountain towns that Robinson has called home for many years, and where the inequitable wealth gap is perhaps most demonstrably pronounced in the United States. As this song was released, the rank and file of the Telluride Ski Resort where Robinson once lived (and Oprah and Dierks Bentley still do) we’re going on strike.

Emily Scott Robinson – “The Time For Flowers” – “The Time For Flowers” is the exact song this world needs at this exact moment. Ironically, she also recorded it in 2020 when it felt like it was needed then too. It’s the mark of a good song when it feel so fresh and immediate no matter when you listen.  

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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, and Apple Music. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.

CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.

Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.

Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:

• “I Gave Her The Moon” – Kenny Whitmire – (single)
• “One Mile At A Time” – Tyler-James Kelly – (single)
• “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley – Dandelion (4-10)
• “I Ain’t Tryin’” – Braxton Keith – (single)
• “Dirtbag Saloon” – Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia 
• “Lucky Penny” – Lance Roark – Bad Reputation
• “Keep Your Powder Dry” – Doug Armento and the Iron Mules – River of No Return
• “Making Mama Cry” – The Kruse Brothers – Heartbreak & Honky-Tonk
• “Tucson” – Trey Hensley – Can’t Outrun The Blues (3-6)
• “Change The Man” – Abbey Cone – (single)
• “Cotton Fire” – Red Shahan – (single)
• “Warning You Whiskey” – Brit Taylor – Land of the Forgotten (3-6)
• “The Great Highway” – Vincent Neil Emerson – (single)
• “Half My Heroes” – Carlisle Wright – (single)
• “Gambling” – Josh Weathers – Neon Never Fades
• “Hell I Have” – Benjamin Tod – (single)
• “Cryin’ Shoulder” – Drake Milligan – Tumbleweed
• “With Heaven On Top” – Zach Bryan – With Heaven On Top
• “18 Wheels and a Headache” – Canola – Canola
• “Clinton County” – Colton Bowlin – Grandpa’s Mill (3-13)
• “I’ll Burn A Candle” – Joe Stamm with Al Torrence – (single)
• “Tombstone” – The Droptines – (single)
• “Heroes” – Low Gap – Geneva
• “The Time For Flowers” – Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia 
• “Crown Vic” – Red McAdam – (single)
• “The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap – Bryan Sutton, Billy Strings – (single)

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