Album Review – Parker McCollum (Self-Titled)
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It’s never been easy to pigeon-hole Parker McCollum, or summarize his music career or sound in a concise sentence. He’s a Texas artist with mainstream impact. He’s an independent-minded performer with commercial impact.
Red Dirt Artist Jake Flint Dies on His Wedding Day
What was supposed to be the most joyous day of his life ended up being his final one, as tears of happiness turned to tears of sorrow for his friends and loved ones. 37-year-old Oklahoma-based Red Dirt artist and songwriter Jake Flint passed away on Saturday, November 26th, only hours after getting married.
50 Years Ago: Charlie Rich Records Iconic “Behind Closed Doors”
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There are many iconic songs in the history of country music. But there are only a small handful that have gone on to define what it means when someone says “country music” to millions of people. The song “Behind Closed Doors” written by Kenny O’Dell, and performed by Charlie Rich is one of those songs.
Album Review – Nikki Lane’s “Denim & Diamonds”
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Entrepreneur and small business owner, fashionista and self-made woman, singer and songwriter, Nikki Lane has staked her claim on being a woman in a man’s world, and on her latest album Denim & Diamonds, she doubles down. Full of affirmations on the importance of autonomy, self-reliance…
The Continuing Mystery of Cory Barron’s Death at a Country Concert
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As the concert ended, the friends of Cory Barron couldn’t find him. They searched the entire ballpark, hung around to see if he would show up, called friends to confirm he didn’t leave with someone else, with no clue of where he’d disappeared to. By Saturday morning, a missing persons report was filed.
Handwritten Lyrics to House Concerts: Supporting Your Favorite Small Business Musician
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It may not be as obvious of an example as the little shop down the street in a strip mall selling handmade scented candles and hippie soap, but your favorite independent music artists are all most certainly small businesses as well. So are many of your favorite locally-owned music venues, local festivals…
Marty Stuart Details Plans for Potential New TV Show
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The original impetus for Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music was to give a permanent home to the some 20,000 country music artifacts Marty Stuart has assembled over his career. If the show comes into full production, it will dovetail into what Marty Stuart is doing in his hometown.
Football Fans Pan FGL’s Tyler Hubbard as Thanksgiving Performer
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It’s a tradition as tried and true as grandma’s pumpkin pie. Every year on Thanksgiving Day, a football team has to make the worst possible pick for a halftime performer from the dregs of pop country, and embarrass country music on a national stage like your drunk uncle going on a racist tirade in front of your fiance.
Separating Fact from Fiction: Hank Williams and Beechwood Hall
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Beginning earlier in November—and rising to a fevered pitch over the last few days—there has been concern that the house of Hank Williams called Beechwood Hall is about to be demolished. But the house’s ties to country music and it’s history deserve greater context.
2023 Ameripolitan Weekender & Awards Features a Stacked Lineup
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It’s been a couple of years since the Dale Watson-founded Ameripolitan Awards and the corresponding weekend of events have occurred due to COVID-19. But 2023 promises to be a rousing comeback with a stellar lineup of musicians slated to perform February 17th to 19th in Memphis, Tennessee.
2022’s ‘More Country’ CMA Awards See Ratings Boost
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A pretty universal consensus from the country fans who did suffer through the presentation to see the extended Alan Jackson tribute at the end was that in 2022, the CMA Awards seemed to do a 180-degree turn, and started going back in the right direction toward featuring more actual country music.
70 Years Ago: Hank Williams Portends His Own Death in “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive”
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The truth is, Hank Williams at the time was in the twilight of his life, whether he knew it or not. Having suffered chronic back pain throughout adulthood that aided his alcoholism, by late 1952, Hank had turned thin, frail, incontinent, and had lost most of his hair, even though he was only 29 years old.
Album Review – Billy Strings – “Me / And / Dad”
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If there was an ideal time for Billy Strings to hop off the bluegrass train, it would be right now. So what does he do to codify his dominance of the live music space? He goes off and records the most straightforward album of bluegrass and country standards as possible, and invites his father.