Chris Stapleton Reveals New Tour Dates, 2026 Openers
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Chris Stapleton isn’t riding off into the sunset anytime soon, and he also doesn’t appear to be taking a step down from an arena/stadium level. If anything, he’s looking to step up his game in 2026.
The Saving Country Music 2022 Artist of the Year
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The Saving Country Music Artist of the Year is not about who sold the most tickets or left the biggest footprint, or who shattered the expectations and possibilities of independent artists that are not played on mainstream country radio. It’s about the artist who most embodied the spirit of of the idea…
George Strait Is Prepping for a New Album
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‘Tis the season to get titillated about all the potential new albums we may receive in 2023. Strait’s last installment Honky Tonk Time Machine came out in March of 2019, so he’s about due for a new one. Of course radio and awards mostly ignore Strait these days, but the last album still debuted at #1.
Cody Jinks Signs Erin Viancourt to Late August Records
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Cody Jinks has some big things cooking for 2023, and not all of them will have his name on the front. Jinks formed his own record label called Late August Records back in 2021. Now it’s been announced that Cody Jinks has partnered with distribution company The Orchard, and signed Erin Viancourt.
Album Review – Memphis Kee’s “Wimberley”
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Memphis Kee out of Austin is looking to revitalize that approach of taking the robust songwriting of guys like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, and applying it to music that’s just as much akin to grunge as country. Memphis Kee calls it “Shred Dirt” in tribute to the Red Dirt sound of the Texoma region.
Saving Country Music’s 2022 Single of the Year
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It was in the hills and hollers of Appalachia where country music originally came into being, and it’s those same hills and hollers of Appalachia that are birthing old souls with young bodies that are rising up to save country music. They’re fulfilling the hunger for honesty and authenticity that is lacking.
This Zach Bryan vs. Rich O’Toole Thing
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On December 18th after Zach Bryan had three of his songs featured on Season 5, Episode 7 of the Paramount series Yellowstone, singer and songwriter Rich O’Toole took to social media to say that Zach’s song “Motorcycle Drive By” had borrowed/stolen the guitar/melody part from his song “Take My Heart” released in 2014.
Big George Jones “Still Playin’ Possum” Concert Announced
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April 26th, 2023 will be the 10th Anniversary of the death of George Jones, and on the day before—Tuesday April 25th—artists and fans will be congregating in Huntsville, Alabama at the Propst Arena to remember George Jones in a one night only event billed as “Still Playin’ Possum.”
Country Music’s Best Live Performers of 2022
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Let’s highlight some of the bands on the brink, that probably should be headlining festivals and big events themselves, and very well may be in the coming years. These are the artists and bands you better get out to see before like many of your favorite headliners, they end up only playing arenas.
Rockabilly Pioneer Charlie Gracie Passes Away
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One of the founding pioneers of rockabilly, and the performer given credit for importing American rockabilly music to the UK has passed away at the age of 86. Charles Anthony Graci, known by the stage name Charlie Gracie, died in Philadelphia where he was known and beloved on December 16th.
Album Review- Zachariah Malachi’s “Local Bar Opry Star”
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Full of original classic country songs that sound like they’re recorded 60 years too late (in the best of ways), it is a breath of fresh air compared to many of today’s modern country monstrosities, and a worthy introduction to an artist we hope to hear much more from in years to come.
Zach Bryan Makes Big Appearance Performing on “Yellowstone”
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Zach Bryan and the Paramount TV show Yellowstone rekindled their affinity for each other and in a big way on Sunday night, December 18th. The 7th episode of Season 5 included not one, not two, but three Zach Bryan songs via the official soundtrack, and not through a superimposed backing track.
The WORST “Country” Songs of 2022
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If we’re being honest, country music continues to improve across the board, including in the mainstream as we continue to get farther and farther away from the Bro-Country era. But there are still some stragglers and terrible songs out there that are worth exposing to the sunlight and watching them whither.