In Memoriam: Country Music Greats Lost in 2025
48 Comments
Before we look forward to 2026, let’s look back at 2025 and remember the important individuals we lost, from big superstars, to songwriters, side players and other contributors. They all lent a hand to the music we love.
Born & Raised Fest 2022 Featured Top Flight of Independent Country
45 Comments
Held on the same grounds as the massive Rocklahoma gathering, Born & Raised boasted one of the best lineups all year on an incredibly crowded weekend. Just the Friday night lineup alone was worth the effort, with some of the best songwriters and performers in all of country music booked one after another.
Colter Wall Releases Two New Songs
22 Comments
He works on cattle ranches from interior Canada to the western United States and Texas most of the time these days. But every once in a while, Colter Wall will stop by the studio and record a couple when he feels so inclined. That is what the Saskatchewan native did recently, and he’s just released them.
Luke Bell’s Cause of Death Revealed by Medical Examiner
Like too many of the great country music poets before him, Luke Bell died way too young due to the devastating ailment of the Lovesick Blues. Unfortunately though, that’s not one of the boxes that medical examiners are given to check off when they turn in their autopsy reports.
Hank Williams III Drops Selection of Demos & Unheard Recordings
75 Comments
Voraciously hungry Hank3 fans have been getting a few welcome morsels from the elusive artist recently as he’s been dropping a succession of demo recordings, scratch tracks, and other random audio projects on YouTube. These are not new studio tracks from Hank3, though there are a couple of unheard songs.
Album Review – Adam Hood’s “Bad Days Better”
14 Comments
Adam Hood is a songwriter’s songwriter, doing it for the love of the craft as opposed to the commercial application of whatever he comes up with. Similar accusations can be made of his buddy Brent Cobb who came on as a producer. Add Blackberry Smoke to the cast as the album’s backing band.
Diplo, Nelly Booked at Stagecoach Despite Sexual Assault Claims
61 Comments
Hip-hop artist Nelly has been accused by three separate women of rape and sexual assault, including by one woman who accused Nelly of rape while he was on a country music tour with Florida Georgia Line. Diplo has also faced accusations of rape, and grooming underage girls.
Tanya Tucker (& Dog Stella) Turn in Hall Of Fame Worthy Set in OK
13 Comments
Tanya Tucker is nothing short of a modern living Queen of Country Country Music, who deserves all the rights and privileges that such a designation bestows. She proved this in Pryor, Oklahoma on the grounds of the famous Rocklahoma festival where Born & Raised is held.
Legendary Country Performer, Songwriter & Manager Eddie Pleasant Has Died
27 Comments
One of the most interesting and accomplished characters to ever grace the history of country music has unfortunately passed away. Eddie Pleasant just about did it all. He was a performer and musician. He wrote songs. He worked as the right-hand man for Hank Williams Jr.
Album Review – Drake Milligan’s “Dallas/Fort Worth”
65 Comments
Well damn. Drake Milligan did not win America’s Got Talent. The consolation prize for Drake Milligan fans is a good one. It’s an excellent new 14 song album that dropped the day after the AGT finale called Dallas/Fort Worth, and it’s way better and more meaningful then any silly trophy.
Hank Williams Jr. Plays Surprise Show at American Legion Post
20 Comments
A lot of legendary moments in country music have happened at the American Legion Post #82 in Nashville after the once-forgotten spot in the world was revitalized by young neotraditional country performers. Now another legendary moment has been logged on the register.
‘Yellowstone’ Music Supervisor & Musicians Talk Soundtrack
20 Comments
“Not a lot moves the needle these days. But this show moves the needle.” That was Hayes Carll, putting it out there as succinctly as possible about the impact the Paramount TV series Yellowstone has had on independent country music now for four seasons, with the fifth set to commence.
Billy Strings Wins Big, Luke Bell Paid Tribute at Americana Music Awards
32 Comments
The 2022 Americana Music Awards transpired at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday Night, September 14th, with Billy Strings, Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, and The War and Treaty all walking away with big awards. There were also a few surprises.