‘Wall Street Journal’ Causes Stir By Initially Calling Johnny Cash “Uncool”
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‘The Wall Street Journal’ stepped in it pretty good late last week while strangely deciding to step into the realm of country music by initially characterizing Johnny Cash as “uncool.”
Country & Roots Music’s Best Live Performers of 2019
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2019 was a stacked year for top live performances. This was supposed to be a list of the top 10 live performances, but due to such a crowded field, things boiled over. And yes, there are three #1 acts. All should be considered equals at the very top level of live performance. They were all so great, it seemed unfair to put one over the other.
New Brandy Clark Album “Your Life Is A Record” Coming
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Grammy nominated, CMA-winning, well-respected and admired singer and songwriter Brandy Clark is prepping the release of a new album in the new year called ‘Your Life Is A Record.’ Though details on the new record are still a little light, Brandy did preview the new record recently during a promotional event.
Album Review – Garrett T. Capps “All Right, All Night”
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Garrett T. Capps is like a country artist without a country. Or more like a country artist without a planet. Space country is what he likes to call his music to attempt to convey the atmospheric and psychedelic flavoring of his brand of honky tonk. It’s a little bit out there, but more country and grounded than you might think.
The Worst “Country” Songs of 2019
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One sign that mainstream country music continues to improve is the decrease in “country” songs that were worthy of rants in 2019 compared to previous years. However there were a few exceptions in 2019, and songs worthy of taking out back to the woodshed. Our full-throated opposition to these monstrosities misappropriated as “country.”
Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen Shows Up to Jam with Whitey Morgan
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On Thursday, September 13th, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s played a show at The Apollo near Rockford, Illinois when they had an unexpected visitor stop by in the form of Cheap Trick Rick, a.k.a. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nielsen. “Apparently he is a fan,” Whitey Morgan tells Saving Country Music. “He’s a great dude.”
Release Morgan Wallen’s Cover of Isbell’s “Cover Me Up” as a Single
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It’s time. In fact, it’s well past time. And the people calling the shots shouldn’t make the same mistake they did with Chris Stapleton’s rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey.” We’re talking of course about Morgan Wallen’s cover of Jason Isbell’s song “Cover Me Up.” It’s time to release it as a proper radio single.
How to Watch The New Circle Network & The Grand Ole Opry
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The Opry Entertainment Group and Gray Television have officially partnered together to launch The Circle Network, which will include broadcasts of The Grand Ole Opry. But the big question for many country music fans has been where and when can they watch the network? Though some of this is still being determined, here is what we know so far.
Album Review – Elijah Ocean’s “Back to the Lander”
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Built around recording sessions captured in the barn of Elijah Ocean’s parent’s home in Maine back in 2017, ‘Back to the Lander’ finds Elijah Ocean in a deeply reflective mood, rattling off memories like turning pages in a travelogue, fondly recalling the people, places, and moments of the last many years.
New Version of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies” Finally Coming
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Shooter Jennings and Lukas Nelson got together to recreate the magic of their famous fathers on a new rendition of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” originally written and performed by Ed Bruce with his wife Patsy. But of course you only get a teaser version of the song in the opening segment of ‘The Ranch.’
Grand Ole Opry, Hee-Haw Returning to TV Via the Circle Network
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As first reported by Saving Country Music in October, The Grand Ole Opry will finally be returning to television via the recently-announced Circle Network owned by the Opry Entertainment Group—or at least portions of the show will be, along with expanded specialty programming tied to the iconic country music institution.
Grand Ole Opry Parent Company Buys Austin City Limits Property
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Ryman Hospitality Properties, which owns The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, as well as numerous other important music properties in Nashville and beyond, has struck a deal to purchase the 37-story, full city block-sized mixed-use complex in downtown Austin along second street known as Block 21.
The Best Mainstream Country Albums of 2019
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All country albums, regardless if they emanate from a major label or receive radio play, are considered for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year nominations. But not every year does a mainstream album make it. Even though one didn’t make it to the top of the heap in 2019, we had a bumper crop of quality mainstream country releases.