Willie Nelson, Son Lukas Compete in Same New Grammy Category
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It might be an awkward Thanksgiving around the Nelson household. Actually, probably not. They seem like the kind of clan that’s not especially competitive with each other and is more supportive.
Radio Or Not, Here Comes Ashley McBryde
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Ashley McBryde has taken her quality songs and almost universal favorability that crosses the line between mainstream and independent, and turned it into awards show nominations and hardware that has side stepped the radio paradigm and put her straight in front of listeners.
Move Over Bro-Country, “Boyfriend Country” Is Here
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Actual country music is actually starting to emerge as a serious trend in mainstream country today, but we still need to see more widespread adoption before we declare ourselves in the midst of another neotraditionalist resurgence. Instead, the new trend that has begun to emerge is being described as “Boyfriend Country.”
Worthy Country & Roots Artists Pick Up 2020 Grammy Nominations
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The distaste the CMA Awards experience can leave in the mouth of actual country music fans is chased early this year by the announcement of the 2020 Grammy Award nominees in the Country and American Roots categories. Though no set of ears will find the nominees list ideal, those with distinguishing tastes will be much more rewarded.
Sturgill Simpson / Tyler Childers Top Touring Charts – Sell Out Arenas
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For years people played the musical version of fantasy football in their minds by pairing up tour partners like Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson, Cody Jinks and Tyler Childers, or Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson, sure that if anyone had the guts to put a bill like that together, it could possibly sell out arenas. But nobody saw this coming.
Beloved Billy Joe Shaver Bass Player Tony Calhoun Has Died
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The 2nd best thing about seeing Billy Joe Shaver live behind Billy Joe Shaver himself is the band behind him, including his bass player Tony Calhoun. Big smile, big sense of humor, and one heck of a master of the lower register, he put the mustard on Billy Joe Shaver’s Outlaw style of country music for the last few years.
Luke Combs Shatters Record on the Way to #1 Album
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We knew the release of the latest Luke Combs album ‘What You See Is What You Get’ would be big, and that’s exactly what it was, bringing in the biggest numbers for a country title all year, topping all the charts, and setting a new record in the country space. Luke Combs is now indisputably the biggest artist in country music.
Eric Church Takes Jab At Garth Brooks Amid CMA Awards Fallout
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Well well, it’s getting chippy out there after Eric Church and others lost the 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year honor to Garth Brooks. At Eric Church’s show at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, November 16th, he was singing a rendition of “Are You Sure Hank Done It His Way” by Waylon Jennings, changing the lyrics to lash out at Garth.
Before CMAs, Garth Brooks & Carrie Underwood Honored Randy Travis
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As an addendum to all of the brewhaha last week surrounding Garth Brooks winning the 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year over Carrie Underwood, a little context is perhaps needed. Though Stan armies love to war back and forth, behind the scenes things are often a lot more moderate and congenial.
Album Review – Ags Connolly’s “Wrong Again”
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We’re far past calling Ags Connolly’s passion for Austin style honky-tonk some sort of passing phase or lark. Now on his third full-length album of original country released in the last five years, he’s become one of the first names you cite as an example of how anyone can make country music as long as a sincerity resides in their heart.
Riley Green’s “Bury Me in Dixie” Returns to Streaming Services
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Riley Green’s “Bury Me in Dixie” has returned to streaming services after it was pulled due to a controversial line in the song. “I wish Robert E. Lee could come and take a bow” is the line that was deemed too incendiary to continue to serve to the public, and the song was pulled from streaming services in late October.
Prison Inmate Charged with Making Threat to Cody Jinks Concert
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The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has determined who made a threat by phone to shoot multiple people at a Cody Jinks concert on October 26th at the Nacogdoches County Expo Center that resulting in the show’s cancellation, and it’s a person who has already serving time in prison.
Randall King Signs with Warner Nashville, Releases New Song
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The good news for good country music keeps coming, and this time it comes in the form of upsurging Texas country throwback artist Randall King signing to Warner Music Nashville, and readying the release of a debut major label album. As part of the resurgence of interest in 90’s country, Randall King fits the bill just about perfect.