The 2025 Saving Country Music Songwriter of the Year
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“Songwriter.” Many people can claim the skill, whether it’s on an amateur or professional level. Few reach the point where they become synonymous with the term, and recognized universally as a titan of the discipline.
Jacob Stockdale of Stockdale Family Band Pleads Insanity In Killing of Mother and Brother
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Jacob Stockdale, formerly of the Stockdale Family Bluegrass Band, entered a plea of insanity in the killing of his mother and brother in a Stark County, Ohio courtroom Thursday morning (1-17) after being formerly charged with murder in the case in late September, 2018, and turning himself into authorities.
Kane Brown’s “Good As You” Speaks To Deepening Lyrical Trend
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When looking at the top of charts in country music—whether based on radio play or consumption—it’s these songs and other similar ones that are dominating, especially recently, and paralleling the trend of women not just being placed on perilous footing, but falling off the precipice of country music’s major indexes.
Scott H. Biram, Goddamn Gallows, & Urban Pioneers Gang Up for Tour
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The Dirty Ol’ One Man Band Scott H. Biram is gearing up to go screaming and howling all across the United States in 2019, and he’s dragging a cadre of cool performers along with him that should get dark roots and underground country fans salivating. The Urban Pioneers and The Goddam Gallows will be joining him.
Alan Jackson Puts Tour Openers Up For a Vote of Undiscovered Artists
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If you needed any further evidence of just how boss Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson is, appreciate that on his upcoming 2019 tour, instead of sifting through the usual cast of major label characters in search for openers, he’s delved deep into the well of undiscovered country music talent.
Sturgill Simpson Debuts Merle Haggard’s Final Recorded Song, “Red Headed Rounder”
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“It’s an honor to be here tonight. This is my first time ever playing the inside Bridgestone,” Sturgill Simpson said before launching into the song, making reference to his notorious busking set streamed on the internet during the 2017 CMA Awards. Then he launched into “Red Headed Rounder.”
African American Influence on Country Music Can’t Be Understated, or Overstated
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For many years, the influence and contributions of African American musicians in country music went mostly overlooked, or overshadowed by their Caucasian counterparts. However there has been a recent trend by media and even some artists to overstate the influence of African Americans.
Unheard Townes Van Zandt Songs Accompany New “Sky Blue” Album
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A new posthumous collection of Townes Van Zandt recordings is on its way from Fat Possum and TVZ Records. Made in early 1973, the songs come from a recording session with journalist, musician, and close Townes Van Zandt friend, the late Bill Hedgepeth. They were recorded in Hedgepeth’s home studio in Atlanta.
George Strait Debuts New Willie Nelson Tribute Song “Sing One With Willie”
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It’s both weird that fellow Texans and country legends Willie Nelson and George Strait have never collaborated together or even performed side by side in their illustrious careers, and yet it also makes perfect sense. But it was bound to happen eventually that the two would sing together.
Pioneering Musician, Performer, & Label Owner Bonnie Guitar Has Died
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Legendary and pioneering guitar player, country music star, label owner and businesswoman Bonnie Guitar has passed away according to close friends and family. She died Sunday morning (1-13) in Washington State, where she was born, lived most of her life, and launched a record label that had major implications in music.
Legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd Ed King Guitar Now in Custody of Jason Isbell
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An iconic guitar owned by Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that once was stolen from the “Sweet Home Alabama” co-writer at gunpoint, is now in the custody of the King of Americana, Jason Isbell. “Don’t think I’ve played a finer electric guitar than this one. It haunts me now,” Isbell said after playing it the first time.
“All My Ex’s” Songwriter Whitey Shafer Has Died
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A legend of country music songwriting, and one that put the painful experience of divorce into words and song like none other has gone to the great honky tonk in the sky. Sanger D. Shafer, known popularly as Whitey Shafer, passed away on Saturday, January 12th according to reports.
Tracy Byrd Is Back, and Is Hitting The Road Hard and Heavy
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With all the re-emphasis on 90’s country lately, what better time for 90’s country star Tracy Byrd to re-emerge with a big tour. Tracy Byrd continued to make live appearances here and there, but he re-emerged in 2016 when he released his first record in 10 years, the self-funded and self-promoted ‘All American Texan.’