20 Years Ago: The Great Hank Williams Jr. Jewelry Heist
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It was 20 years ago today—January 19th, 2005—that a 22-year-old man by the name of Ryan Daniel Binkley decided to sneak into the 10,000-square-foot country retreat of Hank Jr’s near Paris, Tennessee.
Multiple Events Set to Mark 1 Year Anniversary of Merle Haggard’s Death
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One year ago Thursday (4-6), on Merle Haggard’s 79th birthday, the country music legend passed away surrounded by close family on his ranch in California. Merle Haggard left a mark on country music that was unparalleled, and his death still leaves a gaping hole in the hearts of many country music fans.
Don Schlitz, A Most Deserving Songwriter Inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame
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Though perhaps best known for his towering hits for Randy Travis, including “Deeper Than The Holler,” “Heroes and Friends,” “On The Other Hand,” and the aforementioned “Deeper Than The Holler,” Schlitz wrote signature songs for Alabama, Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Paul Overstreet, and scores more.
Alan Jackson Announced As Newest Inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame
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Alan Jackson is the new “Modern Era” inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. One of the biggest superstars in country music history, and one of the genre’s most uncompromising supporters of the traditional roots of the music, Alan Jackson deserves the Country Music Hall of Fame distinction as much as anyone from the modern era.
Jerry Reed Announced as 2017 Veteran’s Inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame
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Such a great ambassador for country music over the years, Jerry Reed was inducted for his stellar and influential work as both a performer, songwriter, and a musician. There weren’t many better guitar pickers back in the day than Jerry Reed.
How Mercury Nashville Has Already Bungled Chris Stapleton’s New Album
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We still don’t even have a title. We don’t have a track list. We don’t have pre-orders or T-shirt bundles or autographed copies for the first 500 folks who sign up for the fan club online, let alone a lead single or a video. We’ve got nothing.
Album Review – Trace Adkins’ “Something’s Going On”
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The trouble with Trace Adkins has never been a lack of talent. The dude has one of the coolest, baritone and bass singing voices in all of modern country music. The bigger problem with the Trace Adkins career track has always been his terrible, terrible song selection. Perhaps Adkins would learn from his past mistakes, and start taking the music more seriously.
The 10 Most Unlame Americana Acts
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Unless you were stuck on an island recently, I’m sure the article called “10 Lamest Americana Acts” by the once prestigious, and now click-hungry newsweekly alternative known as L.A. Weekly passed under your nose. Here are the 10 artists presented by L.A. Weekly and in the same order, but filling in the positives and counterpoints left out of their piece.
Bowen MusicFest Releases Impressive Lineup for 2017
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The Bowen Musicfest hosted by Texas music star Wade Bowen has just announced its 19th Annual, 2017 lineup, and it’s a doozy. Maybe the best yet. Folks will pack themselves into Indian Springs Park in Waco, TX on Sunday, June 4th for the festivities, all benefiting the Bowen Family Foundation.
Did ACM’s Break or Change Rules for Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” Song of the Year Win?
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Some fans began to smell something fishy when they noticed that “Die a Happy Man” won the ACM Award for Single of the Year at the 2016 ACM Awards. How could the song still be eligible if it was eligible for the 2016 awards as well? The answer is that it either wasn’t, or perhaps the ACM Voting Criteria was changed.
Saving Country Music’s 2017 ACM Awards LIVE Blog
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Saving Country Music 2017 ACM Awards LIVE blog! For three hours we’ll be ranting and raving, running down the winners, and doing our best to highlight the few bright moments in what otherwise promises to be the an annual exercise in embarrassing the true country music fan. Instead of sitting pat, we stand up and let our voices of dissent be heard.
The Current Lineup of American Aquarium Completely Disbands
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The American Aquarium lineup that most of its fans across the country and world have been used to seeing take the stage for some 10 years is no longer. This is the news coming from a series of posts on social media Sunday (4-2) ahead of frontman, singer, and songwriter BJ Barham addressing the breakup rumors officially.
Lori McKenna is the First Female ACM Songwriter of the Year Winner in 52 Years, But…
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In the entire 52-year history of the Academy of Country Music Awards, there has never been female winner of the organization’s Songwriter of the Year award, until now. Lori McKenna, who has been on one incredible run with her solo-written song “Humble and Kind,” has broken what appears to be a half century-long barrier.