The 2025 Saving Country Music State of the Union Address
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As technology continues to encroach on our everyday lives, the pull of things that are rootsy and real like country music will only become more appealing as a respite and retreat from digital immersion and incursion.
Album Review – Jesse Dayton’s “The Revealer”
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You never know what Jesse Dayton may have his hands dirty with at any given moment. He could be playing guitar for Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings right before they pass away, or collaborating with Rob Zombie on some horror flick, or producing a record with Eddie Spaghetti. Last year he was touring around with the band ‘X’ filling in for Billy Zoom on guitar.
Dale Watson and Ray Benson Announce “Dale and Ray” Duets Album
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Two Austin, Texas country music heavyweights are coming together for the very first time come January 6th, 2017 when Dale Watson and Ray Benson release ‘Dale and Ray’—a duets album featuring the two traditional country artists dueling it out over original tracks and a handful of covers.
George Strait & Jamey Johnson’s New Song “Kicked Outta Country” Has Powerful Message
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Country protest songs are a dime a dozen these days, and in many cases have become just about as cliche as the pop country songs they criticize. It really takes a fresh angle or a unique twist to make a protest song resonate beyond the anger many folks have at the direction of today’s country music, and that is what Jamey Johnson and George Strait have done.
George Strait Comes Full Circle with Album Release Show at Historic Gruene Hall
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Strait played his first show at Gruene Hall on Saturday, February 21st, 1976—five years before releasing his first record, and only a few months removed from being honorably discharged from the Army. For his first gig, they charged $0.25 at the door, and according to Strait from the Gruene Hall stage Wednesday night, he made $7.00 total.
UPDATED: Willie Nelson Cancels Multiple Shows Due to Undisclosed Health Concerns
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Any time health news comes down for an 83-year-old country performer, concern goes up. For most 83-year-olds, Willie Nelson is the picture of health. But an undisclosed illness has sidelined him for some recent shows, leaving many concerned for the country legend.
The Importance of Genre in Music Illustrated as an Artist’s Palette
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To try and illustrate why it is important to keep the influences of America’s founding genres pure, I’ve always used one tried and true illustration. And to prove that this illustration precedes Beyonce at the CMA Awards, instead of presenting it anew here, I’ll transcribe it from a recent podcast from Wide Open Country.
Crystal Gayle Invited to Be The Newest Member of the Grand Ole Opry
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Crystal Gayle will be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. This is the news out of Tuesday night’s (11-15) Opry presentation where Carrie Underwood surprised the crowd by walking out and inviting Gayle to the legendary country music institution while Gayle was performing her signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”
Holly Dunn Wasn’t Happy About Her ‘Total Expunging’ from the Grand Ole Opry (RIP)
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Another day, and another unfortunate passing in the country music community. On Tuesday morning (11-15) it was announced that Warner Bros. recording artist and once marquee Grand Ole Opry performer Holly Dunn has died. Dunn had announced earlier this year that she was diagnosed with ovarian Cancer. She was 59-years-old.
Album Review – Ronnie Dunn’s “Tattooed Heart”
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Ronnie Dunn has the voice and the name to where if he wanted to transition into a legacy act or do like Tim McGraw and make the best of the opening up of the format to better songs, he could really do some damage. But he has to really commit to it. His days of #1 hits and CMA Awards are unfortunately in the past.
Beyond The Font Size, Stagecoach 2017 Offers Opportunity to the Overlooked
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Every year the release of the lineup for the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California is a good case study into who to watch for on the rise in country music. Similarly, every year a ruckus is made by traditional and independent country fans about how certain names are assigned a larger font than others in what seems like a backwards system.
Waylon’s Widow Jessi Colter to Release Memoir “An Outlaw and a Lady”
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For those who can’t get enough info about legendary country music Outlaw Waylon Jennings and the wild and influential life he lived, you’re about to get one of the most up close and personal accounts of Hoss that’s possible to put in print, while also getting to know the lady who stood by his side in sickness and health.
Song Review – Aaron Watson’s “Outta Style”
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What’s going “outta style” is Bro-Country and songs that chase trends, while traditional country has once again proved to be the timeless influence in country music that always comes back to the forefront. This should bode well for an artist like Aaron Watson if he sticks to what he does best.