Beyonce, Christmas, Jay-Z, Diddy, and the NFL
41 Comments
They called it the “Beyoncé Bowl,” and it was promoted as Beyoncé’s first live performance from her supposed “country” album, Cowboy Carter. But Cowboy Carter is not a country album, and the performance wasn’t live.
Turnpike Troubadours’ Out Of Print “Bossier City” Available for a Limited Time
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If your a recent Turnpike Troubadours convert and never got a chance to own their very first debut album Bossier City, you better jump on the opportunity now because for a limited time they’re making it available to the public once again, with proceeds going to a good cause.
Sharp-Tongued Criticism Has Always Been Country’s Way of Preserving the Roots
48 Comments
Preserving the roots of country is not always just about paying homage. Sometimes it is about sowing disharmony or speaking out in protest to help force country music back on the right path. Music Row and the country music industry will always be about money first. The artists are the ones who must take the lead and reign the business in.
Ozzy Osbourne is NOT Going Country, But Megadeth Daughter Is
22 Comments
After so many high profile defections from rock to country, you really can’t rule out anyone taking the country music plunge, especially after the incorrigible Steven Tyler made the move recently. But there is one who has made his opinions unflinchingly known to where little doubt is left that we won’t see him writing songs with Shane McAnally anytime soon.
Beyonce “Snubbed” by the CMA Awards? My Ass.
84 Comments
In a society where everyone is aggressively on the lookout for reasons to be offended and to call out gross injustices that only exist because someone decides they should, guess whose fans are creating an internet furor because country music had the lily white audacity to snub her for an award she doesn’t deserve
Illegal Music Downloads an Issue Again Thanks to Streaming Exclusives
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The hip thing in 2016 for many big-named artists is to only make their music available on one specific streaming or download service, usually in a deal struck between the artist’s label or management and the streaming service in hopes of drawing more subscribers towards one service, or in many cases, away from another—specifically Spotify.
Chris Stapleton Leads Nominees for the 2016 CMA Awards (+ Predictions)
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The nominees for the 50th Annual CMA Awards have been announced, and Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, and newcomer Maren Morris lead the field each with five nominations. Stapleton continues to be the big surprise, picking up a nomination for the evening’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year, and four other nominations.
So-Called ‘Maturity’ Makes Florida Georgia Line Even Worse on “Dig Your Roots”
99 Comments
I think I liked Florida Georgia Line more when their music was worse. Now they’re writing songs about getting married and hanging out with their parents, yet still with much of the same manic, douchebag production and stupid rapping vocals of before, and the entire enterprise just comes off like a sad whimper.
Grand Ole Opry Legend and Time Jumper Hoot Hester Passes Away
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One of the most revered and longtime members of the Grand Ole Opry house band, founding member of the supergroup the Time Jumpers, and fiddler for dozens of important country music stars including Bill Monroe, Hank Williams Jr., and Randy Travis just to name a few, and a favorite of bluegrass fans, has passed away.
Dolly Parton’s “Pure & Simple” Is Her First #1 Album in 25 Years
15 Comments
Once again when a country legend releases an album, fans rise to the occasion and support the artist to a greater degree than their contemporary counterparts. And for Dolly Parton, those additional sales earn her a distinction she hasn’t seen in a quarter of a century. The Pure & Simple album coincides with Dolly Parton’s current Pure & Simple tour.
Chris Stapleton: Garden & Gun Showed Bad Manners by Putting Him on Cover Over Haggard
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The Garden & Gun ‘New Outlaws’ issue seemed to illustrate the problem with many of today’s music periodicals that see the expanding interest in independent country music, but rely mostly on journalists and editors who only know country music from the outside looking in.
Karen Jonas Captures the True Meaning of Country in New Single “Country Songs”
25 Comments
“Country Songs” speaks right to the heart of what true country music is all about. It’s there to mend the wounds and help us all commiserate over the misery life invariably throws our way. There’s nothing wrong with happy songs either, but country music has always been the best remedy for a sad state of affairs.
Sturgill Simpson Slams ACM’s, Garden & Gun for Disrespecting Merle Haggard
103 Comments
Well, this is a side of Sturgill Simpson we haven’t seen for a while. Last week, the ACM created a new award called the ‘Merle Haggard Spirit Award’ that was said to honor the contributions of Haggard by acknowledging artists who exemplify his uncompromising integrity and “singular vision in carving an indelible path in country music.”