40 Years Ago: Johnny Paycheck Shoots a Man (Maybe Over Turtle Soup)
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Many country music artists have claimed to be “Outlaws” over the years. Only two have produced .22 pistols and shot at people’s heads to prove it: Billy Joe Shaver, and Johnny PayCheck.
The Worst Country Songs of 2017 So Far
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Oh man are these some stinkers. Not only does an elite and highly-trained group of mainstream country artists seem to be like devoted experts at defining new lows for the genre, in 2017 the amount of non-country-ness of some of these “country” songs is so off the charts, it’s like they’re purposely challenging each other.
Jamey Johnson Cites A Concussion Suffered Years Ago For Lack of New Music
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It doesn’t matter who your favorite country artist is and how long you’ve been waiting for new music from them, virtually nobody has been waiting longer than Jamey Johnson fans. And they may have to wait a little bit longer. In a new interview, Jamey Johnson cites a concussion for his lack of recent output.
Saving Country Music’s Best Country Albums of 2017 So Far
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For the last two years, it’s felt like a lull for projects that really set themselves apart and set the pace for creativity and cultural importance. 2017 is a different story. It feels like this has been a banner year already, with some of the year’s biggest projects still in the offing.
Kelsea Ballerini Channels Taylor Swift on New “Legends” Single
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Those who’ve been waiting impatiently for a new Taylor Swift single finally have their wish. It just happens to be coming from Kelsea Ballerini. Many have considered Kelsea as the most obvious choice to replace Swift in country music since similarly to Taylor, there’s really nothing country about Kelsea.
No, Pop-Punk Is Not Country Music’s Next Frontier
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Look folks, pop-punk is not going to be the next frontier in country music, and to even spend time debating the finer points and nuances of that argument is already giving the idea more credence than it deserves. There is nothing “punk” about mainstream country music, whether it’s pop-punk or otherwise.
Maddie & Tae Officially Signed to UMG Nashville
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It’s tough enough for female-fronted mainstream artists the days, and it became even tougher for the songwriting duo Maddie & Tae when their division of Big Machine Records was dissolved in a downsizing. The fate of the duo was left in the air after it was announced that Dot Records would be ceasing operations.
Zephaniah OHora’s “This Highway” Is Classic Country Mastery
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Zephanaiah OHora’s This Highway just very well might be a modern classic country masterpiece. It’s flawless for what it is, which is a reawakening of everything brilliant and beautiful about the Countrypolitan era of country music, while leaving all the superfluousness of strings and choruses and other overproduction aside.
Steve Earle, Praises/Defends Colter Wall, Slams Richard Buckner in Crazy Interview
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In what starts off to be a rather innocuous local interview with a reporter in in Canada after a show in Toronto, Steve Earle begins by highly praising Canada’s own Colter Wall. Then when reporter Brad Wheeler question’s Colter’s legitimacy, sparks fly, and poor Richard Buckner gets pulled into the melee.
Chart Watch: Sam Hunt Going Strong, Miranda Lambert’s Single Juggling, Luke vs. Wheeler
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Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad” has now topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 17 straight weeks. Meanwhile, “Body Like a Backroad” continues to pick up crossover spins. Unfortunately for Miranda Lambert, her current single “Tin Man” is headed in the opposite direction.
You’re Gonna Want To Be on Top of Tyler Childers’ “Purgatory” Album Produced By Sturgill Simpson
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Over the decade of conducting business under the heading of “Saving Country Music,” no artist has created more anticipation and intrigue into what their future prospects may be, yet with so few national accomplishments and recognition than Tyler Childers.
Big Whitey Morgan Summer Tour Kicking Off
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After spending years playing over 200 shows annually and pounding the pavement harder than most any band or artist, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s have been taking some well-deserved time off from the road to rest up, and to write and record some new songs for an upcoming album. But now it’s finally time to get back after it.
“Little” Jimmy Dickens & Bill Monroe Receive Brass Statues at the Ryman
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Two titans of country and bluegrass music who helped make The Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium the storied institutions they are, were repaid with eternal markers for their contributions when life-sized bronze statues of the two men were unveiled on the grounds of the Ryman this week in Nashville.