Garth Brooks Jokes Don’t Land in Tom Segura Comedy Series
21 Comments
Through the six episodes, Tom Segura portrays dark characters in “unthinkable situations and fantasies.” One such character is a “global country music superstar” who kidnaps his own fans named Rex Henley.
American Masters to Air “The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End” Special
18 Comments
Friends Till the End will tell the story of The Highwaymen through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio with the supergroup consisting of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. Originally formed in 1985, The Highwaymen released three albums over a decade span, including their Platinum-selling debut.
Saving Country Music’s 50 Essential Albums for 2015
68 Comments
In no particular order, aside from the first dozen or so records being considered the “Most Essential,” here are the 50 albums Saving Country Music deems it necessary you at least give a sniff if you want to get the full musical experience in 2015. That doesn’t mean these are the only worthy country music albums. They are presented in the spirit of filling in the holes between what you may already know about.
Album Review – Rhiannon Giddens’ “Tomorrow Is My Turn”
8 Comments
We just didn’t have this kind of verification of the strength of Rhiannon Giddens’ vocal abilities until this project. Sometimes it takes someone else’s songs to really challenge a singer to where their limits are tested, and their utmost talents are expended trying to do a classic composition justice. That’s what makes Tomorrow Is My Turn such a worthy effort.
Stump Tail Dolly Combines Country and Heavy Metal in “Americanoclasm”
12 Comments
Comprised of two very astute and formally educated musicians, Stump Tail Dolly is not necessarily the screaming bloody mess some might expect when scrunching the terms “country” and “metal” together, especially considering the lineage of the discipline. There’s plenty of blood and guts mind you, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than just Cookie Monster vocals and braying power riffs.
Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” Becomes Highest-Rated TV Movie in Last 3 Years
83 Comments
Bolstering the theory that when the narratives of traditional country music are actually given a chance in popular culture, they shine from the way they unite people and speak to individuals universally, Dolly Parton’s made for TV Coat of Many Colors blew the doors off of ratings Thursday night (12-10) on its way to becoming the most watched TV movie or miniseries in the last three years.
Mikel Knight Street Team Member Found Dead in Nashville
20 Comments
32-year-old Dustin K. Finley, a street team member for country rapper Mikel Knight, was found dead in a hotel room in Nashville on Sunday, December 6th. According to Nashville police, they were not notified of the death, but the Medical Examiners Office did conduct an autopsy on Finley. Mikel Knight and his Maverick Dirt Road Street Team have been embroiled in controversy in the past for deaths of street team members.
Jason Isbell Signs Worldwide Publishing Deal
19 Comments
The current King of Americana and now Grammy-nominated singer songwriter Jason Isbell has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Downtown Music Publishing. The news comes near the end of a marquee run for Isbell, who along with his Grammy nominations for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song, has also landed at #16 on Billboard’s year-end Independent Album’s chart.
Joe Nichols is Releasing a Version of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”
53 Comments
Joe Nichols continues to be one of the most confounding country stars in mainstream country music today, many times saying one thing, but doing something much different. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Nichols has tried to stay true to himself and the roots of country music, yet he’s not above straying away at times and trying to tantalize radio with a catchy single.
Songwriters Don Chapel, Don Pfrimmer, and Performer Bonnie Lou Pass Away
13 Comments
Over the last few days, three major contributors to country music have passed away—performer and television/radio personality Bonnie Lou, songwriter and former husband to Tammy Wynette Don Chapel, and prolific hit songwriter Don Pfrimmer. Let’s take a minute to remember all three.
MerleFest Adds More String Power to Already Stacked 2016 Lineup
7 Comments
The 2016 MerleFest lineup just keeps getting beefier. On Tuesday (12-8), the fest announced it was adding Old Crow Medicine Show, Alison Brown, Peter Rowan, and Doug Seegers to the 97 other names already announced for the 2016 installement, scheduled to transpire April 28th through May 1st at Wilkes Community College in North Carolina.
Saving Country Music’s Worst Country Albums of 2015
102 Comments
As an addendum to Saving Country Music’s Worst Songs list, 2015 necessitates we also single out some of the worst albums released in 2015. Take note that in most years, such a list is not necessary. Not that there aren’t bad albums, but even when you’re speaking about country music’s worst offenders, many actually release fairly decent songs on their albums. But 2015 was a different case.
Chris Stapleton Proves Why Awards Shows Matter
30 Comments
“Awards shows don’t matter.” This is the bill of goods fans of true country music, and fans of independent music have been forced to sell themselves for years as a consolation prize for continuously being overlooked, losing in bulk, and being generally embarrassed during the moments when America and the world crowds around the boob tube for the spectacle of a televised award show like the CMA’s or the Grammys.