Opry’s 100th Anniversary Book Doesn’t Shy Away from Controversy
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Would we only get a wine and roses portrayal of the Opry, especially through the modern era? Or would it be willing to present the accurate history, warts and all? Luckily, the latter is the case.
Taylor Swift Leaving Country: The Deeper Impact
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Though Taylor Swift leaving country music could very much be seen as a victory from the Saving Country Music perspective, to the country music industry perspective, they just lost this generations biggest music star, and an money-making powerhouse. And the cultural and economic impact of this development cannot be overstated.
Man Killed In Assault at a Hank Williams Jr. Concert in Michigan
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Robert Kobe of Westland, Michigan was pronounced dead Tuesday (8-19) at 12:04 PM after being assaulted at a Hank Williams Jr. concert at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Independence Township, Michigan on Sunday, August 17th. The 55-year-old man suffered a serious head injury at the hands of a 15-year-old male who shoved him in the concourse area.
Album Review – Cory Branan’s “The No-Hit Wonder”
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“The No-Hit Wonder” is old school country rock at its finest, with exquisitely-crafted, cunning lyrical runs that make you laugh, amazing insight enhanced by brilliant timing and pentameter, and musical clothing that enhance each song’s strengths and endear them to the audience, pointing them the way to the album’s enjoyment. This is the album Cory Branan needed to release.
Taylor Swift Officially Leaves Country Music
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Monday afternoon (8-18), Taylor Swift conducted a 30-minute Yahoo! online stream from New York City in front of a live audience with all the irrational exuberance of a Ron Popeil infomercial, where she unveiled a new song called “Shake It Off,” announced that her new album 1989 to be released on October 27th, and said her next album will be her “very first documented, official pop album.”
10 Country Songs Criticizing The Police State
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Every day tens of thousands of people put on the police uniform and put their lives on the line to protect and serve the citizens of the United States. But others step over bounds, grow power hungry in their positions, and some communities have dealt with corruption and brutality in policing for decades to where over the years it has become an eternal theme in American music.
More Trouble At Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan Concerts
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Once again multiple arrests marred a pair of summer concerts by two of mainstream country’s top male artists over the past two weekends. Both concerts were promoted by Live Nation. At a Luke Bryan concert at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday, 8-16, Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 20 concertgoers for numerous violations.
Only One Arrest Out Of 40,000 At Kenny Chesney Flora Bama Concert
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On Saturday (8-15), Kenny Chesney performed his only concert of 2014 at the beach area on the Gulf Coast known as Flora Bama straddling the Florida and Alabama state lines. It was a free concert Kenny threw for his fans, and one of the biggest major country concerts in the South during a summer concert season that has made headlines for….
Premier: Cahalen Morrison’s “Sorrow Lines The Highway of Regret”
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As one of the Pacific Northwest’s strongest classic country voices, Cahalen Morrison has found himself as a member of multiple incarnations of country and roots bands and other collaborations that have seen him share stages with the likes of Eli West, Caleb Klauder, and Kelly Joe Phelps just to name a few. Now he’s poised to release a solo effort through Free Dirt Records on August 19th.
Ray Benson & Willie Nelson Unearth Waylon’s Gem, “It Ain’t You”
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The song “It Ain’t You” off of Ray Benson’s album A Little Piece continues this trend of offering both something unheard, but something wrought during the living era of a legendary artist, and paid forward with reverence and care by those still around who are inspired by their legacy. Originally written by Waylon Jennings with Gary Nicholson, “It Ain’t You” was never recorded.
Cumulus Media’s “NASH Icon” Is Launched On Radio
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Cumulus Media officially launched their “NASH Icon” brand to radio on Friday (8-15), changing two Georgia radio stations over to the new format that favors country music released from a 25-year “classic” period. Atlanta’s Oldies 98.9 W255CJ has changed over to NASH Icon 98.9, and Sports Radio 102.1 in Savannah will now be known as NASH Icon 102.1.
Billy Joe Shaver Charts for the First Time Ever with “Long In The Tooth”
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41 years, 26 albums, 11 different record labels, and one Outlaw country legend who had never experienced a charting album beyond a mere blip on the Christian charts a few years ago …. until now. Billy Joe Shaver, and his first album in seven years entitled Long In The Tooth has gone where no other Billy Joe Shaver album has gone before—to the Top 20 of Billboard’s country album’s chart.
Wade Bowen to Release Self-Titled Album October 28th
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Texas country star Wade Bowen is set to release his 5th studio album on October 28th, and the self-titled affair will see Bowen break away from the bonds of a major label to reclaim his creative freedom. The album is said to be a new beginning for Bowen, and finds the Waco, TX native at “…the turning of the page to a place where the music becomes a little bit freer, a little bit looser…”