Taken as a whole, F-1 Trillion is much more of a contemporary version of pop country than it is anything else, with committee-written songs, little heart, substance, or soul. But this album is supposed to be fun, and Post Malone succeeds.
You can almost lose sight of the fact that before Rodney Crowell was considered one of the most iconic contemporary Americana songwriters, he had a whole career as a commercially successful radio country star.
Kellie Pickler is making her return to the stage as part of a Patsy Cline tribute. Ever since Kellie Pickler’s husband Kyle Jacobs committed suicide on February 17th, 2023, she has remained out of the public eye.
‘Tis the season to go through all the albums released in country music this year, and attempt to asses what we think will withstand the test of time and ultimately define 2023. This isn’t about turning art into competition…
It may not be the music that most defines your life, but it’s music you don’t mind moving in and out of it. It’s Chris Stapleton, which means always on brand, always enjoyable, even if rarely exceptional.
Nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards have just been revealed, with lots of interesting and worthy names popping up in multiple categories, including independent country artists vying for top prizes.
For sure, the big names that the Grammys tend to favor will get theirs. But let’s make sure that the names that don’t enjoy media darling status and might get overlooked in the process also receive attention.
It feels very strange to even talk about the CMA Awards at this moment in country music when everything else is centered around the wild success of wild-assed and under-produced guys like Zach Bryan and Oliver Anthony.
Cue up this fine specimen of authentic country music that will steal you away to a sublime place where all is right in the world like only the best of country music can do. Because this, ladies and gentlemen, is the best of country music.
Similar to his previous releases, Stapleton is not saying much to the public about what to expect from the album, what the inspirations behind the album are, or anything else. Instead he’s allowing the music to speak for itself.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right now in country music.
Vince Gill and Paul Franklin are reuniting once again, and this time to pay tribute to Ray Price and his legendary backing band The Cherokee Cowboys.
Luke Combs may be the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, but you get the distinct impression that he’s barely aware of it. There’s no cocksure attitude as he stands up there on stage in his Bass Pro fishing shirt with the flap across the back. He’s just a grown up pudgy choir kid from North Carolina.
Not only does Eddie Rabbitt (of all people) deserve credit for cutting one of the first country rap songs, he probably deserves credit for the very first country rap song protesting rap, drum machines, and other things in music, with Paul Franklin playing steel guitar, Brent Mason playing lead…
Everybody wanted him, on their albums and on their tours. But only the lucky could get him because he was so high in demand. His name was Michael Rhodes, and he was the bass player for countless artists, sessions, and tours over a nearly 50-year span, playing on some 60 Gold and Platinum albums.
Susan Lucci is the name people love to cite when it comes to someone who’s accrued a long string of nominations for a certain award without ever actually winning it. But legendary country music steel guitarist Paul Franklin actually has Susan Lucci beat, and by more than a decade.
For a while, it looked like the fate of Jeff Carson was to be a side player for the duration of his career. But when he finally got his opportunity, Jeff Carson made the most of it and rocketed to the top of the country charts.
What makes ‘Blue’ so cool is not just that it found success with old songs from such a young singer. It’s that old songs were made cool to a younger audience, while the older audience who felt abandoned by country music of the era found someone they could root for as well.
Here comes this surprise EP from upstart country artist Brock Gonyea that will deliver you and your country-loving heart smack dab into 1950’s country music bliss, warming your cockles about the prospects for the future of the country genre.
Lauren Mascitti has had one eventful 2020. We all have in many respects, but for Lauren, it’s been especially action-filled. Early in the year, she released what is quickly becoming her breakout record, ‘God Made a Woman.’ Now as 2020 is drawing to a close, it is receiving renewed interest.
One of the most curious, and maybe one of the most cool developments in music over the last couple of years has been Vince Gill becoming a late career member of The Eagles. It wasn’t a development that came with a lot of fanfare or explanation. With the passing of Glenn Frey in 2016, it just sort of happened.
It was one of the coolest things in country music while it lasted. But one of the cool things about The Time Jumpers is nothing lasts forever aside from the band itself. Nashville’s Western Swing house band has been entertaining crowds with interchangeable players and keeping traditions alive since 1998.
The new record will include 14 new songs, 11 of which Stapleton wrote or co-wrote himself, along with a few notable covers, specifically John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life,” and two covers of Guy Clark songs—“Worry B Gone” and “Old Friends.” He also collaborates with members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
“God Made A Woman” is a great specimen of true country music in both the stories and sounds, and offers a strong counterargument to the prevailing wisdom that such a thing can’t be relevant in these times, while introducing a songwriter and singer we’ll hopefully be hearing much more from in the future.