Willie Nelson

September 11, 2015

Why Lee Ann Womack’s 2015 CMA Nomination is Especially Sweet

“That news hit me pretty hard in the heart,” Lee Ann says about the nomination. She was driving to her mother’s house in east Texas when she received the call. “I am and always will be a country music singer. It’s what I do… It’s what I love… and it’s the thing that truly makes me feel alive. Having the CMA recognize that after the year I’ve had since ‘The Way I’m Livin” came out really does my heart good.”

Chris Stapleton, CMA Awards, Frank Liddell, Lee Ann Womack, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson

September 10, 2015

Song / Video Review – Kacey Musgraves & Willie Nelson’s “Are You Sure”

Trigger Reviews 34 Comments

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Some of the best cover songs are not the ones that are easily-recognized by the audience, but the ones that didn’t receive their due credit the first time around. This is the case with “Are You Sure,” which can stand right beside other iconic Willie songs from early in his career like “Night Life” and “Hello Walls” to be considered timeless in their message.

Are You Sure, Kacey Musgraves, Review, The White Horse, Willie Nelson

September 8, 2015

What Country Legend Would Make the Best President?

Trigger Random Notes 94 Comments

Kanye West and Taylor Swift as a 2020 Presidential ticket? Screw that. If we’re going to go dipping into the pool of musical performers to field Presidential candidates, then my vote would go for a country music legend rising to the forefront. And not just because I’m a country music fan, but because many of our legendary country artists have the history to connect with hard-working American citizens.

Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson

August 30, 2015

An Open Letter to “Austin City Limits”: In Consideration of Ray Wylie Hubbard

Trigger Random Notes 99 Comments

I know you probably receive dozens of these types of letters, and they all make strong cases for who the author wishes you select for the next season. But in the case of Ray Wylie Hubbard, I really think it would not only mean a tremendous amount to Ray, but it would mean a tremendous amount to Austin City Limits to finally and formally recognize one of Austin’s most important performers, and help preserve his place in Austin music.

Austin City Limits, Dale Watson, Eric Church, Jason Isbell, Lyle Lovett, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sturgill Simpson, The Improbably Rise of Redneck Rock, Valerie June, Willie Nelson

August 23, 2015

Kinky Friedman to Release New Album “The Loneliest Man I Ever Met” – First in 40 Years

Trigger News 13 Comments

kinky-friedman-the-lonliest-man-i-ever-met

A Jewish-American, Kinky was a seminal part of the Austin, TX music scene in the 70’s when Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and songwriters like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Ray Wylie Hubbard helped revolutionize country music with their independent spirit and progressive approach. Kinky was one of the hucksters of the movement.

Bob Dylan, Kinky Friedman, Merle Haggard, Tome Waits, Warren Zevon, Willie Nelson

August 19, 2015

Willie Nelson Replaced by Steven Tyler As Headliner at Tennessee Music Festival

Trigger News 19 Comments

The inaugural Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival set to transpire in Franklin, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville on September 26th and 27th, just made a rookie move by replacing headliner Willie Nelson with country music interloper/carpetbagger Steven Tyler—a.k.a. the frontman for the legendary rock band Aerosmith.

Aerosmith, Band of Horses, Better Than Ezra, Iron & Wine, Kevin Griffin, Neko Case, Pilgrimage Fest, Steven Tyler, The Decemberists, Uncle Ezra Ray, Willie Nelson

August 18, 2015

Many of Today’s Country Artists Find Actual Country Music “Boring”

Trigger Random Notes 114 Comments

I believe it was the Buddha who once said “life is suffering.” And though you would think mainstream country artists who make their living playing music to massive audiences, they have problems too apparently, and recently the biggest one appears to be having to play music that fits within the confines of the country music genre. Oh, the horror.

Andy Grammer, Darius Rucker, Eli Young Band, Johnny Cash, Luke Bryan, MIke Eli, Sam Hunt, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

August 11, 2015

Willie Nelson & Classic Country Credited for Helping Save Life of Premature Baby

Trigger News 10 Comments

“So we started playing music for her on a daily basis, and when I played old country music, she would respond well to it, so we started playing that all the time and she loved it. Any time she was having a bad day, you could play Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash or Ray Price, and her stats would come up, almost immediately.”

Ava Adams, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Willie Nelson

August 4, 2015

Don’t Compare Sturgill Simpson to Waylon . . . Unless You’re Merle Haggard. That’s probably okay.

Trigger Random Notes 79 Comments

The comparisons of Sturgill Simpson to Waylon Jennings never cease, even though in some instances they’re based on pretty shallow and misguided observations. That’s why it’s probably pretty understandable if Sturgill is tired of hearing about them at this point. In a recent interview with Foo Fighters guitarist and Dead Peasants frontman Chris Shiflett (listen in full below), Sturgill once again answered the Waylon comparisons.

Chris Shiflett, George Jones, Keith Whitley, Kris Kristofferson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Sturgill Simpson, The Foo Fighters, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 29, 2015

Legendary Steel Guitarist Buddy Emmons Has Died

Trigger News 33 Comments

One of the most important and influential steel guitar players in the history of country music has died. Buddy Emmons, known as the “The World’s Foremost Steel Guitarist” passed away Wednesday evening (7-29) according to reports. He was 78-years-old.

Boddy Emmons, dead, died, Don Helms, Ernest Tubb, Jerry Byrd, Little Jimmy Dickens, obituary, Ray Price, Roger Miller, Sho-Bud, Shot Jackson, Willie Nelson

July 26, 2015

Jason Isbell & Alan Jackson in a Dogfight for #1, and Country Music is the Victor

Trigger Random Notes 68 Comments

In one corner you have the wily veteran who’s sold more than 80 million records worldwide and racked up untold awards and accolades during his quarter century career. In the other corner you have the scrappy young upstart who after years of paying dues on the club circuit can now sell out three consecutive nights at The Ryman Auditorium in 30 minutes and is on the tip of everyone’s tongue as the name of one of the best songwriters around.

Aaron Watson, Alan Jackson, Ashley Monroe, Blackberry Smoke, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson

July 23, 2015

Marilyn Manson Working on “Southern-Style Acoustic” Country Project

Trigger News 121 Comments

Remember the curious news of how Korn frontman Jonathan Davis was working on some sort of country project, and was in the studio with Big & Rich trying to hone in on the “Bakersfield” sound? Well now the story has turned even more strange. Though we still don’t have any solid details on exactly what Jonathan Davis is working on, apparently Marilyn Manson is also on board…

Big & Rich, Johnny Depp, Jonathan Davis, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Shooter Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 15, 2015

An Open Letter to Luke Bryan

Trigger Random Notes 111 Comments

Dear Luke Bryan, Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, if in fact you do so. I can only imagine the time constraints a man of your success has, and you’ve already been taking of your time over the last few days to help clear up a mess that I guess I had some part in creating.

Aaron Watson, Blackberry Smoke, Blake Shelton, Dallas Davidson, Florida Georgia Line, Gary Overton, George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Hill, Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Sam Hunt, Sturgill Simpson, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 14, 2015

Luke Bryan Calls Jessi Colter to Apologize Over Outlaw Comments / Shooter Speaks on Controversy

Trigger News 73 Comments

Luke Bryan has called Waylon Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter to apologize after he made comments characterizing Outlaw country artists as cocaine addicts “laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs.” Waylon’s son Shooter Jennings has also commented on the situation, saying, “It’s all flush in my book.”

Ben Haggard, Jessi Colter, John Mayer, Kathy Jennings, Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 13, 2015

What Country Music Can Learn from the New Star Wars Movie Reel

Trigger Random Notes 34 Comments

It seems to be the destiny of man to make the same mistakes over and over, even when we have insurmountable evidence of the fallacy of our actions right in front of us. Country music might be one of the greatest examples of this as it cycles from being obsessed with pop and contemporary sounds, and then gets reeled back in towards its traditional heart during the tug and push of its sometimes tumultuous history.

Alan Jackson, David Allan Coe, Don Williams, Marty Stuart, Merle Haggard, Star Wars, Willie Nelson

July 12, 2015

Waylon Jennings Family Member Responds to Luke Bryan’s Comments

Trigger News 130 Comments

Now one of the members of Waylon’s extended family has spoken out about Luke’s initial words and his apology. Kathy Pinkerman Jennings, who is the wife of one of Waylon Jennings’ sons Buddy Jennings, spoke out about the matter via Facebook initially on July 10th, and the posted a video to YouTube late Saturday night. Despite some media reports, Kathy Jennings makes it clear she is not speaking for the family.

Buddy Jennings, Jeannie Seely, Kathy Jennings, Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 10, 2015

Willie, Waylon, and Merle on Cocaine, In Their Own Words

Trigger History 77 Comments

So to give some historical context to Luke Bryan’s characterizations, I thought we would look back and see what Willie, Merle, and Waylon felt about cocaine. Willie hated the stuff, and would fire anyone in his crew caught using it. Merle barely touched it, except for one dalliance that ended poorly. And Waylon was a professed, long-term cocaine addict who openly expressed his struggles with the drug.

Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

July 9, 2015

Updated: Luke Bryan Defines Outlaw Country As “Laying in the Gutter, Strung Out On Drugs.”

Trigger Random Notes 321 Comments

Being an Outlaw never had anything to do with arrest records or cocaine addictions. Anyone found on Willie Nelson’s crew with their nose in the powder was immediately fired. Being an Outlaw was about being yourself, insisting on having creative control of your music, and moving country music forward while still respecting the roots of the genre and all the greats that came before.

Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

June 23, 2015

Album Review – Kacey Musgraves’ “Pageant Material”

Trigger Reviews 139 Comments

Regardless of how you feel about Kacey Musgraves, her music, her politics, or the ideologies she espouses, she symbolizes nothing short of a victory in the effort to save country music. To have a major label artist release an album like Pageant Material, full of traditional country leanings and songwriter-based material, is a sizable leap forward for the genre.

Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Pageant Material, Shane McAnally, Willie Nelson

June 10, 2015

Huge Waylon Jennings Tribute Show Announced

Trigger News 64 Comments

A massive Waylon Jennings tribute show in Austin, TX has just been announced, and the lineup is something to salivate over. Set to transpire on July 6th and Austin’s Moody Theater (where Austin City Limits is taped), organizers Blackbird Music Group made use of the fact that many of the big names would already be […]

Austin, Billy Joe Shaver, Buddy Cannon, Chris Stapleton, Don Was, Eric Church, Jamey Johnson, Jessi Colter, Kacey Musgraves, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Moody Theater, Ryan Bingham, Shooter Jennings, Sturgill Simpson, Toby Keith, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

June 8, 2015

Ft. Worth Zoo Names New Giraffe Brothers “Willie & Waylon”

Trigger News 16 Comments

The Ft. Worth Zoo is considered one of the Top 5 zoos in the United States, and the best zoo in Texas. And to show off a little bit of their Texas spirit, the zoo has decided to name two new arrivals after a couple of Texas musicians known for standing tall over the competition. After some careful consideration the Ft. Worth Zoo decided to name the brothers “Willie” and “Waylon” respectively.

Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson

June 4, 2015

Album Review – Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard’s “Django & Jimmie”

Trigger Reviews 29 Comments

You look at these two guys, and it is living history right in front of you. But they aren’t living history museum pieces. They are lucid, active participants in the music community, still writing and singing songs, still with the fire inside them to contribute to the genre they helped create, and pay country music forward to yet another generation of loyal and appreciative fans.

Django & Jimmie, Django Reinhardt, Jimmie Rodgers, Merle Haggard, Review, Willie Nelson

May 27, 2015

Merle Haggard Turned Down a Highwaymen Spot / Doesn’t Know “What The F**K” is Wrong w/ Dylan

Trigger Random Notes 30 Comments

Merle Haggard is getting ready for the release of his new album with Willie Nelson next week called Django & Jimmie, and ahead of the release he had some interesting revelations about some things in his past, and what he might have coming up in the future. Many have wondered why Merle never joined the Highwaymen, but it apparently wasn’t because they didn’t want him.

Bob Dylan, Django & Jimmie, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, The Highwaymen, The Musketeers, Willie Nelson

May 9, 2015

Legendary Texas Fiddle Player Johnny Gimble Has Passed Away

Trigger News 32 Comments

Texas Playboy, Million Dollar Band member, and legendary country and Western Swing fiddle player Johnny Gimble has passed away. Known best as one of the primary fiddle players in Bob Wills’ Western Swing band the Texas Playboys, Gimble spent his life charming audiences and being revered as one of the Godfathers of Texas fiddle music. “My hero passed away today. Godspeed Johnny Gimble. We love you,” said current Western Swing fiddle maestro Jason Roberts

Asleep at the Wheel, Bob Wills, dead, Emily Gimble, Hee Haw, Jason Roberts, Jimmie Davis, Johnny Gilble, Mark O'Connor, Merle Haggard, obituary, Ray Benson, Ray Price, Texas Playboys, The Million Dollar Band, Willie Nelson

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