Music

When Kelsea Ballerini stepped onto the Grand Ole Opry stage on Saturday night (Jan. 22), she brought an unreleased new song with her. From the stage, the singer asked her fans for their feedback as to whether or not she should put the song on her next album, crossing her fingers in nervousness as she

Hugh Prestwood needed help. The country music songwriter and his wife Judy came to the sobering realization that they could no longer afford the rent at their Long Island, New York, home. Nor could they scrounge together the money to move back to Prestwood’s native Texas, even if the state’s lower cost of living might

Country music came into its own in a big way during the 1990s. With more FM radio stations offering artists exposure, blockbuster album sales followed — as did superstardom for acts such as Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, both of whom had multiple full-length projects be certified diamond, for shipping in excess of 10 million

Bluegrass legend Del McCoury will turn 83 years old just days before the release of Almost Proud, The Del McCoury Band’s 17th studio album. Due out on Feb. 18, the record will include a collaboration with his longtime friend Vince Gill called “Honky Tonk Nights.” Though the duo have been friends for years, this is the first time

CMT has named 10 of country music’s most promising rising female acts to its 2022 Next Women of Country class. Launched in 2013, the prestigious Next Women of Country (NWOC) program spotlights talented female acts on the verge of stardom; alumni include  Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Carly Pearce and Kacey Musgraves. Joining the NWOC ranks

Eric Church paid tribute to Meat Loaf — who inspired the country singer’s Heart & Soul triple album — by covering “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” during his Detroit concert Saturday, one day after news of Meat Loaf’s death at the age of 74. Billboard reports that, prior to performing

Fifty-three years ago today (Jan. 22, 1969), Glen Campbell struck gold for the first time. It was on that date that the singer earned the first gold single of his career, signifying sales of 500,000 copies, with “Wichita Lineman.” “Wichita Lineman,” which was the title track of Campbell’s 12th studio album, was written by Jimmy

Amythyst Kiah’s newly released cover of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is a striking choice. The original version, a 1980 single from British synth-rock legends Joy Division, was released six years before the Chattanooga native was born. The vocals were muddled on Joy Division’s, as much was during the height of their genre’s era. But

Photo Credit: @sydneywarrenphotography All I can say about this new song by Leah Haywood is wow. I’ve been a fan of her music since her debut album, and this song right here is the exact reason why. She seems to find a way to turn every song she releases into pure magic. Haywood gets personal

Carrie Underwood and her family celebrated her son Jacob’s third birthday on Friday (Jan. 21), and the country superstar turned to social media to share pictures of the incredible Paw Patrol-themed cake she had made for the occasion. Underwood took Jacob and his friends to DEFY Nashville, an air sports complex that offers a range

Thomas Rhett will spend summer 2022 on the road as he headlines his extensive Bring the Bar to You Tour. The trek will get underway June 17 with a two-night stint in Gilford, New Hampshire, at the Bank of NH Pavilion. Named for a song on Rhett’s upcoming sixth album, the 30-date Bring the Bar

Since releasing his first single, “Unwound,” in 1981, George Strait has become one of country music’s most iconic artists. Over the course of his incredible career, he’s racked up 60 No. 1 hits: more than any other performer in history. On top of that feat, Strait has sold over 100 million records worldwide, has been

With her 2021 album Changemakers, folk singer Crys Matthews truly established herself as a force to be reckoned with. While Matthews is well-traveled in folk and women’s music circles, her first showcase at last year’s increasingly diverse AmericanaFest will hopefully lead to growing connections in Americana and country music. Today, on the 49th anniversary of

Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, a pair often referred to as the ”First Couple of Texas Country,” have announced that their relationship has come to an end. In a Jan. 21 post shared by Willis and Robison on their official social media pages, the couple reiterated their love and respect for one another, even as they part

Brothers Osborne flex their muscles on the wicked new song “Headstone,” one of three bonus tracks that appear on a deluxe edition of their 2020 album Skeletons. “Write that on my headstone,” singer TJ Osborne commands in the chorus, while his brother John lays down a meaty riff. It’s a ferocious rocker, one of the

Shaboozey “Tall Boy” If you’re looking for a perfected blend of alt-country and hip hop, look no further than Shaboozey‘s infectious new single “Tall Boy.” In the track’s music video, the Virginia native heads to Nashville’s oldest dive bar, the Springwater Supper Club, to let off some steam and throw a few back. He manages to take a

Award-winning songwriter and guitarist Molly Tuttle and her band Golden Highway are gearing up to release a brand new album. This morning (Jan. 20), Tuttle announced that her third full-length solo record Crooked Tree will be released on April 1. Golden Highway, her acclaimed band featuring mandolinist Dominick Leslie, banjoist Kyle Tuttle, fiddle player Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and

Luke Combs and his wife, Nicole, are expecting a baby boy. The couple shared the happy news on social media on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 20), with the mom-to-be noting that 2022 “may be the best year yet.” Nicole shared three photos from a maternity shoot with her followers, including a picture of the couple holding

Molly Tuttle showcases some of her bluegrass chops in a new performance video for “Crooked Tree,” the title track of the singer-guitarist’s new album. Set for release April 1, the project will mark Tuttle’s Nonesuch Records debut and feature contributions from Margo Price, Billy Strings, and Sierra Hull. “Crooked Tree” is a lively number driven

In 1992, Kentucky native John Michael Montgomery made his first mark on the country music scene with the release of his debut album Life’s a Dance. The record’s title track found widespread success, while his followup single ”I Love the Way You Love Me” quickly became his first No. 1 hit. The popularity of those songs

Norwegian quartet Silver Lining reflect on the long path that led to happiness and love in their stunning new single. “The Dream” is premiering exclusively on The Boot; press play below to listen. Comprised of Stine Andreassen, Live Miranda Solberg, Bjørnar Ekse Brandseth and Halvor Falck Johansen, the group is a collection of some of Norway’s

It’s starting to feel as if Garth Brooks won’t lay his Stadium Tour to rest until he’s played in every single one. On Wednesday (Jan. 19), Brooks announced a show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday, May 21. This show was formerly rescheduled, as Brooks was originally scheduled to play the venue on Oct. 9,

Like the call of that lonesome whippoorwill, Mason “Lil Hank Williams” Ramsey all but disappeared after releasing his EP Twang in 2019. Did he go back to the Illinois Walmart where he was first discovered? Fly off to Vegas to wild out? Grow up into full-size Hank? Finally, we have answers. Ramsey posted a rare

Dolly Parton‘s influence on country music is legendary. Songs such as “Islands in the Stream,” “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene” will forever be played and loved, and no one can think about country music without picturing the buxom blonde and Country Music Hall of Famer. Parton’s music videos are also something to be

Brooklyn-based antifolk musician Linda Draper makes a scathing retort in the acoustic version of “Tether,” the closing track for her upcoming album Patience and Lipstick. “They keep speaking in their crooked tongues, trying to sell me the idea we’re all in this together,” she sings of disorganized media and political messaging in the face of

Former Grand Ole Opry drummer Jerry Ray Johnston, whose son Jaren Johnston followed him into the music business as the singer and guitarist in the Cadillac Three, has died. According to his obituary online, Johnston died on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at the age of 65 in the rural Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tenn., after

Ingrid Andress joined forces with Sam Hunt for an emotional rendition of their collaborative tune “Wishful Drinking” on The Late Show. The duet, featuring Hunt on guitar, tells the story of a couple trying to mend a broken relationship. “With every sip I’m getting closer/ To thinking that we ain’t really over,” the country stars crooned

Nine years ago today, on Jan. 18, 2013, George Strait launched what was supposed to be his farewell tour, the The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. The trek followed the country icon’s September 2012 announcement that he would be retiring from touring, but not from making music. “I always had it in the back of my mind, when I turned

In the words of Jonathan & Friends on their YouTube channel: “We flipped the Windows XP boot up sound into a song. A tribute to my favorite operating system of all time using the official windows media player visualizer. Long live windows XP ❤️” Emma Lov takes lead vocals on the infectious pop track, that

Meghan Linsey is officially off the market. The former Steel Magnolia singer and her fiancé, Tyler Cain, eloped to Hawaii, tying the knot on Sunday (Jan. 16), according to People. The couple had been engaged since June 2019, but didn’t share any of their wedding plans ahead of time. As it happens, Linsey and Cain themselves didn’t