Music

Kacey Musgraves offer an important message in her new song “Justified”: “Healing doesn’t happen in a straight line.” The song is airy and upbeat, yet comes from a hurting heart, reflecting well the disparate emotions that come with picking up and moving on. Musgraves released “Justified” on Friday (Aug. 27), accompanied by a music video that finds the artist

Ray Fulcher‘s precise, concise songwriting shines during “Girl in It,” his debut single on Black River Entertainment. The uptempo country observation is radio-ready, which should surprise no one, given his resume. Songs that praise a woman’s worth in this world are hardly rare in country music. Longtime fans of the format may recall Brooks & Dunn‘s late

Singer-songwriter Baylee Littrell grew up in the spotlight as the son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell, but the 18-year-old has talent that stands on its own. The Georgia native grew up around his grandparents playing the memorable tunes of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette, so country music pulsed through his blood at

“I don’t worship the ground you walk on,” George Strait sang in “Ocean Front Property,” rattling off a list of obvious lies to tell himself he wasn’t hurting. Fellow Texan Hayes Carll takes the idea even farther in his new song “She’ll Come Back to Me,” imagining an alternate reality where he doesn’t end up

Mickey Guyton released a soaring new sample of her upcoming debut album, Remember Her Name, on Friday (Aug. 20). The song, “All American,” recounts country themes, from “a Friday night football game” to “the dust on a backroad,” and the ways they unify people across state lines. “I wrote “All American” with my dream team of incredible female writers,” Guyton

Ryan Fleming, Jason Aldean‘s security guard and longtime friend, has died. The country star announced the news on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 25), sharing several photos of Fleming along with words of remembrance. Fleming, also known as “Rhino,” and Aldean grew up together in Georgia; prior to working for the singer, Fleming was a

Jo Dee Messina songs have a lot of attitude. The singer is known for her feisty empowerment anthems, as well as her high-energy stage presence. But while many of her biggest hits are uptempo musically, with edgy, aggressive lyrics, Messina also displays a softer, more sensitive side in her music, which has helped her reach

Less than one week after canceling the remaining dates of his 2021 stadium tour, Garth Brooks is already making plans for touring safely in the pandemic era. The Country Music Hall of Fame member discussed the decision and what his touring future will look like in Monday’s episode of his Facebook series Inside Studio G.

Erin Enderlin draws on her love of classic, tear-in-my-beer country music in her newest ballad, “If I’m Not in Hell,” a song that she co-wrote with musical pals Kimberly Kelly and Kayla Ray. Together, the three co-writers set out to encapsulate the kinds of heartbreak ballads they all grew up loving, and Enderlin says she’s proud

Miko Marks pairs reverberating, soulful vocal harmonies with an outlaw country standard on her version of “Whiskey River,” a bluesy take on a song that was written by Johnny Bush and Paul Stroud and popularized by Willie Nelson on his Shotgun Willie album in 1973. While country fans first heard Nelson’s radio single version of the song, “Whiskey

Reba McEntire has revealed that she did not have COVID-19 recently, despite her previous belief that she’d contracted the virus even after getting vaccinated. McEntire gave an interview to Nancy O’Dell via Talk Shop Live on Monday evening (Aug. 23), and during the segment, she revealed that her previous positive COVID-19 test had turned out

Whether it’s coming out of Nashville, New York, L.A., or points in between, there’s no shortage of fresh tunes, especially from artists who have yet to become household names. Rolling Stone Country selects some of the best new music releases from country and Americana artists. (Check out our most recent list.) Kelsey Waldon, “Fixin’ It

Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley may never have become the Pistol Annies if not for a late-night phone call. Lambert and Monroe were in the middle of a writing weekend-slash-campout in 2009 when Monroe asked Lambert if she knew Presley. Lambert didn’t, so … “The next thing you know, 2 o’clock in the morning, they’re

Kenny Chesney is in a blissed-out state of mind in his new “Beautiful World” video. The video weaves together footage from various trips to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and beyond, with lyrics that touch on well-worn Chesney themes. “In my favorite pair of salt-water-sun-bleached jeans / I got a cold one coming and some songs

Old Dominion just revealed that their new album will drop this fall. The country group’s fourth studio album, Time, Tequila & Therapy, will feature their current single “I Was on a Boat That Day,” plus a surprise collaboration with Gladys Knight. Fans can look for the album in stores and digital streaming providers on Oct. 8. A press release notes that every

James McMurtry wants to make one thing clear: His songs are not about him. “Oh, no, there’s none of that,” the songwriter says, scoffing at the very notion. “I don’t do autobiography. My songs are made up.” McMurtry is talking about The Horses and The Hounds, his stunning new record, and his first in six

Darius Rucker says his annual Darius & Friends concert is a great night for him: He gets to play live music with his pals, raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and do, in his own words, “nothing.” “I do nothing,” Rucker said from the Ryman Auditorium stage on Tuesday night (Aug. 17) in

The space between Chris Janson and the story he tells during “Bye Mom” will allow listeners in for years to come. There’s a maturity to this new song that’s remarkable. Co-writer Brandon Kinney’s mother died, and soon after, he and Janson sat down to write a tribute song that became something bigger. This kind of

Kacey Musgraves turned to social media on her 33rd birthday on Saturday (Aug. 21) to tease fans with new, never-before-heard music — and the lyrics appear to be inspired directly by her divorce from Ruston Kelly. Musgraves posted a series of what appear to be snippets of lyrics to a new song to her Instagram on

Tom T. Hall, the Country Music Hall of Fame member known as “The Storyteller” for his detailed narrative songs like “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” “I Love,” and “That’s How I Got to Memphis,” died Friday at his home in Franklin, Tennessee. He was 85. Hall’s son Dean confirmed his father’s death. Tom T. Hall: 10 Essential

Kenny Rogers‘ songs are timeless. The country superstar had a knack for recording strong, well-written material that stands up well over time, which helped him build a career as one of the most consistent hitmakers of his generation. From his early successes fronting the country rock group the First Edition to his later smash success

“One Mississippi” may be Kane Brown‘s new radio single, but it was a particularly life-changing song for his co-writer, Levon Gray. The Alabama native tagged Brown in an Instagram Story and wound up signed to Brown’s Verse 2 Music. It wasn’t quite that easy, of course — Brown was impressed with what he heard on the

Charlie Daniels‘ single “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” earned gold status, signifying sales in excess of 500,000 units, 42 years ago today (Aug. 21, 1979). The song was the debut single from Daniels’ Million Mile Reflections album. In addition to going gold, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” also became Daniels’ first No. 1 hit. The

Tom T. Hall’s songwriting was as easygoing as his own demeanor. To listen to a Hall composition — whether he was the one singing it or artists like Jeannie C. Riley and Alan Jackson — was akin to hearing a story told by a friend you bumped into on the corner. While many of today’s

Kacey Musgraves‘ songs are some of the best-written in contemporary country music. The singer-songwriter was kicking around the fringes of the music business for years, releasing three independent albums and competing on Nashville Star in 2007, but she rocketed to national prominence with her major-label debut, Same Trailer Different Park, which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top

Sturgill Simpson and Willie Nelson unite for a duet on Simpson’s new album, The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. “Juanita” is a charming love song from the perspective of Dood, a “larger-than-life” figure, inspired by Simpson’s grandfather, who must embark on a quest to rescue his wife, Juanita, after she’s kidnapped by a bandit named Seamus McClure. “Juanita, when

Maggie Rose‘s new album, Have a Seat, is a musical outstretching of arms. “I think it’s a very measured way of saying, ‘This is where I am; this is who I am. I occupy this seat like only I can, just the way that you can only occupy your space that way,'” Rose muses of the title

The Cadillac Three have canceled the remainder of their concerts for August after lap-steel player Kelby Ray tested positive for Covid-19. The Nashville trio known for their blend of Southern rock, hard rock and country funk announced the cancellations, Ray’s diagnosis, and a new proof-of-vaccination policy for a pair of Ryman Auditorium homecoming concerts in

Husband and wife Dillon Hodges and Heidi Feek are, together, Firekid. The duo blends bluegrass with indie rock and electronic music to create their newest project, and The Boot’s readers are getting to hear their first single from the release, “Backwoods,” first. As the title of “Backwoods” suggests, Firekid take plenty of inspiration from the outdoors.