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. Ian Munsick, “Me Against the Mountain” Ian Munsick sings of lovers longing
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Luke Combs tries out some brand-new musical stylings in his unreleased “Ever Mine,” a new song he debuted on social media on Sunday (Dec. 6). Backed only by his acoustic guitar, Combs evokes a lonesome love story in the song, with eloquent, sepia-toned sounding lyrics that call to mind a long-ago era. Combs wrote “Ever
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are celebrating a new country radio No. 1 with their charming duet “Happy Anywhere.” And while marking the occasion last week, Stefani sure seemed ecstatic about the news. That’s because the happy couple’s hit song ascended to the top position on Mediabase’s Country Top 30 chart for the week ending Dec. 6. It’s an
After broken Covid-19 protocols postponed Morgan Wallen’s planned Saturday Night Live musical guest debut in October, the country singer appeared on the latest episode to perform two songs and appear in a sketch that poked fun at the circumstances of his nixed SNL visit. The sketch revisits the party in the week leading up to
In December 2000, the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and its accompanying soundtrack put bluegrass and traditional country music in the pop culture spotlight. The Coen Brothers satirical comedy-drama about three Great Depression-era chain gang escapees, loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey, prominently features the music of Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley and many others, and both the film
Carly Pearce imagines a reunion with a loved one in Heaven in her new song “Show Me Around.” The track is an emotional tribute to her late producer, Busbee. “I heard you got a brand-new place / Feels like at least a million miles away,” Pearce sings to open “Show Me Around,” painting a picture of
Clint Black‘s brand new duet with his wife, Lisa Hartman Black, shows that the coupled country music stars still possess the same vocal prowess that led them to perform as a pair of disguised entertainers on the current season of Fox’s The Masked Singer. But even though the twosome’s costumed revue as the Snow Owls
When producer T Bone Burnett’s soundtrack to the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? was released 20 years ago this month, it launched a roots-music boom. Many artists on the album — from new traditionalists Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss to bygone legends like Ralph Stanley — saw boosts to their careers,
Talk about an anniversary to remember! Thirty-six years ago today (Dec. 6, 1984), four of country music’s reigning superstars — Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson — convened to record “Highwayman,” a single that sparked an entire album, their name as a quartet and more than a decade of performing together. “Highwayman,”
Country artist J.D. Shelburne lets loose and has some much-needed fun in a lively new cover of “Run Run Rudolph.” “A lot of classic Christmas songs are slow, but the way 2020 has been, I wanted to put something out upbeat,” Shelburne says of his cover of the classic Christmas jingle. “I am pretty sure that the Chuck
Morgan Wallen and actor Jason Bateman appear all masked up alongside Saturday Night Live’s Heidi Gardner in two new promotional clips for this Saturday’s (Dec. 5) show. The country singer shows some natural comedic timing as he and Bateman play Gardner’s foil. When asked what they want for Christmas, both Bateman and Wallen say that appearing
After being dogged by both a Covid diagnosis and break-up rumors in November, Florida Georgia Line have announced their fifth studio album. Life Rolls On, stacked full with 16 tracks, arrives February 12th. The duo of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley produced the album with Corey Crowder, making it their first full-length album without longtime
Miranda Lambert is a country singer-songwriter, but she’s also a country record holder and ball-buster, literally. How well do you know the famous hitmaker? Anyone who can correctly answer three of the five questions in the trivia video below is doing pretty well. If you guessed four or even all five answers, we’ll assume you’re
Ty Herndon leans into the faith-filled side of the holiday season with “Orphans of God,” a powerful testament to God’s compassion for all people. He includes the song on his new Christmas album, Regifted. “Orphans of God” was originally recorded by contemporary Christian group Avalon and written by songwriters Joel Lindsay and Twila LaBar, who penned it
Before getting married on Dec. 5, 1993, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder Jeff Hanna and talented songwriter Matraca Berg bonded in a very sweet (literally) way. The two met on tour with Clint Black in the late 1980s, and before every show, they ate pie together — a tradition Berg says was “so country.” “We were married to different people when
Margo Price turns in a stripped-down cover of Joni Mitchell’s wistful Christmas classic “River” in a newly released video. A longtime Mitchell fan, Price originally performed her version of the song during a Planned Parenthood benefit in the fall. Performing solo at an electric piano, Price begins with the familiar “Jingle Bells” motif that underpins
Sixteen years ago today (Dec. 4, 2004), Gary Allan notched his third No. 1 single, “Nothing on But the Radio.” The song, which was written by Byron Hill, Brice Long and Odie Blackmon, was the third single from Allan’s 2003 album, See If I Care. The sexy lyrics of “Nothing on But the Radio” — including lines
There is nothing safe for work about Trey Lewis’ viral country song describing a woman and her many lovers across America. “D–ked Down in Dallas” rides a contemporary country-rock beat to the point that you might think it’s got Top 40 radio potential … until you get to the chorus. The lyrics to Lewis’ “D–ked Down in Dallas” (available at
Something is going on with Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. The pair of musicians, together known as the Wreckers, are teasing … well, something “coming soon.” On Wednesday (Dec. 2), Harp posted two neon sign-style “Coming Soon” graphics on her Twitter account, and one on her Instagram page, urging fans to follow newly created Wreckers Twitter
Robert Earl Keen’s annual Christmas shows are a tradition for the Texas singer-songwriter, and he’s determined to keep them going even in this uncertain year — albeit in a safety-first, socially distanced way. On December 10th, Keen will kick off his Merry Christmas From the Fam-O-Lee: Secret Santa Christmas Tour, a string of limited-capacity concerts.
Jon Pardi wants to get his wife what for Christmas? Newly married, the country singer is already dreaming up big plans regarding a holiday gift for his bride, Summer Duncan. And, truth be told, it’s exactly what Summer has requested this Christmas: a cow. But not just any cow. What Pardi’s partner wants is a very particular type of livestock
With just a scuffed-up acoustic guitar, a microphone and his cowboy hat, Cody Johnson digs deep into simple, classic country heartbreak with his cover of Reba McEntire‘s “Whoever’s in New England.” McEntire had a hit with this ballad in 1986, and it’s also the title track of her tenth studio album, the first of McEntire’s studio projects that
Taylor Swift has been working hard to re-record the material from her first six albums, and on Wednesday (Dec. 2), she offered fans a peek at one of the biggest songs of the bunch. A snippet of the country-turned-pop superstar’s remade version of “Love Story” appears in a new Match.com ad. Actor Ryan Reynolds, a good
A report from the Tennessee Department of Health Tuesday revealed that revered singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle died in August of an accidental “acute combined drug toxicity.” Earle’s family also announced the results of the singer’s autopsy report alongside a plea to help those struggling with addiction. “Next to alcohol and cocaine, the autopsy report revealed
Jade Bird‘s “Houdini” offers a different side of her forthcoming sophomore album, expected in 2021, than its debut release, “Headstart,” does. Delicate and lilting, the song uses Harry Houdini’s name and legacy as a famed illusionist as a stand-in for those who have walked out of her life in the past. “I had no control
Lady A‘s new holiday original “Christmas Through Your Eyes” is a deeply personal song that the bandmates all co-wrote together. Given its special significance, it’s only fitting that its music video is a nostalgic tribute to family, featuring footage of all three band members as children during the Christmas season. Fans can get a peek
For over 15 years and through six studio albums, Blackberry Smoke have helped define modern country music with their roots-inspired rock sound and Southern sensibilities. Hailing from Atlanta, Ga., the band released their first studio album in 2003 and have since added three Top 5 albums to their repertoire, with 2015’s Holding All the Roses and 2016’s
“It’s such a mindfuck.” That’s how Ingrid Andress sums up the disparity between the artists nominated for Best Country Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards and who’s being played on country radio. “It’s so funny, because if you look at the Grammy nominations, then you look at like the top five songs on the radio,
Time off the road has meant time to record new Christmas music for many of country music’s biggest stars. While some had albums in production to start 2020, several more packaged songs, EPs or television movies together for their fans this holiday season. A least three country-themed Christmas movies or television specials have been confirmed
For the 2020 CMA Country Christmas special, Darius Rucker teamed up with violinist Lindsey Stirling to perform the traditional holiday Christmas carol “What Child Is This.” Their performance will be part of the annual holiday broadcast on Monday night (Nov. 30), but before the show airs, the two artists dropped their holiday collaboration as a digital