Music

On May 31, 2013, Cassadee Pope released her song “Wasting All These Tears.” The track was her debut country single, but far from her first foray into the music business. Pope was no stranger to music and touring by the time she dropped “Wasting All These Tears”: The Florida native had spent the previous few years

Blackberry Smoke lean way into their country side on the twangy “Lonesome for a Livin’,” a collaboration with Jamey Johnson that appears on the Southern-rock band’s new album, You Hear Georgia. Written by Blackberry Smoke singer Charlie Starr and Johnson, “Lonesome for a Livin’” is traditional country weeper, accented by pedal steel and crisp Telecaster.

Country music artists have a way of telling beautiful stories unlike the stars of any other genre — and some of country’s most touching songs are those penned about soldiers and the sacrifices they make in honor of our country. Everyone from Tim McGraw to Carrie Underwood has a spot on The Boot’s Top 10 Country Songs About Soldiers

Twenty-nine years ago today (May 30, 1992), Billy Ray Cyrus sealed his fate as a bona fide country music star. The singer’s debut single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” from his freshman album, Some Gave All, landed in the No. 1 spot, where it stayed for five weeks. The Marcy Brothers originally recorded “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1991,

“Cosmic Americana” duo Blue Cactus examine the seasons of a relationship in their song “Stranger Again,” and its accompanying music video, premiering exclusively on The Boot. Press play below to watch the brand-new clip. “On your mind / That’s where I want to be all the time,” Blue Cactus’ Mario Arnez and Steph Stewart sing in

B.J. Thomas, the vocalist who mixed the stylish sophistication of a pop crooner and the down-home soul of a country singer on songs like the 1969 smash “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” died Saturday in his Arlington, Texas home after a battle with lung cancer. He was 78. A rep for Thomas confirmed the

The best weekend of Garth Brooks‘ life ended on a very, very sad note. Hours after the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in Washington D.C., a man whose song was instrumental in getting him there died. Dewayne Blackwell wrote many hit songs over many decades, including “Mr. Blue” for the Fleetwoods in 1959, and “I’m Gonna

Seventeen years ago today (May 29, 2004) was a life-altering day for Gretchen Wilson: It was on that date that her debut single, “Redneck Woman,” claimed the No. 1 spot on the charts and stayed at the top for an impressive five weeks. “Redneck Woman” comes from Wilson’s freshman album, Here for the Party, which also

Drew Parker‘s major-label debut single, “While You’re Gone,” is also the title track of his newest EP. And while it may be the first time many country fans are hearing Parker’s voice on the radio, it’s unlikely to be the first time they’ve heard his words: He’s a seasoned songwriter who helped create “Homemade” for Jake

Like Eric Church did in his live favorite “These Boots,” the new country duo Southerland celebrate that great equalizer — reliable and often well-worn boots – in the title track to their just released EP, Boot Up. But while Church charted the journey of one particular pair of boots in his 2006 Sinners Like Me track,

Drew Holcomb knows what it’s like to play one of those early-in-the-day festival slots. The crowds can be light, the summertime sun can be scorching — but the payoff can really be worth it. “That’s how I found a lot of fans over the years, was being that artist on the bill that’s, like, first

Ray Scott came from one of those one-stoplight, lots-of-dirt-roads sort of towns: the towns that people leave in order to make their dreams come true. The towns they return to when they have lived out those dreams. Indeed, Scott did just that for his new music video “I was doing some shows in Greensboro and

Yola finds freedom, thanks to the power inside her, in her new song “Stand for Myself.” The title track of her new album is accompanied by a music video inspired by the aesthetics of clips from the 1990s and 2000s. Directed by Allister Ann, Yola’s “Stand for Myself” music video in, as she describes it, “the

Molly Tuttle’s covers EP …but i’d rather be with you, too was a quiet surprise upon its release earlier this month, with the bluegrass singer, songwriter and guitarist interpreting songs like “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with guests like Nathaniel Rateliff. On Thursday, Tuttle released a live performance video of her rendition of Sheryl Crow’s

Colt Ford is getting back to work after an admittedly difficult year — one that he has revealed was even more trying due to a health scare. In a new interview, the trailblazing country rapper shares that he recently underwent surgery after doctors diagnosed him with eye cancer. Ford’s health ordeal started in March of 2021,

On May 27, 2016, Dierks Bentley released his eighth studio album, Black. Five years later, its title track and third single, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, is popular on the video-focused app TikTok — so much so, in fact, that there’s a Make My World Go Black EP, featuring songs from the

Two weeks after Ellen DeGeneres announced that she’s retiring from her daytime television talk show, her replacement has been revealed. Kelly Clarkson will take the coveted time slot in 2022. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the move on Wednesday (May 26), pointing out that both shows are primarily broadcast on NBC channels nationwide. The two-year-old Kelly Clarkson

Three of country music’s most popular male artists will headline the 2021 Faster Horses Festival. Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, and Thomas Rhett will each close out a night of the three-day Brooklyn, Michigan, country gathering. Set for July 16th through 18th, Faster Horses 2021 is essentially the 2020 edition, at least in terms of headliners

Every morning, Chase Rice makes it a priority to talk to God a little bit. And in one particular, pre-pandemic conversation, the North Carolina native had a rather an interesting request. “I remember telling Him that I needed some real in my life, because I truly didn’t know what was real anymore,” Rice remembers in

The more things change, the more they stay the same — even when it comes to heartbreak, as Stephanie Erin Wittmer discovers in her new song “The Difference.” She’s premiering the brand-new track exclusively with The Boot; press play below to listen. “Nothing’s different, it’s all the same,” Wittmer sings in the chorus of “The Difference”

Thomas Rhett made a special stop on The Voice on Tuesday night (May 25), appearing remotely to perform his current single, “Country Again.” “Country Again” is the title track of his latest release, Country Again: Side A, which came out in late April and is the first installment of a double album. It’s one of the most traditional

Joy Oladokun will release her major label debut In Defense of My Own Happiness on Friday, June 4th. The project follows the Nashville singer-songwriter’s identically titled 2020 project, which was released independently, as well as a slew of successful singles. The new In Defense of My Own Happiness just has a small overlap with the

Reyna Roberts is a self-described “really shy and awkward, and just really nerdy” — which is somewhat hard to believe coming from such a talkative, bubbly and fashionable person, but talk with her a little while and she’s sure to drop a Star Wars reference or two. It’s not too surprising, then, to learn the inspiration behind

Dale Ann Bradley has turned some of her earliest musical memories into a new performance of her own. Her version of “L.A. International Airport” appears on her latest album, and its music video is premiering exclusively on The Boot. “This is such a classic country song,” Bradley reflects. Leanne Scott wrote the song, which David

After releasing the solo project And It’s Still Alright in 2020, Nathaniel Rateliff will reassemble his band the Night Sweats for a summer and fall tour. The Americana soul singer announced the 24-date trek on Monday. Rateliff’s tour kicks off July 20th in Charlotte, North Carolina, and runs through mid-October, with an array of rotating

During the first installment of The Voice season finale on Monday night (May 24), each contestant was asked to selected a “dedication song” honoring something or someone. For staunchly country contestant Kenzie Wheeler, who hails from Team Kelly, that meant tipping his hat to his hometown with a Tracy Byrd cover. Wheeler selected “The Keeper

In hindsight, Blake Shelton was an unlikely choice for one of four high-profile coaching jobs on NBC’s The Voice. Ten years later, however, he’s the face of the show, to the point that it’s impossible to imagine the reality show continuing without him. How did that happen? In 2011, Shelton was a rising star with potential,

Dustin Lynch and Chris Lane splash into summertime on their new track ”Tequila on a Boat.” Penned by Hillary Lindsey, Justin Ebach and Matt Alderman, the summer party anthem is carried by a feel-good beat and has sunny lyrics to match. Lynch and Lane break down the elements of their perfect summer boat day in the track’s chorus. “Tequila

Joshua Ray Walker kicked off a tour with the duo Carolina Story on Wednesday night at City Winery in Nashville, delivering a tight 30-minute set of songs off his two stellar albums, Wish You Were Here and Glad You Made It. Alas, the Texas singer-songwriter’s cover of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” didn’t make the set list.

Luke Bryan briefly swapped his judge’s chair for a spot on the stage — and his country twang for glam rock – during the American Idol finale on Sunday night (May 23), inviting recently-eliminated contestant Casey Bishop back to the stage for a duet performance of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” The 15-year-old Florida native was a standout Idol