Music

Pioneering country music legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday at 86 from complications related to Covid-19, was as equally influenced by blues and gospel music as he was country music. Although his biggest crossover hit, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” was nominated for a 1971 Grammy, the two trophies he won that year were for

Dangit, Chris Bandi! You gotta warn a guy about songs like “Would Have Loved Her” in advance. The piano-led ballad leaves you reaching for tissues before the chorus wraps, and then he starts a second verse that should come with a sign that reads “Game Over.” “Would Have Loved Her” is a time-stopper told best with a stripped-down performance like the one he gives

Darius Rucker was among the many country singers who turned to social media to react to the unexpected news of Charley Pride‘s death on Saturday (Dec.12), calling his friend “one of the finest people I know.” According to a statement from his publicist, Pride died in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, at the age of 86,

Ten years ago today (Dec. 13, 2010) was an unforgettable day for the Band Perry: It was on that date that the sibling trio, made up of Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry, landed at the top of the charts with their single “If I Die Young.” “If I Die Young,” which was the second single from TBP’s eponymous

Charley Pride, the pioneering black country singer known for such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” has died in Dallas, Texas, from complications related to Covid-19, according to his publicist. He was 86. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, in 1934, Pride picked cotton, played baseball in the Negro

Dierks Bentley channels The Office‘s Dwight Schrute and other memorable TV and movie icons in his inspired new music video for “Gone,” the latest single from the ever-entertaining country singer. The clip betrays the tune’s heartbroken vibe in a vibrant display of technicolor daydreams. While the song tells of a disappointed lover ruminating on their

Charley Pride has died. According to a press release from his representative, the country legend died on Saturday (Dec. 12) in Dallas, Texas of complications from COVID-19. He was 86 years old. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, on March 18, 1934, Pride became country music’s first Black superstar and the first Black member of the Country

Twenty-two years ago today (Dec. 12, 1998), Faith Hill struck chart gold. It was on that date that her single “Let Me Let Go” soared to No. 1. Vince Gill offers guest vocals on “Let Me Let Go,” and also appears in its dramatic video. The song was written by Dennis Morgan and Steve Diamond, who admit that

“Lovin’ a music man’s ain’t always what it’s supposed to be,” Journey’s Steve Perry sang in “Faithfully.” In his new song “Doing Life With Me,” Eric Church echoes that sentiment as he lists off all the burdens his loved ones had to carry as he pursued country music stardom. “It ain’t easy putting up with/a

Eric Church‘s newest release, “Doing Life With Me,” is a sweet, acoustic love song: to everyone who’s stuck by him through thick and thin. The country superstar premiered the track on Friday (Dec. 11). Written by Church with Casey Beathard and Jeffrey Steele, “Doin’ Life With Me” proclaims Church’s gratitude for those who love him,

Dolly Parton‘s 1974 fan-favorite “Jolene” has inspired hundreds of cover performances from artists of every background, genre and description in the decades since its release. But the country superstar says that someday, she’d like to hear another performer do a version of her song that’s massive and successful in its own right, and she’s got

Twenty-one years ago today (Dec. 11) was a big day for Brad Paisley: It was on this day in 1999 that the singer earned his first No. 1 hit with the song “He Didn’t Have to Be,” from his debut album, Who Needs Pictures. Paisley co-wrote “He Didn’t Have to Be” with his longtime friend and frequent

There are guys in country music who struggle to be funny, and then there’s Dierks Bentley. In his new video for “Gone,” the singer earns easygoing, natural laughs by gamely casting himself as doomed TV characters. He’s a Game of Thrones knight incinerated by a dragon, a MacGyver hero who snips the wrong time-bomb wire,

Carly Pearce wants to show fans that breakups aren’t sexy. In fact, they’re usually “Messy.” A clip of a new song released to social media on Thursday (Dec. 10) finds Pearce singing that “moving on is messy.” “It ain’t always gonna be a clean break / And it’s okay / Whatever it takes, these days

Dolly Parton may simply play an angel in her recent Netflix holiday special, Christmas on the Square, but the legendary country queen is a real-life angel to the 9-year-old actor she saved from an oncoming car on the set of the cheery movie. Indeed, young Talia Hill says Parton saved her life. The youngster and her two

Can you guess the most-played country songs of 2020? It sure has been a bang-up year for country music, despite the lack of live concerts because of the coronavirus pandemic. Country fans still logged plenty of listening time, and 10 tunes have emerged as the most-played country songs of the year. That’s how Billboard laid

Caylee Hammack is joined by Everclear’s Art Alexakis for a new rendition of the Nineties alt-rock smash “I Will Buy You a New Life” released on Wednesday. The collaboration comes on the heels of Alexakis’ surprise appearance in the Justin Clough-directed video for Hammack’s single “Just Friends.” Hammack’s rendition of the 1998 hit stays mostly

Cody Weaver explores vices (his and others’) in his new song “Cope.” He’s premiering the accompanying music video — a performance-based clip with a slow-mo-like effect — exclusively with The Boot; press play above to watch. Weaver’s new music video begins by following the artist, literally, from the sunlight into darkness, as he enters a shed with

Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire take a walk down memory lane in the music video for their duet version of Johnson’s single “Dear Rodeo.” During the clip, both country singers take turns walking the empty annals of a rodeo arena, remembering the careers that they had to say goodbye to. The video was filmed at the

It’s pretty rare for any artist to have huge success right out of the gate, but Miranda Lambert is one of the few. The country superstar earned a gold album certification from the RIAA for her debut album, Kerosene, in 2005. Lambert first came to national attention when she competed on Nashville Star in 2003, ultimately

Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on Monday night’s episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where he turned in a gritty rendition of “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice.” The song appears on Stapleton’s recently released album Starting Over. Penned by Stapleton with Al Anderson, “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice” rumbles with

Logan Mize and Clare Dunn are long-haul truckers looking for a little on-the-road companionship — and a little music — in their new “Get ‘Em Together” music video. Press play above to watch the clip, premiering exclusively on The Boot. From “somewhere in the Midwest,” Mize (“Little Logie Bear”) and Dunn (“Clare Bear”) connect via CB

Michael Ray‘s “Whiskey and Rain” couldn’t get any more ’90s country. The fiddle- and steel guitar-filled, Gary Allan-esque track finds Ray heartbroke as all get-out, drowning his sorrows in alcohol as the sky opens up outside. Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure co-wrote “Whiskey and Rain,” Ray’s first single from what will be his third studio album, produced

Country music’s top songs of 2020 show where the genre is headed, and for fans of a more traditional country sound, it could be a good thing. It’s hard to ignore the presence of fiddle, steel and time-tested country themes in songs from Luke Combs, Runaway June, Miranda Lambert and Kelsea Ballerini. Sam Hunt, Dan + Shay and Gabby Barrett

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

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