Music

So, How Was Your 2020? is a series in which our favorite entertainers answer our questionnaire about the music, culture and memorable moments that shaped their year. We’ll be rolling these pieces out throughout December. Brent Cobb spent the year making what he calls “country music for grown folks,” which is to say, country songs that

Chris Janson says that there’s one important Christmas tradition he grew up with that he’s hoping to pass on to his kids. “I have to attribute a lot to my dad for always making Christmas about someone else,” the singer explained backstage at CMA Country Christmas in 2019, before hitting the stage for his performance. ”He would always pick a family

The year 2020 has been an historic one, and not necessarily in good ways. The United States is still navigating life in a global pandemic, people across the country protested racial injustice with a renewed fervor throughout the summer, and we dealt with a contentious presidential election in the fall. In tumultuous times, many of us

Lilly Hiatt hosts an impromptu solo concert for herself in the new video for “P-Town,” a standout track from her 2020 album Walking Proof. Hiatt’s sister Georgia Rae makes her directorial debut with the clip, which centers on Hiatt’s visit to a self-storage facility. Against the unit’s lime-green door, Hiatt drapes turquoise streamers and colorful

Not everyone can say their newest single debuted atop iTunes’ all-genre and country charts (and after only one day, at that), but country newcomer Lily Rose can, and it’s a pinch-me-worthy truth. The vibey, raw country track is “Villain,” and the acoustic version is available to watch right here: Rose — a fresh face in the

For whatever reason, nostalgia for Barbara Mandrell‘s music seems minimal in comparison to the fame she earned as a recording artist and variety television show host. Nowadays, the common narrative on her peak commercial years (1977-1986) takes us from the celebrity appeal of Kenny Rogers to Randy Travis‘ role in a classic country revival. At best,

Lori McKenna is a double threat: She’s as talented a singer as she is a songwriter — and that’s dang talented. McKenna’s penned huge hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Hunter Hayes and more, but she’s also cultivated a formidable solo career, with 10 studio albums to her name. She’s won Grammy Awards for

K.T. Oslin, the first female songwriter to win the CMA Award for Song of the Year, for her 1987 hit “80’s Ladies,” died Monday at 78. Oslin had been battling Parkinson’s disease and was diagnosed with Covid-19 last week, according to her friend, the journalist Robert K. Oermann, who confirmed her death. Oslin, born Kay

The Lumineers‘ new rendition of “Silent Night” serves a higher purpose: The next year’s worth of proceeds from the band’s cover of the Christmas classic will benefit the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. Wesley Schultz and Lauren Jacobson’s harmonies make this version of “Silent Night” the Lumineers’ own. They’re accompanied throughout, simply. by

K.T. Oslin’s legacy is being celebrated by fans and country singers who were inspired by her songs, talent and moxie. Her Top 40 country radio career was brief — just five years — but her impact was as long-lasting as her biggest hit. “Do Ya” is the song fans think of first when Oslin’s name comes

In their new original song “Christmas Through Your Eyes,” Lady A reflect on how becoming parents has made the holiday season even richer, as they’re able to rediscover the magic of Christmas through the eyes of their children. Between them, the trio have six kids: Charles Kelley and his wife Cassie have one son, four-and-a-half-year-old Ward, and Dave

Back in May, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires premiered his new album Reunions during a stripped-down livestream concert at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. On New Year’s Eve, the songwriter will return to the venue with Shires and his full band, the 400 Unit, for another livestream gig. Streaming exclusively on Fans.live, the concert begins at 8

Brantley Gilbert is celebrating nine years of sobriety, and the country singer turned to social media on Friday (Dec. 18) to offer his thanks to everyone who has helped to keep him on the right path. “9 years drink free today, and couldn’t have done it without my family, my brothers, my road family and the

Today is a monumental anniversary for Randy Travis: It was on this date 34 years ago (Dec. 20, 1986) that he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Travis’ induction into the Opry came only six months after the release of Storms of Life, his first album on Warner Bros. That record spawned four No.

In an alternate reality, Maren Morris was on the road all last summer, headlining her RSVP Tour. The pandemic quashed those plans and, faced with yet another round of postponed dates, Morris has decided to pull the plug. The songwriter, whose hit “The Bones” is nominated for a Best Country Song Grammy, made the announcement

Sturgill Simpson‘s newly released Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions features bluegrass versions of songs in his back catalog — that is, until its 12th and final track. The album-ending “Hobo Cartoon” is a previously unreleased song, co-written by none other than the late Merle Haggard. Simpson has been “sitting on [the track] for about

Maren Morris has canceled her tour dates for 2021, but there’s still some good news for fans. The singer won’t be hitting the road for her RSVP: The Tour in the upcoming year, but she has revealed that she’s working on her third album. Morris turned to social media late Friday (Dec. 18) to make

Forty years ago today, on Dec. 19, 1980, Dolly Parton made her big-screen debut, appearing in the movie 9 to 5. A comedy based on three working women, the film also starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. 9 to 5 was a major box office hit. Parton played one of the leading characters, Doralee Rhodes, a secretary

Marcus King performed his song “Wildflowers & Wine” on Wednesday night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, leading his band through the soul-inflected tune from his album El Dorado. Backed by a full band that includes fellow singer-songwriter Maggie Rose as one of his backup singers, South Carolina native King shows off his

Brett Young adds flair to the holiday season with his rendition of “Silver Bells.” The country crooner is contributing his distinct style to one of his favorite Christmas songs, spicing it up with an R&B flavor. Young is suave and subdued as he adds his own vibe to the Christmas classic. A soft guitar solo contributes to the song’s sense of

Roots fans will hear a familiar voice in the trailer for Justin Timberlake’s new drama film Palmer. “Redemption,” a new song by Nathaniel Rateliff, soundtracks the preview, released on Thursday (Dec. 17). Written, performed, co-produced and co-mixed by Rateliff — who had production and mixing help from Pat Meese and James Barone, also the song’s engineers

The country music family is growing in 2020. A number of artists have welcomed new babies to their broods — glimmers of hope during a tumultuous year. Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd became first-time parents this spring: Son Hayes Andrew Hurd arrived in late March. Morgan Wallen, meanwhile, surprised fans with the news of his

“Just set me free,” Nathaniel Rateliff repeats over and over like a mantra in his new song “Redemption.” Written especially for the upcoming Apple Original movie Palmer, starring Justin Timberlake, the ballad starts quietly but builds, with haunting claps and stomps, to a wall-of-sound crescendo. “Keep running until we learn to find peace,” he sings.

Alfred Howard‘s new collaboration with folk duo Siren Songs continues an ambitious, year-long experiment from the prolific and diverse musician: Write, record and release a total of 100 songs, two per week. Ahead of the Thursday (Dec. 17) release of “Letter to Your Heart,” readers can press play below to listen. Siren Songs’ Jenn Grinels and Merideth Kaye

Runaway June‘s Naomi Cooke is engaged, she revealed on social media Tuesday (Dec. 15). Her fiancé is her boyfriend of the last year and a half, Martin Johnson, the musician behind the John Mayer-endorsed pop-rockers the Night Game as well as emo kingpins Boys Like Girls. Instagram followers of both performers were likely already aware of

Singer-songwriter Van Plating went the spontaneous route when creating her newest music video, for her single “Bird on a Wire.” The clip, premiering exclusively on The Boot, captures both the golden hour of a summertime afternoon in Florida and the lyrics’ dreamy, pensive qualities. “Usually when I create a visual for my work, there’s an inspo

So, How Was Your 2020? is a series in which our favorite entertainers answer our questionnaire about the music, culture and memorable moments that shaped their year. We’ll be rolling these pieces out throughout December. In late February, Amanda Shires’ supergroup the Highwomen picked up a nomination for the 2020 ACM Awards. That event, which typically

Trace Adkins bucks against the notion of the cattleman rogue while displaying the type of earnest and family-based worker he represents in his ”Ain’t That Kind of Cowboy” music video. The song, written by Justin Lantz and Stephen Wilson, is the title track from Adkins’ recent EP of the same name, released in October. The six-song

Kacey Musgraves is making her debut in the world of voice acting. She will lend her voice to the English-language version of Earwig and the Witch, an animated film from the Tokyo-based studio Studio Ghibli, alongside actors Dan Stevens and Richard E. Grant, per the Hollywood Reporter. Based on a novel by UK author Diana Wynne Jones,