Music

Twenty-seven years ago today, on Dec. 17, 1994, Joe Diffie received an early Christmas present: It was on that date that his single “Pickup Man,” from his Third Rock From the Sun album, landed at the top of the charts, where it stayed for four consecutive weeks. “Pickup Man,” written by Howard Perdew and Kerry

It’s been a year of transition for many artists as plans delayed by the initial COVID-19 outbreak finally came together. As a result, music fans were treated to a wave of incredible releases by artists both established and new. There was something for every type of country music fan this year, with releases that mixed pop

This month’s inaugural AmericaFest 2021, a multi-day conference presented by Turning Point USA, has a predictably heavy-duty lineup of controversial speakers and politicians ready to gin up conservative outrage: Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Marjorie Taylor Greene are among the usual suspects. But the event, set for Dec. 18 to 21 at the Phoenix Convention

Soon after being named winners of Season 21 of The Voice, sibling trio Girl Named Tom offered a heartbreaking update on their father’s cancer battle. The group — Caleb, Joshua and Bekah Liechty — previously revealed their dad’s terminal cancer diagnosis during the Battle Rounds of The Voice, singing Glen Campbell‘s “Wichita Lineman” in his

Twelve years ago today, on Dec. 16, 2009, Lady A (then known as Lady Antebellum) had one million reasons to celebrate: It was on that date that the trio’s single “Need You Now,” released on Aug. 24 of that same year, earned platinum status. “Need You Now” was the title track of Lady A’s sophomore album, written by bandmates Dave

The Way Down Wanderers’ latest album More Like Tomorrow is a journey: The Peoria, Illinois, band blends string music with art-rock dramatics and boasts two lead singers in brothers-in-law Collin Krause and Austin Krause-Thompson. When they harmonize, it’s halfway to a religious experience. But the five-piece — rounded out by drummer John Merikoski, bassist John

Billboard released its year-end round-up of the top-selling country artists by album sales for 2021, and many of the genre’s A-listers made the Top 10. Fans won’t be surprised to see Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan on the list: They all put out big-ticket albums this year. Shelton and Aldean released Body Language

Eighteen years ago today (Dec. 15, 2003), Keith Urban earned platinum status (signifying sales in excess of one million units) for his self-titled debut album. Keith Urban, which was released in 1999, was Urban’s first solo project since performing as part of the band the Ranch. The country star released the eponymous disc on Capitol Nashville, and

Harper Grae takes a pause to reflect on past relationships in “I Think About You.” The track’s stunning new music video is premiering exclusively today on The Boot; press play below to listen. Sometimes the smallest things can transport you back to a long passed moment in time. Grae’s latest single, “I Think About You,” acknowledges those little

Dan + Shay brought a sense of holiday cheer to The Tonight Show with a heartfelt performance of their recent single “Officially Christmas.” Surrounded by Christmas decor and dressed in tuxedos, the pair and their live band offered a festive atmosphere as they declared, “It’s officially Christmas/ and I’m officially yours.” The duo released “Officially

Wendy Moten from Team Blake performed twice on Monday night (Dec. 13) during night one of the Season 21 finale on The Voice. Vying for a chance to win the top prize, she took the stage to sing Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.” Dressed in a glittery outfit, Moten, 57, was the epitome of

Happy birthday, Taylor Swift! The singer was born on Dec. 13, 1989, in Reading, Pa., to Scott, a financial adviser, and Andrea, a former mutual fund marketing executive. Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Wyomissing, Pa., with her parents and younger brother Austin, spending summers at her family’s home in Stone Harbor,

After a two-year hiatus, the PBS program Bluegrass Underground will return from its pandemic pause with a new season in 2022. The tapings for the new episodes run March 18 to March 20 at the subterranean concert venue the Caverns in Grundy County, Tennessee, with performers including Asleep at the Wheel and Molly Tuttle &

December 13, 2021 Where Are They Now? : 90’s ‘Crush’ Singer Jennifer Paige Jennifer Paige on Christmas Day 1998, A Few Months After ‘Crush’ Hit The Radio [embedded content] Jennifer Paige born September 3, 1973 is an American singer best known for the 1998 international pop hit “Crush”. “Crush” topped the charts in Australia, Canada,

Tim McGraw was still in character in at least one major way as he and wife Faith Hill walked the red carpet in Las Vegas prior to the world premiere of 1883 over the weekend. The two country singers lead a cast that also includes Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, LaMonica Garrett and Isabela May. All were

Thirty-two years ago today (Dec. 9, 1989) is a day that Garth Brooks will undoubtedly never forget. It was on that date that the country music hitmaker earned his first No. 1 song with “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” a tune that he co-wrote with Kent Blazy for his self-titled freshman album. “There are a lot of

Blame the pandemic, the dying planet, or our rapid transition into United States: Fury Road, but there’s a lot of soul searching going on these days. Some artists, especially in the Americana genre, are even looking to the heavens. Brent Cobb is releasing a gospel album in January, Hiss Golden Messenger sing hymns religious and

December 11, 2021 FEATURED, Music News Christmas Has Come Early For Fans Of Jennifer Hudson As She Presents ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’   Meeting widespread fan demand for holiday music, Academy® Award-winning actress and GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Jennifer Hudson presents a showstopping take on “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Get it HERE via Epic Records. Hudson’s instantly recognizable vocals lift

In a new interview, Faith Hill opens up about how Tim McGraw supported her through the difficult death of her father in 2019. The couple are featured on the cover of People to promote their new TV project 1883, which is a prequel to Yellowstone, and they talk about what marriage looks like to them and

Twenty-five years ago today, on Dec. 12, 1996, Clint Black was celebrating yet another career milestone: It was on that date that the singer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sealing his status as a bona fide superstar. At the time of Black’s induction onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he had released five

“In recovery, they have this saying: ‘You’re only as sick as your secrets.’ And I have very few secrets,” Mary Gauthier says. The songwriter isn’t being dramatic. In songs like “I Drink” and “Mercy Now,” she wrote and sang openly about her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. Yet somehow Gauthier proved herself to be

Old Crow Medicine Show will release their seventh studio album this spring. Paint This Town finds the Grammy Award winners returning to their trademark sound, rooted in traditional folk with a modern twist. To coincide with the announcement, the band shared their upcoming record’s title track on Wednesday (Dec. 8) with a music video directed by Travis

Sure, “Soul” might feel like a little bit of a left turn for fans of Lee Brice‘s more traditional country music — and the singer even admits that at the beginning, he was a little nervous for the song to be a single, because it felt like a risk. “It kinda did for a minute,” he

Happy 16th anniversary to Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood! The couple wed on this day, Dec. 10, in 2005, at their home in Owasso, Okla. Brooks and Yearwood first sang together on “Like We Never Had a Broken Heart,” from Yearwood’s self-titled debut album, which was released in 1991; they teamed up again for “In Another’s Eyes,”

Tim McGraw has announced a series of dates for a U.S. tour set to launch next spring. Dubbed McGraw Tour 2022, the trek will kick off April 29 at Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas. Running 17 dates in total, McGraw’s tour will stick largely to the eastern half of the country, visiting Tampa, Atlanta, and

Rob Aldridge finds himself struggling to stay afloat amid a toxic relationship in ”Poor Taste,” his new song with his band the Proponents. The track and its accompanying music video are premiering exclusively on The Boot; press play below to listen. “Poor Taste” is a collaboration with fellow Muscle Shoals-based artists Wanda Wesolowski and the second single from the

Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks first met in 1987, before Brooks became a household name in country music. They recorded a demo together, and the “Friends in Low Places” hitmaker promised her that if he made it big, she’d be able to open for him. Turns out, he did make it big — really big — and was

Willie Nelson‘s trademark braids make him one of the most instantly recognizable celebrities in the world — but he looked a little (okay, a lot) different in his early years. In fact, younger fans may not recognize the singer in photos from when he first entered the music scene! Before Nelson became one of music’s biggest icons,

Natalie Hemby appeared on Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show to perform the title track from her latest album, Pins and Needles. Joined by her live band, the singer-songwriter showcased the rollicking country number in the midst of a forest at night. Hemby released Pins and Needles, her second solo album and follow-up to 2017’s

In ”Sanctuary Song,” indie roots duo Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno show the power of a single story. Documenting the tragic deaths of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramirez and his toddler daughter Valeria, who drowned in the Río Grande in 2019 while trying to seek sanctuary in the United States, the track is simple and stripped-down, with