Album Review – Whey Jennings – “Baptized By Fire”
Whey Jennings, grandson of Waylon Jennings, releases his sophomore album "Baptized By Fire," his first full‑length effort after a 2020 faith‑based rehabilitation that erased his earlier catalog. The record fuses outlaw‑country grit with overt Christian themes, delivering standout tracks like “Can’t Outrun a Train” and a duet with Karen Waldrup, while some songs feel dated. Critics note the artist’s unapologetic authenticity but point to occasional cliché‑laden moments. The album earns a 7.8/10 rating, signaling solid craftsmanship amid uneven execution.
Jake Worthington Announces Hiatus “To Work On Myself”
Traditional country singer Jake Worthington announced a hiatus on May 22, saying he needs time to work on himself for his family. The pause clears his tour schedule through late July, removing openings with Luke Combs in Montreal and Toronto as well...
Album Review – William Alexander’s “Along The Boundary Line”
Australian singer‑songwriter William Alexander releases his new album *Along The Boundary Line*, a collection of nine self‑penned tracks and a Slim Dusty cover that leans heavily into traditional Aussie country. Alexander, a 2025 CMAA Thorton Young Award winner, draws on...
Album Review – Ryan Bingham’s “They Call Us The Lucky Ones”
Ryan Bingham returns with *They Call Us The Lucky Ones*, his first full‑length release in seven years, backed by his touring band the Texas Gentlemen. The record leans into gritty, slide‑laden Americana, trading polished production for a raw, sweaty feel....
Album Review – Braxton Keith’s “Real Damn Deal”
Braxton Keith’s long‑awaited debut, "Real Damn Deal," arrives after a seven‑year build‑up, delivering fifteen tracks that champion traditional country while injecting youthful vigor. The album mixes classic Western swing, heartfelt duets and a few pop‑leaning experiments, showcasing Keith’s range as...
Album Review – Bobby Dove’s “Fortune Teller”
Bobby Dove’s third album, Fortune Teller, merges classic country sensibilities with Americana storytelling, creating a vivid travelogue of a touring musician’s search for love, place, and purpose. Highlights include the outlaw‑styled “Trans Canadian Blues,” a heartfelt duet with Jim Lauderdale...
Kenny Whitmire Signs New Deal with MCA – Readies Debut EP
Kenny Whitmire, a rising neotraditional country singer, has inked a record deal with MCA Records. The partnership will launch his debut EP, Fool In A King Size Bed, slated for release on June 12, 2026. The seven‑track collection blends six previously...
What’s (Likely) Going On with Charley Crockett’s New Album “Clovis”
Charley Crockett surprise‑released his Americana album *Clovis* on April 28, only to have it pulled from streaming services on May 6. The removal follows his public criticism of Island Records, the label that still promotes his prior album *Age of the Ram*,...
Ballhooter Festival Offers Beefy New Lineup for 2026
The Ballhooter Festival returns to Cheat Mountain’s Snowshoe Resort for a three‑day summer edition on Labor Day weekend, September 4‑6, 2026. Headliners Turnpike Troubadours, 49 Winchester and Morgan Wade will anchor a lineup that also includes Sam Bush, The Record Company and...
Album Review – Ashley McBryde’s “Wild”
Ashley McBryde’s eleventh‑track album *Wild* erupts with hard‑rock guitars, Southern‑rock swagger, and raw lyrical themes centered on sobriety and moral conflict. Produced by John Osborne, the record opens with four aggressive tracks that challenge traditional country radio expectations, while the middle...
Emergency New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#178)
Saving Country Music released its latest Top 25 playlist, adding seven new tracks from both established and emerging country artists. Highlights include Joshua Ray Walker’s “Shoot Me Straight” from his May 29 album ‘Ain’t Dead Yet’, Kacey Musgraves’ “Loneliest Girl” as the...
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reveals New Names for 2026 Lineup
The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion announced 25 additional performers for its September 11‑13, 2026 festival, expanding an already robust roster. Headliners such as Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Ferrell, and Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives anchor the event, while newcomers like Johnny Mullenax and the ETSU Bluegrass Band broaden the musical mix....
Miranda Lambert Teases New Music Mixing Country and … Disco?
Country star Miranda Lambert has inked a new recording contract with MCA, marking her first album release since moving to Republic/Big Loud for 2024’s *Postcards From Texas*. On April 30 she sent fans a teaser featuring two glittery cans labeled “Country”...
2026 Songwriter Serenade Announces Finalists and Winner
The 19th annual Songwriter Serenade took place in Schulenburg, Texas on May 2, 2026, awarding first‑place to Natalie Price of Madison, Tennessee, who received $2,000. Second‑place went to Nashville’s Claire Kelly ($1,500) and third to Charlie Chamberlain ($1,000). All 15 semi‑finalists earned cash, with...
Album Review – Charley Crockett’s Surprise Album “Clovis”
Charley Crockett surprised fans by releasing his twelfth album *Clovis* directly from his iPhone, undercutting the promotional cycle of his recent Island Records project. Recorded at the iconic Norman Petty Studio in New Mexico, the album channels the town’s historic vibe and...
David Allan Coe’s New Posthumous Album Comes with Serious Questions
David Allan Coe died at 86 on April 29, 2026, leaving a shelved 2017 album recorded with Average Joes Entertainment. The project, delayed for years over sales concerns, is now slated for release on September 6, 2026—what would have been Coe’s 87th birthday—according to...
Outlaw Country Legend David Allan Coe Has Died
David Allan Coe, the outlaw country icon known for his gritty lyrics and rebellious persona, died at 86 on April 29. His career spanned decades, producing hits like “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” “Longhaired Redneck,” and penning...
Reckless Kelly Pulls a Taylor Swift and Makes New Recordings
Alt‑country veterans Reckless Kelly announced a double‑LP, Alternate Routes, releasing May 15, featuring re‑recorded versions of their classic songs. The project lets the band reclaim ownership of the masters, mirroring moves by Taylor Swift and John Fogerty. Recorded in three days at Austin’s...
Red Clay Strays Reveal New Album, 2026 Tour Dates
The Red Clay Strays will release their new album *Grateful* on June 5, produced by veteran Dave Cobb, featuring a blend of roots music and spiritual motifs rather than a full gospel record. Frontman Brandon Coleman describes the project as a...
Album Review – Struggle Jennings – “Last Name”
Struggle Jennings released his new album “Last Name” on April 23, 2026, signaling a shift from his country‑rap roots toward a faith‑focused contemporary country sound. The record leans heavily on collaborations with Grammy‑winning Jelly Roll and blends redemption‑themed lyrics with...
Wayne Moss – Guitarist on “Pretty Woman” And “Jolene” – Has Died
Wayne Moss, the legendary Nashville session guitarist who contributed iconic riffs to songs by Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and many others, died on April 20 at age 88. Starting in 1959, he became a go‑to musician for country and rock artists, earning credits...
This Feels Big: Miranda Lambert Inks New Deal with MCA
Miranda Lambert has signed a new recording contract with MCA, marking her first major label shift since her debut with Sony imprints. While her 2024 album *Postcards From Texas* under Republic/Big Loud peaked at #8 on the country charts, the...
The Unlikely Friendship Between Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard
Gram Parsons’ 2026 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reignited debate over his country‑music credentials. In 1968 he traveled to Bakersfield to secure Merle Haggard’s blessing for the Byrds’ cover of “Life In Prison,” and the two later plotted...
Album Review – Vincent Neil Emerson’s “Blue Stars”
Vincent Neil Emerson’s ninth studio effort, "Blue Stars," earns an 8.2/10 rating and showcases twelve tracks that weave classic country, Western and Cajun‑inspired sounds. The album opens with breezy mood‑setters before moving into autobiographical storytelling and a second half that...
Album Review – Alex Miller’s “More Country Than You”
Alex Miller, the Lancaster, Kentucky‑born singer‑songwriter, drops his sophomore album “More Country Than You,” a ten‑track collection that leans heavily into traditional country aesthetics. The record reunites him with producer Jerry Salley and features notable collaborators such as fiddle virtuoso...
Rock Hall of Fame Beats Country to Inducting Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons, the late country‑rock pioneer, was announced as a 2026 inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Early Influence category. The honor arrives alongside artists such as Celia Cruz, Queen Latifah and Fela Kuti, and follows recommendation letters from...
Spacey Kacey Musgraves Spotting UFOs Is Pure Gold
Country star Kacey Musgraves claimed to see three UFO‑like orbs while exiting a plane on April 9, posting a video that quickly went viral. Space‑sceptic Mick West identified the lights as Starlink satellite horizon flares, matching the video’s timing and motion....
Texas Music Revolution Fest Reveals 2026 Lineup, New Documentary
The Texas Music Revolution Fest marks its 30th anniversary in June 2026, returning to McKinney, Texas for a two‑day showcase. The lineup features Texas stalwarts such as Shane Smith & the Saints, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and special guest Kiefer Sutherland. Alongside...
40 Years Ago: The Love Story of Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan Begins
Lorrie Morgan first heard Keith Whitley’s voice while singing demos at Acuff‑Rose in 1985, sparking a personal and professional partnership that led to their marriage in November 1986. After Whitley’s tragic death in 1989, Morgan became the driving force behind...
New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#176)
Saving Country Music released its latest Top 25 Current Playlist, adding eight fresh tracks from emerging and established country‑roots artists. Highlights include Emily Zeck’s vintage‑styled "Old Is Gold," John R. Miller’s John Prine‑inspired "If You Could Only See Me Now," and Rachel...
Album Review – Drayton Farley’s “A Heavy Duty Heart”
Drayton Farley’s new album “A Heavy Duty Heart” delivers a mix of country‑rock and Americana, pairing steel‑guitar‑driven ballads with anthemic rock numbers. The record continues his partnership with guitarist Sader Vaden, the same collaborator from his 2023 release “Twenty On...
Gruene Hall Unveils Loaded Lineup for New “Still Rammin’ Fest”
Gruene Hall announced the Still Ramblin’ Fest, a one‑day country and roots music showcase set for May 17, with proceeds benefiting Austin’s SIMS Foundation. The lineup includes ten emerging Texas artists, from Vincent Neil Emerson to Shelby Stone, performing in the...
Killer Lineup for Tanner Usrey’s 2026 Memorial Benefit
Tanner Usrey is hosting the Down Range Memorial Benefit on May 24, 2026 at Union 28 Tap House in Midlothian, Texas. The all‑day concert showcases a Southern‑rock lineup including The Droptines, Them Dirty Roses, Taylor Hunnicutt, Lance Roark, Kirk House and Canaan Bryce....
Yes, George Strait Actually Wrote New Songs in His Career
George Strait, often labeled a non‑songwriter, actually has a modest catalog of original material spanning his 40‑year career. He wrote solo tracks like “I Can’t See Texas From Here” (1982) and contributed several songs to his 1995 box set. From...
Album Review- Paul Cauthen’s “Book Of Paul”
Paul Cauthen’s ninth studio effort, *Book of Paul*, drops to an 8/10 rating, marking what reviewers call his most mature and introspective work yet. The album arrives after a turbulent period that included a 2023 drug bust, a 2025 papillary...
10 Years After Merle Haggard’s Death, His Legacy Looms Large … Yet Elusive
Ten years after Merle Haggard’s 2016 death, his music still dominates country playlists and inspires tributes from artists like Cody Johnson and Jamey Johnson. Haggard reportedly left 300‑400 unreleased songs in a personal archive, yet none have surfaced despite growing...
Album Review – Charley Crockett’s “Age of the Ram”
Charley Crockett’s latest release, *Age of the Ram*, caps his ambitious Sagebrush Trilogy with a 20‑track concept album that follows the fictional outlaw Billy McLane. The record fuses Western storytelling with country, blues, and R&B, delivering standout songs like “Kentucky Too...
Palomino Club, Otis Gibbs & Todd Snider, Leroy Virgil Ready Film Projects
Three new film projects are set to spotlight country and roots music history. "The Palomino," a documentary on the iconic North Hollywood club, will debut on April 25 at the Country Music Hall of Fame, featuring interviews with Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams...
Album Review – The Droptines – “Drought Flower”
The Droptines released their sophomore album “Drought Flower” on April 3, 2026, earning an 8.2 out of 10 from critics. The record fuses Texas‑rooted alt‑country textures with propulsive indie‑rock arrangements, highlighted by frontman Conner Arthur’s unflinching lyricism. Guest appearances from Zandi Holdup and Sarah Jarosz...
Ne-Yo Wants to Be Country with New Song. But He’s No Alan Jackson
R&B star Ne‑Yo released the country‑crossover single “Up, Out, & Gone,” debuting it at the Grand Ole Opry in November 2025. While the track features a faint steel‑guitar line, critics argue it sounds more like his usual R&B style than...
Ella Langley Chooses Texas Artists for New “Choosin’ Texas” Video
Ella Langley released an extended seven‑minute "Choosin’ Texas" video on April 1, featuring a cast of Texas‑based musicians and rodeo legends. The production was shot at Fort Worth’s historic Stagecoach Ballroom and highlights regional talent instead of Nashville’s typical star power....
Braxton Keith Announces New, Debut Album “Real Damn Deal”
Braxton Keith’s debut album “Real Damn Deal” arrives on May 15 under Warner Records Nashville, cementing his status as a leading neotraditional country act. The Texas‑born singer already commands 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, filling venues with fans who crave classic‑styled...
Album Review – Leah Blevins – “All Dressed Up”
Leah Blevins’ new album *All Dressed Up* arrives with Dan Auerbach at the production helm, delivering a lush, 1970s‑inspired soundscape that leans heavily on vintage instrumentation. The record features country stalwarts such as Paul Franklin, Russ Pahl and David Rawlings,...
Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic Art Criticized for AI
Willie Nelson’s 2026 Fourth of July Picnic poster was revealed to be AI‑generated, prompting immediate criticism from fans and visual artists. The AI image contained obvious errors, such as a six‑fingered hand and eight tuning pegs on Nelson’s guitar Trigger....
New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#175)
Saving Country Music released its Top 25 Current Playlist, highlighting the newest releases in country and roots music. The latest additions feature Ashley McBryde’s “Bottle Tells Me So,” Mo Pitney & Jake Worthington’s “Wake Up And Smell The Country,” and emerging neotraditionalists like Spencer Hatcher...
Austin and Alt-Country Songwriter and Guitarist Jon Dee Graham Dies
Austin‑born guitarist and songwriter Jon Dee Graham died on March 27 at 67, ending a career that helped forge the cowpunk sound and later the alt‑country movement. He rose from The Skunks, one of Texas’s first punk bands, to co‑found...
Album Review – Flatland Cavalry’s “Work of Heart”
Flatland Cavalry’s fifth studio album, Work of Heart, delivers a polished blend of Texas‑rooted country‑rock and fiddle‑driven melodies across twelve tracks. Produced by longtime collaborator Dwight Baker, the record refines the band’s signature sound while adding richer textures and varied...
Ashley McBryde Reveals Details for New “Wild” Album
Country singer‑songwriter Ashley McBryde announced her next studio album, Wild, slated for release on May 8, 2026. The record features a 11‑track list that blends newly written material with songs she’s performed live for years. McBryde returned to producer John Osborne and...
Turnpike Troubadours Offer New Dates for 2026 Tour
The Turnpike Troubadours have unveiled an expanded 2026 North American tour, adding more than 30 dates across the United States and Canada. The itinerary supports their award‑winning album *The Price of Admission* and includes high‑profile shows with the reunited Cross...
New, Never-Before-Heard Don Williams Songs On The Way
Don Williams’ estate will issue *Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes* on May 29, 2026, featuring a dozen never‑heard songs recorded between 1979 and 1984. The tracks were found in the family’s Tennessee cellar and restored by longtime producer Garth Fundis with...