Keith Urban Teases New Music: 'Something Extra Smooth'
Country star Keith Urban posted a beach‑side video on April 22, hinting at new music with the tagline “something extra smooth.” He announced a launch date of April 29, 2026, and described the project as a yacht‑rock album featuring mostly cover songs and one original track. The move follows his 2025 divorce from Nicole Kidman and represents his first major musical output since the split, signaling a stylistic pivot from his usual guitar‑driven country pop.
This Is Why the Eagles Fired Guitarist Don Felder
The Eagles terminated guitarist Don Felder on February 6, 2001 after a long‑running power and financial dispute with co‑founders Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Felder, who helped shape the band’s rock sound and co‑wrote hits like “Hotel California,” sued for wrongful...
'American Idol' Finalists Hard-Launch Their Relationship
Season 24 of American Idol saw finalists Brooks Rosser and Rae Boyd publicly confirm their romance during the April 20 live episode, effectively hard‑launching a new power couple on the show. The 22‑year‑old Baltimore singer and the 24‑year‑old from Frederick had...
Zach Top Didn't Expect Country Fans to Embrace Him
Zach Top, a self‑described country‑music staple, earned five nominations at the 2026 ACM Awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year for “I Never Lie.” In a recent interview he admitted he...
10 Country Songs About Weed You Need to Hear
Country music’s relationship with cannabis has shifted from subtle nods to overt celebration, as illustrated by a curated list of ten tracks spanning from Johnny Cash’s 1970 No. 1 hit to Willie Nelson’s 2015 duet with Merle Haggard. The songs, including...
Billy Bob Thornton Says He's Been Writing Country Music
Billy Bob Thornton, famed actor from *Landman*, has turned his attention to country songwriting, collaborating with longtime friend Mark Collie. He estimates having written 18‑20 songs, five of which appear on the *Landman* soundtrack alongside artists like Flatland Cavalry and...
Why Don Henley Wants a Do-Over on an Eagles Classic
Don Henley revealed in a 2015 interview that he dislikes his own vocal on the Eagles’ 1973 classic “Desperado,” calling it a performance he would redo if given the chance. He said the London studio session with the London Symphony Orchestra...
Aaron Watson Can’t Hold Back: New Country, Zach Bryan + 'Outlaws'
Aaron Watson returned after a three‑year hiatus with *Horse Named Texas*, a 26‑song album that will expand to a 40‑track platinum edition. The Texas‑born independent veteran, who underwent two vocal‑cord surgeries, wrote roughly 99% of the record himself, underscoring his DIY ethos....
The Crazy Story Behind Kenny Rogers' Signature Hit, 'The Gambler'
“The Gambler,” written by Don Schlitz in 1976 while working nights as a computer operator, struggled to find a home in Nashville due to its unconventional structure. Bobby Bare cut the first version in April 1978, but it was Kenny Rogers’...
Legendary 'The Gambler' Songwriter Don Schlitz Dead at 73
Legendary country songwriter Don Schlitz, best known for penning Kenny Rogers’ 1978 hit “The Gambler,” died at 73 after a sudden illness. Over a five‑decade career he amassed 25 No. 1 songs and 50 top‑10 hits, earning multiple CMA, ACM and...
Chris Stapleton's 25 Best Songs Will Put You Through the Wringer
Chris Stapleton’s career vaulted after his 2015 CMA performance with Justin Timberlake, turning a respected songwriter into a mainstream country star. He has released four studio albums, yet a curated list of 25 songs showcases his ability to span blues,...
When Dolly Parton Appeared on 'Reba'
Country music legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire teamed up in 2005 when Parton guest‑starred on the sitcom Reba. In the episode “Reba’s Rules of Real Estate,” aired April 15, she portrayed Dolly Majors, a cut‑throat real‑estate mogul. The pair...
2026 American Music Awards Nominations: Country's Big Surprises
The 2026 American Music Awards, airing May 25 on CBS, feature a robust country slate that highlights both established stars and surprise newcomers. Taylor Swift leads the overall nominations with eight, while Morgan Wallen (seven) and Ella Langley (five) dominate the country categories....
Here Are the Top 20 Loretta Lynn Songs
The article ranks Loretta Lynn’s 20 most influential songs, spanning her debut in 1960 to her final 2021 album *Still Woman Enough*. Selections were judged on sales, radio play, cultural impact, and critical reception, highlighting tracks like “Coal Miner’s Daughter,”...
Taylor Sheridan Has a New Film in the Works - Here's What We Know
Acclaimed writer‑director Taylor Sheridan is developing a 4D documentary on the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, which will premiere exclusively at the Alamo Visitor Center in San Antonio. The untitled film will chronicle the historic siege and its role in...
Thomas Rhett Now Has Five Kids — Will He Have Any More?
Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins announced the birth of their fifth child, son Brave Elijah Akins, on Feb. 27, 2026. During a Country Countdown USA interview, Rhett confirmed the couple will not have more children, citing Lauren’s “magic number” of...
The 10 Best Vince Gill Songs
Vince Gill’s career spans four decades, earning him induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry. Over 45 chart‑ing singles—including seven No. 1 hits—have cemented his reputation as a vocalist,...
Ronnie Dunn on the Time He Got in Trouble Over Morgan Wallen
Ronnie Dunn recounted a 2025 incident where he used a small cheat‑sheet for Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses” during a Miami show, a moment fans dubbed “Paper Gate.” The backlash stemmed from perceptions that the card showed disrespect, though Dunn insisted it was a...
Women Lead 2026 ACM Nominations Across Major Categories
Women dominate the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) nominations, with Megan Moroney leading at nine nods and Miranda Lambert close behind with eight. Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson each earned seven nominations, underscoring a broad female presence across categories from Entertainer...
Country Songs That Were Inspired By Space
The piece spotlights a niche catalog of country songs that reference the cosmos, from Jon Pardi’s reflective “Starlight” to Kenny Rogers’s whimsical “Planet Texas.” It ties the list to the contemporary buzz around NASA’s Artemis II mission, suggesting a soundtrack for...
Watch Zac Brown Band Wake Up Artemis II Crew With 'Free,' Message
On April 10, the Zac Brown Band’s song “Free” was broadcast at 10:24 AM CT to wake the four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission. The band’s frontman followed the track with a personal video message to the crew, marking the second high‑profile media appearance for...
10 Best Montgomery Gentry Songs
Montgomery Gentry’s ten‑track roundup spotlights the duo’s most commercially successful songs, each of which cracked the Top 10 on country charts and three reached the No. 1 or 2 slot. The list crowns 2006’s “Lucky Man” as the top track, noting its Grammy nomination...
The 8 Best Lyrics on Charley Crockett's 'Age of the Ram'
Charley Crockett’s latest record, *Age of the Ram*, caps his Sagebrush Trilogy with a cinematic, outlaw‑themed concept album. The project mixes vintage Western sound effects—freight‑train whistles, bar chatter, gunshots—with avant‑garde structures like time‑signature shifts and mini‑song interludes. Its lyrics portray a...
Dan + Shay ‘Say So’ Inspired by Loss, Duo Feared It Was Too Heavy
Dan + Shay’s upcoming single “Say So” was born from the tragic suicide of their friend and mentor Ben Vaughn in 2025. The duo admits the track’s raw focus on grief and mental‑health struggles felt unusually heavy for their usual love‑song...
Eric Church Played a Totally Unexpected Song at Opry Debut
On April 1, 2006, Eric Church made his Grand Ole Opry debut, performing his lead single “How ’Bout You” before unexpectedly segueing into Leadbelly’s classic “Black Betty.” The surprise cover, approved on the spot by his band, earned an enthusiastic response from...
Alan Jackson Reveals New Country Music Festival In Florida
Alan Jackson announced the inaugural 5 O’Clock Somewhere Fest, a two‑day country music event in the Palm Beaches, Florida on June 12‑13, headlined by Ella Langley and Old Dominion and featuring ten acts plus comedian Dusty Slay. Tickets go on sale March 27 through the...
'The Madison': Did You Spot the Iconic ‘Yellowstone’ Villain?
Dawn Olivieri reappears in the Paramount+ drama The Madison as Ellen, delivering a memorable line before her character’s likely exit. The role mirrors her notorious villain Sarah Atwood from Yellowstone Season 5, where she plotted an assassination against Gov. John Dutton....
Is Bunnie Xo Getting Her Own Talk Show?
Bunnie Xo teased a possible daytime talk show with a cryptic “Coming Soon” graphic after her recent facelift AMA. The hint aligns with her popular Dumb Blonde podcast, which already features celebrity interviews in a shock‑jock style she’s long coveted....
Tim McGraw To Join Country Music Hall of Fame In 2026
Tim McGraw has been announced as the Modern Era inductee for the Country Music Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, joining veteran bluegrass duo the Stanley Brothers and songwriter Paul Overstreet. The modern‑era slot honors artists who achieved national prominence at...
Keith Urban Surprised With St. Jude's Angels Among Us Award
Country radio icon Keith Urban was surprised onstage at the Nashville Country Radio Seminar with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award, recognizing his contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The award, presented by fellow musician Randy Owen, highlighted...
24 Modern Artists Who Prove Traditional Country Music Is Alive
A new wave of modern country artists is championing traditional sounds, proving that classic twang remains commercially viable in the 21st‑century music landscape. The list spans established names like Sturgill Simpson and emerging talents such as Triston Marez, many of...
You’ll Never Guess Who Bunnie Xo Wants To Play Her In Her Movie
Bunnie Xo’s memoir *Stripped Down* became a New York Times bestseller and its film rights were snapped up by 101 Studios, which plans to fast‑track a biopic. During a Jimmy Kimmel interview, Xo humorously named Jack Black as her ideal on‑screen counterpart. The announcement...
Who Is Jelly Roll's Mom, Donna DeFord?
Jelly Roll was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on March 10, a career‑defining achievement that also honored his mother, Donna DeFord, who watched from the front row. Donna, who gave him the nickname‑turned‑stage name “Jelly Roll,” raised him in Antioch,...
50 Best Carrie Underwood Songs
A new ranking of Carrie Underwood’s top 50 songs blends chart‑topping singles with lesser‑known album cuts, placing three low‑radio tracks inside the top ten. The list deliberately omits collaborations to spotlight Underwood’s primary vocal performances, spanning her nine‑studio‑album catalog. It...