In honor of college basketball’s craziest month, I created a bracket with 16 of the hottest acts in country music. I seeded them based on the strength of their current “season,” which ran from the ACM Awards in April 2016 to the Grammy Awards in February 2017. After more than 6,000 votes were cast in…
In honor of college basketball’s craziest month, I created a bracket with 16 of the hottest acts in country music. I seeded them based on the strength of their current “season,” which ran from the ACM Awards in April 2016 to the Grammy Awards in February 2017. After thousands of votes were cast in the…
In honor of college basketball’s craziest month, I created a bracket with 16 of the hottest acts in country music. I seeded them based on the strength of their current “season,” which ran from the ACM Awards in April 2016 to the Grammy Awards in February 2017. After thousands of votes were cast in Round…
In honor of college basketball’s craziest month, I created a bracket with 16 of the hottest acts in country music. I seeded them based on the strength of their current “season,” which ran from the ACM Awards in April 2016 to the Grammy Awards in February 2017. Now they are pitted against each other in…
In a month’s time, the Country Music Association will elect one new member/act to the Country Music Hall of Fame in each of its three categories: Modern Era, Veteran Era and Songwriter/Musician/Non-Performer (this category rotates, and this year a songwriter will be elected). For this article, I’m focusing on the Modern Era candidates, who are…
“Don’t quit your day job” can be a spirit-crushing piece of advice. Thankfully, it’s one that Carly Pearce never heeded. After then-22-year-old Carly lost her developmental record deal with Sony in 2013, she took a job scrubbing toilets and changing sheets at an Airbnb. It wasn’t exactly the future the Kentucky native envisioned when she…
From coast to coast, there’s a festival for everyone, boasting the biggest names in the format, from hot contemporary stars to classic country legends. But don’t forget, these festivals are also a great opportunity to meet and hear some of the brightest up-and-coming local, regional and national talent, so get there early. And check, check,…
It has finally arrived. Today (Feb. 3) is the day that Reba McEntire’s highly anticipated gospel album, Sing It Now, Songs of Faith & Hope, is available to the public via iTunes, but the Oklahoma native says she can’t take credit for the idea of the record. “Well, it wasn’t my idea,” Reba tells Nash…
Controversy can be a double-edged sword in country music. On the one hand, some spirited conversation about a song or album can elevate an artist’s profile, particularly in our present on-demand world. On the other, there’s a real risk of being banished from radio. Here are 10 of country music’s most controversial tunes, in order…
When Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood decided to take a break in 2015 at the end of their 747 World Tour, rumors and speculation began to swirl that the band was done, kaput, breaking up. Soon after Charles released his solo album, The Driver, Hillary teamed with her family for a…
Ty Herndon has just signed a three-album deal with Club44 Records, and the Grammy-nominated country singer launched his new creative partnership with a reimagined duet version of his 1995 breakout hit, “What Mattered Most,” featuring LeAnn Rimes. The single is the first offering from Herndon’s upcoming album, Thirty, which will pay tribute to his distinguished…
On Thursday (June 12), Kane Brown released his infectious new country anthem, “2 Pair.” The track was produced by Jordan Schmidt, with Brown saying of his new song: “’2 Pair’ is an anthem for the summer. I wanted to give my fans a song they can blast at full volume and sing along to all…
On Thursday (June 12), Post Malone shared a raw and soulful rendition of his country-tinged track, “Ain’t How it Ends,” as part of The Littlest Honky Tonk series. The stripped-down, unplugged performance was filmed in a cozy trailer-turned-stage outside of a stadium stop on his Big Ass Stadium Tour, with Posty providing an unexpected intimate…
On Monday (June 16), Hardy announced the cancellation of all the upcoming European shows on his 2025 Jim Bob World Tour just days before it was set to commence. The country star writes: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but one I had to make for my band, crew and my family. Please know that I…
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” premieres at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the Grammy-winning pop star’s second chart-topper and her fourth Top 10 hit of her career, while becoming her first single to debut atop the chart. Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” spent one week at No. 1 in June 2024, after debuting at No.…