#country-music

#country-music

One of the more distinctive, recent sounds in country music comes from Stephen Wilson Jr., according to our rock critic Ken Tucker. Recently nominated as best new artist by the Country Music Awards, Wilson is a former microbiologist who is also a Golden Gloves boxer, who's also, says Ken, writing some of the most intricate and compelling songs around these days. And he's broken through not with huge record sales, but viral clips on social media.

The band has roots dating back to 2002, when lead singer and co‑founder Zac Brown formed the group in Atlanta. Over the years, they have become one of the most successful country music acts of the 21st century, blending country, rock, bluegrass, and Americana into a distinctive sound. Their breakout came with the major‑label debut The Foundation in 2008 - featuring hits like "Chicken Fried," "Toes," and "Free" - which helped establish their reputation for heartfelt songwriting and energetic live performances.

Thanksgiving did not go the way that Frank Ray had anticipated. The country singer had invited his family up from Texas to Tennessee for the holiday, with plans to deep fry a turkey, explore Nashville, and take in a show at the Grand Ole Opry. But on Thanksgiving morning, Ray received an unsettling call: TSA had flagged his sister's husband, Juan Nevarez-Porras, at El Paso international airport due to insufficient documentation required to fly.

Alabama country singer Drayton Farley has announced a new album, A Heavy Duty Heart, due March 27 via One Riot Records ( pre-order). Like 2023's great Twenty On High, it was produced by Sadler Vaden (of Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit), and it was recorded live to tape in Nashville with Drayton's touring band. It's got 10 new songs, three of which are out now, and two of those actually recently premiered on TV shows.

Staind's Aaron Lewis has announced a 2026 US solo tour. Or, as he's dubbed it, an "American Tour." The outing will see Lewis backed by his solo band the Stateliners. The extensive itinerary kicks off January 22nd in Quapaw, Oklahoma, with dates running all the way through mid-August. General ticket sales for select dates start Friday, January 16th, at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

You'd probably recognize the brand by its high-pitched harmonica intro, or the iconic image of a man in a cowboy hat smiling like he doesn't have a care in the world, but Jimmy Dean didn't set out to be known solely by his breakfast foods. The sausage mogul was perhaps most well known for his country music and TV show appearances, as well as being a Billboard chart home-runner and face in the Country Music Hall of Fame,

Jelly Roll is without his frosting. The country singer posted his first beardless vlog on November 20, unveiling a jawline and general face shape. "I feel like a Ninja Turtle," he wrote in the caption. While it doesn't look bad, it does feel wrong to see Jelly Roll without a beard. Technically, the public has been aware of the barren Roll for a while now, because his wife, Bunnie XO, posted a vlog of her reacting to him shaving on November 13,

Hayley Williams is happy to confirm that Morgan Wallen is the "racist country singer" she is referring to in her song " Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party." During a recent interview on the New York Times' " Popcast" to discuss her latest solo album, the Paramore lead singer was asked whether she would like to "name names" to reveal who she means when she sings about being "the biggest star / At this racist country singer's bar" in the title track. "It could be a couple but I'm always talking about Morgan Wallen," Williams said. "I don't give a s-. Find me at Whole Foods, b-, I don't care."

Among the non-country acts on the bill for the annual show, which takes place on the same grounds as Coachella the weekend after that festival, are the rappers Pitbull, Ludacris and BigXthaPlug and the rock bands Journey, Bush, Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind and Hootie & the Blowfish. Noah Cyrus and Teddy Swims will be there, as will the winner of an upcoming CBS singing competition show called "The Road."

Since 2017, this singer and songwriter from Shreveport, La., has put 10 singles on Billboard's Country Airplay chart - five of which have gone to No. 1 and none of which has peaked lower than No. 7. Among his hits: "Buy Dirt," which was named song of the year by the Country Music Assn. in 2022; "Next Thing You Know," which earned the same award from the Academy of Country Music in 2024; and his latest, "Bar None," a clever drinking song in which he recounts "getting goner than your long-gone boots."

The confrontation happened at the Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Okla., just before Adcock stepped on stage to perform. A video, shared by Adcock on Instagram, shows Adcock and Bryan staring each other down and yelling through a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. "Hey, you want to fight like a man?" Bryan says in the video clip, calling for someone to open the gate separating the two men.

Country star Ty Herndon rose to fame in the music industry in 1995, when his single "What Mattered Most" skyrocketed to the top of the charts. Since then, he's released 16 more Billboard charting hits. Now, three decades later, Herndon is releasing his memoir, "What Mattered Most," where he offers an honest reflection of his unprecedented career in the spotlight and the personal battles he's faced behind the scenes.

Marvin was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to London as a child and started out playing in various London-based bands. In America, playing with blues and R&B legends like T-Bone Walker, Billy Preston and Ike and Tina Turner. On Feb. 14, 1977, Marvin was invited to join both Stevie Wonder's band and Bob Marley and the Wailers. He accepted Bob Marley's offer and debuted with the band on the acclaimed "Exodus" LP as lead guitarist.

Stud Country, a queer line dancing night that launched in Los Angeles, has migrated to New York, emphasizing a gender-diverse and welcoming environment for line dancing enthusiasts.

"When I first heard Asleep at the Wheel and their Bob Wills tribute, it blew my mind that there was a band out there still playing this kind of music," Hedley says, adding, "At its core Western Swing is just dance music. Bob Wills didn't play theatres; he played dance halls. The music is for dancing, and that's what I wanted to come through on these songs."

Lauren Lane commented on the surprise of having a girl and expressed excitement about her daughter growing up with two sweet older brothers, saying, 'I remember when I was little, I always wished for older brothers.' Chris Lane added that they had previously thought a girl would be a great addition to their family of boys.