Music Country

In 1975, hardcore honky-tonk singer shot to Number One on the country chart with “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles).” Penned by Wayne Carson (“The Letter,” “Always on My Mind”), and distinguished by Stewart’s jagged-edged vocal lying somewhere between Hank Williams and Jerry Lee Lewis, the tune was one of …

Taylor Swift is still keeping a connection to her country songwriting roots – she co-wrote Sugarland‘s new song “Babe.” The song, from the duo’s forthcoming album Bigger, follows Little Big Town’s Grammy-winning rendition of Swift’s “Better Man,” from their album The Breaker. The relationship between Sugarland and Swift actually goes …

Since the early Seventies, John Prine has delivered songs that are often as fascinatingly cryptic as they are thoroughly penetrating. “Summer’s End” is not only the latest of these, it is among the very best on The Tree of Forgiveness, Prine’s first album of new material in 13 years, officially …

Before Elton John bows out from touring, he and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin are being honored by a slew of country stars on the recently released Restoration tribute album (a companion album, Revamp, features rock and pop artists). Among the highlights of Restoration is Miranda Lambert‘s stunning rendition of …

One of the most piercing songs on Ashley McBryde‘s major label debut album Girl Going Nowhereis “Livin’ Next to Leroy,” which addresses rural America’s drug epidemic. “Where I’m from, there are two things to do after a certain age: make babies or make meth,” says McBryde, who grew up in …

Blake Shelton made his second consecutive night of non-Voice television appearances on Tuesday, visiting the set of Late Night With Seth Meyers to perform his ACM-nominated single “I’ll Name the Dogs” one day after spending some quality time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (including a visit to a …

In 2015, two of Glen Campbell‘s children from previous marriages, Debby Campbell-Cloyd and William Travis Campbell, filed a lawsuit against Campbell’s widow Kim Campbell alleging that she had barred them from visiting their father as he battled Alzheimer’s disease. Two years later, after the Country Music Hall of Fame member …

It might not be immediately obvious to first-time listeners, but the members of Belle Adair have a deep reverence for Muscle Shoals music history. It’s an easy thing to overlook: with their 2018 album Tuscumbia, the Alabama foursome frequently nod to the Byrds and Big Star with bright, jangling guitars …

UPDATE 2:Following a backlash from some members of the country music industry, conservative pundit and former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee has resigned from the CMA Foundation’s board of directors. “The CMA Foundation has accepted former Governor Mike Huckabee’s resignation from its Board of Directors, effective immediately,” the CMA told …

At his Monday night show in San Antonio, Texas, Chris Young paid tribute to country singer Daryle Singletary by performing one of the Georgia native’s biggest hits, “I Let Her Lie.” “I love Daryle Singletary, he wrote this,” Young says to rapturous applause at the beginning of the song, a …