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Inside Track on Music Row – May 2025

SO much music news! Hot country singles and albums, tour updates, and more!

By Preshias Harris

SO much music happening in May!! Here’s where you’ll find info on new music from Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Donna Fargo, HARDY, Tayler Holder, Sierra Hull, Cody Jinks, Cody Johnson, LOCASH, Onoleigh, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Tomlin, Tucker Wetmore and The Wildmans… tour updates on road warriors Brian Kelley, Dylan Scott, Shaboozy, HARDY (again!), Dustin Lynch and Scotty McCreery… Number One news (Cole Swindell), music video info (including Luke Bryan), plus news about NSAI, The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, and more. Scroll down and catch up! #PreshiasHarris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a pretty good imitator of Roy Acuff, but then I found out they already had a Roy Acuff, so I started singin’ like myself.” – Hank Williams

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. – Psalm 147:7

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH: The new album from Eric Church, titled Evangeline vs. The Machine, (pre-save here) is set for release May 2 via EMI Records Nashville, his first new album since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album.

“An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares about the new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art—I think it’s important.

“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next—and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that’s not what I thought.’ I think that’s my job as an artist.”

Evangeline vs. The Machine features the previously-released “Darkest Hour,” a track Church used to support relief efforts in his home state of North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, donating all of his publishing royalties to the cause. The album’s lead single, “Hands Of Time,” shipped to country radio March 24. #EricChurchMusic

HARDY

HARDY: Country rock superstar HARDY’s next round is in the chamber with a new EP, COUNTRY!, set for release on May 2 via Big Loud. Two new songs from the EP, his first new music of 2025, debuted April 11 – listen/add “Favorite Country Song” and “Buck On The Wall”. Pre-save/pre-add COUNTRY! here.

“Two new songs—I’m extremely excited,” says HARDY. “Both songs remind me of a very special place, the place where I grew up, the place where I became who I am—my deer camp. It’s now the only place I have to go home to since somebody lives in my childhood home. I feel like it’s been a long time coming to put out some music that gets back to my roots.”

Additionally, HARDY made his first ever appearance on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage on April 29.

His 2023 breakout the mockingbird & THE CROW and its 2024 follow up Quit!! have topped countless Billboard charts, including a top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, and racked up 6 billion streams. HARDY has written 16 #1 singles including his own two-times Platinum chart topper “ONE BEER” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, the platinum Dierks Bentley and BRELAND collaboration “Beers On Me,” and more. Also check out HARDY’s upcoming shows under the TOUR NEWS heading. #HARDY

SIERRA HULL

SIERRA HULL:

With A Tip Toe High Wire, (listen here) her first new album in five years, songwriter, singer, and award-winning mandolinist Sierra Hull has perfected the daring act of stepping into a new, progressive sonic territory while never straying too far from the bluegrass and Americana roots she’s cultivated in her two-decade-plus career. While joined on the album by world-class friends like Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife O’Donovan, Hull self-produced A Tip Toe High Wire with her highly skilled touring band in the center ring—something she was able to make the call on as this is also her first album to be released entirely independently.

Inside Track on Music Row bonus April edition!

But wait, there’s more… country music news you can use

By Preshias Harris

April is showering us with a cloudburst of new music! In fact, it was SO much that it overflowed the April 2025 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row. I couldn’t let it get away, so here’s my “Special Added Extra Bonus Supplement” edition. Here you’ll find news about and links to new music from Lainey Wilson, Brandi Carlile & Elton John, Tucker Wetmore, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Jason Isbell, Onoleigh, Junior Sisk, Larkin Poe, Lauren Watkins, Caroline Jones, Bryan Ruby, Maddie Riccardo, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Shane Smith & The Saints plus tour updates, Opry news and more. It’s all here so keep scrolling. (If you missed the ‘real’ April 2025 column, you’ll find it directly below this post.)

ALBUM NEWS

JASON BOLAND & THE STRAGGLERS

JASON BOLAND & THE STRAGGLERS: Texas-via-Oklahoma band Jason Boland & The Stragglershave released their new album The Last Kings of Babylon, out now via Thirty Tigers. Listen / play Last Kings of Babylon here. The album marks a full circle moment for the band as they reunite with legendary producer Lloyd Maines, who produced the band’s debut album Pearl Snaps.

The release of The Last Kings of Babylon arrives on the heels of the band’s 25th anniversary. A quarter of a century ago, Boland and his Stragglers cemented themselves in the alt-country and Red Dirt scenes with the release of their 1999 breakthrough Pearl Snaps. Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the country scene’s most multidimensional songwriters,” Boland would go on to sell more than half a million albums and collaborate with Shooter Jennings and Robert Earl Keen over the course of his career.

In 2024 alone, Boland and his band mounted a 30-date anniversary tour, released a live album Live From Cain’s Ballroom, and cemented their status as one of the pillars of the Red Dirt movement with “The Boys of Oklahoma” concerts which have sold over 180,000 tickets. Tour and ticket info at https://thestragglers.com. #JasonBolandTheStragglers

JASON ISBELL

JASON ISBELL has released his first entirely solo acoustic album, Foxes in the Snow, out now via his own Southeastern Records. Listen/play Foxes in the Snow here.

No foolin’! April’s country music news

New releases, tour updates music news and more!

by Preshias Harris

It’s April in Nashville and this is Inside Track on Music Row, America’s longest-running monthly country music column.

You’ll find links to listen to new releases from Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Walker Montgomery, Tucker Wetmore and Rascal Flatts (teaming up with Blake Shelton)…. There’s tour and ticket info about stars out on the road including Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, Wyatt Flores, Megan Moroney and Zach Top… New albums from Rebecca Lynn Howard, Willie Nelson (his 154th!) and Cole Swindell… plus news about country stars such as Joe Nichols, Cody Johnson and Jeannie Seely as well as rising artists like Huneyfire, Something Out West and more. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I feel like every time I’m [writing], it peels back a layer of who I am. I find something that I didn’t know was there. Whenever you get the song completed, there’s no more holes in it.” – singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel in an interview with Melinda Newman, Executive Editor Nashville, Billboard, March 8, 2025

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

ALBUM NEWS

REBECCA LYNN HOWARD

REBECCA LYNN HOWARD: A new album is on the way from two-time Grammy and IBMA winner Rebecca Lynn Howard. Howard — a songwriter who has written hits for country royalty and “possesses one of country music’s most powerful voices” (Billboard) — released the song “Seventeen” on February 28^th(play/download here). The official music video for “Seventeen” was released a week later and has already surpassed 1.2 million views. “Seventeen” is from her 11-track album, I’m Not Who You Think I Am, due out May 2 via Lee Brice‘s imprint, Pump House Records. Pre-save/add the album here. The album was produced by Howard’s husband, Elisha Hoffman and executive produced by Brice.

“When I wrote ‘Seventeen’ almost 20 years ago, I had no idea that I was penning a song for my future self,” shares Howard. “This song has just the right amount of longing and nostalgia to fill my heart to the brim. I’m instantly transported to my youth…a more innocent time, when my parents were annoyingly right all the time. It’s humbling to reflect on how far I’ve come and how many ups and downs I’ve survived along the way since then. They say you can’t go back, oh but I do, every time I sing this song.” Follow Rebecca Lynn Howard at Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Spotify and TikTok.

WILLIE NELSON

WILLIE NELSON: Legacy Recordings is set to release Willie Nelson’s latest studio album, his 77th solo studio album and 154th overall. Oh What A Beautiful World will be available on April 25th, just in time for his 92nd birthday. Pre-save the album here. The album is the latest in Willie’s storied history of focusing entire records on a single songwriter’s work, this time featuring new interpretations of 12 classic songs written or cowritten by Rodney Crowell.

New albums and singles, tour info and more

Inside Track on Music Row: all new for March 2025

by Preshias Harris

SO much happening and SO much to catch up on! Tour updates for Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts and Vince Gill… new single releases from Brett Young, Craig Campbell, Runaway June, Annie Bosko, Bowman, Elle Rose and Dani Rose (no relation!)… Ashley Cooke teaming up for a duet with Joe Jonas… info on the 2025 Tin Pan South… and news about Tucker Wetmore, Cole Swindell, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Muscadine Bloodline, Allie Colleen, Lainey Wilson, Ringo Starr and more. Scroll down to read it all!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I started being a songwriter pretending I could do it, and it turned out I could.” – James Taylor

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

ALBUM NEWS

ALLIE COLLEEN

ALLIE COLLEEN, celebrated for her iconic voice and remarkable songwriting talent, kicks off the new year with the release of her five-song EP, Sincerely, Rolling Stone. “In a town filled with extraordinary talent, as a songwriter, I find it rare to work with a true artist who knows exactly who she is and what she wants to say. Allie Colleen is fearless in her artistry and is breaking molds inside of the country genre that will impact not only her career but the careers of artists to come after. She will be an influence beyond her generation giving future artists the courage to express themselves in new and inventive ways sonically, lyrically, and in performance,” expressed co-writer Stephen Hunley.

Allie’s first-ever release of a vinyl music project is available now as a limited edition for pre-sale here and is available for pre-save on all digital platforms here.

Allie Colleen conveys, “I wanted to return to my roots of creating—creating something that reflects how I feel. “I want to thank my songwriters, who sat with me in rooms this past year, letting me cry, be honest, and, most importantly, vent about a life others might give everything to have. Thank you for seeing me and allowing me to show up exactly as I am.” More at Allie Colleen’s website and on social media. #AllieColleen

MUSCADINE BLOODLINE

MUSCADINE BLOODLINE: Independent country duo Muscadine Bloodline confirms their fifth studio album, … And What Was Left Behind, will be released on April 11 on Stancaster Music via Thirty Tigers. Pre-order/Pre-save here. …And What Was Left Behind serves as a companion to the duo’s critically acclaimed The Coastal Plain, which was released last summer. Also unveiled today is the new song, “Chickasaw Church of Christ.” Listen here.

Produced by Muscadine Bloodline’s Gary Stanton and Charlie Muncaster with Ryan Youmans (known for his work with Jelly Roll, among others), …And What Was Left Behind continues to weave tales inspired by the people and scenery of their southern, coastal Alabama roots. Listen to the previously released track, “Ain’t For Sale” (feat. Josh Meloy), here.

The new album comes on the heels of a series of breakthroughs for the duo, including their biggest add week at country radio with their debut radio single, “10-90,” several shows as direct support on Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion Tour” last year and numerous sold-out dates on their current headlining tour. The highly lauded duo are currently on their headlining “The Coastal Plain Tour” and will join fellow Alabamians The Red Clay Strays for select dates and will also join Lainey Wilson as direct support on her “Whirlwind World Tour” to kick off in the fall. Details and tickets at muscadinebloodline.com. #MuscadineBloodline

DUET NEWS

DUET NEWS: Big Loud’s powerhouse country songstress Ashley Cooke is teaming up with global superstar Joe Jonas for an unforgettable heartbreak anthem that cuts deep with “All I Forgot” feat. Joe Jonas, available now here. The emotionally-charged duet blends Cooke’s signature warmth with Jonas’ smooth pop charm for a gut-punching anthem about love, loss and the memories that refuse to fade at the bottom of a bottle. “We’ve had the best time creating this for you and truly cannot wait for you to hear it,” shared Cooke in an Instagram post this morning.

February ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ brings the love!

Inside Track on new albums, singles and tour updates

By Preshias Harris

February is for lovers… music lovers that is! And there’s plenty to love. Touring updates from Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Oak Ridge Boys, Dylan Scott and more. Read about hot singles from Lee Brice, Kane Brown, Larkin Poe, LOCASH and Walker Montgomery among others. There are new albums from LANCO, Craig Morgan, Tyler Rich, Six Gun Sally, Mary Chapin Carpenter… Keep reading for all that and more!

ALBUM NEWS

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER: “A Heart That Never Closes,” the new song from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart, is out now. Listen/share here. The track is the latest unveiled from the trio’s first collaborative album, Looking For The Thread, released January 24 via Thirty Tigers (pre-order/pre-save here). In celebration of the project, the trio will play six shows in the U.K. in March including sold-out dates in Sunderland and Edinburgh. “An Evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, and Karine Polwart” will feature tracks from the new album, as well as songs from across their respective catalogues, accompanied by their transatlantic band. Full details can be found at www.marychapincarpenter.com.

Conceived in the remote west of Scotland and recorded at the renowned Real World studios, Looking For The Thread is a rich, resonant and unique record, one that supports and illuminates the core characteristics of each artist while bringing forth a powerful collective identity.

Produced by Bonny Light Horseman’s Josh Kaufman, Looking For The Thread is grounded in mutual respect stretching back decades, as Polwart and Fowlis are dedicated fans of Carpenter, while Carpenter, in turn, has long admired the pair. After first setting up a Dropbox to share ideas remotely, the three convened in January 2023 then headed north to a writing retreat at Kinlochmoidart House, where Looking For The Thread was born. #MaryChapinCarpenter

LANCO

LANCO: Good things come to those who wait. After seven years of anticipation, multi-Platinum selling band LANCO released their long-awaited sophomore album, We’re Gonna Make It, on Friday, January 17, 2025, via Riser House Records. The 14-track album features fan favorites such as “Low Class Lovers” and “Sound of a Saturday Night,” along with the recently released “We Grew Up Together,” featuring Grammy-nominated artist Cory Asbury. Get the album here.

Produced by Jay Joyce, Jared Conrad, and LANCO, We’re Gonna Make It follows the band’s award-winning debut album Hallelujah Nights (2018). Over the past seven years, the band has experienced significant personal and professional growth, which is reflected in the introspective and deeply relatable themes found throughout the new album. The number seven, often associated with insight, intuition, and wisdom, feels like a fitting symbol for this milestone in the band’s journey.

“We’ve poured our experiences, lessons, and emotions from the past few years into this album,” says lead vocalist Brandon Lancaster. “Life isn’t always sunny … but it’s all worth it for the sense of resilience that comes from making it through those tough times and creating an album that reflects our truth. Fans have been so patient with us while we crafted something that truly captures who we are today—fathers, husbands, sons, friends, and so much more.” Music, tour and ticket info at lancomusic.com. #LANCOmusic

CRAIG MORGAN

CRAIG MORGAN: Some people just know innately who they are and what they stand for. Within a few minutes of any interaction with Craig Morgan, it’s readily apparent God, family and country are his foundation. The Country Music hitmaker will continue to celebrate those pillars on his new EP, American Soundtrack, releasing February 28 on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Pre-add/pre-save Craig Morgan’s American Soundtrack EP here. Morgan co-wrote all but one of the EP’s six tracks, and each song on American Soundtrack is infused with the singer and soldier’s faith and patriotism. The EP was produced by Phil O’Donnell and Craig Morgan.

Tucker Wetmore adds 17 dates to ‘Waves On A Sunset Tour’

Scores first No. 1 at Country Radio

By Preshias Harris

When Tucker Wetmore enters a room, he owns it. Over the past twelve months those rooms have been getting bigger, progressing from honky tonks to arenas and everything in between.

2024 saw Wetmore on tour with Kameron Marlowe and Luke Bryan and embarking on his first headlining Waves On A Sunset Tour 2024, named for his debut EP. Following an appearance as part of Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa fest in January, Wetmore is setting out on an additional 17 dates, extending the Waves tour to more US cities as well as several European stops. He’ll also be back on the road, joining Thomas Rhett as direct support.

Wetmore’s first two singles – “Wine Into Whiskey ” and “Wind Up Missin’ You” – received RIAA Platinum designation, with the latter also marking his first No. 1 on the Mediabase Country chart. As Billboard noted, Wetmore is “reaching career milestones at warp speed”.

Read my full story about Tucker Wetmore, his breakout hits and upcoming tour dates at the Preshias On The Row page at Center Stage Mag here.

My thanks to Olivia Hanceri at OH Creative for providing background info on Tucker Wetmore.

Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

New albums, new singles for the New Year!

Inside Track on Music Row hits the ground running for January 2025

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “As a songwriter, you have to live to write songs. You can’t just make this stuff up. It just feels inauthentic, and people can see through that; country fans can see through that faster than anybody else if a song feels contrived.” – Dierks Bentley, interviewed by Annie Reuter, American Songwriter, March/April 2023

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

It’s a brand new year and there are new albums from Kane Brown, The Coward Brothers, Charles Esten, Joe Nichols and Flatland Cavalry… new singles from Logan Mac, Aaron Halliday, Runaway June and Morgan Wallen… plus news about Dolly Parton, Thomas Rhett, Brooks & Dunn, Bill Anderson, Dustin Lynch, Brian Kelley, The Opry 100 Celebration, Tin Pan South and more. Scroll down and catch up!

ALBUM NEWS

KANE BROWN

KANE BROWN: Global superstar, Kane Brown has unveiled the tracklist for his highly anticipated forthcoming record, The High Road out January 24, via Sony Music Nashville (pre-add, pre-save here). The bold body of work features collaborations with Brad Paisley, Khalid, Jelly Roll, Marshmello, and Brown’s wife, Katelyn Brown, who is featured on “Body Talk,” and “Do Us Part.”. Full tracklist at Brown’s website.

Of the record, Kane previously shared, “This album, The High Road, is my favorite album I’ve ever made. I get to explore all sides of my story and styles of my music. Every song is important to me and every collaboration means something personal to me. I’m so incredibly proud of this record.”

The news follows on the heels of Brown’s recent single release, “Body Talk with Katelyn Brown,” (Listen here) which was released last month to widespread critical acclaim. Of the song, Billboard praises, “They return with another pop-heavy groove on this sensuous, dance-worthy track that further evinces that Katelyn’s airy, velvety vocal is a standout, and when paired with Kane’s vocal, brings out the grittier, sultrier notes in his voice.”

Eager to hit the road following his acclaimed In The Air Tour and recent JingleBall performances, Brown is gearing up to deliver electrifying live performances on The High Road Tour which kicks off on March 13, 2025, in San Diego, CA. #KaneBrownMusic

THE COWARD BROTHERS

THE COWARD BROTHERS: The new, self-titled album from The Coward Brothers — better known as T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello — is now available on LP and CD everywhere. Pick up a copy from your favorite store today and enjoy it one week before the digital release. More information and purchase options here.

In conjunction with the Audible Original releasing, the album features all-new music from The Coward Brothers and boasts an all-star cast which also includes Edward Hibbert (The Prestige, Earthworm Jim), Stephen Root (Barry, Office Space), and Kathreen Khavari (Avengers Assemble, Big Little Lies). The Elvis Costello scripted musical-comedy series will be available exclusively for Audible listeners beginning November 21.

The soundtrack is available on CD, regular black vinyl, limited-edition “Licorice Red” vinyl and Barnes & Noble-only “Pink Bubblegum” vinyl. Notice how those latter variants tying in with satirical song titles on the release. See The Coward Brothers performances (and an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert) at their YouTube channel. #TheCowardBrothers

CHARLES ESTEN

CHARLES ESTEN: Lauded by Grammy.com as delivering an independent debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty, that’s “the purest representation of his artistry possible,” multi-talented entertainer Charles Esten is set to drop a double vinyl for the one-year anniversary of the acclaimed release. Available on January 24, 2025, fans can preorder the Love Ain’t Pretty Deluxe Edition here.

Inside Track on Music Row December 2024

New albums, singles, tour updates and more!

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a different person before I started to write. When I realized I could be a songwriter and that people would listen – that was when I started feeling good in my life.” – Gwen Stafani

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. – Psalm 34:1-2

December already? It seems like only yesterday it was November! So it’s time for the December 2024 edition of Inside Trak on Music Row, the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in the USA. A lot of new music to check out. Albums from Brooks & Dunn, George Jones, Red Cat Strays and Ringo Starr… Singles from Tanner Adell, Bowman, Ian Flanigan, Thomas Rhett, Lily Rose, Shaboozeyand Swon Brothers… plus tour updates, news about Christmas music, Bluegrass, music videos and a whole lot more. Scroll down and click on ‘Continue Reading’ to catch up on the music news you can use…

ALBUM NEWS

BROOKS & DUNN

BROOKS & DUNN: The best-selling duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn, have released their highly anticipated collaboration project Reboot II, via Sony Music Nashville. The album serves as the sequel to their acclaimed 2019 release Reboot, following a similar concept but with a fresh twist. This time, a new generation of today’s top artists—from country to beyond—were given full creative freedom to join forces with the duo. The result is a collection that showcases Brooks & Dunn’s iconic catalog while pushing genre boundaries. Featuring 18 exciting new collaborations with Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Marcus King Band, Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Jelly Roll, Riley Green, The Cadillac Three, Halestorm, Mitchell Tenpenny, The Earls of Leicester, Jake Worthington, Hailey Whitters, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, HARDY, ERNEST, A Thousand Horses and Corey Kent. Fans can listen to Reboot II now here.

Reboot II‘s 18 tracks include reinterpreted hits such as “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and “Believe,” resulting in a dynamic and eclectic collection that spans genres and generations. To celebrate the release of Reboot II, Brooks & Dunn performed their hit song “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” on Today on November 13, watch here.

They recently announced 2025 dates for the first leg of their Neon Moon Tour; for a full list of upcoming tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit www.brooks-dunn.com. #Brooks&Dunn

GEORGE JONES

GEORGE JONES: With excitement peaking, George Jones: The Lost Nashville Sessions is available now (play/listen here), offering fans a long-awaited treasure trove of music from the legendary George Jones. This album features sixteen tracks, blending beloved classics with rare gems from Jones’ extensive catalog. Fans will recognize favorites like “The Race Is On,” “The Grand Tour,” “White Lightnin’,” and “Tender Years.” The collection also highlights lesser-known recordings of songs such as “Old Brush Arbors,” “She’s Mine,” “Four-O-Thirty-Three,” and more, providing a fresh glimpse into Jones’ iconic career.

Christmas albums, singles, live shows!

‘Tis the season for the sounds of Christmas!

By Preshias Harris

It’s getting to feel a lot like Christmas… and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! I just couldn’t wait to start setting the Holiday mood, so – ahead of my December column – here is the news you can use to start jingling the bells! Scroll down for Christmas albums from Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldridge, Megan Moroney and Dolly Parton… seasonal singles from George Birge, Mackenzie Carpenter, Randall King, Tori Martin, Hillary Scott, Sophia Scott, Blake Shelton and Bailey Taylor. Plus news about star-studded live Christmas shows at Gaylord Opryland, the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry and more! Keep scrolling!

HOLIDAY ALBUM ROUNDUP

GABBY BARRETT: Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett gives a warm welcome to the holidays with the release of her first-ever Christmas album, Carols and Candlelight. Available now, the 11-song collection includes a lovingly curated selection of cherished Christmas carols, time-honored Advent hymns, and joyous songs of celebration — all spotlighting the multi-Platinum star’s unforgettably beautiful talent. Listen hereand check out the adjoining videos.

Carols and Candlelight opens with Barrett’s poignant rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?” (written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, and produced by Ross Copperman). Listen here and watch the visualizer. With its poetic contemplation of the relationship between Mary and her son, “Mary, Did You Know?” brings her distinct sensibilities to the modern Christmas classic, blending her bright and soulful vocals with a gorgeously subtle arrangement of pedal steel, piano, strings, and more. Along with showcasing the phenomenal range and nuance of her voice, the slow-burning and richly detailed track makes for a prime introduction to the full-length project’s stellar musicianship.

With its era-spanning mix of Christmastime favorites, Carols and Candlelight also includes standouts like “Go Tell It On The Mountain” (for KING & COUNTRY feat. Gabby Barrett) – an exultant Gospel number nominated for Christmas Recorded Song of the Year at the 55th Annual GMA Dove Awards. More at Gabby’s website and updates on social media. #GabbyBarrett

DAN + SHAY: It’s another ‘first’ from Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney (aka Dan + Shay). They have released their first-ever Christmas project, titled It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album (listen/stream/download here) and is available as a CD and a two LP package pressed in opaque red and green vinyl. The vinyl version comes with printed inner sleeves in a two-pocket gatefold jacket. Signed copies of both versions at Dan + Shay’s official website.

Your Inside Track on Music Row, November 2024

Hot new Country singles and albums tour updates and more

By Preshias Harris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Undeniably, I’m a country singer; I’m a country songwriter. But I feel like I make country music for people who like country music and for people who don’t.” – Kasey Musgraves

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. – Psalms 57:7

Can it be November already? With Thanksgiving fast approaching and Christmas just around the corner?! SO much to get to in this edition of ‘Inside Track on Music Row,’ the longest continuously-running monthly country music column in the USA. Scroll down to check out a whole bunch of new albums and singles to listen to, plus tour updates, Opry news, songwriter pub deals, Christmas music and a lot more. As always, my heartfelt thanks to the artists and songwriters and their reps who keep me in the loop about what’s new with you! So let’s kick off with a roundup of some albums you need to know about…

ALBUM NEWS

KELSEA BALLERINI: When you write songs from your own life, it takes a lot of living to come up with something special. Thankfully, for multiple Grammy nominee and Country Music Association award winner Kelsea Ballerini, a 30-something who never stops, inspiration is never hard to come by. Having created a deep dialogue with her fans, a lot has happened since the Grammy-nominated Rolling Up The Welcome Matand Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good).

Teaming with producer and longtime collaborator Alysa Vanderheym, Ballerini opted for an all-girl approach to PATTERNS. Crystalizing after a songwriting retreat with Vanderheym, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Hillary Lindsey, GRAMMY Songwriter of the Year nominee Jessie Jo Dillon and Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, the honey blond superstar decided to create an album that focused on female friendship, being vulnerable and honest, owning one’s jagged spaces and the way relationships really are, not the way they look on Instagram.

“There was an unpresumed feeling of knowingness that happened on that retreat,” Ballerini reports. “I felt safe, so then I was able to feel honest, and then more so, creative. We were all, as songwriters, in tandem but more so as women just in a real heart flow of it all. Having these heroes and friends champion the process and the guts of it all has been one of the joys of my career.” Pre-order exclusive PATTERNS on vinyl and CD here via Black River Entertainment. Listen/download the single “First Rodeo” here, and watch the evocative music video here. #KelseaBallerini

MEGAN MORONEY: The much-anticipated release of Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) — the deluxe edition of Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter Megan Moroney’s widely acclaimed sophomore album – dropped in early October. Featuring three brand-new tracks, the newly expanded version of Am I Okay? arrives just months after Moroney scored the year’s third-biggest Billboard 200 debut from a female Country artist. Listen to Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) here.

Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) includes a selection of songs she’s recently teased during her must-see live show and on social media. Both written by Moroney, David “Messy” Mescon, Rob Hatch, and Ben Williams, “Break It Right Back” and “I’ll Be Fine” offer the latest evidence of her enormous talent for penning truly unforgettable heartbreak ballads. To that end, “Break It Right Back” takes the form of a piano-laced stunner about the shattered hopes of falling for someone too good to be true (inspiring over 22k creates after Moroney teased it on TikTok), while “I’ll Be Fine” serves as a heavy-hearted response to the album’s wildly hopeful and Country radio-dominating title track.

Moroney will soon release Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) on vinyl on December 13. Pre-order the vinyl here. Tour/ticket updates at Megan’s website and more on social media. #MeganMoroney

GEORGE JONES: Fans of George Jones are in for a treat with the announcement of the new album, George Jones: The Lost Nashville Sessions set to release on November 15 on Country Rewind Records. Preorder / stream the album here. Originally recorded for radio airplay in the 1970s, these tracks have been enhanced, capturing Jones’ signature sound by bringing the audio quality up to twenty-first-century standards. This was achieved by subtly adding instrumentation and background vocals beneath Jones’ voice where needed.