Country Music News Archives - Nashville Music Line

Country Singles! Albums! Tours! In June’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

Riley Green, Josh Turner, Dan + Shay, Luke Bryan, Zach Top, Walker Montgomery and more

By Preshias Harris

Preshias Personal Note: This column is a little shorter (and later) than usual. It’s been a challenging few weeks with doctor visits, CT scans and MRIs ending with a biopsy of my liver, two urgent Emergency Room visits and hospital admission for severe abdominal pain requiring an emergency procedure. The good news: no evidence of liver or pancreatic cancer, but a LOT of pain. Despite my many health issues over the years, I’ve always managed to publish/post Inside Track on Music Row, America’s longest continuously-running monthly Country music column, and I wasn’t going to let this latest challenge break that 30+ year run! Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. Publicists: please send your media releases to me at this address: nashhvillemusicline@gmail.com

Scroll down for news about new music, tour updates and more from Luke Bryan, Zach Top, Walker Montgomery, T. Graham Brown, Dan + Shay, Riley Green, Josh Turner and more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “The greatest award in the music business is to be called a songwriter.” – Garth Brooks

BIBLE VERS OF THE MONTH: My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. – Psalms 71:23

ALBUM & EP NEWS

KYLE CLARK

KYLE CLARK: Just ahead of Memorial Day weekend Kyle Clark has released your summer soundtrack. The Platinum-certified songwriter, producer, and rising artist’s new 10-track album Better On A Boat is a laid-back, coastal-inspired country record made for long weekends on the water. Stream Better On A Boat here.

Alongside the album release, Kyle spotlights the project’s title track, “Better On A Boat” — a breezy coastal country anthem built around freedom, connection, and soaking up life’s simple moments. With vivid scenes of sunlit water, cold drinks, good company, and summer stretching endlessly overhead, the track pairs relaxed island-inspired production with heartfelt storytelling and romance. Easygoing yet deeply nostalgic, “Better On A Boat” captures the feeling of leaving the noise behind, embracing the moment, and finding peace somewhere out on the water.

Clark blends island ease with Southern grit — a duality that shapes both his sound and Better On A Boat. Produced and mixed by Clark and mastered by Sam Moses, the project leans deeper into his beach-forward lane within the genre.

Previously released singles from Better On A Boat — “Checking Out,” “Me, God And The Ocean,” “Blame It On The Sun,” “Dock And A Hard Place,” “Fake Dead In Fiji,” and “Florida On My Mind” — reflect Clark’s coastal-country perspective, capturing the easygoing rhythms and playful spirit of life by the water throughout the record. More at KyleClarkMusic.com; follow Clark on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

THOMAS CSORBA

THOMAS CSORBA has released his new album Tender Country via the newly-launched Turtlebox Records. (Pre-order / pre-save album here.) His third studio album, Tender Country, is country music uninterested in posturing, guided instead by tenderness, humor, and an acceptance of impermanence. That mentality comes across acutely in his new single, “The Big Time” (stream here), a gorgeous country ballad that poignantly illustrates the hardships of a life on the road and the family milestones you can miss along the way.

Csorba on the new single: “This song is the most honest song on the record. It’s a song that sits right there on the edge of the cliff of giving up. I figured there’s no other way to start but by addressing the elephant in the room. How does someone who values his stable home life and family reconcile that with his life as a travelling musician?”

Born in Houston, Texas and now rooted in Dallas, Thomas Csorba writes country music that feels less like performance and more like witness. The songs on Tender Country are deeply invested in the emotional architecture of family life. Marriage, routine, fatigue, joy, and discovery are all treated with equal seriousness. In Csorba’s hands, washing dishes and falling in love again become similar acts of quiet devotion. Tender Country follows Csorba’s 2024 release Windchimes. More at ThomasCsorba.com; follow Csorba on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Inside Track on Music Row: all new music for May ’26!

New albums and singles, tour news, CMA Fest updates, Opry news and more

By Preshias Harris

It’s May on Music Row and here’s your Inside Track with everything you need to know about the new and upcoming Country album and single releases and tours from Dylan Scott, Southall, Keith Urban, Brian Kelley & Niko Moon, Kacey Musgraves, Russell Dickerson, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Brandy Clark, Ryan Bingham, Lauren Rismiller, Aaron Tippin and many more! Plus news and updates about CMA Fest, the ACM Awards, Grand Ole Opry and more. Scroll down and catch up!

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

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen. – Isaiah 60:22

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part One: The Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced additional performers and new event details for this year’s ACM Awards Week lineup, which will take place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 61st ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17th at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award-winning Country superstar Keith Urban will headline “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach, Saturday, May 16. Urban joins previously announced performers including Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore, as well as members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 – Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Tickets are available starting at $150 for VIP and $75 for General Admission at AXS.com.

Additional ACM Awards Week performers, as well as ACM Awards’ presenters, performers, and host, will be announced in the coming weeks. #ACMawards

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part Two: Additionally, Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette and Caroline Jones have been announced as performers for the “Whiskey Jam Welcome Party.” A long-standing Nashville staple for live music, Whiskey Jam, is headed to Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14, from 8–11 p.m. for a free ACM Awards welcome party open to both fans and industry alike held at Ole Red Las Vegas. Additional performers to be announced.

“Whiskey Jam Welcome Party” joins the previously announced ACM Awards Week events including the aforementioned “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” (see above) and “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15th. The event will feature an unforgettable, up-close concert experience with headliner Riley Green, alongside Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser.Tickets are available at $200 for VIP Early Access to General Admission doors and $150 for General Admission at AXS.com. Proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans will also be able to watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as in the Amazon Music app.

ALBUM NEWS

ERNEST

ERNEST: On May 1^st, Nashville-native, Grammy-nominated tastemaker and triple threat talent ERNEST released his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue – listen here. Inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip, full circle and reminiscent of ERNEST’s 9-song, 2019 entry Locals Only.

March 2026 Country Music Update: Tours, New Releases & Events

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ for March ’26: SO much new Country music!

By Preshias Harris

It’s all here: Spring tour news from Dierks Bentley, Russell Dickerson, Cody Johnson, Old Dominion; hot new music from Blake Shelton, Vince Gill, Craig Campbell and a swarm of rising country stars; the deets on Tin Pan South, the Country Radio Seminar and the Musicians Hall of Fame Concert; Riley Green’s No. 1 party, and music, music, music. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I’m a songwriter; that’s where it starts. I love writing with someone that shares that same feeling of accomplishment. I’ll play music for my fans as long as they’ll listen, but I fancy myself as a writer first.” – Randy Houser

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. —Proverbs 23:18

ALBUM NEWS

JACKSON DEAN

JACKSON DEAN: Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Jackson Dean will release his third studio album, Magnolia Sage, on April 24. Pre-save/pre-order here. An eclectic collection of songs that move from sweeping to soothing, rocking to ruminative, the 11-track project creates a sound that is singularly Jackson Dean: alive, vital, frisky, sexy and rugged.

The story of Magnolia Sage is told through two distinct, rich narrative lenses, with each of the 11 tracks fitting into one of the two worlds: Magnolia or Sage. Songs and settings of the album intertwine to unveil the discoveries made on Dean’s exploration into new territory, both sonically and lyrically, that began with previously released tracks “Be Your Man,” “Make A Liar” and “Over And Over.”

Magnolia evokes vivid scenes of the Southeast and East Coast, sonically defined by heavy bass that booms and R&B influence that romances. The stories and sounds of Sage transport listeners to the inherent restlessness and vast landscapes of the West.

Whether Magnolia or Sage, east or west, soft or bold, the thread that holds the tapestry of Dean’s vision together is the steady influence of his longtime muse.

Dean cranks up the heat and sets hearts ablaze in his new track “Wildfire,” out now, an evocative depiction of the kind of love that can’t be contained once the match is struck. Watch the official music video here. Find tour dates at JacksonDeanMusic.com. #JacksonDeanMusic

LIL ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS

LIL ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS: Alligator Records has announced the release of Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials‘ new album, Slideways. Pre-add / listen here. For nearly 40 years together, Blues Hall Of Famers Lil’ Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials – bassist (and Ed’s half brother) James “Pookie” Young, guitarist Mike Garrettand drummer Kelly Littleton – have been delivering gloriously riotous, intensely emotional, wickedly playful Chicago blues to audiences around the world. Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials return with their 10th Alligator Records release, and perhaps the crowning achievement of their entire career Slideways. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and raw-boned shuffles with the deepest soul-burners and heart-wrenching slow blues, Lil’ Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials bring it all back home, playing each track with an impassioned sense of wild abandon.

Produced by Williams and Alligator Records founder and president Bruce Iglauer, Slideways is a dynamic, high-energy collection of 13 songs, including 12 written or co-written by Williams. With the band at the absolute height of their powers, Williams’ singing and playing is thrilling and at times hair-raising. The songs—eight featuring the deep blues keyboard playing of Ben Levin (“He’s got that old-time style,” says Williams)—are filled with simple, relatable truths. They feature colorful characters in humorous to harrowing situations, some sinning while grinning, others smiling while crying.

Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials will play the City Winery, Nashville, April 9, 2026. Tour/ticket info here.

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL: The guitar on the cover of Down At The Borderline says everything about the fourth installment in Vince Gill‘s 50 Years From Home EP series on MCA. It’s a white 1953 Fender Telecaster that Gill bought for $450 in 1978 from Del City Music in his native Oklahoma, and it’s been Gill’s main guitar ever since. “It’s real special,” he remarks. “I’ve got several other old Fender Telecasters, but that one just suits my hands, suits my ears. Everything about it is kind of a huge part of my entire catalog of playing guitar over all these years.” Testifying to that status is the worn finish on the guitar’s body.

Listen to Down At The Borderline here.

February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ is here!

New music for lovers – country music lovers, that is!

By Preshias Harris

February is the month of love so we’ve got love songs, break-up songs, make-up songs and everything in between. New music from Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Frankie Ballard, ERNEST, Ashley McBryde, HARDY, Struggle Jennings, Megan Moroney, Jon Pardi and lots more for you and your Valentine, plus the Musicians Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees, a new IMAX movie, Bluegrass news and more. Scroll down for your Inside Track on Music Row!

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: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – I Corinthians 13: 13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH will release the album Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on February 13, 2026, via MCA Nashville. Pre-save / pre-order here. Recorded at The Pinnacle in Nashville in May 2025, this 19-track live album accompanies an exclusive IMAX concert film of the same name releasing on the same day, featuring performances of his 2025 studio album in its entirety, alongside live versions of some of his hits such as “Desperate Man,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Sinners Like Me,” and “Springsteen”.

The release coincides with the second leg of his “Free the Machine” tour, which resumed in early 2026. Find tour and ticket info here.

Scroll down to MOVIE NEWS for information about the Eric Church IMAX movie of Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive and where/when you can see it.

LAKELIN LEMMINGS

LAKELIN LEMMINGS: Rising country artist Lakelin Lemmings releases her new EP, Get Around Boy, on February 6, 2026, via QHMG/Quartz Hill Records. Produced by Ash Bowers the five-track project captures the emotional push-and-pull of small-town roots, restless ambition, faith, and modern country storytelling.

Anchored by title track, “Get Around Boy,” a contemporary-tinged road anthem that explores the personal cost of chasing dreams. With vivid, coast-to-coast imagery and a soaring sing-along chorus, the song finds Lakelin reflecting on love left behind while life keeps moving forward.

The EP balances high-energy autobiographical moments with thoughtful, heart-led storytelling. From the playful uncertainty of modern romance to songs rooted in faith and hometown memory, Get Around Boy showcases Lakelin’s growth as both a writer and an artist who is grounded, authentic and emotionally significant.

Wise beyond her 19 years, Lemmings’ faith and her tenacity lead her confidence as she sets out to tackle the wild and often beautiful business of music with an arsenal of talent. She signed her first Nashville publishing deal at just 17 years old and has since amassed more than 120,000 followers on TikTok. Connection and communication with her audience is what drives her songwriting. She strives to let listeners—especially girls her own age—know that they’re seen and heard. More at lakelinlemmings.com and on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

BLUEGRASS NEWS

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK: Huckleberry Records has released “My Delilah,” a new single from Darren Beachleyand Kyle Windbeck that blends heartfelt storytelling with traditional bluegrass power and harmony. The song is at country radio now and is available for streaming from all digital music platforms here.

2025’s Must-Hear Country Christmas Releases and much more

Christmas music is just the beginning. Country music news you can use

By Preshias Harris

The bells are jingling and the reindeer are getting hitched up to the sleigh, so it must be December! We have a Santa’s sackload of music news: albums, singles, Holiday music, tour updates and much more from Trace Adkins, Drew Baldridge & Mickey Guyton, Brooks & Dunn, Trey Calloway, Craig Campbell, Bandana Cheyenna, Randy Cobb, Russell Dickerson, ERNEST, Lady A, Lewis Brice, T. Graham Brown, Hayden Haddock, Huneyfire, Greylan James, Brian Kelley, Brandon Lake, Tracy Lawrence, Tori Martin, Megan Moroney, RaeLynn, Tori Rose, JD Shelburne & Crystal Gayle, T.G. Sheppard & Kelly Lang, Kurt Alan Shobe, Nate Smith & Tyler Hubbard, Billy Strings, Meghan Trainor, Zach Top, Wynn Williams, Lainey Wilson and more. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “If a song can’t be written in 20 minutes, it ain’t worth writing.” – Hank Williams

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:11

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERNEST

ERNEST: In late November ERNEST released his seven song project Live From The South – a cohesive piece built on Southern imagery and lyrical craftsmanship (listen / play here). This follows his recognition at the BMI Awards as a creative force behind BMI Song of the Year, Post Malone’s all genre No. 1 smash “I Had Some Help” feat. Morgan Wallen. He also packed Ryman Auditorium earlier in November for two consecutive headliners with star-studded guests.

“I’m excited to get these seven songs out,” shares the hitmaker. “They are just the first seven songs on a bigger body of work. These songs felt like something that needed to get out into the world before the year is over with. Something to get us through the winter. A lot of summertime music around the corner. We’re live from the South.”

Guitar-picking, fiddle and pedal steel sonically define Live From The South, produced by ERNEST and Jacob Durrett. The new collection reflects ERNEST’s growth as an artist and comfortability in his own shoes – reveling in gratitude: family ties, simple faith, making a life for yourself. Collaborating with his inner circle, Live From The South features co-writes with Rhett Akins, Mark Holman, ERN’s Cadillac Music signees Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden, Rhys Rutherford and more.

More information, music and tour tickets at ernestofficial.com; follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

WYNN WILLIAMS

WYNN WILLIAMS: Independent recording artist Wynn Williams is set to release his new album, Country Therapy Deluxe. Building on the success of the original Country Therapy album (listen/play here) released in August 2025, the Deluxe Edition project (due Friday, December 5, 2025) beams with neo-traditional tunes showcasing Williams’ kinship with classic country and iconic sounds, reimagined recordings of fan favorites and his top streaming songs, “Denver To Dallas” and “She Ain’t You,” and a vocal collaboration with fellow Texan Randall King on the track “Here For the Beer.”

Produced by Brandon Hood, the collection of 15 recordings showcases the songwriting prowess of a stellar lineup of country music luminaries and Hall of Famers–including Carson Chamberlain (George Strait/Alan Jackson/Zach Top), Dean Dillon (George Strait/Kenny Chesney/Keith Whitley), Rhett Akins (Brooks & Dunn/Luke Bryan/Parker McCollum), Lydia Vaughn (Jason Aldean), Josh Dorr (Blake Shelton/Jordan Davis), Chris Stapleton (George Strait/Kenny Chesney/Josh Turner) and Jon Pardi. Compositions spotlight the delicate musical interpretation of three-time Academy of Country Music Keyboard/Piano Player of the Year, Gordon Mote.

Classic to Williams’ authentic signature, the Deluxe collection boasts old-school country instrumentation and Texas twang, chock-full of heartfelt ballads, shuffles, two-steppers, line-dance, heartbreak, and good-timin’ drinkin’ tunes. Find Wynn Williams tour info here; follow on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

BLUEGRASS NEWS

*PHOTO: Billy Strings. Photo credit: Dana Trippe*

BLUEGRASS NEWS: 2025 has been a landmark year for Billy Strings, whose most recent full-length album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) and released via Reprise Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales Chart—the first bluegrass album in 22 years to do so—and continues to receive widespread acclaim. Listen to Highway Prayers here.

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry provides 50,000 meals

Benefit concert raises $355,000

by Preshias Harris

Tracy Lawrence is no newcomer when it comes to organizing and supervising a mammoth turkey fry. After all, this was going to be the twentieth time that the country music icon and philanthropist had done it to provide much-needed meals to hungry Middle Tennesseans. With any major undertaking such as this, there will always be a few last minute glitches. But this time, the ‘glitch’ looked like it was turning into a potential disaster.

*Tracy Lawrence fries another turkey during his 20th annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry. Photo credit: Logan Vollmers*

When things looked their darkest, Lawrence’s cool head and quick thinking saved the day. His friends in the music industry and the Nashville community rallied together November 25 in a time of need for Lawrence’s 20th Annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry at the Nashville Fairgrounds. What started as a morning of prep led to panic after discovering a refrigerated truck had broken, spoiling 650 stored turkeys out of the 3,600 total allotment.

Read my full story about the 20th annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry and concert here at Center Stage Magazine.

Lawrence called out to social media, news outlets, artists and celebrities asking for donations to replenish the stock in order to reach their goal of feeding 36,000 people throughout Middle Tennessee. The result was truly a miracle, ending in over 2,400 turkeys donated today, making the total of 5,350 cooked and frozen distributed turkeys. The added donations have now brought the total to 50,000+ meals provided for those in need. Watch a video recap of the Turkey Fry here.

*Tucker Wetmore (left) arrives at the Nashville Fairgrounds with a truckload of turkeys for Tracy Lawrence and his team of turkey fryers. Photo credit: Dylan McGraw*

Artists and celebrities came out to support the turkey fry, with appearances from notable names like Jamey Johnson, Tucker Wetmore, Charles Esten, Dustin Lynch, Meghan Patrick, John Crist, Rodney Atkins, Clint Black, Rhett Akins, Frank Ray and more. Wetmore surprised Lawrence with a drop off of over 100 turkeys, while Patrick also donated and took to social media to encourage her community to support and donate.

*(L to R): Haley Irvine and Meghan Patrick arrive with more turkeys!*

Later, fans gathered at Luke Combs’ Category 10 for the benefit concert, with performances by Lawrence, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Cagle, Eric Paslay and Halfway to Hazard. The event saw a record-breaking amount of money raised for Mission:Possible, totaling $355,000.

(L to R): Chris Cagle, Gretchen Wilson, Tracy Lawrence, Glenn Cranfield (Nashville Rescue Mission), Eric Paslay and Halfway to Hazard onstage for the benefit concert at Luke Combs’ Category 10. Photo credit: Logan Vollmers

Find more about the mission of Mission:Possible here at their website. Monetary donations can still be made on behalf of Nashville Rescue Mission here. More about Tracy Lawrence, including tour and ticket info for upcoming shows at Tracy Lawrence.com; follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

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

Grand Ole Opry celebrates 100th Anniversary with gala shows

More than 15,000 broadcasts from the Unbroken Circle

By Preshias Harris

*The cast takes the stage November 28, 2025, to celebrate the show’s 100th Anniversary. Photo credit: Rachael Black © Grand Ole Opry*

Can it really be 100 years? Is it truly a full century since that first show was broadcast over the airwaves from the WSM radio studio in Nashville? On Saturday, November 28, 1925, announcer George D. Hay stood at the microphone and introduced 77-year-old Uncle Jimmy Thompson who sat down and entertained radio listeners with tunes played on his fiddle.

That show was titled WSM Barn Dance but by 1927 became better known by the name familiar to country music fans around the world: The Grand Ole Opry.

*Announcer George D. Hay, at the mic, introduces a (nervous-looking) Uncle Jimmy Thompson. Photo © Grand Ole Opry*

WSM had only been on the air since October 5, 2025, owned by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company that chose WSM as their call letters to promote their company slogan, “We Shield Millions.” By 1932, WSM was also reaching millions with a power boost to 50,000 watts at 650 kHz on the radio dial, as Tennessee’s only ‘clear channel’ allocation, heard by much of the United States after sundown.

Fast forward through the decades to November 28, 2025, as The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 100th anniversary of its inaugural broadcast with two shows and more than 25 Opry members commemorating 100 years since that single fiddle tune launched a legacy which now includes over 15,000 broadcasts, countless stars, millions of fans, and one enduring unbroken circle.

Fittingly, the show ran on the Opry’s flagship radio station, WSM, and also aired on SiriusXM as well as around the world via livestream on Opry social media on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

*Ricky Skaggs plays “Tennessee Wagoner” on the fiddle used by Uncle Jimmy Thompson 100 years previously. Photo credit: Rachael Black © Grand Old Opry*

In a poignant moment, Ricky Skaggs (Opry member since 1982) opened the show with a performance of “Tennessee Wagoner,” while playing the very fiddle with which Uncle Jimmy Thompson started it all, exactly 100 years ago. The night’s cast of more than 25 Opry members appeared on stage as Skaggs kicked off the show.

Former longtime Opry executive EW “Bud” Wendell raised the curtain to kick off the Opry’s 100th Anniversary night. At the age of 98, Mr. Wendell is only two years younger than the Opry itself and is the oldest member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

At the top of the show, Vince Gill (Opry member since 1991) introduced and played the new exclusive Opry 100 guitar that Martin Guitars designed for the centennial anniversary and in celebration of all the music to be made in the future on the Opry, marking the first time this limited-edition guitar has ever been played publicly.

*Vince Gill debuts the Martin Guitars Opry 100 guitar during the show. Photo credit: Rachael Black © Grand Ole Opry*

Then the hits – and the stars – just kept on coming.

Inside Track on Music Row – Fall special!

Inside Track on new albums, singles, videos, songwriter awards and more!

By Preshias Harris

It’s finally Fall – and here’s what you need to know about new music from Drew Baldridge, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Matt Cooper, Daniella Cotton, Colt Ford, Charles Wesley Godwin, Vince Gill, HARDY, Joy Holden, Trace Nixon, Kody Norris, Thomas Rhett, Runaway June, Lauren Watkins, Tucker Wetmore – plus ‘listen/play’ links to the albums and singles and more. It’s all here, so keep scrolling!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I wrote [Every Rose Has Its Thorns] in a mini-Winnebago outside a honky-tonk in Dallas, where we had played to maybe 50 or 100 people. I came back to the bus, me and my girl at the time had broken up and it just sparked me. Music saved my life.” -Bret Michaels of Poison, speaking of the group’s 1988 Number One hit in an interview with USA Today.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

DIERKS BENTLEY

DIERKS BENTLEY: Following a summer packed with standout performances and fan-favorite collaborations, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley is expanding his 11th studio album with Broken Branches Extended, released October 3. Bentley continues to grow his signature blend of against-the-grain creative courage, offering two brand new tracks, including the rowdy standout “IYKYK” and the driving, dobro-laced “All Night to Figure It Out.” Listen/save Broken Branches Extended here.

The punchy foot-stomper “IYKYK” comes out swinging with a spirited mandolin riff, courtesy of Charlie Worsham, that hits like a honky tonk anthem on overdrive. With lyrical nods to fiddle, steel guitar, Natty Light and Friday nights, Bentley leans into a defiant celebration of the country way of life—one that doesn’t need explaining if you already live it. Meanwhile, “All Night to Figure It Out” sets the (acoustic) mood for a little romantic research. Burning with slow-grooving, stomp-and-clap desire, the dobro-drenched jangle rocker features a loose, casual sway, with Bentley’s easy vocal in no hurry for the moment to end.

The two new tracks join Broken Branches’ original 11. Rooted in raw honesty and storytelling, the album embraces life’s outliers and underdogs with songs about resilience, change, and connection. Praised for its “distinctive and daring sound” (Esquire), the original collection features a cross-generational lineup of collaborators—including John Anderson, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, and Stephen Wilson Jr. More at Dierks.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS: Global superstar Luke Combs released The Prequel, a new 3-song EP, October 3 via Sony Music Nashville— listen-save here. Produced by Combs and Chip Matthews, The Prequel features “My Kinda Saturday Night,” which is already highly anticipated by fans after being teased online, as well as “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These.”

Of the project, Combs shares, “Still working on my new album that’ll be out early next year, but 3 songs from it are ready now and I couldn’t wait to get y’all some new music, so I’m releasing them this Friday, October 3 as The Prequel. Songs will be ‘Days Like These,’ ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘My Kinda Saturday Night,’ which next year’s tour will be named after. I’ll have more news on that very soon.”

The release adds to yet another monumental year for Combs, who recently made history as the first country artist ever to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Additionally, Combs released his latest single, “Back in the Saddle,” earlier this summer, which is currently #8 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and rising. Combs is a multi-diamond, award-winning artist from Asheville, NC. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2025 CMA Awards. Tour updates at LukeCombs.com and TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

COLT FORD

COLT FORD: Country music trailblazer Colt Ford has announced the release of his brand-new album, Little Out There, available everywhere on November 7, 2025 (pre-save here) via Average Joes Entertainment. The project marks Ford’s first full-length release since his near-fatal heart attack in April 2024 – a powerful comeback story underscored by resilience, passion, and a renewed creative fire.

Along with the album announcement, the multi-platinum artist dropped a new single, “Country AF” featuring Jay Webb, available now on all streaming platforms. The rowdy, unapologetic anthem channels Ford’s signature country swagger, blending hip-hop energy, Southern grit, and sharp lyricism––penned by Michael Hardy, Jaren Johnston, and Jesse Frasure.

Mid-August Country Music News Catchup!

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ mid-month extra

By Preshias Harris

There was just too much news for my August column but some of it couldn’t wait for September so here’s my “But wait! There’s more!” moment. Scroll down for new singles and albums, news on award shows, songwriters in the round, concerts and more about T. Graham Brown, Josh Ritter, Molly Tuttle, TRHibe, Megan Moroney, Tyler Childers, Onoleigh and more. And, if you missed the full August edition of Inside Track on Music Row – America’s longest running monthly country music column – you’ll find it posted directly beneath this one!

ALBUM NEWS

TYLER CHILDERS

TYLER CHILDERS: Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Tyler Childers achieves his highest debut to date on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as his widely acclaimed new album, Snipe Hunter, enters the chart at #7 (48,000 equivalent units). The record is also currently #1 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums, Americana/Folk Albums and Indie Store Albums charts as well as #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #20 on the all-genre Top Streaming Albums chart. Stream/purchase the new album here (Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records).

Additionally, the song, “Bitin’ List,” is garnering overwhelming attention with over 65,000 TikTok videos to date, over half a million streams in just one day (August 1) and continues to climb all-genre charts at iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and more.

In support of the release, Childers recently spoke with Marissa Moss for an in-depth profile at GQ, and performed special pop up shows last week at Nashville’s Turkey and the Wolf and Kentucky’s Dinosaur World. Produced by Rick Rubin with additional production from Childers and Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanbornand mixed by Shawn Everett, Snipe Hunter includes “Nose on the Grindstone,” which recently achieved Childers’ best week ever at country radio with over 40 adds and is currently #18 and rising on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Tour updates and mote at TylerChildersMusic.com; follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

MOLLY TUTTLE

MOLLY TUTTLE: On the heels of two Grammy-winning albums in succession, with her band Golden Highway—2022’s Crooked Tree and 2023’s City of Gold—plus a nomination for Best New Artist, Molly Tuttle returns with a solo album that’s her most dazzling to date: So Long Little Miss Sunshine. Listen here.

Recorded in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce (Orville Peck, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Eric Church, Cage the Elephant), the fifth full album from the California-born, Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and virtuoso guitarist features twelve new songs—eleven originals and one highly unexpected cover of Icona Pop and Charli xcx’s “I Love It.”

New Country album & single releases, tour updates and more!

Here’s Inside Track on Music Row, July 2025

By Preshias Harris

If you want to plan your Summer and Fall concert-going, scroll down and find tour and ticket info for a whole lot of artists who are heading out on the road. Plus new albums and singles and a lot more about Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Craig Morgan, Lukas Nelson, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame … and more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I still have my first paycheck. It was just, I think, a dollar or two that I got when I started as a songwriter with BMI, and I had some songs there that I had through the company, and in the mail I got this big old check for, like, a dollar and a half or something. Somebody had recorded one of my songs.” – Dolly Parton

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. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

ALBUM & EP NEWS

RODNEY CROWELL

RODNEY CROWELL: A new album is on the way from Rodney Crowell. The album, titled Airline Highway, is set to arrive August 29. Pre-order the album – available in CD and vinyl formats – here. In advance of the album, Crowell has released the song “Sometime Thang,” a sly, swampy track that was inspired by a real-life moment of romantic rivalry.

“Once upon a time a famous movie star made a move on my girlfriend,” Rodney told us, “We’ve been married over three decades now… but I never thought he was much of an actor. I’m just saying.” Stream “Sometime Thang” here. Watch the lyric video here.

Airline Highway features a new generation of roots and country voices: Ashley McBryde (“Taking Flight”), Lukas Nelson, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, and Larkin Poe’s Lovell sisters.

Crowell hits the road this fall with stops in L.A., NYC, Houston, and more. Limited edition vinyl and autographed CDs are available now. Crowell is a multi-Grammy Award-winning troubadour with fifteen number one hits. Over the course of his career, Crowell has gracefully blended his own mainstream success as an artist with a prolific catalog of songs cut by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Keith Urban and more. Tour dates and more at RodneyCrowell.com.

CRAIG MORGAN

CRAIG MORGAN: Country music hitmaker and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan will join “Live with Kelly & Mark” Friday, July 4, for a special performance of “American Soundtrack,” the title track to his newly released EP (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville). Find local listings here and stream Craig Morgan’s American Soundtrack EP here. Craig has a string of shows and appearances throughout July and beyond. Learn more and find tour tickets at craigmorgan.com. Engage with Craig on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Singer, author, actor, and soldier Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music hitmaker who has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. With signature hits including “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” “International Harvester,” “Soldier,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” and his faith-filled tribute, “The Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost,” the multi-faceted entertainer’s music has formed the soundtrack to our lives for over two decades. His new music, American Soundtrack (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville), is no exception, with each of the EP’s six songs infused with Craig’s faith and patriotism. Craig received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008.

LUKAS NELSON

LUKAS NELSON: Following the release of his highly anticipated new album, American Romance, Lukas Nelson performed the title track on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and, the following morning, appeared on The Howard Stern Show, where he performed “All God Did” and spoke with the host.

The album, which has already garnered widespread critical acclaim, marks Nelson’s first solo project and first in partnership with Sony Music Nashville. In celebration of the release, Nelson was also featured on CBS Mornings, where he spoke with correspondent Anthony Mason. Stream/purchase American Romancehere.