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

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

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 InstagramTikTok and Facebook.

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.

Continue reading “February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ is here!”

Mid-August Country Music News Catchup!

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!

TYLER CHILDERS

Tyler Childers album cover artwork credit: Erik Thor Sandberg

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 EverettSnipe 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 FacebookInstagram 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 SunshineListen 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.”

Continue reading “Mid-August Country Music News Catchup!”

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 HOWARDA 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 28th(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 FacebookInstagramYouTubeXSpotify 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.

Continue reading “No foolin’! April’s country music news”

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 ESTENLauded 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.

Continue reading “New albums, new singles for the New Year!”