Music Industry News Archives - Nashville Music Line

Country music’s hottest new releases and tour news! It’s October’s Inside Track on Music Row

Mitchell Tenpenny, Riley Green, Tyler Hubbard, Dasha, Dylan Scott, Brooks & Dunn, Brandi Carlile, Luke Bryan and more!

By Preshias Harris

October’s Inside Track on Music Row is a ‘goody bag’ of must-read news about new singles and albums from Country music’s biggest acts and artists-on-the rise. Scroll down for tour and show updates and much more… right here in the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in the USA!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “When you’re playing the Opry, before every song, tell the crowd you wrote it, or else they’ll just think that you’re a bad singer on karaoke night.” – Vince Gill’s advice to Don Schlitz (“The Gambler”), reported in The Tennessean, 8/28/22

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1

ALBUM AND EP NEWS

LUKE BRYAN

LUKE BRYAN: Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan has released his ninth studio album, Signs. The 12-track album, produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens, features Luke’s Top 10 hit “Country And She Knows It.” Listen to Signs on Deezer here; find vinyl and CD versions here. Listen/play “Country And She Knows It” here.

In its 17th year, Luke’s Farm Tour has mobilized thousands of concertgoers to donate to local food banks, helping thousands of families. Through on-site collections, generous fans have contributed more than 16,000 pounds of nonperishable food so far, which will directly provide meals to regional hunger-relief organizations. The project has provided more than 11 million meals through presenting sponsor Bayer’s #HerestotheFarmer. Luke’s work with these programs has been critical to raising awareness, educating communities, and expanding access to nutritious food, vitamins, and minerals.

During his career, Luke has amassed 27.2 billion global streams, 12 million global album sales, and more than 48 million track sales worldwide. Find tour and show info at LukeBryan.com; follow Luke on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

BRAD PAISLEY

BRAD PAISLEY: ‍Global country music superstar Brad Paisley recently released Tacklebox – Disc 1, a digital-only project “full of hooks, country music hooks.” Some of the songs on Tacklebox come from his extensive catalog of unreleased and unrecorded songs dating back to the 90s, when his career began. Other songs were recently written and inspired by that style and by the unmistakable 90s sound of Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, and Alabama, as well as 80s-influenced productions reminiscent of those by George Strait, Garth Brooks, and others. Tacklebox – Disc 1 is available here.

Brad also co-produced William Shatner‘s new spoken-word album, Love & Other Mysteries (listen here). Brad, Taylor Goldsmith, the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Dawes, and three-time Academy of Country Music Piano Player of the Year Gordon Mote collaborated on the album’s musical arrangements.

Find Brad Paisley’s social/digital platforms here.

LAUREN WATKINS

LAUREN WATKINS: Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins releases her third album If I’m Being Honest, produced by Will Bundy with co-production on select tracks from Joey Moi, available everywhere here. Across 12 unguarded tracks, the Nashville native captures an eye-opening chapter of her life, pairing her signature lyrical imagery with a plainspoken look at love, life and the everyday truths most people won’t say out loud. If I’m Being Honest leans further into the honesty that has long defined Watkins’ songwriting.

“If I’m being honest — no pun intended — this is the most ‘me’ I’ve ever felt making a record,” shares Watkins. “While much of the album comes from my own story, it was also inspired by the life unfolding around me…from conversations with friends over margaritas to everything I observed from the van window on the way to a show. At this age, some of my friends are going on first dates while others are getting divorced. Some are getting promotions and others are having babies. I wanted to capture all of it and make a record where, wherever you are in life, there’s a song for you.”

Here’s your September Inside Track on Music Row!

New Country albums & singles, tour updates, and more…

By Preshias Harris

September’s Need-to-Know news about albums, singles, tours and videos from Lauren Alaina, Big and Rich, Luke Combs, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, American Blonde, Donna Fargo, George Strait plus many others, along with info on rising stars, emerging artists and more… including DollyFest!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I saw this ad that said, ‘You too can look like Dolly Parton for only $500.’ Boy, I sure wish I’d seen that ad before I spent millions of dollars to look like Dolly Parton.” – Dolly Parton (01/19/1946 – 08/25/2026), spoken during a televised interview.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. – Matthew 19:26

ALBUM & EP NEWS

LAUREN ALAINA

LAUREN ALAINA: Country superstar Lauren Alaina has released her highly anticipated album, Stages, out now via Big Loud Records (listen/play here). The 17-song collection was co-produced by hitmakers Joey Moi, Ben Johnson, Jacob Durrett, Mikey Reaves and Adam James. Stages chronicles the defining chapters of Alaina’s life, with her signature lyrical candor and powerhouse vocals. Over the course of the album, she explores coming of age to starting a family and more, marked by three Stages – Stage One: The Dreaming, Stage Two: The Breaking, Stage Three: The Becoming.

Following the 08/28 release of Stages, Lauren played Rock The Country in Ocala, Florida, then the Grand Ole Opry Sept 01, with additional festival dates to close out the summer. Beginning in October, Alaina will head out on her headlining The Stages Tour spotlighting every era of her career, blending new music with the fan-favorite anthems that have defined her rise. Support across select dates will include rising artists Shane Profitt, Ashley Kutcher, and fellow American Idol alum Hannah Harper. Find tour/ticket information and more at Lauren Alaina’s Official Website; follow her on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

AMERICAN BLONDE

AMERICAN BLONDE’s long-awaited October 2 release, Delta Home, opens with the gritty, revenge-filled “Mississippi Moonshine,” and instantly sets a high bar for this six-song collection. It’s one that this tight-knit five-piece unit of Mississippi natives tops effortlessly. Fronted by sisters Nata and Tinka Morris, the group features Nata (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Tinka (vocals, drums, percussion), Pete Horne (lead and rhythm guitar), Zach Dickerson (lead and rhythm guitar), and Will Garrett (bass, background vocals). Collectively, the players bring together diverse influences (The Eagles, Paul Gilbert, Carole King, Dave Grohl, Lynyrd Skynyrd) and varied life experiences to create a unique sonic tapestry of Delta Blues-infused Southern Country Rock. Pre-save now.

American Blonde joins multi-Platinum rockers Candlebox for select October shows on their Can’t Quit You Tour. More at www.AmericanBlondeMusic.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

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.

Don McLean Honored at Grand Ole Opry: A Musical Legacy

McLean performed his legendary hit “American Pie” and more

Legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean was honored at the Grand Ole Opry following his second appearance on the world-famous stage, where he performed as part of the Opry’s historic 100th anniversary celebration and in recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of America.

*PHOTO: Don McLean is pictured backstage at the Grand Ole Opry with Jackie Jones of the RIAA following McLean’s second Opry performance. Photo credit: Jeremy Westby*

Following his performance, McLean was presented with multiple commemorative awards recognizing the extraordinary and continuing impact of his catalog, including “American Pie” earning 6x Platinum single status and the American Pie album earning 2x Platinum album status. The presentation also highlighted additional RIAA Gold and Platinum honors tied to McLean’s remarkable songwriting legacy, including “Vincent,” which is also featured on Josh Groban’s 5x Platinum self-titled album, and Perry Como’s Gold-certified album And I Love You So, which featured Como’s beloved recording of McLean’s timeless composition.

RIAA SVP of Artist & Industry Relations Jackie Jones joined celebration of McLean from his own landmark recordings to the remarkable reach of his songs through artists across generations.

“Standing on the Opry stage is always meaningful, but to have this night surrounded by these songs and these awards made it especially moving,” said McLean. “When I wrote ‘American Pie,’ ‘Vincent,’ and ‘And I Love You So,’ I wasn’t thinking about plaques or numbers. I was thinking about truth, beauty, loss, love, and the country I knew. To see these songs still living in people’s hearts after all these years is the greatest honor.”

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.

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

Nashville Songwriter Awards again show why this is truly Music City

Nashville Songwriter Awards fill Ryman Auditorium with music and memories

By Preshias Harris and Kayla Slater

The 2025 Nashville Songwriter Awards, held traditionally in September, is always an opportunity to recognize the best of the best, and this year’s event was no exception. In addition to naming the Songwriter of the Year and Songwriter-Artist of the Year, other presentations included the Song of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Legendary Song Award and the President’s Keystone Award, as well as the unique Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written Awards. The event was staged by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) at the famed Ryman Auditorium and presented by City National Bank.

Such a great evening, and you can read my full story about the Awards (and some of the red carpet interviews that my colleague Kayla Slater and I carried out) here at Center Stage Magazine.

*2025 Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley (left) meets up on the red carpet with Alabama’s Randy Owen. Photo Kayla Slater*

The Song of the Year Award went to Josh Phillips for his solo-write (something of a rarity these days) of “Dirt Cheap” recorded by Cody Johnson. Phillips had written the song with Luke Combs in mind, but when Combs chose not to cut it, Phillips passed it on to Cody Johnson. The song, produced by Trent Willmon, peaked at No. 5 on Country Airplay and No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.

*Josh Phillips (left) receives the Song of the Year Award for “Dirt Cheap” presented to him by NSAI Board President Lee Thomas Miller. Photo: Jason Davis/NSAI*

Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year for the fourth consecutive year and nine years in total (so far!) – an unparalleled achievement – in the same year as he was elevated to the national Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in NYC. Tyler Hubbard performed “Park” (written by Gorley, Hubbard, Jesse Frasure and Canaan Smith), and Dylan Scott performed “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” (written by Gorley, Scott, John Byron, Charlie Handsome and Taylor Phillips).

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.”