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 1st, 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.
Continue reading “Inside Track on Music Row: all new music for May ’26!”