Country music’s hottest new albums, singles and tours!

By Preshias Harris

SO much great music news! How can we fit it all in?! New albums, singles, tours and more from Gabby Barrett, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Shaboozey, Lady A, CJ Solar, Alana Springsteen, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Cody Jinx, Allie Colleen, Riley Green, The Highwomen, Don Williams, Ashley Cooke, Vince Gill, LOCASH & Parmalee plus new releases from emerging artists, upcoming music festivals and more. Thank you for making Inside Track on Music Row the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in the USA!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I feel, as a songwriter, it’s one of the hardest things to do – to sit down and say how you feel.” – Bruno Mars

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. – Psalm 74:17

RILEY GREEN

RILEY GREEN: Amid another massive year of touring sold-out arenas, new career feats, and major award show milestones, Country superstar Riley Green announces his fourth studio album, That’s Just Me out September 18th (pre-save/pre-order here). Produced by Dann Huff and Green, the project will be released via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Alongside the announcement, Green also released the second track from the record, “Think As You Drunk” (listen here).

Written and recorded during a pivotal year in Riley Green’s life and in the midst of the biggest tour of his career to date, That’s Just Me is a deeply personal multi-faceted body of work that captures the many sides of Green as an artist, but more importantly as a songwriter. Rooted in his signature Country storytelling with a strong western spirit, the record moves effortlessly between tender moments of yearning, brooding, and heartbreak, carefree beachy anthems, and the fun-loving drinking songs fans have come to love. Reflecting a season of change and growth, That’s Just Me showcases Green at a defining moment, revealing new layers while staying true to the authenticity that has always driven his music. Follow Green on FacebookXInstagramTikTok and YouTube.

  • See also Number One News, below. 

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL: Music icon Vince Gill has released A Mother’s Prayer, the newest in his year-long EP series titled 50 Years From Home. Gill also launched his 50 Years From Home tour in June, a 27-city run including a six-night residency at the historic Ryman Auditorium. A complete list of dates can be found here.

Each of Gill’s EP releases thus far have centered around a unifying idea and theme. The glue holding the seven songs on the eighth installment, A Mother’s Prayer, is a bit more subtle, but the connection is revealed after listening all the way through and considering the context. Like the other 50 Years From Home EPs, A Mother’s Prayer was produced by Gill at his home studio near Nashville, with engineers Justin Niebank and Matt Rausch.

“I think with each of these EPs, I’m working toward pairing the songs that will sit together, that flow together, that sequence well,” Gill explains. “I like the theme of these songs, what they’re about. Where they came from. There are definitely some very personal ones on A Mother’s Prayer.” More at vincegill.com and on FacebookInstagramX, and YouTube.

THE HIGHWOMEN

THE HIGHWOMEN, the acclaimed collaborative movement formed by Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, share their new live album, Live at The Gorge 2023—available to stream everywhere: listen here. Alongside the digital album, a new live music video for “Redesigning Women” is available here.

“We weren’t planning on releasing a live album,” shares the group, “But in preparing for our upcoming reunion we recently listened back to The Gorge, and whatever happened out there that night came rushing right back…the adrenaline, the near misses, the harmonies locking in at exactly the right second, and the sound of thousands of people singing like they meant every word with their whole chest. The recordings sound wild, emotional, electric, human and exactly how that night felt…We could really feel the connection, the community and that rare oneness where everybody carried each other for a little while … Just us, the crowd, the canyon, and whatever that feeling was. We sure hope you feel it.” More at TheHighwomen.com and InstagramFacebook and YouTube.

Continue reading “Country music’s hottest new albums, singles and tours!”

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

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 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.

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!”