Month: August 2025

You can check out the new live version of “Trailblazer” from Reba McEntire‘s show at Music City Rodeo back in May, complete with a surprise appearance by Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson.

Three rare albums from two-time CMA female vocalist of the year Janie Fricke are available on streaming services for the first time ever. Bouncin’ Back, Tributes to My Heroes, and Roses & Lace were recorded between 2000 and 2008.

Margo Price‘s new album, Hard Headed Woman, is out now. It’s the first time she’s recorded in Nashville. On Friday night she’ll celebrate by playing the Grand Ole Opry in a dress that belonged to Loretta Lynn.

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There’s long been talk about “Bro Country” in Music City, and now HARDY and ERNEST are weighing in.

“There’s a whole new crew in Nashville that’s bringing a whole new different sound and this song is simply an observation of that,” HARDY says of the new track he co-wrote with ERNEST.

“HARDY is such a clever writer-one of the best to ever do it,” ERNEST says. “It’s been fun growing with him since our days of writing with Florida Georgia Line and many others. I am very thankful for them, the summers we all had together and the opportunities that got us here.”

“I think this is a cool song that shows the ever-changing nature of music,” he adds, “and I’m glad I got to sing on it with HARDY.”

Known for frequently taking writers out on the road with them back in the day, FGL recorded songs like “Dig Your Roots” by ERNEST and “Simple” by HARDY.

“Bro Country” is the latest preview of HARDY’s COUNTRY! COUNTRY! album, which drops Sept. 26. Just two days before, he closes his JIM BOB World Tour with his first headlining show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

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An “award-winning superstar group from the label’s roster” will close out Big Machine 20, according to a news release from the company.

Riley Green, Sheryl Crow, Carly Pearce and Brett Young are already on board for the free Friday concert that starts at 7 p.m. CT on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. 

The Band Perry, RaeLynn, Danielle Peck, Danielle Bradbery and Jack Ingram will also play the show that celebrates two decades of Big Machine, as well as Aaron Lewis, Preston Cooper and The Jack Wharff Band.

It seems Rascal Flatts is a likely contender as the mystery act, having been on the label since 2010, though Lady A and Midland are Big Machine artists, as well. 

Big Machine 20 kicks off the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Friday in Nashville. 

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The official country debut of R&B star K. Michelle has finally arrived with her new track, “Jack Daniel’s.”

Co-produced by Sugarland‘s Kristian Bush, K. Michelle co-wrote the song about the “only man she trusts.” 

“This is me coming home,” K. Michelle explains. “Country is in my blood. I was raised on southern soil in Memphis, Tennessee, where soul and country grew from the same roots. This new music is a celebration of where I come from – the pride, the bittersweet and the whiskey-soaked truth of it all.”

Previously, K. Michelle duetted with Jelly Roll on a new version of “Love Can Build a Bridge” from 2023’s A Tribute to The Judds.

“Jack Daniel’s” is just a preview of what’s to come, with K. Michelle promising “more new music very soon.”

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Kelsea Ballerini and Cam will both make their Austin City Limits debut when the acclaimed PBS series returns this fall. 

Season 51 of the Texas-based show debuts Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. ET with FINNEAS.

The episode featuring Kelsea and Cam is set to air Nov. 15. Kelsea recorded her part, featuring songs from Patterns, in July, while Cam did her All Things Light set in June. 

Look for The Marías, My Morning Jacket, Charley Crockett, Waxahatchee, Samara Joy and Jon Batiste to appear during the first half of the season as well. Guests for the second half will be announced later. 

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Old Dominion‘s taking Barbara to the rodeo in Sin City. 

The CMA and ACM group of the year will perform their new album in its entirety, plus their hits, during an all-new show Dec. 5 and 6 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The shows take place during the annual National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. 

“Old Dominion loves working with Caesars, and we were thrilled to partner with them to bring BARBARA. HITS. VEGAS. to life,” lead singer Matthew Ramsey says. “We always have a great time in Las Vegas – maybe too great a time, as it goes. I can't wait to bring Barbara to our fans at Planet Hollywood.”

Caesars is currently showcasing Barbara with activations across all eight of its Sin City resorts – the first time the company’s ever partnered with an act for an album launch. 

Presales for OD’s Vegas concerts start Saturday, before tickets become available to the public on Wednesday.

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With the Labor Day weekend ahead, lots of Americans will be enjoying some time off and perhaps reminiscing about their journeys in the world of work. 

That includes superstar Carrie Underwood, who even before winning American Idol was paying her own way.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad job. I’ve had hard jobs,” she reflects. “I’ve had jobs that, you know, [made you work] random hours. My first job was at a gas station and that was a lot of fun actually. And while I was working at the gas station, I took on another job at a hotel down the street.”

Carrie admits that proved to be a little more difficult.

“There was nobody else working there,” she recalls. “I had one day of training, and then the next day I came in and the lady that had worked there the longest and was training me just didn’t show. So on my second day of work, I was now in charge because I was now the senior member. So I feel like that one was really challenging to try and figure my way through it, but I did.”

Of course, Carrie still has multiple jobs these days, having just started work on her second season of American Idol, in addition to her own recording career, and being mom to 10-year-old Isaiah Fisher and 6-year-old Jacob Fisher.

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The 10th anniversary limited edition of Chris Stapleton‘s breakthrough album, Traveller, is available in a double disc, translucent vinyl edition from his website. 

Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours are planning round two of their The Boys from Oklahoma show with a stop April 11 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. More than 200,000 fans attended the inaugural version this April.

The new EP from Graham Barham, Whiskey Rain, arrives Sept. 5, with a title track that features Tyler Hubbard.

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Lady A‘s Charles Kelley played a rare solo show Wednesday night at Nashville’s famed Exit/In.

“WHAT A NIGHT. Nashville y’all showed up, and I’m still buzzing from that energy,” he shared on his socials Thursday. “Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, showed up and spent their Wednesday night with us. Forever grateful for this album and the people who have been along this journey with me.”

As you might expect, his bandmate Hillary Scott is a fan.

“It was SUCH a fun night!” she commented. “It sounded amazing and we loved watching you live out your 80s music-loving dreams.”

Hillary’s referring to Charles’ second solo album, Songs for a New Moon, which spawned his adult contemporary hit “Can’t Lose You” and is a tip of the hat to the decade, even including a cover of Cyndi Lauper‘s “Time After Time.” 

Charles does have one more solo gig coming up: He’ll play Y Live at Wean Park in Youngstown, Ohio, Sept. 26 alongside John Mayer.

Lady A’s On this Winter’s Night (Volume 2) arrives that same day, followed by their first Christmas tour, which kicks off Dec. 5 in Atlanta.

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Brett Young will get the party started early Friday morning as his record label celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The “In Case You Didn’t Know” hitmaker will take the stage at 1st and Broadway in downtown Nashville to play Fox & Friends‘ All-American Summer Concert Series Friday. Gates will open at 5 a.m. CT for fans who want to be there as Brett begins to play at 7 a.m. 

From there, the Big Machine 20 celebration kicks off Friday night ahead of the weekend’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. 

Brett’s fourth studio album, 2.0, came out in June, featuring his latest radio single, “Drink with You.” 

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