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Morgan Wallen Teases New Music!

Christmas has come early for Morgan Wallen fans.

Yesterday, Morgan teased a snippet of a new song he’s working on, allegedly called “Since You Got Gone”, and it’s probably his next #1 hit.

Check out the clip he shared on instagram below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Morgan Wallen (@morganwallen)

As Morgan mentioned, it’s just a rough demo at this point, but it sounds like something you’ll be hearing on Country Radio nonstop in the next year, so get ready.

Morgan is currently working on his next project, and is heating up the charts right now with “Love Somebody”, and I’m thinking there’s no slowing down for Morgan anytime soon. Especially as those felony charges got dropped recently- that could have been a problem.

Hopefully, he slows down the partying, and just keeps on making good music.

2025 is likely to be another massive year for Morgan Wallen, and for Country Music in general, just like this year.

Bring it!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”

The Natonal Finals Rodeo just wrapped up in Las Vegas (it’s on my bucket list to go one day) and Cody Johnson was one of the featured performers, which makes sense, as he’s a legitimate cowboy. And he brought up a pretty legit cowgirl -fellow Country superstar Lainey Wilson- to perform the classic “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”.

And, of course, it’s great:

@ttbrown9Cody Johnson with Lainey Wilson in Las Vegas♬ original sound – TT Brown

Here’s another look:

@gypsycowboy1 C2C 2025 we need this duo lets make it happen guys @Lainey Wilson @Cody Johnson @C2CFestival #countymusic #fyp #gypsycowboy1 #laineywilson #codyjohnson #duo#c2c #london ♬ original sound – country music Uk

Cody has mentioned that he and Lainey want to remake Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”, but they haven’t gotten around to it just yet.

Yep- that needs to happen in 2025.

Get on it, you two!

I’m honestly just really happy about the direction that Country music is going these days- getting away from the “Bro Country” and moving to more of a traiditonal sound.

More of that in 2025, please!

Ryan Bingham “A Song for the Stone”

I don’t know about you, but I am NOT emotionally ready for “Yellowstone” to end tomorrow night.

Yeah, there’s like seven million spinoffs, including one centered around Beth and RIP in the future, but still I hate to see it end.

Thanks, Kevin Costner.

Anyhow, Ryan Bingham- who plays “Walker” on the show- is also a legit Country singer/songwriter, and has released a song for “Yellowstone Fans”.

You may have heard it on a previous episode this season, but this is the official release.

Check out “A Song for the Stone” below:

Here is Bingham’s official quote regarding the release of the song:

“I’d like to dedicate this song to all the Yellowstone fans out there, all the cast and crew, and all the folks that have made this whole thing possible over the years. It’s been a pretty amazing journey, and I’m honored to just be a part of. It’s taken me a while to write this song, but sometimes you’ve got to live it before you can write it.”

Well done, Ryan.

Here’s the “Fireside Version” that he put out a couple of days ago:

Anyhow, I’m really not ready for “Yellowstone” to be over tomorrow.

BUT- “Landman” with Billy Bob Thornton is pretty damn good, AND the “1923” prequel with Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford comes back (finally) for Season 2 on February 23rd on Paramount +, so not all is lost.

Thank you, “Yellowstone”, for the past few years, and bringing the Western lifestyle back to the forefront.

 

Zach Top “I Never Lie”

If you’re not tracking Zach Top, you are missing out.

Big time.

He broke early this year with his hit “Sounds Like the Radio”, and hot damn, he’s on a roll.

He’s got that glorious 90’s Country sound and it just makes my heart all kinds of happy.

His new single “I Never Lie” is perfection, and if you haven’t heard it yet, here you go:

Right? Isn’t that great? Sounds like the radio in 1994, as Zach Top mentioned in his previous hit “Sounds Like the Radio”.

Zach is the next big thing. Mark my words.

He’s also a pretty awesome guy, as evidenced by my interview with him from earlier this year:

Isn’t he a doll?
Check out his debut album “Cold Beer and Country Music” out now.
You’re welcome.
Zach Top is here to help save Country Music!

Shenendoah “Sunday in the South” Remake With Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean

A couple of months ago, Shenandoah teamed up with Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean for an updated version of their classic #1 1989 hit “Sunday in the South”, and they just released the music video for the song, and it’s a solid recreation of the original- both the song and video:


Being a 90’s Country fan, I appreciated the heck out of that.

Also, I prefer Luke Bryan singing songs like this, instead of songs about beer and shaking your butt for a catfish, but that’s just me.

The video was filmed in Liepers Fork, TN, which is my home state, and reminds me of my hometown of Hnederson, TN, and I tell you, I could really go for some Bells Drive-n right know.

If ya know ya know.

Shenandoah is thankfully still going strong, and still on the road.

Get tour dates here: :https://www.shenandoahband.com/

Kacey Musgraves “The Architect” Music Video

Earlier this year, Kacey Musgraves released her latest album “Deeper Well”, and one of the standout songs on it is “The Architect”.

Easily one of my favorite songs of the year.

Beautifully written and sung, and just one of those perfect songs that I would not change a thing about.

Kacey finally released the music video for it today, and it’s just as beautiful as the song:


Can I look like Kacey in my next life? Can I speak to the architect?

Get more info on Kacey Musgraves, music, tour dates, etc at https://www.kaceymusgraves.com/#/ and I’m also obsessed with her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spaceykacey/

Lainey Wilson Cowboys Half-Time Show Performance!

Yesterday, as per Thanksgiving tradition, the Dallas Cowboys had their annual Thanksgiving Day game- which they actually won against The Giants- and every year, they have a full-on halftime show.

Last year it was the iconic Dolly Parton, who took to the stage in a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader uniform.

Mind you, she’s 77, and still rocked it:

Ok, so back to yesterday’s performance…

Lainey Wilson was the esteemed halftime show performer, and she did a fantastic job. Sadly, she wasn’t rocking the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader uniform, but she looked and sounded great, and was obviously singing live, which is a bonus.

The NFL blocks people from sharing their Youtube videos (rude), but here’s what I found on social media:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NFL (@nfl)


And Lainey even brought out Jelly Roll as a surprise guest!

Also, have I mentioned before how much I love the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?

I care zero about the team, but the cheerleaders are badass. I have seen every single episode of “Making the Team” and I’m not even a little ashamed.

In all, I thought it was a great performance, and Lainey represented Country Music well, as always!

If you want to watch the full performance, you can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzexb_P-0i0

Oliver Anthony “Country Roads”

Oliver Anthony- who went mega-viral last year with his hit “Rich Men North of Richmond”- just dropped a cover of John Denver’s “Country Roads” and it’s pretty dang great.

I’ve always loved this song, and there are so many versions of it out there, but Oliver’s definitely stands out with it’s simplicity and authenticity:


Dang, son.

Now Oliver had announced recently that he has left the music industry to focus on ministry. He also said he would still be making music and outting it on his youtube channel.

Good. He really is one heck of a pure talent.

If you want to keep up with Oliver Anthony, you can do so here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5caRbGN5SukgJnj2ecK_wA

The Best 100 Country Singers of All Time

Billboard just released their list of the “100 Best Country Singers of All Time” this week, and it’s definitely getting some attention.

Now, it seems that the list is based on opinions of the staff, and not the actual chart history, which I would have assumed, since it’s Billboard, but hey, I don’t make the rules.

Here are the Top 10:

  1. Dolly Parton
  2. Johnny Cash
  3. Willie Nelson
  4. Loretta Lynn
  5. Hank Williams Sr.
  6. George Jones
  7. Garth Brooks
  8. Charley Pride
  9. George Strait
  10. Merle Haggard

Pretty solid Top 1o, right? I may have changed up the order a bit, but I can’t really argue those picks.

It’s the rest of the list that gets a bit crazy. And Jason Aldean’s wife Brittany is pissed that he’s not in the Top 100, which I feel like if Luke Bryan is, they Jason should be, too. Especially as he’s had a ton of #1 hits… but they put Maren Morris on there.  The whole list out of the Top 10 makes no sense.

But again, it’s subjective, not objective.

Check out the full list here: https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-country-singers/

Who would you put as the Best Country Singer of All Time?

The Best CMA Award Performances 2024

The 2024 CMA Awards were last night on ABC, and as always, there were a bunch of live performances. Some great, some meh, and a couple where I was like, “why are they here”? I won’t name names on the not-so-great performances, but I want to give props to who I thought really represented Country Music well.

Ashley McBryde honoring the late Kris Kristofferson with a gorgeous rendition of “Help Me Make it Through the Night”:


Perfection. Kris would be proud.

 

Kacey Musgraves delivered a gorgeous version of “The Architect”, which I feel is one of the best songs of the year. It didn’t pick up any CMA Awards, but it’s up for a bunch of Grammys, so I’m sure she’ll rack up there:


So pure and gorgeous. Country music is lucky to have Kacey, and really, the industry needs to show a bit more appreciation.

 

Chris and Morgane Stapleton “What Am I Gonna Do?”:

These two… POWER COUPLE. I want Morgane to release her own solo album and just blow everyone ou of the water.

You know she would.

 

As usual at The CMAs, there were a lot of great performances, but those were the ones where I was like, “damn.”

 

What was your favorite performance of the night?