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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Dolly Parton
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Loretta Lynn
Hank Williams Sr.
George Jones
Garth Brooks
Charley Pride
George Strait
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.
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.”
His breakout hit “Tipsy” is spending it’s 17th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, which is freaking HUGE. And while he is riding that impressive wave, he dropped a much more serious song called “Good News”, and it’s really, really good.
Here’s the lyrics:
“Man, what a hell of a year it’s been
Keep on bluffin’, but I just can’t win
Drop my songs, but they learn to swim
Man, what a hell of a year it’s been
Head on a battle, but my heart in a cage
Yeah, it’s gettin’ harder to act my age
Play a sad song on a tiny violin
For the man at the bar confessin’ his sins
I need some good news
Sittin’ here, sippin’ on cold truth
Nobody know what I’m goin’ through
But the devil wouldn’t walk in my shoes
Wish someone told me
Livin’ this life would be lonely
Tryna get away from the old me
Still stuck singin’ these blues
All I really need is a little good news
Love keeps knockin’, but I just stay home
I ain’t pickin’ no flowers from the seeds that I’ve sown
They say it gets darker when you’re coverin’ them doors
Still lookin’ for the right at the end of my wrongs
At the end of my wrongs
I need some good news
Sittin’ here, sippin’ on cold truth
Nobody know what I’m goin’ through
But the devil wouldn’t walk in my shoes
Wish someone told me
Livin’ this life would be lonely
Tryna get away from the old me
Still stuck singin’ these blues
All I really need is a little good news
Is a little good news
I need some good news
Sittin’ here, sippin’ on cold truth
Nobody know what I’m goin’ through
But the devil wouldn’t walk in my shoes
Wish someone told me
Livin’ this life would be lonely
Tryna get away from the old me
Still stuck singin’ these blues
All I really need is a little good news
Ooh, oh
Ooh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
All I really need is a little
Something bring me back to the middle
All I really need is a little good news”
It has been another crazy year, and I think this will resonate with many.
This is Shaboozey’s first new release since his album “Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going”, which means perhaps a new album is in the works?
Brooks and Dunn released their “Reboot 2” album this morning, which is some of their biggest hits reimagined by today’s biggest Country stars.
One standout is their version of their classic “Neon Moon” with Morgan Wallen.
It’s a cool, modern take on one of my favorite Country songs of all time:
Lets be real- nothing can compare to the original. But it’s a pretty solid version.
Add Morgan Wallen to anyting these days, and you’ve got an automatic win.
However, THIS is my favorite version of the song, which features the incredible Kacey Musgraves:
That one never gets old.
The Brooks and Dunn “Reboot 2” album is out now, and here is the full track listing:
REBOOT 2 Track List:
“Play Something Country” with Lainey Wilson
“Neon Moon” with Morgan Wallen
“Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” with Marcus King Band
“Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” with Megan Moroney
“Brand New Man” with Warren Zeiders
“Believe” with Jelly Roll
“She Used to Be Mine” with Riley Green
“She Likes to Get Out of Town” with The Cadillac Three
“Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with Halestorm
“Ain’t No Way To Go” with Mitchell Tenpenny
“How Long Gone” with The Earls of Leicester
“I’ll Never Forgive My Heart” with Jake Worthington
“She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” with Hailey Whitters
“Hard Workin’ Man” with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
“Hillbilly Deluxe” with HARDY
“Indian Summer” with ERNEST
“Drop in the Bucket” with A Thousand Horses
“Only In America” with Corey Kent
Well, damn, we’re getting all kinds of great new music today!
First, Morgan Wallen with “Love Somebody” and now Koe Wetzel just released a new song called “Good Times”, which apparently is a bonus track after he released his album “9 Lives” this past Summer.
It’s 100% Koe Wetzel. I love it!
Koe Wetzel is a freaking party.
Hey, I was too, in my younger days. Not at the level that he’s at, but still, this song reminds me of living fast and being crazy, knowing that one day I would need to slow my roll and act like a proper human being, which thankfully, I started doing that at around 25.
Hey, I had fun, and thankfully survived, and now I know to never mix red wine and Jager again.
Eventually, the party has to end. Which is a good thing.
Sounds like Koe is starting to realize that just a little…
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