One of my favorite newer artists in Country Music is singer/songwriter ERNEST who has had a couple of #1 hits with Morgan Wallen- “Flower Shops” and “Cowgirls”- and both are well-deserving of the top spot.
A few months ago, ERNEST released a stellar song with Lainey Wilson called “Would if I Could”, and in case you missed it, here’s their collab:
Such a great song, with the true 90’s Country vibe that I have always loved. Welll… ERNEST just released a solo version of “Would if I Could”, and I think it’s even better than the duet:
Damn. That is totally giving Tracy Lawrence. I love it!!!
Which version do you like better?
Also, kudos to Dean Dillon and Skip Ewing II for writing a true Country song.
Country singer ERNEST released a pretty solid album last Friday called “Nashville, TN”, and it’s got several big collabs on there, including ones with Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, and this interesting cover with HARDY.
They were brave enough to cover the Radiohead Classic “Creep”- check it out below:
Hmmmm… I’m kind of on the fence with this one. I absolutely LOVE the original version, and it’s kind of hard to beat that. But hey, solid effort for sure.
Honestly, my favorite cover of “Creep” will always be Post Modern Jukebox’s version featuring “Amercian Idol” finalist Hailey Reinhart:
Damnnnn… never gets old.
I mean, how sexy is that? Her voice is absoutely out of this world.
One of my favorite up-and-coming artists in Nahville is ERNEST.
He is incredibly talented as a singer and songwriter, and is funny as Hell.
Yesterday, he dropped a new album called “Nashville, TN’ which has 26 tracks, and a boatload of collabs with everyone from Morgan Wallen to HARDY to Lainey Wilson.
And let me tell you, the track with Lainey on it, called “I Woud if I Could” is what 90’s Country Dreams are made of:
How perfect is that? It sounds like it would have totally fit in on Country Radio in 1994, and that’s a beautiful thing.
I really hope Countey Music keeps trending in this direction. We have some really great artists in Nashville right now, and they are doing the damn thing!
Also, last year, I got a chance to chat with ERNEST and he’s the best:
2022…another totally bizarre year. But what’s great about music is that it’s always being made, and it can put a bright spot into even the stupidest day.
How’s that forbeing profound?
Anyway, here are my picks for the Top Songs of 2022… in my humble opinion, of course.
A reminder, I love ALL genres. Equal opportunity listener right here!
HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson “Wait in the Truck”
HARDY is quickly proving himself as one of the hottest songwriters on the Country Music scene, and songs like this is why. Plus, he got Lainey Wilson- one of my fav new artists on it, so 1,000,000 bonus points on that.
His new album drops January 27th, and I can’t wait to hear what he’s got for us!
Mammoth WVH “Epiphany”
Wolfgang Van Halen is continuing to make his daddy proud. I think this one may be my favorite of the band’s so far.
Beyonce “Cuff It”
I loved Beyonce in Destiny’s Child and her first few years as a solo artist, but then she kind of lost me for a few years. Now she’s back with some fantastic dance songs on her latest album “Renaissance”, and “Cuff It”, although not lyrically a masterpiece, I can’t help but sing and dance really badly to it, so I’d say it’s a win.
Boomtown Saints “All Trucks Go to Heaven”
I’m calling Boomtown Saints the artists to watch in 2023. I connected with these guys a few years ago, and it’s been so cool to see them evolve and start making some serious headway in the industry. Ben and Chris are some of the nicest, most deserving guys, and I’m so happy for them both!
Be on the listen for them, and check out my interview with them here:
Like it or not, Morgan Wallen is freaking SLAYING the music industry right now, and you know what? Good for him. He got completely cancelled and given a second chance and I’m here for it. I could totally go on a soapbox, but I’ll refrain just now. Anyway, he helped spotlight another great artist ERNEST with this song “Flower Shops”. I loved it the first time I heard it, and it makes me so happy to hear that this sound is trending in Country again.
Thank GOD>
Also, I got a chance to chat with ERNEST earlier this year, and he’s hilarious! Check the interview here:
Meghan Trainor is BACK and I have been singing this song nonstop the past couple of months. Girl knows how to make an earworm!
Kacey Musgraves “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
Kacey Musgraves is life, and she gave a whole new life to this Elvis classic for the soundtrack to the Elvis movie this year.
I know a ton of artists have covered this song, but this is by far one of my favorite versions.
Ava Max “Million Dollar Baby”
I love the energy that Ava Max brings to Pop Radio, and her latest single “Million Dollar Baby” is giving major “Flashdance” vives, and I am here for it 1,000%
It makes me want to wear legwarmers and a leotard and burst into dance in the middle of a crowded street.
Maybe after a few glasses of wine that will happen.
You never know.
Papa Roach “No Apologies”
I’ve been a Papa Roach fan since the start, and this has been one of my favorite new Rock songs of the year. The sound is great, but most importantly, it’s the message. I think it’s a song a lot of people needed to hear.
Miranda Lambert “If I Was a Cowboy”
Ya’ll know I LOVE me some Miranda, and she did not dissapoint this year. He latest album “Palomino” is fantatstic, of course, and this single is perfection.
“If I was a Cowboy, I’d be the Queen”
Ya damn right.
Three Days Grace “Lifetime”
Ughhhh… this song gets me right in the feels. Just a reminder that nothing and noone lasts forever, so appreciate the heck out of them every. single. day.
Cody Johnson “Til’ You Can’t”
Cody Johnson broke into the mainstream hardcore with this song, and as he should. I’ve been loving his sound for years, so it was great to see him get all the airplay for this song, and a #1 hit to boot. So well deserved.
It’s another song that hits me in the feels, and also makes me hopeful for the future of Country music.
Ok, so those are the songs that spoke to me the most this year.
So, “Flower Shops” by ERNEST and Morgan Wallen is one of my favorite new songs of the year (perhaps my #1 fave so far) so I really wanted to have a chat with ERNEST (all caps, because why not?) and talk about everything from music to parenthood to “Yellowstone”!
I’m all for REAL Country music, and when this song hit my inbox, I immediately fell in love with it! Up and Comer ERNEST has a true Country voice and style, and when you combine it with Morgan Wallen, you’ve got modern Country GOLD.
“Flower Shops” has one of my new favorite lines “Violets and Daisies to hide all the crazy”. The song is already #1 on itunes, and I’m thinking it’s just starting it’s run as a chart topper. I’m happy to kick off the new year with some real Country music… I hope this trend cotinues the rest of the year! I can’t wait to hear more from both ERNEST and Morgan in the coming months. As for Morgan, it looks like Country music has moved on from his controversy of last year, as his album “Dangerous” was the #1 album of 2021. NOT just in Country music, but across all the genres. Say what you will about him, the guy has chops.
Plus, if you want some bad Country music behavior- go look up what George Jones and Randy Travis -two legends- got into in their day. We just didn’t have the social media to blow things up.