“I wasn’t meant to be Cavalcade of Stars,” says Sheryl Crow. “Hopefully it feels natural and cohesive.” She’s talking about her impressive mic-drop of a new album, Threads, which includes a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony’s worth of guests (among them: Bonnie Raitt, Chuck D, Eric Clapton, …
Read More »Flashback: Garth Brooks Signs Autographs for 23 Straight Hours
On April 12th, 1972, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, a tradition began that has today morphed into one of Music City’s most popular annual events for country fans around the globe. Then known as Country Music Fan Fair and now christened CMA Fest, the event still includes Fan Fair X, which …
Read More »The Grand Ole Opry: Everything You Need to Know
For nearly 94 years, since it began as the WSM Barn Dance in the fall of 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has been a country-music institution. But few fans really know what the Opry is, how an artist is inducted, and what comes along with membership. As Ken Burns’ new …
Read More »Luke Combs Announces What You See Is What You Get Tour Dates
Currently on his sold-out Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour, country singer Luke Combs has announced tour plans for 2020. On February 7th, the “Beautiful Crazy” vocalist and songwriter will launch his What You See Is What You Get Tour in Columbia, Missouri, at the Mizzou Arena. Nine other dates …
Read More »See Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile Sing 'Wheels of Laredo' on 'Fallon'
Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlile appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show on Thursday night to deliver a mesmerizing rendition of their song “The Wheels of Laredo.” Written by Carlile with her bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth, the imagery-rich track is a standout of Tucker’s comeback album While I’m Livin‘, her …
Read More »Southern-Rock Pioneers the Marshall Tucker Band Announce 2019 Fall Tour
Forty-seven years since forming in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and despite losing some of its original members, the Marshall Tucker Band remain on the road. The Southern-rock pioneers, best known for hits like “Can’t You See,” “Fire on the Mountain,” and “Heard It in a Love Song,” have announced a new …
Read More »John Paul White on Donnie Fritts: 'He Wrote Some of the Greatest Songs I Know'
Songwriter and musician Donnie Fritts died Tuesday at 76. John Paul White, who produced Fritts’ 2015 album Oh My Goodness, recalls his collaborator’s influence and gentle nature in this remembrance. Donnie Fritts made me cry the day we met. I’d asked him to be a part of the Muscle Shoals …
Read More »Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire to Host 2019 CMA Awards
This year’s CMA Awards aims to do something that country radio doesn’t: give women in country music their moment in the spotlight. According to a release on Monday morning, the 53rd annual CMAs will be “celebrating legendary women in country music throughout the ceremony.” As a reflection of that mission …
Read More »These Country Artists Support Gun Reform
After two mass shootings targeting country music fans, the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival massacre and the following year’s Borderline Bar & Grill attack, country music artists slowly began speaking out in favor of gun reform. The call for regulation only increased in August following mass shootings in Gilroy, California; …
Read More »Dwight Yoakam, Larry Gatlin Set for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The 2019 class of tunesmiths set for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame have been revealed: Larry Gatlin, Dwight Yoakam, Marcus Hummon, Kostas, Rivers Rutherford, and Sharon Vaughn will be honored during an October ceremony. Representing literally hundreds of familiar hits covering the past five decades, the inductees …
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