UK News, UK Chart News, Billboard Country Charts, Album
& Single Releases, US News, Music News, Press Releases, TV, Interviews, Birthdays
CDX
NEWS
You'll hear Rascal
Flatts explain how they came to record with Jonas Brothers.
Cole Swindell talks about how personal his current single is.
And Brett Young expresses his gratitude for his careerListen to the audio file.CDX WEEKLY CHARTS April
30th, 2025
Airplay for April 21st, 2025
– April 28th, 2025 – Country Singles
#1 No.1 4
weeks MORGAN WALLEN – “I’m The Problem” (Big Loud Records) held at No.1,
4619 Spins (-73) 128 Stations 12 weeks on chart
Remember Monday - What The Hell Just Happened [A-A-A] * Eurovision
entry
B
List
Morgan Wallen Feat. Post
Malone - I Ain't Comin' Back [B-B]
Shaboozey Feat. Myles
Smith - Blink Twice [B] added to the
“B” playlist
C List
First Time Flyers - Stay [C] added to the “C” playlist
OUT
Ella Henderson feat. Breland - One Door Closes [B-B-B-B] removed from the “B”
playlist
(2 May 2025) Emilia Quinn Releases
Hard Hitting New Single “Call Me By Her Name” — A Blues Anthem of Hopeless Love
and Heartbreak.
This is not just a song. It’s a moment — suspended in time —
where everything falls apart. With a voice that bleeds truth and a sound that
refuses to be tamed.
Call Me By Her Name tells the story of
discovering the person you love has been unfaithful. That shattering moment
when you realise they have found someone new, and all you want is to have one
last night in their arms before they slip away forever. Set against the slow
burn of Americana Blues, the track captures the ache of betrayal and the quiet
storm that follows.
“This is almost an answer to my previous single ‘Does
She Know’, showing the other side of the relationship. It’s a true
heartbreaker, so listen with caution…” Emilia says.
The production complements the story with a wall of sound approach culminating
in a full choir — not of strangers, but Emilia’s own voice, layered over and
over like echoes of pain and memory. The result is chilling, thrilling, and
unforgettable.
With Call Me By Her Name, Emilia Quinn
continues her ‘Dented Halos’ album journey and introduces herself as a
daring and emotionally honest voice in Americana and Blues — fearless in her
vulnerability, and impossible to ignore.
Emilia is currently running a Kickstarter campaign (£1,783
pledged of £2,500 goal; 30 backers; 33 days to
go) to help fund some of the upfront costs that come with
creating an album as an independent artist. She says “As an independent artist,
I fund everything myself — no label, no big investors, just me and the amazing
support of people like you. Every pre-order, share, and pledge truly makes a
difference”. Her Kickstarter can be found via her social media channels or on
this link
and features rewards such as first copies of the album on vinyl, CDs, exclusive
t-shirts and more.
(2 May 2025) The full line-up for The British Country Music Festival 2025 was
revealed, returning to the stunning Winter Gardens in Blackpool from
29–31 August.
BRITTNEY SPENCER will headline Saturday night in
an exclusive UK appearance—her first-ever international festival
headline show! Known for her breakout performance on Beyoncé’s Cowboy
Carter, Spencer has taken the country world by storm and is set to make
history on our stage.
SAM PALLADIO, star of TV’s Nashville and
Cornwall native turned Nashville artist, will headline Friday night with a
brand-new album on the way.
JANET DEVLIN closes the festival on Sunday. With
her bold new country-rock album recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, Janet
brings a fresh and fearless voice to the genre.
Also featuring an exciting line-up of UK talent across four
stages, The British Country Music Festival champions songwriting, emerging
voices, and the rich roots of Anglo-Celtic storytelling that helped shape
country music. TICKETS HERE
UK CHART NEWS
UK Country Radio Airplay
Chart (published May 4, 2025)
Stereophonics celebrate a
ninth Official Number 1 album with Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait.
Their 13th studio album and
ninth No.1, Make ‘Em Laugh… is Stereophonics’ most concise release yet, with
just eight songs – all written by their 50-year-old lead singer and founder
member Kelly Jones – and a playing time of less than 30 minutes. That isn’t
even half as long as its immediate predecessor, Oochya!, which debuted at No.1
in 2022 on consumption of 24,067 units.
UK Singles
2 May 2025 – 8 May 2025
The imminent threat of ACR removed as it returns to
growth, Ordinary is No.1 for the seventh consecutive week for Alex
Warren, with consumption growing 4.90% week-on-week to 69,243 units
(2,140 digital downloads, 67,103 sales-equivalent streams) after two weeks of
decline.
It has now equalled the seven-week run atop the chart achieved by Noah Kahan’s
Stick Season last year, to share the record for longest-running No.1 by a male
solo artist since Harry Styles spent 10 consecutive weeks at the summit with As
It Was in 2022. Ordinary is now Alex Warren’s most-consumed track: with a
to-date tally of 602,896 units, it leapfrogs Carry You Home (585,397 units)
this week to assume that position, and will reach another landmark in the next
few days when it becomes his first platinum single (600,000 units).
Chappell Roanwith her
country track “The Giver” fell 15-19 in her seventh frame
In his 53rd chart frame Shaboozey’sA Bar Song
(Tipsy) dropped 47-48.
Tucker
Wetmore with WHAT NOT TO made a debut
at No.9 (1 week; #9 peak)
Jelly Roll with BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN held at No.10 (27
weeks; #1 peak)
COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES (Major)
(2 May 2025) Eric Church
- Evangeline Vs. The Machine (EMI Records Nashville)
(2 May 2025) HARDY -
COUNTRY! (EP, Big Loud) 5 Songs, 15 minutes
(2 May 2025) Maddie
& Tae - Love & Light (Mercury Nashville) 16 songs, 48:43
BILLBOARD/ MEDIABASE Charts
In Brief: Billboard Country Charts (Chart issue week of May 10, 2025) Starts Sun
May 4, Ends Sat May 10, 2025
Billboard
Country Charts (Chart issue week
of May 10, 2025)
Country Album Chart ** No.1 (85
non-consecutive weeks) ** ONE THING AT A TIME Morgan
Wallen
Hot Country Songs ** No.1 (43 weeks) ** “A
Bar Song (Tipsy)” Shaboozey
Country
Airplay Chart ** No.1 (3 weeks) ** “I'm The Problem” Morgan Wallen
Country Digital Songs ** No.1
** (1 week) “Amen” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Billboard 200 News
Ghost grabbed
the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 albums chart
for the first time, as the Swedish hard rock
band’s new studio effort Skeletá debuted atop the tally (dated May 10) with 86,000
equivalent album units earned in the United States in the week ending May
1, according to Luminate. Of the album’s starting sum, 89% was driven by
traditional album sales — buoyed by a big vinyl sales figure.
Morgan Wallen’s ONE
THING AT A TIME was down 3-4 (46,000; down
4%)
Shaboozey’sWHERE
I’VE BEEN, ISN’T WHERE I’M GOING galloped 45-8 with 35,000
equivalent album units earned (up 110%) after a deluxe reissue on April 25 that
added six additional songs, bringing its total song count to 18. The set
debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the June 15, 2024-dated list. (He also played
the Stagecoach Festival on April 26.)
Morgan
Wallen’sformer leader DANGEROUS: THE DOUBLE
ALBUM (9-10; 33,000, down 3%) rounded out the Billboard 200’s top 10.
Billboard Hot 100 News
Kendrick Lamar and
SZA’s “Luther” topped the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for an
11th total and consecutive week.
Shaboozey’s “A
Bar Song (Tipsy)” kept at No. 5 on the Hot 100, following
its record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 beginning
last July. It also added a 43rd week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart.
Morgan Wallen’s“I’m the Problem” slipped 7-8 on the Hot
100, after reaching No. 2
Billboard’s
Country Airplay Chart News
‘Problem’ Solved Again: Morgan Wallen No. 1 On Country
Airplay For Third Week
Morgan Wallen’s “I’m
the Problem” (Mercury/Republic/Big Loud) dominated Billboard’s
Country Airplay chart for a third total and consecutive week. The
track topped the chart dated May 10 with 30.5 million in audience (up 3%) April
25-May 1, according to Luminate. The song became Wallen’s third Country Airplay
No.1 from his album of the same name — prior to its May16 release. “Love
Somebody” ruled for three weeks in February after “Lies Lies Lies” led for a
week in November.
His latest single being promoted to country radio, “Just in Case,” climbed
22-19 (9.1 million, up 16%). Wallen’s new 37-track album contains one more song
than 2023 set One Thing at a Time. That release has ruled Top Country Albums
for 84 weeks, the second-most in the chart’s history, after only his own
Dangerous: The Double Album, which ran up a record 97 weeks at No. 1 beginning
in January 2021.
Billboard’s
Country Chart News
No1.Shaboozey &
Jelly Roll“Amen”: The
collaboration, co-written by Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, was released
April 25 and sold 6,000 through May 1, according to
Luminate. It entered atop Country Digital Song Sales, marking the
acts’ second and fourth No. 1, respectively. The team-up also opened at
No.23 on Hot Country Songs, where “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey — who
performed the smash at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., on
April 26 — rolled up its 43rd frame at the summit. In his sophomore
Stagecoach appearance, he also performed “Amen” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”
No.4Tucker WetmoreWHAT
NOT TO: The Kalama, Wash., native achieved his best rank on Top
Country Albums as WHAT NOT To debuted at No. 4 with 29,000
equivalent album units in its first week. It followed his rookie entry,
Waves on a Summer Beach, which entered at its No. 18 high last October.
Wetmore co-wrote 11 of the 18 tracks on the new LP.
No.16Blake Shelton“Texas”: The single
hopped 21-16 on Hot Country Songs, returning to
its initial best established in March. It drew 3.1 million streams and
sold 1,000 in the tracking week. On Country Airplay, it bounded 8-2, up 30% to
24.6 million in audience. It’s the lead single from Shelton’s album For
Recreational Use Only, which is due May 9.
Country Airplay
** No.1 (3 weeks) ** “I'm The Problem” Morgan Wallen 30.494 million audience (+0.956 million gain) / 8408 radio
plays (+99 / 13 weeks on the chart
** Most
Increased Audience ** No.2 “Texas” Blake Shelton
** Airpower ** No.19 “Just In Case” Morgan Wallen
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.33 “Me & A Beer” Chris Janson
Debut No.55 “The Fall” Cody
Johnson
Debut No.60 “What He'll
Never Have” Dylan Scott
Hot County Songs
** No.1 (43 weeks)/ Sales Gainer ** “A Bar Song
(Tipsy)” Shaboozey
** Hot Shot Debut ** No.12 “Hard Fought Hallelujah” Brandon Lake X Jelly Roll
** Airplay Gainer ** No.16
“Texas” Blake Shelton
** Streaming Gainer ** No.17 “After All The Bars Are Closed” Thomas Rhett
Debut No.23 “Amen” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Debut No.34 “Brunette” Tucker Wetmore
Debut No.39 “Sober” Hudson Westbrook
Debut No.50 “Country House” Sam Hunt
Country
Aircheck MEDIABASE Chart
Congratulations to Blake Shelton, Ken Tucker, Shelly Hargis, Scotty O’Brienand the Wheelhouse promotion team on taking
his label debut, “Texas,”
to the top of the chart. This is
Shelton’s 30th visit to No. 1 and moves him into a tie with Ronnie Milsap for
seventh-most since the
start of the R&R/MB/CA airplay charts in 1973. Songwriters are Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman.
Blake Shelton with “Texas”
(Wheelhouse) moved 5-1
logging 9267 radio spins (+2558), 33.375 million audience impressions (+9.596
million) with 30956Total Points (+8971) from 159 tracking stations (159
ADDS) for the published chart dated May 5, 2025
Bailey Zimmerman’s “Backup Plan” Is The Most Added
Kudos to Kristen
Williams and the Warner/WEA
promotion crew on scoring 132
adds for “Backup Plan” by Bailey Zimmerman featuring Luke Combs.
Zimmerman has only topped
the CA/MB Add Board once before. Not only is this his largest add week to date, it’s the largest among the
Warner imprints since Dan + Shay’s “Save
Me The Trouble” in July 2023.
NEWS
(28 April 2025) Fem &
'Em: Former CMT SVP/Music & Talent Leslie Fram has launched consulting
firm FEMco (Fram Entertainment & Music), specializing in
artist development, talent booking and production (via its FEMco
Presents arm), and business-to-business connection to the
Nashville entertainment community. Says Fram, "FEMco will allow me to
focus on the parts of the business that have always brought me the most joy –
advising and mentoring artists both male and female, booking and producing
talent for a variety of entertainment platforms, creating connections between
businesses and creatives and championing women and underrepresented groups in
country music." Initially launching the production arm in country, Fram
plans to expand into pop and rock, where she has radio experience.
(28 April 2025) Gretchen Wilson is serving as "Tour
Manager" for the CBS talent competition series The Road. She'll
provide "support and guidance" for the contestants, and will perform.
Read our behind-the-scenes story on a taping of the Keith Urban-hosted
and Blake Shelton-produced show here. The
Road premieres in the fall.
(28 April 2025) Breakout country
star Kassi Ashtonhas unveiled her deluxe album, Made
From The Dirt: The Blooms, via MCA Nashville. Complete with
5 brand-new tracks, the deluxe continues to build on the rich, vulnerable world
that Kassi built with her debut album.
From the irresistible groove of
“When I’m Gone” to the raw emotion of “Sounds Like Something I’d Say,” the new
songs highlight Kassi’s knack for songwriting and distinctly soulful vocals. On
the deluxe, Kassi shares, “Made From The Dirt started as more than
the ten songs you got in September. But as it was growing, so was I. I hope you
love the bloom.”
(29 April 2025) On December 2,
2025, Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers will publish DOLLY PARTON’S BILLY THE KID DANCES HIS
HEART OUT, the third standalone children’s picture book in Parton’s New
York Times bestselling seriesfeaturing French bulldog,
her god-dog, Billy the Kid. In this follow up to Billy the Kid Makes It
Big and Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas, French
bulldog and musical superstar Billy the Kid faces one of his biggest fears:
dancing in front of an audience. Available for pre-ordernow,
wherever books are sold.
(29 April 2025) Beyoncé's
daughters, Blue Ivy Carter and Rumi Carter, joined her onstage at the opening
night of her 'Cowboy Carter Tour' at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Blue
Ivy, 13, danced during 'American Has a Problem', while seven-year-old Rumi made
her debut as they performed 'Protector' together.
(30 April 2025) Signage: MCA
Nashville/Interscope'sKacey Musgravesis returning to Lost Highway
Records as the first artist signed by the newly staffed label under
the MCA umbrella. She was the last artist signed to Lost
Highway during the label's prior iteration in 2011.
(2 May 2025) One Thing At A
Time: Big Loud has sold a minority stake in Morgan Wallen's master
recording catalog to Chord Music Partners, reportedly for $200
million. The move is part of "a strategic investment to expand the label's
global footprint and fuel long-term artist development," according to a
statement from Big Loud. Chord Music is partially owned by Universal Music Group,
parent of Big Loud partner Republic Records.
ICYMI: Dashahas been chosen as Amazon
Music's latest Breakthrough artist.
Bits & Pieces: Nashville's Belmont
University has extended its Dolly
Parton-inspired Dolly U curriculum into the fall
semester. Lauched earlier this year for the spring semester, it will expand
course and paid fellowship offerings for fall, as well as adding a line of
merch. The curriculum is a partnership with Parton and her management
company, CTK Enterprises.
(1 May 2025) Signage: Trisha Yearwoodand
her label, Gwendolyn Records, are partnering with Virgin
Music Group for new music and her recent catalog. The deal
returns Yearwood to the same label family as her original label home MCA,
which will continue to work her catalog from that era. The Mirror will
be released July 18.
GOSSIP
(28 April 2025)Carrie Underwoodamazed
fans by fitting into and looking great in the same dress she wore when winning
American Idol 20 years ago. See Instagram Post
(30 April 2025) Kelsea Ballerini,
31, views Taylor Swift as her "North Star". Despite admiring
Swift, she had to establish her own identity after a music executive advised
her, "there's already a Taylor Swift". Ballerini acknowledged Swift's
influence but emphasized her journey in becoming a distinct artist. Taylor and
Kelsea formed a friendship after Taylor complimented Kelsea's song 'Love Me
Like You Mean It'. They performed the song together during Taylor's 'The 1989
World Tour' in Nashville, Tennessee in 2015.
BLUEGRASS
(30 April 2025) Canada/US
Folk and Bluegrass Collective Sourwood Reflects
on the Myth of the Open Road in Debut Single, “On the Road”
Sourwood, the progressive bluegrass and folk
collective based between Waterloo, Ontario, Chicago, and Los Angeles, is
releasing their debut single, “On
the Road,” a driving and
introspective anthem that reckons with the myth of the open road and the dreams
of freedom that defined an entire generation.
AMERICANA NEWS
(29 April 2025) Charlie Crockett – LONESOME DRIFTER (Lone
Star Rider | 692 plays) held at No.1 & Charlie
Crockett with “Lonesome Drifter” (Lone Star
Rider/Island | 461 plays) held at No.1 on the albums and singles
Americana Radio Charts (week of April 29, 2025).Visitamericanamusic.org to
see the full charts and details for the current week's Albums and Singles.
MUSIC NEWS
(29 April 2025) Reve-News: Spotify reported revenue of €4.19 billion
(approximately $4.77b) for Q1 2025, up 15% year-to-year. Ad-supported revenue
increased 8% to €419 million ($477m). Total monthly average users grew to 678
million, up 10% year-to-year, while premium subscribers increased 12% to 268m.
See the complete earnings release here.
Advertising-industry body the IAB has published its latest data on the US
creator economy, as part of a wider report on the digital sector.
“Back in 2008, internet-driven employment made up just 3 million jobs. Today,
that number has grown to more than 28.4 million,” it noted in its
summary. “Digital creators and social media influencers — who generate
content and build audiences for a living — now account for more than one in 10
full-time internet-dependent jobs in the U.S.” And there’s more: “Today,
the full-time equivalent of more than 1.5 million Americans work as digital
creators — a number that has multiplied nearly eightfold since 2020. While the
traditional media sector is expanding at roughly 5% annually, the creator
sector is now growing at five times that pace.”
AWARDS
(30 April 2025) Seize The
Clay: The Red Clay Strays were
surprised with their inaugural ACM award, New Duo or Group of
the Year, Monday (4/28) while recording with Dave Cobb in Savannah, GA.
The news was shared by Miranda Lambert via a phone call.
(1 May 2025) On The Vote Again:
The ballot schedule for the 59th Annual CMA Awards(eligibility period of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025)
is:
Nomination ballot and
instructions emailed to CMA members July 7 with voting closing July 16.
The second ballot will be
emailed to members Aug. 5 with voting closing Aug. 18.
The third and final ballot will
be sent to members Oct. 1 and voting will end Oct. 29.
Applications for the 2025 CMA Broadcast
Awards (eligibility period of June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025) are being accepted
here through June 30.
(2 May 2025) Mercury's Maddie & Taewere
surprised with plaques celebrating the platinum certification of “Die
From A Broken Heart” (4x) and “Friends Don’t” at their
debut headlining Ryman Auditorium show.
Larger Than Life: Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna
Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes and Sugarland will
open the 60th Academy
of Country Music Awardswith a
12-minute "Songs of the Decades" performance. In addition to
previously announced performers and the newly-added Megan Moroney,
the show will also feature duets from the Backstreet Boys and Rascal
Flatts; Jelly Roll and Shaboozey; and Brooks
& Dunn and Cody Johnson.
TOUR / LIVE EVENTS
(29 April 2025) Tour Support:
Maddox Batson's I Need A Truck Tour kicks off Sept. 7 in
Richmond, VA and wraps Nov. 2 in Birmingham. Joining on select dates are Ashley
Anne, Ryder Grimes and Kate Greene;
tickets here Friday
(5/2).
Mark
Chesnuttkicks off his nearly
40-date Redemption Tour May 3 in Forney, TX. Tickets here.
Bits & Pieces: Dierks Bentley will headline Let
Freedom Sing! Music City July 4 in downtown Nashville. Additional
performers include Russell Dickerson and Niko Moon.
(30 April 2025) With his highly
anticipated album Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving this
Friday, May 2, Eric Churchwill bring the next chapter of his critically
acclaimed live show to fans in major cities coast to coast as his Free
the Machine Tour kicks off a run of 22 arena dates on Sept.
12.
“Eric Church in concert is as much a catharsis as a hell-raising Friday (or
Saturday) night,” declares POLLSTAR, with Stereogum adding
that he is “at the top of his genre because he breaks its rules in big,
exciting arena-filling ways.” Praised by Forbes for his
“leave-it-all-on-the-stage mentality,” Church will be joined across varying
dates by special guests Elle King, Marcus King Band and Charles Wesley Godwin.
(30 April 2025) The Castellows' The
Homecoming Tour starts in Austin Sept. 13; schedule and ticketshere.
The Grand Ole Opry will
markCMA Festweek with seven
shows June 3-7 featuring Opry members Carrie
Underwood, Bill Anderson, Scotty McCreery, Old Crow Medicine Show and Mark
Wills, with guests Brandon Lake, Colbie Caillat,Ben
Fuller, Justin Moore, Mt Joy and more. Find the full
schedule and tickets here.
(1 May 2025) The Country
Music Hall of Fame and Museum's CMA
Festprogramming includes
music and conversation with CMT's Next Women of CountryDasha,
Lanie Garner, Alexandra Kay, Kat Luna and Mōriah June
6 in the museum's CMA Theater. A Songwriter Session with Craig
Morgan (6/7) and Musician Spotlight with Lauren
Alaina's bandleader Adam "Tico" Hernandez (6/8)
will be held in the Ford Theater. Info here.
(2 May 2025) Raising a toast to some of the biggest
Country smashes of the past decade theDustin Lynchand Scotty McCreery’s co-headlining TWO FOR
THE ROAD TOUR kicks off November 6 in Saginaw, MI, and features 12
hit-heavy stops across the U.S. Stretching from Portland, ME, to Tupelo, MS,
the anticipated run is scheduled to wrap December 6 in Duluth, MN, with two of
Country’s most electrifying talents supported by Walker Montgomery and Sons
of Habit (who will appear on select dates).
TV
(1 May 2025) ICYMI: Zach Top performed "I Never Lie"
on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Also making his late-night
debut, Tucker Wetmoresang "Bad Luck Looks Good On Me"
on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Carrie Underwood reflectedon her
performance of Martina McBride's "Independence Day" on her Idol
To Icon series.
PRESS RELEASES
(April 28, 2025) The Iroquois
Steeplechase, sponsored by Bank of America, has announced country artist Walker Montgomerywill
sing the National Anthem to kick off the Steeplechase festivities on
Saturday, May 10atPercy Warner Park.
The son of John Michael
Montgomery and nephew of Eddie Montgomery, Walkerhas stepped out from his
legendary roots with standout hits like the self-penned “Simple Town” and the
romantic ballad “I Love The Way You Love Me,” which has garnered over40 million
views on social media
(30 April 2025) When it comes to
boundaryless country music, Ink is
the moment. Doubling down on her noteworthy creative accomplishments,
GRAMMY®-nominated artist Ink today announces her signing with Big Loud
Records and Electric Feel Records, with management
by SALXCO.
“Signing with Big Loud and
Electric Feel Records feels like the beginning of a new chapter, one where I
can truly embrace my sound and the stories I've been holding inside,”
shares Ink. “It's surreal, but I know this is where I'm supposed to
be. With these labels, I finally feel like my music has found its home. I can't
wait to share what we've been working on.”
(30 April 2025) Multi-time
Diamond-certified superstar Darius Ruckerreturns to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday,
June 2 for his 16th annual “Darius and Friends” concert benefitting St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off
the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $4.3
million to date, will feature a surprise all-star roster of friends as has
become tradition at the annual celebration.
“As usual, the evening featured multiple servings of the country music
industry's past, present, and future for an essential cause,” noted the Tennessean in
their review of last year’s show. “‘Darius and Friends’ has become a showcase
for how much his superstar talents have expanded across genres after four
decades of performing. Buying a ticket for the event ensures you'll hear his
country chart-toppers…And yes, there's assuredly going to be some Hootie &
the Blowfish classics…But the real win of the night is when Rucker steps out of
his pre-supposed ‘comfort zones’ and as he did on Monday evening, performs
songs like Bell Biv DeVoe's ‘Poison,’ Tim McGraw's ‘I Like It, I Love It’ and
TLC's ‘Waterfalls.’”
(30 April 2025) Rising country
artist Tyra Madison is proud to share
her newest single, "Kentucky In Me.” Steeped in southern pride and
true authenticity, the track is a heartfelt tribute to Tyra’s home state,
capturing the spirit, strength, and soul that have shaped her identity.
Produced by David Kalmusky and written by Tyra Madison, Terri Jo Box,
and David Kalmusky, the single is now streaming worldwide here.
Built on a richly textured,
down-home sound with twang, bluegrass, and rhythm at its core, "Kentucky
In Me" is both deeply personal and universally relatable — an anthem for
anyone who carries the spirit of their roots wherever they go. Tyra’s vivid
storytelling and soaring vocals paint a picture of small-town resilience and
unwavering authenticity.
(2 May 2025) Multi-platinum
singer-songwriter Bailey Zimmermandropped his highly anticipated new single “Backup
Plan” featuring Luke Combs via Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville
– listen HERE.
Written by Tucker Beathard, Jimi Bell, & Jon Sherwood, the empowering
country track pairs Zimmerman’s gritty sound with Combs’ powerhouse vocals,
striking the perfect chord for a summer anthem. The duo debuted the song last
weekend with a surprise appearance by Zimmerman during Combs’ headlining set at
Stagecoach.
In April, Bailey Zimmerman
released “All The Way” with BigXthaPlug which debuted at No. 4 on Billboard Hot
100, marking BigXthaPlug’s first top 10 and Zimmerman’s second., The song also
went No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart and No. Billboard’s 3 on Hot
Rap Songs.
(2 May 2025) Brooke Eden, the powerhouse vocalist,
songwriter, and country music artist, announces that her brand-new track, "Giddy
Up!" out via BMG. The upbeat anthem is her most authentic and
unapologetic to date, celebrating her country roots while embracing the joy and
freedom of the dance floor. Listen HERE.
With a twangy vibe and a
glittery twist, "Giddy Up!,"is Eden at her most fearless and fun,
delivering a track destined to become this summer’s crossover Pride anthem.
From two-stepping at her hometown bar to performing alongside the biggest names
in music, Brooke’s newest release marks a thrilling new era – one where
authenticity takes center stage and everyone’s invited to the party.
(2 May 2025) Rising independent
country artist Cody Penningtonreleased ‘Make A Right’,
available to stream/download worldwide here.
The song showcases the versatility of Pennington’s rich storytelling, which
will be on full display throughout his upcoming sold-out European leg of his
international tour - kicking off tomorrow in Amsterdam. Due to incredible
demand, Pennington has announced four additional UK dates in June.
Commenting on ‘Make A Right’,
Cody shares, “this is a special song about not getting stuck in a rut, and
how a small decision could completely change your life. I hope y’all like this
one, too.”
Pennington’s life journey has
fueled his rapidly growing presence as a proudly independent artist in country
music worldwide. Raised in a trailer park in East Nashville, Cody experienced
humble beginnings where cheap guitars—and a family fond of music—became his
main outlet. He taught himself to sing and play throughout high school and
continued honing his craft during his enlistment in the US Air Force, booking
and performing tours in countries such as Turkey, Greece, and the UK.
(2 May 2025) Mississippi
rebel Colin Stoughreturned with his hard-edged new anthem, “White
Trash”—out now. Listen HERE. Co-written by Stough, Jamie Collazo, and
Kenny Whitmire, and produced by James LeBlanc and Phillip White, “White Trash”
is a battle cry for the outcast — fueled by conviction and delivered with a
devilish grin.
Driven by raw vocals and a
defiant country-rock swagger, the unapologetic declaration finds Stough doing
what he does best: stripping away pretenses and leaning full-tilt into every
scar, setback, and stereotype with pride. Written and recorded in January,
“White Trash” delivers on all fronts.
(2 May 2025) Platinum-certified
and critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and
producer Dylan Gossett revealed
his long-awaited debut album, WESTWARD, arriving on July
18 via Big Loud Texas / Mercury Records. Gossett
announced Westward's release with an official
album trailer, sharing “This album is a collection of stories that I
wrote during the craziest two years of my life. I hope everyone can find
something for themselves in it.” In celebration of the announcement, Gossett
drops his newest single “American Trail” —listen here and
watch an acoustic live performance of the song recorded at Austin's Orb
Studios here.He debuted “American
Trail” live for the very first time this past weekend during his Stagecoach
Festival debut, where he drew a packed crowd at his Palomino Stage
evening set.
(2 May 2025) With Rolling
Stone celebrating Eric Church for “the
most ambitious, vulnerable album of his career” in the lead review of the May
print issue as Evangeline vs. The Machine arrived, the 10-time GRAMMY nominee
embarks on what is perhaps the most radical chapter of his singular career
spanning nearly two decades of rule-breaking and risk-taking music. Listen to
the new album HERE
“People keep asking me about the ‘vs.’ in the
title,” Church notes of his eighth studio album, named among today’s best
releases by NPR’s “All Things Considered.” “They want to know, is it a battle,
Eric? And I say, yes. It is a battle. A battle for everything creative. That’s
the whole reason I’m here in the first place.”
The world of Evangeline vs. The
Machine is one of experimentation, creativity and surprise. It is a collection
of eight songs made to be listened to front-to-back, from an artist who has
never given up hope on the power of the album. While suits in boardrooms are
obsessed with manufacturing 30-second “songs” that go viral, prizing profits
over creative freedom, Evangeline vs. The Machine refuses to surrender. It
invites you to stay and fight with it.
(May 1, 2025)Texas
country artist Garrett Bradfordreleased his new single, "Firefly,"
via H.O.T. Records May 2 (here). The
song marks the latest release from his upcoming EP, Honkiest of Tonkers –
Act II, due out May 23, 2025.
A nostalgic ode to a vanishing
way of life, “Firefly” paints a vivid portrait of rural America before
corporate expansion took over the landscape. Co-written by Bradford and Greg
Manuel Sr., the heartfelt track captures the bittersweet memories of simpler
times — evenings spent catching fireflies, open fields stretching for miles,
and a community rooted in agriculture and tradition. Through soulful
storytelling and traditional country sounds, Bradford questions what progress
truly costs when it replaces the small, magical moments that once defined home.
“Firefly” follows the release of
Bradford’s earlier single, “She Loves Horses,” and leads into the full Honkiest
of Tonkers – Act II EP, which also features a brand-new radio version of
Bradford’s breakout track, “This Way of Life” — the song featured in Yellowstone
Season 3, Episode 9 that became the most Shazammed country song in the U.S. the
day after it aired.
The Rocking Magpie
praised Bradford’s work as: “Pure, classically old-fashioned, 100% hardcore
Texas honky tonk… Bradford is the real deal.”
(2 May 2025) Country rock
superstar HARDY's new EP COUNTRY! is out
today via Big Loud. His first new music of the year, the project
features “Favorite Country Song,” “Buck On The Wall” (2.2 million
streams) and three more new songs. Get it here.
In celebration, HARDY made his
first ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry this week as part
of the Opry 100 festivities. After a video introduction from
longtime friend and collaborator Lainey Wilson, Ella
Langley joined HARDY on stage to guest on he and Wilson's smash hit
“wait in the truck” with Metallica's James Hetfield in
the audience.
The new music is hot out of the
gate, with “Favorite Country Song” (6.4 million streams) the No. 1 most
added at country radio week of release and climbing the Mediabase
and Billboard charts.
(2 May 2025) Jennifer Alvarado’s latest EP, LATELY,
doesn’t seek comfort in metaphor or nostalgia — it confronts, questions, and
reveals. Across five uncompromising tracks, Alvarado strips away the protective
layers that often shield pain from public view. This project moves beyond the
reflective nature of her past releases and directly engages with the present,
where emotional weight still lingers and healing is ongoing.
With a sonic palette rooted in
‘90s country and Americana, Lately balances warmth and grit. But it’s
the lyrical content that sets this EP apart. you can find it HERE.
(2 May 2025) Maddox Batson’s10-song First
Dance (The After Party) includes three new songs: “I Need A
Truck,” “Somewhere South” and “2 Feet.”
Listen HERE via
Prosper Entertainment / Warner Records.
“Last week at Stagecoach, Jelly Roll gave me some great advice. He said, ‘the
next time you walk on stage, just walk slow and take it all in,’” shares the
15-year-old burgeoning country singer/songwriter/performer. “It’s been a
whirlwind, and I’m so grateful to all the fans who take the time to listen to
these songs, learn all the words and share them.
Nashville-based
singer-songwriter and fastest rising voice in country music, Max McNown, released
his new single “Same Questions” alongside a moving performance
video via Fugitive Recordings x The Orchard x Columbia Records.
Listen to “Same Questions” HERE /
Watch the performance video HERE
“"When I wrote 'Same
Questions' I knew I wanted to write a breakup song, but in a different way -
through the lens of questions that get asked in relationships.” says
McNown. “From "how many kids will we have" to the early basic
questions, like "where are you from. Everyone and anyone in a relationship
has asked some version of these questions throughout love and loss."
This new single follows his
previously released “St. Helens Alpenglow” and Call Me If
You Miss Me”, and continues the story of his stunning sophomore album NIGHT
DIVING (released 24th January), a graceful fusion of folk and pop produced
by Jamie Kenney (Colbie Caillat, Laci Kaye Booth).
(2 May 2025) Country music
legend Moe Bandy’shighly anticipated new album SONGS I MISSED dropped
in partnership with StarVista Music. One who has remained consistent with the
traditional country sound, Bandy has created a collection of songs that were
once hits, some he wishes he hadn’t passed on, and others he wished he would
have had the chance to record initially, but didn’t. To stream: lnk.to/SongsThatIMissed
(2 May 2025) Heart of Texas
Records, in collaboration with StarVista Music, is proud to announce the
release of "Blue
Kentucky Girl," the latest single from Tayla Lynn’supcoming
album, SINGIN’ LORETTA — honoring the monumental 60th
anniversary of Loretta Lynn’s single originally released on June 14,
1965. Premiered by RFD-TV, the track reflects the heartfelt
storytelling and emotion that made Loretta Lynn a country music icon.
(2 May 2025)Breakout
country-pop artist Zac Hartreleased his newest single, “Alone”.
Written by Zac Hart and Grant Anderson, “Alone” is a
banjo-tinged, country-pop hit that chronicles the emotional chaos of
reconnecting with a former flame.
The track marks Hart's first
release from a forthcoming new project, building on the momentum of his
critically-acclaimed 2024 EP, These Days. In a genre often
saturated with formulas, Hart stands out by leaning into authenticity and
emotional storytelling. With “Alone,” he delivers a
vulnerable, hook-filled reflection on love, relapse, and the internal
tug-of-war between moving on and giving in.
INTERVIEWS
(30 April 2025) With a New Label
Deal, Kacey MusgravesFaces the Future While Making Peace With Her Past (Hollywood ReporterExclusive)
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