UK News, UK Chart News, Billboard Country Charts, Album
& Single Releases, US News, , Press Releases, TV, Interviews,
Articles & Videos, Fashion, Birthdays, RIP’s
CDX
NEWS
Dierks Bentley talks about his new album, Broken Branches.
Jackson Dean tells how the song "Heavens To Betsy" was
written.
And you'll hear Darius Rucker remind us all of what Memorial
Day Weekend is all about.
CDX WEEKLY CHARTS May 21st, 2025
Airplay for May 12th, 2025 – May
19th, 2025 – Country Singles
#1 No.1 1
week JASON ALDEAN – “Whiskey Drink” (Broken Bow Records) climbed 2-1,
4721 Spins (+59) 134 Stations 43 weeks on chart
** SPIN
GAINER ** BAILEY ZIMMERMAN & LUKE COMBS “Backup Plan” (Warner Music
Nashville/ Atlantic Records) No.26 1671 Spins +627 94 Stations; 2 weeks on
chart
UK NEWS
UK Eurovision hopefuls Remember Monday: "We're
nervous but excited!"
Remember Monday, the pop-country
trio of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull, and Charlotte Steele, feel
"honoured" to compete at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in
Basel. They are the first girl-group to represent the UK since 1999.
Speaking at the London Eurovision pre-party, the band shared
their excitement and nerves about the competition. Holly mentioned that they
improve with each pre-party and look forward to rehearsals and the jury show.
The group made their Eurovision debut during the second
semi-final on May 15th, performing "What The Hell Just Happened?"
(tagged POP) with a giant chandelier as a striking stage prop, referencing a
lyric from their song.
At the Grand Final, Remember Monday aimed to contribute to
the UK's notable Eurovision history. In 2022, Sam Ryder secured the UK's 16th
runner-up position with "SPACE MEN." The UK has won five times, most
recently in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves' "Love Shine a Light."
The UK's Eurovision Song Contest act are heading for the
Official Singles Chart Top 40 following their performance at the song contest's
grand final on Saturday.
The Hampshire girl-group – longtime friends Lauren Byrne,
Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele – are at Number 30 on Official Chart
update (dated May 20) with What The Hell Just Happened?
This would be a new chart peak for Remember Monday and their
power-pop banger, which previously reached Number 95 in April.
Remember Monday finished in 19th position at
Saturday's ESC grand final with a total of 88 points. What the Hell Just
Happened? secured all of those points from the jury vote, which
initially put the group in joint 10th position. But after receiving the dreaded
"nul points" from the public vote, they slid down the leaderboard.
They have since released a statement celebrating their
Eurovision journey – an experience they told Official Charts they have 'loved
every second' of.
"WOW - what a ride!", the band said. "Three
best mates walked onto the world’s biggest music stage and came out with a Top
10 Jury score, massive streaming numbers, and memories that will last a
lifetime,'" the trio said in their statement.
"Performing at Eurovision was one of the most surreal
and emotional moments of our lives," they added. "The love we’ve felt
from fans, our incredible team, and everyone who streamed, voted, and believed
in us has been overwhelming. This is just the beginning for Remember
Monday."
They concluded: "We’ve got new music coming your way, a
UK & Ireland headline tour this year, a summer packed with festivals, and
we’ll be hitting the stage at Wembley Stadium for the Summertime Ball… no big
deal! We’re so grateful for the platform, the media support, and every single
new fan who’s joined us on this wild journey. Eurovision? Completed it. Let’s
go!"
(19 May 2025) Morgan Wallen takes on The Sherlocks for
Number 1 album
Morgan Wallen took an early lead in the race for this week’s
Official Number 1 album, hoping to net his first-ever chart-topper with I’M THE
PROBLEM.
The Tennessee-born country star’s fourth studio LP, which
includes collaborations with the likes of Post Malone, Tate McRae and Eric
Church, is expected to go straight in at the summit on Friday. Previously,
Wallen saw Albums Chart success with 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album (77)
and 2023 collection One Thing At A Time (40).
Independent South Yorkshire-formed rockers The Sherlocks
are on their way to a career-best with fifth studio LP Everything Must Make
Sense! (2). The band, comprising Kiaran and Brandon Crook, Alex Procter and
Trent Jackson, previously charted with 2017 debut Live For The Moment (6), 2019
follow-up Under Your Sky (20), 2022’s Would I Understand (9) and 2023’s People
Like Me & You (4).
(20 May 2025) Named to Pandora’s “Artist to Watch: Country”
list, Alexandra Kay, began the UK &
Ireland leg of her All I’ve Ever Known tour with a sold-out show
at the Academy in Dublin, following a hugely successful run of twelve shows
across Europe.
The remaining shows will see Alexandra, who has sold over
80,000 tickets as a headlining artist, playing in Belfast, Birmingham,
Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester and London, with support by rising
artist Chanel Yates on all the UK dates.
Clark is one of her generation’s most esteemed songwriters
and musicians. Adding to her renowned career, Clark won Best Americana
Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards and Song of the Year at the 2024
Americana Honors & Awards with her acclaimed song, “Dear Insecurity,”
featuring 11x Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile. The track is from Clark’s
self-titled album, which was produced by Carlile and features her most personal
songwriting to date.
Tickets went on general sale at 10am on Friday 23rd May, but
as a C2C Country to Country fan you could grab pre-sale tickets at 10am on
Thursday 22nd May
DATES
Friday 24 October 2025 at 19:00. - O2 Institute2, Birmingham
(78 Digbeth High St, Digbeth, B5 6DY) £33.30 (£30.00) EVENT
Saturday 25 October 2025 at 19:00. - Band On The Wall, Manchester
(Band On The Wall, 25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 5JZ) EVENT £34.65 (£30.00)
Wednesday 29 October 2025 - Islington Assembly Hall, London
(Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 2UD) TICKETMASTER UK
£37.75
(21 May 2025) The Grand Ole Opry announced
the star-studded line up for its show at the Royal Albert Hall in London as
part of the Opry100 celebrations. Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde,
Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart will headline
its first ever international broadcast on Friday 26th September. Tickets went
on sale on Friday May 23rd at 10am BST on the Royal Albert Hall's website.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay and WSM-AM/Nashville's Kelly
Sutton will co-host Grand Ole Opry: Live in London.
In addition to the previously mentioned American performers,
the show will also feature a lineup of special UK guest artists, who will be
announced later in the summer. During the performance, fans can anticipate a
blend of classic and contemporary country music. Consistent with the usual
format of the Opry show in Nashville, each artist will perform between two and
four songs.
Darius Rucker described being a Grand Ole Opry member as a
great honour and likened it to his home away from home. He expressed that
performing at the Royal Albert Hall, a place tied to his musical roots, feels
like coming full circle.
Despite the high price of tickets (Gigs and Tours Ticket prices for Opry at
RAH: Front Arena £495, Rear Arena £385, Stalls £385, £302, £275, Grand Tier Box £302, Second Tier
Seats £247, Front Circle seats £192 , Rear Circle £165, Resisted View Circle
Seats £93 each) A they sold out very quickly (* over 10,000
people in the Grand Ole Opry Waiting Room online queue) for this unique and historic
Opry show outside Nashville.
Fans can listen live online or on WSM radio, with a
full replay available later in the year on BBC Radio 2 for UK fans.
Leading up to the event, UK viewers can watch Grand Ole Opry
performances on Sky Arts starting Friday, May 30th. The show will air
weekly for 26 weeks, offering a taste of Nashville before the Royal Albert Hall
concert in September.
(22 May 2025) The Long Road
Festival will return for its biggest
year ever later this summer (Aug. 22 - 24) on the beautiful grounds of Stanford
Hall in Leicestershire, with country traditionalist and critically acclaimed Drake
Milligan (Friday), double GRAMMY nominated Texan trio Midland
(Saturday) and multiple Brit Award winner, Ivor Novello recipient and GRAMMY
nominee James Bay (Sunday) as the headline acts.
Described by DIY as a “haven of country, Americana and
roots” music and culture, the carefully curated lineup also includes
Seasick Steve, Fantastic Negrito, Alana Springsteen, Larry Fleet, Charles
Wesley Godwin, Elles Bailey, Ashley Monroe, Fancy Hagood, Janet Devlin and a
European summer exclusive performance from Chuck Ragan. The full lineup can be
found here.
(22 May 2025) On Friday and Saturday, July 5th and 6th, Country on the Common brings
London its first outdoor festival of country, roots, and blues. The Shires
and Ward Thomas are playing Saturday, with Noah Reid, Remember
Monday, and Kezia Gill playing on Sunday. There will be line
dancing, axe throwing, rodeo bulls, whiskey tastings and BBQ. It’s a Wild West
weekend for all ages. TICKETS
(23 May 2025) Katy Hurt’s 13 Tracker Compilation Debut
Album “Gimme A Break” drops
Standout tracks: "Seasons", "All We Ever
Have", "I Loved Loving You", "Feather", "Before
The Ice Melts" (previously released April 18, 2025)
Acclaimed UK country/Americana artist Katy Hurt released
her highly anticipated debut album, “GIMME A BREAK,” on May 23rd, 2025
which includes 5 previously unreleased songs.
The 13-track album, recorded in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, at Stereobus Recording Studios in 2020, is a bold and
personal statement from one of the UK’s most exciting voices in modern country.
Co-written with guitarist Gab Zsapka, produced by Murray
Pulver (The Bros. Landreth, Doc Walker), mixed by Paul Yee, and mastered by
Peter Letros at Wreckhouse Mastering, Gimme A Break is a sonically rich journey
through heartbreak, healing, self-discovery, and defiance.
Several singles from Gimme A Break have already made waves
ahead of the album release. The anthemic “Sounds Good In A Bar” (previously
released October 8, 2021) soared to #1 on the iTunes Country Chart on
the day of release, earned a spot in the Top 5 on Tasmanian Country Radio and
received airplay and support from CBC, KIX FM, Sirius XM and the BBC, alongside
playlisting.
Meanwhile, “Seasons (previously released
January 24, 2025)” featuring Canadian artist Joey Landreth, gained widespread
acclaim. Featured on Apple Music’s Country Wide and Amazon Music’s Fresh Folk
& Americana and named Single of the Week on Absolute Radio,
as well as earning spotlight placement on ‘BBC Introducing.’
Written across gardens, green rooms, and continents, Hurt
calls the writing process “the easiest, most rewarding thing I’ve ever done”
and the release itself “the hardest.” A five-year saga filled with pandemic
delays, personal growth, and unwavering perseverance.
“Working on this record let me understand parts of myself I
hadn’t even met yet,” says Hurt. “And I hope through listening you find a
little piece of yourself too.”
UK CHART NEWS
UK Country Radio Airplay
Chart (published May 25, 2025)
See The TOP 40 at countrymusic.co.uk
You can find the weekly UK Country
Radio Airplay Chart, published by Holler and updated every Sunday at 5pm
GMT - HERE.
Chart dated May 25, 2025
For a fourth non-consecutive week, Ella Langley tops
the UK Country Radio Chart
Ella Langley's 'weren't for the wind' Held at No.1
on the UK Country Radio Chart this chart week.
Eric Church with “Hands Of Time” moved 3-2 in his 9th chart frame
Jelly Roll with “Heart Of Stone” advanced 5-3
(#3 peak) in his 7th chart week.
Tucker Wetmore with “3,2,1”
rose 10-4 (#4 peak) in his 13th chart week.
Blake Shelton with “Texas”
climbed 13-5 (#1 peak) in his 27th chart week.
Chappell Roan with
“The Giver” rose 16-6 (#4 peak) in her 10th
frame
Riley Green with “Worst Way”
moved 9-7 (#1 peak) in his 33rd chart week.
Dasha with “Not At This Party”
rose 11-8 (#1 peak) in her 12th frame
Myles Smith with
“Nice To Meet You” pushed 17-9 (#2 peak) in his 14th chart week
Russell Dickerson with “Happen To
Me” rose 12-10 (#8 peak) in his 7th chart week.
** Hot Shot Debut
** Debut No.16 “Just In Case” Morgan Wallen
UK Albums
Morgan Wallen celebrates his first-ever UK Number 1 album with I’m The Problem
It’s the second Top 40 LP for the Tennessee-born country star, following
2023 record ONE THING AT A TIME (40).
According to Official
Chart Company: “Straight
in at the summit, Morgan joins an elite group of artists - Taylor Swift,
Shania Twain, Post Malone and Beyoncé - as the only acts
in UK chart history to debut at Number 1 with a country album”.
* They forgot to mention: Ward Thomas made history in September
2016 by becoming the first British country music act to score a Number 1 on the
Official Albums Chart with their second studio record Cartwheels.
Wallen’s fourth studio set, I’M THE PROBLEM spawned five Top 75
singles before its release – and two more this week - and earned the
singer/songwriter from Tennessee his first ever UK No.1 album, debuting
atop the chart on consumption of 19,474 units (10,472 CDs, 1,326 vinyl
albums, 600 digital downloads and 7,076 sales-equivalent streams).
A sprawling 37-song, 117-minute release, it far exceeds his uncharted
2018 debut, IF I KNOW ME; 2021’s DANGEROUS: THE DOUBLE ALBUM, which reached
No.77; and 2023’s ONE THING AT A TIME, which peaked at No.40. Dangerous has
to-date consumption of 110,164 units, with One Thing At A Time on 176,442
units. No sales data were available for If I Know Me.
* Note * The UK's Top 100 biggest artist albums of the week, compiled by
the Official Charts Company are based on sales of CDs, downloads, vinyl, audio
streams and video streams.
Speaking to Official Charts, Morgan Wallen said: “The massive growth
that we’ve seen in the UK is truly something special. One Thing At A Time
debuted at Number 40 and I’m The Problem is debuting at Number 1 only two years
apart.
“I am so grateful and humbled my music is connecting in a place where we
have spent time and worked to build a real and meaningful relationship with our
fans there. Thank you guys so much!”
To celebrate his chart-topping success, Morgan will play an exclusive,
one night only show at London’s iconic Roundhouse (Wednesday, May 28).
Fans who pre-ordered 'I'm The Problem' in any format from the Morgan
Wallen UK store before 10am BST on Tuesday 13th May 2025 got an exclusive
ticket access code for the chance to purchase tickets for Wallen’s Roundhouse
show.
UK Singles
No.1 for the 10th week in a row for Alex Warren, Ordinary
matched the reigns of Dave & Central Cee’s Sprinter, Miley Cyrus’ Flowers
and Harry Styles’ As It Was to move joint second in the list of tracks with
most consecutive weeks at No.1 in the 2020s, with only Ed Sheeran’s 2021 smash
Bad Habits – an eleven-week topper – ahead of it.
Its consumption slipping 3.61% week-on-week to 63,651 units (1,540
digital downloads, 62,111 sales-equivalent streams), Ordinary is nevertheless
still ahead of the chasing field by a massive margin.
In his 57th chart frame Shaboozey’s A Bar Song
(Tipsy) fell 54-59.
Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen with “I Had Some Help” fell 77-88
in their 52nd frame
Shaboozey & Myles Smith with
“Blink Twice” fell 62-84
Dasha
with “Austin” fell 86-97 in her 62nd chart frame.
Chappell Roan with her
country track “The Giver” plummeted 24-85 in her tenth
frame.
Morgan Wallen’s new No.1
album, I’m The Problem, spawned its sixth and seventh Top 75 entry in the form
of Tate McRae duet, What I Want, which surpassed the modest peaks
of its predecessors, debuting at No.32 (12,243 sales) and Just In
Case (No.75, 7,528 sales). Wallen has had nine Top 75 entries in total,
McRae’s 15th.
Eurovision
Five songs from the Eurovision Song Contest arrived
simultaneously in the Top 75, following the 69th staging of the annual event in
Basle last Saturday (May 17). The UK entry – What The Hell Just Happened?
by Remember
Monday – finished an undistinguished 19th out of
the 26 songs in the final, after a schizophrenic performance in the voting
which saw it placed 10th by the international juries, while attracting no
interest and no points at all from the public vote.
Nevertheless, the song, which previously peaked at No.95 when first
released here in March, was the highest of the intake, and the introductory hit
by the trio, making its Top 75 debut at No.31 (12,979 sales; * The
Official UK Singles Chart reflects the UK’s biggest songs of the week, based on
audio and video streams, downloads, CDs and vinyl).
According to Official Charts Company data the track, saw a 307%
week-on-week surge to secure Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele
their first-ever Top 40 placing on the Official Singles Chart.
Additionally on the
Official Singles Sales Chart (Dated 23 May 2025 - 29 May 2025) they rose 19-2
in their 6th chart frame (1 week - 20/03/2025 Chart
run: No.10 + 5 weeks - 01/05/2025 to 29/05/2025 Chart run: 89,
83, 42, 19, 2)
Celebrating the news, Remember Monday told Official Charts: “Oh my
gosh! What The Hell Just Happened? “What The Hell Just Happened? just made it
into the Top 40 of the Official Singles Chart. Honestly, we cannot believe it.
Thank you so, so much to everyone who’s downloaded the song, played the song,
listened to the song.
“We feel so grateful, and shocked. We truly can’t believe it, this is an
absolute dream come true! We can’t wait to start playing it live on tour later
in the year. Let’s go!”
There are also debuts for 15th placed Baller (No.34, 11,819 sales), the German entry as performed by Austrian siblings Abor & Tynna; third placed Espresso Macchiato (No.40, 11,075 sales), the tongue-in-cheek Estonian entry by rapper Tommy Cash; Fourth placed Bara Bada Bastu (No.48, 9,885 sales), the Swedish entry and pre-competition favourite by Finnish comedy trio KAJ; and the winner, Wasted Love (No.53, 9,044 sales) the Austrian entry by 24-year-old Johannes Pietsch from Vienna, as JJ.
Confusingly, despite being embraced since, Baller was unplaced in the UK tele-voting Top 10, whereas the track that won that segment – Israeli entry New Day Will Rise by Yuval Raphael, which was also runner-up to the Austrian entry in the competition as a whole – has somehow gone very cold here, falling far short of the chart on consumption of 3,049 units.
The Remember Monday track, or one of the others, may improve further in coming weeks. If they don’t this will be the first year since 2018 that no Eurovision entry has made the Top 30. That proviso excludes 2020 when the competition was a Covid casualty, with no tracks charting, and takes account of Dutch competition winner Duncan Laurence’s Arcade, which initially peaked at No.67, but later reached No.29 in 2019.
Its consumption growing 337.99% week-on-week to 10,976 units
(1,333 CDs, 386 digital downloads, 9,257 sales-equivalent streams), following
Saturday’s screening of the annual spectacle, Eurovision Song Contest: Basel
2025 jumped 3-1 on the compilation chart (dated 29/05/2025). It is the fifth Eurovision album
to top the chart, following 2021 retrospective Now That’s What I Call
Eurovision, Eurovision Song Contest: Turin 2022, Eurovision Song Contest:
Liverpool 2023 and Eurovision Song Contest: Malmo 2024. The Liverpool 2023
album had a peak week of 17,477 sales, and has to-date consumption of 103,045
units, both records for a Eurovision album.
23 May 2025 – 29 May 2025
1 NE 1 Morgan Wallen ~ I'm The Problem (Peak No.1;
1 week - 29/05/2025)
2 2 39 Sabrina Carpenter ~ Short n' Sweet
3 4 34 Ed Sheeran ~ +-=÷× (Tour Collection)
4 NE 1 The Sherlocks ~ Everything Must Make Sense!
5 1 2 Sleep Token ~ Even In Arcadia
23 May 2025 – 29 May 2025
1 1 15 Alex Warren ~ Ordinary [1,540 downloads, 62,111 streaming - 63,651
units]
31 RE 2 Remember Monday ~ What The Hell Just Happened? ****19th
in ESC - limited vinyl release (Peak
No.31 1 week - 20/03/2025 + 1 week - 29/05/2025 - 12,979 units)
32 NE 1 Morgan Wallen ft Tate McRae ~ What I Want (Peak No.32 1 week - 29/05/2025 - 12,243
units)
34 NE 1 Abor and Tynna ~
Baller ****German ESC entry; came 15th
40 NE 1 Tommy Cash ~ Espresso Macchiato ****Estonia ESC entry; came 3rd
59 54 57 Shaboozey ~ A Bar Song (Tipsy) *** (Peak No.3 36 weeks - 25/04/2024 to
26/12/2024 + 21 weeks - 09/01/2025 to 29/05/2025)
75 NE 1 Morgan Wallen ~
Just In Case (Peak No.75 1 week -
29/05/2025 - 7,528 units)
79 RE 7 Morgan Wallen ~ I'm The Problem (Peak
No.44 5 weeks - 13/02/2025 to 13/03/2025 +
1 week - 03/04/2025 + 1 week - 29/05/2025 ; chart run
44-70-80-85-97-96-79)
85 24 10 Chappell Roan ~ The Giver *** (Peak
No.2; 10 weeks - 27/03/2025 to 29/05/2025)
88 77 52 Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen ~ I Had Some Help *** (Peak: No.2, 31 weeks - 23/05/2024 to 19/12/2024 + 21
weeks - 09/01/2025 to 29/05/2025)
97 86 62 Dasha ~ Austin
*** (Peak: No.5, 43 weeks -
07/03/2024 to 26/12/2024 + 7 weeks - 09/01/2025 to 20/02/2025 + 12
weeks 13/03/2025 to 29/05/2025)
23 May 2025 – 29 May 2025
Morgan Wallen with I’M THE PROBLEM made a debut at No.1 (1
week; #1 peak)
Blake Shelton with FOR RECREATIONAL USE ONLY pushed 5-2 (2
week; #2 peak)
Shaboozey
with WHERE I'VE BEEN ISN'T WHERE I'M
GOING slipped 2-3 (51 weeks; #2 peak)
Post
Malone with F-1 TRILLION moved
7-4 (40 weeks; #1 peak)
Beyoncé
with COWBOY CARTER rose 6-5
(60 weeks; #1 peak)
Taylor
Swift with FEARLESS (Taylor’s
Version) rose 8-6 (215 weeks; #1 peak)
Alison Krauss & Union Station with ARCADIA climbed 10-7
(8 weeks; #1 peak)
Willie Nelson with OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD rose 9-8 (4 weeks;
#1 peak)
Julien Baker & Torres with SEND A PRAYER MY WAY fell
4-9 (5 weeks; #1 peak) tagged Alternative
Taylor Swift with TAYLOR SWIFT moved 11-10 (168 weeks; #1 peak)
Outside
Top 10
Eric Church with EVANGELINE VS THE MACHINE fell 1-14 (3 weeks;
#4 peak)
COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES (Major)
(23 May 2025) Kelsea
Ballerini - The First Time: 10 Year Anniversary Edition (Black River
Entertainment) 17 songs, 57:30
BILLBOARD Charts
Billboard Country
Charts (Chart issue week of May 31, 2025)
Country Album Chart ** No.1 (1 week) ** I’M THE PROBLEM Morgan
Wallen
Hot Country
Songs ** No.1 (1 week) ** “What I Want” Morgan Wallen Featuring Tate McRae
Country
Airplay Chart ** No.1 (6 weeks) ** “I'm The Problem” Morgan Wallen
Country Digital Songs ** No.1 ** (2 weeks
non-consecutive) “Hard Fought Hallelujah” Brandon Lake x Jelly Roll
Billboard 200 News
Morgan Wallen’s latest studio effort, I’m the Problem, debuted atop
the Billboard 200 chart & Billboard’s Top Country
Albums chart (dated May 31) with the year’s biggest week for any album — 493,000
equivalent album units earned in the United States in the week ending May
22, according to Luminate. It also easily lands the largest streaming week for
any album in 2025.
Of I’m the Problem’s 493,000 first-week equivalent album units, streaming
equivalent albums (SEA) units comprised 357,000 (equaling 462.63 million
on-demand official streams of the set’s 37 tracks; it debuts at No. 1 on Top
Streaming Albums), album sales comprised 133,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album
Sales) and track equivalent albums (TEA) units comprised 3,000.
I’m the Problem captured 2025’s biggest week by equivalent album units
earned. The last bigger week was the opening frame of Taylor Swift’s The
Tortured Poets Department over a year ago. It bowed at No. 1 with 2.61 million
units on the May 4, 2024-dated chart.
NEWS
(19 May 2025) GULF SHORES, Ala.
– On the heels of his fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, becoming
the most-streamed country album of the year so far on Apple, Spotify and Amazon
within hours of its release on Friday (May 16), Morgan
Wallen debuted seven of the albums’
tracks live for the first time last night in Gulf Shores, Alabama for his
inaugural Sand In My Boots Festival.
With an entire news vertical from Gulf
Coast Media Group dedicated to the sold-out, multi-genre festival, curated
by Wallen and produced by AEG Presents, the weekend featured an eclectic mix of
more than 30 of his favorite artists and inspirations, including Post Malone,
Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, The War On Drugs, T-Pain, Three 6 Mafia and more.
Wallen concluded the festival, his first show of 2025, with a 23-song setlist,
taking the stage on the final night with his signature “Broadway Girls” walk
out.
(19 May 2025) Lauren Watkins received the surprise of a
lifetime on Friday night (5/16), while on tour with Zach Top. On
his Cold Beer and Country Music Tour stop in Indianapolis,
Ind., the Big Loud Records songbird was invited back to stage by Top to perform
a cover of Barbara Mandrell's “I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool” during
his headlining set. After the performance, Top asked Watkins if she'd like to
make her Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 20, 2025, a milestone Watkins has
been dreaming of her whole life growing up in Nashville, Tenn.
“Playing the Grand Ole
Opry has been at the top of my bucket list for as long as I can remember,”
shares Watkins. “Growing up in Nashville, I first went as a kid. To this
day, I still have the same feeling of respect and awe as when I first sat in
the crowd and listened to the music. It's one of those things I don't know if
I'll ever feel 'worthy' of doing, but I am so proud to have the invite and I
can't wait to step into that circle.”
(19 May 2025) Opry news, Carly Pearce unveiled
a custom, Dolly Parton-themed microphone stand during her May 16
show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Commissioned exclusively for
the Opry’s 100th year, the stand features rhinestones, pink and
purple butterflies and other design elements inspired by Parton's style. It
will be used throughout the Opry’s centennial celebration.
(20 May 2025) Dolly Parton and Eric
Church are included in Time magazine's inaugural
Time100 Philanthropy list, recognizing "singular figures who are shaping
the future of giving." See the full list here, and read the pieces on
Parton here and
Church here.
(20 May 2025) Jamey Johnson married
attorney Brittney Eakins May 20 at Graystone Quarry in
Franklin, TN. Randy Houser officiated the wedding, and groomsmen
included Lee Brice, Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch, Jerrod Niemann, and best
man Jeremy Popoff of the rock band Lit. Ernest performed Chris LeDoux's
“Look At You Girl" for the couple's first dance.
“Life has come full circle,” Brittney said. “Jamey has a sentimental
attachment to the quarry. I let him decide the location of our wedding and
that’s where he wanted to go.”
The Graystone Quarry was originally used as the limestone source for Interstate
65 from Columbia, Tenn. to Nashville, Tenn., which is the same road Jamey
followed from Alabama to Nashville to pursue his dreams of a career in country
music.
About a year after Jamey moved to Nashville, he worked for a company that
pumped out rock quarries and mines so workers could return to work after a
rain. “Around 2000-02, I took a pump out to that quarry one day,” he said.
(21 May 2025) Dolly Parton has extended her partnership
with Conagra Brands to launch a line of single-serve frozen
meals. Flavors include beef pot roast and country fried steak and retail for
under $5.
For more information and to
explore the full range of Dolly Parton food products, visit bakingwithdolly.com.
This exciting launch introduces
single-serve frozen meals that bring Dolly’s cherished Southern-inspired
favorites to homes across the nation in a convenient, no-hassle format.
The new collection of Dolly
Parton’s meals features four comforting, heat-and-eat dishes:
- Dolly Parton’s Beef Pot Roast: Tender
USDA Choice beef with cuts of carrots, celery, onions, and roasted red
potatoes in a rich, savory Southern-style gravy.
- Dolly Parton’s Chicken & Dumplings: White
meat chicken with thick-cut carrots and celery, paired with fluffy
dumplings in a creamy pepper and thyme sauce.
- Dolly Parton’s Country Fried Steak: A
tender, fried beef patty topped with black pepper and chive country gravy,
served alongside chunky mashed potatoes and seasoned green beans with
smoky bacon.
- Dolly Parton’s Shrimp & Grits: Creamy
white cheddar grits with succulent shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and a bold,
spicy Southern-style sauce.
These meals are crafted to deliver the authentic flavors of Southern cuisine, reflecting Dolly’s commitment to quality and taste. Each meal has a suggested retail price of $4.49 and can be prepared in either the microwave or oven.
(21 May 2025) Martina McBride testified in support of the
bipartisan NO FAKES Act (5/21) at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on
Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing; watch here.
Just shy of 400 artists and
actors signed a petition in support of the legislation, which, designed to
tackle AI deepfakes, would establish bolstered voice and likeness protections.
Originally introduced in 2023, the bipartisan No Fakes Act resurfaced in
Congress last month with 40% more pages than its initial iteration. Besides
growing in the length department, the bill is finding new proponents this time
around.
(22 May 2025) Tracy Lawrence's fifth
annual Mission :Possible Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament on
May 19 raised more than $200,000 for homeless organizations with help from
artists including Vince Gill, Jordan Davis, Zach
Top and Gary Allan. The fundraiser was preceded by a show
at the Ryman, his second, the previous night.
(23 May 2025) Bits &
Pieces: Dylan Scott has signed
on as a brand ambassador for Ford Trucks, which gifted him with a
new SuperDuty F-250 King Ranch Edition during his May 21 Easy Does
It album release party in Nashville.
(23 May 2025) Shaboozey's "A
Bar Song (Tipsy)" is among the songs presented an iHeartRadio Titanium
Award for reaching one billion spins.
AMERICANA NEWS
(20 May 2025) Alison Krauss & Union Station – ARCADIA (Down
The Road Records | 649 plays) held at No.1 & Caamp with “Let Things Go” (Mom+Pop
Music | 446 plays) held at No.1 on the albums and singles Americana
Radio Charts (week of May 20, 2025). Visit americanamusic.org to
see the full charts and details for the current week's Albums and Singles.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 22,
2025) — The Americana Music Association has announced additional
showcasing artists to perform at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, running from September
9-13, 2025. More performers will be announced in the coming months.
AWARDS
(21 May 2025) The National Music Publishers'
Association (NMPA) will honor Kacey Musgraves (Songwriter
Icon) and Rhett Akins (Non-Performing Songwriter Icon Award)
at its annual meeting June 11 at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York.
TOUR / LIVE EVENTS
(19 May 2025) Cam is set to perform at Tuesday’s
(5/20) Alliance for Women in Media Foundation's 50th annual Gracie
Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.
(19 May 2025) Tour
Support: Dylan Gossett's The Westward Tour kicks
off Sept. 11 in Birmingham and runs through November, including shows in
Brooklyn, Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles and Denver. Tickets go on sale Thursday
(5/22) here.
Newly-independent Eli Young Band will
embark on their 55-date Strange Hours Tour June 7
in Cambridge, ID, in support of a new album of the same title. Tickets
available Friday (5/23) here.
Festive All: Blake Shelton will
headline The Smoke Show at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta
Park Aug. 9. Tickets go on sale May 30 here.
Bits & Pieces: The Grand
Ole Opry is helping promote the Music
City Rodeo, Nashville’s first-ever PRCA Pro event, with a
rodeo-themed show May 27 featuring performances from Vince Gill, Moe
Bandy, Kaitlin Butts, Wyatt Flores, Marcus King, Lukas Nelson and Jenna
Paulette. Some of the PRCA rodeo athletes scheduled to
participate in the weekend’s competitions will also make appearances.
Tickets here.
(20 May 2025) Festive All:
Graham Barham, Gabby Barrett, Colbie Caillat, Randy
Houser, Lakeview, Vincent Mason, Edwin
McCain and Ian Munsick will perform at Whiskey
Jam’s Thursday night takeover at Ascend Amphitheater during CMA
Fest June 5; tickets here.
(21 May 2025) Festive
All: Artists including Keith Urban, Kelsea
Ballerini, Shaboozey, Lainey Wilson and Bailey
Zimmerman will perform at Spotify House at Ole Red in
Nashville during CMA Fest June 5-7.
Additional newly announced CMA
Fest associated events include River House X
Whiskey Jam at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row featuring Hudson
Westbrook and Austin Snell, among others, June 3; CAA's
takeover of Whiskey Jam with Warren Zeiders, 49
Winchester, Kolby Cooper and more June 4 at Skydeck;
and Ryman and BMI's Block Party June
5-7 with Tyler Braden, Kelsey Hart and others at
the outdoor stage on the PNC Plaza.
Bits & Pieces: Cody Johnson has
been added as a headliner for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's 2026
season. He will perform March 22, the event's final night. Tickets Aug.
21 here.
(22 May 2025) William
Beckmann, Lanie Gardner, Bryce Leatherwood, Kat
Luna and Austin Snell will perform at Ole Red On The Rise June 4 at Ole Red
Nashville. The free show will be hosted by Kelly Sutton and
livestreamed on Ole Red Nashville’s Facebook.
TV
|
(20 May 2025) Performances
from Tuesday night's (5/20) finale of The Voice included Blake
Shelton's "Texas," Bryce
Leatherwood's "God Made"
and Kelsea Ballerini and Jaelen Johnston's
"Whiskey Lullaby." Dan + Shay, Megan
Moroney and Shaboozey will serve as presenters for
the May 26 American Music Awards on CBS and
Paramount+. Previously announced performers include Blake Shelton and Lainey
Wilson
|
(22 May 2025) ICYMI: Dasha performed "Not At This Party" on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (5/22).
PRESS RELEASES
(19 May 2025) After dropping the
slinky new single “Strange Hours,” 18x RIAA Gold and
Platinum-certified country hitmakers Eli Young Band
are back for more, launching a new era with the announce of their Strange
Hours album and headline tour. Presave the album HERE.
Set for release August 1, Strange Hours finds the trailblazing
group returning to the bold creative defiance of their independent roots – and
to Panhandle House Studio in their hometown of Denton, Texas, where their debut
album Level was born.
Reviving the raw, grassroots energy and emotional sting of their early work, a brand new batch of country-rock anthems feature Eli Young Band’s signature live-band philosophy, and their chart-topping sound. Along the way, frontman Mike Eli continues to wield one of the most distinctive voices in modern country, leading a band of brothers who write the majority of their fan-favorite tracks.
** NEW MUSIC RELEASES **
(21 May 2025) Robby Johnson's new
track is already making waves across the country music landscape. Johnson
recently stopped by the legendary WSM Radio (Grand Ole Opry)
to chat with Eryn Cooper. Listeners from all around the world had a
chance to hear Robby's new song, "If Barstools Could Cry."
Additionally, the single has been featured on several prominent playlists
including Spotify's ALL NEW COUNTRY, CMT's THE
ROUNDUP, and Whiskey Riff's NEW MUSIC FRIDAY,
further cementing Johnson's rising star status in the country music scene.
Written by Erika Ender, Willie
Breeding, Frank Ray, and Jessica Cayne, and recorded by Ana Cristina at the
famed Cash Cabin, “Cheap Margaritas” is a lighthearted nod to those
spontaneous, can't-stay-away connections—fueled by neon lights and late nights.
Made for warm-weather weekends, the song mixes a fun and flirty vibe, all
wrapped up with Ana’s signature sound.
(23 May 2025) Acclaimed
singer-songwriter and producer Toby Lightman is seeing her powerful
anthem “Higher,” which she released last month (11Apri 2025)l,
reach new heights with a bold and emotionally charged rendition by American
Idol finalist Breanna Nix. Originally
co-written and produced by Lightman, the track captures the challenges and
triumphs of embracing identity and maturity in an industry obsessed with youth.
Driven by a haunting melody and emotionally charged lyrics, “Over Me” paints a
vivid picture of the wreckage left behind when addiction and dishonesty take
the wheel. With lines like “It’s a quarter to 3 / You’re drinking Jack
over me,” Wilson’s voice is equal parts grief-stricken and unflinching, striking
a perfect balance between vulnerability and strength.
“Everyone talks about heartbreak, but not everyone talks about what it
feels like when someone you love won’t fight for you - when they keep
choosing the bottle or the betrayal instead,” says Wilson. “This song is for
anyone who’s ever realized they deserve more and decided not to settle.”
(23 May 2025) Ahead of Memorial
Day, multi-Platinum and award-winning, Chris
Janson, released his patriotic new
track, “This Flag,” out now. Written by Janson, Josh Phillips,
Mitch Oglesby and Michael Wayne Wilkes, the song was inspired by our nation’s
heroes and is a reminder of why we stand for our flag - “all the ones who left
their homes and never made it back” and “every small-town kid who ever had a
dream.” LISTEN: “This Flag”
“I have had the honor of working
with several veteran organizations and love supporting our troops. I
wrote this song inspired by the work they have done and do to protect the flag
and our freedom. My hope is that this song brings more awareness, pride and
patriotism to our youngest generation out there. Respecting and standing for
the flag, the National Anthem, and showing the upmost respect for the men and
women who serve our great country, America.” - Chris Janson
(23 May 2025) Rising
singer/songwriter Evan Bartels released his major label debut EP, To
Make You Cry,
via MCA / Snakefarm Records. Bartels showcases his profound storytelling
on To Make You Cry, creating an epic, cinematic landscape with little
more than an acoustic guitar and vocals. Recorded in his handmade cabin outside
of Nashville, this stunning six-song set not only takes notice of those people
who are often unseen but also explores the sacrifices and spirituality of a
working musician.
American Songwriter calls
his music “intense and intimate” as Bartels strives to tell distinctly human
stories without judgment. MusicRow says the title track “is a stark,
hushed, gripping ballad performed in a trembling, dark baritone that commands
attention,” and notes Bartels “recorded [“To Make You Cry”] in his cabin with
just acoustic-guitar accompaniment. That and a few echoey production touches
are all that’s needed to make you sit up and take notice. A major new voice.”
The new collection includes a
fresh radio version of Bradford’s breakout track “This Way of Life,” the
song featured on Yellowstone (Season 3, Episode 9) that became the most
Shazamed country song in the U.S. the day after it aired.
(23 May 2025) On the heels of
multiple Grammy® nominations and mega co-writes on Cowboy Carter (“TEXAS
HOLD 'EM,” “16 CARRIAGES”) and “luther” (currently in its 13th week at #1), the
A-list's biggest secret weapon, Ink,
has stepped out from behind her golden pen to deliver her highly anticipated
Big Loud Records/Electric Feel Records debut, “Turquoise
Cowboy.” Rolling Stone proclaims, “with 'Turquoise
Cowboy,' Ink is ready to fully dive into her own artistry” and
describes the accompanying official visual as a “cinematic video embracing her
over-the-top, fashion-forward aesthetic as she brings the lyrics to life.”
Originally born in Frankfurt,
Germany - before her mother's military career moved her family to Columbus, GA
- and with roots that run deep in the Cherokee and Blackfoot indigenous tribes,
Ink's unique upbringing has influenced her music from a truly distinct
perspective.
(23 May 2025) 16x ACM, 9x CMA
and Grammy Award-winning artist Lainey Wilson’s new single, “Somewhere Over Laredo,”
dropped via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Listen/share HERE.
Written by Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Andy Albert, the song
honors the timeless classic “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” while
showcasing Wilson’s poignant storytelling and authentic country sound, as she
reflects on past love and pays tribute to small towns across the country.
Wilson was set to perform the song live for the first time at the 2025
American Music Awards (Monday, May 26), where she is
nominated for Favorite Female Country Artist.
The
track, produced by GRAMMY award-winning Steve Marcantonio (Taylor Swift, John
Lennon, Keith Urban, etc.), features the support of notable musicians: Ford
Thurston (Randy Houser, Chris Cagle) on guitar and resonator guitar; 2002 ACM
Musician of the Year nominee Jeff McMahon (Tim McGraw, Chris Cagle) on keys;
drummer Kip Allen (Keith Urban, Phil Vassar, Devin Dawson); and Ben Murray
(Chris Cagle) on drums
LISTEN TO “MORE LIKE
JESUS” HERE.
Co-written with acclaimed
songwriter Phil O'Donnell, “More Like Jesus” showcases
Micah's gift for blending spiritual themes with relatable, real-life
experiences, creating music that resonates deeply with those seeking meaning
and encouragement.
Fletcher, a 20-year-old rising
country artist from Gordonsville, Virginia, is making waves with his fresh yet
familiar sound and undeniable authenticity. Blending the heartfelt storytelling
of country with the energy of modern anthems, he draws inspiration from artists
like Nate Smith and Warren Zeiders.
(23 May 2025) Sam Williams gets
vulnerable on catchy new track ‘Lose You Too’ – listen HERE.
This is the third offering from Sam’s forthcoming project Act II:
COUNTRYSTAR, out July 11 – pre-save HERE.
Penned by Sam, Emily Weisband (BTS, Camila Cabello, Dan+Shay), and Alysa
Vanderheym (Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Jelly Roll) ‘Lose You
Too’ blends raw, honest lyrics over a glossy, country-pop production
as Sam confesses, “I’ve already lost more than I thought I’d ever lose
/ I can’t lose you, too” — and yeah, it kinda wrecks you in the best
way.
Of the track, Sam reflects, “Releasing a song you wrote in a
different chapter of your life is a little uncomfortable, especially one that
holds so much hope. Not gonna lie, it hurts to revisit this chapter… but ‘Lose
You Too’ still slaps. There’s a softness in this song that I’m proud of, and
maturing means learning not to dim the parts of yourself that feel deeply. I’ve
learned I can lose beautiful things, and still believe that the love I put into
the world will come back around.”
(23 May 2025) Recently earning
praise stating “country music has found its next great voice” (All
Country News), C2C 2025 Festival artist Zach John King released a new EP, SLOW
DOWN. Stream the project HERE.
Slow Down is the product of King’s musical journey, having cut his teeth for years fronting an indie rock band before moving to Nashville to further hone his craft as an artist and songwriter.
Produced by Ryan Wilson,
the EP showcases King’s striking vocals and unique sound
which blends elements of country and indie rock, tied together by poignant
lyrics. A co-writer on all six songs, King often looked to moments from
his own life for inspiration when writing for the project. Exploring
themes including everything from feeling gratitude for the love of one’s life
to the heart-wrenching feeling of reliving the moment a relationship ended,
listeners will find themselves immersed in a world of vivid imagery and raw
emotion. The project kicks off an exciting chapter for King,
with Country Swag remarking, “the EP is sure to make
fans new and old flock to the singer in droves; however, King is
showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.”
The project’s title track, “Slow
Down,” has already garnered success, earning 8.6 million global streams
and counting, as well as placements on Spotify’s “Hot Country” playlist and
Apple Music’s “Today’s Country” playlist, and more.
INTERVIEWS
(23 May 2025) EF Country
Interview: Alexandra Kay talks new music, new record deal & learning from
Jelly Roll
WATCH
(20 May 2025) To accompany the
release of her sophomore album let go letters (released May 16, 2025), singer-songwriter Avery
Anna unveiled a short film that weaves together the official music videos
for five featured tracks: “cheerios”, “Danny Don’t”, “depresion”, “GRAVE”, and
“skinny.” Watch here:
Directed by Avery, Ben Humphrey,
Kate Bowling, and Tyler Shoemaker, the short film presents a powerful narrative
by connecting five standalone but thematically connected music videos that
bring the album to life. Interspersed between the videos are poignant moments
of Avery engaging with letters from her “Let Go Letters” series, which has long
been a safe place for her listener community to ‘let go’ of experiences that
may be troubling them by writing them down and sending them off. These letters
inspired the song and video concepts and explore deeply emotional topics such
as body image struggles, depression, suicide, addiction, and domestic violence.
The result is a raw and moving portrayal of resilience, connection, and healing
through music and storytelling.
“I started asking people for
their letters because I wanted to give them some kind of emotional outlet, but
they ended up shifting my whole perspective on so many things in life” says
Avery. “After a while, it felt almost impossible not to write about the
letters, and over time, this album became a way to thank everyone for being so
vulnerable and sharing their lives with me.”
COUNTRY FASHION
(25 May 2025) Kezia Gill sporting a Lucy & Yak jumpsuit
having picked up at In It Together Late May Bank Holiday Festival 23-25 May
2025 (Margam Wales) as part of playing The Ranch Stage.
Available online HERE Ragan -
Cotton Jumpsuit in Maria Print Regular price £75.00 (Short sleeve with
fixed turn up
Fitted bodice with back
elasticated waist channel; Closer fitting on the hips with wide crop length leg;
Standard collar with a zip opening at front, Chest pocket, deep hip pockets and
back patch pockets)
BABY NEWS
(23 May 2025) Crib Note: Scotty McCreery and
wife Gabi shared on social media that they are expecting their
second child in the fall. The couple are parents to two-and-a-half-year-old
son Merrick Avery
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead:
May 26: Hank Williams Jnr (1949),
May
27: the late Don Williams (May 27,
1939; died Sept 8, 2017 (aged 78)), Brett
Kissel (1990)
May 28: Brent Rowan (1956), Jerry
Douglas (1956), the late Sonny Burgess (May 28, 1931; died Aug 18, 2017
(aged 88)), Jimmy Rankin (Rankin
Family) (1964), Phil Vassar (1964), Nathan Carter (1990), Colbie Marie Caillat (1985)
May 30: Wynonna (1964), the late Johnny Gimble (May 30, 1926; died May 9,
2015 (aged 88)), Katy
Hurt (UK, 1997)
May 31: the late Johnny Paycheck
(May 31, 1938; died Feb 19, 2003 (aged 64)), Paul Franklin (1954)
June 1: Ronnie Dunn (1953), the late Hazel
Dickens (June 1, 1935; died April 22, 2011 (aged 85)), the late Johnny
Bond (June 1, 1915 died June 12, 1978 (aged 63))
RIP
(25 May 2025) Phil Robertson,
the renowned leader of Duck Dynasty's Robertson family, passed away on
Sunday. The family announced his passing on social media, with his
granddaughter Sadie Robertson sharing a particularly poignant collection of
photos on Instagram.
Duck Dynasty was a widely watched show on A&E from 2012
to 2017. A reboot titled Duck Dynasty: The Revival is set to premiere on June
1. Phil Robertson had been contending with several serious health issues in
recent months.
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