It’s never easy to lose someone and it’s especially hard when those people have made an impact on our lives. 2016 saw the passing of 10 country artists who have touched our lives with their music, including legendary artists Merle Haggard and Ralph Stanley and those we lost way too soon like Joey Feek and…… MORE
What would the Christmas season be without music? It’s the soundtrack for trimming the tree, wrapping presents and cooking Christmas dinner. While those activities are fun for a lot of folks and Martina McBride’s White Christmas is must-have musical accompaniment, I decided to create the manliest of holiday playlists, perfect for listening to while splitting…… MORE
Jim Casey talks with Chris Young about the rapid success of his duet with Cassadee Pope, “Think of You,” his CMA Award nomination, how he got in touch with Vince Gill for “Sober Saturday Night,” the daunting challenge of picking songs for his new Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas, his favorite Christmas albums and more.…… MORE
In 2015, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson teamed up for the duets album Django and Jimmie, which featured the tune “It’s All Going to Pot.” Their art is imitating life. Willie introduced his new marijuana brand, Willie’s Reserve, earlier this year, and now Merle, who passed away in April 2016, will soon have his own…… MORE
Making your debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage is both a career-defining and nerve-racking moment for almost every artist who gets the honor. You can add Kiefer Sutherland’s name to that list. After Kiefer stepped onto the famed Grand Ole Opry circle to make his debut on May 31, the Emmy-winning actor, who has…… MORE
Billy Ray Cyrus is a busy man these days. Writing and starring in his own sitcom, Still The King, which was picked up for a second season by CMT, would keep anyone busy enough. On top of that, Billy Ray decided to release a brand-new album, Thin Line—which drops Today (Sept. 9)—chock-full of guest appearances…… MORE
It’s time to clock in—we’ve got the 40 Hardest Working Songs in Country Music. Today, Sept. 2, we’re featuring #1–10. Country music throughout the decades has not only embraced its working class roots, it’s made a point to praise them. Yes, work is tough, as Merle Haggard wrote in “Workin’ Man’s Blues” or as George…… MORE
Sturgill Simpson, much like Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, was “just getting warmed up” yesterday with his initial Facebook post in which in bashed the ACMs, Music Row and “Garden & Gun” magazine. In an update to his initial Facebook post, Sturgill clarified that he has no problem on a personal level with…… MORE
In a lengthy Facebook post today (Aug. 29), Sturgill Simpson unleashed a powerful diatribe against the ACMs, Music Row and Garden & Gun magazine. Sturgill’s main bone of contention stems from the fact that the ACMs created the inaugural Merle Haggard Spirit Award, saying “I find it utterly disgusting the way everybody on Music Row…… MORE
Miranda Lambert may not be an Okie from Muskogee, but the Texas spitfire will do Merle Haggard proud when she receives the inaugural ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award at the ACM Honors ceremony on Aug. 30 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The award honors uncompromising artists in the spirit of Merle Haggard while acknowledging a man…… MORE
