Music City Minute

In the immortal words of Geoffrey Chaucer, all good things must come to an end. Having said that, within the last month, Rascal Flatts, Eric Church and their support acts celebrated the conclusion of multi-week performances with traditional end-of-tour gifts. As a "thank you" for setting the tone each night of the Life Is A Highway tour, the boys of Rascal Flatts surprised their openers Chris Lane...

Carrie Underwood's stint as a judge on "American Idol" has felt different this season. The one-time winner of the reality competition show seems a lot more comfortable sharing her true opinions, both positive and constructive. That said, not everybody agrees with her forward approach, especially the live Nashville audience. More than once during the Music City takeover week, the 42-year-old receiv...

In the event you needed a country music artist to keep a secret, consider Jelly Roll your Huckleberry. That said, the "Need a Favor" singer has opened up about painful information he has held close to vest. For over a month, Jelly Roll has been quietly undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. But, hold on, it is not what you are thinking. Just before the Grammy Awards, the country rocker was in a...

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has revealed their nominees for the class of 2026. On the surface, we do not see nominees of obvious country influence like current members Dolly Parton or Willie Nelson. However, if we dig a little deeper, at least three embody a distinctly roots-y, Americana vibe. Let us start with The Black Crows. Their mix of folk, blues and rock helped nurture the modern jam b...

Luke Bryan famously said, or sang, rather, "Most mamas ought to qualify for sainthood." In truth, folks of all shapes, sizes and occupations routinely demonstrate goodwill worthy of veneration. My favorite example is an angel from the Smoky Mountains who has a knack for delivering long-term impactful miracles. Dolly Parton's latest endeavor aims to provide hope, support and longevity for sick kids...

Perpetual change throughout life's ebb and flow is inescapable. Thankfully, two things always remain constant: time marching forward and a relatable country song. On that note, sweeping winds of change have picked up in Music City lately. Let us start with huge congratulations to Luke and Nicole Combs, who welcome their third baby, a boy named Chet Wiley! I am sure big brothers Tex and Beau warmly...

Well, well, well, look who is living their bluegrass dream! One of Colorado’s (favorite) adopted sons, Dierks Bentley, will be heading out on tour this summer with the legendary Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Needless to say, Bentley's hits are going to sound different on this tour – less contemporary and more like the mountain music that Grandma and Grandpa used to play. Interesti...

Music is a way of interpreting human experience. Whether it's hiring a wino to decorate your house, your daddy giving you a funny name, waiting on a woman or describing a date at Applebee’s, someone has written a country song about it. Of course, not all compositions have a comedic tone. Matter of fact, I bet you know a few songs about love, respect, war, heartache and a fellow who was burni...

In a bustling music hub such as Nashville, artists are a dime a dozen. That said, a musically versatile artist would likely have more opportunities than the one-trick pony. Over the years, plenty of country stars have dipped their toes into other genres. Take, for example, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Swift, who all had successful forays in pop music. Meanwhile, Johnny Cash,...

Country music has evolved significantly over the decades, yet male dominance in the format has stayed the same. Legendary female artists like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba, The Judds, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson will admit that just because they’re a woman, they had to work twice as hard to get even half the exposure of a male arti...

Country music artists have a lot of pride in their work. Viral songs, award winning albums and touring the world are a reflection of their dedication and spirit, after all. However, there’s another form of art that seems to get just as much focus and practice within the music community: pranking. A couple of the best jokesters in the biz, Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan, pulled a hilarious prank...

As a society, we have come to expect compelling backstories for high-achieving individuals. Specifically, in pop culture, hallmarks of an artist’s lore are a key part of their identity – and by golly, we are suckers for a redemption story. A shining example of his concept is Jelly Roll. He has been very open about his troubled past and the poor choices that landed him in juvenile and a...

Have you heard the story about the starving artist on the verge of desperation and down to their last few bucks who then catch their big break? It is a tale as old as time and a key component of many artists' origin story. Luke Combs recently opened up about this very specific era in his career. The North Carolina native described arriving in Nashville with stars in his eyes and eager to record so...

Ella Langley has revealed big plans for 2026. The Alabama Honky-Tonk angel will be dropping her brand new album "Dandelion" on April 10. A few short weeks after that, the "Choosin' Texas" singer will kick off a headline tour, playing 16 dates throughout the spring and summer. Langley recruited top-notch support acts to join her on the road such as Kaitlin Butts, Kameron Marlowe and Dylan Marlowe....

Music is a uniquely powerful force that transcends human constructs such as age, nationality, tax bracket and even time, allowing us to connect and unite physically and spiritually. That said, artists from across the musical spectrum gathered to celebrate and recognize the fruits of their labor at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. There were plenty of surprise wins and deeply moving acceptanc...

For at least a week, Tim McGraw, Eric Church and HARDY have been dropping clues and Easter eggs on their social media (a la Taylor Swift) leading up to their surprising brand new collaborative release called "McArthur." Written by the wordsmith himself, HARDY's “McArthur” embodies exemplary storytelling synonymous with the country western genre. Recorded by Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Har...

Kenny Chesney has sold millions of records, rocked millions of faces at stadiums around the world and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. You would think with all that success a big star like Chesney wouldn’t get hung up on little things such as songs that didn’t make it to No. 1 status. However, the Tennessee native recently confessed there is one song he believes didn&rsqu...

Professional entertainers such as Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie are constantly on the move. For example, in the music business, when artists are not writing and recording an album, they are typically preparing or executing a multi-week tour to support said album. Then there is the promotional aspect, which includes but is not limited to podcast, radio and TV interviews as well as...

Winter has finally arrived in the Mile High City. While many folks braved the cold to either watch football or visit the National Western Complex for the final weekend of Stock Show and pro-rodeo finals, our friends to the east could not even leave the house. Winter Storm Fern delivered blizzard conditions so dangerous, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville decided it would be safer to cancel their Satu...

I admit, when I woke up this morning, I did not think I would end up ugly crying at work, but here we are. Most Kelsea Ballerini fans are familiar with her dog, Dibs. Over the last 10 years, no matter how crazy Ballerini’s life got, she could always depend on the loyal pup to be her anchor. Sadly, Dibs was diagnosed with inoperable cancer near his heart in the fall of 2024. Not knowing how l...

Joshua Ray Walker is an incredibly talented artist from Texas. Unfortunately, the last few years have been a personal roller coaster ride for the 32-year-old. Back in 2023, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwood treatment. Late in 2024, a follow up scan apparently revealed the cancer has spread to his lungs. Needless to say, Walker was preparing for the worst. That is, until just weeks l...

Zach Bryan is kicking off 2026 with a bang, or rather, the ring of wedding bells. The "Pink Skies" singer has apparently tied the knot with his current squeeze, Samantha Leonard. Their whirlwind relationship has taken the couple around the world. A few of their epic adventures include (but are not limited to) hiking in the Alps, skydiving and attending the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.....

Three years ago, Florida Georgia Line's "indefinite hiatus" sent shockwaves throughout country music. Rumors about the breakup permeated the Nashville air like mash boiling in a still. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly are widely recognized as a genre-defining duo who helped hard launch bro and boyfriend country. That said, who would’ve guessed FGL's split was as drama free as their songs? Final...

Riley Green has plenty of experience performing in front of a camera. Some of the projects he has been involved with include but are not limited to award shows, music videos and the occasional commercial. While those gigs are mostly an extension of his music career, the “Worst Way” singer has revealed he is getting a chance to flex his acting chops for real. Mr. Duckman confirmed he &l...

Ah, the holidays. A time of year filled with merriment, empty calories and family bonding…over your (college age) child’s dirty laundry…not the metaphorical kind. Speaking on this very specific topic, Chris Young fully admits he will wear a pair of jeans three, four, even five times before washing them. While some folks might find that extreme, in my experience, it is honest-to...