Updates

Nineteen years ago today (Feb. 13, 2002) was a sad day in country music: It was on that date that Waylon Jennings died, from complications from diabetes. He was 64 years old. Jennings was born near Littlefield, Texas, and inherited his love of music from his mother. When he was eight years old, he began playing the guitar,

Fifty-four years ago today, on Feb. 13, 1967, Dolly Parton‘s debut album, appropriately titled, Hello, I’m Dolly, was released. The then-21-year-old Parton wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the record, including two of its singles: “I Wasted My Tears,” which failed to chart, and “Something Fishy,” which landed in the Top 20. Curly Putman

Country music is about more than boots, trucks and whiskey (although it very much is about boots, trucks and whiskey). It’s also about breaking up and making up, falling in and out of love and finding that one person to stand by you forever. Country music centers so strongly on storytelling, and one of its

Dolly Parton taps out a flawless rhythm using only her acrylic nails as she performs a a cappella version of “5 to 9,” a reworked twist on her iconic song “9 to 5.” The country icon re-recorded the track for a Squarespace Super Bowl ad this year. Parton’s performance is effortless, and for good reason: She’s had some

If it weren’t for sad love songs, country music just wouldn’t be the same. Whether reliving sweet memories or bidding a bitter farewell, the saddest love songs are universal, sharing emotions to which we can all relate. And the best (or worst?) of them are those we can’t quite make it through without shedding a

Blake Shelton is keeping it all in the (soon-to-be) family with his newest music video. The clip for the country singer’s hard-times love song “Minimum Wage” was directed by Todd Stefani, who just so happens to be the youngest brother of fellow artist Gwen Stefani, Shelton’s fiancée. The video’s sure to have Shelton fans missing in-person

Kacey Musgraves is chipping away at her next album. Due later this year, it will be the follow-up to 2019’s Grammy Awards Album of the Year, Golden Hour, and the 32-year-old singer-songwriter has revealed that the theme of “tragedy” is inspiring the upcoming effort. That’s just one of the details doled out in recent a Rolling Stone cover story on the

The year 2020 was undoubtedly a fascinating one for country music. Taking it all into consideration, Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will plumb the depths of the genre’s latest metamorphosis in a new American Currents: State of the Music exhibit opening soon. The exhibit, which opens on March 12 and is scheduled to run through February

Country duo Waterloo Revival have called it quits. George Birge and Cody Cooper were middle school friends who formed a duo in Austin, Texas, in the early 2010s. Two of their five singles charted on country airplay charts. The duo offered no explanation for calling it quits, nor did they divulge their next move as musicians. The

Garth Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, have canceled everything on their calendar for two weeks and will quarantine after possibly being exposed to COVID-19. It’s the second time the couple have had to quarantine; last summer, Brooks’ daughter Allie had the virus. This time, someone within the couple’s inner circle tested positive for the coronavirus as they were preparing to

Singer and songwriter Mando Saenz was in the fifth grade when he went to his first concert: ’80s metal band Dio, on their 1984-’85 The Last in Line Tour, at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas. “Me and my brother convinced my mom to go,” the artist recalls, later praising the band’s live theatrics. “It was

Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd’s romance began in Nashville’s writing rooms, but they’d yet to record an official duet together — until now. “Chasing After You,” which arrived on Friday (Feb. 12), pairs the married couple for a song about longing, waiting and loneliness. Written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers, “Chasing After You” “is

Taylor Swift‘s re-recorded version of her hit song “Love Story” is faithful to the original, but fans who have been listening for years will notice a few subtle differences in the newly released track. The country-turned-pop superstar debuted the complete reimagined rendition on Friday (Feb. 12). Written by Swift and Nathan Chapman and released as

Carrie Underwood shows off her vocal range on her new version of the gospel hymn “Softly and Tenderly,” though she does so in a more understated way than on some of her biggest hits. Fans can hear the song, released on Friday (Feb. 12), below. The country star saves much of her gusto for a

In February of 1993, Toby Keith released his debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Co-produced by Nelson Larkin and Harold Shedd — the pair that co-produced all of Keith’s self-titled debut album — the song is about a man wistful for a different kind of life. More precisely, the protagonist of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” feels as

Sixteen years ago today (Feb. 12, 2005), Rascal Flatts scored their third No. 1 hit with “Bless the Broken Road.” The song, from their album Feels Like Today, also became the trio’s first platinum-selling tune. “Bless the Broken Road” was written by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd and Jeff Hanna in 1994. The song was previously recorded

Taylor Swift has been at work re-recording her Big Machine Label Group-era albums, and a new Instagram note offers a hint as to when the first one may drop. The country-turned-pop superstar’s website, though, confirms it. A hidden message in a post from Swift on Thursday (Feb. 11) shares a date: “APRIL NINTH” is spelled

Carrie Underwood‘s new gospel album will feature 13 songs, including many already familiar to country music audiences. My Savior also includes a duet with a legend in the genre. CeCe Winans will join Underwood on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” a traditional Christian song. The country singer’s second-straight side project will begin with an instrumental and

Is Chris Young the hero or the one in need of rescuing? In a new, unreleased song called “Rescue Me,” he’s a little bit of both. Young shared a snippet of “Rescue Me” on Facebook on Wednesday (Feb. 10), noting that the recording is “just a demo,” but asking fans for feedback. Over a midtempo

The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating the 95th anniversary of its world-famous show with a special two-hour broadcast on Sunday night (Feb. 14). Airing on NBC, the event will be hosted by Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley, two of the genre’s veteran performers, who’ve been official Grand Ole Opry cast members for 10 and 20