Garth Brooks Bestows Keith Whitley with Opry Membership, Creates Hank Williams Dilemma
64 CommentsSaturday night, October 14th, 2023, was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry. Instead of presenting the regular Saturday night slate of performances, the Opry presented a tribute to country music legend Keith Whitley.
Drake White Confirms He Was Dropped by Dot / Big Machine
25 CommentsAs a more rootsy and songwriter-based artist on a major label, Drake White became a favorite of many grassroots fans. Though Drake’s four radio singles all did decently, they eventually stalled outside the country radio Top 10, he was still able to sell nearly 60,000 copies of his debut record ‘Spark.’
Dickey Betts in Critical Condition After Hitting Head in Fall
15 CommentsSouthern rock legend and founding member of The Allman Brother Band Dickey Betts is currently in critical but stable condition in a Florida hospital after hitting his head, causing bleeding from his brain. Betts was in his backyard in Little Sarasota Bay, and slipped and cracked his head while playing with the family dog.
Definition is Americana’s Greatest Challenge, Not Diversity
157 Comments2018 was a high water mark when it came to the amount of diversity showcased by the organization and its community. But still the criticism for Americana’s lack of diversity have grown louder, bolstered by the current political climate where many feel they need to insist upon more diversity.
Jaime Wyatt Impresses at AmericanaFest 2018
20 CommentsBeyond the words and twang the voice and music may carry, you just have a belief in what you’re seeing and hearing from Jaime Wyatt. This isn’t some delicate flower. This is a woman who’s lived through the worst to tell her tale, unafraid of shame or judgement, and hoping to spin her story toward one of redemption and victory.
Carrie Underwood Team Going Too Far in Exploiting Personal Tragedy
239 CommentsWhen you first heard about Carrie Underwood’s unfortunate fall and her need for hospitalization in November of 2017, it was hard not to feel bad for the country star regardless of how you felt about her music. Releasing the song “Cry Pretty” as part of the personal revelations about the injury made the story especially […]
Jamey Johnson Ribs Grand Ole Opry for Not Making Him a Member
70 CommentsMembership to the Grand Ole Opry is always a hot button issue among country fans, just as much as induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is. As country music’s oldest and most hallowed institution, an invitation to join the Opry is one of the most honored opportunities a country artist can receive, and […]
Logan Ledger Makes Auspicious Debut at AmericanaFest
10 CommentsAfter it was announced right before AmericanaFest that Nashville resident Logan Ledger was working with legendary producer T Bone Burnett and had signed to Rounder Records, he quickly became one of the artists people were putting on their radar to watch perform.
Cody Johnson Insists His Major Label Deal Won’t Change Him
19 CommentsOwning a #2 and a #7 record on the Billboard Country Albums chart, as well as a strong fan base in Texas that sold out an appearance at the vaunted Houston Rodeo, Cody Johnson doesn’t need to jump through the hoops that other developing artists are sometimes asked to, though some labels still tried as they pursued him.
We’re Not Paying Nearly Enough Attention to Caitlyn Smith
81 CommentsVirtually everyone has been ignoring Caitlyn Smith’s record Starfire, and specifically her song “This Town Is Killing Me.” With almost no press, with absolutely no radio play, and very little attention via streaming playlists, “This Town Is Killing Me” has received well over 5 million plays on Spotify alone since its release.
Details Revealed for Upcoming Ken Burns Country Music Documentary
66 CommentsEncompassing over 16 hours across eight separate episodes, the film will include footage from 56 separate interviews with artists and historians, including interviews with 40 Country Music Hall of Famers, and a few artists who have passed away since film production was commenced.
Jason Isbell Has Big 2018 Americana Music Awards
86 CommentsThe 17th Annual Americana Music Awards held at the Ryman Auditorium Wednesday night (9/12) found the organization addressing the social tensions boiling in America, the call for more diversity throughout culture, and facing it’s own transitionary period for the awards themselves.
Tyler Childers Offers Critical Assessment of the Term “Americana” After Winning Americana Award
141 CommentsAfter making some remarks about keeping the back door open and allowing people like himself in, and making reference to his mispronounced name, Tyler Childers delivered a directed and pointed diss to the term “Americana,” saying it was a distraction from the real problems of country music.