Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#118)

Scout’s honor, the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist isn’t turning into the “Bluegrass” Top 25 Playlist. It just happens to be with all the bluegrass musicians kicking ass these days and the prolific nature of the genre, it’s beginning to feel that way. Even a lot of country artists are favoring more acoustic instrumentation. But hey, when the results are so good, who is complaining?

The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to. New songs just added.

Newest Additions:

Billy Strings with Willie Nelson – “California Sober” – What’s better than Billy Strings or Willie Nelson? Billy Strings and Willie Nelson together. Billy’s blazing bluegrass combined with steel guitar, Mickey Raphael’s harmonica, and Willie Nelson’s voice is somewhere near divine. And though the incessant march of Willie Nelson pot songs was old in 2016, this one takes a more measured and meaningful tact for folks who have a problem with the sauce, but find solace in the bud.

Brennen Leigh – “Running Out of Hope, Arkansas” – Brennen Leigh’s hauled off and written and recorded a full blown honky tonk album called Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet out June 16th. Inspired by trips between Austin and Nashville, “Running Out of Hope, Arkansas” displays Leigh’s incisive storytelling and knack for character creation, putting you right in someone’s shoes in under three minutes. It was co-written with Silas Lowe.

Tommy Emmanuel with Billy Strings – “Doc’s Guitar / Black Mountain Rag” – Yes, Billy Strings is all over the place, and matching guitar maestro Tommy Emmanuel note for note on the opening track of Tommy’s new collaborative album Accomplice Two.

Bella White – “Break My Heart” – All great music finds that balance between the familiar and the unexpected, and Bella’s unique phrasing brought to a yodel-like projection makes for a novel listening experience. “Break My Heart” is one of the more honky-tonk tracks from her new album Among Other Things.

Gabe Lee – “Even Jesus Got The Blues” – After ratcheting up the volume and electricity on his last album The Hometown Kid from 2022, Gabe Lee’s dialing it back on his new album Drink The River out July 14th, and relying on more acoustic and understated tones. You hear this in the superbly-written lead single.

Bo Hazard – “April’s Fool” – Originally from Calhoun, Georgia, Bo Hazard brings an excellent voice to this classic country song written by Bernie Faulkner, Keith Perry, Wayne Davis, and originally recorded by Tracy Lawrence. Get Bo Hazard on your radar as a country crooner we could be hearing a lot more from in the future.

Victoria Bailey – “A Cowgirl Rides On” – This California native makes another worthy appearance on the playlist with the title track to her new album coming up later this year. “This song is for the cowgirls; it’s an ode to their strength and ability to saddle up and ride on through whatever heartbreaks and hardships come their way,” Victoria Bailey says.

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – “El Dorodo” – Molly Tuttle and her band Golden Highway are keeping their momentum going by releasing a new album City of Gold on July 21st. Molly takes her California gold rush roots and hammers them into this Western bluegrass tale.

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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, Apple Music, and Tidal. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.

CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.

Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.

Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:

• “California Sober” – Billy Strings feat. Willie Nelson – (single)
• “Running Out Of Hope, Arkansas” – Brennen Leigh – Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet (6-16)
• “Sleep When The Party’s Over” – Malpass Brothers – Lonely Street (5-12)
• “Wildwood Baby” – Gloria Anderson – Households EP 
• “Easier and Harder” – William Prince – Stand In The Joy (4-21)
• “State You Left Me In” – Jake Worthington – Self-Titled
• “Break My Heart” – Bella White – Among Other Things
• “Even Jesus Got The Blues” – Gabe Lee – Drink The River (7-14)
• “Yesterday’s Burn” – The War and Treaty – Lover’s Game
• “One Glass of Whiskey” – Robbie Fulks – Bluegrass Vacation
• “Nobody’s Gonna Cry For Me” – Josie Toney – Extra
• “El Dorodo” – Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold (7-21)
• “One Of These Days” – Chancey Williams – One Of These Days
• “Moonshine Run” – Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley – Living In A Song
• “Tequila & Forgiveness – Katie Jo, Elijah Ocean – (single)
• “Hard Road to Hold” – Lance Roark – Better Man
• “If You Don’t Wanna Love Me” – Brit Taylor – Kentucky Blue 
• “Forever’s Not As Long As It Used To Be” – Shefton Kash – (single)
• “A Cowgirl Rides On” – Victoria Bailey – (single)
• “Old Montana” – Sam Munsick – Johnny Faraway
• “The Wildest Thing” – Nathan Seeckts – (single)
• “Above My Head” – Drayton Farley – Twenty on High
• “You Drive Back” – Aaron McDonnell – (single)
• “Rosemary” – SJ McDonald – (single)
• “April’s Fool” – Bo Hazard – (single)
• “Going Back” – Zara Alexandra – Osage Oranges Coming Down
• “Doc’s Guitar / Black Mountain Rag” – Tommy Emmanuel with Billy Strings – Accomplice Two