Country Music News

Lainey Wilson is set to be the sole host of the 59th annual CMA Awards on November 19, making her the third woman ever to solo host the event after country legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. Having cohosted the event last year with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the nine-time CMA winner shared a new promotional video where she is preparing to put her unique stamp on "Country Music's Biggest Night," which will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Wilson – who is tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the most nominations this year with six – has previously said that she “grew up watching the CMA Awards like it was the Super Bowl, so to be hosting for a second year is a true honor.” The CMA Awards, the longest-running annual music awards on network TV since 1967, will soon announce its performers and presenters, with nominees selected by over 7,000 industry professionals. (Billboard)

Jason Aldean’s career retrospective, 30 Number One Hits, has debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The country collection also reached No. 21 on the all-genre Billboard 200, on the strength of selling 22,000 equivalent units. This marks Aldean’s 13th Top 10 album on the country chart since first making the tally with his 2005 self-titled debut. Hits was solely released on streaming and digital platforms on October 10, with vinyl and physical formats arriving in late October and November. Even with the limited release, the compilation still ranks among the highest-charting country Greatest Hits collections, matching the No. 4 spot claimed by Dolly Parton’s 2022 compilation, Diamonds & Rhinestone. Since 2015, only Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Blake Shelton, and George Strait have seen their Greatest Hits collections open higher on the Top Country Albums chart, with all those releases debuting in the top three. (Billboard)

Reba McEntire will host the 2025 Christmas in Rockefeller Center special for the first time, which will air live on December 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. "I'm really excited to get to go to New York City in December. I've never been there in December," McEntire said. "To see all the Christmas decorations and to get to be a part of the tree lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center, it's something that I've always wanted to do and I'm honored that they asked me to do it." In addition to hosting, the 70-year-old country music superstar will also perform throughout the event, with additional artists and special guests to be announced at a later date. As for her plans to combat the cold winter weather in New York City, McEntire says she will "bundle up," while adding, "I'm going to triple, quadruple layer. I'll probably have my heated vest on, and all the clothes I can.” (People)

Post Malone has finally announced the release date of his first online collection with his new clothing brand, Austin Post Apparel. The line, titled "The Permanent Collection," will officially launch on Thursday (October 23). It’s unclear if this drop will include items from his "At First Light" Paris runway show in September, or the recent New York pop-up. A promotional mailer for the brand states: “Introducing The Permanent Collection - the foundation of Austin Post. Denim, fleece, shirting, outerwear, and accessories built with integrity and balance, intended to endure. Each piece is made to be lived in, worn hard.” The new collection focuses on durable clothing and accessories designed with a modern Western aesthetic that emphasizes quality and wearability. The brand reflects Post Malone’s country music influences, with the release teased through clips of the musician collaborating directly on designs. (Holler)

Kenny Chesney is set to return to Las Vegas's Sphere for a series of immersive concerts in June 2026, following a hugely successful residency in 2025. “My first summer at Sphere was so special,” Chesney wrote on social media. “Watching you guys experience the magic gave me so many ideas — reworking some songs from last year and adding a few that deserved this 4-D treatment. There are a lot of ways to play this venue, but I’m pretty sure nobody’s had more fun or brought more joy than No Shoes Nation.” Promising an even bigger sensory experience with reimagined songs and vibrant technicolor visuals, Chesney aims to deliver high-energy performances that celebrate his fanbase as well as the venue's unique atmosphere, which includes the lively floor-level Sandbar. Chesney’s newly announced shows are scheduled to take place on June 19, 20, 24, 26, and 27, with ticket presale beginning Friday (October 24), followed by a general on-sale on October 31. (All Country News)

In an exclusive sneak peek of the October 26 episode of The Road, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban express concern that contestant Cody Hibbard is "singing a little bit sharp" during his performance of his original song, "Dying Breed" while competing to open for Urban on his High And Alive Tour. Shelton praised the song's anthem-like quality and appeared to give it an eight out of 10, while both he and Urban suggested Hibbard adjust his vocal key higher for better confidence and pitch. For his part, Hibbard admits to being nervous while performing in front of the country superstars, remarking that, "It’s not every day you look up in the crowd and Blake Shelton and Keith Urban are up there." The full episode of The Road airs Sunday, October 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. (People)

Luke Combs is expanding his Nashville honky-tonk, Category 10, to the Las Vegas Strip in fall 2026, bringing live music, line dancing, and a festive, fan-focused atmosphere to Sin City. The new venue will feature multiple themed areas, including Hurricane Hall with bars and a stage, The Beautiful Crazy Women’s Lounge with a champagne bar, The Still bourbon bar with an outdoor patio, and The Eye Rooftop with views of the Strip. Combs, who is also expecting his third child with his wife Nicole, released a statement about his bar opening: “I am stoked about having a second Category 10 location in Las Vegas. 2026 was already going to be an awesome year, but this takes it to the next level. I can’t wait for Bootleggers to have their own place to party on The Strip.” This Vegas opening marks another milestone in country music’s growing presence in the city, alongside recent ventures like Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Las Vegas. (Taste of Country)

During the final stop of his High and Alive Tour at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night (October 17), Keith Urban humorously forgot the lyrics to his hit song, “The Fighter,” chuckling and admitting to the crowd that he’d forgotten his own words. Joined by Natalie Stovall in place of his original duet partner, Carrie Underwood, Urban took the slip-up in stride, delighting fans after singing the lyrics “‘Cause you’re beautiful…” by trailing off and admitting, “And I’ve forgotten my own words to my song.” The performance of the song marked the first full run-through of the track with its original lyrics since Urban’s divorce from Nicole Kidman became public in late September. The 57-year-old country superstar experienced fan backlash over a lyric change in a recent live performance that referenced his back-up guitarist Maggie Baugh in place of a reference to Kidman, with Urban eventually removing the tune from his setlist following the incident. (Taste of Country)

Jelly Roll continues to undergo a remarkable physical transformation as part of his ongoing weight loss journey, with the singer looking nearly unrecognizable while he was photographed arriving in Sydney on Tuesday (October 21) for his first-ever headlining Australian tour. The 40-year-old country superstar has now shed 200 pounds since 2022, after battling a lifelong food addiction that once had him weighing over 500 lbs. He credits his weight loss to lifestyle changes and overcoming his unhealthy relationship with food, a struggle rooted in his childhood. Jelly Roll has embraced discipline and exercise while on tour, aiming to live a fuller, more active life without the excess weight that once made him miserable. He now aspires to land on the cover of Men’s Health magazine by March 2026, telling his wife, Bunnie XO, on her Dumb Blonde podcast, “That's my new goal. I wanna have one of the biggest transformations." (People) 

Reba McEntire says she is “happier than ever” at the age of 70, as she is embracing both her thriving career and personal life. This includes her recent engagement to fiancé Rex Linn, with the country music icon admitting that "I've never been loved by a man like Rex Linn. Rex is a very tender-hearted man, and I just love him with all my heart. He's a good guy.” Starring this fall on season 28 of The Voice and season 2 of her sitcom, Happy’s Place, McEntire cherishes the tight-knit family atmosphere on set and the joy of working alongside Linn. Reflecting on her nearly five-decade career and recent life changes, McEntire says, "I love this chapter in my life. I'm very grateful," while admitting, "I think I'm happier now than I've ever been in my life. It’s amazing. It’s wonderful being 70 and getting to do what I get to do at the level I want to do it." (People)

Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band and Joe Walsh of the Eagles have been announced as mega mentors for Season 28 of NBC’s The Voice, with the two music stars set to assist contestants during the Knockouts phase starting October 27. Brown will mentor Michael Bublé and Snoop Dogg’s teams, while Walsh will support Niall Horan and Reba McEntire’s artists, as the coaches select winners to advance to the Playoffs. Both mentors have ties to the Sphere in Las Vegas, with the Eagles continuing their ongoing headlining run into 2026, while the Zac Brown Band will become the second country act – following Kenny Chesney –  to have a residency at the state-of-the-art venue in December. Last year, LeAnn Rimes and Sheryl Crow served as mega mentors on the show, with artists like Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Sting, Wynonna Judd, and Keith Urban having all served as mega mentors in past seasons. The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC and streams on Peacock. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (October 20), Tucker Wetmore announced the dates and details of his 2026 Brunette World Tour. The 22-date international trek kicks off with eight shows in the U.S. next February, before heading to Europe in April, with stops in Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK. Dasha will open Wetmore’s American dates, with Jacob Hackworth joining at select shows, while Carter Faith will support his European dates. “Taking the search global,” Wetmore wrote of his tour. “I can’t believe where this album and these songs have taken me so far and I can’t thank y’all enough for making my dreams come true every single day. Time to party worldwide in 2026!” Wetmore’s overseas shows follow the country star’s successful debut there earlier this year as part of C2C Berlin and London's C2C Festival. Ticket presales start Wednesday (October 22), followed by general on-sale on Friday (October 24), with a portion of proceeds benefiting Face the Fight, a veterans’ mental health coalition. (Holler)

Bailey Zimmerman debuted his new veneers on Instagram over the weekend, sharing how the dental work transformed his smile and boosted his confidence after years of insecurity. The 25-year-old country star credited Dr. Gray King and Nashville Aesthetic Dentistry for giving him “the smile I’ve always dreamed of,” and joked he’d be “cheesin’ 24/7 now.” Zimmerman added, “I’ve been insecure about my smile since I was a kid but thanks to yall I don’t have to be anymore…THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MY LIFE🔥🤘.” Earlier in his career, he removed braces prematurely to eliminate a lisp that affected his singing, leading to him writing his first song a week later. Zimmerman is preparing to launch his Different Night Same Rodeo arena tour in February 2026, with the singer admitting, “I honestly feel like I've been restricted in smaller venues. I have always had this dream and this idea for this arena show — this big, awesome show.” (People)

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report reveals new details behind the tragic plane crash that killed Grammy-winning country songwriter Brett James on September 18 in North Carolina, along with his wife Melody Carole and stepdaughter Meryl Wilson. Piloting a Cirrus SR22T, James was attempting a visual approach to land at Macon County Airport when, after requesting a 360° turn, he apparently lost control, entering a tightening spiral captured on surveillance footage before crashing about a quarter-mile from the runway. "Multiple witnesses ... reported observing the airplane flying at a low altitude near the airport and over a nearby school playground," reads the NTSB report, which says the aircraft was “rocking from side-to-side” before eventually “rolling inverted and descending behind a tree line.” No engine failure was found, and the plane is under further examination. James, known for his longtime collaboration with Kenny Chesney and co-writing Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” is survived by his adult children whom he shares with ex-wife Sandra Cornelius-Little. (People)

Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash, and Tony Brown were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (October 19). The new inductees joined the 155 previous Hall of Famers in a ceremony where they were honored by performances and tributes by George Strait, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Steve Earle, and Lyle Lovett. Carter Cash, a five-time Grammy winner and co-writer of “Ring of Fire,” was honored for her multifaceted contributions as a singer, songwriter, actress, and entertainer, joining a legacy that includes The Carter Family and late husband Johnny Cash. The venue’s chief executive officer Kyle Young called June’s induction “the most complete family reunion in the Hall of Fame’s history.”

Producer and music executive Tony Brown, known for shaping modern country and Americana music and working with legends like Strait and Reba McEntire, was praised for his impactful career, which included his early days playing keyboards in the road bands for Elvis Presley and Emmylou Harris. Chesney, a celebrated stadium headliner on the strength of being a four-time CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year with 23 No. 1 hits, was recognized for his musical achievements and philanthropy. Chesney called his induction, "the first time that I ever felt accomplished in my life…. with every cell in my body, I feel the gravity of this moment.” The evening featured heartfelt tributes, performances of classic and new songs, and reflections on the inductees’ profound influence on country music, with 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee John Anderson closing out the evening with a stirring performance of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” (Billboard)

Waylon Jennings’ posthumous compilation, Songbird, which was curated and mixed by his son Shooter Jennings, has scored Waylon his first-ever Top 10 debut on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart at No. 6. The project also premiered in the Top 10 on four other Billboard charts in its first week of release, reaching No. 6 on Top Current Album Sales, No. 7 on Indie Store Album Sales, No. 8 on Americana/Folk Albums, and No. 9 on Vinyl Albums It also starts at No. 17 on Top Country Albums, No. 18 on Independent Albums, and No. 116 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Songbird features previously unheard recordings produced between 1973 and 1984, and marks the first of three planned unreleased Waylon albums in the works. The country legend, who passed away in 2002, enjoyed a celebrated career with 16 No. 1 hits on Hot Country Songs and 11 No. 1 albums on Top Country Albums. (Billboard)

Steve Martin and Alison Brown created their star-studded new bluegrass album, Safe, Sensible and Sane – released Friday (Oct. 17) via Compass Records – through an organic, collaborative process that began with writing songs remotely and grew into a full project featuring acclaimed artists like Vince Gill, Indigo Girls, Jackson Browne, Sarah Jarosz, Della Mae, and Jason Mraz. The duo builds on the prior success of their No. 1 hit collaboration, “Foggy Morning Breaking,” which paid tribute to Earl Scruggs’ classic and was featured on Brown’s 2023 album, On Banjo. The Grammy-winning banjoists blended their distinct musical legacies and diverse influences – which spans from traditional bluegrass to bossa nova – while inviting guest vocalists to bring lyrics to life, as neither Martin nor Brown consider themselves singers. Their unexpected creative partnership was spawned by a chance Caribbean meeting years ago, and has earned both musicians critical acclaim, with songs from the album receiving multiple International Bluegrass Music Association nominations. (Billboard)

Morgan Wallen notches his 19th career No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “I Got Better,” the fifth chart-topping single from his blockbuster May release, I’m the Problem. The track rose two places to claim the top spot on the chart, bolstered by a 13% increase from the previous week to reach 32.7 million audience impressions. “I Got Better” was produced by Joey Moi and co-written by Wallen and a series of collaborators including Ernest and HARDY, with the track completing a full-format sweep by hitting No. 1 on the recent Hot Country Songs chart thanks to 13.2 million official U.S. streams and 31 million in radio audience. Additionally, Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo,” which reworks Judy Garland’s iconic song from The Wizard of Oz, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” breaks into the Country Airplay Top 10 for the first time, rising to No. 10 with 16 million audience impressions, marking the country superstar’s ninth Top 10 hit of her celebrated career. (Billboard)

During the final show of his High and Alive World Tour at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night (October 17), Keith Urban humorously reacted when a fan revealed her name was "Nicole," a playful nod amid his recently announced divorce from Nicole Kidman after 19 years of marriage. Crouching to ask the fan’s name while doing some crowd work, Urban initially seemed surprised by her response while proclaiming into the microphone, “What? I’m not going to like your name? What?” The fan then revealed, “It’s Nicole,” which caused the country star to dramatically drop to the ground while raising his arm to the sky. The crowd laughed at his antics, before Urban got up and resumed the show. The lighthearted moment came a day after Urban canceled a Greenville, South Carolina concert due to a case of laryngitis that required “complete vocal rest.” (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl spends its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 338,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. for the week ending October 16, a 92% drop from its record-breaking 4 million debut. Despite the significant decline in sales from its historic opening week, this still marks the fifth-largest week for any album in 2025, and the biggest second-week haul since Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department earned 439,000 units in its sophomore week in April 2024. Showgirl becomes the third album in 2025 to spend its first two weeks at No. 1, joining Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem and Playboi Carti’s MUSIC.

There are no debuts in this week’s sluggish Billboard 200 Top 10, as the only significant move comes from Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, which rises one spot to reach a new peak of No. 6 in its third week on the chart, marking only the third album this year to debut in the Top 10 and climb to a new high after its opening week. The Top Five is rounded out by all non-moving former No. 1s, as the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is No. 2, Wallen’s I’m the Problem is No. 3, Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? is No. 4, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is No. 5. The rest of the Top 10 features Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS falling one spot to No. 7, SZA’s SOS rising one slot to No. 8, Alex Warren’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid slides down one place to No. 9, and Wallen’s One Thing at a Time remains at No. 10. (Billboard)