Country Music News

An amended lawsuit filed by Priscilla Presley’s former business advisers is accusing her of prematurely ending her daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s life support for financial gain, revealing new details from Priscilla’s upcoming memoir, Softly, As I Leave You. The memoir excerpts describe Priscilla’s emotional final moments with Lisa Marie, who died at 54 from complications linked to prior bariatric surgery, and her decision to remove life support after doctors reported minimal brain activity. The advisers previously claimed Priscilla violated Lisa Marie’s advance health care directive to maintain control over her daughter’s $25 million life insurance trust. Priscilla’s lawyers have dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused the advisers of elder abuse and fraud, while the advisers maintain Priscilla cut them off for financial reasons after benefiting from their services. The conflict unfolds alongside ongoing legal battles over control of the Presley estate and respective business interests. (Rolling Stone)

Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. have collaborated on the reflective new country ballad, “Took a Walk,” which was released on Friday (September 5). The track was written for Lionsgate’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s 1979 novel, The Long Walk, which is directed by Francis Lawrence and will be released on September 12. Shaboozey and Wilson Jr.  co-wrote the song with Stephen Musselman, Connor Sullivan, Sean Cook, and Nevin Sastry, with the track produced by Sullivan, Musselman, Cook, and Sastry. “I’m so thrilled that Francis thought of us to close out his film,” Shaboozey shared in a statement. “The movie feels timeless and soulful, so I thought Stephen’s guitar would be the perfect complement to leave fans with a song that feels timeless.” The movie follows 100 young men in a deadly walking contest set in dystopian America, and stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. (Rolling Stone)

Luke Combs has secured his 24th Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Back in the Saddle” rose one spot to reach No. 10 this week. “Back in the Saddle” is the lead offering from Comb’s upcoming project, with the country superstar co-writing the track with Dan Isbell and Jonathan Singleton, while Combs and Singleton co-produced it with Chip Matthews. The track follows Combs’ string of recent hits, including “Backup Plan” with Bailey Zimmerman which reached No. 2 on Country Airplay last week, and past chart-toppers like “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” which led the tally for two weeks last fall and became his 18th No. 1 of his career. Combs’ 24 Top 10s since his Country Airplay chart debut in 1997 is the most during that span, with Morgan Wallen second with 21, followed by Thomas Rhett with 17. Meanwhile, Shaboozey’s “Good News” remains at No. 1 for a second week, following 32.4 million audience impressions, up 4% from its totals the previous week. (Billboard)

During Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem Tour stop in Toronto on Friday night (September 5), a backstage mishap occurred when Wallen attempted to recreate former MLB player José Bautista’s famous bat flip while walking out with him before the show. While the onstage footage showed a smooth bat flip, a behind-the-scenes video shot by Bautista’s wife, Neisha, captured the bat accidentally flying towards the camera and hitting her, causing Neisha to drop her phone and exclaim in surprise. She playfully captioned her Instagram Story clip, “When Morgan Wallen bat flips your husband’s bat and hits you 🫣 😂.” Bautista later confirmed in an interview that Neisha was indeed hit by the bat during the incident, but assured everyone, “She's completely fine. It was a complete accident and she's totally okay." Wallen, who has yet to comment publicly on the accident, is set to conclude his I’m the Problem Tour with two final shows at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on September 12-13. (Taste of Country) 

Sabrina Carpenter claims her second career No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as Man’s Best Friend debuts atop the chart this week. This follows the chart success of Short n’ Sweet, which also debuted at No. 1 in September 2024, and spent four nonconsecutive weeks atop the tally. Carpenter’s new album launches with 366,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S., with traditional album sales comprising 224,000 of that total, as both figures mark career-high weeks for the Grammy-winning pop superstar. Man’s Best Friend is the lone debut on this week’s chart, notching 2025’s biggest week for an album by a woman, by units and by album sales, while claiming the third-biggest week of the year among all albums.

The rest of the Billboard 200 Top 10 is rounded out by the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, which holds firm at No. 2, followed by Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem remaining at No. 3, Stray Kids’ former chart-topper KARMA falls three spots to No. 4 in its second week, Alex Warren’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid rises three spots to No. 5, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time jumps up four spots to No. 6, Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet vaults up eight places to No. 7 boosted by her new release, Gunna’s The Last Wun moves up one spot to No. 8, SZA’s SOS leaps up three slots to No. 9, and BigXthaPlug’s I Hope You’re Happy falls three spots to No. 10. (Billboard)

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday night at New York’s UBS Arena. LL Cool J hosted the event, which featured a series of live performances from music icons and breakout current stars. Sabrina Carpenter delivered the live debut of “Tears” from her newly crowned Billboard No. 1 album, Man’s Best Friend, and later in the ceremony she took home her second ever VMA for Best Album for Short n’ Sweet. Mariah Carey – who earlier in the night won her first ever VMA for Best R&B for her new single, “Type Dangerous” – was also presented the prestigious Video Vanguard Award by Ariana Grande, following Carey's performance of a medley of her hits. Grande later won the night’s biggest award, Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead,” which also took home the Best Pop award.

Lady Gaga was presented with the Artist of the Year award early in the ceremony, so she could hurry across town for her headlining performance at Madison Square Garden, where later in the show she performed “Abracadabra” alongside the live debut of her brand new single from the Wednesday soundtrack, “The Dead Dance.” She also won Best Collaboration for her joint hit with Bruno Mars, “Die with a Smile.” Ricky Martin performed a medley of his hits, before being presented with the first ever Latin Icon Award by Jessica Simpson, who opened for him on the Livin’ La Vida Loca Tour. Busta Rhymes also delivered a career-spanning performance alongside a series of special guests, before he received the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award from his longtime friend, LL Cool J. 

Jack Osbourne and his kids gave a heartfelt video introduction to the live tribute for his dad, Ozzy, as Yungblud performed “Crazy Train” and “Changes” alongside Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, while Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry delivered a moving rendition of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Rosé was on hand to receive the Song of the Year VMA for her chart-topping collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.” Sombr performed his breakout hits, “Back to Friends” and “12 to 12,” with “Back to Friends” also taking home the Best Alternative VMA. Tate McRae was awarded the Song of the Summer VMA for “Just Keep Watching,” and later in the show delivered a performance of her current hits, “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car.” 

Post Malone and Jelly Roll performed their hit collaboration, “Losers,” live from The Big Ass World Tour stop in Germany. Alex Warren was awarded the VMA for Best New Artist, and later performed “Eternity” and his smash hit “Ordinary.” Megan Maroney took home the inaugural Best Country VMA for Am I Okay? and also gave a brief live performance, while LISA won Best K-Pop for “Born Again,” her hit collaboration with Doja Cat and RAYE. Doja earlier opened the show with the debut live performance of “Jealous Type,” the lead single from her highly-anticipated new album, Vie, which featured a surprise appearance by smooth jazz icon, Kenny G. (People)

Miranda Lambert, known for her musical talent but novice golf skills, is preparing to compete in the celebrity Ryder Cup golf tournament for the first time, despite having played only 22 holes in her life. Sharing a humorous Instagram video of her learning the game from her coach and husband Brendan McLoughlin, Lambert joked about her struggles but expressed determination to "give it hell." “My pal @lukebryan called and gave me a pep talk the other day and he encouraged me to bring y’all on this journey for moral support,” Lambert wrote, while adding, “Cheers to trying new things.” The 41-year-old country star is focused on improving her game ahead of the event later this month. The Ryder Cup, which pits European and American professional golfers against each other, will take place on September 26–28, at Bethpage State Park in New York, along with a friendly golf competition between American and European celebrities. Details about other participants or TV coverage for the celebrity golf event have yet to be announced. (Taste of Country)

Just days after launching his new fashion brand, Austin Post, with a runway show in Paris, Post Malone surprised fans at Paris La Défense Arena on Wednesday night (September 3) by bringing out Chris Stapleton to perform “California Sober” together for the first time on his Big Ass Stadium Tour. The unexpected collaboration highlighted the duo’s close creative partnership as they delivered the Southern rock standout from Post’s chart-topping 2024 album, F-1Trillion, with Stapleton joining Post at his big Paris show even though he is not currently on tour in Europe. The show also featured opener Jelly Roll joining Post for their duet “Losers,” which has become a fan-favorite on the tour. Post Malone and Jelly Roll will continue their European run together on the Big Ass World Tour with a two-night stand at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 7-8. (Holler)

In a new interview with Business Insider published on Wednesday (September 3), Dolly Parton revealed her go-to Taco Bell order. “I like the others, but they fall apart so bad, especially if you're riding around,” said the 79-year-old country music legend. “So I always get a Taco Supreme, with the sour cream and all that, in the soft shell. I love that.” A longtime fan of Taco Bell, Dolly also expressed her love for the Mexican Pizza, a menu item she celebrated by starring in Taco Bell’s 2022 promotional campaign, ‘Mexican Pizza: The Musical,’ alongside Doja Cat, helping highlight its fan-driven return after being discontinued in 2020. Beyond fast food, Parton is an accomplished home cook who recently launched a line of frozen meals and released a cookbook with her sister, drawing on her upbringing as one of 12 children where she learned to cook “out of necessity.” (People)

Shaboozey has partnered with Amazon’s Prime Sports to release his new song, “Let ‘Em Know,” which is set to debut on September 11 during the broadcast of the Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Commanders Thursday Night Football game. The track will also serve as the show’s opening theme and centerpiece of a national marketing campaign, with snippets of the song featured in this new commercial promoting the upcoming game. This marks Prime Sports’ fourth year streaming TNF, with Shaboozey’s new track set to be featured weekly on TNF Tonight and Thursday Night Kickoff, alongside composer Pinar Toprak’s original anthem. Shaboozey’s rising career includes his crossover hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which had a record-breaking 19-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as his current Country Airplay chart-topper, “Good News.” This new partnership further solidifies Shaboozey’s NFL connection, following the country star's performance at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving halftime show in 2024. (Billboard)

During an appearance on Bobby Bones' BobbyCast show on Tuesday (September 2), Dierks Bentley shared a story about receiving a box of thick books from Tim McGraw, leaving him unsure if it was a prank or a serious gesture from the competitive country star. Bentley mentioned having a prior conversation about books with McGraw, prompting him to send Dierks a surprising gift. “He sent me a cardboard box full of books. Every book was this thick," Bentley recalled, while wondering if McGraw actually read them. "With McGraw you can't tell. Is he pulling a prank on me, or he could be totally serious.” Bentley admitted that he is still confused by the collection of “really thick history books,” and wonders if McGraw sent them as a joke. “I still can't tell to this day. I need to ask him,” Bentley said, while adding, “And he probably won't tell. He [will] probably [be] like, 'Of course I read those books.' I'm just like, 'This has to be a joke.' But maybe not." (People)

Kenny Chesney, who has typically favored CDs and digital releases throughout his career, has embraced the growing vinyl trend by making his iconic 2005 album, The Road and The Radio, available on vinyl for the first time. This follows the recent vinyl releases of Chesney's previous albums, Here and Now and BORN. Beloved by his No Shoes Nation fanbase, The Road and The Radio is certified 4x-platinum, and features the No. 1 hits "Living in Fast Forward," "Summertime," and "Beer in Mexico." The release marked a high point in Chesney’s career, earning him his second CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year awards, which he held onto from 2006 to 2008. Chesney is also releasing his first book, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC, on November 4, which was co-written with his longtime friend Holly Gleason, and  offers fans an intimate look at the country superstar’s musical journey. (Holler)

In an interview with the Canadian outlet ETalk, Shania Twain reflected on her 1997 hit, "You're Still the One," which she co-wrote with her ex-husband Robert "Mutt" Lange. The country superstar revealed that although she was hesitant to perform the song live following their divorce, she now has a "newfound appreciation" for it thanks to her fans. "Fans love it, they want to hear it. It means so much to them in so many ways,” Twain shared. “It’s more the meaning that it represents to everybody else that makes it so meaningful to me again.” "You're Still the One" won Grammys for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1999, while also being nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song spent 42 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching No. 1 for two weeks in May 1998. Twain is currently working on her seventh album, promising a focus on storytelling and a sound that may surprise listeners. (People)

Farm Aid 2025 will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a live broadcast on CNN from Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on September 20. The event will feature performances by founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp, alongside special guests including Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Margo Price, Wynonna Judd, and Steve Earle, among others. The event, which has raised over $85 million to support U.S. farmers since its inception in 1985, will be streamed on CNN’s platforms without need for a cable login, with CNN anchors John Berman and Laura Coates hosting and climate correspondent Bill Weir reporting onsite. “Farm Aid is honored to partner with CNN to bring Farm Aid 40 to a broad and diverse audience,” said Farm Aid co-director Jennifer Fahy. “This partnership is critical to elevating the role of family farmers to their rightful place as essential for all of us and showcasing the extraordinary artists who have generously shared their voices of support for 40 years.” (Billboard)

On Wednesday (September 3), Brandi Carlile announced the details of her first solo album in four years, Returning to Myself, which is set for release on October 24 via Interscope and the rejuvenated Americana imprint Lost Highway. The 10-song project features co-producers Andrew Watt, The National’s Aaron Dessner, and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, with contributions from Carlile’s longtime collaborators the Hanseroth Twins, plus SistaStrings, drummers Matt Chamberlain and Chad Smith, and keyboardist Josh Klinghoffer. The announcement was accompanied by the release of the title track and a music video directed by Floria Sigismondi. The album includes tracks like “Joni,” a tribute to Joni Mitchell, and a new version of “You Without Me,” a previously released collaboration with Elton John, with Carlile drawing inspiration from Emmylou Harris’ celebrated 1995 album, Wrecking Ball. “I wanted to make something that was undeniably and willfully me,” Carlile says of the album. “Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to be carried and still end up on your own two feet.” (Variety)

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on Tuesday (September 2) during a trip to Cologne, Germany. The couple shared an affectionate series of photos of themselves in a cathedral on Instagram, with Bunnie captioning the post, “Life is ours, we live it our way 💫  9 years of us ✨.” Jelly reshared the post on his Instagram Story, which he soundtracked with Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters,” while writing, “9 years. I love more and more every single day.” The couple first met back in 2015, and eventually married in 2016. Despite a brief separation in 2018, the couple has remained strong throughout their rising careers, as Jelly has become a Grammy-nominated, Billboard-topping country artist and Bunnie a popular host of the Dumb Blonde podcast that has millions of listeners. Jelly and Bunnie are working on expanding their family through IVF, documenting the challenges of their ongoing pregnancy journey on social media. (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on the In The Trenches With Spidey podcast, renowned Nashville music manager Troy “Tracker” Johnson revealed how Morgan Wallen made an unexpected appearance in Drake’s 2023 music video for “You Broke My Heart.” After a chance lunch involving Big Loud’s CEO Seth England and music legends Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, Drake’s team suddenly contacted Tracker late at night to fly Wallen to Toronto with little info beyond the shoot’s location. Despite initial uncertainty and secrecy about details, Wallen and his team eventually arrived on a movie-like set where the country superstar met Drake, with the duo hitting it off and filming multiple takes of their scenes. The surprise collaboration not only shocked country music fans, but it also solidified Wallen’s growing global status. Both artists ended up exchanging numbers and teasing possible future projects, while the day ended with a late-night feast where they were joined by ERNEST and Charlie Handsome, where they reflected on the surreal experience. (Holler)

At their concert in Dallas over Labor Day weekend, the Jonas Brothers surprised fans by bringing out Kelsea Ballerini – who previously opened for them on their 2021 Remember This Tour – to perform duets of her hit “Peter Pan” and their song “Fly With Me.” “We had the wonderful pleasure of bringing her on tour, and throughout the years, we’ve had the fortune of doing several performances,” Nick Jonas said while introducing Ballerini. “But tonight, she’s gracious enough to come out and be here for this incredible Dallas crowd. Please welcome to the stage our friend, your friend, Kelsea Ballerini.” Sunday’s concert featured several special moments, including guest appearances by Ryan Cabrera for a rendition of “On the Way Down,” and Plain White T’s for their smash hit, “Hey There Delilah,” as well as performances of fan-requested live rarities “One Day at a Time” and “Love Is on its Way,” and the live debut of Kevin Jonas’ solo track “Changing.” (Rolling Stone)

Post Malone debuted his namesake fashion label, Austin Post, with a runway show in Paris on Monday (September 1) at the historic Hôtel de Bourdon, a former mansion that once belonged to legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld. The country star showcased his first collection, "Season One: At First Light," which features "Dallas western" style clothing "with Southwest ranch influences." The collection includes pieces like dark-washed jeans with gold star emblems, suede jackets, and cowboy-inspired velvet designs, all styled with exclusive Lucchese boots, blending Post’s Texas roots with ranch culture. The show’s dramatic finale included a model riding a horse down the runway, with Post thanking the audience after the show while clad in all denim and sporting a cowboy hat. In a chat with WWD, Post said that creating his own label is something he "always wanted to do" and that the new collection is "really special" and "speaks to me." (People)

Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” dominated Billboard’s 2025 Songs of the Summer chart, holding the No. 1 spot throughout all 14 weeks of the season, while also spending 10 total weeks atop the Hot 100, marking the first chart leader of the breakout pop star’s career. The chart ranks songs based on streaming, airplay, and sales from Memorial Day to Labor Day, excluding titles that appeared the previous year. Morgan Wallen made history by securing the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 spots with a trio of hits from his chart-topping album, I’m the Problem –  “What I Want,” featuring Tate McRae, “Just in Case,” and “I’m the Problem,” respectively – making the country superstar the first artist with three Top 5 entries in a single Songs of the Summer chart.

Warren’s “Ordinary” led in radio airplay and downloads, while Wallen’s “What I Want” had the most overall streams. The Songs of the Summer Top 10 is rounded out by Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” at No. 5, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” at No. 6, current Hot 100 chart-topper, “Golden” by HUNTR/X at No. 7, Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” at No. 8, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” at No. 9, and Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” at No. 10. (Billboard)