Country Music News

On Monday (November 17), the Country Music Association announced new presenters, special guests, and performers who will take part in the 59th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 19) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Newly announced presenters include Billy Ray Cyrus and girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, Lady A, Ella Langley, Steve Martin, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gretchen Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, and more, while Keith Urban and Little Big Town join the stacked roster of performers. The event will be hosted by Lainey Wilson – who is tied with Langley and Megan Moroney for most nominations with six – and other top nominees like Zach Top and Riley Green will also be featured. Lauren Alaina and HaleyyBaylee will cohost backstage coverage on TikTok, while Vince Gill will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, and he will also be honored with a tribute performance during the ceremony, which will air live on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu. (People)

Drew Baldridge and his wife Katherine have revealed that they are expecting their second child, a son due this April, expanding their family along with their nearly 3-year-old son Lyric. Married since May 2021, the couple expressed excitement about welcoming another boy and the joy that parenthood brings. Katherine jokes that, “I was already outnumbered by boys, but now it’s official,” while adding, “All I want is a healthy baby, and knowing that Lyric will get to be a big brother makes this even more special.” The 33-year-old country star, who was nominated as Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year for the 2025 MusicRow Awards, appreciates all of his recent career success, but admits that, “2025 has been an incredible year with so many professional firsts, and I’m beyond grateful. But nothing comes close to the joy of being a father.” (People)

Kelsea Ballerini emotionally thanked fans for embracing the vulnerable side of her during an intimate pop-up show in Nashville on Monday night (November 17), where she performed her new EP, Mount Pleasant, live for the first time. At the end of the show, Ballerini broke down in tears while expressing gratitude for her supporters and the trust of her team, while highlighting the importance of authentic expression throughout her career. “Thanks for embracing the not-so-glittery parts of me over the last few years,” she said. “I know that I'm the luckiest to be able to have all these very big feelings and be like, ‘I need to put it in music or I will combust.’” Released November 14, Mount Pleasant follows her 2024 chart-topping album, Patterns, with Ballerini set to perform her new project's lead single, "I Sit In Parks," at the 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday, where she’s again nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. (People)

Lainey Wilson is preparing to solo host the 59th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday (November 19) at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. In a Q&A ahead of the event, Wilson recounted how she sought "one piece of advice" from five-time host Reba McEntire. But instead of encouraging her to "just be yourself and have fun," like Wilson expected, "She sent me a list," the singer recalled with a laugh. "I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. One piece of advice!’” Reflecting on the honor of filling such "big ol' shoes," Wilson, who previously cohosted the 2024 show with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, expressed pride and humility in leading the ceremony, which will air live on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu. The Grammy-winning Wilson also plans to perform during the CMAs, where she is tied for the most nominations with six, including the show’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year, which she took home in 2023. (People)

Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" continues its dominant run atop the Billboard Hot 100, holding the No. 1 spot for a sixth consecutive week, and joining her previous hits "Anti-Hero" (eight weeks) and "Blank Space" (seven) as her only singles to lead for six or more weeks. Swift now has two singles that have both ruled the Hot 100 for their first six weeks of release – "The Fate of Ophelia" and "Anti-Hero" – an achievement matched only by Mariah Carey, who accomplished the feat in 1995 with her No. 1 hits “Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men. Concurrently, Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl spends its sixth week atop the Billboard 200, marking a historic milestone as both album and lead single extend their six-week reigns simultaneously – a first in chart history. In another notable move in this week’s Hot 100, sombr scores his first Top 10 hit of his career, as “Back to Friends” moves up one spot to reach No. 10.

The rest of the Top 10 is rounded out by HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” from KPop Demon Hunters, holding at No. 2, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” stays at No. 3, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” climbs one place to a new peak of No. 4, Swift’s “Opalite” falls one spot to No. 5, and Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” remains at No. 6. Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” moves up one place to reach a new high of No. 7, marking four Best New Artist Grammy nominees – Warren, Dean, Thomas, and sombr – with hit songs currently charting in the Top 10. While Kehlani’s “Folded” falls one spot to No. 8, and Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” holds at No. 9. (Billboard)

Eric Church just shared an official trailer for the upcoming release of his limited-run IMAX concert film, Evangeline Vs. The Machine Comes Alive, which will hit select theaters in the U.S. and Canada for two nights only on February 11 and 14, 2026. The movie will showcase live performances of the country superstar’s eighth album alongside hits like “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Springsteen.” Recorded over two nights at Nashville’s The Pinnacle with IMAX’s immersive 12-channel sound, the shows feature a six-piece band, horn and string sections, choir, and vocalist Joanna Cotten. “This project was never about fitting into a box – it’s about breaking the damn thing wide open,” Church said in a press release. “Seeing it in IMAX takes that to another level. The scale and sound experience is like nothing else.” Coinciding with the film, a 19-track live album will drop on February 13 via MCA, with pre-orders available and preview tracks already released. (Billboard)

SESAC honored songwriters and publishers at its annual Nashville Music Awards on Sunday night (November 16), celebrating the most-performed country and Americana songs with over 500 industry creatives in attendance at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Highlights included performances by Stephen Wilson, Jr., Emily Ann Roberts, and Megan Moroney, who played her new single, “Beautiful Things.” Moroney’s track “Am I Okay?” won Song of the Year, while the 28-year-old country star was also honored for writing, publishing and performing the tune, while also receiving accolades for her work on the song “Break It Right Back.” Michael Tyler was named Songwriter of the Year, receiving a custom Gibson guitar, while Warner Chappell Music was honored as Publisher of the Year for the fifth time in eight years. The event also featured tributes to Jim Lauderdale and Steve Bogard on their recent inductions into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, while Kelsea Ballerini honored her longtime co-writer and producer Alysa Vanderheym for her work on the song “Baggage,” from Ballerini’s current Grammy-nominated album, Patterns. (Billboard)

Dolly Parton was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2025 Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (November 16). Due to recent health issues, the 79-year-old country music icon accepted the Oscar statuette via video message from her Nashville home. This marks Parton’s first Oscar win following two previous Best Original Song nominations, previously receiving nods in 1980 for "9 to 5" from the film of the same name, and in 2005 for "Travellin' Thru" from Transamerica. “I've been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible,” Parton said in her message. "It's an honor just to be considered. I don't take this kind of thing lightly. It makes me want to dream up new ways to help lift people up. Isn't that what we're supposed to be here for? So from my heart to yours, I truly thank you." Presented by her 9 to 5 co-star Lily Tomlin, the honor recognizes Parton's decades-long charitable work, including her Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, which has gifted 285 million books to children. (People)

On Friday (November 14), Luke Bryan and Ella Langley released their country-flavored rendition of the holiday classic, “Winter Wonderland,” which is featured on Bryan’s newly released three-song EP, Luke Bryan Christmas. The project marks Bryan’s first holiday EP of his career, and it also includes his versions of “Run Run Rudolph” and “O Holy Night.” Bryan and Langley’s festive collaboration also includes a studio-shot music video directed by Evan Harney, which Bryan teased on social media ahead of the EP’s release. Langley, a rising country star and leading nominee at the upcoming CMA Awards – including nods for Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as single and song of the year for “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green – joins Bryan, a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, in bringing festive cheer to country music fans with this fresh take on a beloved holiday favorite. (Billboard)

Dasha is celebrating her breakthrough hit, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’),” becoming only the second solo female country song to reach 1 billion streams – joining Taylor Swift’s "Love Story" – with the track achieving the milestone within only two years. The 25-year-old California-raised, Nashville-based artist’s first major single was released in November 2023, with the platinum-certified track emerging from a place of personal heartbreak. "I realized how much this song is about empowerment and turning so much anger and hate into such an incredible, beautiful thing," Dasha says. The triumph of “Austin” was fueled by a combination of her gut instincts and key creative partnerships with Version III and her major label, Warner Records, who helped spread the track on the radio and online. "This is my first moment, and I recognize how rare and f---ing insane this is,” Dasha says of the song’s success, while admitting, “You don't usually get this for your first one. This song has brought me my entire career and so much incredible fans.” (People)

Todd Snider, a beloved singer-songwriter known for his candid storytelling and wit within the Americana music scene, has died at 59. News of Snider’s death was announced on Saturday (November 15) on his official social media accounts. His passing follows a recent battle with walking pneumonia that was discovered after a troubling incident in Salt Lake City where the singer was the victim of a “violent assault” outside of a hotel before his show, which led to his arrest following his refusal to leave the hospital after the incident. Snider’s abbreviated final tour was in support of his new album, High, Lonesome and Then Some, which was released on October 17 on his Aimless label through Thirty Tigers, with all dates immediately cancelled due to the injuries he sustained from the attack.

A worrying follow-up statement on Facebook updating fans on his condition stated that after “Todd returned home to recover last week, he began having trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital in Hendersonville, TN.” This came less than 24 hours before the announcement of Snider’s death, which led to tributes from a series of music contemporaries like Jason Isbell, who wrote, “Freak flags at half-staff for the Storyteller and all the songs he still had left to write. I sure did love him.” Celebrated for albums like East Nashville Skyline and The Devil You Know, which led to Snider being nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2006 Americana Honors & Awards, he was also respected for his honest social commentary in his music, and his distinctive songwriting style. Snider’s tragic passing was met with shock and grief from fans and fellow musicians, who praised his enduring influence and kindness. (Variety)

Jelly Roll has shaved off his beard for the first time in 10 years, revealing a dramatically changed look to match his extreme weight loss. "You guys, I have been with my husband for going on 10 years now, [and] I have never seen this man without his facial hair. Not one freaking time," Bunnie XO, 45, revealed in an Instagram video shared on Thursday (November 13) that captured Jelly’s transformation. The Dumb Blonde podcast host shared her reactions while the Grammy-nominated country singer trimmed his facial hair off camera, with Bunnie seeing his look evolve to a goatee down to a "cop stache," before he finally revealed his fully clean-shaven face. Bunnie covered her mouth in shock, but said reassuringly, "The total naked face, it's not terrible." Although fans are eager for the official reveal, Bunnie shared that Jelly Roll will share his new look in due time. "Hey guys, he will show y’all when he’s ready ❤️," she wrote in the caption. (People)

Megan Moroney has scored her third Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “6 Months Later,” with the track rising one spot to reach No. 10 following a 6% increase to 18.3 million in audience over the past week. Moroney co-wrote “6 Months Later” with Rob Hatch, David Mescon, and Ben Williams, and the track continues Moroney’s recent chart success following June’s No. 2 hit, “Am I Okay?,” and her debut entry, “Tennessee Orange,” which peaked at No. 4 in June 2023. Since May 2023, Moroney now joins Ella Langley in a tie for second most Top 10 Country Airplay hits among women over that span, trailing only Lainey Wilson’s mark of five, with those three singers also coincidentally the leading nominees at the upcoming CMA Awards. Moroney’s other new single, "Beautiful Things," also gained momentum by climbing to No. 37 on this week’s chart, with both tracks set to feature on her upcoming third album, Cloud 9, due February 20. (Billboard)

On Sunday (November 16), the NFL announced that Jack White and Post Malone will headline the halftime shows of their scheduled Thanksgiving Day games. White will perform during the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers game at Ford Field, while Post Malone will launch The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Kickoff by performing at the Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs matchup. White is a Detroit native and a 12-time Grammy winner, who was just inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last week as the guitarist/lead singer of The White Stripes, while Malone is a Texas native and avowed Cowboys fan, who has received 18 Grammy nominations as a multi-genre artist but has yet to win. His 2024 country record, F-1 Trillion, topped the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts, receiving a 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. Malone, who previously sang “America the Beautiful” before the 2024 Super Bowl, will continue his world tour in support of the album shortly after Thanksgiving. (New York Times)

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl tops the Billboard 200 chart for the sixth consecutive week, earning 110,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 13. This marks only the second album this year to spend its first six weeks at No. 1, following Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, which spent its first eight weeks atop the chart. Showgirl becomes Swift’s third album to lead the chart for its first six weeks or more, joining The Tortured Poets Department, which dominated for 12 straight weeks in 2024, and Folklore, which spent the first six of its eight total weeks at No. 1 in 2020.

Other significant moves in this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 feature two strong debuts, as Rosalía earns her first career Top 10 as LUX launches at No. 4, while TOMORROW X TOGETHER member YEONJUN’s debut solo album, NO LABELS PART 01, enters at No. 10. Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving reaches a new peak this week as it rises two spots to claim No. 5. The rest of the Top 10 is filled with all former chart-toppers, as Wallen’s I’m the Problem rises one spot to No. 2, while switching spots with the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, which drops one slot to No. 3. Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend holds at No. 6, SZA’s SOS rises one place to No. 7, Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? jumps up two spots to No. 8, and Wallen’s One Thing at a Time remains at No. 9. (Billboard)

During a recent interview on Lon Helton’s Country Countdown USA, Cody Johnson revealed that he and his wife Brandi welcomed their third child and first son, Jaycee Daniel Johnson, on October 21, joining their daughters Clara Mae (10), and Cori (8). Johnson admitted that at this point in his life, he is “a lot better off now as far as career and financially, than I was when we had [our daughters]," teasing that Jaycee is "gonna get a horse a little quicker than my kids did. He’s going to get to do some things a little quicker than my daughters did.” Despite recently canceling the remainder of his 2025 tour dates due to a ruptured eardrum that required surgery, Johnson is nominated in four categories at the upcoming CMA Awards. Johnson is up for the night’s most prestigious award, Entertainer of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Music Video and Musical Event of the Year for “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood. (Billboard)

More performers have been added to the lineup for the 59th Annual CMA Awards, which will air live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 19. The show will now feature performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, and The Red Clay Strays, among others. Ballerini will debut her new song "I Sit in Parks," Chesney will perform in honor of his Country Music Hall of Fame induction, Lambert and Stapleton will duet on "A Song to Sing," while Vince Gill will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighted by a tribute performance. Lainey Wilson, who will solo host the event and is tied for the most nominations with six nods, will also perform along with previously announced artists including Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, and Zach Top. (People)

Three years after closing, the legendary Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville is set to reopen with a revitalized four-story space that honors the late country icon’s legacy. The newly restored venue preserved original elements from the iconic space like the exposed brick and various memorabilia, including letters from Johnny Cash and artifacts from Tubb’s celebrated career. Owned by Tusk Brothers Entertainment co-founders Jamie and Bryan Kenney – who partnered with Tubb’s grandson Dale Tubb to oversee the restoration – the space now features a honky-tonk with two stages (including the original Midnite Jamboree stage), a record shop, private event spaces, and a rooftop bar, aiming to revive the spirit of community, live music, and artist camaraderie that made the shop a historic country music hub since 1947. The reopening celebrates not only the shop’s musical heritage but also its evolving role as a gathering place for both legendary and emerging artists, with the Midnite Jamboree set to return to WSM radio on Saturday night (November 15). (Billboard)

An artificial intelligence-generated country song has reached the top of Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart. "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust claimed the number one spot for the week of November 8, 2025. The track was created using AI by Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, according to Spotify credits. Breaking Rust is not a real person but an AI-generated artist. The song features raspy vocals from a "rough" character who sings "ain't selling my soul for a seat at your table." The track also ranks in iTunes' top 10 all-genres chart. Breaking Rust's Resilient EP sits in the top 10 albums on iTunes. The AI artist has over 2.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, with "Walk My Walk" earning over 3.6 million streams. Taylor also creates songs under the AI artist name Defbeatsai. Both Breaking Rust and Defbeatsai hold verified artist status on Spotify. (Story URL)

Riley Green will honor U.S. service members with three special performances at military bases in Japan and Hawaii next spring, including shows at US Navy Base Fleet Yokosuka on March 9, Naval Air Facility Atsugi on March 10, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor on March 22. Fittingly announced on Veterans Day, these concerts reflect Green’s ongoing support for veterans through his music and the Buford Bonds Charitable Fund, which aids veteran organizations. “Honored to be able to perform for the heroic men and women of our nation next year,” Green wrote. Ahead of his 2026 headlining Cowboy As It Gets Tour and a high-profile appearance at the Stagecoach Festival, Green continues a successful year marked by the release of the deluxe edition of his album, Don’t Mind If I Do, and four CMA Award nominations, including Single of the Year and Song of the Year for his hit collaboration with Ella Langley, “You Look Like You Love Me.” (Country Now)