Rising MCA Artist Kinsley Brings the Christmas Spirit with Back-to-Back Releases; “Holiday Honky Tonk” Out Now

Following the release of her debut EP Learn To Live, rising MCA artist and singer/songwriter Kinsley is bringing the Christmas spirit to listeners with back-to-back releases: her original song “Holiday Honky Tonk,” available now, and a new rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?” coming next Friday, Nov. 13. Listen to “Holiday Honky Tonk” BELOW and pre-save/pre-add “Mary, Did You Know?” HERE.
 
“This was easily one of the most fun writes I’ve ever been a part of,” shares Kinsley. “We started thinking about ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ and wondered, ‘What if we had that backwards? What if he’s the one coming home for Christmas, and I’m the one hiding out in a honky tonk trying not to run into him?’ I loved the idea of taking a familiar Christmas classic and flipping it on its head.
 
“We were writing a Christmas song in the middle of April, which made the whole thing even funnier,” she adds. “We had to just embrace the corniness and see how far we could take it. Most of my music tends to lean on the serious side, so it’s fun to let loose and laugh every once in a while. I think that’s what makes the song so special. It never took itself too seriously, and I love how it all came together.”
 
Written by Kinsley with Seth Mosely, RuthAnne Cunningham and Allison Veltz-Cruz, “Holiday Honky Tonk” mixes an upbeat playfulness with a reluctance to celebrate, as our heartbroken narrator paints a picture of avoiding their hometown sweetheart in a honky tonk hideaway:

Next Friday, Nov. 13, Kinsley will release her rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?,” a song she performed in her Midnight Sessions on YouTube last year, which garnered such a positive response, she decided to cut a studio version for listeners to enjoy this holiday season.
 
Learn To Live, released via MCA on September 25, marked a major milestone for the 22-year-old, as Entertainment Focus praises the project “heralds the arrival of a major talent,” while Billboard observes Kinsley “brings a gritty, dramatic vocal state to her first EP…there’s a crack in her delivery that houses earthy experiences, ready to appear during her performances.” The Country Note concurs, sharing her “grounded personality runs throughout.”
 
An “old soul” with a lifelong passion for poetry and songwriting, Kinsley approaches music as both personal expression and emotional refuge, writing the kinds of songs that say the things people are often too afraid to say themselves. Through her music, she hopes not only to share her own story, but to give voice to the experiences and emotions others may struggle to put into words.
 
Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @Kinsley.Music, Facebook.com/OfficialKinsleyMusic and OfficialKinsleyMusic.com.

Kenny Chesney Earns TWO 1sts: ANDY and NAEJA nominations for HEART LIFE MUSIC

Kenny Chesney wasn’t even sure he had a story to tell when he embarked on Heart Life Music, but he knew he wanted to honor the places that shaped him, the characters who showed him and a creative community that is being lost to the crush of writing songs and making records that’s less about the individual and more about the algorithm. Working with longtime collaborator Holly Gleason, the pair realized a book that distilled the essence of what made the Nashville of George Jones, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson ripe for a kid from East Tennessee with drive, dreams and no clear plan.
 
Today, Chesney and Gleason were announced as finalists for the 2027 ANDY Awards, the only national awards program dedicated to book collaborations. Given by the American Society of Journalists and Authors in collaboration with the Gotham Ghostwriters, Heart Life Music is short-listed in the Memoir category alongside Joshua A. Miele’s Connecting Dots: A Blind Life with Wendell Jamieson and George E. Johnson’s Afrosheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street with Hilary Beard.
 
Earlier this summer, Heart Life Music was chosen to celebrate William Morrow’s Centennial as one of their 100 Books of Distinction. With 50 nonfiction and 50 fiction titles across the iconic publishing house’s history, it joined David Halberstam’s Summer of ’49, Margaret Mead’s Coming of Age in Samoa, Bill Bryson’s Made in America and fiction that included The Lord of the Rings, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Elmore Leonard’s Get Shorty and John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany.
 
“Every time something like this happens, I look around,” Chesney says of the honors. “All I wanted to do was show people the path to making something you can’t know how to do, some incredible characters who shared so much life and wisdom with me – and a lot of fun within all the hard work. It’s hard to believe it all happened, and yet, I was there. Having people recognize the book? Well, that’s crazy, too.”
 
The freewheeling take on the superstar’s journey from small-town East Tennessee dreamer to commanding the largest stages across the nation through the songs that defined coming of age in the 21st century celebrated places long gone, drew on unexpected musical sojourns in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, and of course drifted across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For Chesney, who encountered and collaborated with heroes, it was always about finding common ground and reinforcing the human heart – and Heart Life Music delivered on all three.
 
Last week, Chesney and Gleason also received a National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards nomination for Best Book (nonfiction). Both nominations are the first for the Country Music Hall of Fame member.
 
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney has been selling out major stadiums across the nation for two decades; playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, prompting Variety to pronounce “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” He’s sold over 37 million albums and won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year eight times, as well as holding Billboard's record for the Most Country No. 1s with 34 chart-topping songs that defined coming of age in the flyover in the 21st century. The game-changing superstar became the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, taking No Shoes into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moments, his popularity continues to grow year after year. Heart Life Music is his first book.
 
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line, and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet as well as  Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.

KAITLIN BUTTS SWINGS OPEN THE SALOON DOORS WITH HELLO, HONKY TONK: THE MINI MUSICAL, OUT NOW

Tulsa-born singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts is swinging open the saloon doors and welcoming the world inside Kait B’s Honky Tonk Saloon with the release of Hello, Honky Tonk: The Mini Musical, out now. Of her new album the Nashville Scene opined, “if Butts were to create her own stage musical, the songs on Hello, Honky Tonk would be a perfect fit.” And now she has! Written by Butts and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator Chris Beyrooty, the 30-minute mini musical brings eight songs from her critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Hello, Honky Tonk, to life on screen, introducing the colorful cast of characters who populate her larger-than-life honky tonk universe. 

A labor of love for the woman NPR called “Nashville’s most promising big thinker,” the theatrical production offers fans an immersive introduction to the characters, stories and personalities found on the album, transforming her love letter to honky tonks and nightlife into a full-fledged musical experience. With “musical theater chops plus tireless charisma,” according to Garden & Gun, Butts steps into the role of Master of Ceremonies, ushering viewers through the saloon and introducing the regulars who inhabit the bar. Watch Hello, Honky Tonk: The Mini Musical BELOW.

“Getting to welcome everybody into Kait B’s Honky Tonk Saloon is truly a dream come true,” shares Butts. “This whole project has been such a labor of love, from writing the songs to bringing them to life on screen. It really fed my inner theater kid in the best possible way. I’ve always seen my songs visually, and getting to create an entire world around them and invite everybody in has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I hope everybody finds their favorite regular, grabs a drink and stays awhile.”

The mini musical features eight songs from Hello, Honky Tonk: “The Bartender,” “Everybody Wanna Sing a Country Song,” “Still Got It,” “The Joker,” “Bacon Naked (Take It from Me),” “What More Could You Want,” “Crazy I Can Be” and “Midnight, I’ll Always Be Yours.”

Butts’ theatrical vision extends beyond the music and performances to the production’s carefully considered visual details, with the artist deeply involved in styling and creating the distinctive looks that bring the honky tonk’s characters to life. Working alongside stylist Cathy Hahn, Butts regularly shares her own drawings and collages as inspiration. The dress featured on the album artwork, for example, began as a sketch by Butts before Hahn helped bring the design to life. Originally a costume designer, Hahn was the ideal collaborator to help Butts create something unique, theatrical and entirely her own.

The mini musical builds on the imaginative world of Hello, Honky Tonk, a love letter to the honky tonks and nightlife that have shaped Butts’ life and career. Inspired in part by the vaudeville vignettes of Chicago and Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree, the album unfolds like a musical set inside a neighborhood bar, where every character has a story and every night brings a new scene with No Depression declaring it “invites us all into a place and to a night we’ll never forget.” Listen to Hello, Honky Tonk HERE. 

The production arrives on the heels of a whirlwind week for Butts, who celebrated the release of Hello, Honky Tonk with a flurry of appearances, including her national television debut with a performance of “I Wanna Be Bad” on “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle.” She also stopped by LGBTQ+ nightlife favorites Flaming Saddles and Pieces Drag Bar before celebrating the album with a release show at Lucinda’s in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and a sold-out performance at Nashville’s Skinny Dennis on Thursday, Oct. 29, the very honky tonk that helped inspire the album’s world.

Named one of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated albums for 2026, Hello, Honky Tonk is a 14-track collection recorded in Nashville with producer Tofer Brown (Carter Faith, Willow Avalon, Little Big Town). The album creates a world of its own, populated by the characters listeners might recognize from the dance floor, behind the bar or tucked away in the corner booth.

And yet even as Butts honors the merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail and a lineup of surprisingly sassy and lovelorn teddy bears, the sound is pure country, folding in influences ranging from Merle Haggard and Roger Miller to the Chicks and Miranda Lambert. While Butts fantasizes about the lives of those who come to her virtual honky tonk, she hopes fans walk away not just knowing her better, but themselves as well.

“All these songs are very deeply personal to me, and I relate to them word for word,” she says. “But my intention is never just to be relatable. I hope people find their own lives within the whole thing.”

With Hello, Honky Tonk, Butts builds on the momentum of her critically acclaimed 2024 album Roadrunner!, a bold reimagining inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The album landed on numerous year-end best-of lists and featured her viral anthem “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” which has amassed more than 157 million TikTok views and 67 million global streams.

Butts will continue celebrating Hello, Honky Tonk with her Hello, Honky Tonk Live and In Person Tour, with December dates in Texas and Oklahoma. Tickets are available at kaitlinbutts.com.

HELLO, HONKY TONK LIVE AND IN PERSON TOUR DATES
Dec. 10 — College Station, TX — Harry’s Northgate
Dec. 11 — Helotes, TX — Floore’s Country Store
Dec. 12 — Corpus Christi, TX — Brewster Street Ice House
Dec. 17 — Oklahoma City, OK — Tower Theatre
Dec. 18 — Fort Worth, TX — Billy Bob’s Texas

For the latest news, music and tour dates, visit kaitlinbutts.com and follow @kaitlinbutts on Instagram and Facebook, and @kaitlinbuttsmusic on TikTok.

Zach Top Premieres 'Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film' at Tennessee Drive-In During First Ever YouTube Live

Zach Top celebrated the premiere of Zach Top – Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film last night with a special acoustic performance and screening at Stardust Drive-In in Watertown, Tennessee. Presented by Kimes Ranch, the event also marked Top’s first-ever YouTube Live, bringing the celebration to fans everywhere.

On a cool, rainy night in Watertown, TN, Top opened the program with an acoustic set before the concert film made its big-screen debut. Captured during his two sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, on September 28–29, 2025, the film documents his first time headlining the landmark venue during his Cold Beer & Country Music Tour.

With an acoustic setup on stage, Top commented several times that the atmosphere felt like a bluegrass festival. Before the film premiered, Top told the crowd, “We filmed the two-day Red Rocks show because we wanted to have a concert film for our fans. Then we just had to figure out what the heck to do with it, and the idea of a drive-in movie debut alongside the airing on YouTube made perfect sense to us. We hope y’all enjoy it.” 

The premiere comes as Top’s current single, “South Of Sanity,” reaches No. 9 this week on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart. Already certified Gold, the song appears on his GRAMMY-winning album, Ain’t In It For My Health, available now via Leo33.

Fans can watch Zach Top – Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film Below:

About Zach Top:
Dubbed “the future of country music” by Billboard, Zach Top is in the midst of a landmark year with two nominations at the upcoming 60th Annual CMA Awards: Album of the Year (Ain’t In It For My Health) and Male Vocalist of the Year. The nominations follow wins for Best Traditional Country Album at the 68th GRAMMY Awards (Ain’t In It For My Health, the inaugural winner in the category), New Artist of the Year at the 59th CMA Awards and New Male Artist of the Year at the 60th ACM Awards. The Sunnyside, Washington, native earned his first No. 1 at country radio with “I Never Lie” and will headline the 2027 Stagecoach Music Festival.

Ain’t In It For My Health (Leo33) debuted with over 30 million global streams in its first week, with the Los Angeles Times describing it as “as crisp as country music gets” and Pitchfork highlighting its “good, clean country fun.” The album follows his 2024 breakthrough debut, Cold Beer & Country Music, which has surpassed one billion streams. For more information, visit zachtop.com.

Zach Top performs at Stardust Drive-In on Nov. 1, 2026.
Photo Courtesy of Zach Top – Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film

ZACH TOP WRAPS COLD BEER & COUNTRY MUSIC TOUR WITH SOLD-OUT SHOW AT NASHVILLE’S BRIDGESTONE ARENA

Zach Top wrapped his Cold Beer & Country Music Tour Friday night (Oct. 30) with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, closing a run that has sold 921,820 tickets since it launched. The more-than-two-hour performance featured songs from across Top’s two albums, along with special guests Brandon Coleman of The Red Clay Strays and Lukas Nelson.

Opening with “Sounds Like the Radio,” Top performed his current and RIAA Gold-Certified single “South of Sanity” alongside the 4× Platinum “I Never Lie” and Platinum-certified favorite “Bad Luck.” The Nashville crowd kept the energy high throughout the night, calling for more as Top brought the tour to a close.

“I started coming to this town in 2018. Kept my head down, it was close to five years or something, just writing songs and wishing to God I could go out and play some shows and that some people would show up and wanna hear me sing the songs that I've been writing. Roughly two and a half, three years ago, that started happening. It's been a wild ride ever since then,” Top told the crowd. “And I can't thank each and every one of you enough for being here tonight and making a youthful hillbilly from Sunnyside, Washington's dreams come true. Thank you so much.”

The Tennessean praised that “Top didn't need the lights flashing through stage smoke to hold the room. His rich, commanding voice did that, moving effortlessly from a warm baritone to a soaring falsetto without losing an ounce of country grit. And when he dug into his guitar, it was clear his hands could keep up.”

The evening also featured performances of “That’s All” and “Use Me” with reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year band leader, Brandon Coleman of The Red Clay Strays. 

The tour’s conclusion caps a landmark stretch for Top, whose Ain’t In It For My Health won Best Traditional Country Album at the 68th GRAMMY Awards, becoming the inaugural winner in the category. As the reigning New Artist of the Year winner, he heads into the upcoming 60th Annual CMA Awards with nominations for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Top will headline the 2027 Stagecoach Music Festival.

Leo33 celebrates Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music Tour conclusion Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday, Oct. 30.  

L to R ID: Leo33’s Natalie Osborne, Shane Tarleton, Tracy Gibson, Dusty Cantrell, Top, Chris Fabiani, Meg Goggins, Daniel Lee, Katie Dean and Ana Shabeer 

Photo Credit: Hunter Hart

Jason Scott & The High Heat’s Cinematic “How to Get Away with Murder”

What happens when the pursuit of desire becomes more important than seeing the person behind it? Jason Scott & The High Heat explore that question in “How to Get Away with Murder,” a darkly satirical, cinematic music video that transforms a string of murders into a pointed commentary on modern dating culture, the illusion of intimacy and the consequences of mistaking access for connection. Watch the official music video BELOW.
 
As an investigation unfolds, one police officer finds himself drawn into a case that leads him to a woman hiding in plain sight — someone who understands exactly what her victims want and knows how to use it against them. Each encounter reveals the distance between desire and genuine connection, as the men pursuing her become so consumed by what they want that they fail to recognize the person in front of them. When the investigation ultimately turns back on the officer himself, the story challenges viewers to consider how well anyone can truly know another person when lust is doing all the looking.
 
Conceived by Jason Scott & The High Heat, “How to Get Away with Murder” pushes beyond the conventions of a traditional music video, using the tension and visual language of a thriller to examine the assumptions and blind spots that can shape modern relationships while also making a statement about domestic violence. Its mystery is as much psychological as it is criminal, confronting a culture where proximity can be mistaken for intimacy — and wanting someone can be confused with knowing them.
 
“I wrote the song well before the video ideas got tossed around. It’s a classic ‘did she, didn’t she, could she get away with it’ situation,” Scott offers. “Men are the worst, how much can one woman take, before she breaks? Maybe it’s a day dream, maybe there are bodies buried all along I40. Either way these losers might think twice if there were more acute consequences for bad behavior.”
 
Directed by Rahul Chakraborty, with creative direction by Ryan Magnani, the film brings the band’s original story to life through a performance-driven, narrative approach. Hailey Hart produced the project, with Easton Oliver serving as director of photography and Jordan Kinman leading production design. Dialogue was written by Shea Chakraborty, with costume design by Jessica Mayfield and visual effects, hair and makeup by Kadi Chase.
 
The cast includes Jeanette Sealy, Ben Hall, Jason Scott, Ryan Magnani, Tremaine Wade, Garrison Brown, Gabriel Mor, Kaylene Snarsky and Ashton Burn.
 
The song appears on the band’s September 18, 2026, Play Boy, their latest album for Leo33. Produced by Scott and Taylor Johnson, the 14-track collection finds Scott drawing on his spiritual upbringing and crisis of faith while examining love, human nature and the absurdities of American life through his signature blend of sharp-witted storytelling, country grit and rock-and-roll swagger. The record captures Scott fully embracing the band's irreverent spirit while continuing to explore the experiences and contradictions that shape his songwriting.

Kaitlin Butts' 'Hello, Honky Tonk' Out Now via Republic Records

Tulsa-born singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts’ highly anticipated fourth studio album, Hello, Honky Tonk, is out now via Republic Records, alongside a new music video for “The Bartender” that offers a first look at the mini musical Butts has created to bring the album’s colorful cast of characters to life. Listen to Hello, Honky Tonk HERE. Watch “The Bartender” video BELOW and stay tuned for more details on the mini musical on the horizon.

“I always see my songs visually,” shares Butts. “When I’m writing, I’m not just thinking about the music, I’m seeing the characters and what’s happening in the room. With Hello, Honky Tonk, I wanted to bring every corner of that bar to life. A mini musical felt like the perfect way to let people step inside this world we’ve been creating and I can’t wait to share it.”

Named one of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated albums for 2026, Hello, Honky Tonk is a love letter to the honky tonks and nightlife that have shaped Butts’ life and career. Recorded in Nashville with producer Tofer Brown (Carter Faith, Willow Avalon, Little Big Town), the 14-track collection creates a world of its own, populated by the characters listeners might recognize from the dance floor, behind the bar or tucked away in the corner booth.
 
The new video for “The Bartender” brings that world into focus, offering a first glimpse of Butts’ larger creative vision for the album. Inspired in part by the vaudeville vignettes of Chicago and Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Hello, Honky Tonk unfolds like a musical set inside a neighborhood bar, where every character has a story and every night brings a new scene.
 
Co-written by Butts, Natalie Hemby and Brown, “The Bartender” pairs steel guitar with plenty of swagger as a mixologist lends an ear to those in need of a judgment-free confidant. The track features the baritone of TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne on backing vocals, adding a sultry menace to the song’s portrait of the person behind the bar who knows everyone’s secrets.
 
“TJ’s voice was exactly how I pictured the bartender in my head. It’s got that deep richness that makes you feel like this man has heard every secret in town and isn’t gonna tell a soul,” shares Butts, cheekily adding. “I also love that we got to put one of the most masculine voices in country music on this track, who also happens to be one of the gayest.”

For Butts, the album’s concept grew from imagining all the characters and storylines unfolding inside one honky tonk, with each song offering another perspective on the nightlife that connects them.
 
“The thought behind the concept was how in Chicago, the character Roxie Hart is dreaming up what her show would look like and all the people in it,” says Butts. “I picture all of this happening at Skinny Dennis here in Nashville. These are all the different people in the room. There's the bar fight that's happening. There's the bad girl that just got off work. There's me being the entertainer. There are so many people that really love the nightlife. It’s a connector for people.”
 
And yet even as Butts honors the merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail and a line-up of surprisingly sassy and lovelorn teddy bears, the sound is pure country, folding in other influences ranging from Merle Haggard and Roger Miller to the Chicks and Miranda Lambert. And while Butts fantasizes about the lives of those who come to her virtual honky tonk, she hopes that fans walk out of it not just knowing her better, but themselves as well. 
 
“All these songs are very deeply personal to me, and I relate to them word for word,” she says. “But my intention is never just to be relatable. I hope people find their own lives within the whole thing.” She hopes fans walk away not only knowing her better, but recognizing themselves in the songs—and,  like any good night out at the honky tonk, having a good time. After spending some time in darker corners on previous albums, Butts is ready to kick up her heels. “I'm excited to get to perform these songs and have a lot of fun on stage.”

The album arrives on the heels of a whirlwind week for Butts with a flurry of appearances leading up to its release. She made her national television debut with a performance of “I Wanna Be Bad” on “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle” while also stopping by LGBTQ+ nightlife favorites Flaming Saddles and Pieces Drag Bar. Butts celebrated the album with a release show at Lucinda’s in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 27, before returning to Nashville for a sold-out performance at Skinny Dennis on Thursday, Oct. 29, the very honky tonk that helped inspire the album’s world.
 
With Hello, Honky Tonk, Butts builds on the momentum of her critically acclaimed 2024 album Roadrunner!, a bold reimagining inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The album landed on numerous year-end best-of lists and featured her viral anthem “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” which has amassed more than 157 million TikTok views and 67 million global streams.

Butts will continue celebrating Hello, Honky Tonk with her Hello, Honky Tonk Live and In Person Tour, with December dates in Texas and Oklahoma. Tickets are available at kaitlinbutts.com.

HELLO, HONKY TONK LIVE AND IN PERSON TOUR DATES
Dec. 10 — College Station, TX — Harry’s Northgate
Dec. 11 — Helotes, TX — Floore’s Country Store
Dec. 12 — Corpus Christi, TX — Brewster Street Ice House
Dec. 17 — Oklahoma City, OK — Tower Theatre
Dec. 18 — Fort Worth, TX — Billy Bob’s Texas

For the latest news, music and tour dates, visit kaitlinbutts.com and follow @kaitlinbutts on Instagram and Facebook, and @kaitlinbuttsmusic on TikTok.

KOE WETZEL SURPRISES FANS AHEAD OF SOLD-OUT RED ROCKS SHOW WITH “HARD WAY” FEAT. STEPHEN WILSON JR., OUT NOW

Ahead of tonight’s penultimate show of The Night Champion World Tour, Koe Wetzel surprised fans with the release of “Hard Way,” rounding out the deluxe edition of his critically acclaimed sixth studio album, The Night Champion. Listen to “Hard Way” HERE and order The Night Champion (Deluxe) on vinyl HERE.
 
“Hard Way” finds Wetzel teaming up with fellow genre-bending artist Stephen Wilson Jr. for the final addition to the project that has given fans a steady flow of new music since its initial arrival in June. The hard-charging, guitar-forward anthem unites the pair’s growling vocals in a rock-fueled tale of lessons learned through a life lived on the edge.
 
       ‘Cause if you ain’t rolling doubles, better listen to what I say
        If you wanna get to Heaven, there’s gonna be some hell to pay
        Some people gotta learn it the hard way
 
“It’s been a hell of a ride with this record, and we weren’t quite done yet. Before the sun comes up on The Night Champion, we’ve got one more song left to play,” shares Wetzel. “I’ve been a fan of Stephen’s for a while now, and we got to play a bunch of shows together last year, so I’m fired up to have a song together now, too.”
 
The surprise release arrives as Wetzel continues a career-defining run, with current single “Jaded” feat. Ella Langley Top 10-and-climbing at Country radio and reaching a new peak of No. 18 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. 
 
Following this week’s conclusion of The Night Champion World Tour, Wetzel reunites with Parker McCollum for the return of their Naughty or Nice Tour, with six sold-out acoustic shows across Texas to celebrate the holiday season.
 
For more information and all the latest news, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com. Follow on TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic.

GEORGE STRAIT ACCEPTS NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME’S RARE CAREER MAKER AWARD, INSISTING “THEY MADE MY CAREER”

 In a moment that underscored the extraordinary relationship between George Strait and the songwriters whose work has punctuated his career, Dean Dillon and Gary Nicholson brought the Country Music Hall of Famer to the stage Monday evening (Oct. 26) to present him with the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s prestigious Career Maker Award. Given only once before – to Reba McEntire in 2018 – the honor recognizes individuals outside the Hall whose artistic contributions have helped songwriters achieve careers worthy of induction.

Fresh off his induction into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year, Strait took the opportunity to turn the spotlight back toward the writers who have helped make his catalog and career one of country music’s most enduring, right after a joke about his aversion to the fame side of the business fellow honoree Taylor Swift acknowledged in her speech.

“When I first heard that they wanted to give me this award, I'm going like, ‘Okay, I'll come only if I can make a speech.’ You know how good at that I am,” he shared, laughing.

“I think they got this turned around, because they made my career,” Strait then told the audience, referring to the writers whose songs he’s recorded. “That’s the way I feel. I truly do and I always will.”

The sentiment is backed by a remarkable legacy. Over more than four decades, Strait has recorded 264 songs written or co-written by 72 members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, including 65 Top 40 singles. Of those 72 writers, 44 had not yet been inducted into the Hall when Strait first recorded their songs – an extraordinary testament to his ability to recognize great songwriting and bring it to a worldwide audience.

Reflecting on his longstanding connection to Nashville, Strait acknowledged that his relationship with Music City had not always been an easy one, but that the city and its songwriting community had shown him tremendous support over the years.

“I’ve always loved coming to Nashville and recording here and being here and being around these guys and seeing them from time to time,” he said. “I just want to say thank y’all. All of you who sent songs my way and made my career. I appreciate it very much. Thank you.”

Strait’s remarks captured the spirit of an award that recognizes something fundamental to his legacy: the power of an artist to champion a songwriter’s work, give a song a life beyond the writing room and help the song and its message resonate with an audience that might otherwise have remained out of reach.

For the writers whose songs have become inseparable from Strait’s catalog, the honor offered a fitting acknowledgment of the mutual respect at the heart of that relationship. And for Strait, the evening was another opportunity to credit the people he has long considered essential to his success.

As he made clear from the stage, the King of Country Music knows exactly who deserves the credit.

“They made my career.” 

George Strait at the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Monday, Oct. 26, accepting the Career Maker Award.
Photo Credit: Ed Rode

Gavin Adcock Launches Thrivin’ Here Co. Western Lifestyle Brand

Gavin Adcock grew up wearing pearl snaps to run cattle on his farm in Watkinsville, Georgia. Now, on the heels of releasing his third album in three years, The Day I Hang It Up, earlier this month, the singer is commemorating his roots with the launch of his Western lifestyle brand, Thrivin’ Here Co. Learn more at ThrivinHereCo.com. 
 
“This isn’t a costume. I don’t just wear pearl snaps on stage, I’ve worn ‘em my whole life,” remarks Adcock. “On the farm. On the stage. On the days nobody was watching.” 
 
To kick start the launch, Adcock dropped Chapter One, The Cowboy Kit, which includes three pieces: The OG Pearl Snap with a custom developed fit and longhorns, The Trucker Hat with Cotton Twill material and the Thrivin' Here Co. Patch and The Bandana, built for sweat, dust and long nights.
 
Each chapter is available while supplies last, with Chapter Two unlocking when the next chapter of Gavin's story does. No restock will be available on anything that came before it. To ensure you don’t miss a chapter, sign up for alerts at ThrivinHereCo.com. 
 
The Day I Hang It Up spans 26 tracks, with Adcock featured as a co-writer on all but four songs. Produced by Jay Rodgers, the album also includes collaborations with Treaty Oak Revival, ERNEST, and his previously released fan favorite, “Cheap Thrills” with Hudson Westbrook. 
 
The album inspired the name of Adcock’s headlining The Day I Hang It Up Tour, which is currently underway. Adcock recently extended the run into 2027 with Blake Whiten supporting on 12 additional dates. Following performances in Australia in March, Adcock will embark on the second leg of The Day I Hang It Up Tour on April 1, kicking off at Gatton Park in Lexington, KY, followed by two nights at The Factory in St. Louis, MO and stops in eight additional cities, including Oklahoma City, OK, Richmond, VA and Baltimore, MD. Tickets for the newly announced shows are on sale now at GavinAdcockMusic.com. 
 
Offering a mix of heartbreak, love and outlaw country influences, The Day I Hang It Up also adds a layer of depth to the country star’s repertoire. Songs including “Shoes” and “Rockstar Life” delve deeper into the cost of rising fame, while “Holes In The Boat” offers an honest look at trying to balance masculinity and vulnerability concerning mental health. The album left The Tennessean remarking Adcock as "a voice capable of withstanding an enduring career." 

Gavin Adcock The Day I Hang It Up 2026-2027 Tour
Newly Announced Dates in Italics
 
Oct. 29            Bojangles Coliseum || Charlotte, NC
Oct. 30            Enmarket Arena || Savannah, GA
Oct. 31            Hertz Arena || Estero, FL
Nov. 6             MGM Music Hall at Fenway || Boston, MA
Nov. 7             Santander Arena || Reading, PA
Nov. 13           Masonic Temple Theatre || Detroit, MI
Nov. 14           Van Andel Arena || Grand Rapids, MI
Dec. 10            The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas || Las Vegas, NV
March 6           Meatstock Gippsland || Melbourne, Australia
March 13         Meatstock Toowoomba || Toowoomba, Australia
April 1             Gatton Park || Lexington, KY
April 2             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 3             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 10           SJB Pavilion || Oxford, MS
April 29           Salem Civic Center || Salem, VA 
May 1              The St. Augustine Amphitheatre || St. Augustine, FL
May 7              The Zoo Amphitheatre || Oklahoma City, OK
May 8              White Oak Music Hall || Houston, TX
May 13            Virginia Credit Union LIVE! || Richmond, VA
May 14            Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena || Atlantic City, NJ
May 15            Pier Six Pavilion || Baltimore, MD
May 27            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX
May 28            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX

Denitia Releases "Can't Leave You Alone" Ahead of 'Texas Angel' (2/5)

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Denitia shares her new track, “Can’t Leave You Alone,” offering another taste of her upcoming fourth studio album, Texas Angel, arriving Feb. 5, 2027. Marking her first release in partnership with Thirty Tigers for distribution, the album finds Denitia exploring love, belonging, family and the search for peace through a deeply personal collection of songs.

PRE-SAVE TEXAS ANGEL HERE AND LISTEN TO “Can’t Leave You Alone” BELOW.

Produced by Brad Allen Williams (Brittany Howard, Brandy), Texas Angel finds the country music songstress looking inward, reflecting on the pursuit of happiness and the desire to find a place and a feeling that can truly be called home. 

“When I was writing this song, I wanted to pull from a time in my life where I was drawn to situations that weren’t so good for me,” shares Denitia. “So much of the material on this album has this undertone of having learned my lesson and I wanted to reach back to a time where I knew better, but I still wanted to do bad. It felt right to have it all set against this dreamy sonic backdrop – a place you can’t resist getting pulled into.”

Written by Denitia and producer Brad Allen Williams on a hot summer’s day in north Mississippi, “Can’t Leave You Alone,” explores the complicated pull of a relationship that proves difficult to leave behind, capturing the tension between wanting to let go and finding herself unable to do so.

Across Texas Angel, Denitia walks through the highs and lows of love, success and self-discovery while looking beyond herself for wisdom from the generations who came before her. This latest track follows the release of the album’s title track which left Cowboys & Indians asking, “what kind of sad-ass stray would wear out the wings of this bad ass Texas angel?”

With Texas Angel, Denitia enters a new chapter, bringing hard-earned perspective to a collection that explores the complexities of love, identity, resilience and finding where you belong. The forthcoming album continues her evolution as an artist while placing emotional honesty and deeply personal storytelling at its center.

Denitia’s musical identity is rooted in the greater Houston area, where relatives who worked in the region’s industrial plants and oil refineries also introduced her to the country music legends they loved. Artists including Dolly Parton, George Strait and Loretta Lynn helped inspire her own creative path, instilling an appreciation for musicians who combine artistry with determination.

The idea of honoring her forebears while telling her own story began taking shape during a songwriting session following her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in 2024.

“Getting invited to play the Opry was momentous for me because my grandmother, my great-grandmother, they all listened to WSM and now there was somebody in our family who was on that stage,” shares Denitia. “It was this mixture of feeling like, ‘Wow, I just want to be a part of the fabric and the lineage of country music’ and realizing my positioning in my family. And then also just the idea of standing in one's own power.”

A 14-track country collection, Texas Angel is suffused with warm acoustic instrumentation, wistful steel guitars and Denitia’s inviting vocals, moving between tender vulnerability and fiery flintiness as she reflects on the past, embraces the present and explores the freedom of an unwritten future.

With “Can’t Leave You Alone,” Denitia offers another window into Texas Angel, a project that connects the traditions that shaped her with her own evolving perspective on love, family and belonging.

For more information, visit Denitia.com. Follow on Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

About Denitia:
Denitia is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter from the Houston area whose beguiling voice and eloquent wordplay has been steadily bringing her recognition over the last decade and multiple projects including 2024's Sunset Drive.
 
Denitia has been embraced in Nashville where she has made multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and been named one of CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country and an artist to watch by the Nashville Scene. She was also a featured vocalist in Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.
 
Her forthcoming album Texas Angel, produced by Brad Allen Williams (Brittany Howard, Brandy), finds Denitia digging into her musical and familial roots to produce an album of classic country with a contemporary edge.

Zach Top Brings Red Rocks to the Big Screen & First YouTube Live

Zach Top is taking one of his favorite live performance moments from his Cold Beer & Country Music Tour to the big screen – and bringing fans along for the ride. On Sunday, Nov. 1, the reigning GRAMMY Best Traditional Country Album winner will host a special live experience from Stardust Drive-In in Watertown, Tennessee, marking his first-ever YouTube Live and giving fans a front-row seat to the premiere of Zach Top – Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film.

Presented by Kimes Ranch, the one-of-a-kind event will debut a concert film captured across Top’s two back-to-back sold-out nights at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on September 28-29, 2025. The Stardust gathering will feature a unique, intimate performance from Top, followed by the premiere of the film, transforming a classic drive-in into a gathering place for fans to experience the music together.

Set a Reminder: Zach Top’s YouTube Live

“My first time headlining Red Rocks was such a special experience, and I’m so thankful we decided to film it,” Top shares. “It’s so fun to have my memories from that night immortalized, and I’m so excited to be able to share that career highlight with so many more fans in addition to the ones that attended in person.”

The event opens at 4 p.m. CT, with the program scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets are available through Seated for $100 per vehicle, plus fees, with each ticket admitting a maximum of four people. Parking is first-come, first-served, and concessions will be available on-site.

For Top, whose unmistakable traditional country sound has connected with a growing audience of fans, Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film captures the kind of moment that makes the music bigger than the stage. Now, with a special acoustic performance and a cinematic look back at two sold-out nights, he’s giving fans another way to be part of it – whether they’re pulling into Stardust or tuning in from home.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Zach Top’s first-ever YouTube Live performance, live from Stardust Drive-In and the world premiere of Zach Top — Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film, Presented by Kimes Ranch

WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Doors: 4 p.m. CT | Scheduled start: 6 p.m. CT

WHERE: Stardust Drive-In
310 Purple Tiger Drive, Watertown, TN, 37184 

YOUTUBE LIVE: www.youtube.com/live/WO5_tCIPMrU
Kick off the premiere of Zach Top - Live From Red Rocks: The Concert Film with an acoustic performance from Zach, live at the drive-in. 

TICKETS: $100 per vehicle, plus fees, through Seated. One ticket admits a maximum of four people. Parking is first-come, first-served. Link to purchase HERE. 

GAVIN ADCOCK GIFTS FANS THE 26TH TRACK FROM THE DAY I HANG IT UP: “MOST WANTED” OUT NOW

Georgia native Gavin Adcock is gifting fans with the 26th track off The Day I Hang It Up. “Most Wanted,” which was previously a physical-exclusive bonus track, is available now on streaming platforms. Listen BELOW. 
 
Written by Adcock, Jack Hummel, Ben Hayslip and David Lee Murphy, “Most Wanted” is a play on words, juxtaposing a man’s reputation as an outlaw with the allure of the woman who has captured his attention:
 
        It’s my face on the poster baby
        But just like a thief, you steal the show
        Some folks say I’m a real bad man
        But baby, you’re Most Wanted
 
The Day I Hang It Up spans 26 tracks, with Adcock featured as a co-writer on all but four songs. Produced by Jay Rodgers, the album also includes collaborations with Treaty Oak Revival, ERNEST, and his previously released fan favorite, “Cheap Thrills” with Hudson Westbrook. 
 
The album inspired the name of Adcock’s headlining The Day I Hang It Up Tour, which is currently underway. Adcock recently extended the run into 2027 with Blake Whiten supporting on 12 additional dates. Following performances in Australia in March, Adcock will embark on the second leg of The Day I Hang It Up Tour on April 1, kicking off at Gatton Park in Lexington, KY, followed by two nights at The Factory in St. Louis, MO and stops in eight additional cities, including Oklahoma City, OK, Richmond, VA and Baltimore, MD. Tickets for the newly announced shows are on sale today at 10am local time at GavinAdcockMusic.com. 
 
The official music video for “Us Again” featuring Treaty Oak Revival premiered simultaneously with the album release. Directed by Jack Owens and produced by Sydney Hampton, the video builds a narrative around the push-and-pull of a toxic relationship, with the narrator assured that despite the relationship ending, “I know we’ll wind up us again.” Watch HERE. 
 
Offering a mix of heartbreak, love, and outlaw country influences, The Day I Hang It Up also adds a layer of depth to the country star’s repertoire. Songs including “Shoes” and “Rockstar Life” delve deeper into the cost of rising fame, while “Holes In The Boat” offers an honest look at trying to balance masculinity and vulnerability concerning mental health. The album left The Tennessean remarking Adcock as "a voice capable of withstanding an enduring career." 
 
The Day I Hang It Up is Adcock’s third album release in three years, and follows the success of his previous album, Own Worst Enemy, which arrived as the top new Country album on the Billboard Top 200 Country Chart AND the top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart week of release (Aug 15, 2025). Before that, his major-label debut album Actin’ Up Again became the highest streaming major-label Country debut from a solo male artist in 2024, with more than 15 million on-demand U.S. streams the week of release, and was 2024’s top streaming major-label debut across the entire genre.

Gavin Adcock The Day I Hang It Up 2026-2027 Tour
Newly Announced Dates in Italics
 
Oct. 16            Coca-Cola Amphitheater || Birmingham, AL
Oct. 17            First Security Amphitheater || Little Rock, AR
Oct. 22            Fishers Event Center || Fishers, IN
Oct. 23            Knoxville Civic Coliseum || Knoxville, TN   
Oct. 24            Koka Booth Amphitheatre || Cary, NC
Oct. 29            Bojangles Coliseum || Charlotte, NC
Oct. 30            Enmarket Arena || Savannah, GA
Oct. 31            Hertz Arena || Estero, FL
Nov. 6             MGM Music Hall at Fenway || Boston, MA
Nov. 7             Santander Arena || Reading, PA
Nov. 13           Masonic Temple Theatre || Detroit, MI
Nov. 14           Van Andel Arena || Grand Rapids, MI
Dec. 10            The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas || Las Vegas, NV
March 6           Meatstock Gippsland || Melbourne, Australia
March 13         Meatstock Toowoomba || Toowoomba, Australia
April 1             Gatton Park || Lexington, KY
April 2             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 3             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 10           SJB Pavilion || Oxford, MS
April 29           Salem Civic Center || Salem, VA 
May 1              The St. Augustine Amphitheatre || St. Augustine, FL
May 7              The Zoo Amphitheatre || Oklahoma City, OK
May 8              White Oak Music Hall || Houston, TX
May 13            Virginia Credit Union LIVE! || Richmond, VA
May 14            Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena || Atlantic City, NJ
May 15            Pier Six Pavilion || Baltimore, MD
May 27            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX
May 28            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX

About Gavin Adcock:
Gavin Adcock, dubbed by Billboard as "one of country music’s most buzzed-about artists” is a Georgia native, born and raised in Watkinsville. Former Georgia Southern University football player, Gavin grew up working on his family’s cattle farm and dreamt of riding bulls in the PBR. He started writing songs in high school, but it wasn’t until the spring of 2021, when Adcock tore his knee playing football, that he used his healing time to record and release his first original single. Since then, Gavin has collectively amassed more than 3 BILLION global streams across singles including the fan-favorite, RIAA PLATINUM-certified, “A Cigarette,” GOLD-certified songs “Run Your Mouth,” “Deep End,” “Four Leaf Clover” and more. His album, Actin’ Up Again, was crowned the largest major-label country debut from a solo male artist released in 2024 and was the year’s top streaming major-label debut across the genre. Within less than a year, Adcock more than doubled his previous streaming record with over 25 MILLION first week US streams on new album Own Worst Enemy, released August 15, 2025. Own Worst Enemy debuted as the top new Country album on the Billboard 200 Country Chart (No. 4) and top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart (No. 14) week of release. In the Spring of 2026 Gavin was able to add Executive Producer to his achievements, with the release of Adcock’s brainchild, Country Never Dies, enlisting the help of nine artist peers to join him on the special, timeless, project. The MusicRow Awards’ “Discovery Artist of the Year” nominee has also won over the hearts of both Country music fans and music industry alike, leading to his New Artist of the Year nominations at both the 60th & 61st ACM Awards. Taking his music to the fans, Adcock is currently underway on The Day I Hang It Up Tour 2026, marking the fourth extensive headlining tour since 2024. The tour’s namesake and Adcock’s newest album, The Day I Hang It Up, is available now.

ZACH TOP PUTS HIS OWN STAMP ON THE MODERN WESTERN WARDROBE

Zach Top has a distinct sense of style – classic without feeling dated, Western without trying too hard and unmistakably his own. That sensibility inspires the Zach Top x Kimes Ranch Collection, launching October 15.

The collaboration brings together two brands of classic American style, with Zach playing an integral role in bringing the collection to life. From the beginning, he worked alongside the Kimes Ranch team to shape a lineup that reflects his personal taste and the way he actually dresses. Every element-from the fit and fabric to the color palette and finishing details – was selected with Zach’s style in mind.

The collection is designed as a versatile Western wardrobe, featuring a range of pieces that can transition effortlessly from everyday life to the road and the stage. Long-sleeve button-up shirts bring a traditional Western influence to a timeless staple, while short-sleeve polos offer a more relaxed option. Hoodies and sweatshirts provide comfortable layers for travel and downtime, while a Western-inspired vest adds versatility and functionality. Anchoring the collection is a classic denim jacket, designed to become a staple that develops even more character over time.

The collection reflects the Western influences and timeless pieces that have shaped Zach’s personal style. Familiar Western elements are paired with clean, contemporary details, creating pieces that feel lived-in and authentic from the start. The result is apparel with personality-clothing that feels connected to the history of Western style without looking like it belongs to another era.

That balance of tradition and individuality is also what connects Zach Top and Kimes Ranch. Both share an appreciation for craftsmanship, quality materials and styles that don’t depend on passing trends. The collaboration is built around the idea that the best pieces-and the best music-have staying power.

For Zach, that meant creating clothing that could work wherever life takes him. The collection was designed to accommodate the different sides of his schedule, whether he’s traveling between shows, spending a day off at home or stepping onto a stage. The pieces can be worn individually or layered together, dressed up or kept casual, giving fans the ability to build the collection into their own wardrobes.

“Working on this collection has been a really cool experience because I got to be involved in the process from the beginning,” said Zach Top. “I wanted the clothes to feel like things I’d actually wear, and we were able to take some classic Western ideas and put our own spin on them. I’m proud of how it all came together.”

“We wanted this collection to feel natural to Zach,” said Amanda Kimes, co-founder of Kimes Ranch. “His personal style is such a big part of who he is, so it was important that the collection came from his perspective. Zach was involved throughout the process, and that collaboration is what makes the final product feel genuine.”

The Zach Top x Kimes Ranch Collection launches online on October 15, 2026, and will be available through Kimes Ranch as well as Kimes Ranch retailers. The collection marks the next chapter in the partnership between the artist and the Western brand, bringing Zach’s personal style together with Kimes Ranch’s approach to quality, fit and timeless Western apparel.

Zach Top | Photo Credit: Beau Simmons

About Zach Top:
Dubbed “the future of country music” by Billboard, Zach Top is in the midst of a landmark year with two nominations at the upcoming 60th Annual CMA Awards: Album of the Year (Ain’t In It For My Health) and Male Vocalist of the Year. The nominations follow wins for Best Traditional Country Album at the 68th GRAMMY Awards (Ain’t In It For My Health, the inaugural winner in the category), New Artist of the Year at the 59th CMA Awards and New Male Artist of the Year at the 60th ACM Awards. The Sunnyside, Washington native recently earned his first No. 1 at country radio with “I Never Lie” and will headline 2027’s Stagecoach Music Festival.
 
Ain’t In It For My Health (Leo33) debuted with over 30 million global streams in its first week with Rolling Stonecalling him a country great in the making, the Los Angeles Times describing it as “as crisp as country music gets,” and Pitchfork highlighting its “good, clean country fun.” The album follows his 2024 breakthrough debut Cold Beer & Country Music, which has surpassed one billion streams. 
 
About Kimes Ranch Jeans:
Founded by Matt and Amanda Kimes, Kimes Ranch was built on a vision to bring elevated craftsmanship and authenticity back to Western apparel. What began as a small family endeavor in Arizona has evolved into a modern western lifestyle brand known for its clean design, impeccable fits, and unmistakable longhorn signature.

As Kimes Ranch continues to grow, its approach remains personal: stay true to its roots, uphold uncompromising quality, and ensure customers feel connected to the people behind the name. Kimes Ranch delivers a luxury experience grounded in authenticity, a modern interpretation of Western style, elevated with the care of a family brand. For more information, visit kimesranch.com.

MIRANDA LAMBERT’S “VELVET RODEO” TO DEBUT IN THE NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM’S NEW ICONS GALLERY OPENING NOV. 7

The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame will introduce “Miranda Lambert: Velvet Rodeo” as the inaugural exhibition in its new Icons Gallery when the Museum’s expansion opens Nov. 7, 2026. Created in collaboration with Lambert, the exhibition features the one-of-a-kind wardrobe she wore during her Las Vegas residency.

“When I first visited the National Cowgirl Museum, I was so inspired by all of the amazing Western pieces on display that I sent a bunch of photos to my stylist, Tiffany. We mixed that inspiration with the heyday of Elvis to create the ‘Velvet Rodeo’ wardrobe,” said Lambert. “Seeing these pieces now have a life beyond the stage as part of the Museum’s new Icons Gallery feels really full circle and special.”

A National Cowgirl Hall of Fame honoree, active mounted shooting competitor and horsewoman, Lambert’s connection to the West reaches beyond her music. The exhibition brings together her identity as a cowgirl and her creative expression as a performer.

“Miranda’s confidence, determination and independence make her a wonderful representative of the women we honor,” said Pat Riley, Executive Director of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame. “Opening our Icons Gallery with this collaboration celebrates her accomplishments while giving visitors a new way to connect with a cowgirl they know and admire.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to study garments usually seen in motion and under stage lights, appreciating the details that help transform clothing into an essential part of a performance.

“Miranda’s ‘Velvet Rodeo’ styling was inspired by historic garments from iconic western tailors which she saw on display at the Museum,” said Ashley Kowalski, Curator. “We are honored to give her residency wardrobe a new stage where the collection can be appreciated in its entirety.”

The Icons Gallery is part of the Museum’s 16,000-square-foot expansion, which introduces new galleries and experiences that explore the accomplishments and influence of women of the West.

For exhibition and opening information, visit thecowgirl.org.

Miranda Lambert Previews Her Exhibit at The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame | Photo Credit: Tyler Conrad

About the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is where history meets horsepower, and fearless women take center stage. Located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, it’s the only museum in the world that celebrates the grit, grace, and guts of the women who shaped the West — and those breaking boundaries today. Through immersive exhibits, interactive galleries, and powerful storytelling, The Cowgirl highlights artists, ranchers, rodeo champions, activists, and trailblazers from all walks of life. It’s not just about looking back — it’s about inspiring the next generation of unstoppable women.

Currently, the museum’s archives house more than 4,000 artifacts, with more than 260 women enshrined in its Hall of Fame.

Learn more about The Cowgirl at cowgirl.net or on all social media channels @cowgirlmuseum. 

About Miranda Lambert
Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multifaceted career as an artist, entertainer, producer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. Her latest album, Crisco, featuring current single “Snakeskin Boots” with Ella Langley, is available everywhere now via MCA and continued her unbroken streak of 11 consecutive Top 10s on the Country Albums chart. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, she has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”

Lambert has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection as well as Idyllwind, her western clothing, accessories and footwear brand at Boot Barn. Her passion for animals inspired the creation of MuttNation Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit which has raised over $15 million since inception to promote shelter pet adoption, support rescue organizations nationwide, advance spay & neuter and help shelters recover from natural disaster.

MirandaLambert.com | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

GAVIN ADCOCK EXTENDS THE DAY I HANG IT UP TOUR INTO 2027

On the heels of the release of his third major label album in three years, Georgia native Gavin Adcock announces new dates for The Day I Hang It Up 2027 Tour, with support from Blake Whiten on all dates. Artist pre-sale begins tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13 at 10am local time. Sign up for pre-sale access at GavinAdcockMusic.com. Public on sale begins this Friday, October 16 at 10am local time.
 
Following performances in Australia in March, Adcock will embark on the second leg of his headlining The Day I Hang It Up Tour on April 1, kicking off at Gatton Park in Lexington, KY, followed by two nights at The Factory in St. Louis, MO and stops in eight additional cities, including Oklahoma City, OK, Richmond, VA and Baltimore, MD.
 
The Day I Hang It Up spans 26 tracks produced by Jay Rogers, with Adcock featured as a co-writer on all but four songs, as The Tennessean observes he “moves between country rock, traditional country, heartbreak and quieter reflections on what happens when the life you chased starts taking you away from the one you knew,” while FOX News lauds, “Expectations were high. Expectations are now met.”
 
Holler praises with his “raw, relatable persona, often drawing comparisons to country legends like Trace Adkins and Waylon Jennings, Adcock lies somewhere between head-banging rock and twangy country.”
 
The Day I Hang It Up follows the momentum of Own Worst Enemy, which debuted as the top new Country album on the Billboard Top 200 Country Chart AND the top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart week of release (Aug. 15, 2025). That rapid rise followed Adcock’s 2024 major-label debut Actin’ Up Again, which earned more than 15 million on-demand U.S. streams during its release week, making it the highest-streaming major-label Country debut from a solo male artist that year and 2024’s top streaming major-label debut across the entire genre.

Gavin Adcock The Day I Hang It Up 2026-2027 Tour
Newly Announced Dates in Italics
 
Oct. 15            Atrium Health Amphitheater || Macon, GA
Oct. 16            Coca-Cola Amphitheater || Birmingham, AL
Oct. 17            First Security Amphitheater || Little Rock, AR
Oct. 22            Fishers Event Center || Fishers, IN
Oct. 23            Knoxville Civic Coliseum || Knoxville, TN  
Oct. 24            Koka Booth Amphitheatre || Cary, NC
Oct. 29            Bojangles Coliseum || Charlotte, NC
Oct. 30            Enmarket Arena || Savannah, GA
Oct. 31            Hertz Arena || Estero, FL
Nov. 6             MGM Music Hall at Fenway || Boston, MA
Nov. 7             Santander Arena || Reading, PA
Nov. 13           Masonic Temple Theatre || Detroit, MI
Nov. 14           Van Andel Arena || Grand Rapids, MI
Dec. 10            The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas || Las Vegas, NV
March 6           Meatstock Gippsland || Melbourne, Australia
March 13         Meatstock Toowoomba || Toowoomba, Australia
April 1             Gatton Park || Lexington, KY
April 2             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 3             The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 10           SJB Pavilion || Oxford, MS
April 29           Salem Civic Center || Salem, VA
May 1              The St. Augustine Amphitheatre || St. Augustine, FL
May 7              The Zoo Amphitheatre || Oklahoma City, OK
May 8              White Oak Music Hall || Houston, TX
May 13            Virginia Credit Union LIVE! || Richmond, VA
May 14            Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena || Atlantic City, NJ
May 15            Pier Six Pavilion || Baltimore, MD
May 27            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX
May 28            Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX

Jenna Paulette and Ely Cattleman Commemorate Two Years of CowboyGirl at Grand Ole Opry

It was a night celebrating Texas roots, country music tradition and the enduring spirit of the American cowgirl as acclaimed singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette took the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville on Wednesday evening, October 7, as part of a celebration of Texas country music.

For Paulette, the evening carried an additional milestone. Backstage in the Women of Country Music room, she celebrated the second anniversary of her signature Western apparel collaboration, CowboyGirl by Jenna Paulette x Ely Cattleman, with the official renewal of the partnership between the Texas-raised country artist and the heritage Western wear brand.

CowboyGirl was developed around a simple belief: women who work hard deserve clothing that works just as hard while allowing them to feel feminine, confident and true to themselves. Drawing inspiration from the vintage snap shirts worn by Paulette's grandfather, family traditions and generations of Western craftsmanship, the collection blends timeless ranchwear with thoughtful details designed specifically for women.

At the heart of the line is the signature CowboyGirl Granddaddy Snap Shirt, featuring longer shirt tails, additional room through the shoulders and bust, sleeves designed for freedom of movement, and practical details suited to life in the saddle.

“This collaboration continues to be a dream come true, watching it grow so much over the last two years makes me so excited for how it’s continuing to resonate with girls like me,” Paulette reflects. “I love hearing that I wasn’t the only one looking for a shirt like this. I’m so excited to continue this with Chris and my Ely Cattleman family.”
Over the past two years, the collaboration has grown beyond its original women's collection, introducing new designs, seasonal offerings and Little CowboyGirl, an extension bringing the collection's Western heritage to the next generation.

“There couldn't have been a more fitting place to celebrate two years of CowboyGirl and the renewal of our partnership with Jenna than backstage at the Grand Ole Opry,” shares Chris Stein, President of Ely & Walker. “Jenna is an incredibly well-rounded artist, from her talent as a singer and songwriter to her creativity and vision beyond the stage. But what truly sets her apart is that the Western lifestyle isn't something she simply represents, it's who she is. She grew up living it, and those roots are reflected in everything she does, from her music to the thoughtful details she brings to CowboyGirl. That's what makes this collaboration so authentic. She's not just the face of the collection; she's an integral part of its creative direction. We're incredibly proud of what we've built together and excited to continue this journey with her.”

The renewal of the partnership represents a continued commitment to creating authentic Western apparel for women and girls who embrace the cowgirl lifestyle, whether they're working cattle, competing in the arena, performing onstage, or carrying a piece of their Western heritage into everyday life.

Jenna Paulette and Ely Cattleman’s Chris Stein | Photo Credit: Kacey Wright

About Jenna Paulette:
A CMT Next Women of Country honoree and an Apple Music’s Country Riser, singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette – a cowgirl who came of age amid the gritty realities of ranch life – is part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists who are rewriting the rules and charting their own paths. Paulette settled in Nashville in 2015, where she struck up a mentorship with Ashley Gorley – a veteran songwriter with 60+ No. 1 hits under his belt – which ultimately led to her publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in June 2021. Since collaborating with songwriters Will Bundy, Rhett Akins, and Jessie Jo Dillion, as well as opening for Mason Ramsey, Parmalee, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, and Aaron Watson, Paulette has landed brand partnerships with Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Ely Cattleman and Ranch Water.

With the arrival of her debut album The Girl I Was in 2023, Grammy.com remarked the project as “transformative,” noting it “fuses the sounds of [Shania] Twain and Miranda Lambert, tackling mental health with the somber ‘You Ain’t No Cowboy’ and waxing philosophical on ‘Country In The Girl.’” She continued to spotlight her authentic Western lifestyle with the launch of her Cowboygirl line with Ely Cattleman and her Sunrise and Sunset boot line with Boot Barn. Paulette signed with independent label Leo33 in 2024. Her 20-track Horseback (Deluxe) album is available now. For more information, visit www.jennapaulette.com.

About Ely Cattleman:
Founded in 1878, Ely Cattleman is a heritage Western apparel brand with roots in the traditions of the American West. Recognized for authentic Western shirts, classic styling, and practical design, the brand continues to serve generations of Western wear enthusiasts. Its CowboyGirl collaboration with Jenna Paulette reflects its commitment to honoring tradition while developing functional, stylish apparel for today's cowgirls.

Website: www.elycattleman.com

Shop CowboyGirl: www.elycattleman.com/pages/cowboygirl

KAITLIN BUTTS ENLISTS HONKY TONKS AROUND THE GLOBE TO REVEAL THE TRACK LISTING FOR HELLO, HONKY TONK

There’s no better place to reveal a record called Hello, Honky Tonk than a honky tonk. This week, Tulsa-born singer/songwriter Kaitlin Butts enlisted honky tonks around the globe to unveil the track listing for her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Hello, Honky Tonk, out October 30 via Republic Records. Pre-save Hello, Honky Tonk HERE.

Beginning Monday this week, a different honky tonk or legendary music venue unveiled a new song from the album each day, turning the track-listing announcement into an international bar crawl through the world Butts created for Hello, Honky Tonk. From Nashville and Tulsa to Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Sydney and London, the daily reveals have brought the album’s complete 14-song track listing into that neon light.

The venues participating in the weeklong reveal include some of the most iconic honky tonks and live music rooms in the country and abroad, including Billy Bob’s Texas, Cain’s Ballroom, the Grand Ole Opry, Luckenbach Texas, John T. Floore’s Country Store, Skinny Dennis and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, as well as Sydney’s Jolene’s and London’s Duke’s of Highgate.

“Hello, Honky Tonk is really a world of its own,” says Butts. “There are all these characters and stories and little moments happening inside of it, so I thought it would be fun to let the places that inspired that world introduce the songs. Honky tonks are where these stories live, so who better to tell you what’s coming?”

After a week of daily reveals, the complete list of participating honky tonks and venues include: Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth, TX, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN, Luckenbach Texas, Luckenbach, TX, Showboat Saloon, Wisconsin Dells, WI, Jolene’s, Sydney, Australia, Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson, WY, Tower Theatre, Oklahoma City, OK, John T. Floore’s Country Store, Helotes, TX,  Skinny Dennis, Nashville, TN, Harry’s Northgate, College Station, TX, Duke’s of Highgate, London, England, Brewster Street, Corpus Christi, TX and The Newberry, Great Falls, MT. 

The track listing reveal follows a string of new music from Hello, Honky Tonk, including “What More Could You Want,” which Country Central says, “two-steps towards something that feels built for props and blocking in a musical” along with tracks “I Wanna Be Bad” and “Never Really Mine.” The recently released “What More Could You Want” is a languid, Broadway-ready piano ballad and autobiographical sketch of a performer questioning how much more she has to give.

“That song feels exactly word for word what I feel like every day,” says Butts. “This tug and pull of loving this and craving this and loving to be on stage, loving every creative moment but also being stressed out wondering, ‘Do you like me? Do I need to be shinier? Do you want more?’”

Named one of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated albums for 2026, Hello, Honky Tonk is a love letter to the honky tonks and nightlife that have shaped Butts while becoming a huge part of her life on the road. Recorded in Nashville with producer Tofer Brown (Carter Faith, Willow Avalon, Little Big Town), the album brings to life a bar like no other, populated by a cast of characters listeners might recognize from the dance floor, behind the bar or from the corner booth.

Inspired in part by the vaudeville vignettes of Chicago and Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Butts envisioned Hello, Honky Tonk as a place where all of these characters could coexist.

“The thought behind the concept was how in Chicago, the character Roxie Hart is dreaming up what her show would look like and all the people in it,” says Butts. “I picture all of this happening at Skinny Dennis here in Nashville. These are all the different people in the room. There's the bar fight that's happening. There's the bad girl that just got off work. There's me being the entertainer. There are so many people that really love the nightlife. It’s a connector for people.”

The album continues the momentum of Butts’ critically acclaimed Roadrunner! in 2024, a bold reimagining inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! that landed on numerous year-end best-of lists and featured her viral anthem “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” which has amassed more than 157 million TikTok views and 67 million global streams.

Butts will celebrate the release of Hello, Honky Tonk with her Hello, Honky Tonk Live and In Person Tour, kicking off October 29 at Nashville’s Skinny Dennis before continuing with stops across Texas and Oklahoma in December. Her performance at Skinny Dennis sold out in four hours. Tickets for the remaining shows are available at kaitlinbutts.com.

HELLO, HONKY TONK LIVE AND IN PERSON TOUR DATES
Oct. 29 — Nashville, TN — Skinny Dennis SOLD OUT
Dec. 10 — College Station, TX — Harry’s Northgate
Dec. 11 — Helotes, TX — Floore’s Country Store
Dec. 12 — Corpus Christi, TX — Brewster Street Ice House
Dec. 17 — Oklahoma City, OK — Tower Theatre
Dec. 18 — Fort Worth, TX — Billy Bob’s Texas

For the latest news, music and tour dates, visit kaitlinbutts.com and follow @kaitlinbutts on Instagram and Facebookand @kaitlinbuttsmusic on TikTok.

Miranda Lambert Announces 'Songline' Album (Nov. 13) and Film (Nov. 20) Following Amazon Music 'Songline Live' Debut

Last night, Amazon Music debuted Miranda Lambert’s Songline Live, a special broadcast of the three-time GRAMMY winner’s intimate performance filmed at The Truth in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 1. Accompanied by a 12-piece string section, Lambert performed select songs from her brand-new album, Crisco, alongside reimagined versions of her catalog hits. The broadcast streamed on the Amazon Music app, Prime Video and Twitch as part of Country Music Month.
 
The career-spanning set opened with “Kerosene” and featured favorites including “Only Prettier,” “Fastest Girl in Town” and “White Liar,” alongside newer songs such as “Snakeskin Boots,” “Sunset Marquis” and the title track from Crisco. The string arrangements brought a fresh dimension to “Bluebird,” “Vice,” “The House That Built Me” and “Tin Man,” giving fans an intimate new way to experience Lambert’s storytelling. Chris Stapleton joined Lambert for “A Song to Sing,” before she closed the show with “Gunpowder & Lead.”
 
Fans can watch a rebroadcast of the performance today, Oct. 8, here.
 
Following the performance, Amazon Music announced that Miranda Lambert’s Songline album will arrive November 13, followed by a Songline film on November 20. The film will pair performances from last night’s broadcast with exclusive interviews in which Lambert reflects on her songs and career.
 
Songline is a series dedicated to the craft of songwriting and invites artists to reimagine their music in a stripped-down, intimate setting. Each performance is intercut with in-depth interviews with the artist, giving songwriters the opportunity to demystify the songwriting process and share their personal and creative journeys with fans.
 
Co-produced by Lambert and Frasure, her latest album, Crisco, celebrates the many worlds that have always existed within country music while nodding to the genre’s shared history with disco. The 12-track album weaves together heartbreak and hope, highways and honky-tonks, rhinestones and roller skates. It features the Grammy-nominated “A Song to Sing” with Chris Stapleton, the title track “Crisco,” “Till the Going’s Gone,” “Sunset Marquis” and “Two Things Can Be True,” as well as opening track and radio single “Snakeskin Boots” with Ella Langley. For more information, visit MirandaLambert.com and follow @MirandaLambert on social media.
 
The recently announced Country Music Month celebration from Amazon Music also features new Amazon Music Originals, “Country Heat Weekly Podcast” episodes with artists including Kenny Chesney, Riley Green and Elizabeth Nichols and the announcement of Stella Lefty as the newest Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist. The month’s programming includes Lainey Wilson’s Amazon Music Live performance on October 15 and a new Shaboozey Songline film debuting October 23. Amazon Music is also working with Musicians On Call to bring virtual country music performances to patients, families, and caregivers in healthcare environments nationwide throughout October.

Miranda Lambert Performs at The Truth, Oct. 1, 2026

Maddox Batson Hits 1 Million YouTube Subscribers

Rising country artist/entertainer Maddox Batson has officially reached a major digital milestone, surpassing 1 million subscribers on YouTube – and was recently surprised with the platform’s Gold Creator Award to celebrate the achievement.

The milestone marks another major moment in a breakout year for the 16-year-old, whose career began with videos of him performing covers online before evolving into a global touring career and a rapidly growing catalog of original music. In 2026, Batson completed his Live Worldwide Tour across North America and Europe, joined Tucker Wetmore for select dates on The Brunette World Tour and released his latest single, “Fallin’ Easy.” He also made his acting debut in the Nate Bargatze and Mandy Moore film The Breadwinner and was named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 for the second time.

Now, Batson is taking the next step in his music career, spending time in the studio working on his first full-length album.

“I started posting videos on YouTube because I loved making music and sharing it with people, so hitting a million subscribers is pretty crazy to think about,” shared Batson. “To be surprised with the plaque by Lyor Cohen with YouTube made it even more special. I’m really grateful to everyone who has been watching, listening and showing up for me from those first videos to where we are now. And we’re just getting started.”

Batson will celebrate another milestone this fall when he returns home to Tennessee for Maddox & Friends at White House Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 10, benefiting the Tim Tebow Foundation. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., followed by Batson’s full-band live performance. Supported by Ducks Unlimited with an on-site activation, the event will bring together live music, fall festivities and Batson’s hometown community for an evening supporting a cause close to his heart.

General admission tickets include access to the White House Pumpkin Patch’s 8-acre corn maze, 2-acre flower fields, hayrides, corn cannon and pit, gem mining and various games. 

The Maddox Batson & Friends benefit show debuted at White House Pumpkin Patch in 2024, with Batson returning this year to continue the tradition while supporting the Tim Tebow Foundation.

For more information and tickets, visit maddoxbatson.com or thewhitehousepumpkinpatch.com.

Maddox Batson and Lyor Cohen (YouTube, Global Head of Music) | Photo Credit: Aaron Meighan