Country legends Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard collaborated for the sixth and final time (as Haggard would pass away ten months after the album’s release) with Django and Jimmie under Legacy Recordings. It was 14 tracks long with two features: Jamey Johnson for the first single, “It’s All Going to Pot,” and Bobby Bare for … Read more
“I Want Love” by Elton John, released in 2001, peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary charts upon release. Because of this, fans and famous artists worldwide would create and release their version and cover the song. Among those famous artists is Grammy award winner Chris Stapleton. Chris Stapleton I Want Love … Read more
“Goodbye Time” was included in the album Still in Your Dreams, released in 1988. The album features songs by Conway Twitty, such as “I Wish I Was Still in Your Dreams,” “If You Were Mine to Lose,” and “Saturday Night Special.” The song, written by Roger Murrah and James Dean Hicks, charted at the 7th … Read more
“House of Love” is a song by Amy Grant and Vince Gill, released in November 1994. The track reached the 5th spot on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at the 2nd spot on the Canada RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The duet was part of the album House of Love, with two versions … Read more
In October 2005, Randy Travis released Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise of gospel cover songs, which included “Here I to Worship.” Other notable gospel songs of Randy Travis are “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “He Walked on Water,” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Originally written by Tim Hughes, “Here I Am to Worship” is … Read more
Heartbreaks are never easy, and Vince Gill interprets the pain of letting go of someone in “Tryin’ to Get Over You.” The song perfectly resonates with the emotions of losing a loved one and trying to move on from the pain. Released in January 1994 as the fifth single from his album “I Still Believe … Read more
If you think loving someone is easy, Don Williams’s “That’s The Thing About Love” will tell you otherwise. Richard Leigh and Gary Nicholson wrote the song in March 1984, and it narrates the contradictions one feels while falling in love. The song ranked no. 1 on the country charts for 12 weeks, making it the … Read more
Songs have deeper meanings that all of us can relate to, or they’re simply narrated stories that need to be told. “Beat The Devil” by The Statler Brothers is an example of that. The Statler Brothers is an American country gospel band from Virginia. The group of four talented men, also called The Statlers, would … Read more
Country singer Porter Wagoner’s “The Carroll County Accident,” written by Bob Ferguson, earned the singer a string of achievements: a runner-up position on the Hot Country Singles chart, an entry in the Billboard Hot 100, and a CMA Song of the Year Award in 1969. And so, it wasn’t surprising that the track became one … Read more
“That’s all in the movies; so baby don’t cry,” Merle Haggard soothed in his 1975 number-one hit song with the Strangers titled “It’s All in the Movies.” And it was such an easy listen with a simple, remarkable melody and uncomplicated lyrics. As always, The Hag committed to complete simplicity, saying, “The best songs feel … Read more
The sons of Merle Haggard, Noel Haggard and Ben Haggard, shared a stage to honor his musical legacy with a cover of two of his hit songs, “Running Kind” and “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive.” The performance was part of the Country’s Family Reunion four-part tribute series for the legendary singer. The Tribute Larry Black, a … Read more
In October 2023, Country’s Family Reunion released a two-volume, 14-track tribute album for the one and only Merle Haggard, featuring Ben Haggard’s cover of “It’s All in the Movies.” And as always, the youngest son of the legendary singer nailed it. Since 1997, Country’s Family Reunion has brought together country music greats who helped shape … Read more
In 2013, Dion Pride and Lorrie Morgan released their rendition of Charlie Pride’s classic breakout song “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.” The song is simply a joyful love story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman he calls his angel. However, according to reports, the song was inspired by fatherly love … Read more
In 1981, American country singer Merle Haggard released his hit cover of the gospel song “Where No One Stands Alone” as part of his album Songs for the Mama That Tried. It was originally written by Mosie Lister in 1955 and was sampled by Elvis Presley and Lisa Marie Presley in 1967. This album is … Read more
In 2008, American country music trio Lady A released their hit song “One Day You Will” as part of their self-titled album, Lady Antebellum. The way the band sang the song definitely struck a chord for many. Their powerful yet mellow vocals give the song the spark that many listeners fell in love with. That … Read more
In 2000, singer Phil Vassar released “Just Another Day in Paradise,” and it instantly became his first-ever number-one single as a country artist. Upon its release, “Just Another Day in Paradise” immediately climbed up the charts, landing at no. 1 on the US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) and no. 2 on the Canada Country Tracks … Read more
In 1998, American country singer Chad Brock released his breakout hit “Ordinary Life” as part of his self-titled debut album. Upon its release, “Ordinary Life” immediately made it to the charts, peaking at no. 3 on the US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) and no. 10 on the Canada Country Tracks, making it one of Chad … Read more
Aside from being a highly successful country singer, Brad Paisley is also a loving husband to his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and a proud dad of two kids, William Huckleberry and Jasper Warren. But before we get to know the boys, let’s take a quick walk down memory lane and reminisce about their mom and dad’s … Read more
“Dear John, I must let you know tonight that my love for you has died away like grass upon the lawn,” Jean Shepard sang in her 1953 hit song with Ferlin Husky titled “A Dear John Letter.” It was her first chart appearance and a number one at that. The most impressive part? She was … Read more
If anyone’s to list songs from Merle Haggard’s discography that defined his legendary career, then “The Fightin’ Side of Me” would’ve made it. He wrote the song with the American band The Strangers and was released as the first single and title track of the same-titled album. This wasn’t supposed to be Haggard’s next release … Read more
Country singer Keith Urban sang a tribute medley to the iconic country singer of the ‘60s, Marty Robbins, during the 2009 Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert. And no one could’ve done it better than him. The Tribute Every decade, the Academy of Country Music Award recognizes one artist whose career has significantly impacted country … Read more
The famous country vocal quartet, The Oak Ridge Boys’ track about a girl named “Bobbie Sue” became a massive hit. It was the first single off their same-titled album, and just months after its release in 1982, it nabbed the Oaks their sixth number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Not just that, … Read more
While Jean Shepard’s only number one hit in her entire career was “A Dear John Letter,” she did rack up a string of Top 10 hits, including her highly sensual track “Then He Touched Me.” She released it in 1969 as the first single for her album A Woman’s Hand, which peaked at number 8 … Read more
When Jean Shepard was making her way into the country music scene, she never felt the need to fit herself into the mold. She won people over with her rather unfamiliar hard-edged honky tonk vocals – unlike the usual smooth singing. And she was unafraid to record and release gritty songs, which were mostly about … Read more
In a time when women struggled to have full-blown careers, let alone break into country music, Jean Shepard paved the way. According to Opry announcer and WSM DJ Eddie Stubbs, she pushed doors open – she even kicked her way through if she needed to. So, if you’re curious to know more about this absolute … Read more
Country singers Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge got married just hours after meeting in an airport lounge in Los Angeles in 1971. Their marriage lasted for only seven years. And while they didn’t seem like the best as husband and wife, they fared better as duet partners. Case in point: “Please Don’t Tell Me How … Read more
In 1981, country music couple Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter dropped their duet version of Colter’s “Storms Never Last.” And it was a heartwarming, wonderful display of love between two lovely, beautiful human beings. In a 1973 interview with Rolling Stone’s Chet Flippo, Waylon Jennings said that he had been at the lowest point of … Read more
It’s no secret that Johnny Cash has been through a lot, and his songs are a big reflection of that. With the plethora of facts about him available on the Internet, there’s no shortage of little slices of his life that are still not-so-known. So, for every fan out there, we’ve compiled a short list … Read more
While people saw Elvis Presley as a rock’n’roll god. His stepbrother, Billy Stanley, recalled that the singer would often say a fifteen-second-long prayer before he went on stage to calm his nerves and to ask God to help bless the concert. He had always been a devout Christian. In fact, according to Colonel Tom Parker, … Read more
On September 12, 2003, the world bid goodbye to the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. And it was a heartbreaking day not just for the genre but for the whole music industry as well. The 71-year-old country music icon passed away in the early-morning hours at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital. He succumbed to respiratory failure brought … Read more