In 1980, Mickey Gilley released a successful cover version of “True Love Ways.” It reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and even peaked at No. 66 on Billboard Hot 100. This country crossover success came after Gilley decided to come up with a new sound that so many country artists – including … Read more
Scotty McCreery was only sixteen years old when he impressed and won the hearts of American Idol judges with his thrilling rendition of Josh Turner’s “Your Man” and Travis Tritt’s “Put Some Drive in Your Country.” You can tell that it’s one of the most memorable moments in the entire history of the iconic reality … Read more
In 1962, Marty Robbins released “Devil Woman” as the first single and title track off his tenth studio album. The song then became another successful hit for Robbins, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart – where it remained at the top spot for eight remarkable weeks. On top of that, it successfully … Read more
When Marty Robbins released “El Paso” in 1959 off his album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, it quickly became a major hit – not only on the country music charts – but also on the pop charts. The song reached No. 1 both on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart as well as Billboard Hot 100. … Read more
Tanya Tucker was only thirteen years old when she recorded her husky rendition of “Delta Dawn” – yet she proved she’s capable of handling mature subject matter despite being at such a young age. Singing “Delta Dawn” with distinctive vibrato, country listeners were swiftly drawn to this confident and charismatic youngster. The Seminole, Texas native … Read more
Did you know that before “Delta Dawn” became a hit for Tanya Tucker and Helen Reddy, it was first recorded by Alex Harvey – who’s actually the brilliant mind behind the country ballad? The song first appeared on Harvey’s eponymous album, released in 1971. RELATED: Remember When The Song “Delta Dawn” Catapulted Tanya Tucker Into … Read more
During the 1950s and 1960s, Marty Robbins songs dominated – not only on the country charts but as well as the pop chart, making him one of the most successful crossover artists of his generation. It’s fascinating how Robbins’ versatile baritone allowed him to pick up a vast variety of musical styles. But perhaps what … Read more
In 1950, Hank Williams recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” at Castle Studio, Nashville. The song was then released as the B-side to “Dear John” – which ranked No. 8 on the country chart. However, “Cold, Cold Heart” proved to be a much more popular favorite among disc jockeys and jukebox listeners, whose enthusiasm brought the song … Read more
When Home Free created their album Timeless in 2017, they were especially scrupulous in picking songs they felt conveyed more depth – and John Mayer’s “In the Blood” is just among their top choices. The song is Mayer’s first release to country radio and quickly earned unsolicited airplay! While it’s an improbable chart-buster, it still … Read more
Toby Keith is beyond thankful for his fans! Days after the seven-time Grammy nominee revealed his stomach cancer diagnosis, he again turned to social media to send a sweet message to his fans. “Thank you for all your love and support,” Keith wrote on his official Twitter account. “I have the best fans in the … Read more
Buster Welch, the legendary cowboy and longtime horse trainer, died on Sunday (June 12) at age 94. The death of the all-around riding icon came months after a new generation got to know him following his appearance on an episode of Yellowstone Season 4. Fans of the modern-day western series pretty sure remember him playing … Read more
Toby Keith revealed a piece of sad news with fans that he’s been battling stomach cancer for much of the past months. The country superstar took to Instagram to detail his diagnosis that came last fall and how he has spent the past six months “receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery.” Despite the treatment he’s been … Read more
Gathering the best Brad Paisley songs is absolutely a challenging thing to do! After all, he is without a doubt one of the finest male country artists to emerge in the 2000s. Over the past two decades, the West Virginia native has released some of the most poignant, compelling songs in the history of country … Read more
In 2003, Billy Currington released “Walk A Little Straighter” as his debut single off his self-titled album. The song peaked at No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It was also a minor crossover hit, reaching No. 67 on Billboard Hot 100. RELATED: 50 Best Drinking Songs That Everyone Needs In Their Playlist But … Read more
In the 1980s, Holly Dunn rose to fame with “Daddy’s Hands” that eventually became her signature song. Though the song only rose to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks, it was Dunn’s longest-lasting hit and continued to be on radio playlists. The Song That Made People Weep Written by Holly Dunn … Read more
In 2004, George Strait released “I Hate Everything” as the lead single off his compilation album, 50 Number Ones. The song easily ranked atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and was a crossover success, peaking at No. 35 on Billboard Hot 100. Written by Garry Harrison and Keith Stegall, “I Hate Everything” tells the story of a … Read more
While he’s no saint, Blake Shelton songs often share small glimpses of his spiritual life throughout the years. Take, for instance, this hymn-like country ballad “Savior’s Shadow” – which goes even further to highlight his conviction and humility as a guide through trying times in a way that leaves no doubt. The song was released … Read more
In 1982, Alabama released “Close Enough to Perfect” as the third single off their album Mountain Music. It became the country music band’s eighth No. 1 country hit as it ranked atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. The song helped Alabama become the first country act to earn quadruple-platinum status. The band achieved the feat when … Read more
In 1979, Conway Twitty released “Happy Birthday Darlin’” as the third and final single off his album Cross Winds. The song quickly became a hit, ranking No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart – where it stayed on top for three weeks, spending a total of eleven remarkable weeks. Since then, “Happy Birthday Darlin’” … Read more
In 2018, Brad Paisley premiered his much-anticipated single “Bucked Off.” Written by Paisley along with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois, “Bucked Off” uses elements of the rodeo to describe a looming breakup. It finds Paisley comparing himself to a cowboy that’s about to get bucked off by a bull, knowing that pain is about to … Read more
Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis has joined TikTok and began posting on the addictive video platform. And one of his early uploads has truly blown away millions of country fans – it was none other than his duet with Josh Turner for the romantic ballad “Forever and Ever, Amen.” In the short clip, … Read more
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Alan Jackson will no longer be performing at this year’s CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee. The Country Music Association revealed the heartbreaking news just a few days prior to the star-studded nightly concerts kickoff. The “Remember When” singer was slated to perform at the Nissan … Read more
It absolutely wasn’t your usual morning on the busy Oklahoma City highway. Last Monday (June 6), a herd of cattle got loose, and one cow started running down Interstate 40 near Pennsylvania Avenue as cars zoomed past the opposite sides of the road – just a few feet away. Luckily, two cowboys riding a horse … Read more
While “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” has been sung by countless country legends, it’s incredible how this sweet six-year-old girl snuck her way up to that list. In a short clip we’ve found on YouTube – which was apparently recorded in 2015 – a little girl took center stage, donning … Read more
Patsy Cline is without a doubt the most popular female country singer in recording history. She’s best known for her smoky, inherently vintage-sounding voice and emotionally expressive tone – a singing style that remains an influence on the realm of music. This is why there’s no voice that is just perfectly suited to the song … Read more
Morgan Wallen has made another record-breaking run with the debut of his heartbreak ballad, “Wasted On You.” The song debuted early in 2021 as part of the acoustic set released on YouTube before the release of his album, Dangerous: The Double Album. The track became an immediate fan favorite that, in fact, it debuted at … Read more
Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, and Miranda Lambert in one “Family Tradition” – is there any more we could ask for? In 2021, Billy Bob’s Texas kicked off a month-long celebration for its 40th Anniversary. Several country superstars then graced the iconic Texas venue – and during the weekend, Hank Williams Jr. headlined back-to-back nights … Read more
During his 29th birthday, Morgan Wallen finally released the highly anticipated studio version of “You Proof.” “No other way I’d want to celebrate turning 29 than dropping new music,” Wallen said. The East Tennessee native first shared the brand-new track in the summer of 2021 through a demo recording snippet he uploaded on his social … Read more
Kelly Clarkson found herself all the way to Knoxville during her most recent Kellyoke installment on The Kelly Clarkson Show last Wednesday (June 1), wherein she delivered a heartfelt rendition of Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain.” Written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan, the soulful ballad tells the story of a traveling man whose change of dreams led him … Read more
The mother of Randy Owen – frontman and the lead vocalist of the legendary group Alabama – has died on Thursday (June 2) in Fort Payne, Alabama. According to the group’s official statement, Martha Alice Teague Owen died surrounded by family members after a brief illness. She was 90 years old. “We will miss her … Read more