Matt Wickstrom is a contributor to GRAMMY.com
Riley Green can hardly stay out of the spotlight nowadays. But even despite his soft-spoken and rugged demeanor, he has one thing to say about his new level of fame: Don't Mind If I Do. The Alabama native's third album, which he released last October, helped launch him into the country music zeitgeist more than ever, particularly thanks to a…
You'll be hard pressed to find a musician that works harder than Charley Crockett. Prior to his career as a country crooner, the Texas native has done everything from working for cattle ranchers to cultivating marijuana. And since his first official release in 2015, Crockett has become one of the most prolific artists in music — and his work ethic…
Trisha Yearwood may be more than three decades into her career, but she's checking off a few big firsts with her new album, The Mirror. Out now, the LP is the "She's In Love With The Boy" singer's first project since 2019's Every Girl (Deluxe Edition) and her first with Virgin Music Group, which partnered with Yearwood's Gwendolyn Records to…
By 1995, Emmylou Harris was already a certified star, with 10 Top 10 albums and five No. 1 hits on country charts. But after releasing several underperforming albums in the late '80s and early '90s, she set out to reinvent herself with Wrecking Ball. The 12-track LP incorporated electric mandolin, electric guitar and synthesizers to create a modernized Appalachian sound,…
For nearly 25 years, Blake Shelton has been at the center of the country music zeitgeist. It all began in 2001 with his debut single and No. 1 hit "Austin," and has continued into 2025, when the aptly titled "Texas" became his 30th chart-topping tune on May 5. "I've always been a nerd for stats and things like that in…
Over a decade into their time playing together, I'm With Her — the supergroup of folk stars Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan and Sara Watkins — has honed in on a sound that's "Wild and Clear and Blue" as ever. Whereas the trio's 2018 album, See You Around, almost exclusively featured singular trio arrangements, I'm With Her instead opted for a…
Long before power pickers like Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Sister Sadie began taking the bluegrass world by storm, it was Alison Krauss turning heads and blazing trails. Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager at bluegrass festivals in the mid '80s, the Illinois-born singer has gone on to win a whopping 27 GRAMMY Awards — the fourth most…
Since bursting onto the scene in 1991 with their debut single and No. 1 hit "Brand New Man," Brooks & Dunn have gone on to not only become country music icons, but an inspiration to countless artists that have followed them. That influence has led to not one, but two albums dedicated to their legacy: 2019's Reboot and Reboot II,…
After over a half century in the public eye, doing everything from writing hit songs to appearing on the big screen, Kris Kristofferson passed away at age 88 on Sept. 28. While he may not have had the most powerful voice himself, the power of the "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" singer's pen always ensured his songs would find the right…
Billy Strings has taken the bluegrass world by storm for nearly a decade now, thanks to his insatiable picking and ability to mix traditional sounds with jam, punk, metal, rock, and high and lonesome hollerin'. The recipe has proved fruitful for Strings thus far, drawing in a legion of fans who've gone from packing small clubs to filling arenas to…
Mason Ramsey doesn't even remember why he was at Walmart on that fateful day in March 2018. And due to his family's lack of internet at home, he didn't even know his yodeling had made him an overnight sensation until calls from "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and the like began rolling in a week later. But while his nasally, high-pitched…
With a strong will and brazen sense of humor, Miranda Lambert has always proudly represented her native Texas with her music. But the country star's tenth album might just be her most inspired by the Lonestar State yet — which is exactly why it's titled Postcards From Texas. Recorded at Austin's famed Arlyn Recording Studios, Postcards is full of hard-driving…
Lainey Wilson will be in discussion, with a performace to follow, at the GRAMMY Museum on Sept. 5. Learn more about the event here. If there's one word to describe Lainey Wilson's life in the past year, it's whirlwind — which is exactly how she chose the name of her third album. Since releasing Bell Bottom Country in 2022, the…
It's hard to imagine country music without Alan Jackson. One of the trailblazers who helped define an entire generation of country music, his accolades include 26 No. 1s on country radio, over 75 million records sold worldwide, two GRAMMYs, and inductions into both the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's been a remarkable run for…
Faith has been a driving force behind Alabama band the Red Clay Strays, both in their music and in their journey to stardom. With their new album, Made By These Moments, the quintet leans into that foundation even further, giving listeners a look into their walk with God and road to redemption — all of which has helped them become…
After breaking out in the world of contemporary Christian music, Anne Wilson wants to take the country world by storm. Out April 19, Wilson's sophomore album embraces the many aspects of her self. Rebel sees the Kentuckian lean into her country and horse farm roots just as she leans into her faith — a subject already deeply intertwined in country…
Last August, Oliver Anthony became the quintessential definition of overnight success. His working class anthem "Rich Men North of Richmond" went from viral sensation to history-making hit, helping the singer become the first to top the Billboard Hot 100 without any prior chart history. But while "Richmond" showcases Anthony's brutally honest songwriting and raw delivery, its message and success are…
You've likely seen Lola Kirke a time or two on the big screen or your favorite streaming platform. However, the London-born, New York City-raised performer — who's been featured everywhere from Amazon Prime Video's Mozart In The Jungle to HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty — is now looking to be recognized in a different way: country…
We may have known about Toby Keith's stomach cancer diagnosis for nearly two years, but that didn't keep the news of his Feb. 5 death from hitting hard. The oftentimes outspoken country music star enjoyed a three-decade career as one of the genre's beloved hitmakers, courtesy of unabashed hits like "Who's Your Daddy?," "Made In America" and "I Wanna Talk…
Between chart domination and stadium tours, there's no denying that country music has been on a hot streak lately. As the likes of Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen help the genre achieve mainstream success, a renewed popularity in the country's traditional stylings has been front and center — and there's a new wave of rising stars continuing the…
