Hillbilly Live!

Ashley Monroe had a lot to say in how she feels about Nashville.

She just dropped her seventh album, “Dear Nashville”, on Friday March 27, 2026. And it’s more of love and hate relationship with Nashville. Ashley has had a pretty good career over the past 23 years to say the least. She’s written and released 4 albums with Pistol Annies, co-written two songs that were number 1 on country radio, nominated for 3 Grammys, released 7 solo albums as of this past Friday, and she’s watched a lot of her dreams come true.

With that being said…Nashville along with mainstream country music seems act like Ashley doesn’t exist at times and she’s now saying something about that. And rightfully so.

She posted a long note she wrote on her socials saying….

“For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of coming to Nashville to live out my dream. A couple years after daddy died, me and mama left Knoxville and headed west… with a fire and an unwavering faith inside my broken little heart that would not let up.

Over the past 23 years, I have met some of the cornerstones of my life in this town (one being Sir Vince). I have been signed and dropped by several labels, written and released 4 albums with Pistol Annies, co-written two songs that were number 1 on country radio, nominated for 3 Grammys, released 6 solo albums, and have watched a lot of my dreams come true.

I make music because I love it with every fiber of my being. I believe God gave this gift to me, and with it I want to create art that helps heal the places words alone cannot reach.

I am forever thankful to everyone who has supported me and unconditionally loved me on this journey.

Yet, I have also felt underestimated, let down, and taken for granted. Last fall after attending an industry event, it hit me so hard it took my breath away…’they’re never gonna see me…’

In that moment, I finally let myself feel how sad that makes me.

Nothing has inspired me more, or hurt me more than this place. I feel like I’ve earned the right to say that. Yet, every morning there’s this hope of a miracle on that Batman horizon that I’m unable to shake.

After years of trying to focus on the bright side and pretending this town doesn’t break my heart, I figured why not let em know… what do I have to lose?

If someone is hurting us, and we don’t let them know, isn’t that on us?

-Ash

P.s. is there anything better than Paul Franklin?

P.s.s I love you John Grady, Sally Barris, and Ree Guyer. My northern(er) stars forever.

To my beautiful Nashville, I wish you loved me as much as I love you.”

View this post on Instagram

In a recent appearance on Dale Brisby’s “Rodeo Time” podcast, Cody Johnson talked about this insane moment back in 2019 when his jet was in complete free fall for tens of thousands of feet.

He was flying from Haddysburg, Mississippi, to Austin, Texas, to perform the national anthem at the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021. And this was actually the first time he was traveling via private jet. Here’s the interesting part. The flight took off just fine, then soon after flying over the crash site of Lynyrd Skynyrd (of all places), the plane started plummeting downward.

“It was very ironic because we were going over the crash site where Lynyrd Skynyrd went down. The alarms go off and the plane just starts plummeting. And you want confidence out of a lot of people, like your surgeons, you know, the guy pulling your bull rope. But I think your pilot [is another one]. When you can see true, unadulterated fear in a man’s eyes and he’s the one controlling the aircraft, [it’s terrifying]. 

Even more ironic compared to the fact that they started going down around the Skynyrd crash site, Cody said he was really enjoying the flight before the alarms started going off.

“So I get up, and we’re kind of plummeting through the air. You can feel like the drinks are starting to kind of move around. We were actually playing cards, and I’ve never said this on a plane ever again. I said, ‘Well, this don’t suck,’ [and the alarms went off].”

Clearly sensing something was wrong, Cody went up to the cockpit to ask the pilots what was wrong. That’s when they informed him that the plane was going down and it wasn’t going to be an emergency landing. The plane was literally going down in a free-fall. After being told the terrifying news, Cody began looking at pictures of his kids next to his wife, Brandi, both thinking they might not make it out of the plane alive.

“I ran up to the pilots, and I said, ‘What the heck is going on?’ and he was white as a sheep. He looked at me and said, ‘You need to sit down and make yourself ready. We’re going down.’ And I said, ‘Where are we putting it down?’ He said, ‘We’re not putting it down, we’re going down.

I turned around and Noe and Jackson and Brandi are looking at me, like eyes wide open… I went and sat by Brandi and we started looking through our phones and looking at pictures of our kids. [We were like], ‘Look at what we did.’”

Cody’s wife started praying, and during Brandi’s prayer in the back of the plane, the plane finally leveled off at 10,000 feet after losing tens of thousands during its free fall. And I believe that’s where divine intervention came into play. Cody went to say…

“She gathered us around that back table in the plane, and we held hands. She went to praying out loud, speaking over that plane, and at 10,000 feet, it leveled off.”

Now after Cody, Brandi and the rest of the crew ended up landing in Austin, Texas safely…they found out the entire situation was completely on the fault of the pilot…not an engine malfunction or any mechanical problem.

“This is the power of prayer right here. They did diagnostics on that plane; there was nothing wrong with the plane. I truly, to this day, believe she prayed that plane into the air.”

I’m guessing Cody’s first time flying on a private jet won’t ever be forgotten. Especially after an incident like that…and God is definitely good.

Baseball season is officially back y’all! And to celebrate, here are 10 country songs about baseball.

They are:

1. “The Cheap Seats”,  Alabama

2. “98 Braves”,  Morgan Wallen

3. “The Greatest”,  Kenny Rogers

4. “April to October”,  Reckless Kelly

5. “The Baseball Song”,  Corey Smith

6. “Swing”,  Trace Adkins

7. “Centerfield”,  John Fogerty

8. “Joe DiMaggio Done It Again”,  Billy Bragg & Wilco

9. “715 (For Hank Aaron)”,  Peter Cooper

10. “America’s Favorite Pastime”,  Todd Snider

While we’re here…GO CUBS GO!!

Carrie Underwood has two sons, an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old. And She was recently asked on “The View” if she would ever let them go on a singing competition show.

Carrie says they both can sing, and the older one is big into his music, but it’s a hard no.

She said, “he’s mini-me in so many ways, but I don’t think I would. He would need to be older and more established in himself before I would give my blessing on getting into it.”

Parker McCollum sat down for an interview with the “Ten Year Town Podcast” to talk about life and music.

His last album, which was his fifth studio as well being a self titled album, was released last June and I wasn’t as popular as his others to say the least. And that kind of upsets me personally a little considering how this album of Parker’s was a phenomenal project from him.

But he said, “I don’t give a shit one bit. For one reason. For one reason, because I love that record so much. I knew going into it, man, this record’s for me.”

As a real fan of this album in discussion here…a passion project like this is some of the best music any artist can release. Mainly because it doesn’t get more real and honest than an album like that. And thank you for releasing this album, Parker.

Welcome to Friday March 27, 2026 y’all. We do in fact have some new country music here today.

Now be sure to do your part in visiting your neighbor liquor store to pair your favorite alcohol with your new favorite country music, because it’s how country music is supposed be enjoyed. Don’t let anyone judge you for it neither.

Here’s what we’ve found…

1. Ty Myers released his sophomore album “Heavy On The Soul”.

2. Flatland Cavalry dropped their newest album “Work Of Heart”.

3. Drayton Farley…”A Heavy Duty Heart”.

4. Joshua Slone…”Thinking Too Much (Live)”.

5. Megan Moroney…”The Best Of Both Worlds “.

View this post on Instagram

6. Sam Barber…”Just A Kid”.

View this post on Instagram

7. Luke Bryan…”Country And She Knows It”.

8. Cameron Whitcomb…”Kingdom of Fear”.

9. Benjamin Tod…”End of My Rope”.

10. Blake Whiten…”Ghost House”.

11. Braxton Keith…”Little Bit By Little Bit“.

View this post on Instagram

12. ERNEST released the title track to his upcoming album, “Deep Blue”, that’s due out May 1, 2026.

13. Graham Baraham…”BREAKUP (DOWN)”.

14. Silverada…”Highways Man”.

15. Ashley Cooke…”XS”.

16. Thomas Rhett…”Georgia On My Mind”.

View this post on Instagram

17. Ian Munsick…”Love Is Blind”.

18. Brantley Gilbert…”Good Damn”

View this post on Instagram

19. Mitchell Tenpenny…”Speed of Light”.

20. Cole Swindell…”Dirty Dancing (Stripperd)”.

View this post on Instagram

21. Coleman Jennings….”Good While It Lasted”.

22. Tigirlily Gold…”Country & Midwestern”.

23. Ingrid Andress…”Taillights”.

24. Chancey Williams…”It’s My Lie”.

View this post on Instagram

Who wants a 40th anniversary tour with Shenandoah? I do!

Shenandoah is celebrating four decades of music with their official “40th Anniversary Tour” throughout 2026. The tour, which kicks off on March 27, 2026 in Wickenburg, AZ and wrapping up December 5, 2026 in Thackerville, OK.

Features a career-spanning setlist and appearances at major festivals alongside artists like Brooks & Dunn and Jason Aldean, get off your ass and go see Shenandoah in 2026. Hearing them sing “Two Dozen Roses” live is pure joy.

Tickets are available through major platforms like Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and Vivid Seats. For more on Shenandoah, please visit shenandoahband.com.

View this post on Instagram

It may be dehydration season in June in Nashville…but CMA Fest is absolutely worth the risk.

CMA Fest announced about 150 artists who will be performing at the FREE daytime stages. The lineup includes Ernest, Midland, Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tucker Wetmore, Nate Smith, Drew Baldridge, Ty Myers, Waylon Wyatt and Ashley Cooke to name a few.

The festival goes down June 4th to the 7th in downtown Nashville. If you’ve never been and you’re real country fan, try to make your vacation plans to go. You can won’t be disappointed.

For tickets and information on CMA Fest 2026, please visit cmafest.com.

View this post on Instagram

Have you seen the trailer for the next “Yellowstone” spin-off, “Dutton Ranch”?  Well, if stars align, we just might see a reunion between Beth and Kayce. 

An executive said, “Luke [Grimes] and I have talked about it in the past. I think it’s really just having these two productions and trying to figure that out that would be the challenge…

I certainly think the ‘Yellowstone’ audience deserves seeing Kayce and his sister together at some point.”

“Dutton Ranch” premieres May 15th on Paramount+ and the Paramount Network.

Texas will be celebrating America’s birthday in perfect fashion…and pretty much everywhere.

Robert Earl Keen is set to return to Luckenbach, Texas, for a Fourth of July Celebration concert on Saturday July 4, 2026. He will also be joined by the legendary Asleep at the Wheel and Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys for the event.

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM CT. Information and ticket links can be found via the Luckenbach Texas official’s page or through robertearlkeen.com.

View this post on Instagram