Hillbilly Live!

This man has a new album coming September 25, 2026 and it’s already causing some problems.

Aaron Watson posted this on his socials…

“Excited to announce my new album, ‘The S.O.Bees: Volume One,’ available September 25th! This album is totally different than anything I’ve ever released before. These are songs I’ve written over the last 25 years and never got to share. We recorded them to sound like the vintage style of music from 1965-1975. I can’t wait for y’all to hear them!”

The part where Aaron said, “this album is totally different than anything I’ve ever released before”, is pretty important. You can stream three out of the ten songs from the album as of now. Which include “Cowboys From LA”, “Camel Lights” and “Dolly Parton Pinball Machine”.

“Camel Lights” is a certified twanger by the way…and “Cowboy From LA” is exactly what you think. It literally describes a cowboy from LA who’s “a country singing, left winging cowboy from LA” who even has a Gavin Newsom sticker on his truck. To each their own…because Gavin is trash.

Now some people are obviously thinking he’s being hateful for speaking the truth, but it’s what country music has always been about. It’s always talked about life…rather you agree with it or not.

Aaron addressed the critics saying, “for crying out loud, some of y’all need to listen to the song before you judge, condemn, condone, criticize, cry or get all radical and political. I had fun writing this little light hearted country tune about this ol boy I met. Let’s remember Jesus died for all of us!”

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This is happening y’all.

The Turnpike Troubadours shared a few photos of frontman Evan Felker and Zack Bryan together in the studio on Instagram. Back in 2023 Zach’s single, “East Side of Sorrow,” which famously references the Red Dirt band’s improbable reunion that same year.

They simply captioned the post with “ZB & TT”

Given their history together, which includes Zach’s aforementioned “East Side of Sorrow,” other references to the band on unreleased songs like “Felker” and “Sunday Afternoon” and the 30-year-old singer/songwriter employing Turnpike on a plethora of shows over the past three years, it simply felt like a matter of time until they officially collaborated on a song.

And from the looks of this post…they finally are.

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Not saying he’s looking for a new career, but the backlash he’s received after running his mouth on Jimmy Kimmel Live…I get why he’s thinking about it.

Jelly Roll has checked off just about every box on his career bucket list, and now he says the next chapter might not even involve music.

During a backstage interview at the Grand Ole Opry, Jelly said he’s grateful for all he’s achieved. From Grammy Awards to CMA and ACM honors, plus becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry, he couldn’t be more proud.

Looking ahead, he said he plans to pray about what’s next and follow wherever God leads him. He even said that if God told him to go work at a homeless shelter in Paducah, Kentucky, he’d leave the music business and, “y’all will never see me again.”

Jelly has already been talking about taking a break after finishing his recent tour. And now it looks like he might do just that.

(People)

She ain’t lying.

During a recent show in Newark, New Jersey, Ella Langley told fans she was left speechless by all of her CMA nominations.

Ella just tied the record for the most nominations in a single year by a female artist. In which she has a total of nine nominations. She has nominations for Entertainer of the Year…Female Vocalist of the Year…Album of the Year…and in several song and video categories too.

She told the crowd, “God has been so good to me”…and thanked fans for being along on the ride. She said she never imagined songs that mean so much to her would resonate with so many people.

While we’re here. Come next week….we will more than likely see Ella’s “Choosin’ Texas” will become the longest-running #1 song on the Billboard HOT 100, as it hits 23 weeks at the top of the chart. And beating Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.

You can now buy a cottage Dolly Parton once owned in California…and all you need is $1.995 million.

The house is located in Solvang, California…and it’s a 2,500-square-foot property that includes a main house, plus two separate apartments. It has a total of seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

One of the coolest parts of the cottage is a stained-glass window that says Dolly’s name, along with a signature butterfly. I mean that’s pretty sweet.

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(The Boot)

“The Boot” put together a list of famous country covers that they think are better than the original. And now it’s time to see if you agree…or if you want to fight about it.

Here are some of them…

1. “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton originally by George Jones and then David Allan Coe.

2. “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker originally by Old Crow Medicine Show.

3. “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers originally by Johnny Cash and then Bobby Bare.

5. “Fancy” by Reba McEntire originally by Bobbie Gentry.

4.  “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” by Waylon Jenningsand Willie Nelson, but originally by a guy named Ed Bruce.

6. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash originally by Nine Inch Nails.

7. “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts originally by Tom Cochrane.

8. “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” by Alan Jackson originally done by Charly McClain in 1980.

9. And “Fast Car” by Luke Combs originally done by Tracy Chapman.

Welcome to Friday September 18, 2026 (never forget).

We have some new country music for your playlist. So, please do your part and visit your neighborhood liquor store to pair your whiskey with this new country music as well. Its country music is meant to be enjoyed.

PROJECTS (Albums & EPs):

Riley Green – “That’s Just Me”
Luke Bryan – “Signs”
Ty Myers – “Two Braids & The Truth:My Tribute To Willie”
Orville Peck – “Mule”
Laci Kaye Booth – “Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart”
Bryce Leatherwood – “Beer and Ballads”
Jason Scott & The High Heat – “Play Boy”
Drew Baldridge – “Farm Faith Family”
Cassidy Daniels – “What Have I Got To Lose”
Emma Smalley – “Breaking Habits”
Skip Ewing – “Dragonfly”

SINGLES:

Morgan Wallen – Grand Theft Auto IV – “Last Thing You Need”.
Muscadine Bloodline –“Escatawpa Hollow”
Miranda Lambert – “Two Things Can Be True”
80 Acres & Wyatt Flores – “One More Hurt”
Morgan Wade & John Paul White – “Old History”
Briley King – “Bad Guy, Keepin’”
Gavin Adcock – “Rockstar Life,Through With Me”.
Emily Ann Roberts – “Lonely Boy”
Dylan Marlowe – “In This Boat”
Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Cornerman”
Noeline Hoffman – “Wilson Silverstar 402 Blues”
The Creekers – “Better Way”
Fox N’ Vead – “BREAK”
Mae Estes – “You Can Feel Bad”

Wyatt McCubbin – “I Love You”
Jade Eagleson & Midland – “Coming Soon To A Honky Tonk Near You”
Jackson Wendell – “Mr. Middleman”

CJ Solar And The Old Souls – “Blame It On Me”
Ava Liv Mabry – “Audrey”
Onoleigh – “Nothing At All”
Elizabeth Nichols – “Nice Girl” Danielle Bradbery – “Poetic” Ava Hall – “Keep On Living, Georgia Heat (Acoustic)”
Kaleb Sanders – “Time Will Tell”
Blake Proehl – “Way Back”
Noah James – “What’s The Reason”
Paige Fish – “Secondhand Smoke”
Red Oak Crows – “Rehab”
Adrien Nunez – “AND THEN SOME”
Preston Cooper – “American Rust And Radio” Chancey Williams & Ned LeDoux – “Things a Cowboy Ain’t Ever Gonna Say”
Julie Eddy – “74 Nova”
Presley & Taylor – “SO BADLY”
Matthew Goodnough – “Your Loss, My Misery” Lamont Landers – “For The Record”
Sammy Listoe – “No Good For Me”

Meanwhile in more Ella Langley news.

Her song, “Choosin’ Texas”, is #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 22nd week as of now. It’s officially the longest-leading non-holiday song in history. As it’s now tied to only Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, which leads with 22 weeks.

After next week that could all change and while basically making country music the most popular music on Billboard.

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" officially ties Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" as the longest running #1 hit in Hot 100 history.

Both have spent 22 weeks at #1. pic.twitter.com/QujUpa4pFx

— chart data (@chartdata) September 14, 2026

So, it just has stay on top of that chart for at least one more week to beat the song that’s been ruining Christmas since 1994. In “Choosin’ Texas” I trust.

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It’s a beautiful time of year. Heatstroke weather is going away and football season is back.

Carrie Underwood is kicking off her 14th season as the voice of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football”…continuing a role she took over from Faith Hill in 2013.

Over the years, she has put her own spin on the opening theme…and for this year’s season opener, she has a rock-and-roll look and an all-leather outfit. And the song will get you just as pumped as ever.

Country music has been around for a long time and has has definitely come a long way.

Did you know that today is International Country Music Day? I only know this thanks to National Today. Question is. How are you celebrating?

September 17th was chosen because it also marks the birthday of country music legend Hank Williams, whose songs went a long way in shaping our country music genre.

Hank unfortunately passed away on New Year’s Day in 1953 at the age of only 29, in the back seat of a car near Oak Hill, West Virginia, as he was in route to a concert in Canton, Ohio. Despite his relatively brief career, he is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, especially in country music.

The Grand Ole Opry did him dirty back in the day…and fired him. Of course they’re still riding on his name like their relationship was perfectly fine and not to mention they have had far worse perform on that sacred stage since his passing. I mean times have changed…but a formal apology would nice.

With that being said…maybe it’s a good day to listen to “Hey Good Looking“.