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Randy Houser ‘Note to Self’ – Album Review

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Randy Houser’s new album, Note to Self is out now, November 11th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

For Randy Houser, it was a nearly four-year hiatus for the deep-voiced Mississippi native before Friday’s release of Note To Self. Some projects have one overarching theme that is visible in each song, but this record features a collection of individual stories and emotions. Houser co-wrote all ten tracks on the album, touching on various subjects such as love, heartbreak, maturity, and of course, country living.

In the album’s opener, “Still That Cowboy,” the singer reflects on his relationship with his wife, recognizing his imperfections but hoping she still sees him as the man who stole her heart all those years ago. “Take It To The Bank” is another romantic song in which the singer confesses he doesn’t have a lot of money to his name, but the love they share is enough to take it to the bank—the river bank that is, where the two initially fell in love on that July Friday night. Both songs are on the slow/mid-tempo side, with plenty of steel and fiddle sprinkled into the melody.

“Baby, whatcha think? // We got a half a bottle of sweet red wine // A five-pack of beer and a hook on a line // Nah, we ain’t got a dime but we only need a quarter a tank // To take it to the bank”

The title track also served as the lead single. Houser lists all the lessons he has learned over the years that he wishes he applied earlier in life. “Rub A Little Dirt On It” is sort of his response to the single. He discovered that the best way to recover from hard times and heartbreak is to embrace those feelings head-on, crack open a beer, and move on.

“When the world don’t turn your way // Sometimes all you can say // Is rub a little dirt on it // Shake the dust right outta your mind // Let a cool breeze work on it // Ya feel the healing comin’ on right on time”

Although much of the album is slow and heartfelt, Houser gets some fun, energetic, honkytonk tunes on there, such as “Workin’ Man,” “Country Round Here,” and “Out and Down.” The latter starts off with no instruments—just Houser’s baritone vocals with backing bar noise. The singer states that he should be down and out, struggling to get over a breakup, but instead he’s out and down, having a good time at the bar, drowning out her memory in a positive manner. “Workin’ Man” is an ode to the blue-collar workers who bust their butts providing for their families while getting very little in return. They are the ones making all the cash, but are always getting short-changed. 

Although a low-point for the singer, the sixth track, “Call Me” is a high point on the album. Depressed from loneliness and heartache, the singer pleads his ex gives him a late-night call, even if she has nothing good to say about him.

“Call me a liar, call me a loser // Call me you no can son of a boozer // Call me the devil, call me a clown // Call me right now and cuss me out // But call me”

Houser’s 2019 record, Magnolia  was met with high praise from critics but had underwhelming success in the mainstream, likely due to its traditional sound and personal subject matter. Houser, who found his biggest success with hits in the early/mid-2010s such as “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” and “We Went,” were much more radio-friendly. Houser clearly sticks to that traditional sound and writes from the heart on this project, but the lyrics feel a little bit more relatable. Like Houser’s incredible, one-of-a-kind vocal talent, Note To Self may be a record that resonates with listeners for years to come!

Randy Houser – Note To Self Track List:

  1. Still That Cowboy (Randy Houser, Matt Rogers, Josh Hoge)
  2. Workin’ Man (Randy Houser, Randy Montana)
  3. Note To Self (Randy Houser, Casey Beathard, Ross Copperman, Bobby Pinson)
  4. Country ‘Round Here Tonight (Randy Houser, Brice Long, Jeff Hyde)
  5. Take It To The Bank (Randy Houser, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tindell)
  6. Call Me (Randy Houser, Paul Overstreet, Andrew Albert)
  7. Out And Down (Randy Houser, Matt Rogers, Chris DeStefano)
  8. Rub A Little Dirt On It (Randy Houser, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell)
  9. American Dreamer (Randy Houser, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
  10. Remember How To Pray (Randy Houser, Kendell Marvel)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Workin’ Man
  2. Call Me
  3. Out and Down
randy-houser-new-album

Randy Houser’s new album ‘Note to Self’ is available now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Randy Houser releases.

To keep up with Randy Houser, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Note to Self is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Craig Morgan ‘God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition)’ – Album Review

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Craig Morgan’s new album, God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) is out now, November 11th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Throughout his impressive twenty plus year career, Craig Morgan has become known for releasing country music with heart. Now, over two years since the May 2020 release of his album, God, Family, Country, the Tennessee native is back with a deluxe edition, featuring four new songs, in addition to some of his biggest hits. 

For the Army veteran, the Veteran’s Day release of the album has special meaning and comes in support of Morgan’s new memoir of the same name, as well as a concert at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium. 

While the album features some of his biggest hits, including “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” “Almost Home,” “My Kind of Woman,” and “Lotta Man (In That Little Boy),” there’s just as much meaning on the newer offerings.

Of the four new songs on the project, it’s the current single “How to Make a Man” that’s an immediate standout. Here, Morgan grapples with the struggles of life that make a man who he is. The song is driving and introspective as the golden-voiced crooner deals with the bumps and bruises life has to offer.

“It’s the good days, bad days, goodbye heartbreaks // Tail lights fading ’cause you didn’t say enough // The loss and the tears and the laughs and the beers // The wars you fight, the ones you walk away from // You run, you crawl, you rise, you fall // You hit your knees ’til you learn to stand // Yeah, that’s how you make a man”

Additionally, Morgan is both introspective and celebratory on the other new tracks, including “Sounds Like Home,” which celebrates all the special sounds that make a home special and unique. From church bells ringing to porch swings creaking, the track features female powerful background vocals that add a special touch and push Morgan to stretch his own vocal chops.

Likewise, “Ask Him” is a touching tribute to asking an older person about their past, allowing him to impart his knowledge and speak of a special someone. “Ask him ‘bout the good book, and he’ll quote John 3:16,” He croons. “Ask him ‘bout a tractor, and he’ll preach some John Deere green, He’ll say, ‘If you drive a Ford, you can’t go wrong,’ But ask him about her, and he’ll go on, and on, and on.”

Lastly, there’s “I May Drink A Little,” a heartfelt ballad that finds Morgan embracing his imperfections in the eyes of God. “I may drink a little,” He muses, “But I still love Jesus.”

The other tracks on the album include his fervent faith in his family, his God, and his country. This weaves its way through the title track, “Sippin’ On the Simple Life,” and “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost,” the incredibly powerful dedication to his son Jerry, who passed tragically in a boating accident. 

Meanwhile, “Soldier” finds him putting his own spin on a Gavin DeGraw track, while both “Going Out Like This” and “Whiskey” find him dealing with the end of a relationship. On the deluxe edition of God, Family, Country, Craig Morgan continues to show himself as an artist with heart, and a true dedication to his family, his faith, and his flag.

Craig Morgan – God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) Track List:

  1. “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost” (Craig Morgan)
  2. “Soldier” (Gavin DeGraw)
  3. “Going Out Like This” (Craig Morgan, Michael Rogers, Korey Hunt, Sam Banks)
  4. “Whiskey” (Anthony Smith, Sarah Beth Terry)
  5. “Sippin’ on The Simple Life” (Craig Morgan, Michael Rogers, Justin Wright, Andrew Yacovone)
  6. “God, Family and Country” (Craig Morgan, Craig Morris, Lance McDaniel)
  7. “That’s What I Love About Sunday” (Adam Dorsey, Mark Narmore)
  8. “My Kind of Woman” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Jason Sellers)
  9. “Almost Home” (Craig Morgan, Kerry Kurt Phillips)
  10. “Lotta Man (In That Little Boy)” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Tim Owens)
  11. *“Sounds Like Home” (Craig Morgan, Wade Kirby, Styles Haury, Phil O’Donnell)
  12. *“Ask Him” (Craig Morgan, Sam Banks, Wil Nance, Andy Austin)
  13. *“How You Make A Man” (Megan Conner, Skip Black, Michael Walton)
  14. *“I May Drink A Little” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “How You Make a Man”
  2. “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost”
  3. “Sounds Like Home”
Craig-morgan-new-album-deluxe

Craig Morgan’s deluxe edition of his new album, ‘God, Family, Country’ is out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Craig Morgan releases.

To keep up with Craig Morgan, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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The 56th Annual CMA Awards Recap ft. Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson & More

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Here is the 56th Annual CMA Awards recap featuring big wins by country superstars Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, and more.

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The 56th Annual CMA Awards took place last night (November 9th), returning to the iconic Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, this show was all about uniting fans and country artists with our favorite music genre and honoring the greats that paved the way. For a full list of all of the nominations and winners, click here.

The show began with a medley of hits, celebrating the late, great Loretta Lynn. Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire took to the stage delivering an incredible performance of Lynn’s classics like, “You’re Looking at Country” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Carly Pearce also honored Lynn with her incredible song, “Dear Miss Loretta,” later in the show.

Shortly after, the CMA’s hosted another incredible female-led performance of Ashley McBryde’s killer album Lindeville. Artists like John Osborne, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, and Pillbox Patti joined her on stage.

With a quick introduction, first-time CMA awards winner for Video of the Year, Cody Johnson graced the stage next, singing an electric rendition of his hit song, “‘Til You Can’t.” Similarly, Cole Swindell took to the stage to sing his latest number-one hit, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” Of course, he brought out Jo Dee Messina to sing with him. Lambert also returned to sing her new song, “Geraldene” and Underwood with, “Hate My Heart.”

The star-studded event continued with a killer performance from Luke Combs. The Entertainer of the Year nominee blew fans away, singing his song, “The Kind of Love We Make.” The other Luke, Luke Bryan also performed his current single, “Country On” later on in the show. The night continued with performances by Zac Brown Band, who sang their song “Out In The Middle” and an exciting duet by Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry. The latter duo sang their new song, “Where We Started,” a country-pop medley, begging for radio play.

However, HARDY and Lainey Wilson may have given arguably one of the best performances of the night with their song “wait in the truck.” The eerie ballad came to life, as the two New Artist of the Year nominees sang their hearts out, receiving a huge applause and standing ovation from the audience. Next up, Morgan Wallen, an Entertainer of the Year nominee, also showed up to perform his hit song, “You Proof.”

The CMA Awards continued to showcase collaborations throughout the night. Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce joined Kelsea Ballerini on stage to sing “YOU’RE DRUNK, GO HOME.” The threesome brought their sassy energy and huge vocal chops to the country music stage.

Another highlight of the night is when Chris and Morgane Stapleton took the stage with none other than the iconic, Patty Loveless. An incredibly harrowing performance, the collaborators sang Loveless’ “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive,” getting each and every artist on their feet celebrating the performance with them.

Country music artists continued to celebrate the icons that came before them both in and out of the genre. Brothers Osborne took the stage with The War and Treaty to celebrate the forthcoming tribute album, Stoned Cold Country for The Rolling Stones, coming in 2023, while Elle King joined by The Black Keys and celebrated the late hall of fame, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Of course, the night would not be complete without the monumental tribute to Alan Jackson, who was the newest recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Carrie Underwood strutted onto the stage to announce the icon, even singing a little something. Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, and Lainey Wilson shared the stage to celebrate Jackson’s career. They sang songs like, “Chattahoochee,” “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” and “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” Jackson, himself also sang his song, “Don’t Rock The Jukebox.”

Overall the 56th CMA Awards were a great night for country music. The show came back to its roots, mixing the new country music sounds with more traditional country, proving that we can all love the genre together.

To view the full list of winners, click here.

Keep up with the Country Music Association by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.

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Brothers Osborne, The War and Treaty Team Up for Rolling Stones Classic

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Brothers Osborne joined forces with The War And Treaty on a cover of The Rolling Stones classic hit, “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It).” Listen to the brand-new track below and watch the iconic performance live from the CMA Awards in the video below.

In honor of the 60th Anniversary of The Rolling Stones, country music is celebrating with a tribute album called Stoned Cold Country. Country artists celebrate the legacy of The Rolling Stones through fourteen distinct covers of some of their greatest hits. Amongst the track list is one of the stand-out tracks by Brothers Osborne and The War and Treaty, “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It).”

The soulful rendition is the first taste of the incredible album, slated for release in 2023. The pairing of Brothers Osborne and The War and Treaty combines each of their own flavors and talents to the iconic tune. The singers took the stage together on Wednesday, November 9th at The 56th Annual CMA Awards to perform the incredible tribute track.

“We couldn’t be more honored to take part in such a unique tribute to, not only one of music’s most influential trailblazers, but one of our favorite bands of all time,” John and TJ Osborne shared in a recent press release. “And to top it off, we get to enjoy the spoils with two of our favorite people and fellow Marylanders, The War And Treaty. We adore them both.”

Watch the full CMA Awards performance here.

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Brothers Osborne covers “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It)” with The War and Treaty.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Brother’s Osborne releases.

To keep up with Brothers Osborne, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It)” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Brantley Gilbert ‘So Help Me God’ – Album Review

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Brantley Gilbert’s new album, So Help Me God is out now, November 10th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Over three years since the release of his Fire and Brimstone album, Brantley Gilbert is back with his sixth studio album, So Help Me God. On the ten-track collection, Gilbert co-wrote each song, enlisting some of Nashville’s biggest names and fellow artists including Jason Aldean, HARDY, Randy Montana, Toby Keith, Michael Ray, and Jelly Roll.

For the Georgia native, the time between albums was intentional, allowing him to release a project he’s happy with. “I’ve always taken a little longer than most artists, especially in this genre, to put an album out and that’s partly to do with me being a perfectionist,” Gilbert reveals. “But we’ve been looking forward to getting this album out for a long time. I’ve been blessed to sit down with some of the best writers in the country, and I feel like we’ve written some wonderful stuff.”

One of the album’s immediate standouts is its first track, “Heaven By Then,” which was born from a writer’s retreat and features special appearances by Blake Shelton and Vince Gill. On the incredibly poignant track, they sing of hoping they’re in heaven by the time the best things in life no longer exist. “No, I don’t wanna go today, but I don’t wanna live down here at a place that thinks that that place don’t exist,” They sing. “If there comes a day this country’s somewhere country don’t fit in // Hell, I hope I’m in Heaven by then.”

“It came out of a conversation,” Gilbert reveals of the track. “A guitar ended up in HARDY’s lap, which is usually a good sign that it’s about to turn into something special. I think we all knew that as it was being written. It came to life that night. To have Blake Shelton and Vince Gill on the song meant so much to me. Those two brought so much to the table and gave it a voice I didn’t have. We were all in separate places when we recorded, but it was a cool way for everyone to put their spin on it. They just did what felt natural and sonically you hear that.”

The Valory Music artist shines brightest when he slows things down, with his gruff growl emotive and powerful on songs like “Miles Of Memories” and “She’s the One.” On the incredible “How To Talk To Girls,” Gilbert grapples with being a ‘Girl Dad’, wondering how to broach hard subjects with his little girl. “’Cause this angel hangs on every word I say // She’s gettin’ so much more from me than my last name,” He sings. “Everything just like her momma // She’s got me at a loss for words // I guess I’m still learnin’ // How to talk to girls.”

The brooding “Rolex on a Redneck” enlists Jason Aldean as they celebrate all the good things that money can buy. Jelly Roll joins Gilbert on the driving, genre-bending “Son of the Dirty South,” while “The Worst Country Song of All Time” is a tongue-in-cheek romp featuring HARDY and Toby Keith. On the latter, the trio muse about all of the things that would make a country song terrible, including a chorus that goes, “I love cities and traffic jams // I don’t want a house or a piece of land // I deserve a bunch of money and a minivan // I don’t wanna earn a dime // Old Yeller didn’t make me sad // I think we should change the American flag // This is the worst country song of all time.”

 

The album ends with a one-two punch of poignancy. There’s the powerful “Gone But Not Forgotten,” a song of remembrance for those who died too young, followed by the album’s titular track. On “So Help Me God,” Gilbert is at his lowest and most vulnerable, seeking help from God to deal with his vices and not lose the woman he loves.

“So help me God, I’m gonna change // I’ll pour this bottle down the drain // Send that devil’s water to Hell where it belongs // So help me God, I’ll change her mind // I’ll walk by faith, I’ll walk that line // Lord, I’ll show hеr I can do this on my own // So help me God.”

On So Help Me God, Brantley Gilbert crafted an album that is both cohesive yet features ten standout tracks. “We wanted to put songs that sounded good together, but also songs that covered a wide variety of genre influences,” Gilbert reveals. “There’s a lot of different songwriting styles on the album. We’re super excited about it, and I can’t wait for BG Nation to hear what we’ve been working on.”

Brantley Gilbert – So Help Me God Track List:

  1. “Heaven by Then” with Blake Shelton featuring Vince Gill (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Michael Hardy, Jake Mitchell, Randy Montana, Hunger Phelps, Taylor Phillips)
  2. “Rolex on a Redneck” featuring Jason Aldean (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Michael Hardy, Randy Montana, Taylor Phillips)
  3. “Miles of Memories” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Josh Phillips)
  4. “She’s the One” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Taylor Phillips)
  5. “The Worst Country Song of All Time” featuring Toby Keith and HARDY (Brantley Gilbert, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Will Weatherly)
  6. “Son of the Dirty South” featuring Jelly Roll (Brantley Gilbert, Andrew Baylis, Jason Bradley DeFord)
  7. “How to Talk to Girls” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Brian Wayne Davis, Brandon Day, Chase McGill, Josh Phillips, Taylor Phillips, Michael Ray)
  8. “Little Piece of Heaven” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Greylan James, Taylor Phillips, Cole Taylor)
  9. “Gone But Not Forgotten” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Jason Blaine, Jay Brunswick)
  10. “So Help Me God” (Brantley Gilbert, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Will Weatherly)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. “Heaven By Then”
  2. “So Help Me God”
  3. “How To Talk To Girls”
Brantley-gilbert-album

Brantley Gilbert’s brand new album, ‘So Help Me God’ is out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Brantley Gilbert releases.

To keep up with Brantley Gilbert, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

So Help Me God is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Here Are The 2022 CMA Awards Winners (Full List)

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Here is the full list of 2022 winners of the 56th annual CMA Awards (2022)…

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2022 CMA AWARDS WINNERS:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Luke Combs *** WINNER
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Morgan Wallen
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer  
  • “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
    Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
    Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Kenny Chesney)
    Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins
    Mix Engineer: Dan Grech-Marguerat
  • “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • “’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson
    Producer: Trent Willmon
    Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke *** WINNER
  • “You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) 
  • Growin’ Up – Luke Combs
    Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
    Mix Engineers: Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews *** WINNER
  • Humble Quest – Maren Morris
    Producer: Greg Kurstin
    Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
  • Palomino – Miranda Lambert
    Producers: Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Mikey Reaves
    Mix Engineer: Jason Lehning
  • Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – Lainey Wilson
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
  • Time, Tequila & Therapy – Old Dominion
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion
    Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s) 
  • “Buy Dirt”
    Songwriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins  ***WINNER
  • “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
    Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce
  • “Sand In My Boots”
    Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne
  • “Things A Man Oughta Know”
    Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
  • “You Should Probably Leave”
    Songwriters: Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Carly Pearce
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Lainey Wilson *** WINNER
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs
  • Cody Johnson
  • Chris Stapleton *** WINNER
  • Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion *** WINNER
  • Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne *** WINNER
  • Dan + Shay
  • LOCASH
  • Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)
  • “Beers On Me” – Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY
    Producers: Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman
  • “If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood
    Producer: Michael Knox
  • “Longneck Way To Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
    Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
  • “Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
    Producer: Zach Crowell
  • “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne *** WINNER
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
  • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle *** WINNER
  • Paul Franklin, Steel guitar
  • Brent Mason, Guitar
  • Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
  • Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)  
  • “I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) – Taylor Swift (featuring Chris Stapleton)
    Director: Blake Lively
  • “Longneck Way To Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
    Director: Harper Smith
  • “Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
    Director: Michael Monaco
  • “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
    Director: Alexa Campbell
  • “’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson
    Director: Dustin Haney *** WINNER
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • HARDY
  • Walker Hayes
  • Cody Johnson
  • Parker McCollum
  • Lainey Wilson *** WINNER

 

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.

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Who Is Clayton Anderson? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music

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Who is Clayton Anderson? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about his journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Clayton Anderson // Photo by Hannah Fink

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Clayton Anderson
Birthdate – July 6th
Hometown – Bedford, Indiana
Current City – Nashville, Tennesee
Musical Influences – John Mellencamp, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash
Label – Visionary Media Group
Current Single – “Let Me Go” (*as of date of article: 11/7/22)

The Beginning:

Today we are highlighting an incredible singer-songwriter, Clayton Anderson. While we often share new artists in this segment, Anderson is a name you might already recognize. The talented singer-songwriter has been hustling in the country music genre for years, and it is well-deserved.

Anderson grew up in Bedford, Indiana, a blue-collar town that instilled in him the value of hard work. While he had dreams of becoming a basketball player, the singer admits that music was a mainstay. “I discovered music through my parents, though they didn’t play instruments, but music was always on in our house,” began the singer. “Whether it was my mom listening to Elvis Presley or my dad listening to KISS and Aerosmith, and my grandma listening to Conway Twitty, music was always around growing up.”

Anderson especially loved country music. “I listened to everything growing up. […] We had all different kinds of radio stations in our areas, but I always loved Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, all those older guys,” shared the singer. “I also loved Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Garth Brooks just as much and loved John Mellencamp, he was always the God of music to us growing up.”

Despite early access to all different types of music, Anderson did not show interest in learning an instrument until he was a little bit older. “I didn’t really even pick up a guitar until my senior year of high school and I just fell in love with it. I was hooked,” shared the artist. “I caught the bug for it, and after that, there was no looking back.”

The Turning Point:

With a love of music in tow, Anderson headed off to college. “I kept doing worse in school and staying up late playing music,” the singer shared with a laugh. While he recalls playing music with his roommate, it was always just for fun, until one night, in particular, changed things for him.

“One thing led to another and someone ended up canceling a gig in our town and they had no one else to call. […] It was the busiest bar night of the year and they got stuck with me and I played the same seven songs over and over, but that first live performance was when I was truly hooked,” shared Anderson.

This was the moment that the singer started to consider making music for a living. While playing covers at bars were fun, he knew he wanted to be an artist, so he began writing songs on his own, little by little cultivating a new muscle.

“I really was like I need to be an artist, I need to write my own songs, I need to be my own thing. […] I want to give people something to believe in, to want to follow me, so instead of studying, I started writing down silly songs,” shared Anderson, adding later, “The more you put into your craft, the more you get out of it. I look back at some of those first songs and I chuckle and laugh, but a couple of them are still some of my favorites. […] To see the progression to now is still pretty cool.”

In 2011, the singer finally took the plunge and headed to Music City. “I finally just said I have to go to Nashville and see if I could make it.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Anderson has three full-length albums to his name. “I’ve been working on it for a long time. It’s not some overnight success and it’s been a total grind, and I’ve had so many no’s that I just kept fighting through because luckily I’ve built such a fanbase, that was my yes. When I go play somewhere, and people are singing the words back to me, that’s what I needed to keep pushing on,” shared the singer-songwriter.

Most recently, Anderson released his album Made In The USA. The twelve-song project is the most personal project to date for the singer, featuring songs about heartbreak, love, our country, and his journey over the last several years. “The songs just seem to fit together. When you’re putting an album together, I still like to have a common thread between all the songs,” shared the singer. Adding, “to me, this is the deepest I’ve ever gone in my songwriting.”

On “Is It Too Late,” Anderson grapples with the fears and struggles associated with chasing a dream, while the title track is a true love letter to the American Flag and its people. “We can rally around each other. Rally around our flag. We’re all Americans. No matter where we come from and I just have so much respect for the men and women who serve our country here and overseas, and I just wanted to have a more positive light about it.”

Fans can catch Anderson playing these songs and many more at his next live show. Check-out his full schedule here.

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future  Clayton Anderson releases.

To keep up with Clayton Anderson, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Clayton Anderson’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt Go Number One with “Wishful Drinking”

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Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt score a joint number one single at country radio with their song, “Wishful Drinking.” Learn more here.

Last year when Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt delighted fans with a new collaboration, we knew “Wishful Drinking” was something special. The sad-bop highlights the incredible vocal abilities from Andress, while Hunt’s signature sound shines through. “Wishful Drinking” marks the songstress’ first number one single at country radio and Hunt’s tenth!

The mid-tempo song is a masterful word-play track. “Wishful Drinking” depicts the feelings we all go through when we start drinking, thinking maybe things can work with someone you love. The two entertainers trade verses while maintaining some killer harmonies in the chorus.

“Maybe I’m just wishful drinking // Give my heart something to sink in // Better make it two, nothing I won’t do for another round of me and you // I get hopeful whеn I’m tipsy // Thinking you might actually miss me // It’s 100 proof, nothing I won’t do for another round of me and you”

While Andress and Hunt might have been an unpredictable pair, “Wishful Drinking” undeniably works. Clearly, country fans and country radio agree too! It will be interesting to see what is next for each artist respectively. Congrats to Andress and Hunt’s teams on an incredible feat!

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt announcements and releases.

To keep up with Ingrid Andress, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

To keep up with Sam Hunt follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Wishful Drinking” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

5 Artists That Are Future Entertainer of the Year Winners

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Country music is home to many incredible singer-songwriters and superstars. Artists like Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Eric Church, and more have taken home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at country music award shows like CMA Awards and ACM Awards. Over the years, Country Swag has confidently predicted future winners and Artists to Watch long before their nominations. As Awards season approaches, we thought it would be fun to share five artists that we believe are future entertainer of the year winners. Check out our list below.

  1. Russell Dickerson

It has been evident since day one that Russell Dickerson is an absolute superstar. He finds a way to connect with fans through his music, making everyone want to root for his success. In his young career, Dickerson has broken records, as his singles consecutively find their way to the top of the radio charts. “Love You Like I Used To” is even tied officially with Lonestar’s “Amazed” as the longest-running top-ten single in radio history. It is only a matter of time until he is nominated for the coveted award!

To keep up with Russell Dickerson, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

  1. Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen was primed for superstardom back in his “The Way I Talk” days. While his career has been turbulent at times, his stardom has not wavered. After a widely successful tour and a record-breaking sophomore album, it appears that Wallen is closer than ever to the Entertainer of the Year award. He even finds himself with a nomination this year! Will he take it home? Tune in to the CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 9 at 8/7c on ABC.

To keep up with Morgan Wallen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

  1. Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson is an absolute force in country music right now! Her brand new album, Bell Bottom Country is already one of the most talked about records of the year. In her young career, she has already garnered an impressive crew of diehard fans, an army of songwriters and artists who believe in her, and an incredible future. We believe, she will be up for Entertainer of the Year sooner rather than later!

To keep up with Lainey Wilson, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

  1. Conner Smith

When Thomas Rhett tells you he believes in someone then you know they are worth paying attention to! Conner Smith is that person and after meeting him back in 2021 for our NYC Live Sessions, we were quickly belivers ourselves. At just 22 years old, Smith is quickly building a fanbase that is obsessed with everything he puts out. He is a songwriter wise beyond his years, has undeniable charisma, a stage presence worthy of  EOY noms, and his songs are the right mix of catchy and prolific. Give it some time and everyone will know who Conner Smith is!

To keep up with Conner Smith, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

 

  1. HARDY

Already one of the best songwriters in country music, HARDY is on the brink of superstardom. He can truly do no wrong! HARDY carves a space for himself everywhere he goes. His signature country-rock sound is resonating with fans across the world, and his live show is like no other. Mark our words, HARDY will be an Entertainer of the Year winner in the umping years.

To keep up with HARDY, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

What do you think of our picks? Who do you see as a future Entertainer of the Year? Tweet us @CountrySwag and let us know!

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Nelly Collaborates with Chris Lane on New Song “Birthday Girl”

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Nelly collaborates with Chris Lane on new song, “Birthday Girl” out now, November 4th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new track below.

While Nelly has his feet firmly planted in the hip-hop genre, he has been known to collaborate with country artists, even releasing a country-inspired album last year. A true icon of his time, today, Nelly collaborates with Chris Lane on a brand new song, “Birthday Girl.”

According to Lane in a recent press release, “Working with Nelly is a full circle moment for me. I grew up a huge fan of his music and I have enjoyed getting to know him through touring together. Doing this song is the icing on the cake!” Perfectly put, “Birthday Girl” is a celebratory song all about birthdays!

On the new track, Nelly delivers a female-power anthem, inviting all girls to let their hair down and have a good time celebrating their own birthdays. The new song is a true gift to fans, as Nelly celebrated his own November birthday earlier this month. The genre-bending tune features the rhythmic tempo we have learned to anticipate from a classic Nelly hit, while Lane’s vocals add a touch of country to the fun-loving jam.

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Nelly and Chris Lane collaborate on new song, “Birthday Girl.”

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Nelly and Chris Lane releases.

To keep up with Nelly, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To keep up with Chris Lane, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Birthday Girl” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.