Album Review – Jon Pardi’s “Heartache Medication”
It's not that that the previous works by Jon Pardi haven't helped define that hard country edge of the mainstream, because they have. But on his new record Heartache Medication, this is not country...
View ArticleAlbum / Movie Review – Sturgill Simpson’s “Sound & Fury”
Add Sturgill Simpson to the list of things in society that are extremely polarizing, right up there with politics, religion, LeBron James, pumpkin spice, and whatever else people get worked up about,...
View ArticleWhiskey Myers Stuns With Sales of Self-Titled Album, Debut at #1
Ladies and gentlemen, we have another name you should make sure to include in the mix whenever speaking about the wild resurgence of independent music shaking up mainstream country, and it's the...
View ArticleAlbum Review – Luke Combs “What You See Is What You Get”
Luke Combs is not the William Faulkner of country music. He's the Grisham, or the Clancy. Ripe for mass consumption, easy to get into, riveting in moments, it's a much more healthier alternative to a...
View ArticleThe Best Mainstream Country Albums of 2019
All country albums, regardless if they emanate from a major label or receive radio play, are considered for Saving Country Music's Album of the Year nominations. But not every year does a mainstream...
View ArticleScotty McCreery Loves How The Latest Trend in Country Is Country
We keep talking about how one of the hottest trends currently in mainstream country music is actual country music, and listening to Scotty McCreery, he concurs, and wants to help to keep things...
View ArticleRandy Travis Sees Country Turning Towards the More Traditional
"We feel like it is beginning to turn back to the traditional," says Mary, the wife of Randy Travis. "It's almost like fashion and everything else, there is an ebb and a flow. There are so many young...
View ArticleBrooks & Dunn Announce First National Tour in 10 Years
It's been 10 years since Country Music Hall of Famers Brooks & Dunn hit the road for a proper national tour. That will all change this summer and fall when the duo hits the road on the REBOOT 2020...
View ArticleTravis Tritt Charts 1st Radio Single in 13 Years via Dierks Bentley
You've already been warned that Dierks Bentley's side project "Hot Country Nights" is getting real in its effort to return actual country music to country music, and after one week it has already had...
View ArticleLoretta Lynn Is Fighting Mad About Country Music Dying
"I think that they’re completely losing it. And I think that’s a sad situation because we should never let country music die. I think that every type of music should be saved, and country is one of the...
View ArticleJon Pardi’s “Heartache Medication” Marks Return of the Fiddle to #1
It has been a long, slow, steady climb for mainstream country traditionalist Jon Pardi’s current single “Heartache Medication,” but it finally hit #1 this week on country radio according to MediaBase....
View ArticleJon Pardi Selects “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” As Next Single
Jon Pardi continues to show leadership in helping to return an element of twang and substance to country radio. After the debut single and title track from his latest record Heartache Medication went...
View ArticleThe Best Mainstream Country Albums of the Decade (2010-2019)
We've already run down the Greatest Country Albums of the Decade, and in there, albums in the mainstream were given fair competition to be included, and some made the cut. But in the spirit of...
View ArticleSturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Mike & Moonpies Dates Postponed
The amount of cancellations tied to the Coronavius outbreak can be dizzying to keep up with, even within the confines of independent country and roots. But a few important cancellations are worthy of...
View ArticleJon Pardi Surprises & Pays Tribute w/ “Rancho Fiesta Sessions”
We shouldn't be surprised that Jon Pardi is one of the few new mainstream stars who can rattle off a handful of country classics at a moments notice. He's about as traditional as mainstream country...
View ArticleJon Pardi, Pam Tillis, Runaway June on Grand Ole Opry
Another quality lineup will grace the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night, August 22nd as mainstream traditionalist Jon Pardi, upstart singing trio Runaway June, and Grand Ole Opry member Pam Tillis...
View ArticleThe Best Mainstream Country Albums of 2020
We've run down the Album of the Year Nominees for 2020, as well as the Song of the Year nominees, and an Essential Albums list is also coming together. But since the mainstream of country isn't always...
View ArticleThomas Rhett Wants to be “Country Again.”
To be country again, you had to have been country in the first place, at least at some point. And country is as country does. You want to be country? Then be country. Don't tell us about being country....
View ArticleUnheard Randy Travis Songs Accompany Christmas Reissue
'An Old Time Christmas' has always been considered one of the better bets for Christmas albums from country legends. That is how it achieved its Certified Gold status by the RIAA---something many of...
View ArticleThe Case of ERNEST’s Fiercely Traditional Single “Flower Shops”
Many independent country music fans and Americana nerds will never admit to it, but the simple fact is that mainstream country music has been on a painfully slow, but palpable improvement track since...
View ArticleAlbum Review – Midland’s “The Last Resort: Greetings From”
It's not that those "authenticity" concerns don't continue to linger. But Midland is most certainly a mainstream country music bright spot, and has been ever since the band's inception. This new album...
View ArticleJon Pardi Sets New Album “Mr. Saturday Night”
For 10 years now, Dixon, California native Jon Pardi has been a bright spot in the mainstream of country, doing his damnedest to keep it real with ample fiddle and steel guitar, and songs that go a...
View ArticleGeorge Strait Remains One of the Most Popular Artists in Country
As times goes on and today's consumers continue to grow increasingly frustrated with the lack of creativity, roots, and soul in today's music, expect to see the back catalogs of guys like George Strait...
View ArticleAlbum Review – Jon Pardi’s “Mr. Saturday Night”
This Jon Pardi guy must've taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque or something. He's all wrong side up. Doesn't he understand that the arc of a country music star is to start off real twangy so you get...
View ArticleNewest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#108)
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming...
View ArticleCountry/Roots Artists The Grammy Awards Should Not Overlook
The Grammy Awards officially open the initial round of voting for nominees today, and due to the propensity for the Grammys to often overlook key contributors in the country music and roots space, here...
View ArticleHailey Whitters is Finally Finding the Traction She Deserves. Finally.
Finally. 14+ years into a 10 year town, and Hailey Whitters is receiving the attention from the mainstream of country music that many fans, critics, and prognosticators have been saying she deserved...
View ArticlePolarizing “Wagon Wheel” Now One of The Most Popular Songs Ever
There is one thing that can't be disputed about the song "Wagon Wheel." It is unequivocally now one of the biggest songs in country music history. Darius Rucker and his label Capitol Records Nashville...
View ArticleAlan Jackson to Receive Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
Alan Jackson is being honored as the 2022 recipient of the Country Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the top honors in country music, the Lifetime Achievement Award was established...
View ArticleAlbum Review – Lainey Wilson’s “Bell Bottom Country”
Not since the emergence of Miranda Lambert have we seen a woman surface in mainstream country music with such promise and passion that carries a wide appeal through an infectious personality, and at an...
View ArticleThe Best Mainstream Country Albums of 2022
Every year to make sure the best titles in mainstream country don't get overlooked, and to encourage the quality in the mainstream to rise to the top, we run down the best mainstream country albums to...
View ArticleHow Country Beat Back Rap in Mainstream Country
For the last dozen years or so, one of the most contentious battles within the realm of commercial country music has centered around the incursion of hip-hop influences into the genre, and specifically...
View ArticleJon Pardi Announces World Tour, Cool Openers
Jon Pardi is calling it the "Mr. Saturday Night World Tour," but let's just go ahead an label it the "mainstream country that doesn't suck and actually sounds country" tour. That's been Jon Pardi's...
View ArticleAlan Jackson Helps Jon Pardi Make History as New Grand Ole Opry Pick
Becoming the first California-born artist to become a Grand Ole Opry member makes the invitation historic, and speaks to how the Opry continues to try and expand its membership beyond the institution's...
View ArticleWhy Charley Pride Took So Long to Become a Grand Ole Opry Member
30 years ago today---May 1st 1993---Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special. The post Why Charley Pride Took So...
View ArticleBig Names Coming Together for Keith Gattis Tribute Show
Over his 40 years in the trenches as a songwriter, player, and producer, Keith Gattis became a superstar in country music, if not to fans at large, then to his fellow performers, singers, songwriters,...
View ArticleThe 2023 Country Music Christmas Playlist
There are many Christmas music playlists out there. But only one focuses only solely on country music, on brand new recordings all from this year including new original songs vying to become classics,...
View ArticleAlbum Review –“Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi”
Jon Pardi did the Christmas album right. And because it's Jon Pardi, he also did the Christmas album country, making this album a welcomed addition to any country household's Holiday rotation. The post...
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