DISClaimer Single Reviews: Wyatt McCubbin Is ‘A Major Talent’

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Wyatt McCubbin. Phtoo: Evan Harney

A few old friends are gathered here, alongside some of country music’s most promising talents.

Shenandoah and The Oak Ridge Boys are on hand, as are legendary songwriters Billy Joe Shaver and Dolly Parton. They’re greeting Alexandra Kay, Megan Moroney, Hayes Carll, MŌRIAH, and our Disc of the Day winner Wyatt McCubbin.

Carll’s collaborators Mountain Grass Unit take home this week’s DISCovery Award.

MŌRIAH / “Home To Me”
Writers: Bernie Herms/Natalie Layne; Producer: Bernie Herms; Label: F2 Entertainment Group
– This luscious pop ballad is the closing-credits song in the new Jimmy Stewart bio pic Jimmy. MŌRIAH softens her delivery into an airy, sensuous groove that floats amid orchestral washes.

SPENCER HATCHER / “Tequila Still Remembers Her Name”
Writers: Lee Black/Nathan Woodward/Spencer Hatcher; Producer: none listed; Label: QHMG/Stone Country Records
– Solidly country. The two-step features steel, organ, and plenty of twang guitar. Hatcher’s vocal is adequate, if unspectacular. Catch him with the rest of the QHMG crew at a free show at Chief’s next Monday (Nov. 16).

WARREN ZEIDERS & BIG MO / “Best Shot”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Warner Records
– Tuneless and boring.

WYATT McCUBBIN / “Boy in the Boat”
Writers: Erik Dylan/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Lucille Records
– Magical. In a hushed, tender tenor, he sings of fatherhood and the fleeting passage of time. Gently plucked acoustic guitar softly fills the air around his beautifully expressive performance. This man is a major talent.

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS / “Live Forever”
Writers: Billy Joe Shaver/Eddy Shaver; Producer: Anderson East; Label: Lightning Rod Records
– This is such a great Billy Joe Shaver song. William Lee takes the lead vocal on this worthy revival.

CJ SOLAR & THE OLD SOULS / “First Time Caller”
Writers: Brock Phillips/CJ Solar/Jason Duke; Producer: Nick Gibbens; Label: Raining Bacon Records
– Snappy and punchy. It’s a heartache tune with a sassy backbeat and a rollicking groove. Radio shout-outs built into the lyrics.

MEGAN MORONEY / “You For Me (Smoky Mountain Demo)”
Writers: Connie Harrington/Jessi Alexander/Jessie Jo Dillon/Megan Moroney; Producers: Luke Laird, Megan Moroney; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– Intimate and conversational. Reflective and romantic. It’s a stripped down, acoustic sound, which throws the spotlight on her aching voice. I adore this artist.

ORVILLE PECK / “Already Gone”
Writers: Jacob Portrait/Orville Peck; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Warner Records
– The always-masked Peck will be at The Truth this Sunday (Nov. 15). His current single is a throbbing production framing his dramatic, resonant baritone voice perfectly. This guy is always worth listening to.

HAYES CARLL & MOUNTAIN GRASS UNIT / “Railroad River Junction”
Writers: Drury Anderson/Hayes Carll/Josiah Nelson/Luke Black/Sam Wilson; Producer: Vance Powell; Label: Dualtone Music Group
– Americana star Carll dips his toes into bluegrass waters in this delightful outing. His just-folks vocal and dandy licks from dobro, mandolin and fiddle convey the message that a good ol’ pickin’ party is good for whatever ails ya. You’ll find it on the album celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nashville’s Dualtone label. Titled Keep Pressing On, the compilation drops on Dec. 4.

SHENANDOAH & ALEXANDRA KAY / “Scares Me More”
Writers: Bernie Herms/Emily Weisband/Patrick Murphy; Producer: Alison Krauss, Noah Gordon; Label: 8 Track Entertainment
– Wonderfully well done. Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon possesses one of country music’s great voices. Singing with him is bound to be intimidating. Youngster Alexandra Kay rises to the occasion, matching her soprano to his heartbreaking tenor in a perfectly harmonized ballad duet. Applause, applause.

HANNAH HARPER / “9 To 5 (Live from Dollywood)”
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: Dillon Harper; Label: 19 Recordings/Atlantic Outpost
– The 2026 American Idol winner offers a sprightly take on the Dolly classic. Recorded live at Dollywood, she’s a pale imitation of the original. But who wouldn’t be?

Robert K Oermann
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