Red Clay Strays Announce New Headlining ‘Grateful Tour’

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The Red Clay Strays. Photo: Robby Klein

The Red Clay Strays are celebrating their new album Grateful with their biggest headlining tour so far, “The Grateful Tour ‘26.”

The new tour, which kicks off in Columbia, Maryland on July 30, will include stops in Philadelphia, Sioux Falls, Bozeman, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, San Diego, Fort Worth, Orlando, Baton Rouge and many more through Nov. 13.

An array of special guests will join the band on select dates throughout the tour, including The Revivalists, Dylan Gossett, Wyatt Flores, Muscadine Bloodline, Shane Smith and The Saints, Sierra Ferrell, Travis Tritt, Haley Reinhart, Brent Cobb and Sweet Talk. General tickets go on sale May 1, at redclaystrays.com/tour.

The Red Clay Strays will officially kick off their tour later today, (April 24), with a press conference and a top-billed appearance at Indio, CA’s Stagecoach. They also recently announced “The Red Clay Strays Fan Fest 2026,” the first-ever RCS fan festival set to take place at Rexford, Montana’s Abayance Bay Marina on June 24-28. The five-night event will feature a headline show from The Strays, the very special “Strays with Stories – Intimate Performances and Stories with The Red Clay Strays,” headline shows by Lukas Nelson and St. Paul & the Broken Bones, and much more.

The Red Clay Strays – Tour 2026 Dates:
April 24 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach †
May 24 – Norfolk, VA – Patriotic Festival
June 5 – Nashville, TN – CMA Fest presented by SoFi †
June 13 – Columbus, OH – Buckeye Country Superfest †
June 18 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
June 21 – Bloomington, IL – Tailgates N’ Tallboys †
June 24-28 – Rexford, MT – “The Red Clay Strays Fan Fest 2026” at Abayance Bay Marina
June 26 – Calgary, AB – Country Thunder Alberta †
July 11 – St. Paul, MN – Minnesota Country Club †
July 17 – Twin Lakes, WI – Country Thunder Wisconsin †
July 19 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Frontier Days
July 30 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *
August 1 – Boston, MA – TD Garden *
August 5 – Laval, QC – Place Bell * (NEW DATE)
August 7 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann ** (NEW DATE)
August 9 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden **
August 15 – Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fair
August 16 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center # (NEW DATE)
August 18 – Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center # (NEW DATE)
August 19 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Event Center # (NEW DATE)
August 21 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse § (NEW DATE)
August 22 – Missoula, MT – Adams Center # (NEW DATE)
August 26 – Spokane, WA – Numerica Veterans Arena ## (NEW DATE)
August 27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ## (NEW DATE)
August 29 – Portland, OR – Moda Center ## (NEW DATE)
August 30 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ## (NEW DATE)
September 2 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center # (NEW DATE)
September 4 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic # (NEW DATE)
September 6 – Aspen, CO – Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience †
September 11 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center # (NEW DATE)
September 12 – Ontario, CA – Toyota Arena # (NEW DATE)
September 16 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego # (NEW DATE)
September 17 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena # (NEW DATE)
September 19 – Pryor, OK – Born & Raised Music Festival †
September 20 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center + (NEW DATE)
September 26 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond †
September 30 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre * (NEW DATE)
October 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena * (NEW DATE)
October 3 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena * (NEW DATE)
October 7 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena ++ (NEW DATE)
October 14 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center * (NEW DATE)
October 15 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena * (NEW DATE)
October 17 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium * (NEW DATE)
October 18 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena * (NEW DATE)
October 22 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena ^
October 23 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena ^
October 28 – Knoxville, TN – Food City Center ^^ (NEW DATE)
October 31 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena ++ (NEW DATE)
November 5 – Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Cane’s River Center ‡ (NEW DATE)
November 6 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena ‡ (NEW DATE)
November 8 – Jonesboro, AR – First National Bank Arena ‡ (NEW DATE)
November 13 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena ||

† Festival Appearance
* w/ Special Guests The Revivalists & Haley Reinhart
** w/ Special Guests The Revivalists & Brent Cobb
# w/ Special Guests Dylan Gossett & Sweet Talk
§ w/ Special Guests TBA & Sweet Talk
## w/ Special Guests Wyatt Flores & Sweet Talk
+ w/ Special Guests Muscadine Bloodline & Sweet Talk
++ w/ Special Guests Shane Smith and The Saints & Brent Cobb
^ w/ Special Guests Sierra Ferrell & Brent Cobb
^^ w/ Special Guests Wyatt Flores & Brent Cobb
‡ w/ Special Guests Muscadine Bloodline & Brent Cobb
|| w/ Special Guests Travis Tritt & Brent Cobb

Owen Riegling Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Owen Riegling. Photo: Chris Hollo

Owen Riegling made his Grand Ole Opry Debut earlier this week.

Riegling released his sophomore album, In The Feeling, last week via Universal Music Canada and Big Loud Records.

After winning the 2022 Boots & Hearts Festival Emerging Artist Competition and signing with Universal Music Canada, Riegling broke through with his Platinum-certified hit “Old Dirt Roads.” His expanded EP-turned-album Bruce County (From The Beginning) earned major recognition, including 2025 CCMA Album of the Year, multiple Country Music of Ontario Awards, and a 2025 Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. He has amassed more than 170 million global streams and has shared stages with Brett Young, Jake Owen, Tyler Hubbard, Chase Rice, Tyler Braden, Kashus Culpepper, Dierks Bentley and more.

First Round Of AMERICANAFEST 2026 Showcases Announced

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The Americana Music Association has revealed the first round of artists slated to showcase at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, running from Sept. 15-19.

Artists set to appear include Benmont Tench, Melissa Etheridge, Hiss Golden Messenger, Buddy Miller, Erin Enderlin, Lee Roy Parnell, The McCrary Sisters, Shakey Graves, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines, Next of Kin and many more.

AMERICANAFEST Festival 2026 Wristbands, which allow admission into evening showcase venues and select sanctioned special events, are $150 and are available online here. Silver Wristbands are currently on sale for $470 ($350 for Americana Music Association members) and provide first access to RSVP events, and access to the daytime educational conference, plus sanctioned special events.

The week of festivities kicks off with the Americana Honors & Awards, which celebrates Americana luminaries and welcomes the next generation of trailblazers while offering one-of-a-kind performance pairings at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets will be first available to Silver Wristband Holders, followed by Association members and Festival Wristband Holders, then a general public sale at a later date.

Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood Among Lineup For ‘Opry 100 Honors Don Williams’ Show

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Don Williams will be celebrated in the next ”Opry 100 Honors” show set for June 10 at the Grand Ole Opry House.

“Opry 100 Honors Don Williams” will feature performances by Opry members Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and more. Williams became an Opry member 50 years ago this week, singing “The Shelter of Your Eyes” and “You’re My Best Friend.”

Urban has frequently named Williams as one of the biggest influences of his career. His father was a big fan of Williams, and his music was a constant sound in Urban’s home. Urban got to collaborate with Williams on the track “Imagine That” in 2012 for one of the two duets on Williams’ album And So It Goes.

Yearwood also counts Williams as one of her musical heroes, and recorded “Maggie’s Dream” on the 2017 tribute album Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams. Yearwood and Williams both worked with producer Garth Fundis, who was the architect behind Williams’ calm and measured sound throughout the late 1970s and 80s.

A collection of previously unheard tracks by Don Williams was discovered by his son Tim and longtime producer Fundis, and are set to be released as a new album, Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes, on May 29 via Craft Recordings. The recordings date from 1979-1984, a defining period in Williams’ career that produced enduring classics including “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” “It Must Be Love,” “I Believe in You,” “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good” and “Tulsa Time.”

A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which has supported country music professionals in times of need for over 60 years. The fund provides financial assistance for medical bills, emergencies and other hardships faced by those in the industry, and beginning today, $5 from every ticket sold for “Opry 100 Honors” will go directly to the fund.

The special series of “Opry 100 Honors” shows sponsored by Dan Post pay tribute to several of the icons who helped shape the Opry’s first century. Since the series launched in 2025, the Opry has honored Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff, Hank Williams and Little Jimmy Dickens.

Ella Langley Debuts New Fragrance

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Ella Langley. Photo: Courtesy of NOYZ

Ella Langley has debuted a new fragrance, Be Her Eau de Parfum, in partnership with NOYZ.

Langley worked closely with renowned Robertet perfumer Jérôme Epinette, who also developed the broader NOYZ fragrance collection. The scent will be available online and exclusively at Ulta Beauty shortly.

“Partnering with NOYZ to develop a custom fragrance feels like an extension of the same storytelling I chase in my music – layered, authentic and intentional. Every fragrance note has a purpose, originates from a memory, and the entire process translates something intangible into a fragrance that people can carry with them” shares Langley.

“The timing of this partnership could not be more perfect, Ella is breaking charts and is the hottest new name in music, and NOYZ has experienced a meteoric rise itself in 2026,” adds Shaun Neff, Founder of NOYZ. “I am hyped on how Ella created this scent to embody her song Be Her and how this collaboration has magically come together. ”

“From the beginning, NOYZ was built on the idea that fragrance should reflect real life, raw, emotional, and deeply personal,” says Malena Higuera, CEO of NOYZ. “This partnership with Ella represents a new model for how scent can come to life, where it’s not inspired by an artist, but created with them. Be Her translates her lyrics, her perspective, and her sense of identity into something tangible. It’s a reflection of where fragrance is going. More expressive, more collaborative, and more storytelling than ever before.”

BREAKING: Big Machine Records/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment Taps Allison Jones As EVP Of A&R

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Allison Jones.

Big Machine Records/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment has tapped Allison Jones as EVP of A&R.

Jones joined Big Machine Label Group in 2008 and has been a key player in signing Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, Riley Green, Carly Pearce and Midland, while contributing to the development and success of Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Lady A and Taylor Swift.

Across her career, she has spent time as Head of A&R at multiple labels, including Giant Records, DreamWorks Nashville and Universal Music Group Nashville. Jones served as Toby Keith’s longtime A&R representative for more than a decade during the peak of his career, and she worked closely with Reba McEntire across multiple projects, including her GRAMMY Award-winning gospel album Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.

Jones has been recognized on Billboard’s Women In Music and Country Power Players lists, as well as on Country Aircheck’s Power 31 list and at Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards.

“I’ve worked with Scott since 1997, when we opened DreamWorks Nashville together, and have spent the past 18 years at Big Machine in the trenches making history (with lots of celebrations and core memories made!),” says Jones. “I’m incredibly proud of the music we’ve created. It’s been an honor to be part of building one of the most impactful and successful labels in the history of the music business. Scott is a true visionary who never settles for anything less than winning. I’m incredibly excited and proud to do it all over again as we rebuild the new Big Machine!”

“Allison is the consummate A&R executive,” adds Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta. “She knows every artist, every song, and every publisher, and is obsessed with being on the sharp end of pop culture. Big Machine simply would not be what it is today without Allison by my side, and I’m so thrilled that we get to continue together in this new season.”

CBS & ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’ Extend Deal

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CBS and New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash have signed a new multi-year deal to stream the annual celebration globally. The annual stream takes place on Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. CST live from Nashville the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.

The show is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Sandra Restrepo serves as Director.

“Mary and I are thrilled to continue our partnership with CBS and the City of Nashville to bring New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash to audiences across the country,” says Deaton. “There’s nothing quite like ringing in the new year from Nashville, surrounded by the energy, heart and incredible talent of country music. We’re proud to keep growing this celebration into one of the biggest nights of the year for fans everywhere.”

The event is hosted infront of thousands of attendees at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. This year’s lineup, hosts and special guests will be announced at a later date.

Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

Jackson Dean Threads The Needle On ‘Magnolia Sage’ [Interview]

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Jackson Dean. Photo: Sean Hagwell

On his third studio album, Magnolia Sage, Jackson Dean isn’t just refining his sound, he’s redefining the way he tells stories. The project arrives at a pivotal moment in his career, shaped by relentless touring, personal growth and a creative process that demanded both urgency and reinvention.

“You have your whole entire life to make your first record, six months to do record two, and then hardly any time to do record three,” Dean explains to MusicRow. That compressed timeline forced a departure from traditional methods. “This was a very different process than our usual,” he says, noting that constant travel left him piecing together ideas across time zones and head spaces.

What emerged is an album that feels expansive geographically, emotionally and sonically. Initially, Dean considered centering the project around a single motif. “I had ‘Hey Mississippi’ and I was going to go with Magnolia Moon. But there’s so much more on this record than just Magnolia.” The turning point came late in the process, when a final track reshaped the concept entirely. “That chorus is just so impactful, and that’s where the Sage came from.” The fusion of the two ideas gave the album its title and its identity.

Rather than beginning with a rigid concept, Dean discovered the album’s duality as he built it. The “Magnolia” and “Sage” halves, loosely representing contrasting emotional and geographic landscapes, weren’t pre-planned. “It’s always a fun time to needle through not only the sequencing, but to conceptualize it all,” he says. “It’s always fun threading the needle through all of that and telling the stories.”

That storytelling instinct extends to how the record unfolds. Dean approached sequencing like crafting a live show. “I always look at it like a set list coming off the top with tempo and then vibing and wildfires in the middle there. And then the back half is pretty epic.” The result is a dynamic listening experience that mirrors the energy of his performances.

At its core, Magnolia Sage reflects a life spent in motion. “I’ve been to a lot of places since Back of My Dreams came out, and this is very much an American record,” Dean says. With location references scattered throughout, the album captures both the pull of home and the ache of distance.

Personally, Dean admits he gravitates toward one side of that divide. “I’m a Sage leaning guy. I really am,” he says, laughing about his preference for drier climates over Southern humidity. Still, the album thrives in the tension between those worlds, never settling fully into one or the other.

Sonically, that duality becomes even more pronounced. While Dean’s foundation remains rooted in country, Magnolia Sage stretches into looser, groove-driven territory, pulling from R&B and soul influences. “It is way more laid back,” he says. Yet the musicianship remains front and center with tight band interplay, expressive guitar work, and arrangements designed to translate seamlessly to the stage.

Among the artists shaping that sonic palette are Leon Bridges and Ralph Stanley. “Bridges is a soulful guy,” he says, while praising Stanley’s deeply rooted, organic sound. The goal wasn’t to mimic either influence, but to absorb their essence and push into “new territory.” As Dean puts it, “There’s no two songs the same on this record. They’re all their own thing in their own right, which is healthy and the goal.”

That sense of individuality extends to the songwriting, which balances intimate moments with universal themes. The earliest track written for the album, “Something Easy,” carried particular weight. “I held that song close to the vest for a while,” Dean says, recalling how its meaning crystallized after meeting his fiancee Shannon.

For Dean, that realization underscores a broader philosophy about music’s purpose. “Music is supposed to be presented in a way for the listener to put themselves in the song and see their own life in it,” he says. It’s less about delivering fixed narratives and more about creating space for connection.

Behind the scenes, Dean collaborated closely with producer Luke Dick. “I don’t ever really want to stop working in a studio,” he says. “I will go take after take after take to get it perfect with no autotune.” That dedication manifests in layered vocal stacks and richly textured recordings that feel both polished and raw.

Magnolia Sage represents growth, not just artistic, but also personal. “I’m not 18 and pissed off anymore,” Dean says candidly. Years of travel and experience have reshaped his worldview. “I’ve definitely gone more places than I ever dreamed of going. My perspective on the world has changed drastically.”

It’s an album born from chaos, but grounded in clarity of purpose. As Dean reflects on the process, one realization stands above the rest: “Once you pour your focus into something and give it all, it can really center you and bring you back to your middle.”

MLC Seeking Suggestions For Songwriter Candidates For Board Of Directors & Advisory Committees

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The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is accepting suggestions of songwriter candidates for its Board of Directors, Dispute Resolution Committee and Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee.

Recommendations can be made here until May 26.

Under the Music Modernization Act (MMA), certain governance positions at The MLC are reserved for representatives of songwriters. The MLC will submit all recommendations it receives to the Board’s Songwriter Nominating Committee for consideration. Board and committee members sit for three-year terms and may be re-elected.

The MLC’s Board of Directors and committees meet regularly, and all meetings allow for virtual participation such that travel is not generally required. Members are expected to devote sufficient time to prepare for and participate fully in all meetings.

Rodney Crowell To Release ‘Then Again’ Featuring Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, More In June

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Rodney Crowell is releasing a project largely recorded two decades ago, Then Again, on June 26 via New West Records.

The 10-track set was produced by Crowell and Steuart Smith with additional production by Dan Knobler.

The album’s first single, “Are You One Of Us?,” a duet with the late Guy Clark, is the final recording between the two friends and collaborators. The album also features appearances Lyle Lovett, Benmont Tench, Emmylou Harris, Lera Lynn and more.

Added to the original sessions are two newly recorded selections, “If I Could Speak to Leonard,” a love letter to the late Leonard Cohen written before his death in 2016, as well as “Go Light a Candle,” which was released last year.

“I guess you could call it a lost album. I stumbled upon it in my vault at home,” says Crowell. “I’d forgotten about it completely. There was much talk of the previous albums as a trilogy, so when I finished this one, I listened to it and thought, Oh shit, I just hear all the same sounds and techniques glaring at me. I needed to have a different experience, so I went out to L.A. to make a record with Joe Henry. I just loved what happened once I rediscovered it. I wanted to call these guys up and say, Hey! Let’s make a new record. Then Again is like having one last dance with those guys.”

Crowell is set to launch tour dates Saturday (April 25) in Badalona, Spain in support of last year’s Airline Highway.

Then Again Track List: 
1. “I Won’t Lie”
2. “Are You One of Us? (feat. Guy Clark)”
3. “If I Could Speak To Leonard”
4. “Bring It on Home To Memphis”
5. “The Ballad of Artemis and Orion”
6. “Sing Your Heart Out (feat. Kieran Goss & Annie Kinsella)”
7. “Whatcha Gonna Do Now #2 (feat. Lyle Lovett & Chely Wright)”
8. “The Has-Been Vents His Spleen”
9. “40 Winters”
10. “Go Light a Candle (feat. Emmylou Harris & Lera Lynn)”