Ashley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
Ashley Cooke is letting fans in deeper than ever before on her sophomore self-titled album, out today (Aug. 14) via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music.
Written in the midst of a season of falling in and out of love, the self-described coming-of-age record finds Cooke putting words to the patterns, fears and hard truths she was still learning about herself in real time.
“I learned quite a bit about myself throughout the process of writing it,” Cooke shares with MusicRow. “Just being in your mid-to-late 20s, you learn about yourself and your patterns, relationships, and your biggest fears. [I didn’t want to just say] ‘I went through this thing and here’s what I think,’ but it is more of ‘here is what I learned in the process.’”
Cooke co-wrote all 15 tracks on the project alongside Music Row hitmakers including Kyle Sturrock, Emily Weisband, Chase McGill, Seth Ennis and more, but the project came together much differently than her debut shot in the dark.
“I didn’t walk into writing rooms on Music Row with a hook in mind thinking about how to blow The Listening Room’s mind or how to blow the Bluebird’s mind,” she explains. “I sat down with some of my closest friends and favorite co-writers. A lot of this record was written on retreats, or in my living room, or on bus runs when I was on tour.”
That less-calculated approach also meant writing while life was actively unfolding around her. Cooke began making the album in a relationship that ended before it was finished, writing much of the record “smack dab in the middle” of its ups and downs.
Track one is appropriately titled “if i’m being honest,” born from Cooke and two co-writers “word vomiting” random thoughts and hard truths, or the kind of things that she jokes might come out after “too much wine on a first date.”
“That was important for me to kind of get out,” she says of opening the record with those honest admissions.
From there, the record follows the ebbs and flows of the relationship Cooke found herself in while making it, with songs capturing different moments as it unfolded. “between the lines” traces back to the beginning stages of the relationship. After writing the first verse on her own, she brought it to three of Nashville’s most celebrated songwriters, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose.
Ashley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
“I love them all so much. Obviously, they’re iconic writers,” Cooke gushes. “We were sitting at Liz’s house, and we were just messing with random ideas and titles. I was like, ‘I have this idea called ‘between the lines.’ I don’t really know what it would be yet, but I wrote this verse for it.’”
Together, the four built the song around everything left unsaid in those early stages of a relationship, playing what Cooke says aloud against what she really means.
By the time she wrote album closer “the girl who cried wolf,” she had reached a much different place. The song was never supposed to be on the record at all, but when she thought the project was finished and headed to mastering, the relationship came to an end.
“We basically called it off, and I was in my head and spiraling and talking to my friends about it,” Cooke recalls. “I went into a writing room, and I wrote about it. I called the label the next day and I was like, ‘We have to put this on the record.’”
What began as simply writing through the breakup ultimately became the record’s final track, bringing the album full circle to the patterns she was beginning to recognize in herself.
“I feel the most when I listen to that song,” she shares. “I was never planning on writing that for the record. It was just writing to write, to have therapy of it. And now it’s the last song on a project that I’m super proud of.”
Elsewhere on the album, current single “baby blues” came together under much lighter circumstances. Cooke penned the track on the final day of a writing retreat with Seth Ennis, Johnny Clawson, Joe Fox and Kyle Sturrock after a few days of admittedly having a little too much fun.
“We were all very hungover from drinking the night before,” Cooke laughs. “We were just having a good time on our retreat. That song kind of just fell out of us during that time period, and it wasn’t intentional.”
The idea was sparked when Ennis mentioned a line for another song, prompting the group to realize there was another idea to chase. Cooke immediately connected with what they wrote, but listeners soon had a say in the song’s trajectory too. After she shared the demo on social media, “baby blues” began gaining traction and eventually made its way into her live set.
“It just kind of became this organic moment, similar to how ‘your place’ also happened,” she says. “I think it’s fun to have people champion songs that they want to hear on the radio.”
Ashley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
The song is climbing the country charts and has amassed 55 million global streams to date.
Cooke is celebrating the album release with the “cities that made me tour,” a special run of acoustic pop-up shows, kicking off today in Nashville. Tomorrow (Aug. 15), the tour will continue on to Milwaukee, Cooke’s birthplace, before visiting Pleasanton and Studio City, representing Cooke’s youth in California, then Sarasota and Parkland from later stints in Florida. The shows wrap by going all the way back to West Lafayette, Indiana, where her parents first met.
The celebration is just a preview of what Cooke has planned for the album on the road. She will launch her third headlining run, the “Baby Blues World Tour” next month, bringing the new music to cities across the U.S. and U.K., including a Feb. 25 stop at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Leaning into the tour’s namesake, Cooke is asking fans to come dressed in baby blue, creating what she calls a “blue out.”
For all the new music, shows and celebrations surrounding the project, Cooke believes what comes through most is a clearer picture of the person behind it.
“I’ve established myself as a brand in the industry, but this record really allows you to get to know Ashley the person, not Ashley the artist.”
Cassidy Daniels Slates Debut Album ‘What Have I Got To Lose’
/by Lorie HollabaughRising country artist Cassidy Daniels will release her debut album, What Have I Got To Lose, Sept. 18 via 101 Music/Thirty Tigers.
The 10-song collection marks a defining new chapter for Daniels, combining the soulful vocals, southern rock edge, and country grit that have shaped her as an artist. The announcement arrives alongside the release of “Ain’t No Jukebox,” the latest track from the upcoming album that also made its debut on the Paramount+ hit series Dutton Ranch. Penned by Daniels with Kenny Whitmire and Lee Starr, the track showcases the fearless, roots-driven sound that runs throughout What Have I Got To Lose.
Produced by John Osborne of Brothers Osborne, What Have I Got To Lose finds Daniels leaning fully into her influences, and across the 10 tracks, Daniels explores love, heartbreak, faith, confidence and self-discovery, balancing vulnerability with the grit and conviction that have become hallmarks of her music. The album features previously released favorites “Heart Shaped Necklace” and “Crazy Love,” both of which were featured in Dutton Ranch.
“What Have I Got To Lose is my debut album, and it feels like me pulling up my chair to the table in music,” says Daniels. “I’ve spent years writing songs, finding my voice, and working towards this moment. Making a record takes time, and after all of it, this record feels like me sticking my flag in the sand and saying ‘this is who I am.’”
The debut album follows a breakout year for Daniels that has seen her sign with 101 Music, perform on stages alongside Brothers Osborne, Lynyrd Skynyrd and other artists, compete as a finalist on CBS’ The Road, and make her mark on television through two appearances on Dutton Ranch where she performed multiple original songs.
What Have I Got to Lose Track List:
1. “Heart Shaped Necklace” (Cassidy Daniels, Vanessa Olivarez, Justin Schipper, Piper Bateman, Braelyn Watt)
2. “Ain’t No Jukebox” (Cassidy Daniels, Kenny Whitmire, Lee Starr)
3. “Perfume Over Cigarette Smoke” (Cassidy Daniels, Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston)
4. “Crazy Love” (Cassidy Daniels, Vanessa Olivarez, Justin Schipper, Piper Bateman, Braelyn Watt)
5. “When It Rains” (Cassidy Daniels, Lauren McLamb, Ben Williams)
6. “That Kind Of Man” (Cassidy Daniels, Emma-Lee, Maia Sharp)
7. “Come To Jesus” (Cassidy Daniels, Joe Fox, Trannie Anderson)
8. “The Chaser” (Cassidy Daniels, Rachel Thibodeau, Vanessa Olivarez, Chris Rafetto)
9. “What Have I Got To Lose” (Jeff Middleton, Stephony Smith, Clare Dunn)
10. “Amen & Hell Yeah” (Cassidy Daniels, Nick Autry, Elizabeth Elkins)
Ashley Cooke Gets Honest About Life, Love & Lessons On Self-Titled Sophomore Album [Interview]
/by Lauryn SinkAshley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
Ashley Cooke is letting fans in deeper than ever before on her sophomore self-titled album, out today (Aug. 14) via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music.
Written in the midst of a season of falling in and out of love, the self-described coming-of-age record finds Cooke putting words to the patterns, fears and hard truths she was still learning about herself in real time.
“I learned quite a bit about myself throughout the process of writing it,” Cooke shares with MusicRow. “Just being in your mid-to-late 20s, you learn about yourself and your patterns, relationships, and your biggest fears. [I didn’t want to just say] ‘I went through this thing and here’s what I think,’ but it is more of ‘here is what I learned in the process.’”
“I didn’t walk into writing rooms on Music Row with a hook in mind thinking about how to blow The Listening Room’s mind or how to blow the Bluebird’s mind,” she explains. “I sat down with some of my closest friends and favorite co-writers. A lot of this record was written on retreats, or in my living room, or on bus runs when I was on tour.”
That less-calculated approach also meant writing while life was actively unfolding around her. Cooke began making the album in a relationship that ended before it was finished, writing much of the record “smack dab in the middle” of its ups and downs.
Track one is appropriately titled “if i’m being honest,” born from Cooke and two co-writers “word vomiting” random thoughts and hard truths, or the kind of things that she jokes might come out after “too much wine on a first date.”
“That was important for me to kind of get out,” she says of opening the record with those honest admissions.
From there, the record follows the ebbs and flows of the relationship Cooke found herself in while making it, with songs capturing different moments as it unfolded. “between the lines” traces back to the beginning stages of the relationship. After writing the first verse on her own, she brought it to three of Nashville’s most celebrated songwriters, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose.
Ashley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
“I love them all so much. Obviously, they’re iconic writers,” Cooke gushes. “We were sitting at Liz’s house, and we were just messing with random ideas and titles. I was like, ‘I have this idea called ‘between the lines.’ I don’t really know what it would be yet, but I wrote this verse for it.’”
Together, the four built the song around everything left unsaid in those early stages of a relationship, playing what Cooke says aloud against what she really means.
By the time she wrote album closer “the girl who cried wolf,” she had reached a much different place. The song was never supposed to be on the record at all, but when she thought the project was finished and headed to mastering, the relationship came to an end.
“We basically called it off, and I was in my head and spiraling and talking to my friends about it,” Cooke recalls. “I went into a writing room, and I wrote about it. I called the label the next day and I was like, ‘We have to put this on the record.’”
What began as simply writing through the breakup ultimately became the record’s final track, bringing the album full circle to the patterns she was beginning to recognize in herself.
“I feel the most when I listen to that song,” she shares. “I was never planning on writing that for the record. It was just writing to write, to have therapy of it. And now it’s the last song on a project that I’m super proud of.”
Elsewhere on the album, current single “baby blues” came together under much lighter circumstances. Cooke penned the track on the final day of a writing retreat with Seth Ennis, Johnny Clawson, Joe Fox and Kyle Sturrock after a few days of admittedly having a little too much fun.
“We were all very hungover from drinking the night before,” Cooke laughs. “We were just having a good time on our retreat. That song kind of just fell out of us during that time period, and it wasn’t intentional.”
The idea was sparked when Ennis mentioned a line for another song, prompting the group to realize there was another idea to chase. Cooke immediately connected with what they wrote, but listeners soon had a say in the song’s trajectory too. After she shared the demo on social media, “baby blues” began gaining traction and eventually made its way into her live set.
“It just kind of became this organic moment, similar to how ‘your place’ also happened,” she says. “I think it’s fun to have people champion songs that they want to hear on the radio.”
Ashley Cooke. Photo: Patrick Tracy
The song is climbing the country charts and has amassed 55 million global streams to date.
Cooke is celebrating the album release with the “cities that made me tour,” a special run of acoustic pop-up shows, kicking off today in Nashville. Tomorrow (Aug. 15), the tour will continue on to Milwaukee, Cooke’s birthplace, before visiting Pleasanton and Studio City, representing Cooke’s youth in California, then Sarasota and Parkland from later stints in Florida. The shows wrap by going all the way back to West Lafayette, Indiana, where her parents first met.
The celebration is just a preview of what Cooke has planned for the album on the road. She will launch her third headlining run, the “Baby Blues World Tour” next month, bringing the new music to cities across the U.S. and U.K., including a Feb. 25 stop at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Leaning into the tour’s namesake, Cooke is asking fans to come dressed in baby blue, creating what she calls a “blue out.”
For all the new music, shows and celebrations surrounding the project, Cooke believes what comes through most is a clearer picture of the person behind it.
“I’ve established myself as a brand in the industry, but this record really allows you to get to know Ashley the person, not Ashley the artist.”
Josh Tatofi Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut
/by Lauryn SinkJosh Tatofi. Photo: Chris Hollo/Courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry
Josh Tatofi made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday (Aug. 11), becoming just the fourth Polynesian artist to perform on the legendary stage.
He performed two songs including his previously released fan favorite “Favorite Weather” and his new single “Baby Blue,” which is officially out today (Aug 14). Produced by Tyler Cain, “Baby Blue” was originally recorded 25 years ago by his father, Tivaini Tatofi, with the beloved Hawaiian group Kapena.
“It’s everything. It’s the pinnacle of country music to be able to sing in that circle right there and represent the South Pacific and the culture,” he told WSM’s Kelly Sutton on stage after the performance. “That means everything. The reason that this is such a big deal is because it lets the kids back home in the South Pacific know that if you work hard enough, put God number one, you can be right here.”
Tatofi will release his new album Paniolo Country on Oct. 2 via ROCK WALL/EMPIRE.
“I’m so excited to finally release this album,” shares Tatofi. “I feel like it all came together so fast. From being born and raised in Hawaiʻi, to flying all the way to Nashville and having the opportunity to record this entire record there, to now coming out with a Country Soul album… everything just makes sense. This music feels like where I come from, where I’ve been, and where I’m headed all coming together at the right time. This one’s for Country music. This one’s for the history of Country living and Country music in Hawaiʻi. For the generations before us who lived it, played it, and made it part of who we are. I can’t wait for you all to hear these tunes.”
Mack Geiger To Launch ‘When It’s Pouring Tour’ In November
/by Lorie HollabaughMack Geiger. Photo: Jared Hinz
RECORDS Nashville/Columbia artist Mack Geiger has revealed his new “When It’s Pouring 2026 Tour,” kicking off Nov. 11 at the Nashville Palace.
The run includes stops in Chicago, Columbus, St. Louis, Charlotte, Gainesville, Toronto, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Bakersfield and more through Dec. 7. General on sale launches Aug. 19.
Along with the tour, Geiger is entering the next chapter of his breakout year with the release of his brand-new song “Pouring,” available everywhere today (Aug. 13). “Pouring” finds Geiger leaning into the darker side of heartbreak, as memories of a past love come rushing back whenever the skies open, with storm clouds, lightning, and rain mirroring the weight of lost love.
“When It’s Pouring 2026 Tour” Dates:
November 11 | Nashville, TN | Nashville Palace
November 12 | Chicago, IL | Joe’s on Weed St.
November 13 | Columbus, OH | The Bluestone
November 14 | St. Louis, MO | The Hawthorn
November 20 | Charlotte, NC | Coyote Joe’s
November 21 | Gainesville, GA | The Hall
November 26 | Toronto, ON | Horseshoe Tavern
November 27 | Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Iron Works
November 28 | Rootstown, OH | Dusty Armadillo
December 3 | Sacramento, CA | Ace of Spades
December 4 | Los Angeles, CA | El Rey Theatre
December 5 | Bakersfield, CA | The Nile Theater
December 7 | Solana Beach, CA | Belly Up
Hudson Westbrook Readies Sophomore Album ‘Made You Look’
/by Lauryn SinkHudson Westbrook will release his sophomore album Made You Look on Nov. 6 via River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville.
In celebration of the announcement he has released the title track, which he wrote with Lukas Scott, Joybeth Taylor, Neil Medley and Beau Bailey. The new track follows earlier album previews “Hits Me,” “Backwards” and “Hey Dallas.”
“The last two years have been insane,” Westbrook shares. “If you would have asked me what I thought my life would look like at 22, my wildest dreams wouldn’t even come close. And none of that would be possible without the people who love my music. Sometimes it feels like we’re all chasing the same thing. Trying to find new ways to keep our fans guessing and listening. To keep their attention – to make them look. This record is built on the experiences and memories that my fans made possible for me over the last couple of years. We made it with them in mind, staying true to my Texas roots. I’m really proud of the album – how we pushed our sound and dug in on the songwriting. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
This fall, Westbrook will launch his 24-date headline “Hits Me Tour.” The trek marks Westbrook’s first-ever headline shows in major markets like Los Angeles (The Novo), Washington D.C. (The Anthem), New York (Terminal 5) and Boston (Roadrunner). Kenny Whitmire and Ethan Burdick will join him on the run.
Mark Wills Hosts A ‘Grand Ole Revival’ On His New Project, Due In November
/by Lorie HollabaughMark Wills is paying tribute to the music that first inspired him on his upcoming new album, Grand Ole Revival, a live collection of country gospel classics recorded inside the Grand Ole Opry Circle due out Nov. 6 via Gaither Music Group.
Produced by Grammy-winner Ben Isaacs, the album features vocals from an all-star cast of country and gospel legends including Cody Johnson, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, Jamey Johnson, Travis Tritt, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Isaacs, Charlie McCoy, Gaither Vocal Band, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson and more. The project marks only the second live album recorded inside the Grand Ole Opry House since the 1970s, preserving the spontaneity, musicianship and reverence of a once-in-a-generation session.
Grand Ole Revival reflects the music that first inspired Wills, songs learned in church pews and family gatherings long before his Nashville success. The project features country traditions, gospel standards and the storytelling that has defined Wills’ career. The album’s first single, “The Baptism of Jesse Taylor,” out now, sets the tone for the project with a heartfelt performance of the classic story song celebrating grace, redemption and the life-changing power of faith.
“Ever since I was a little kid, the very first music that came into my life was hymns, so it means a lot to me to be able to sing some of the songs I’ve loved my whole life,” says Wills. “In more than 30 years of making music, I’ve never experienced a tracking session like this one. Recording them live in the Grand Ole Opry circle made this project even more special since that has rarely occurred in its 100-year history. I think this project reflects that time-honored history and tradition that makes The Opry such an important part of country music.”
Grand Ole Revival Track List:
1. “The Lily of the Valley” (feat. Cody Johnson)
2. “I’ll Fly Away” (feat. Ricky Skaggs & Rhonda Vincent)
3. “How Great Thou Art” (feat. Trisha Yearwood)
4. “The Baptism of Jesse Taylor” (feat. Jamey Johnson, Charlie McCoy & Gaither Vocal Band)
5. “Because He Lives” (feat. Vince Gill & Rebecca Lynn Howard)
6. “Victory in Jesus” (feat. The Isaacs)
7. “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” (feat. Mae Estes & Ben Isaacs)
8. “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” (feat. Leona Williams, The Isaacs, Jim Brady & Melissa Brady)
9. “I Saw the Light” (feat. Travis Tritt & The Oak Ridge Boys)
10. “Mansion Just Over the Hilltop” (feat. The Sound)
11. “Look for Me for I Will Be There Too”
12. “Grand Ole Revival” (feat. The Isaacs)
Sheryl Crow Celebrates Freedom, Hope & Unity On Upcoming Album ‘Pick You Up’
/by Lorie HollabaughSheryl Crow will release her latest album Pick You Up on Oct. 9 via Old Green Barn Productions LLC. Along with the announcement, Crow has also released the first single from the album, “Freedom Bus” featuring Jesse Welles.
“I do not take freedom lightly because our freedom has been paid for in the lives of others throughout history and that is something I wish we could all remember when we are interacting with each other,” says Crow of “Freedom Bus.” “Our dialogue and ability to disagree must reflect what has been paid for in the blood, sweat, and tears of those who fought for every man and woman to be created equal and to enjoy the rights that our constitution has allowed each of us.”
“Freedom Bus” lays the foundation for Pick You Up, reflecting on our freedoms and pondering how we can connect peacefully and thrive despite our differences and the political challenges we are up against. It encourages thoughtful use of those freedoms, reminding us that our words should build understanding rather than become weapons. Featuring seven new songs, the album was written by Crow and long-time collaborator Jeff Trott, and explores themes of hope and unity.
“Each of these songs are a commentary on being human and wanting connection,” Crow says. “There is a lot of chaos all around us and I definitely find myself feeling alone. My wish is that whoever hears these songs feels the hope I feel when I sing them! I hope these songs feel like a soothing moisturizer on our chapped hearts. We are all going through so much in our humanity right now that being awake can feel like trudging through a burning desert. But we are never alone. And there is beauty everywhere. We just have to keep our eyes open.”
The Pick You Up album artwork features “The Elephant Who Forgot The Ocean” by acclaimed artist Tyson Grumm. A longtime collector of Grumm’s work, Crow first discovered his paintings nearly 20 years ago and has long been drawn to their sense of wonder, playfulness and underlying melancholy. When she recently saw “The Elephant Who Forgot The Ocean” at an auction, she knew it was the image she wanted for Pick You Up. She reached out to Grumm, who agreed to let her use the piece as the album artwork, and she ultimately purchased the original, which now hangs in her home.
Crow will perform on Good Morning America on August 28 to celebrate the album announcement.
1. “Freight Train”
2. “Perfect”
3. “Pick You Up”
4. “Flat Earth”
5. “I’ve Got Your Number”
6. “Heaven Help Us”
7. “Freedom Bus” (feat. Jesse Welles)
Kaitlin Butts To Unveil New Album In October
/by Lauryn SinkKaitlin Butts will release her new album, Hello, Honky Tonk, on Oct. 30 via Republic Records.
Inspired by the movie musical Chicago and Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree, the album marks her first full length project since signing with Republic Records in Oct. 2025 and releasing The Yeehaw Sessions. Butts previews the project today with “I Wanna Be Bad.”
“With every song, I saw a character in a honky tonk,” says Butts. “I’ve always loved the film version of Chicago and the way the musical numbers are presented almost like these little vaudeville vignettes, where you get to step into a character’s mind for a few minutes. I wanted to bring some of that feeling into a honky tonk and create this whole cast of characters that you might run into on a night out. There’s also a little bit of Country Bear Jamboree in there, because I realized recently it might be one of my earliest country music influences. This album is really a love letter to the honky tonks and the stages that have become my life on the road.”
Butts has joined Lainey Wilson on her “Whirlwind Tour,” Ella Langley on “The Dandelion Tour” and headlined her own sold-out overseas tour with the “European Cowgirl Experience.” She is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibition for the second consecutive year, earned a 2026 MusicRow Award Nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and is a member of both the 2025 Opry NextStage class and the CMT Next Women of Country class.
She is currently on the road with upcoming dates in Texas, Vermont, California and more.
Kenny Chesney Reclaims The No. 1 Spot On The MusicRow Radio Chart
/by John Nix ArledgeKenny Chesney; Photo: Allister Ann
Kenny Chesney returns to the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow Radio Chart this week with his hit “Carry On.”
The track comes off of Chesney’s twenty-first studio album Silver Sands Marina and was written by Chase McGill, Matt Jenkins and Jessi Alexander.
Chesney has revealed the track list to his upcoming album due Sept. 25.
“Carry On” currently sits at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 8 on the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
LAST DAY: Voting For 38th Annual MusicRow Awards Ends TODAY
/by MusicRow StaffToday is the last day to vote for the 38th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank. Ballots can be cast until 5:00 p.m. CT today (Aug. 14).
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a subscriber here.
Click here to view the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Now in its 38th year, the MusicRow Awards are Nashville’s longest running music industry trade publication honors and celebrate the achievements of songwriters, artists, producers and more.
The final nominees revealed in this announcement are determined by a committee. For the categories of Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer, outside nominations are also considered. For the Male and Female Songwriter of the Year categories, nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart.
All nominations are based on projects that were active between the period of June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. Continuing MusicRow’s tradition of recognizing talent behind the scenes, the Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards will be presented in conjunction with the MusicRow Awards. These honors salute Nashville’s most in-demand studio players who performed on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period.