Jelly Roll. Photo: Jen Rosenstein
As we head into the holiday weekend, the country superstars are singing our steamy-hot soundtrack.
Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan are all on board today. Also flavoring the listening session were outstanding performances by Margo Price, Russell Dickerson and our Disc of the Day winner, Jelly Roll.
Nashville singer-songwriter Bennett Woolsey stages his DISClaimer debut and earns a DISCovery Award for his effort.
ALAN JACKSON / “Still the One”
Writers: Johanna Hall/John Hall; Producer: Keith Stegall; Label: EMI Records Nashville
– An eternally great song in the throat of an eternally great artist. Jackson takes the 1976 Orleans oldie and country-fies it with fiddling and hillbilly vocal charm. He’s celebrating the 50th anniversary of both the song and his marriage to Denise.
TIM McGRAW / “Song for America”
Writers: JT Harding/Tom Douglas; Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Label: Turbo Tonk Records
– Perfect for Independence Day. The lyric splashes poetic images across an anthem-like tune to convey joy and hope.
RHIANNON GIDDENS / “Carolina Rain”
Writers: Dirk Powell/Rhiannon Giddens; Producers: Dirk Powell, Rhiannon Giddens; Label: Nonesuch
– The spare, stripped-down production features acoustic, banjo/fiddle, instrumentation backing her folk soprano. The vibe is wistful and nostalgic. The soul-sister vocal flourishes at the finale weaken the mood.
BRAD PAISLEY / “Treading Whiskey”
Writers: Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois; Producers: Brad Paisley, Luke Wooten; Label: Brad Paisley
– The honky-tonk ballad wallows deliciously in heartache and self-pity. Country music with its stomping boots on and twang a-plenty.
MARGO PRICE WITH JOAN BAEZ & MEMPHIS MARIACHI / “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)”
Writers: Martin Hoffman/Woody Guthrie; Producer: Matt Ross-Spang; Label: Loma Vista Recordings
– Baez and Price sing with aching emotion on this dynamite revival of a social-justice classic. The video makes it explicit that this is an anti-ICE statement. The lilting mariachi track appears on Price’s Days of Unrest collection, which drops tomorrow (July 3), just in time for her appearance at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin.
RUSSELL DICKERSON & FETTY WAP / “Boots”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Matt Dragstrem/Russell Dickerson/Willie Maxwell; Producers: Josh Kerr, Matt Dragstrem, Russell Dickerson; Label: Triple Tigers
– The rap icon’s appearance with Dickerson was one of the highlights of this year’s CMA Fest. All 50,000 fans were on their feet, and the Tennessee Titans cheerleaders danced along. Now the tune is a bopping, rhythm-happy music video.
GUSTAVO MIOTO / “Last Goodbye”
Writers: Andrew Capra/GIANA/Gustavo Mioto/James Slater/Josh Dorr; Producer: Andrew Capra; Label: Universal Music Ltda
– Mioto is a Brazilian star with zillions of streams. To create his first English-language recording, he spent months in Music City immersing himself in the town’s songwriting culture. The result is a debut country single that’s marvelously melodic, infused with sincerity and packed with authenticity. Play this.
SHANIA TWAIN & TANYA TUCKER / “Little Miss Twain”
Writers: Shania Twain; Producer: Zach Dawes; Label: Republic Records
– “According to my mother/I’m the next Tanya Tucker/I’m gonna be a star,” sings Twain in this moving autobiographical outing. The song recalls her upbringing as a child singing in bars and idolizing Tanya. Amid a lovely swirl of echoey production, the voice of Tucker, herself, emerges in a smoky duet. A terrific single from an international superstar and a Country Music Hall of Famer.
MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Til the Going’s Gone”
Writers: Brendan McLoughlin/Jesse Frasure/Josh Osborne/Miranda Lambert/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert; Label: MCA
– Breezy, silky and dreamy. She’s a ramblin’ gal who doesn’t let grass grow under her feet. Wafting, celestial strings soar high above. Cool and refreshing.
LUKE BRYAN / “Made It a Memory”
Writers: Jamie Paulin/Matt Alderman/Shane Profitt; Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– “Country and She Knows It” remains the current single. Bryan releases this love ballad as another advance of his ninth studio album, Signs, due this fall. In the soaring tune’s lyric, she turns an ordinary night into a romantic memory.
KALIKO / “Whiskey Nights”
Writers: Robin Williams; Producers: Daniel Ramirez, Deangelo Khonaisser, Sigh Griffin; Label: Soundgame Supreme
– Mixed messages of heartbreak, perseverance and resilience wrapped up in a wildly catchy and infectious groove. His jaunty tenor vocal draws on soul and honky-tonk influences in equal measure.
JELLY ROLL / “Hands Up”
Writers: Chase McGill/Jason DeFord/Joe Fox/Michael Hardy/Rocky Block; Producers: Ben Johnson, Charlie Handsome; Label: Stoney Creek Records
– Throbbing and uplifting. He goes to a concert and “gets religion” in the communal experience. Now he urges us all to raise our imperfect souls up toward heaven. An instant classic.
BENNETT WOOLSEY / “Cigarettes and Alcohol”
Writer: Bennett Thomas Woolsey; Producer: Tone Def; Label: Third Generation Music Group
– There’s something wonderfully mysterious and graceful about this echoey production. His soothing, laid-back delivery settles into its groove as he muses about leaving his misspent youth behind and growing up with a heartache. Very promising. Send more.
Summerfest Wraps 2026 Festival
/by Lauryn SinkGarth Brooks. Photo: Ben Krebs
Summerfest has wrapped its 2026 festival after three weekends of live music from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Garth Brooks kicked off the festival with two nights at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on June 16-17. Brooks treated fans to a 20-song set spanning fan favorites and deep cuts, including “The Beaches of Cheyenne,” “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” and “The River,” as well as a surprise cover of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page.”
The first weekend (18-20) also featured performances from Megan Moroney, Passion Pit, Third Eye Blind, Holly Humberstone, Cameron Whitcomb, Evan Honer, Carín León, Aspen, flipturn, Connor Price, Nate Smith and others.
Weekend two (June 25-27) continued with sets from headliners Ed Sheeran, Post Malone and Cody Johnson, along with The Marcus King Band, Russell Dickerson, Tucker Wetmore, Carter Faith and more.
The festival wrapped this weekend (July 2-4) with performances from Noah Cyrus, Whiskey Myers, Jelly Roll, Tyler Hubbard and many more.
Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Tucker Wetmore. Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Carter Faith. Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Sam Barber. Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
Jelly Roll. Photo: Courtesy of Summerfest
David Spencer Re-Signs With Essential Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughDavid Spencer re-signs with Essential Music Publishing
Platinum-selling songwriter and producer David Spencer has extended his exclusive publishing deal with Essential Music Publishing.
Spencer has over a billion streams to his credit, and his work consistently lands on the radio and streaming charts. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists from various genres, and in 2026 alone, he will celebrate the release of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Carly Simon’s new single “Howl” from her new album, as well as co-writing and producing Jo Dee Messina’s album Bridges, and working with breakout viral artist Neoni on their new album on Virgin Music Group.
In 2023, Spencer earned ASCAP Song of the Year for “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” a nine-week No. 1 that set the record for the longest-running debut single by a female artist in CCM history. He followed with another No. 1, “Who I Am” by Ben Fuller. He has since had additional cuts by artists like Seph Schlueter, Jamie McDonald, Sanctus Real, and Zach Williams, with his top 5 Billboard hit, “Jesus Loves.” In addition to his chart success, Spencer plays a key role in artist development, serving as a key writing and producing partner for Neoni and helping shape the duo’s evolving sound and global reach. The viral Gold hit “Darkside” marked a breakout moment with hundreds of millions of streams, and his ongoing work continues to define the duo’s evolving musical identity.
Spencer’s music has also been featured in major cultural moments, including the Super Bowl and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He most recently secured a worldwide sync placement with Adobe featuring “Pocket Size” by Sansol the Artist, highlighting his continued impact across both creative and commercial spaces.
“It’s no surprise that David has risen to be one of the most sought-after writers and producers across CCM, country, and sync – his talent has always been undeniable,” shares Jamie Rogers, VP, Essential Music Publishing. “But beyond the accolades, David is simply someone you love being in this business with. We’re genuinely excited and deeply grateful to extend our partnership with him,and we couldn’t be more honored to run alongside him as he continues to create genre-defining music.”
BREAKING: Triple Tigers’ Kevin Herring Steps Back From Co-President Role
/by Lauryn SinkKevin Herring.
Kevin Herring is stepping back from his role as Co-President of Triple Tigers Records.
Herring will continue to serve as a strategic advisor, focusing on A&R and overall label strategy.
Herring began his career in radio in 1981 at WWWW-FM Detroit before moving into promotion, where he held leadership roles at Mercury, Disney’s Lyric Street, Warner Music Nashville and Triple Tigers. Over the years, he has been instrumental in the success of artists including Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, Shania Twain, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, and most recently Ella Langley, Russell Dickerson and Scotty McCreery.
“This is the first step toward retirement for me. I’m grateful for the chance to step back and play a support role that allows me more control of my own schedule, including more time with my wife and grandson, while still coaching staff and fostering artists’ careers with Triple Tigers,” he shares.
“This label has the best batting average of achieving radio No. 1 [tracks] in country music history,” explains Founding Partner George Couri. “That is because of the team that Kevin put together and led. We are so grateful he’s agreed to stay on in this new capacity.”
Maoli Slates New Album ‘MMO3’ Due In August
/by Lorie HollabaughHawaiian singer-songwriter Maoli will release his new album, MMO3, on Aug. 28. In advance of the album, he has released a new song from the project, “Good On You.”
MMO3 is the latest installment of Maoli’s MMO (Maoli Music Overload) series following the first two iterations in 2023, which led Maoli to garner over 1.1 billion lifetime streams. Produced by Grammy-winner J-Vibe, MMO3 includes 12 tracks that showcase Maoli’s unique blend of roots reggae, island soul and country, while celebrating his home state and its values of love, positivity and unity. In addition to “Good On You,” MMO3 features previously released songs “Some Are Just Better,” “Clarity” ft. Kabaka Pyramid, “Feels Like Love” and, most recently, “Runnin’ Me Off” featuring Maddie Font.
“If I have one person listening, 10 people listening, or 10,000 people listening, it doesn’t matter,” says Maoli. “I want to show the world we’re very similar, and I think it’s my purpose – my calling. I really believe this music we play could do a lot of great things. I believe it could change the world for better.”
Maoli will continue to tour through the summer with performances at major festivals, including Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond and Reggae on the Rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheater. His 15+ year career has been marked by a series of albums and singles, including covers of hits like Maddie & Tae’s “Every Night Every Morning” (74.3 million streams), Brett Young’s “Mercy” (61.4+ million global streams) and “In Case You Didn’t Know” (26+ million global streams).
MMO3 Track List:
1. “Almost Was”
2. “Borrow Tomorrow”
3. “Clarity” (feat. Kabaka Pyramid)
4. “Feels Like Love”
5. “God On a Gravel Road”
6. “Good On You”
7. “Heart Of A Cowboy”
8. “I Got A Beer For That”
9. “Loving You Comes Easy”
10. “Runnin’ Me Off” (feat. Maddie Font)
11. “Some Are Just Better”
12. “Tequila Heartache”
Canadian Country Legend Tommy Hunter Passes
/by Robert K OermannTommy Hunter
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tommy Hunter died on Thursday (July 2) at age 89.
Known as “Canada’s Country Gentleman,” he was the host of a legendary, long-lasting national TV show. Hunter’s country TV career was launched in 1956 on CBC’s Country Hoedown, where he was a cast member. He was given his own program in 1965.
The Tommy Hunter Show became one of the most enduring music programs in North American television history. The show aired weekly on CBC for 27 years, 1965–1992, and was later carried in the U.S. by TNN. Over the years, it showcased top Canadian country acts — Carroll Baker, Rita MacNeil, Hank Snow, Michelle Wright, Shania Twain and the like — as well as Nashville stars such as Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and many others.
Hunter was noted for classy presentation of country music (no barns, hay bales, or corn stalks). The crooner charted in the U.S. with the ballad “Mary in the Morning” on Columbia in 1967.
After his TV show ended, Hunter remained a top concert attraction into the 1990s and 2000s. He retired from touring on his 75th birthday in 2012.
During his long career, he won three Juno Awards and one Gemini Award, as well as induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. He was appointed to both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. Hunter was also honored via a Canada postage stamp.
Hunter is survived by his three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements and details regarding a public memorial will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the London Ontario Humane Society or to an animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice.
MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)
/by Madison HahnenThis week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly is packed with major industry milestones, executive moves and new signings that continue to shape Nashville’s music business landscape. Click here to see the full edition.
Leading the week’s headlines, the Academy of Country Music announced the winners of the Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards for the 59th ACM Awards. The recipients will be honored during the 19th ACM Honors on Aug. 19 at The Pinnacle. Among this year’s studio winners, Bryan Sutton earned Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Justin Niebank collected his 10th Audio Engineer of the Year trophy and Dann Huff secured his sixth Producer of the Year award. Additional winners included Stuart Duncan, Rob McNelley, Gordon Mote, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Fred Eltringham and Jerry Roe. On the industry side, The Pinnacle was named Club of the Year, while Cheyenne Frontier Days claimed Fair/Rodeo of the Year. Several familiar names also returned to the winner’s circle, including Stagecoach, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Bridgestone Arena, the Ryman Auditorium, Choctaw Grand Theater, Mohegan Sun Arena, Adam Weiser and Ed Warm.
The Grand Ole Opry also delivered one of the week’s biggest moments as Rhett Akins received an invitation to become the newest member of the iconic institution during a surprise presentation on June 28. Dave Fenley also stepped into the famed circle for his official Grand Ole Opry debut.
Across the industry, organizations announced significant staffing updates. The Country Music Association revealed five internal promotions alongside five new hires across its events, marketing, membership, creative, business affairs, accounting, partnerships and analytics teams. Musicians On Call also expanded its staff, welcoming two new employees while promoting eight team members throughout its marketing, development, programs and volunteer divisions, underscoring the nonprofit’s continued growth and impact.
The business side of Music City remained active with several notable company launches and partnership announcements. Blake Duncan and Scott Hendricks unveiled TAYCAN Entertainment, a new independent Nashville-based music publishing and A&R company. Meanwhile, Back Row Publishing officially launched under the leadership of Lindsay Will and Taylor Antle, with Christian Yancey becoming the company’s first signed songwriter.
The signing front remained equally busy as artists, writers and companies continued building new partnerships. Restless Road joined the EMPIRE Nashville roster, while Ashe signed a new record deal with Atlantic Records alongside publishing agreements with Doomsday and Universal Music Publishing Group. Chris Sligh entered into publishing partnerships with Sony Music Publishing and Ace High Music. Nicole Alexis signed with Hardworking Record Company, Carlisle Wright joined Joan of Arc Music for management and Riley Thomas inked a deal with ONErpm Nashville.
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Morgan Wallen remains in the No. 1 spot with “Don’t We.” Explore more chart data here.
The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.
No Ka ‘Oi Songwriter Festival Returns In November With Riley Green, Lukas Nelson, More
/by Lorie HollabaughThe first wave of performers has been announced for the The No Ka ‘Oi Songwriters Festival on the shores of South Maui Nov. 5–7, which features three days of music, storytelling and community impact.
Presented by the Heart and Hook Foundation, the festival’s initial lineup for 2026 includes Riley Green, Ernest, Randy Houser, Liz Rose, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Phil Barton, Gail Swanson and Erik Dylan. Returning as festival host is radio personality Storme Warren of The BIG 615, who will also record a special live episode of his Exit 209 podcast during the weekend.
All festival proceeds benefit two organizations making a meaningful difference across Maui including the Lele Aloha Foundation, which continues to provide direct assistance to families impacted by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires through housing initiatives, essential supplies and community support programs, and the Maui Family YMCA Music Programs, which have delivered more than 600 free music lessons in piano and ukulele to local youth, supported in part by festival contributions that help fund instruments, instructors, and program operations.
“What makes No Ka ‘Oi special is the combination of world-class songwriting, genuine community connection, and a commitment to giving back,” says festival co-founder Dan Goodfellow. “Every year we bring incredible artists to Maui, but the real success of the festival is measured by the impact it creates for local families and organizations. We’re excited to welcome fans from Hawaii and the mainland for our biggest festival yet.”
Additional performers, special guests, and event details will be announced throughout the summer, with the festival’s complete lineup revealed in August.
Morgan Wallen’s ‘Don’t We’ Claims Fifth Week Atop The MusicRow Radio Chart
/by John Nix ArledgeMorgan Wallen. Photo: Spidey Smith
Morgan Wallen claims his fifth consecutive week atop the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Don’t We.”
The hit comes off of his fourth studio album I’m The Problem and was written by Wallen, Rocky Block, John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Blake Pendergrass and Charlie Handsome.
Wallen is currently on the road wrapping up his Still The Problem Tour with three final stops in Baltimore, Ann Arbor, and Philadelphia.
“Don’t We” currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 3 on the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Ashley McBryde’s Redemption Bar To Host First-Ever Canadian Pop-Up At Cavendish Beach Music Festival
/by Lorie HollabaughAshley McBryde. Photo: Nathan Chapman
Ashley McBryde‘s Redemption Bar is holding its first-ever Canadian pop-up at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival July 9-11 in Prince Edward Island.
The non-alcoholic-forward bar activation will be open to festival attendees throughout the duration of CBMF with selections from Redemption’s signature mocktail menu, including a limited-time creation tied to McBryde’s fifth studio album Wild, alongside some of the East Coast’s best non-alcoholic offerings. The mocktail menu will also be available at the CBMF backstage artist bar. A portion of proceeds from every sale will go to the Light On Fund, McBryde’s charitable initiative.
“I’m excited to partner with Cavendish Beach Music Festival to make a space where everyone feels welcome,” says McBryde. “It’s been an honor to see how Redemption has encouraged people to show up and share their stories and I can’t wait to bring it to Canada for the first time.”
“Cavendish Beach Music Festival has long been committed to ensuring that all guests feel welcome, and the Redemption Bar pop-up represents a first for the festival: its inaugural fan-facing, non-alcoholic-forward bar experience,” says Taylor Jack, Chief Entertainment Officer, Whitecap Entertainment. “The partnership marks a milestone for Canadian country music culture, creating an intentional space for the sober community at one of the country’s largest and most beloved outdoor music events. We’re proud to share this experience with both performers and guests.”
DISClaimer Single Reviews: New Jelly Roll Tune Is ‘An Instant Classic’
/by Robert K OermannJelly Roll. Photo: Jen Rosenstein
As we head into the holiday weekend, the country superstars are singing our steamy-hot soundtrack.
Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan are all on board today. Also flavoring the listening session were outstanding performances by Margo Price, Russell Dickerson and our Disc of the Day winner, Jelly Roll.
Nashville singer-songwriter Bennett Woolsey stages his DISClaimer debut and earns a DISCovery Award for his effort.
ALAN JACKSON / “Still the One”
Writers: Johanna Hall/John Hall; Producer: Keith Stegall; Label: EMI Records Nashville
– An eternally great song in the throat of an eternally great artist. Jackson takes the 1976 Orleans oldie and country-fies it with fiddling and hillbilly vocal charm. He’s celebrating the 50th anniversary of both the song and his marriage to Denise.
TIM McGRAW / “Song for America”
Writers: JT Harding/Tom Douglas; Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Label: Turbo Tonk Records
– Perfect for Independence Day. The lyric splashes poetic images across an anthem-like tune to convey joy and hope.
RHIANNON GIDDENS / “Carolina Rain”
Writers: Dirk Powell/Rhiannon Giddens; Producers: Dirk Powell, Rhiannon Giddens; Label: Nonesuch
– The spare, stripped-down production features acoustic, banjo/fiddle, instrumentation backing her folk soprano. The vibe is wistful and nostalgic. The soul-sister vocal flourishes at the finale weaken the mood.
BRAD PAISLEY / “Treading Whiskey”
Writers: Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois; Producers: Brad Paisley, Luke Wooten; Label: Brad Paisley
– The honky-tonk ballad wallows deliciously in heartache and self-pity. Country music with its stomping boots on and twang a-plenty.
MARGO PRICE WITH JOAN BAEZ & MEMPHIS MARIACHI / “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)”
Writers: Martin Hoffman/Woody Guthrie; Producer: Matt Ross-Spang; Label: Loma Vista Recordings
– Baez and Price sing with aching emotion on this dynamite revival of a social-justice classic. The video makes it explicit that this is an anti-ICE statement. The lilting mariachi track appears on Price’s Days of Unrest collection, which drops tomorrow (July 3), just in time for her appearance at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin.
RUSSELL DICKERSON & FETTY WAP / “Boots”
Writers: Dylan Marlowe/Matt Dragstrem/Russell Dickerson/Willie Maxwell; Producers: Josh Kerr, Matt Dragstrem, Russell Dickerson; Label: Triple Tigers
– The rap icon’s appearance with Dickerson was one of the highlights of this year’s CMA Fest. All 50,000 fans were on their feet, and the Tennessee Titans cheerleaders danced along. Now the tune is a bopping, rhythm-happy music video.
GUSTAVO MIOTO / “Last Goodbye”
Writers: Andrew Capra/GIANA/Gustavo Mioto/James Slater/Josh Dorr; Producer: Andrew Capra; Label: Universal Music Ltda
– Mioto is a Brazilian star with zillions of streams. To create his first English-language recording, he spent months in Music City immersing himself in the town’s songwriting culture. The result is a debut country single that’s marvelously melodic, infused with sincerity and packed with authenticity. Play this.
SHANIA TWAIN & TANYA TUCKER / “Little Miss Twain”
Writers: Shania Twain; Producer: Zach Dawes; Label: Republic Records
– “According to my mother/I’m the next Tanya Tucker/I’m gonna be a star,” sings Twain in this moving autobiographical outing. The song recalls her upbringing as a child singing in bars and idolizing Tanya. Amid a lovely swirl of echoey production, the voice of Tucker, herself, emerges in a smoky duet. A terrific single from an international superstar and a Country Music Hall of Famer.
MIRANDA LAMBERT / “Til the Going’s Gone”
Writers: Brendan McLoughlin/Jesse Frasure/Josh Osborne/Miranda Lambert/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert; Label: MCA
– Breezy, silky and dreamy. She’s a ramblin’ gal who doesn’t let grass grow under her feet. Wafting, celestial strings soar high above. Cool and refreshing.
LUKE BRYAN / “Made It a Memory”
Writers: Jamie Paulin/Matt Alderman/Shane Profitt; Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– “Country and She Knows It” remains the current single. Bryan releases this love ballad as another advance of his ninth studio album, Signs, due this fall. In the soaring tune’s lyric, she turns an ordinary night into a romantic memory.
KALIKO / “Whiskey Nights”
Writers: Robin Williams; Producers: Daniel Ramirez, Deangelo Khonaisser, Sigh Griffin; Label: Soundgame Supreme
– Mixed messages of heartbreak, perseverance and resilience wrapped up in a wildly catchy and infectious groove. His jaunty tenor vocal draws on soul and honky-tonk influences in equal measure.
JELLY ROLL / “Hands Up”
Writers: Chase McGill/Jason DeFord/Joe Fox/Michael Hardy/Rocky Block; Producers: Ben Johnson, Charlie Handsome; Label: Stoney Creek Records
– Throbbing and uplifting. He goes to a concert and “gets religion” in the communal experience. Now he urges us all to raise our imperfect souls up toward heaven. An instant classic.
BENNETT WOOLSEY / “Cigarettes and Alcohol”
Writer: Bennett Thomas Woolsey; Producer: Tone Def; Label: Third Generation Music Group
– There’s something wonderfully mysterious and graceful about this echoey production. His soothing, laid-back delivery settles into its groove as he muses about leaving his misspent youth behind and growing up with a heartache. Very promising. Send more.