Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley & Bailey Zimmerman To Headline Watershed Festival

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Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Bailey Zimmerman.

Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Bailey Zimmerman will headline the 2025 Watershed Music Festival, taking place Aug. 1-3 at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington.

Additional performers also include Drew Baldridge, Sawyer Brown, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Tyler Hubbard, Ian Munsick, Bryan Martin, Chase Matthew, RaeLynn, Nate Smith, Austin Snell, Dee Jay Silver and Zach Top.

Watershed will also highlight rising stars with its “Next From Nashville” stage. Festival-goers will get an exclusive preview of some of country music’s most exciting new talents, including Logan Crosby, Spencer Crandall, Karley Scott Collins, Thomas Edwards, Greylan James, Last Chance Band, Bryce Leatherwood, Owen Riegling, Shaylen, Lauren Watkins, Timothy Wayne and The Woods.

Tickets and camping passes will go on sale this Friday (Feb. 21) at 10 a.m. PT here.

Dierks Bentley Announces New Broken Branches Tour

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Dierks Bentley will kick the summer off with his 2025 “Broken Branches Tour” in Austin on May 29.

The tour will visit over 30 cities nationwide, with rising star Zach Top and new Warner Music duo The Band Loula joining him this summer. Tickets will go on sale this Friday (Feb. 21) at dierks.com. Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning tomorrow (Feb. 18) until Thursday (Feb 20) through the Citi Entertainment program.

“I’m 20(ish) years into doing this, and I’ve seriously never been more excited about a tour,” says Bentley. “We had Zach out for a few shows last summer, and I knew right away that we had to do more together. He loves the same kind of country music I do, and he’s got the bluegrass chops to hang with the best of ‘em in a jam. I’ve got a million ideas for the set list rolling around in my head. It’ll be fun to figure out how to make it all come to life with a new album and new production.”

Bentley recently teased a new upcoming album with the release of the leadoff single “She Hates Me,” which features the tongue-twisting story of a girl who is no longer falling for his country-boy charm.

“Broken Branches Tour” 2025 Dates:
5/29 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ^
5/30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavillion ^
5/31 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center *
6/5 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *
6/6 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
6/7 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre #
6/12 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *
6/14 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre *
6/19 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre *
6/20 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre *
6/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater *
6/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome ^
6/27 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre *
6/28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre *
7/10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater *
7/11 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live *
7/12 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center ^
7/18 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *
7/19 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
7/31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre *
8/1 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater *
8/7 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion ^
8/8 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *
8/9 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion *
8/14 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater ^
8/15 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center *
8/16 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts *
8/21 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena *
8/22 – Birmingham, AL – Coca Cola Amphitheatre *
8/23 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum *
8/28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden *
8/29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake ^
8/30 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre ^

* On-Sale This Friday, February 21
^ On-Sale Next Friday, February 28
# On-Sale Friday, March 7

Lainey Wilson Scores Eighth No. 1 With ‘4X4XU’

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Lainey Wilson. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

Lainey Wilson‘s latest single, “4x4xU,” has become her eighth song to top the charts.

The track, written by Wilson, Aaron Raitiere and Jon Decious, is from her Whirlwind album, which debuted at No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and No. 13 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart. Wilson will kick off her “Whirlwind World Tour” in March, adding to yet another landmark year for the entertainer. The tour will include stops in Zurich, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Baton Rouge and more through August.

Wilson also recently joined British singer-songwriter Myles Smith for a special remix of his song, “Nice To Meet You,” which is out now.

Cody Johnson Hosts Two Sold-Out Nights At Bridgestone Arena

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Cody Johnson. Photo: Jay Trevino

Cody Johnson gave Nashville two back-to-back sold-out shows at Bridgestone Arena as part of his “Leather Deluxe Tour” on Friday (Feb. 14) and Saturday (Feb. 15), drawing over 30,000 fans. During his tour stop at the venue last year, Johnson set a record as the male country artist with the most tickets sold for a debut performance at Bridgestone.

Johnson brought several surprise guests on stage during the two-night event. On Friday (Feb. 14), Randy Houser, who opened the show, joined Johnson for a performance of “Seven Spanish Angels,” and Marcus King helped wrap up the evening with a collaboration on “Call Me The Breeze.” Saturday’s (Feb. 15) show featured three special guests, Ian Munsick for “Long Live Cowgirls,” Luke Combs for “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and Carrie Underwood, who joined Johnson for “I’m Gonna Love You.”

This weekend’s openers were Chayce Beckham and Houser on Friday night (Feb. 14), followed by Drew Baldridge and Ashley McBryde on Saturday (Feb. 15).

The “Leather Deluxe Tour” will continue this weekend with stops in Buffalo and Cincinnati before Johnson heads overseas in March.

ACM & BMI Present ‘An Intimate Evening With The War And Treaty’

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The War And Treaty are set to play a special show at The Bluebird Cafe on Feb. 27, presented by The Academy of Country Music and BMI Nashville in celebration of Black History Month.

The duo will showcase songs from their brand-new album, Plus One, out last week via Mercury Nashville, and also spotlight the remarkable story behind their rise in country music. As a nod to the upcoming 60th ACM Awards, The War And Treaty will sit down for an intimate conversation about their own journey to becoming two-time ACM Award nominees, discussing everything from navigating Michael’s military service as a two-time Iraq War combat veteran to overcoming career obstacles and making it to the ACM Awards stage.

The conversation will be cohosted by ACM Award recipient and Board Member, Shannon Sanders (BMI), alongside Origins Records’ Gina Miller. Tickets go on sale next Thursday (Feb. 20) at bluebirdcafe.com.

Graham Barham Releases Two Tracks From New EP ‘Oil Money’

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Graham Barham has released two new tracks, “Oil Money” and “Half A Dozen Roses” from his Oil Money EP, today (Feb. 14).

The eight-track project also includes Barham’s recent hits “Whiskey Whiskey,” “Shoot The Lock” and “Lie To Me.” Writers contributing to the EP include David Lee Murphy, Cole Miracle, Lindsay Rimes, Beau Bailey and more.

“We’re introducing Club Country with a bang!” says Barham, coining the new phrase to describe his ear-catching sound. “’Oil Money’ came together so fast and had an immediate reaction – I’m pumped to have it out.”

Barham will head to Europe for the C2C: Country to Country Festival next month, as well as select dates with Dasha in Germany. In April, he’ll join Dylan Scott on the road for the “Country Til I Die Tour.”

Oil Money Track List:
1. “Oil Money” (Graham Barham / Beau Bailey / Sam Bergeson / Cole Miracle)
2. “Whiskey Whiskey” (Graham Barham / Gabe Foust / Jacob Hackworth / Summer Overstreet)
3. “Half A Dozen Roses” (Graham Barham / Jessi Alexander / Jesse Frasure / David Lee Murphy)
4. “Lie To Me” (Graham Barham / Beau Bailey / Jacob Hackworth / Sam Martinez)
5. “Something To Chase” (Graham Barham / Beau Bailey / Sam Martinez / Dallas Wilson)
6. “M.I.A.” (Graham Barham / Beau Bailey / Gabe Foust / Cole Miracle)
7. “You Wont’ Let Me Stay” (Graham Barham / Cole Miracle / Lindsay Rimes / Michael Whitworth)
8. “Shoot The Lock” (Graham Barham / John Pierce / Lindsay Rimes / Michael Whitworth)

MusicRow Weekly (CountryBreakout Award Winners, News, Charts, More…)

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This week’s MusicRow Weekly features the release of the 2025 Country Radio & Streaming issue, available now in a fully digital format. The annual issue dives into the evolving landscape of radio and streaming, offering insights into the trends and innovations shaping the industry. Click here to see the full edition.

Also in this week’s newsletter, we unveil the winners of the 2024 MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards. These honors recognize the artists and industry professionals behind the music that resonated across small-town America throughout the past year. Based on spins reported by secondary market stations on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, the awards celebrate the dedication and creativity that brought these songs to life.

Alongside these highlights, readers can find an in-depth look at some of country music’s recent chart-topping hits, as well as an exclusive interview with Ashley Till, the voice behind SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry. Till shares her perspective on the genre’s lasting appeal and the songs that continue to define the early 2000s era.

In industry news, Dennis Reese has returned to Sony Music Nashville as Senior Vice President of Radio Marketing & Promotion, bringing decades of experience back to the label.

Dan Killian has been named an owner and shareholder at FBMM after nearly 15 years in the business and more than a decade with the entertainment business management firm. Meanwhile, Paramount Global has announced a pause on several major events, including the 2025 CMT Music Awards, as it reassesses the future of these productions. On the label front, rising independent artist Alexandra Kay has signed a deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, marking a new chapter in her already successful career.

In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included, with Dylan Scott clinching the No. 1 spot with “This Town’s Been Good To Us.” Explore more chart data here.

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.

Kaleb Sanders Signs With Red Street Records

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Red Street Records’ Mike Craft, Andy Elliott, Amanda Roach, Kelly King, Alex Valentine and Bluetick Management’s Ricky Andrews; (L-R, bottom row): Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus, Kaleb Sanders and Red Street Records Owner/Chairman Dan Crockett

Kaleb Sanders has signed with Red Street Records. His first release for the label, “Right Guy,” is out today.

Co-written by Sanders alongside Aaron Rosing and the song’s producer Brad Wagner, “Right Guy,” delivers a quintessential anti-Valentine’s Day anthem and paints a picture of an almost perfect love story.

In just over a year, Sanders has amassed a growing audience with cuts like “Marlboro Man” and “If They Sold It At a Bar.” Leaning in to influences from ’90s and 2000s rock and pop, he blends classic country with pop sensibilities drawing inspiration from artists like John Mayer, Jason Aldean and Post Malone, and has racked up over 10 million career streams.

“To say we are excited about Kaleb Sanders is an understatement,” says Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus. “This kid is beyond talented and one of the hardest working people in the business. We are ecstatic to have him as a part of the Red Street family, and we can’t wait for all of the incredible music ahead!”

“Words can’t express how thrilled I am about partnering with Jay [DeMarcus] and the label team,” shares Kaleb. “It’s quite fitting that a song called ‘Right Guy’ is my first Red Street Records release, and I hope everyone loves it as much as we do!”

Brenda Lee’s Rare Early Collection, ‘Love You!’ Gets Digital Deluxe Release

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Brenda Lee’s long out-of-print 1963 early career collection, Love You!, is out today (Feb. 14) via MCA Nashville/UMe as an expanded digital Deluxe Edition.

The project features 20 rare tracks, every one of Lee’s recordings she made for Decca between 1956-62, in their streaming debuts. Love You! was first released in 1963 in the UK by Ace of Hearts, a label under Decca UK. This compilation brought together the A and B sides of non-album singles that were issued in the U.S. between 1957 and 1961. It begins with “Love You Til I Die,” the B-side to her hit “Dynamite,” recorded by “Little Miss Dynamite” when she was only 12 years old.

Love You! has now been expanded to feature 20 additional non-album singles, rarities and previously unreleased recordings, all recorded between 1956 and 1962. These tracks, which were previously included in various international compilations such as the 1974 German release The Legends Of Rock Vol. 2 Rare Items, the 1984 UK collection The Early Years, and Germany’s 1995 comprehensive box set Little Miss Dynamite from Bear Family Records, are now available for streaming for the first time.

The new additions include many of Lee’s earliest recordings such as her cover of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” recorded in 1956 but unreleased for nearly three decades, as well as several alternate versions, first versions and second versions of tracks like “Bigelow 6-200,” the B-side to her first single, “Jambalaya,” the teenage heartbreaker, “Careless, That’ All” and her take on the Ink Spots’ classic “If I Didn’t Care.” Other standouts include “Some People,” “Funny Feelin’,” “Time Is Not Enough” and “Sweet Lovin’.”

Love You! Track List:
DISC 1
1. “Love You Till I Die” (B-side to 1957 single “Dynamite”)
2. “Ring-A My Phone” (1958 single A-side)
3. “Hummin’ The Blues Over You” (B-side to 1958 single “Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home”)
4. “Rock A Bye Baby Blues” (1957 single A-side)
5. “Rock The Bop” (B-side to 1957 single “Rock The Bop”)
6. “It’s Never Too Late” (B-side to 1961 single “You Can Depend On Me”)
7. “I’m Learning About Love” (B-side to 1961 single “Emotions”)
8. “Bill Bailey Won’t you Please Come Home” (1958 single A-side)
9. “Dynamite” (1957 single A-side)
10. “Little Jonah” ( B-side to 1958 single “Ring-A-My-Phone”)
11. “One Teenager to Another” (B-side to 1957 single “Ain’t That Love”)
12. “Ain’t That Love” (1957 single A-side)

DISC 2
1. “Bigelow 6-200” (Alternate Version) (unissued 1956 recording) ^
2. “Some People” (unissued 1956 recording) *
3. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” (unissued 1956 recording) *
4. “Doodle Bug Rag” (unissued 1956 recording) **
5. “Fairyland” (1957 single B-side to “One Step At A Time”)
6. “The Golden Key” (unissued 1958 recording) **
7. “The Stroll” (unissued 1959 recording) **
8. “Careless, That’s All” (First Version) (unissued 1960 recording)
9. “If I Didn’t Care” (First Version) (unissued 1960 recording)
10. “Careless, That’s All” (Second version) (unissued 1961 recording) **
11. “Tables Are Turning” (unissued 1961) **
12. “Funny Feelin’” (unissued 1961 recording)
13. “Let Me Be The One #095” (unissued 1961 recording)
14. “Time Is Not Enough” (unissued 1961 recording) **
15. “Here Comes That Feeling” (B-side to 1962 single “Everybody Loves Me But You”)
16. “Just Forget” (unissued 1961 recording) **
17. “Let The Four Winds Blow” (unissued 1961) **
18. “She’ll Never Know” (unissued 1962 recording)
19. “It Takes One To Know One” (unissued 1962 recording)
20. “Sweet Lovin’” (unissued 1962 recording)

^ first appeared on 1987 LP, Rockabilly Classics Vol. 2 (MCA)
* first appeared on 1984 LP, The Early Years (MCA UK)
** first appeared on 1974 LP, The Legends Of Rock Vol. 2 Rare Items (MCA Germany)

Sturgill Simpson Reveals ‘Who The F**k Is Johnny Blue Skies? 2025 Tour’

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Sturgill Simpson has announced the “Who The F**k Is Johnny Blue Skies? 2025 Tour” coming this spring. The tour, following his 2024 35-show run in support of his most recent album Passage du Desir, will see “Johnny Blue Skies” play 23 shows across the country. The tour kicks off at Choctaw Casino Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma on April 5, and wraps up on May 24 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

These dates proceed Simpson’s recent series of sold-out shows across Europe and UK where he had stops in Belfast, Dublin, London, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Brussels and Paris.

Since his debut, Simpson has released five full-length studio albums and defied expectations, earning accolades including a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Album and six Grammy nominations across country, rock, bluegrass and Americana.

Registration for pre-sale is open now and begins on Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. local time with general on-sale beginning on Feb. 21 at 12 p.m. on sturgillsimpsonlive.com.

“Who The F**k Is Johnny Blue Skies? 2025 Tour” Dates
Apr 5 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Casino – Grand Theater
Apr 8 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf at Orange Beach
Apr 10 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at BJCC
Apr 11 – Southaven, MS – Landers Center
Apr 14 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
Apr 15 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
Apr 17 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Apr 19 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Apr 24 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley
Apr 27 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Apr 29 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre
May 2 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 3 – Independence, MO – Cable Dahmer Arena
May 6 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
May 9 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
May 10 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
May 13 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 16 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Coliseum
May 17 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
May 20 – Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena
May 21 – Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena
May 23 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
May 24 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion