Nashville Music Line

Country music’s hottest new albums, singles and tours!

July’s Inside Track of Music Row starts here

By Preshias Harris

SO much great music news! How can we fit it all in?! New albums, singles, tours and more from Gabby Barrett, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Shaboozey, Lady A, CJ Solar, Alana Springsteen, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Cody Jinx, Allie Colleen, Riley Green, The Highwomen, Don Williams, Ashley Cooke, Vince Gill, LOCASH & Parmalee plus new releases from emerging artists, upcoming music festivals and more. Thank you for making Inside Track on Music Row the longest continuously-published monthly country music column in the USA!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I feel, as a songwriter, it’s one of the hardest things to do – to sit down and say how you feel.” – Bruno Mars

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. – Psalm 74:17

ALBUM & EP NEWS

RILEY GREEN

RILEY GREEN: Amid another massive year of touring sold-out arenas, new career feats, and major award show milestones, Country superstar Riley Green announces his fourth studio album, That’s Just Me out September 18^th (pre-save/pre-order here). Produced by Dann Huff and Green, the project will be released via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Alongside the announcement, Green also released the second track from the record, “Think As You Drunk” (listen here).

Written and recorded during a pivotal year in Riley Green’s life and in the midst of the biggest tour of his career to date, That’s Just Me is a deeply personal multi-faceted body of work that captures the many sides of Green as an artist, but more importantly as a songwriter. Rooted in his signature Country storytelling with a strong western spirit, the record moves effortlessly between tender moments of yearning, brooding, and heartbreak, carefree beachy anthems, and the fun-loving drinking songs fans have come to love. Reflecting a season of change and growth, That’s Just Me showcases Green at a defining moment, revealing new layers while staying true to the authenticity that has always driven his music. Follow Green on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

See also Number One News, below.

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL: Music icon Vince Gill has released A Mother’s Prayer, the newest in his year-long EP series titled 50 Years From Home. Gill also launched his 50 Years From Home tour in June, a 27-city run including a six-night residency at the historic Ryman Auditorium. A complete list of dates can be found here.

Each of Gill’s EP releases thus far have centered around a unifying idea and theme. The glue holding the seven songs on the eighth installment, A Mother’s Prayer, is a bit more subtle, but the connection is revealed after listening all the way through and considering the context. Like the other 50 Years From Home EPs, A Mother’s Prayer was produced by Gill at his home studio near Nashville, with engineers Justin Niebank and Matt Rausch.

“I think with each of these EPs, I’m working toward pairing the songs that will sit together, that flow together, that sequence well,” Gill explains. “I like the theme of these songs, what they’re about. Where they came from. There are definitely some very personal ones on A Mother’s Prayer.” More at vincegill.com and on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

THE HIGHWOMEN

THE HIGHWOMEN, the acclaimed collaborative movement formed by Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, share their new live album, Live at The Gorge 2023—available to stream everywhere: listen here. Alongside the digital album, a new live music video for “Redesigning Women” is available here.

“We weren’t planning on releasing a live album,” shares the group, “But in preparing for our upcoming reunion we recently listened back to The Gorge, and whatever happened out there that night came rushing right back…the adrenaline, the near misses, the harmonies locking in at exactly the right second, and the sound of thousands of people singing like they meant every word with their whole chest. The recordings sound wild, emotional, electric, human and exactly how that night felt…We could really feel the connection, the community and that rare oneness where everybody carried each other for a little while … Just us, the crowd, the canyon, and whatever that feeling was. We sure hope you feel it.” More at TheHighwomen.com and Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Country Singles! Albums! Tours! In June’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

Riley Green, Josh Turner, Dan + Shay, Luke Bryan, Zach Top, Walker Montgomery and more

By Preshias Harris

Preshias Personal Note: This column is a little shorter (and later) than usual. It’s been a challenging few weeks with doctor visits, CT scans and MRIs ending with a biopsy of my liver, two urgent Emergency Room visits and hospital admission for severe abdominal pain requiring an emergency procedure. The good news: no evidence of liver or pancreatic cancer, but a LOT of pain. Despite my many health issues over the years, I’ve always managed to publish/post Inside Track on Music Row, America’s longest continuously-running monthly Country music column, and I wasn’t going to let this latest challenge break that 30+ year run! Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. Publicists: please send your media releases to me at this address: nashhvillemusicline@gmail.com

Scroll down for news about new music, tour updates and more from Luke Bryan, Zach Top, Walker Montgomery, T. Graham Brown, Dan + Shay, Riley Green, Josh Turner and more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “The greatest award in the music business is to be called a songwriter.” – Garth Brooks

BIBLE VERS OF THE MONTH: My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. – Psalms 71:23

ALBUM & EP NEWS

KYLE CLARK

KYLE CLARK: Just ahead of Memorial Day weekend Kyle Clark has released your summer soundtrack. The Platinum-certified songwriter, producer, and rising artist’s new 10-track album Better On A Boat is a laid-back, coastal-inspired country record made for long weekends on the water. Stream Better On A Boat here.

Alongside the album release, Kyle spotlights the project’s title track, “Better On A Boat” — a breezy coastal country anthem built around freedom, connection, and soaking up life’s simple moments. With vivid scenes of sunlit water, cold drinks, good company, and summer stretching endlessly overhead, the track pairs relaxed island-inspired production with heartfelt storytelling and romance. Easygoing yet deeply nostalgic, “Better On A Boat” captures the feeling of leaving the noise behind, embracing the moment, and finding peace somewhere out on the water.

Clark blends island ease with Southern grit — a duality that shapes both his sound and Better On A Boat. Produced and mixed by Clark and mastered by Sam Moses, the project leans deeper into his beach-forward lane within the genre.

Previously released singles from Better On A Boat — “Checking Out,” “Me, God And The Ocean,” “Blame It On The Sun,” “Dock And A Hard Place,” “Fake Dead In Fiji,” and “Florida On My Mind” — reflect Clark’s coastal-country perspective, capturing the easygoing rhythms and playful spirit of life by the water throughout the record. More at KyleClarkMusic.com; follow Clark on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

THOMAS CSORBA

THOMAS CSORBA has released his new album Tender Country via the newly-launched Turtlebox Records. (Pre-order / pre-save album here.) His third studio album, Tender Country, is country music uninterested in posturing, guided instead by tenderness, humor, and an acceptance of impermanence. That mentality comes across acutely in his new single, “The Big Time” (stream here), a gorgeous country ballad that poignantly illustrates the hardships of a life on the road and the family milestones you can miss along the way.

Csorba on the new single: “This song is the most honest song on the record. It’s a song that sits right there on the edge of the cliff of giving up. I figured there’s no other way to start but by addressing the elephant in the room. How does someone who values his stable home life and family reconcile that with his life as a travelling musician?”

Born in Houston, Texas and now rooted in Dallas, Thomas Csorba writes country music that feels less like performance and more like witness. The songs on Tender Country are deeply invested in the emotional architecture of family life. Marriage, routine, fatigue, joy, and discovery are all treated with equal seriousness. In Csorba’s hands, washing dishes and falling in love again become similar acts of quiet devotion. Tender Country follows Csorba’s 2024 release Windchimes. More at ThomasCsorba.com; follow Csorba on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Inside Track on Music Row: all new music for May ’26!

New albums and singles, tour news, CMA Fest updates, Opry news and more

By Preshias Harris

It’s May on Music Row and here’s your Inside Track with everything you need to know about the new and upcoming Country album and single releases and tours from Dylan Scott, Southall, Keith Urban, Brian Kelley & Niko Moon, Kacey Musgraves, Russell Dickerson, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Brandy Clark, Ryan Bingham, Lauren Rismiller, Aaron Tippin and many more! Plus news and updates about CMA Fest, the ACM Awards, Grand Ole Opry and more. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I started being a songwriter pretending I could do it, and it turned out I could.” – singer-songwriter James Taylor

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen. – Isaiah 60:22

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part One: The Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced additional performers and new event details for this year’s ACM Awards Week lineup, which will take place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 61st ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17th at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award-winning Country superstar Keith Urban will headline “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach, Saturday, May 16. Urban joins previously announced performers including Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore, as well as members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 – Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Tickets are available starting at $150 for VIP and $75 for General Admission at AXS.com.

Additional ACM Awards Week performers, as well as ACM Awards’ presenters, performers, and host, will be announced in the coming weeks. #ACMawards

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part Two: Additionally, Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette and Caroline Jones have been announced as performers for the “Whiskey Jam Welcome Party.” A long-standing Nashville staple for live music, Whiskey Jam, is headed to Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14, from 8–11 p.m. for a free ACM Awards welcome party open to both fans and industry alike held at Ole Red Las Vegas. Additional performers to be announced.

“Whiskey Jam Welcome Party” joins the previously announced ACM Awards Week events including the aforementioned “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” (see above) and “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15th. The event will feature an unforgettable, up-close concert experience with headliner Riley Green, alongside Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser.Tickets are available at $200 for VIP Early Access to General Admission doors and $150 for General Admission at AXS.com. Proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans will also be able to watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as in the Amazon Music app.

ALBUM NEWS

ERNEST

ERNEST: On May 1^st, Nashville-native, Grammy-nominated tastemaker and triple threat talent ERNEST released his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue – listen here. Inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip, full circle and reminiscent of ERNEST’s 9-song, 2019 entry Locals Only.

Don McLean Honored at Grand Ole Opry: A Musical Legacy

McLean performed his legendary hit “American Pie” and more

Legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean was honored at the Grand Ole Opry following his second appearance on the world-famous stage, where he performed as part of the Opry’s historic 100th anniversary celebration and in recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of America.

*PHOTO: Don McLean is pictured backstage at the Grand Ole Opry with Jackie Jones of the RIAA following McLean’s second Opry performance. Photo credit: Jeremy Westby*

Following his performance, McLean was presented with multiple commemorative awards recognizing the extraordinary and continuing impact of his catalog, including “American Pie” earning 6x Platinum single status and the American Pie album earning 2x Platinum album status. The presentation also highlighted additional RIAA Gold and Platinum honors tied to McLean’s remarkable songwriting legacy, including “Vincent,” which is also featured on Josh Groban’s 5x Platinum self-titled album, and Perry Como’s Gold-certified album And I Love You So, which featured Como’s beloved recording of McLean’s timeless composition.

RIAA SVP of Artist & Industry Relations Jackie Jones joined celebration of McLean from his own landmark recordings to the remarkable reach of his songs through artists across generations.

“Standing on the Opry stage is always meaningful, but to have this night surrounded by these songs and these awards made it especially moving,” said McLean. “When I wrote ‘American Pie,’ ‘Vincent,’ and ‘And I Love You So,’ I wasn’t thinking about plaques or numbers. I was thinking about truth, beauty, loss, love, and the country I knew. To see these songs still living in people’s hearts after all these years is the greatest honor.”

Alex Miller: he’s ‘More Country Than You’ with new album

True traditional country from one of the genre’s best proponents

By Preshias Harris

Alex Miller stands head and shoulders above the flock of current artists in the field of neo-traditional country. And not just physically – although his boyishly handsome face smiles down from his impressive 6’ 6” frame. Miller occupies a pinnacle as the real deal when it comes maintaining an unswerving journey that few of his contemporaries can match.

April 10, 2026 sees the release of Miller’s highly-anticipated new album, More Country Than You (Billy Jam Records). The ten tracks on the project include six co-written by Miller who has proved himself a prolific and reliable songwriter. Miller leapt into the spotlight, galvanizing viewers with his appearances on the 2021 season of American Idol. (Watch the video here of Miller’s first appearance on Idol at age 17, as Luke Bryan jumps in to duet with him.)

With a manager and booking agent post-Idol, Miller became an in-demand performer with a full calendar of dates but found time to record and release his debut album, the aptly-named Miller Time that generated three popular singles “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me,” “Don’t Let The Barn Door Hit Ya,” and “Through With You.” Then, in 2023, came his highly acclaimed EP, Country, that included the smash single “Puttin’ Up Hay” and the 2024 EP My Daddy’s Dad.

Your April showers of hot new country albums and singles!

April ’26 Inside Track on Music Row – with the country music news you can use

By Preshias Harris

Album releases from Luke Combs, Ashley Cooke, The Eagles, Vince Gill, Alex Miller and Mackenzie Phipps! New singles by Kane Brown, Keith Burns, Bandana Cheyenna, Luke Combs, Jo Dee Messina, Tucker Wetmore and more! Plus Gabby Barrett goes 9X Platinum, updates on artists set for CMA Fest, tour updates and so much more. All here in America’s longest continuously-running monthly country music column, Inside Track on Music Row. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a different person before I started to write. When I realized I could be a songwriter and that people would listen – that was when I started feeling good in my life.” – Gwen Stafani

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come. – Song of Solomon 2: 11-12

ALBUM & EP NEWS

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS: The Way I Am, the highly anticipated new album from global superstar Luke Combs. Add/listen to the album here. The project, released March 20 via Sony Music Nashville, is already receiving widespread attention, Combs was recently featured on The New York Times Popcast, The Zane Lowe Show, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, NBC’s Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, Track Star and Bussin’ with the Boys.

Produced by Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews, The Way I Am cements Combs as a singular talent, showcasing his powerful, resonant voice and adept storytelling with songs that balance heartfelt vulnerability with anthemic energy. With the new 22-track album, which includes a collaboration with Alison Krauss as well as previously released songs “Be By You,” “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “Days Like These,” “15 Minutes,” “Giving Her Away” and “Back in the Saddle,” Combs dives deeper than ever into his life behind the scenes—the challenges of balancing family and career, self-doubt and self-belief and the clarity that comes from focusing on what truly matters.

Check out SINGLES NEWS, below, for details on Comb’s new single release, “I Ain’t No Cowboy.”

In celebration of the new music, Combs has kicked off his massive My Kinda Saturday Night Tour with sold-out stadium shows across the U.S., U.K. and Europe. Find the complete tour itinerary at LukeCombs.com. #LukeCombsMusic

ASHLEY COOKE

ASHLEY COOKE: Country hitmaker Ashley Cooke is releasing the ace sessions via all digital streaming platforms. The stripped-back six-song project marks the audio companion to an all-acoustic performance she shared as a special surprise for fans. Go here to listen to the ace sessions now, and watch the ace sessions here.

A perfect canvas for Cooke’s captivating vocals and confessional storytelling, the ace sessions includes six tracks from the Florida-born singer/songwriter’s 2025 project ace — a nine-song release that delivered her most emotionally intimate work to date, quickly winning praise from outlets like Country Swag (who noted that her “emotion-rich vocals shine as she unpacks heartbreak, vulnerability, and self-reflection”). With its standouts including stark yet stunning renditions of beloved songs like “the hell you are” (a recent hit at Country radio), the ace sessions also features the never-before-heard “olive juice” (a sweetly quirky, harmony-laced serenade inspired by a classic childhood lip-reading trick).

Another song reimagined for the ace sessions, Cooke’s longtime fan favorite “baby blues” shot to the No. 1 spot on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown. In its lighthearted ode to irresistible attraction, the soulful and smoldering track tells the tale of a couple whose plans for a night out are repeatedly derailed by their undeniable spark.

Find info on Cooke’s upcoming live dates at ashleycooke.com; follow Cooke on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.

THE EAGLES

THE EAGLES 1975 studio album, One Of These Nights, was a milestone album for the band, earning them their first Grammy Award and becoming the first of four consecutive #1 albums. Rhino will release a Deluxe Edition of the album on May 1, in advance of the band’s headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and upcoming stadium dates as part of The Long Goodbye, Act III.

One Of These Nights (Deluxe Edition) will be available as a 3CD/Blu-ray set featuring a new mix of the original album, an unreleased, 16-song 1975 concert at Anaheim Stadium, and new Dolby Atmos and high-res stereo mixes. A 3LP version, released the same day, will include the new album mix and the full concert recording. The lacquers were cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Pre-Order Here.

March 2026 Country Music Update: Tours, New Releases & Events

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ for March ’26: SO much new Country music!

By Preshias Harris

It’s all here: Spring tour news from Dierks Bentley, Russell Dickerson, Cody Johnson, Old Dominion; hot new music from Blake Shelton, Vince Gill, Craig Campbell and a swarm of rising country stars; the deets on Tin Pan South, the Country Radio Seminar and the Musicians Hall of Fame Concert; Riley Green’s No. 1 party, and music, music, music. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I’m a songwriter; that’s where it starts. I love writing with someone that shares that same feeling of accomplishment. I’ll play music for my fans as long as they’ll listen, but I fancy myself as a writer first.” – Randy Houser

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. —Proverbs 23:18

ALBUM NEWS

JACKSON DEAN

JACKSON DEAN: Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Jackson Dean will release his third studio album, Magnolia Sage, on April 24. Pre-save/pre-order here. An eclectic collection of songs that move from sweeping to soothing, rocking to ruminative, the 11-track project creates a sound that is singularly Jackson Dean: alive, vital, frisky, sexy and rugged.

The story of Magnolia Sage is told through two distinct, rich narrative lenses, with each of the 11 tracks fitting into one of the two worlds: Magnolia or Sage. Songs and settings of the album intertwine to unveil the discoveries made on Dean’s exploration into new territory, both sonically and lyrically, that began with previously released tracks “Be Your Man,” “Make A Liar” and “Over And Over.”

Magnolia evokes vivid scenes of the Southeast and East Coast, sonically defined by heavy bass that booms and R&B influence that romances. The stories and sounds of Sage transport listeners to the inherent restlessness and vast landscapes of the West.

Whether Magnolia or Sage, east or west, soft or bold, the thread that holds the tapestry of Dean’s vision together is the steady influence of his longtime muse.

Dean cranks up the heat and sets hearts ablaze in his new track “Wildfire,” out now, an evocative depiction of the kind of love that can’t be contained once the match is struck. Watch the official music video here. Find tour dates at JacksonDeanMusic.com. #JacksonDeanMusic

LIL ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS

LIL ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS: Alligator Records has announced the release of Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials‘ new album, Slideways. Pre-add / listen here. For nearly 40 years together, Blues Hall Of Famers Lil’ Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials – bassist (and Ed’s half brother) James “Pookie” Young, guitarist Mike Garrettand drummer Kelly Littleton – have been delivering gloriously riotous, intensely emotional, wickedly playful Chicago blues to audiences around the world. Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials return with their 10th Alligator Records release, and perhaps the crowning achievement of their entire career Slideways. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and raw-boned shuffles with the deepest soul-burners and heart-wrenching slow blues, Lil’ Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials bring it all back home, playing each track with an impassioned sense of wild abandon.

Produced by Williams and Alligator Records founder and president Bruce Iglauer, Slideways is a dynamic, high-energy collection of 13 songs, including 12 written or co-written by Williams. With the band at the absolute height of their powers, Williams’ singing and playing is thrilling and at times hair-raising. The songs—eight featuring the deep blues keyboard playing of Ben Levin (“He’s got that old-time style,” says Williams)—are filled with simple, relatable truths. They feature colorful characters in humorous to harrowing situations, some sinning while grinning, others smiling while crying.

Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials will play the City Winery, Nashville, April 9, 2026. Tour/ticket info here.

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL: The guitar on the cover of Down At The Borderline says everything about the fourth installment in Vince Gill‘s 50 Years From Home EP series on MCA. It’s a white 1953 Fender Telecaster that Gill bought for $450 in 1978 from Del City Music in his native Oklahoma, and it’s been Gill’s main guitar ever since. “It’s real special,” he remarks. “I’ve got several other old Fender Telecasters, but that one just suits my hands, suits my ears. Everything about it is kind of a huge part of my entire catalog of playing guitar over all these years.” Testifying to that status is the worn finish on the guitar’s body.

Listen to Down At The Borderline here.

February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ is here!

New music for lovers – country music lovers, that is!

By Preshias Harris

February is the month of love so we’ve got love songs, break-up songs, make-up songs and everything in between. New music from Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Frankie Ballard, ERNEST, Ashley McBryde, HARDY, Struggle Jennings, Megan Moroney, Jon Pardi and lots more for you and your Valentine, plus the Musicians Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees, a new IMAX movie, Bluegrass news and more. Scroll down for your Inside Track on Music Row!

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – I Corinthians 13: 13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH will release the album Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on February 13, 2026, via MCA Nashville. Pre-save / pre-order here. Recorded at The Pinnacle in Nashville in May 2025, this 19-track live album accompanies an exclusive IMAX concert film of the same name releasing on the same day, featuring performances of his 2025 studio album in its entirety, alongside live versions of some of his hits such as “Desperate Man,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Sinners Like Me,” and “Springsteen”.

The release coincides with the second leg of his “Free the Machine” tour, which resumed in early 2026. Find tour and ticket info here.

Scroll down to MOVIE NEWS for information about the Eric Church IMAX movie of Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive and where/when you can see it.

LAKELIN LEMMINGS

LAKELIN LEMMINGS: Rising country artist Lakelin Lemmings releases her new EP, Get Around Boy, on February 6, 2026, via QHMG/Quartz Hill Records. Produced by Ash Bowers the five-track project captures the emotional push-and-pull of small-town roots, restless ambition, faith, and modern country storytelling.

Anchored by title track, “Get Around Boy,” a contemporary-tinged road anthem that explores the personal cost of chasing dreams. With vivid, coast-to-coast imagery and a soaring sing-along chorus, the song finds Lakelin reflecting on love left behind while life keeps moving forward.

The EP balances high-energy autobiographical moments with thoughtful, heart-led storytelling. From the playful uncertainty of modern romance to songs rooted in faith and hometown memory, Get Around Boy showcases Lakelin’s growth as both a writer and an artist who is grounded, authentic and emotionally significant.

Wise beyond her 19 years, Lemmings’ faith and her tenacity lead her confidence as she sets out to tackle the wild and often beautiful business of music with an arsenal of talent. She signed her first Nashville publishing deal at just 17 years old and has since amassed more than 120,000 followers on TikTok. Connection and communication with her audience is what drives her songwriting. She strives to let listeners—especially girls her own age—know that they’re seen and heard. More at lakelinlemmings.com and on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

BLUEGRASS NEWS

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK: Huckleberry Records has released “My Delilah,” a new single from Darren Beachleyand Kyle Windbeck that blends heartfelt storytelling with traditional bluegrass power and harmony. The song is at country radio now and is available for streaming from all digital music platforms here.

New Country albums & singles: ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ for Jan 2026

Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, LOCASH, Dolly, Kashus, Southall and much more!

By Preshias Harris

2026 is off to a great start with a bunch of exciting new music from established hitmakers and rising stars. We’re starting another year here at Inside Track on Music Row, the longest-running country music column in the USA. A big Thank You to our loyal readers for your support, and to the recording artists and their reps for sharing the news of their upcoming releases and tours! Scroll down and explore!

ALBUM & EP NEWS

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS: Set for release in March: Luke Combs’ highly-anticipated sixth studio album, The Way I Am, via Sony Music Nashville. The 22-track project will drop March 20, 2026. Pre-Add / Pre-Save The Way I Am on all music platforms here.

Coinciding with the announcement of the upcoming album, Combs released the single “Sleepless In A Hotel Room,” written by Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton alongside Combs. The song started life about six years ago. “I had this idea one night when I was missing Nicole Hocking, like I am right now,” said Combs at the 2020 BillboardMusic Awards. Happy ending: Combs and Hocking are now man and wife. Since then, Combs has teased the track on social media, creating excitement among fans for the official release of the song. Watch the official studio video of “Sleepless In A Hotel Room” here.

Combs has added dates to the schedule for his 2026 My Kinda Saturday Night stadium tour, starting March 21 in Las Vegas with stops in the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe with support

From artists that include Thomas Rhett and Dierks Bentley. Find tour and ticket info here.

Luke Combs has achieved the incredible feat of overtaking Garth Brooks as the highest RIAA-certified country artist in history. More news at Combs’ website and on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube.

VINCE GILL

VINCE GILL’s year-long project, 50 Years From Home (MCA), continues to roll out with the release of Brown’s Diner Bar (listen/play here), the third EP of the critically-acclaimed series. The previous two releases from this ambitious endeavor include I Gave You Everything I Had (October 17, 2025) and Secondhand Smoke (November 14, 2025).

“I think that as a songwriter, you have to have lived some life to understand what you’re writing about,” says Gill. “You need some years under your belt to have the perspective to look back and really remember things. I know I don’t have as much time left as I’ve had to this point, so everything matters more. There’s a much deeper connection to these lyrics than I would have ever imagined. They’re truthful and they’re real, and I think the songs are about things people can grasp and understand and relate to.”

Instruments featured on the cover of each EP are from Gill’s personal collection. For Brown’s Diner Bar, he chose a 1942 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar he bought from the Famous Old Time Music Co.in Cincinnati, whose founder, Harry Sparks, passed away this past November.

Penned by Gill, the title track of Brown’s Diner Bar, takes him back 50 years to when he first visited the famed Nashville eatery he’s immortalizing in song. “It’s a singer-songwriter kind of folk song about…this little hamburger joint,” says Gill. More at https://www.vincegill.com/#/.

Additionally, Gill announced a portion of his upcoming summer tour dates beginning June 18 and including a six-night residency in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Tour/ticket info here.

MEGAN MORONEY

MEGAN MORONEY: Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter Megan Moroney has unveiled the tracklist for her wildly awaited new album Cloud 9. In an exclusive video bound to get fans buzzing, the Country superstar reveals the titles to all 15 songs on her third studio LP (due out on February 20 and available for pre-order/pre-save here).

Cloud 9’s tracklist reveal video finds Moroney adorned in a dusty-pink flight suit, stepping off a jet emblazoned with the name “C9MM3” in the album’s signature pink. As she looks up to the sky, the multi-Platinum sensation takes in a breathtaking sight: the album’s complete list of song titles spelled out in the wispy white clouds formed by the plane’s contrails. Giving fans a gorgeous glimpse into Cloud 9’s world, the video further fuels the feverish expectation surrounding the album, which recently landed on coveted lists from Rolling Stone (“Here Are the Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear in 2026”), Parade (“5 Most Highly Anticipated Country Albums to Arrive in 2026”), Whiskey Riff (“The Top Country Albums Set For Release In 2026”), and more.

2025’s Must-Hear Country Christmas Releases and much more

Christmas music is just the beginning. Country music news you can use

By Preshias Harris

The bells are jingling and the reindeer are getting hitched up to the sleigh, so it must be December! We have a Santa’s sackload of music news: albums, singles, Holiday music, tour updates and much more from Trace Adkins, Drew Baldridge & Mickey Guyton, Brooks & Dunn, Trey Calloway, Craig Campbell, Bandana Cheyenna, Randy Cobb, Russell Dickerson, ERNEST, Lady A, Lewis Brice, T. Graham Brown, Hayden Haddock, Huneyfire, Greylan James, Brian Kelley, Brandon Lake, Tracy Lawrence, Tori Martin, Megan Moroney, RaeLynn, Tori Rose, JD Shelburne & Crystal Gayle, T.G. Sheppard & Kelly Lang, Kurt Alan Shobe, Nate Smith & Tyler Hubbard, Billy Strings, Meghan Trainor, Zach Top, Wynn Williams, Lainey Wilson and more. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “If a song can’t be written in 20 minutes, it ain’t worth writing.” – Hank Williams

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. – Luke 2:11

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERNEST

ERNEST: In late November ERNEST released his seven song project Live From The South – a cohesive piece built on Southern imagery and lyrical craftsmanship (listen / play here). This follows his recognition at the BMI Awards as a creative force behind BMI Song of the Year, Post Malone’s all genre No. 1 smash “I Had Some Help” feat. Morgan Wallen. He also packed Ryman Auditorium earlier in November for two consecutive headliners with star-studded guests.

“I’m excited to get these seven songs out,” shares the hitmaker. “They are just the first seven songs on a bigger body of work. These songs felt like something that needed to get out into the world before the year is over with. Something to get us through the winter. A lot of summertime music around the corner. We’re live from the South.”

Guitar-picking, fiddle and pedal steel sonically define Live From The South, produced by ERNEST and Jacob Durrett. The new collection reflects ERNEST’s growth as an artist and comfortability in his own shoes – reveling in gratitude: family ties, simple faith, making a life for yourself. Collaborating with his inner circle, Live From The South features co-writes with Rhett Akins, Mark Holman, ERN’s Cadillac Music signees Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden, Rhys Rutherford and more.

More information, music and tour tickets at ernestofficial.com; follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

WYNN WILLIAMS

WYNN WILLIAMS: Independent recording artist Wynn Williams is set to release his new album, Country Therapy Deluxe. Building on the success of the original Country Therapy album (listen/play here) released in August 2025, the Deluxe Edition project (due Friday, December 5, 2025) beams with neo-traditional tunes showcasing Williams’ kinship with classic country and iconic sounds, reimagined recordings of fan favorites and his top streaming songs, “Denver To Dallas” and “She Ain’t You,” and a vocal collaboration with fellow Texan Randall King on the track “Here For the Beer.”

Produced by Brandon Hood, the collection of 15 recordings showcases the songwriting prowess of a stellar lineup of country music luminaries and Hall of Famers–including Carson Chamberlain (George Strait/Alan Jackson/Zach Top), Dean Dillon (George Strait/Kenny Chesney/Keith Whitley), Rhett Akins (Brooks & Dunn/Luke Bryan/Parker McCollum), Lydia Vaughn (Jason Aldean), Josh Dorr (Blake Shelton/Jordan Davis), Chris Stapleton (George Strait/Kenny Chesney/Josh Turner) and Jon Pardi. Compositions spotlight the delicate musical interpretation of three-time Academy of Country Music Keyboard/Piano Player of the Year, Gordon Mote.

Classic to Williams’ authentic signature, the Deluxe collection boasts old-school country instrumentation and Texas twang, chock-full of heartfelt ballads, shuffles, two-steppers, line-dance, heartbreak, and good-timin’ drinkin’ tunes. Find Wynn Williams tour info here; follow on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

BLUEGRASS NEWS

*PHOTO: Billy Strings. Photo credit: Dana Trippe*

BLUEGRASS NEWS: 2025 has been a landmark year for Billy Strings, whose most recent full-length album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) and released via Reprise Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales Chart—the first bluegrass album in 22 years to do so—and continues to receive widespread acclaim. Listen to Highway Prayers here.