Some songs pave the way to an artist’s success; for Buck Owens’ it’s his 1989 single, “Act Naturally.” The song, which Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison wrote, was first recorded by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, whose version became their first chart-topper in 1963 when it peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Singles … Read more
The song “A Better Place” by Glen Campbell became the number 1 track on his 61st album, Ghost on the Canvas. The album, released in 2011, was intended to be the singer’s farewell album after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. With a total of 64 albums recorded, hits after hits that placed on the charts, … Read more
Released on March 1989 as his debut song, Garth Brooks stole the spotlight with “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).” It peaked at the 8th spot on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and the 9th spot on the Canada RPM Country Tracks chart. Brooks himself wrote the track along with Randy Taylor, … Read more
Written by Archie Jordan, the song “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life” has been popularized by two artists, Amy Grant and Ronnie Milsap. However, the latter has made the song more famous as it peaked at the top spot of the charts. Amy Grant first released the song on her debut album and … Read more
As a part of his album “Hook, Line & Sinker,” American country music performer Tommy Brandt released a song titled “I Believe in Angels” in 2006. Growing up hearing the hymns of country music, it was not long until Brandt decided to write his own gospel songs when he started his career in 1998. Some of his … Read more
The well-known country singer Cam and American Producer Diplo agreed to work together on a new studio hit in 2019 called “So Long.” The song’s infectious groove helped it to appear on two music charts, peaking at number 26 on the “US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)” and number 34 on the “New Zealand Hot Singles … Read more
In 2016, the country singer Ronnie Dunn released another chart-topping song titled “I Worship the Woman You Walked on” as part of his album “Tattooed Heart.” Before breaking records as a solo artist, Ronnie Dunn was first widely known as part of the iconic country duo Brooks & Dunn, formed in 1990. However, in 2011, … Read more
In 2021, as part of their album “Inhale (Exhale),” MercyMe released yet another chart-topping gospel song titled “Almost Home.” The group has released innumerable hit songs since the beginning of their career, including “I Can Only Imagine,” which won them a Dove Award in 2002, and “Here with Me,” which peaked at number one on … Read more
In 1999, as part of his album “A Place in the Sun,” the melodic country singer Tim McGraw released his song titled “My Best Friend,” which peaked at no. 1 on “Billboard’s Hot Country Songs” chart. It is considered one of Tim McGraw’s greatest hits, as it even landed a spot on the cross-over pop … Read more
In 1959, The Browns released one of their iconic holiday songs, “The Three Bells,” as part of their album Sweet Sounds by the Browns. According to some reports, upon its release, the song immediately topped the country charts, landing at no. 1 on both “US Billboard Hot 100” and “Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)”. Although the … Read more
In 1969, the known “Father of Bluegrass,” Bill Monroe, went on to release his hit gospel song “A Voice from On High” under his album titled “Gospel Spirit” together with his music band, The Bluegrass Boys. Among the 16 tracks in the album, the song “A Voice from On High” has undeniably become one of … Read more
In 1994, Reba McEntire released “Why Haven’t I Heard from You” as the lead single off her album Read My Mind. This song stands out as one of the most successful songs by Reba McEntire as it ranked No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Since then, this bluesy yet feisty track hasn’t … Read more
In 2017, as part of her album, “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope,” Reba McEntire released her own version of the hit gospel song “Oh Happy Day”. “Oh My Day” was written by Philip Doddridge during the 18th century. Upon its release, the 1755 gospel hymn has continued to soar up to the … Read more
In 2010, as part of his album Haywire, Josh Turner released probably one of his greatest hits, a gospel song titled “The Answer.” His fourth studio album, Haywire, is reported to have debuted at no. 5 on the US Billboard 200 chart. With over 85,000 copies sold, it is considered one of the best-selling country … Read more
HARDY is hitting the road in these early summer months as he announced Quit!! Tour. On Friday (January 12), the country superstar shared this thrilling update with fans through social media. HARDY even revealed that he will be joined by rising country singer Ella Langley and Stephen Wilson Jr. – whom HARDY said is one … Read more
Country singer and songwriter Vince Gill has been described as a “reluctant superstar.” It was just that he had all the makings for one, and at an exceptional level, no one in the genre could argue. Additionally, his live performances are just on a different level. One of our favorites would be his 2019 Country … Read more
Bluegrass meets country rock – Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, a bluegrass group from Raleigh, North Carolina, teamed up with The Kentucky Headhunters, a country / Southern rock band from Kentucky, for their upbeat single “Runnin’ Water” off their critically acclaimed Country Grass album under Pinecastle Records. RELATED: Boots on Fire: 15 Upbeat Country Songs … Read more
In August 1964, Connie Smith made her debut with “Once a Day.” While some take a while to get their career going, she did so with her very first release. The song was a massive success, reaching the top of the country charts and dominating it for eight consecutive weeks. She held the record for … Read more
Singer-actress Selena Gomez is set to portray highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt in a soon-to-be-released biopic. The “Love You Like A Love Song” singer first teased the film by dropping a photo of Ronstadt’s 2013 memoir, Simple Dreams, on her Instagram Story. Simple Dreams is also the title of Ronstadt’s mega-popular 1977 album, which proudly … Read more
In 2023, we said goodbye to some of country music’s most talented men and women. From chart-topping legends to rising talents, each departure left behind a resonating echo in the hearts of fans. RELATED: Year 2023 Saw These Country Stars Tying Knots or Getting Engaged So, today, let’s reflect on their contributions and pay homage … Read more
Before The Oak Ridge Boys, a vocal quartet from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, shifted to country, they were known for their dynamic four-part gospel harmonies. One of the gospel songs they picked to rend was R.E. Winsett’s 1942 track “Jesus Is Coming Soon” for their 1969 album Happening. The Oak Ridge Quartet Before we discuss the … Read more
The country classic “Crazy” has long been associated with Patsy Cline, but most probably don’t know that this was penned by the legendary country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson. Behind The Scene When Willie Nelson arrived in Nashville in 1960, he was a 27-year-old ex-DJ and bar musician with a talent that didn’t quite fit in the … Read more
On September 26, 2016, the award-winning a capella group Pentatonix dropped what would be one of their greatest hits: a performance of the 1973 classic country hit “Jolene” with Dolly Parton herself. The collaboration, presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, earned both artists a Grammy Gold for Best Country Duo/Group Performance – the eighth … Read more
The country music band Diamond Rio is renowned for exceptional vocal performances and timeless classics. They’re a gem in the genre, one of the few self-contained bands who play and sing every note on their songs in every album. Their tireless commitment to their craft translated into success – charting singles including 7 number ones … Read more
Film and TV actor Stan Jones’ 1948 song “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky,” which he wrote himself, became a crossover hit after Vaughn Monroe recorded it a year after. Its newfound popularity encouraged singers from various backgrounds to make their own cover of the song. One that stood out and became a Western music standard … Read more
The Carter Family is a pioneer in American music history, creating its roots by collecting and adapting gospel tracks, old-time ballads, and sentimental songs. One of the Carter Family’s biggest contributions was their reworked version of “Can the Circle Be Unbroken.” The song, which was released in 1935, gained widespread appeal, becoming the biggest seller … Read more
Country artist Alan Jackson is widely known for his reputation as a country traditionalist. While everyone else’s music was influenced by pop and rock, Alan Jackson’s songs remained true to country. Part of that commitment was recording albums of gospel songs. In his 2005 Precious Memories album, Alan Jackson released his version of the popular … Read more
The legendary country singer Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, joined the long list of artists who covered the classic country ballad “Help Me Make It Through The Night.” Just like anyone would expect, they nailed the song easily. Kris Kristofferson wrote and composed the song for his 1970 self-titled album, with Fred … Read more
The country music artist Waylon Jennings had a reputation for his gritty baritone that embodied the outlaw side of the genre. But more than his rich voice and his unmistakable twang, what really hooked listeners was his soulful delivery. And one of the Waylon Jennings’s songs that exuded that was “We Had It All” from … Read more
American country music artist Merle Haggard collaborated with actor Clint Eastwood in 1980 for a duet titled “Bar Room Buddies.” The song was written by Milton Brown, Cliff Crofford, Steve Dorff, and Snuff Garrett. It was released as the soundtrack for one of the first Clint Eastwood movies he directed, “Bronco Billy.” Meaning Behind The … Read more