Bringing out the heavy hitters for the iconic event. Cheyenne Frontier Days is of course legendary in the rodeo world, but they’re equally legendary for the incredible country music concerts that they bring along to Wyoming every summer. The rodeo, which started all the way back in 1897, is the “World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo & Western Celebration” and draws upwards of 200,000 people to Cheyenne – nearly quadruple the city’s population for 10 amazing days during the summer. While people obviously flock to Frontier Days for events like bull riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling and barrel racing, the rodeo always features a stacked lineup of entertainment in the evenings with their Frontier Nights, having previously hosted concerts from legends like Chris LeDoux, George Strait (who holds the record for 2 of the top 10 biggest shows in Frontier Days history), Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Charlie Daniels, Reba, Alan Jackson…the list goes on and on. And this year, they’re once again bringing out some of the biggest names in country music. Frontier Days will return to Cheyenne from July 17-26, 2026, and they’ve just unveiled a stacked concert lineup featuring multiple 2025 CMA Award winners and some country legends. They’re kicking things off in the most rowdy way possible, with Treaty Oak Revival serving as the headliner and genre-bending artist Jessie Murph opening up the show on July 17. Folk-pop singer Alex Warren will then headline the 18th, followed by CMA Vocal Group of the Year, and one of the hottest acts heading into 2026, the Red Clay Strays on June 19 (and you even get Wyatt Flores on the same night – doesn’t get much better than that). July 20 and 21 will feature PRCA Xtreme Bulls before the concerts pick back up on July 22 with Riley Green and Trace Adkins, followed by Blake Shelton on July 23 and Hardy along with opener Cameron Whitcomb on the 24th. And if you’re a fan of the ’90s country sound, they may have just saved the best for last: Rounding out the event will be Zach Top, who’s already one of the toughest tickets to get in country music, along with ’90s country legend Jo Dee Messina on July 25. Tickets for the shows go on sale Thursday, December 11 at 9:00 a.m. MST at cfdrodeo.com, where you can also find a full schedule of events and all the information you need to start planning your trip now. Frontier Nights Schedule July 17: Treaty Oak Revival with Jessie Murph July 18: Alex Warren July 19: The Red Clay Strays with Wyatt Flores July 20-21: PRCA Xtreme Bulls July 22: Riley Green with Trace Adkins July 23: Blake Shelton July 24: HARDY with Cameron Whitcomb July 25: Zach Top with Jo Dee MessinaThe post Cheyenne Frontier Days Announces STACKED 2026 Lineup, Featuring Riley Green, Zach Top, The Red Clay Strays & More first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Do you call yourself a fan of Stranger Things and country music? Well then, you’ve probably been happy with the genre’s representation in the hit Netflix series. At least for the first three seasons, that is. The country music genre was absent from Season 4, and a country song has yet to be used in Season 5. There’s still hope though for the fifth and final season, which dropped its first four episodes on November 26 (I won’t be spoiling anything in this story, don’t worry). I’ve followed the series that explores the strange happenings in Hawkins, Indiana ever since the first season captivated the world in 2016. Crazy to think that they’ve only churned out five seasons in a decade, but in their defense, every season has been just as good (if not better) than the last. Sometimes you can’t rush perfection a cultural phenomenon. The show, which is set in the 1980s, leans into nostalgia every chance it gets. Kids riding their bikes to school, big hair, retro decor, and 80s fashion practically being a main character all play into the world building that makes up Stranger Things. Another piece of the puzzle that the show utilizes perfectly? That’d be the timely music that’s plugged into the series. Netflix’s hit show has helped revitalize a number of 80s songs (none bigger than Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”), and does a great job of using songs that match the moment. And the creators of Stranger Things – the Duffer Brothers – love to pick a song that both lines up rhythmically and lyrically. They’ve gone to country music a number of times to help move along the plot, and I gathered together every single time that Stranger Things has cued up country in the show’s five seasons… so far: “The Bargain Store” by Dolly Parton Season 1, Episode 6 (The Monster) Dolly Parton was included in the soundtrack during a scene where the characters Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler were looking for supplies in an actual bargain store. There’s that literal meaning, but there’s also a deeper meaning, as both characters refuse to give up despite being drug through a lot of chaos and loss  – like Dolly sings about in the track. “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Season 2, Episode 2 (Trick or Treat, Freak) Another Dolly song was used in the second season during a scene where the mother of Will Byers, Joyce, shares a romantic dance with her romantic interest, Bob, at a Halloween party. Neither were dressed up as Parton or Kenny Rogers, which was a missed opportunity… but still cool to see a country music needle drop featured in the show. “Green, Green Grass of Home” by Bobby Bare Season 2, Episode 5 (Dig Dug) This one is probably has the most subtle, yet most meaningful, usage on the list. This song by Bobby Bare sings about someone going home, only to have a twist at the very end where the narrator is actually a prisoner that’s about to be executed. It’s the perfect song for when the show’s main character, Eleven, tries to visit her mom, and she’s a prisoner of her own mind. You barely hear it playing on the truck driver’s radio, but it might be one of the best musical hints the show offers up. “She Got You” by Patsy Cline Season 3, Episode 1 (Suzie, Do You Copy?) Patsy Cline’s “She Got You” is playing in the drug store as Sheriff Hopper gets advice from Joyce Byers about raising Eleven, when all he really wants to do is ask her out on date. With Joyce’s recent loss, she sees the move as too soon, and rejects Hopper. The song itself is about someone not being able to be with someone else, so it’s very fitting in this scene. Honorable Mentions There were a handful of other songs that were sort of country-adjacent, in that they were featured by crossover artists who found success in country music and with country radio, but the particular song didn’t quite fit. “Blue Bayou” by Roy Orbison This 1961 song was featured in Season 2, Episode 8 during the awkward breakfast scene between Nancy and Jonathan at Murray’s place. Roy got started in country and western and was even signed by Sun Records at the request of Johnny Cash, but his country music hits didn’t come until the early ’80s. “Twist Of Fate” by Olivia Newton Olivia Newton John had some country crossover success as well, winning CMA, ACM and Grammy Awards for her country music, but “Twist Of Fate” was a straight up ’80s dance tune. “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson  Another example of an artist that had a lot of success in country music, but a song choice that was more in the vein of early rock and roll at the time. He had a few early country hits, then came “Travlin Man” in 1961, but it wasn’t until the mid ’60s that he fully leaned into country music. It was featured in Season 4 when Joyce and Murray are about to take off for Russia. Like I said earlier, here’s to hoping more is on the way in the back half of the show’s fifth season. Just for fun, I decided to round up some other classic country songs from the 1980s that haven’t been used in the show yet that I could very easily imagine being included in some of the final episode. These three tracks below could all be serviceable in a scene where two characters (maybe Jonathan and Nancy?) are sharing final moments. “If My Heart Had Windows” by Patty Loveless “When You Say Nothing At All” by Keith Whitley “Why Not Me” by The Judds Any of those three could fit stylistically and lyrically into the conclusion of the show (if I actually hit on any of those, I’ll freak out). And I do have to point out that it’s a real shame the show won’t stretch into the 90s (the show’s finale will likely be set in late 1987/early 1988). Stranger Things could have really gotten into some of the decade’s great country music by the likes of Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Shania Twains and Garth Brooks. Feels like “Friends In Low Places” would have been a shoe-in with all of the references and scenes set in the upside down….The post 4 Times Netflix’s Hit Series ‘Stranger Things’ Put A Spotlight On Country Music first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Honestly… I’m here for it. It looks like one of country’s biggest stars, Lainey Wilson, is teaming up with two rockers in Aerosmith and Yungblud. In November, legendary rock band Aerosmith teamed up with current British rock phenom Yungblud (whose real name is Dominic Harrison) for an EP called One More Time that features four new songs and a new version of Aerosmith’s classic “Back in the Saddle.” Not long ago, Lainey shared a cover of Yungblud’s song “Zombie,” and in February, she joined Aerosmith frontman Tyler on stage at the 6th Annual Jam for Janie charity event where they did a duet of classic Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” View this post on Instagram In case you’re unfamiliar, and I imagine you might be if you’re reading this article, Yungblud is an Ozzy Osbourne prodigy who moved to London at age 15 to pursue music, and he blends genres like alternative rock, pop punk, and hip-hop for a very unique sound that also very much harkens back to rock icons like the aforementioned Ozzy. I’m still stuck on his performance of “Changes” during Ozzy’s “Back to the Beginning” final concert with Black Sabbath in July: View this post on Instagram Admittedly, I love both Yungblud and Aerosmith’s music, so I’m hopeful this little teaser they shared actually is about Lainey, and I’d be willing to bet that it is. The posted a photo of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Yungblud with the caption saying there’s a “cowgirl” who loved their song “Wild Woman” on the EP, and that a new version with a feature is coming soon. And I thing it just might be with Lainey… Yesterday evening, the official Aerosmith Instagram account shared a photo of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Yungblud, saying there is a “cowgirl” who loved the song with the caption “A ‘Wild Woman’ feature coming soon. There was a cowgirl who loved this song so much that we had to add her on! Can you guess who?” The post includes a Charlie 1 Horse cowboy hat, and this design specifically was in collaboration with Lainey, who almost always wear a hat similar to what you’ll see pictured below. Lainey also “liked” the post, for whatever that’s worth, and while this might be the most unlikely trio of all-time in terms of Lainey being part of it, I can’t wait. A little rock and a little country is my dream: View this post on Instagram Here’s the first version without Lainey: And speaking of Lainey, she just scored her 9th career number one song at country radio with her single “Somewhere Over Laredo.” The song was included on the deluxe edition of her 2024 fifth studio album, Whirlwind. Lainey co-wrote it with her frequent collaborators Trannie Anderson, and Dallas Wilson, and Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg also received writing credits as the song interpolates the melody of “Over the Rainbow”, which was of course originally written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and performed by Judy Garland. “Somewhere Over Laredo” topped the Billboard U.S. Country Airplay chart, which is one of two charts labels use to officially track their songs performance, along with the Mediabase chart: “Somewhere Over Laredo” The post Lainey Wilson Seemingly Set To Be Featured On Song With Aerosmith And Yungblud, “Wild Woman” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

History. It’s hard to point to a more influential and important record released in the 21st century than Chris Stapleton’s Traveller. While, of course, there have been some legendary records released in the same time frame, with Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Tyler Childers‘ Purgatory and Eric Church’s Chief all having a huge impact on a wide variety of subgenres and artists, it’s hard to argue against Traveller in terms both influence and success. Since its release on May 5, 2015, Traveller has secured Stapleton a plethora of different awards, accomplishments and records over the past decade. Beyond the simple fact that it, along with his cover of David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” put him on the map in the mind’s of the general public after year’s of quality work in Nashville as a songwriter, Traveller would score the Kentucky native Country Album of the Year at the Grammys, along with Album of the Year wins at both the 49th CMA Awards and 51st ACM Awards. With all of that being said, however, it’s the sheer longevity of Traveller that’s arguably the most shocking and ultimately most notable in terms of its legacy in the genre. Notably, Traveller was named Billboard’s Top Country Album of the Century earlier this year, despite only being released 15 years into the 25-year tracking period. This, of course, was due to its mammoth 29 weeks spent at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and the long-lasting success of “Tennessee Whiskey,” which spent two weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart and would later procure over a billion streams on Spotify. Other standout tracks, such as the title track, “Either Way” and “Parachute,” all of which notched Stapleton Top 20 hits on the aforementioned Hot Country Songs chart, also aided Traveller’s #1 spot. In addition to Traveller cementing itself in country music history as the #1 album of the 21st century back in May, Stapleton and the album recently just passed another long-standing record held by none other than Willie Nelson this week. As of December 2, 2025, Traveller has now spent a record 552 weeks on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, surpassing Willie Nelson’s iconic 1978 record, Stardust, which held the record at 551 weeks, staying on the chart from the time of its release in June 1978 to 1988. Given the fact that Traveller has currently been comfortably sitting inside the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums chart for over a decade at this point, it’s safe to assume that it will extend its lead over Stardust in the following years to come. Traveller Stardust As of today, Traveller has spent a staggering 10.59 years on the chart straight. To put its mammoth run into perspective, other popular albums released in the 2010s such as Eric Church’s Chief, Taylor Swift’s Fearless, Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s to the Good Times and Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party, all of which received Top 10 placement on Billboard’s Top Country Albums of the 21st century list, all failed to hit even 400 concurrent weeks on the chart. For nearly four decades, Nelson’s record seemed nearly impossible to pass given its sheer longevity. With that being said, however, Stapleton did the unthinkable. Given the current trajectory it’s on, it will be years until the record is broken again, with the only possible artist/album with the potential to break it (in theory given his popularity) currently being Morgan Wallen’s If I Know Me, which recently spent its 391st week on the chart. “Tennessee Whiskey” The post Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller” Officially Passes Willie Nelson’s “Stardust” As The Longest-Running Record Of All Time On Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart first appeared on Whiskey Riff.