Never skip a Zach Top cover. Simply put, there’s no one doing it quite as well as Zach Top these days. Though there are plenty of other stellar artists keeping the traditional scene alive, such as Jake Worthington, Charley Crockett and more, the Washington native has launched himself into the stratosphere as of late. Of course, this was highlighted on a national scale the past few months when he not only took home Best New Artist at the CMA Awards in November, which he accepted with a Coors Banquet in hand, but also when he scored his first-career Grammy earlier this month. In turn, Top became the first-ever winner of the brand-new Best Traditional Country Album category, winning it with his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health. In addition to being labeled as the savior of traditional country music, Top has proven himself as the quintessential human jukebox over the past few years when it comes to delivering phenomenal covers of different songs across multiple eras. From Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame” and Billy Currington’s “Good Directions” to George Strait’s “Nobody In His Right Mind Would Have Left Her” and Conway Twitty’s “Slow Hand,” the Washington Native has yet to meet a classic song that he cannot perform flawlessly. This was put on full display once again during his show last night across the pond in Copenhagen, Denmark, at K.B. Hallen in the midst of his international tour dates in Sweden, the U.K., Germany and more. In between delivering all of his hits, including the likes of “I Never Lie,” “Use Me,” South of Sanity” and “Sounds Like the Radio,” Top pulled out two classic covers from the late 80s and early 2000s. Early in the set, Top would pull out his always-stellar cover of Shenandoah’s iconic 1989 smash hit, “Two Dozen Roses.” Given the fact that the 28-year-old singer/songwriter has performed the song quite frequently over the past years, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. However, it’s an always-welcomed addition to the setlist. The biggest surprise of the night came just five songs later when the “Bad Luck” singer delivered a stellar cover of Travis Tritt’s severely underrated 2002 Top 10 hit, “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde.” Though Top has covered the track by himself acoustically in the past, this was one of the few times he actually performed the track live in concert with his full band. Unsurprisingly, he absolutely crushed it, and I’d go as far as to say that he might have eclipsed Tritt’s version. I feel like I’ve said this over a dozen times at this point, but the fact remains true each time. The world deserves a Zach Top cover album at some point in the near future. Not many artists, save for a few like Eric Church, can consistently deliver so many stellar covers across eras and sound flawless every time. Top, however, has proven he can time and time again. “Two Dozen Roses” @paulnevin8 @Zach Top – two dozen roses – Copenhagen – 25/2/26 #zachtop #copenhagen #countrymusic #country ♬ original sound – Paul “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” @paulnevin8 @Zach Top – modern day Bonnie and Clyde – Copenhagen – 25/2/26 #zachtop #copenhagen #countrymusic #country ♬ original sound – Paul Zach Top Tour Dates February 28 – Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet March 3 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene March 7 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Rotterdam Ahoy March 8 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Eats Music Hall March 13 – London, United Kingdom – The O2 March 14 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – SSE Arena March 15 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – OVO Hydro April 9 – Florence, Arizona – Country Thunder Arizona April 24 – Lubbock, Texas – Jones AT&T Stadium May 22 – Norfolk, Virginia – Patriotic FestivalThe post WATCH: Zach Top Delivers Phenomenal Covers Of “Two Dozen Roses” & “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde” In Copenhagen first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Another honor for the late legend. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since the tragic passing of the late, great Toby Keith. As we all know, the Oklahoma native passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62 after a long battle with stomach cancer. Words can hardly describe the lasting impact he’s had on not only the genre itself but all his long-time fans, members of the military and the countless number of lives touched through his philanthropy, namely the Toby Keith Foundation, which benefitted pediatric cancer patients and their families. Of course, from a legacy standpoint, few artists have matched the “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer’s career accomplishments. Beyond his recently-named status as one of the top touring artists of the millennium (#24 overall), Keith scored 41 Top 10 hits, 20 #1 singles, 10 #1 albums, 14 ACM Awards and a plethora of other awards throughout his illustrious career. After being inducted posthumously into the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 20, 2024, and recently being announced as one of the newest members of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Hall of Fame, Keith is being honored once again. This time, it’s in the form of an expressway in his home state of Oklahoma. If you recall, back in January, state Senator Lisa Standridge filed Senate Bill 1475, which would name the bridge that passes over I-35 and Indian Hills Road the Toby Keith Memorial Bridge. Additionally, the bill also proposed that any future structures built in the bridge’s place be named the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange, as well as renaming the section of Indian Hills Road from I-35 to Interstate 44 the Toby Keith Parkway. As it turns out, the bill didn’t quite come to fruition, but the late legend will still be honored in the form of a brand new road in his namesake. Today, the Oklahoma Senate officially passed House Concurrent Resolution 1019, which will name the east-west connector turnpike “Toby Keith Expressway.” The roadway named in Keith’s honor, which is now set to be built, will extend from Interstate 44 east to I-35 near Indian Hills Road, continuing east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike, according to Oklahoma Voice. According to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Toby Keith Expressway is a part of a larger initiative, ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is intended to improve safety, strengthen regional connectivity and support economic growth across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. State representative Jason Blair, R-Moore, expressed that renaming the turnpike would be the most fitting way to honor Keith’s legacy, noting his storied patriotism and generosity. “Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from. Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.” Senator Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, would also share a similar sentiment, noting Keith’s patriotism and the impact he made on Oklahoma throughout his life. “Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for. His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.” Before you go, fire up his first #1 hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” The post Oklahoma Lawmakers Officially Pass Bill To Name New Turnpike In Honor Of Toby Keith first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

JD Graham, an Oklahoma-born singer beloved in the Red Dirt and Americana scenes, sustained extensive injuries, and his dog died in the crash. Continue reading…

If you’re not familiar with Trey Pendley yet, let this be an introduction. Like most small town kids growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, Pendley – who hails from Toad Suck, Arkansas with a population of 300 – grew up listening to a whole lot of music. Inspired by artists ranging from George Jones to Ozzy Osbourne, he taught himself to play guitar and write songs, and I guess you could say the rest is history. Ultimately moving to Nashville to pursue his dreams in country music, Pendley now resides in the Music City with his wife and three children all these years later, and in addition to having had a song of his cut by Luke Combs, he has experienced considerable success as a solo artist along the way. And his most impressive work yet is set to drop soon. Releasing via Leo33 – the same indie label that boasts Zach Top, Clay Street Unit, Jason Scott & the High Heat and more on their roster – Pendley’s forthcoming EP Podunk marks his first project ever, and features six original tunes that act as a love letter of sorts to his small town upbringing. Although the full project isn’t dropping until tomorrow, Whiskey Riff is excited to give country music fans an early listen of “Like A River,” which may just be the strongest track on the EP. Written as a love song to his wife Lexi – a fellow songwriter whom he met on a writer’s retreat – “Like A River” is a deftly-penned metaphor for love, and one that fans everywhere are sure to appreciate. Speaking to Whiskey Riff, Pendley elaborated a bit on the new song: “I wrote ‘Like A River’ thinking about how love can feel like surrender. You can fight the current, or you can let it carry you. When you find somebody who accepts you as you are, broken parts and all, it makes you want to stop looking back and start imagining a future, and that’s exactly how it happened when I met my wife, Lexi.” With that context in mind, check out Trey Pendley’s track “Like A River” before it drops with his Podunk EP tomorrow. “When you held me in your arms My rough edges get smooth Put the light back in your eyes You’ve never seen a brighter blue You say I rolled in right on time If you look too hard, it gets hard to find” Featuring six tracks – including “Drunk As Any Rich Man” which was quick to gain traction upon its release last summer – Podunk is a perfect representation of Pendley’s personality and songwriting prowess. Traversing between lighthearted, cleverly penned tracks and soulfully heartfelt ballads, Pendley’s ability to capture the feeling of small town America through the lens of his own experiences is noteworthy, and most importantly, he does so in a way that avoids cliches and beams with originality. Podunk Tracklist: “Drunk As Any Rich Man” “Podunk” “Like A River” “As Good As It Gets” “The Dog” “TV Tray” Aside from a rogue show supporting legendary southern rockers Blackberry Smoke in Myrtle Beach this spring, there aren’t many opportunities to hear these songs live on the calendar at the moment… But hey, maybe this is your excuse to head out to Alaska this summer? Trey Pendley Tour Dates: 4/26 – House of Blues – North Myrtle Beach, SC* 7/15 – The Backyard Country BBQ – Anchorage, AK+ 7/16- The Backyard Country BBQ – Anchorage, AK+ 9/10-9/13 – Nashville Nights 2026 – Odense, Denmark^ *supporting Blackberry Smoke +supporting The Band Perry w/ Kendall Marvel & Ken Peltier ^festival dateThe post Be The First To Hear Trey Pendley’s New Heartfelt Love Song “Like A River” Ahead Of His EP Release first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

She might not look like or sound like what you think about when you think of outlaw country, but Mickey Guyton is undoubtedly an outlaw artist. Continue reading…