This weekend, country superstar Chris Stapleton is shaking things up in Florida with shows that break the winter mold — a bold move for the music scene. Continue reading…

McBride was noted for his Alan Jackson collaborations and wrote hits for dozens of A-List country artists. Continue reading…

The show is premiering in March. Continue reading…

Back-to-back nights in Georgia. Cross Canadian Ragweed has remained a cornerstone band of the Red Dirt music movement. Forming in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in the mid-1990s, the band featured members such as Cody Canada, Grady Cross, Randy Ragsdale, and Jeremy Plato. Simply put, Ragweed caught fire early upon the release of their 1998 debut album, Carney. Throughout their career, the Oklahoman band released seven studio albums and three live albums, but sadly disbanded in 2010. Red Dirt fans were beyond heartbroken when the group broke up, and from a conversation with Cody Canada, it seemed there was no way in hell they would get back together, comparing their breakup to a divorce. 2025 proved to be nothing short of a miracle for the band. After making their long-awaited return to the stage in January at Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida, Ragweed dropped the bombshell and announced their grand reunion: “The Boys From Oklahoma” Concert series, a four-night experience along with fellow Red Dirt legends, Turnpike Troubadours. Taking place in their old stomping grounds of Stillwater, Oklahoma, at Boone Pickens Stadium, Ragweed delivered what can only be described as four unforgettable nights as they officially returned from their 15-year hiatus. Obviously, the event was a massive hit, selling out all four shows and bringing together red dirt artists from all over, with special guests including the Turnpike Troubadours, The Great Divide, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Stoney LaRue, and more. And that star-studded lineup does not even include the incredible guests that popped up during the shows, like Dierks Bentley and Parker McCollum. The group then headed down to Texas for a “Texas Encore” edition of the reunion, which included Shane Smith & The Saints, Wade Bowen, and more. With so much momentum heading into 2026, Ragweed recently announced another two “Boys From Oklahoma” shows: one “Cornhuskers Edition” in the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in August and one additional show in Stillwater at Boone Pickens Stadium to commemorate the one-year anniversary of their reunion. Just when you thought Ragweed was done with their newest round of “Boys From Oklahoma” shows, they announced yet another one back on November 14th, this time in Athens, Georgia, at Akins Ford Arena on February 28th with Turnpike returning once again along with the severely underrated Texan singer/songwriter, Shelby Stone. Unfortunately for fans who didn’t act fast, the show sold out incredibly quickly. With that being said, however, it was clear that the Red Dirt legends had something up their sleeve when they began posting a countdown, starting from 5, on January 4th. Though some fans surely thought that it may have been their long-awaited return album, it turns out that Ragweed has added a second show in Athens, thanks to popular demand, on Friday, February 27th. This time around, red-hot trio, The Castellows, will replace Shelby Stone and join Ragweed and Turnpike for the show. In the Instagram caption, Ragweed would thank their fans for selling out the first show: “SOLD. OUT. SATURDAY. So… we added Friday! Due to BAD A** FANS, The Boys From Oklahoma are now playing in Athens, GA at Akins Ford Arena on Sat, Feb. 28th AND Fri, Feb. 27th — with Cross Canadian Ragweed + Turnpike Troubadours both nights!” View this post on Instagram Signups for presale are live now through Tuesday, January 13th at 5 p.m. ET. After signing up, presale access codes will be emailed out on Wednesday, January 14th at 5 p,m. ET. And judging by just how quickly the first Athens show, along with the rest of “The Boys From Oklahoma” shows, have sold out, I’d sign up ASAP if you want to secure tickets to see one of the greatest Red Dirt bands of all time. Fire up “17” before you go. The post Cross Canadian Ragweed Adds Second “Boys From Oklahoma” Show In Athens, Georgia, Due To High Demand first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Since stepping onto the country music scene at the height of bro country, Chase Rice has proved that the music that kick-started his career does not define him and that he’s a multi-dimensional artist. Since 2023, Rice has completely reinvented himself and distanced himself from the sound he became synonymous with. Releasing I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell and Go Down Singin’ in back-to-back years, the “Circa 1943” singer forced himself back into the hearts of many country fans simply due to its authenticity, traditional nature, and, quite frankly, lack of the modern elements present on his early work. In September of last year, he followed them up with yet another stellar album, Eldora, which once again proved that Rice was fully committed to being his authentic self through timeless storytelling and instrumentation. View this post on Instagram Rice has been on a journey to be authentically himself, and sometimes that means making a decision that he knows will not be his fans’ favorite. On January 7, Rice took to Instagram to share the news that he will not be touring in 2026- a decision he says was not difficult for him to make because he wants to protect his longevity as an artist, and the last 13 years on the road have led him to experience burnout. “Alright everybody, I wasn’t sure whether I was gonna talk about this or not but here we are. I’ve been touring for 13 years and I’ve lived a dream far greater than I could’ve ever expected. This isn’t a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place. I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music. After 13 years it’s finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while. I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down. I won’t be touring this year and it wasn’t even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself. A lot of artists do this all the time, but it’s new for me so it’s kind of a big deal in my life. To my band and crew, I love y’all. You’ve seen me at my worst yet you still love me back like I’ve lived my best. I hope we can all get together in the coming years and get back to enjoying life on the road again. To any fans that have followed me along this journey, I love y’all too, you have truly made a dream of mine come true.” Rice ends his statement by saying he’s not canceling any of the pre-scheduled shows he has for this year, but he will not be announcing any significant tour dates beyond what’s already on the calendar. “I’ve got a handful of shows this year, but it will not look like anything like what I’ve done the last 13 years of my life. I hope this year brings new experiences for me to put into songs that will make y’all happy. Until then, thanks for the ride.” View this post on Instagram After sharing his heart with the world, fans, friends, and country music fellows quickly filled the comments with words of support for Rice and his decision. “The man.” “Love this. You’ve earned it brother.” “Cheers to your next chapter!!” “Good for you! Love that you’re doing this for yourself. Life’s too short.” “I’ve followed along on your ride for 10 of those 13 years, and rest/relaxation are certainly in order for you and the guys. I hope 2026 allows y’all to achieve all of that and then some!” “Take care of yourself. Your physical and mental health come first.” “Chase you the man.” Touring is not for the faint of heart, and 13 years on the road will take a toll on you. While this is not Chase Rice saying he will never tour again, it does remind fans that their favorite country artists are not superheroes and sometimes have to prioritize their well-being. Can’t wait to see what you get up to, Mr. Rice, and don’t forget to give us Jack updates. Fire up ” Circa 1943″ before you go: The post After 13 Years On The Road, Chase Rice Is Taking A Break: “I Need To Go Live Life” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.