Asked if she'd like to do a new television series with her husband Keith Urban by her side, Nicole Kidman says bluntly: "No." Continue reading…

These lyrics will make you back the song up to hear them again. Continue reading…

Why do I feel the sudden, unshakable urge to be a part of Alan Jackson’s “Summertime Blues” music video? Is it nostalgia? Is it a yearning for simpler times? Maybe it’s the fact that seeing a youthful Alan Jackson water ski is scientifically proven to boost one’s serotonin levels? It could really be any of those things, or a combination of the three. And there’s one thing about the music video that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. If I had a time machine, I’d go back to witness the filming of the “Summertime Blues” music video. That’s always a fun question, right? Where would you go in time – past or future – if you had access to a time machine? Everyone has a different response to that inquiry, and mine just so happens to be a very niche choice… but I still think it’s the right choice. How could I pass up witnessing one of the seminal moments in 90’s country music history? Especially when we’re talking about country music legend Alan Jackson. More often than not, the “Chattahoochee” singer always brought it with new music, and this 1994 masterpiece of a project was just another example of his success. Who I Am was the fifth studio album for Jackson and was released over 30 years ago now. Crazy, right?. It sold an impressive 102,000 copies, and in 1999 was recognized by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was certified four-times platinum. The record was jam-packed with Alan Jackson hits, and it’s almost hard to believe that all of these songs came from just one album. Who I Am brought to life four separate number one hits, including “Livin’ on Love,” “Gone Country,” “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” and the incomparable “Summertime Blues.” The song tells the story of having to unfortunately work during the beautiful summer months. That’s a pretty good point to make, right? Remember when you got the summer months off as a kid? Now “summer break” means nothing to an adult. When the weather is at its best, we grown-ups are often stuck inside working… when we were built to water ski in bright colored life vests and cowboy hats. Alan Jackson and his team could not have done a better job encapsulating what summertime is all about. Driving trucks through mud, wearing overalls with nothing underneath, having reckless mud-slinging fights, waterskiing with one hand… all of the summer staples wrapped into one video. When I say that would be the first place I’d stop with my time machine, I mean it with 100% certainty. And you might be asking, “Would you try to get in the music video as an extra? Or would you just want to watch it all go down?” My answer to both of those questions is a firm, resounding, “Hell yes.” More than anything, I’d just want to be in the presence of greatness. This video below may have been when country music – and music videos in general – peaked. Just being able to witness the filming of the action-packed, pure country music video would be more than enough for me: “Summertime Blues” The post If I Had A Time Machine, I’d Go Back To Witness The Filming Of Alan Jackson’s ‘Summertime Blues’ Music Video first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Morgan Wallen is already breaking records in the 12 or so hours after I’m The Problem has been released. Today, the Tennessee native released his monstrous 37-track album I’m The Problem, the 4th studio album of his relatively short but explosive country music career. The record includes features from fellow country artists Eric Church, Ernest, and Hardy. Morgan’s first major collaboration with a female artist, the Canadian pop star Tate McRae, is also featured on the album, with a duet called “What I Want.” The album also features the controversial “rap-style” interpretation of Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy,” which Wallen told Kelleigh Bannen he knew he was going to get “crucified” for. I can’t say I totally disagree with that. I have not dove into the whole album yet, but this was one of the first songs I fired up when it dropped  I’ll just say that I am not a fan. My thoughts echo a sentiment my colleague Casey wrote earlier: “I’m one of the hardest people to offend on planet Earth but turning a Keith Whitley classic into a rap song is an easy way to do it.” To be fully transparent, I have been overwhelmed with where to even start on this tracklist. It’s like opening up the SAT and not being sure what strategy to take. Do you start in the middle? Listen from top to bottom? Skip over the previously released singles, or listen to the record on shuffle, eventually making your way through the 37 tracks in roughly two hours. I might take a few days to get through the album because I can’t multitask while writing, and I’m doing my editors a favor by keeping my ears and mind on the task at hand. I am clearly in the minority on this, though, because social media has been buzzing all day about the new album. While some folks were underwhelmed, the majority of comments I’ve seen are overwhelmingly positive. One social media user claimed it was the album of the year only four minutes after it was released. While that’s probably a bit overdramatic, Morgan’s fans are many and they are loyal. 1st song into this Morgan Wallen album and it's already album of the year. — Brick (@BrickTalksBall) May 16, 2025 Bold statement for only hearing 1/37 on the album, but I respect the confidence. It appears that this user is not the only one who thinks this is a stellar project from Wallen, as his streams have been record-breaking since the album’s release. No, really. It’s not shocking for Morgan Wallen to break a record or two when he drops a new project, as it’s a pattern we’ve seen over the years, and this release is no different. Today, Spotify announced that I’m The Problem is officially the most-streamed album of 2025 so far. Morgan Wallen just made country history—again. pic.twitter.com/RFuGfxhJAy — Spotify (@Spotify) May 16, 2025 We are less than halfway through 2025, so there is still time for this record to be broken. However, given Wallen’s massive fan base and the lengthy tracklist for this album, I was not very surprised to see this post from Spotify. If the album featured only 12 songs, would it have the same result? With his fanbase right now… something tells me it might. Before you go, check out a few early favorites off the record. “The Dealer” “I Got Better” The post 12 Hours After Its Release & Morgan Wallen’s ‘I’m The Problem’ Is Already The Most Streamed Country Album Of 2025 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Hi, it’s me. One of the people (figuratively, obviously) “crucifying” Morgan Wallen for his new song, “Miami.” Of course, his new album I’m The Problem is now out everywhere, and the lengthy 37-song tracklist includes features from fellow country artists Eric Church, Ernest and Hardy, as well as Morgan’s first major collaboration with a female artist with Canadian pop star Tate McRae on a duet called “What I Want.” But one of the tunes I’ve had my eye on since the tracklist was released is “Miami,” which Morgan previously disclosed is a nod to to the late, great Keith Whitley… but it’s probably not how you think. Morgan appeared as a guest on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast recently, where he explained that his tribute will be a “flip” on Whitley’s classic “Miami, My Amy,” making it more of a “rap style” song. Immediately, country music fans had a visceral reaction to that concept, and rightfully so: “I got a song on my record called ‘Miami.’ It’s a Keith Whitley flip… that’s one of his bigger songs, I guess. But we flipped it and turned it into more of a rap style. But it’s cool, I like it. It seemed like it could use rapper on there, but I didn’t end up using a feature, we ended up just making a second verse. But it’s one of those songs that it wouldn’t be surprising if we got a remix and did that once it’s out.” Morgan is no stranger to trap beats and rap influences in his music, but he also told Theo he wanted to tone that down for this project (which he really didn’t)… but not on “Miami.” I’m not a massive Morgan Wallen fan, but I’m also not a total hater… I like some of his songs and they’re certainly catchy, I’ll give him that. Plus, with 30+ an album, there’s a little something for everybody. But now that I’ve heard the entire version, against my will, which does interpolate “Miami, My Amy,” I just can’t get on board… it’s obviously not country in the slightest and I hate that they used such a classic like this. I really love the idea of a Keith Whitley tribute, and I think Morgan is a talented artist in many respects, but this does not show off any part of that, and if anything, is an injustice to the legacy of incredible music that Whitley left behind. And I know Morgan is a big Whitley fan but something like “Miami” just doesn’t sound, or feel, right. Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Richard McGill were the original writers of “Miami, My Amy,” which was released in January of 1986 as the second single from his album L.A. To Miami. In an interview with an interview with Kelleigh Bannen for Apple Music’s Today Country, she brought up “Miami,” and Morgan explained that he relates to a lot of Whitley’s music and thinks he’s the greatest country vocalist ever… okay, there’s something we can agree on. He also said he doesn’t feel right straight up covering a Keith Whitley song, and I do understand that too, adding that what he did with “Miami” was his version of a tribute. Morgan admitted that he knows people will “crucify” him for “Miami,” adding that he doesn’t care and he’s happy with how it turned out: “I mean, we’re from a similar area, I grew up listening to bluegrass. I think that in and of itself just makes me love him, I just think he’s the pure best vocalist in country music, ever. I think that’s really all there is to it. And I love the sadness and heartbreak that was in his songs. Obviously, it seems like he was in a lot of pain, and I seem to empathize with people like that. And then you throw his vocal, and those songs, on top of it, it’s just incredible. You said something about ‘Miami,’ I already know I’m gonna get crucified for that song, but I don’t know… it is fun, and I enjoyed it, and me and the boys writing it had a good time writing it. In my own way, I’m not gonna do a Keith Whitley cover, probably. I don’t feel right doing that… this is my own way of paying my respect. And if that offends people, I don’t really care, but I’m gonna assume it will.” It’s like he read my mind… honestly, that’s the kind of attitude you have to have when you’re going to put out something like “Miami,” but I’ve seen overwhelmingly positive reviews of the song, especially in the YouTube comments underneath it, so I’m sure it’s going to put up huge numbers and be a hit. The lyrics are shallow, the production is manufactured beats that belong on Top 40 pop radio, and it’s missing that heart and emotion that Morgan spoke of loving so deeply. As crazy as it sounds, I actually think him doing a regular, straight-up cover of a Keith Whitley classic would be so much better, though I understand his hesitation in doing so. Like I’ve said before, I’m one of the hardest people to offend on planet Earth, but turning a Keith Whitley classic into a rap song is an easy way to do it. I think I’ve rarely, if ever, said a song offends me, because even if I hate it, I’m all about the creativity. Artists freely following their creative muses, blah, blah… all well and good, but an atrocity like this cannot be ignored. Sorry, Morgan. Listen at your own risk and don’t say I didn’t warn you… “Miami” “Miami, My Amy” The full interview: The post Morgan Wallen Says He Knows He’ll Be “Crucified” For New Keith Whitley-Inspired Song “Miami” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.