The perfect way to kick off the NASCAR season. With the Daytona 500 just over a month away, race fans are getting excited to welcome the 2026 season at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, and country star Miranda Lambert will be part of the pre-race festivities. She will play a concert ahead of the green flag dropping on Sunday, February 16th, and while it won’t be her first time doing a NASCAR concert, lovingly called The Great American Race, it’s one of the biggest of the year and I know she’ll put on a great show: “We already don’t wanna go home. Welcome to The Great American Race, Miranda Lambert! See her live at the 2026 DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show. Get tickets using the link in our bio.” Tickets for the race are on-sale now: View this post on Instagram Speaking of Miranda, in terms of touring and putting out new music last year, she was pretty quiet, spending her time doing a limited run of shows and focusing on helping artists like Ella Langley write, produce and record, as Miranda was a huge part of Ella’s current single that’s headed to the top of the charts at country radio, “Choosin’ Texas.” And she also recently delivered a beautiful performance of “Run” at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony for George Strait’s induction, which it’s one of my all-time favorite songs, so I was very excited to see that was the song Miranda got to perform during such an important evening for one of the genres most beloved and important artists. Of course, “Run” was the lead single from Strait’s 2001 album The Road Less Traveled. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Charts three separate times, but was never able to claim the number one spot. Miranda and George have performed them together before, but that was years ago and part of his 2014 The Cowboy Rides Away Tour: Live from AT&T Stadium, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect occasion for her to do it again. And if you watched the TV special of it on CBS, or have seen clips on social media of Miranda onstage, my guess is that a gorgeous piece of jewelry caught your eye, which was the absolutely stunning, diamond encrusted bolo tie she had on with her black outfit and cowboy hat. Designed by Whitehouse Brothers jewelers, the bolo tie is a whopping 62 carats total, which for comparisons sake, it three times bigger than the bee bolo Beyoncé wore for some of her Cowboy Carter promotion. “It very well may be the most impressive diamond bolo necklace ever created. The emerald cut diamond center stone is just over 15 carats. A pave’ halo surrounds the center diamond, followed by bezel set 0.50ct diamonds to create a stunning framework. The openwork allows the piece to be airy in the negative space and appear as an all diamond focused look.” I always love seeing what the ladies of country music where for big events like this, and of course if you’re going to honor The King on such a special night, then you have to go BIG. Really big. I mean, everything really is bigger in Texas, and it certainly has to be massive if you’re going all out for George Strait. The emerald-cut center diamond weighs just over 15 carats, surrounded by a pavé diamond halo and framed by bezel-set diamonds, and in total, the bolo features over 62 carats of diamonds. It’s absolutely gorgeous, the whole performance was spectacular, and you can watch it here: @cbs @Miranda Lambert pays tribute to “the king of country” George Strait, with a powerful rendition of “Run” Don’t miss her full performance tomorrow on The Kennedy Center Honors at 8pm ET/PT on CBS and streaming on @Paramount+ #KennedyCenterHonors #KCHonors #SneakPeek ♬ original sound – CBS The post Miranda Lambert To Play Concert Ahead Of The Daytona 500 As NASCAR Season Gets Underway Next Month first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

A rare double-drop from Bryan. It was a long time coming, but on Friday, Zach Bryan released his highly-anticipated sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top. After what seemed like a full year of controversy in 2025, ranging from the aftermath of his breakup with Barstool’s Brianna LaPaglia to attempting to fight Gavin Adcock at Born and Raised Fest, it feels like the Oklahoma native is looking to put the past behind him with the release of With Heaven On Top. Upon the release of the studio version of the record on Friday, I believe it was one of the best projects to date from the “Something in the Orange” singer. For fans of Bryan’s newer sound, which has continued to venture into a more Springsteen-inspired, horn-instrument-heavy sonic style as of late, there’s a lot to love. Tracks such as “Appetite,” “Santa Fe,” “Anyways” and the highly-anticipated “Dry Desserts” sound lovely and inject the project with a tangible amount of energy throughout, thanks to the production choices. With that being said, fans of Bryan’s darker, more introspective songs also have a lot to latch onto as well. In what feels like a call back to his early work, “DeAnn’s Denim” is yet another touching tribute to his late mother, which not only serves as a remembrance of her but also as a reflection on his newfound sobriety and his family’s history of addiction. Additionally, songs like “Skin,” which many have speculated is a shot at LaPaglia, and “Cannonball” are other all-time lyrical efforts from Bryan, with “Skin” being a personal favorite of mine. Before the release of With Heaven On Top, however, the 29-year-old singer/songwriter would announce that an acoustic version of the album, in its entirety, would be released just three days later. In many ways, it was Bryan getting in front of the common criticism from older fans who like to complain about his recent work being “over-produced” and providing an alternative version of the record to appease both sides of his fanbase. In an Instagram post last Thursday, Bryan would note that he didn’t want to “hear everyone whine about more stuff” regarding the production on the album, thus prompting the acoustic release. “I’m assuming this record is just like all the other ones and there’s gonna be a billion people saying it’s over produced and s***** so I sat down in a room by myself and recorded all the songs acoustically so I didn’t have to hear everyone whine about more stuff. There’s mistakes and I didn’t redo any of them but this’ll be out three days after ‘With Heaven On Top’ drops tomorrow. This was a painting hanging on the wall that we recorded all the songs in when we got there.” View this post on Instagram As for today’s new acoustic version of With Heaven Top, there’s ultimately a lot to like. As mentioned earlier, it’s clear that this version exists essentially to appease fans of his older work such as DeAnn and Elisabeth, which were quite obviously recorded acoustically before Bryan signed to Warner Records and became the superstar he is today. What results is much more raw versions of all the tracks that allow the listener to really focus on the lyrics, something that was clearly a staple in his older compositions. In particular, I think “Bad News,” his “anti-ICE” track that caused a media firestorm and prompted both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House to condemn him, benefits greatly from an acoustic version. As I said in my reflection of the album on Friday, the song is far from a far-left or anti-American anthem. Despite many labeling it as such, I’d go as far as to say it reflects how many of us are feeling right now. In many ways, the country feels far from what many imagine it to be as of late — and Bryan depicts this perfectly here. In the acoustic version, the tempo is slowed down slightly, additionally having less production present, obviously. Personally, I think it allows the song to be more easily digestible. Though it still probably won’t win back reactionaries who wrote the song off after the firestorm back in October, it’s a highly successful song on all fronts, especially acoustically. As for other notable changes in the acoustic version, fans received the original demo version of “Anyways” that Bryan posted months ago as a short snippet. In case you aren’t familiar with it, the snippet quickly became a fan-favorite, often being titled “Birdie” due to him singing, “I’m feeling f****** empty, Birdie” in the teaser. Though it’s quite short, only being one minute and twenty-four seconds, it’s a nice little addition for his most dedicated fans. “Rivers and Creeks,” one of the most controversial songs among fans, thanks to Bryan’s odd, Elvis-esque vocal inflections throughout, is another track that benefits from an acoustic treatment. Though I’m all for artists experimenting with their sound and vocals, the studio version ultimately fell flat. Here, Bryan delivers a much better version, restraining heavily from a vocal perspective compared to the first recording. Other songs that stand out acoustically are “Sundown Girls,” “Miles” and “South and Pine,” all of which benefit greatly from a slightly slowed-down tempo and stripped-back production. Ultimately, the acoustic version of With Heaven On Top is undoubtedly a neat addition to Bryan’s discography. Though I don’t think it will truly win over critics of Bryan, mainly due to the songs still being the same at their core, it’s a welcome change compared to how most artists roll out their albums. I see longtime fans of the “I Remember Everything” singer latching on heavily to this version, thanks to it primarily harkening back to his early work. Either way, I would give it a chance, especially if you enjoyed his early albums better compared to his most recent efforts. “Anyways” “Rivers and Creeks” “Bad News” The post Zach Bryan Harkens Back To The Early Days Of His Career With Acoustic Version Of New Album, ‘With Heaven On Top’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Imagine the excitement as Rascal Flatts may welcome a fresh face to the band, one with family ties and a powerful voice. Continue reading…

Singing one for Robert Earl Keen. Evan Felker is honoring one of his musical icons for his 70th birthday. Robert Earl Keen just turned 70 years old on January 11th, and to honor the living legend, a few of his friends are getting together to cover some of their favorite songs from his spanning catalog. While all the performances laid down as a part of the “Three 20’s and a 10” project are incredible, the Turnpike Troubadours‘ Evan Felker stunned with an acoustic performance of “Feelin’ Good Again.” “We’re celebrating Robert Earl Keen’s 70th birthday with a very special “Three 20’s and a 10” Tribute featuring favorite REK covers from familiar faces like Cody Canada, Evan Felker, Hayes Carll, Wade Bowen, Parker McCollum, and more! Kicking things off is a snippet from Evan Felker performing “’Feelin’ Good Again.’ Honoring the years, the miles, and the music.” View this post on Instagram Recorded live from Fort Worth, the cover appears to have been taped before (or after) Evan Felker performed as the musical guest for the Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo’s Grand Entry Gala, which was held at the iconic Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. Before diving into the tune, Felker shared a few words for REK as he celebrated the start of 70. “Hey Robert Earl, I hope you’re enjoying your dry January as much as I am. Um, Happy Birthday, buddy. Happy 70th birthday. And thanks for all you’ve done to inspire folks around playing music. We’re going to do my favorite one of yours for you.”  Felker and his backing band then dive into a stunning performance of the iconic song. “Feelin’ Good Again” is one of Keen’s most well-loved songs, and over the years, many theories have emerged about what the lyrics truly mean. In 2020, Keen finally gave a backstory on what the song meant, and at its core, “Feelin’ Good Again” is about “Returning home after a long time gone.” Earl then dove deeper into the song’s inspiration, noting that lyrics come from spending time at a little hole-in-the-wall bar down the street from his home. “I lived in Bandera, Texas. When I would come home, it would occasionally be really late — this was back when I didn’t have a bus. And there was this place called Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon that you could go to, still exists. So I would come home and my wife would be asleep. Now, the other way, just about half a block, was Arkey’s. Lit up with a big silver dollar, and it says ‘Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar’ on it. And I would go there. Not to avoid going home, but to decompress from traveling — I would still be pretty awake. Even past 2:00 a.m.” You can see that he’s not kidding at all when you compare his words to the lyrics. Keen’s soft melody depicts him strolling into a bar, feeling a sense of warmth wash over him as he enters, seeing his old friends and hearing some of his favorite tunes. While it’s not the traditional sense of coming home after being gone for a long time, places like this bar are a second home to many folks, and we all know that nostalgic feeling of walking into a place you love and miss. “So I strolled across old Main StreetWalked down a flight of stairsStepped into the hall and saw all my friends were thereA neon sign was flashin’, ‘Welcome, come on in’It feels so good feelin’ good again” Keen continues: “There is a bar and you walk down from the steps to get there. And in the cellar, which is the bar, was all of Arkey’s stuff. He had velvet paintings of Elvis and Dolly, and this great jukebox, and this corner stage where he would play every Friday and Saturday night. Arkey said actually that he built that place because he was kicked out of every honky-tonk in Texas … So Arkey’s was just a comfortable place to go and there was always people at a table, and it was a beer joint. So anyway, there it is. There’s the inspiration to the song.” Keen also noted that all the characters in the song, like Perkins, are real people, and the events are based on what happened during those late nights at Arkey’s. If you’re a songwriter, this is your sign not to pass on penning a love letter of sorts to your favorite local watering hole, because it led REK to pen one of his most influential songs. If you like REK’s “Feelin’ Good Again,” you will adore Evan Felker’s acoustic take on the classic. Turn it all the way up. The post Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker Stuns With Acoustic Version Of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again” In Honor Of His 70th Birthday first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Showing up for a good friend. The musical world has been mourning the last few days after learning of the passing of Bob Weir. Bob Weir, the founding member of the Grateful Dead, passed away at the age of 78. The singer-songwriter’s official social media page confirmed the heartbreaking news: “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues…   His loving family, Natascha, Monet, and Chloe, request privacy during this difficult time and offer their gratitude for the outpouring of love, support, and remembrance. May we honor him not only in sorrow, but in how bravely we continue with open hearts, steady steps, and the music leading us home. Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings.” View this post on Instagram The post went on to say that Bob Weir was diagnosed with cancer back in July of 2025, and started treatment just before he and Dead and Company took the stage at Golden Gate Park for a celebration of 60 years of the Grateful Dead’s music. Weir’s family called those three nights of shows “not farewells, but gifts. Another act of resilience. An artist choosing, even then, to keep going by his own design.” The Grateful Dead has toured pretty much every year since 1965, with the iteration of the band being the only thing that’s changed across the decades. The most popular version of the band, at least in the past decade, has been Dead and Company. It usually consisted of Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart (drums), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums), with John Mayer stepping in to play guitar and lead vocals, and bass player Oteil Burbridge and keys player Jeff Chimenti rounding out the group. Though the band members and the band’s name changed often over the years, Bob Weir was always the through-line. He stood on stage and shared the Grateful Dead’s music for 60 years. Many artists across all genres have been sharing their tributes and heartfelt words for their late icon and friend. Billy Strings has spoken out about how much Weir meant to him as an aspiring artist and later in life when the two formed a friendship, and now Wynonna Judd is also sharing a few words to her fans and followers about Weir—including a tender moment surrounding the death of her mother, Naomi Judd. Naomi Judd, member of the mother/daughter duo The Judds, died by self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 30th, 2022, at her home in Tennessee. Naomi was 76 years old. After the death of Naomi, the Judd family was left with their own grief, and so was the country music community. After the singer’s loss, the country music world rallied around the family and celebrated the life and incredible music that Naomi had a hand in creating. However, country fans just now learned that Bob Weir showed up for the Judd family equally after the death of Naomi. After learning of Weir’s passing, Wynonna took to social media to share kind words about a friend who became family. The “Why Not Me” singer revealed that during a private celebration of life for her late mother, Weir showed up and hopped on stage to sing a few songs in honor of Naomi Judd, which, in turn, meant the world to the Judd family. “My heart is broken over this loss. To the world he was Bob (Bobby) Weir. To me… he was and will always be…MY “Sir” Robert Weir. When Mom passed, we held our {private} celebration of life in Nashville. Sir Robert got the call & showed up with no questions asked. No publicity, no cameras, not even an expectation for him to take the stage—but he insisted on showing up in the best way he knew how. He joined the stage with my family, friends, and musical peers. I will FOREVER honor the friendship that turned into family. At times, he was a tough nut to crack, but I will always take pride in the fact that I could get him to laugh. Sir Robert Weir… you have left a lasting imprint on my life. The world lost a legend, I lost a friend. Here are some of my favorite moments with Bob Weir.” Wynonna then shared a collection of images of her and Weir, ranging from on and off-stage moments spent together. Rest in peace, Bob Weir. Sing some heavenly songs with Naomi for us. View this post on Instagram Give their rendition of “Ramble On Rose” a spin before you go: The post “He Showed Up With No Questions Asked”: Wynonna Judd Reveals That Bob Weir Performed At Naomi Judd’s Private Celebration Of Funeral Celebration first appeared on Whiskey Riff.