"Her infectious laugh, quick wit, and natural grace left a lasting impression on all who knew her." Continue reading…

Kacey Musgraves is in a dry spell… and it’s also the title to the lead single from her forthcoming sixth studio album Middle of Nowhere, which was announced today and produced by Kacey alongside longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. “Dry Spell” was written by Kacey with longtime collaborators Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne, and it’s a hilarious song full of innuendo that made me giggle more than once when I listened to it the first time. The girl has had a “real long 335” days, and she’s resorted to “sitting on the washing machine”: “It’s been a real long three-hundred and thirty-five days And the last time, it wasn’t good anyway I’m so lonely, lonely with a capital ‘H’ If you know what I mean, I’ve been sitting on the washing machine Ain’t nobody’s tool up in my shed Ain’t nobody’s boots under my bed Ain’t nobody’s truck up in my drive For a late night call, for a real good time Ain’t no new notches on my belt And I’m tired of keepin’ my hands to myself 911, it’s officially a cry for help Y’all, I’m going through a dry spell, yep” I mean, some may clutch their pearls, and that’s totally fine, but I have to laugh because the writing is so smart and clever, which is something I can always count on with Kacey and love about her as an artist. Of course, this kind of subject matter isn’t new in country music, but it is less common for female artists in this context, and in speaking with NPR Music’s Jewly Hight, Kacey explained that it came from a very real place. She went through the longest period of her adult life being single, and up until that point, she had feared being alone in every aspect, but she found it to be liberating in many ways: “I typically always have been in relationships. This was the longest period in my adult life where I was on my own, and I had gone through a break up. I was taking stock of my relationships and what I want[ed] in my life, and really learning how to lean into being alone. I started really loving my singledom. It was a long time without any intimacy with anyone else, and I had always feared that before I experienced it, just having this notion that I needed someone to be happy, which I found to be completely untrue.” She wrote “Dry Spell” because it was exactly what she was going through, and she knew the aforementioned Shane, Josh and Luke would totally get the humor angle of the song. Kacey explained that the human condition in and of itself is funny, I think we all know that all too well, and of course, incorporating humor into her music is something she does very well: “I find the human condition pretty hilarious. I feel like the universe has a pretty killer sense of humor, so I just find a lot of humor in the everyday. One of my all-time favorite writers did it best: John Prine. I can be quite introspective and maybe heady or whatever, but I really love anchoring something with that [sense of humor]. I feel like we need to laugh more in this modern crazy time.” While listening to her talk about her “dry spell” and being lonely is funny and entertaining, Kacey also learned a lot about her independence and who she is alone, and has a completely different kind of “confidence” and “clarity” because of it. Reporter Jewly Hight also pointed out that she couldn’t think of any other country songs where there’s a “woman writing about thirstiness, desire, without even mentioning a male protagonist,” “No, I don’t think so. I think a lot of songs, people are trying to convince you of how sexy they are, and I’m telling you how I have not been getting any. Even the chickens are getting laid, and I’m not.” Whether or not her “dry spell” is over is none of my business, but I think it’s a fun track and at least she got a good song, and a newfound confidence, out of the whole experience… I can’t wait to hear the entire 13-song album, which also includes features from Willie Nelson, Billy Strings, Gregory Alan Isakov and Mrs. Miranda Lambert herself. Middle of Nowhere is due out everywhere on May 1st: View this post on Instagram The music video for “Dry Spell” is not subtle, but it is really funny, and you can watch it here: Middle of Nowhere Tracklist: 1.Middle of Nowhere 2.Dry Spell 3.Back on the Wagon 4.I Believe in Ghosts 5.Abilene 6.Coyote feat. Gregory Alan Isakov 7.Loneliest Girl 8.Everybody Wants To Be a Cowboy feat. Billy Strings 9.Horses and Divorces feat. Miranda Lambert 10.Uncertain, Texas feat. Willie Nelson 11.Rhinestoned 12.Mexico Honey 13.Hell on MeThe post Kacey Musgraves Says “Dry Spell” Was Inspired By The Longest Period Of Her Adult Life Being Single: “I Had Always Feared That Before I Experienced It” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Hilarious timing. I honestly cannot tell you what’s been in the air lately (other than the obvious absurd amount of alcohol), but every year it seems as if concert etiquette has gotten increasingly worse as time passes. Even ignoring all the drama surrounding Treaty Oak Revival and their fans, we’ve seen rowdy fans grab Morgan Wallen, hurl a hat at Megan Moroney and nail Koe Wetzel with a beer (to name a few) just in the last couple of years. Even if you take the artists out of the equation, it seems like every week, you’ll see a viral video come out of somebody’s concert with footage of drunken fans getting into obnoxious fights in the pit. My best guess is that it’s younger fans who either a) can’t handle their liquor, b) are ignorant of the consequences of their actions, c) have zero respect for the people around them, or a combination of all three. Despite having a more mature, lyrical nature to his music in general, Zach Bryan has been notorious over the years for having one of the most obnoxious sets of fans, at least as far as concert etiquette is concerned, with fights breaking out fairly regularly at each and every concert. This was put on full display once again this weekend. In case you missed it, over the weekend, Bryan kicked off his lengthy, 35+ show With Heaven On Tour over the weekend in St. Louis. Coming off the release of his all-genre #1 album, With Heaven On Top, back in January, the Oklahoma native a 32-song set filled with past hits such as “I Remember Everything,” “Something in the Orange” and “Oklahoma Smokeshow” along with a plethora of live debuts from the likes of With Heaven On Top’s “Skin,” which is highly speculated to be a shot at his ex, Brianna Chickenfry, “Santa Fe,” “Slicked Back,” “Rivers and Creeks” and more. The most noteworthy addition to his setlist was none other than his highly controversial track, “Bad News,” which many have labeled as Bryan’s “anti-ICE” anthem. Before the performance even began, the “Condemned” singer would stir the pot once again with an interesting preface: “The government’s after all the 29-year-old veteran songwriters.” @greatamericanbarscene Zach Bryan performs “Bad News” at his first stop in St Louis #zachbryan #badnews #withheavenontour ♬ original sound – greatamericanbarscene Though it most likely had nothing to do with the song itself, a huge fight broke out during the performance between at least four to five different women, and it got PRETTY wild. After some pushing between two different pairs, one woman in a cowboy hat proceeded to throw her drink at the other she was in a scuffle with. In response to the pushing, the friend of the girl who got the drink thrown at her immediately threw the drink thrower’s friend with a mean left hook, landing it pretty clean on her face. Immediately after, a man, who seemed to be just a bystander, got between the two groups, essentially ending the fight despite some pushing from both parties. Watch HERE. While it’s not the most insane concert fight I’ve seen, what makes the clip infinitely funnier was the lyrics Zach was singing at the time. Call it divine intervention and/or some of the greatest incidental comedic timing of all time, while this fight was going down, Bryan delivered the pre-chorus and chorus, which reads as follows: “Got some bad news, fading of our red, white, and blueThis lands your land, this lands mine, tooIs this all true man, or is it just bad news” It might just be me, but there’s really nothing funnier than hearing a singer deliver Woody Guthrie’s “This land’s your land” lyric while punches are being thrown in the crowd. The comment section of the TikTok was also quick to point out the irony of the situation as well: “And during ‘Bad News’ is just perfect!” “This song could not be any more perfect “ “What a great song to fight to“ “During ‘Bad News’ as well. People need to grow up” “Republicans vs dems in the pit!” I mean, come on, you cannot make that up. A massive fight breaks out during a song about the decaying morale of the country. It’s poetry in motion if you ask me. Zach Bryan Tour Dates March 14 – Tampa, Florida – Raymond James Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll March 21 – San Antonio, Texas – The Alamodome – Caamp & J.R. Carroll March 28 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Tiger Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll April 3 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – H.A. Chapman Stadium – Trampled By Turtles & J.R. Carroll April 4 – Tulsa, Oklahoma – H.A. Chapman Stadium – Trampled By Turtles & J.R. Carroll April 11 – Louisville, Kentucky – L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium – Kings of Leon & J.R. Carroll April 18 – Charlotte, North Carolina – Bank of America Stadium – Caamp & J.R. Carroll April 25 – Lincoln, Nebraska – Memorial Stadium – Kings of Leon & J.R. Carroll May 2 – Starkville, Mississippi – Davis Wade Stadium – Dijon & J.R. Carroll May 9 – Cleveland, Ohio – Huntington Bank Field – Dijon & J.R. Carroll May 27 – San Sebastian, Spain – Donostia Arena- Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara May 31 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 3 – Oslo, Norway – Unity Arena – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 6 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 9 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Philips Stadium – Ben Howard & Keenan O’Meara June 12 – Liverpool, United Kingdom – Anfield Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 14 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Scottish Gas Murrayfield – Dijon & Fey Fili June 16 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 17 – London, United Kingdom – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Dijon & Fey Fili June 20 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili June 21 – Cork, Ireland – Páirc Úi Chaoimh – Dijon & Fey Fili June 23 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili June 24 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Boucher Playing Fields – Dijon & Fey Fili July 24 – Eugene, Oregon – Autzen Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili  July 31 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 1 – San Diego, California – Snapdragon Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Rice-Eccles Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 13 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 14 – Denver, Colorado – Empower Field at Mile High – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili August 22 – Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili September 5 – Glendale, Arizona – State Farm Stadium – MJ Lenderman & Fey Fili September 18 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Kings of Leon, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose September 19 – Dover, Delaware – The Woodlands – Alabama Shakes, Fey Fili & Gabriella Rose September 21 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose September 22 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Center – Trampled By Turtles & Gabriella Rose October 2 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose October 3 – Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – Gregory Alan Isakov & Gabriella Rose October 10 – Auburn, Alabama – Jordan-Hare Stadium – Gregory Alan Iskov & Gabriella Rose The post Massive Girl Fight Breaks Out At Zach Bryan Concert During Controversial Song “Bad News” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

A nod to a country music great turned into a high-pressure performance for Ernest at the Grand Ole Opry. Ernest takes pride in guiding his modern country music fans to the legends of yesteryear. The “Flower Shops” singer recently spoke about that during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show, and he more recently put it into practice while performing at the Grand Ole Opry. Ernest was a part of Opry lineup that helped celebrate Jelly Roll being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as an official member. In a video that Ernest recorded while walking around what looks like the Nashville Airport, the country music artist and prolific songwriter shared a story from the night. He first explained that he generally likes to cover a country classic when he performs in the historic circle, and revealed that he decided to go with a George Jones hit during his latest Opry appearance. The song selection led to a run-in backstage that Ernest never expected: “A little Opry story for you. Last night, we did the Grand Ole Opry inducting Sir Jelly Roll as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Anytime I play the Opry, I make sure to play at least one country golden classic. Last night, I took the tall order upon myself to play ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today.’ When I was sound checking with the band beforehand, in the little nook backstage, I finished, I walked around the corner, and Mrs. Nancy Jones was standing right there… George Jones’ widow.” Talk about pressure. Nancy Jones and George Jones were married in 1983, and stayed together until “The Possum” died on April 26, 2013 at the age of 81. She’s still very connected to the country music scene, and Nancy apparently didn’t want to miss Jelly Roll’s big moment. In doing so, she also got to hear one of her late husband’s biggest songs echo through the Opry. Ernest went on to say that he was very nervous to perform the track once he knew Nancy was there, but he went through with it anyways… and got a thumbs up afterwards: “She was standing right there with tears in her eyes, and she gave me a hug and said, ‘That song has always made me cry.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so glad I didn’t know you were there the whole time. I would have been freaking out.’ But then I had to go up in front of everybody at the Opry knowing she was standing side stage. And I got the thumbs up from Mrs. Nancy Jones. There’s a Nashville Opry story for you.” View this post on Instagram How cool is that? And as if Ernest needed any more reassurance after his “He Stopped Loving Her Today” cover, Nancy Jones left a comment below the country music star’s post through the official George Jones social media account: “How sweet! Love you honey!” You love to see modern country music stars tipping their cap to the greats of the genre. Ernest arguably does it better than anyone else.The post Ernest’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today” Cover Got The Nod Of Approval From George Jones’ Widow first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

“I live my entire life somewhere between two middle fingers and the grace of Jesus Christ. And I learned that from Johnny Cash." Continue reading…