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Being brutally honest. Despite country music historically centering around drinking culture, with references to tequila, whiskey and beer being all but a trope in the genre, a growing number of artists these days have decided to go sober. With names such as Ashley McBryde, Tyler Childers, Evan Felker (of the Turnpike Troubadours), Tim McGraw, Jon Pardi, Joe Nichols, Cody Jinks, Sam Canty (of Treaty Oak Revival) and more all sharing their journey to sobriety in the past, arguably no one has been more vocal than Jake Owen. The “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” singer, who is currently preparing for the release of his brand-new, Shooter Jennings-produced album, Dreams to Dream on November 7th, has been incredibly transparent throughout his now 4+ year journey into sobriety, noting that his decision to quit came from the person he’d become while drinking rather than the amount he was actually consuming. Back on September 17th, Owen shared that he hit four years of sobriety. He acknowledged the milestone with a poem and message to his followers, fans and friends on social media, sharing that he’s not perfect. Still, he’s working on himself every day, and remaining sober is helping him transform into the man he wants to be. “I woke up this morning on West Coast time Compared to most of my friends and friends I’m three hours behind Until I saw a text, from a very thoughtful friend Reminded me of something and brought a real big grin 4 years ago today, I knew that it was time To be a better man, and live a sober life Be a better father, be a better friend And by the grace of God, I felt like I got to start all over again I’ve stuck to the plan, but I’m still working on me I know who I’ve been, and who I wanna be Thank y’all for the kindness, are the high fives along the way I hope I can be an inspiration for someone who wants to start today Love y’all. Here’s to 4 years of the best decision I ever made in my life. For a guy that can be pretty hard on himself, I gotta say I’m proud of me.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Owen (@jakeowenofficial) Just a month later, as he prepares for the release of the aforementioned Dreams to Dream, Owen made an appearance on the always-entertaining Big D & Bubba radio show to discuss everything from the creation of the upcoming album and his newfound friendship with Jennings to leaving a major label and, of course, his sobriety. While discussing his evolution from the young, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” singer to a husband, father and seasoned artist, Owen candidly detailed his decision to get sober. As mentioned previously, for him, it was less about how much he was drinking and more about how alcohol affected him as a person, noting that he was a “total jerk” whenever he drank in an attempt to mask his insecurities. “I never thought I’d be where I am right now as a mature father, sober after four years. It’s changed my world. I never was a big drinker, but when I did drink, I was just a total jerk. I’ve always told people I’ve been mistaken as a kid who was a bit cocky and had this arrogance about him. But it wasn’t. It was my insecurities, man. It was my insecurities in wanting people to believe I was good enough to be here, so I think I kind of always tried to show you that I could. People were like, ‘Dude, relax. You don’t have to peacock all the time.” It turns out that it was none other than Charles Kelley of Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) who made the Florida native realize just how obnoxious his behavior was after a heart-to-heart conversation. Ironically enough, Charles Kelley is also sober now too. “I’ll never forget the time Charles Kelley telling me that one day. He’s like, ‘You’re just Jake. Sometimes you come into a room, and you’re the peacock. And I was like, ‘Woah, that’s not me. I don’t want to ever be like that. As I’ve matured, I just realized I want to be a good example to my little girls. And my little girl who’s six, she’s basically never seen me really drink.” Owen would then go on to praise the current generation for drinking less than their older counterparts, something that has been noted in multiple medical studies lately, before reflecting on the fact that he’s actively made a difference in multiple of his friends’ journeys towards sobriety. “I’m seeing it with the new generation, too. The idea of ‘you gotta have alcohol to have fun and all this,’ is kind of subsiding a little bit. People are realizing like, ‘Oh, I don’t have to have that to have a great time.’ I don’t go to meetings or anything like that. One day, it was like, ‘I don’t ever want to be that jerk again.’ And I promised my friends that they’d never see me do it. A lot of them were like, ‘Yeah, right dude.’ And four years later, they’re like, ‘Dude, I’m so proud of you.’ What I’ve done is inspire some of my other friends who have seen the happiness in me and seen how my life’s gotten better. And they’re like, ‘I think I’m gonna do that too.’ I’m not telling them to; they just see it.” As we know, going sober is never an easy task and is oftentimes one of the hardest things for someone to accomplish in their life. Like many things, it’s not a one-size-fits-all path. No one’s sobriety journey is easy, and I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Owen for being so candid about his struggles and actively encouraging others throughout his battle. Watch here: @bigdandbubba Jake Owen speaks on his sobriety and the “total jerk” alcohol made him into… #jakeowen #barefootbluejeannight #sober #fypシ #fyp @Jake Owen ♬ original sound – bigdandbubba While you’re here, check out the title track of his upcoming record, Dreams to Dream Jake Owen Tour Dates Oct 23 – Daily’s Place Amphitheater – Jacksonville, FL^ Oct 24 – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL^ Oct 25 – Apopka Amphitheatre – Apopka, FL^ Oct 26 – England Brothers Park – Pinellas Park, FL^ Nov 14-16 – The Flamingo 2025 at Vero Beach – Vero Beach, FL ^ w/ Dirty HeadsThe post Jake Owen Reflects On His Decision To Get Sober – “I Was Just A Total Jerk” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The Red Clay Strays are always a class act. Leave it to the band from Mobile, Alabama to take a somber moment and turn it into an uplifting one. The Red Clay Strays wrapped up their 2025 Get Right Tour with a finale in their home state. Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), John Hall (drums), Sevans Henderson (keys), and frontman Brandon Coleman all took the stage of the Orion Amphitheater in Hunstville, Alabama to close out their tour, and celebrated accordingly once they wrapped up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Clay Strays (@redclaystrays) But before they concluded their Get Right Tour, they took a moment out of their show earlier in the night to interact with a sign that a fan was holding up. It was a touching moment during the concert, and was clearly tugging at the heartstrings of Brandon Coleman as he addressed the audience about the contents of the sign: “I got a sign that Andrew brought to me from someone in the audience. It says, ‘It’s my first concert, and daddy’s first birthday in Heaven.’ Well, thank you for letting us be your first concert. I’ll sign this for you too, whoever it is. We weren’t gonna play this song tonight. It’s one of our newer ones. I’m not even sure if we can play it without messing up. We’ll see. This is one of our new songs called ‘Do Today.’ This is for people who’ve lost somebody.” Coleman and The Red Clay Strays then proceeded to break into the unreleased track: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Clay Strays (@redclaystrays) They have actually played the song before out on the road (a fan video of the track was posted back in August when “Do Today” was on the setlist for their Cleveland, Ohio show), but this time around, it perfectly matched the moment. And if you call yourself a fan of The Red Clay Strays, you know that they are all about moments. The lyrics of “Do Today” certainly met the moment that the young fan’s sign brought to the night: “Everyone dies, so the story goes No one’s here to stay So what are you going to do today? Everyone cries Everyone knows, everyone goes away What are you going to do today? Because the sun is calling your name And the stars would love to see you dance again And there’s so much life to live Plenty of words and songs still left to give.” Another great, emotionally-driven song penned by the uberly talented group from Mobile, Alabama. Coleman has stated previously that they make music for a certain type of person, and that their catalogue serves a fanbase that is made up by “a lot of sad” and “a lot of depressed people.” More than anything though, The Red Clay Strays make music that promotes healing and healthy grieving, and no one is doing that better than them. You can see that showcased in the full performance of “Do Today” from their Huntsville, Alabama concert below: Fans will undoubtedly see “Do Today” on The Red Clay Strays upcoming album. In case you missed out on the news, The Red Clay Strays are sitting on a large collection of new music. Thanks to a recent Joe Rogan Experience interview, we know that they’ve got an album coming out in the summer of 2026, and Rogan certainly made it seem like they’ve already got the project put together.The post “Daddy’s First Birthday In Heaven” – Red Clay Strays Perform Unreleased Song “Do Today” For Young Fan Who Lost Their Father first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Ole Timmy Tyler Childers is keeping folks together through his music. Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll are a country music power couple. The two first met in 2015, Bunnie had just gotten out of a relationship, and as she described it, Jelly Roll wasn’t locked down, but did have “hoes in different area codes.” The two eventually crossed paths again when Bunnie Xo went to a Cypress Hill concert that Jelly was opening for, and they officially started talking in February of 2016. Their first kiss was in July (and was actually caught on camera), and according to Bunnie Xo, it didn’t take long after that for the couple to make things official: “Our chemistry was undeniable. We couldn’t keep our hands off of each other, and from then on out, we haven’t left each other’s sides. And a month later, he proposed to me on stage at a Deftones concert in Las Vegas. How f***** rock and roll is that?” Videos shared by Bunnie Xo in the clip below then show them tying the knot Las Vegas style, and it’s incredibly cool to get an inside look at how their romance came to be. And let’s be honest… the only way Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo could have gotten married was in Las Vegas. It was meant to be: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bunnie Xo. (@xomgitsbunnie) While the two are strong and sturdy as a couple, having been together for over a decade, they (like many other folks) have had some bumps in the road along the way. But when you truly love someone, you are willing to fight for them in order to stay together. During Jelly Roll’s recent return to vlogging, he invited Big Mike, Mike Majlak, and Nick Nayersina out to his Tennessee property for a boys’ day filled with four-wheelers, discussions about Jelly Roll’s plan to develop a rehabilitation center on his land, and campfire chats. During their time around the campfire, Jelly Roll was asked how he knew that Bunnie Xo was the woman for him. Jelly Roll’s answer was slightly corny (which he acknowledged) but is also profound. “I hate to be this corny, but do you remember the Tyler Childers record ‘Feathered Indians’? There’s a really close line where he goes: ‘Looking over West VirginiaSmoking Spirits on the roofShe asked ain’t anybody told yaThat them things are bad for youI said, “Many folks have warned meThere’s been several people tryBut up ’til now, there ain’t been nothingThat I couldn’t leave behind”‘ And that line ‘up ’til now, there ain’t been nothing / that I couldn’t leave behind,’ was like the first time I met a woman that when I was really fixing; I thought I was going to lose her forever. It was the first time I really cared about something. I was like, ‘No, no, no.’ Besides my children, I was like. ‘No, I don’t want to lose this.’ And that’s when I knew she was for sure. I never felt that way. Like, I wanted to do whatever it took to repair and reconcile, where normally I was looking for a reason to run. I was looking for a reason to run, not a reason to repair, if you know what I mean. Normally, I was creating conflict in relationships to try and get out of them, you know what I mean? With her, I’m looking for reasons to repair and to keep our relationship strong and to strengthen it. I look as time that I spend with her as like investing time, like I’m investing equity in my marriage. And there is no better investment in my life than my marriage.” I mean, that’s a solid way to look at things when figuring out whether a relationship will last the long haul. Could you or could you not leave it behind? If you need a guiding light in your relationship, fire up some Tyler Childers. It’s only right to turn up “Feathered Indians” after learning it made Jelly Roll want to keep Bunnie Xo in his life, so turn it up while you’re here: The post Jelly Roll Says A Line In Tyler Childers’ “Feathered Indians” Made Him Realize Bunnie Xo Was The Woman For Him first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Who doesn’t love a good cover? Like any genre with roots steeped in tradition, country music is no stranger to covers. From Chris Stapleton redefining David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey” to a new generation, to George Strait launching “Amarillo By Morning” into the stratosphere upon the release of his rendition, you don’t have to look very hard throughout country music’s history to find some shining examples of covers. This is for good reason, of course. Not only are artists shining a light on the works of others, but oftentimes, it serves as a preservation of art that otherwise may have been lost with time. Of course, you have your classics such as the aforementioned “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Amarillo By Morning,” both of which are fairly well known as covers. With that being said, however, there are a plethora of massive, even Grammy-winning hits throughout country music history that are, in fact, reworkings of songs from other artists. Without further ado, here are 20 of the biggest hits in country music history you didn’t know were covers. “Tennessee Whiskey” Original artist: David Allan Coe Popularized by: Chris Stapleton Starting off with one of the most storied and widely known covers in the genre’s history is none other than “Tennessee Whiskey.” Originally recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981, the track was nothing more than a middling single for Coe and peaked at #77 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Two years later, George Jones experienced quite a bit of success with the track, scoring a #2 hit in the fall of 1983. Given the success of Jones’ cover, “Tennessee Whiskey” became synonymous with the Possum. That all changed in 2015, however, when Stapleton made his now-iconic breakout at the 49th CMA Awards. With well over a billion streams on Spotify alone, along with a 17x platinum certification from the RIAA, Stapleton’s version of “Tennessee Whiskey” has now become the definitive version to many. “Hurt” Original artist: Nine Inch Nails Popularized by: Johnny Cash Another incredibly popular and well-known cover, “Hurt” was originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails back in 1995 and even received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 1996. Despite its critical success, NIN’s original version of the song never quite reached the same heights as Cash’s 2002 cover. Cash’s cover, which is now regarded as one of the best performances in country music history, was so good, in fact, that Trent Reznor himself said that the song solely belongs to the Man in Black. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said, “That song isn’t mine anymore.” “Hurt” would go on to win Single of the Year at the 37th CMA Awards and Best Short Form Music Video at the 46th Grammy Awards. “Amarillo By Morning” Original artist: Terry Stafford Popularized by: George Strait Despite being one of the most popular songs in his legendary discography, not only is “Amarillo By Morning” shockingly not one of Strait’s record 60 #1 hits, it’s also a cover. The track was originally written and recorded by Terry Stafford in 1973 before the King would include it on his 1982 platinum record, Strait from the Heart. Though Strait’s version would somehow only peak at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart upon its release, it has remained one of the most recognizable songs in country music history and has been included among the best of all time on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking in 2024. “Always On My Mind” Original artist: Gwen McRae Popularized by: Willie Nelson Widely regarded as not only one of Willie Nelson’s greatest songs, but one of the greatest songs in the history of the genre, “Always On My Mind” was not written by the living legend. The original version was actually recorded by the legendary soul singer, Gwen McRae, back in 1973, before being popularized by the likes of Elvis and Brenda Lee of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” fame. With all of that being said, however, Nelson’s recording was undeniably the most successful version of the song. Not only was it the title track of his legendary 1982 record, it would also go on to receive three Grammy Awards in 1983, as well as two CMA Song of the Year nods in 1982 and 1983. Additionally, his version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. “My Maria” Original artist: B.W. Stevenson Popularized by: Brooks & Dunn “My Maria,” one of Brooks & Dunn’s early chart-toppers, was actually a #1 hit in an entirely different genre. Before the legendary duo made the track a ’90s country staple, B.W. Stevenson’s original would top Billboard’s Easy Listening chart in 1973, a full 23 years earlier. Though Stevenson’s version undoubtedly was a success, Brooks & Dunn’s cover was cemented in history when it won them their second Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Vocal Group or Duo in 1997. “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” Original artist: Vicki Lawrence Popularized by: Reba Widely regarded as one of Reba’s signature songs, “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” has recently received new life due to the virality of Briley King’s recent cover. Though the iconic murder ballad is closely associated with Reba, it’s actually none other than Vicki Lawrence’s song from 1972. In fact, it can be argued that Lawrence’s version was even more successful chart-wise, scoring her a #1 single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart along with a gold certification from the RIAA. With that being said, however, Reba’s cover has remained the most popular version over the past thirty years. “Summertime Blues” Original artist: Eddie Cochran Popularized by: Alan Jackson Often regarded as one of Alan Jackson’s early hits, “Summertime Blues” actually has a long history of being covered by a wide range of different artists. Originally recorded by Eddie Cochran in 1958, it would later be recorded by the likes of The Who, Johnny Chester, Blue Cheer, Rush and even fellow country star, Buck Owens. Though Cochran’s original is widely regarded as a classic rock staple, the “Chattahoochee” singer popularized the song in country music world, scoring a #1 hit with the track on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July of 1994. “Wagon Wheel” Original artist: Old Crow Medicine Show Popularized by: Darius Rucker The history of “Wagon Wheel” is extremely complicated and is worth its own article. Long story short, the song itself was written by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show as an extension of a long-lost Bob Dylan demo that he found. Old Crow’s version of the song is relatively successful, selling over three million units and being recognized as the band’s signature song. Rucker’s version success, however, is not comparable. The “Alright” singer scored a Grammy win for Best Country Solo Performance in 2014. Even more notably, his version sold over 11 million units, making it one of the few country songs in history to be certified diamond by the RIAA. “Cover Me Up” Original artist: Jason Isbell Popularized by: Morgan Wallen To say this song/cover is a controversial topic would be an understatement. For many (including myself), “Cover Me Up” is one of the greatest songs in Jason Isbell’s extensive discography. With that being said, however, many mainstream country listeners know the song better as a Morgan Wallen cover. Regardless of your thoughts on the cover itself, you can’t argue with the fact that Wallen popularized the song to a mainstream audience, being performed at nearly every one of his concerts and retroactively being associated with the “Last Night” singer’s massively successful discography. In fact, his version is so popular that it currently boasts over 579 million streams on Spotify alone, along with a 4x platinum certification from the RIAA. “The Gambler” Original artist: Bobby Bare Popularized by: Kenny Rogers Before “The Gambler” became the most recognizable song in Kenny Rogers’ discography, complete with its own movie series and a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980, the track was written independently by legendary songwriter, Don Schlitz and was first recorded by Bobby Bare. Johnny Cash himself recorded the song just months before Rogers’ version in 1978 but did not receive much success. It was Rogers who truly made the song a classic, eventually scoring the “Islands in the Stream” singer a #1 hit. “Fancy” Original artist: Bobbie Gentry Popularized by: Reba Like “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” “Fancy” is another one of Reba’s most popular tracks that is actually a cover. First released back in 1969 by singer/songwriter, Bobby Gentry, “Fancy” was a success right out of the gate, scoring her a #1 hit on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart and a Top 10 hit here in the U.S. on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. When Reba recorded the song in 1991, the song became a certified country classic. Though her cover of “Fancy” only peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, it has remained one of her most popular songs today and currently boasts a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA. “Dirt Road Anthem” Original artist: Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert Popularized by: Jason Aldean For hardcore fans of both Ford and Gilbert, the fact that Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” was originally written and recorded by the duo seems like a no-brainer. However, casual fans of the song typically do not know that it was recorded back in 2008 by the pair. While at a show together, Ford prompted Aldean to cut a version of the song, and the rest, as they say, is history. Aldean’s cover of “Dirt Road Anthem” went on to go 4x platinum and remains one of his most popular songs among his 30 #1 hits. “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” Original artist: Darrell Scott Popularized by: Travis Tritt Before Travis Tritt popularized the song in 2000, “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” was written and recorded by Darrell Scott on his 1997 album, Aloha from Nashville. Scott’s version would never be released as a single. Tritt’s version peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and has remained one of his signature songs, up there with the likes of “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” and “I’m Gonna Be Somebody.” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” Original artist: Ed Bruce Popularized by: Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” one of the most iconic duets from two of the most influential songwriters in country music history, is surely an original composition, right? Wrong. Though the track has cemented itself as a cornerstone of the two Highwaymen’s respective discographies, it’s actually a cover of Ed Bruce’s 1975 original. Bruce’s version proved to be quite successful, peaking at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in January of 1976. Two years later, however, Willie and Waylon would take the song to new heights. Cementing itself as an important part of the outlaw movement, it would eventually hit #1 on the aforementioned Billboard chart and win Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 21st Grammy Awards. “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” Original artist: Joe Nichols Popularized by: Blake Shelton For many, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” is simply one of Blake Shelton’s 30 #1 hits, being released during the height of his popularity in 2010 before he joined The Voice. What many don’t realize, however, is the fact that none other than Joe Nichols recorded the song first on his 2007 album, Real Things. “Travelin’ Soldier” Original artist: Bruce Robison Popularized by: The Chicks Though “Travelin’ Soldier” is widely recognized as one of the Chicks’ most popular songs, second only to “Wide Open Spaces,” it was actually independently written and recorded by Bruce Robinson in 1996 before the trio released their cover in 2002. Their version would go #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and is currently certified platinum. “Elvira” Original artist: Dallas Frazier Popularized by: The Oak Ridge Boys Appearing on their 1981 album, Fancy Free, “Elvira” has remained The Oak Ridge Boys’ signature song. The song was so successful for the legendary group, in fact, that it netted them a platinum certification all the way back in 1982 (a rare achievement for a single back in the day), along with a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and a Top 5 hit on the all-genre Hot 100. However, the song was originally recorded by Dallas Frazier all the way back in December of 1965, nearly 20 years before The Oak Ridge Boys popularized it. “Ring of Fire” Original artist: Anita Carter Popularized by: Johnny Cash If there’s one song on this list that does not need an introduction, it’s “Ring of Fire.” Getting consistent placement as one of the greatest songs ever recorded across all genres, it’s considered by many to be his signature hit, up there with the likes of “Hurt,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk The Line.” However, it was June Carter, not Johnny Cash, who wrote the song. “Ring of Fire” was first released by June’s sister, Anita Carter, on her 1962 album Folk Songs Old and New, a full year before Cash released his version in 1963 on his compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. “Bless The Broken Road” Original artist: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Popularized by: Rascal Flatts Love or hate Rascal Flatts as a group, there’s absolutely no denying the success of “Bless The Broken Road.” Beyond its position as one of the most commonly used country wedding songs of all time, it also scored them a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, along with a platinum certification. What many don’t know, however, is the fact that another famous country band released the song over a decade earlier. None other than Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, famous for “Fishin’ in the Dark,” actually released the version over a decade earlier on their 1994 album, Acoustic. “Ol’ Red” Original artist: George Jones Popularized by: Blake Shelton Despite being his self-proclaimed “signature song” and even the name of his restaurant chain, Blake Shelton has George Jones to thank for “‘Ol’ Red.” Originally a deep cut on the Possum’s 1990 album, You Oughta Be Here with Me, the track was also recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1993. Though Jones is nothing short of a legend, Shelton’s cover of “‘Ol’ Red” is the most successful version commercially. Beyond the aforementioned restaurant, the song itself scored the “Austin” singer a Top 20 hit and a 2x platinum certification from the RIAA.The post 20 Hit Country Songs That You Might Not Realize Are Actually Covers first appeared on Whiskey Riff.