She is quite a character. Landman’s second act is set to release this Sunday, on November 16th, almost exactly a year after the show’s first season. The star-studded cast of Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, Sam Elliott, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, and Michelle Randolph will return for Season two of the beloved show, and I’m sure it will be just as wild as the first season… Taylor Sheridan knows drama, that’s for sure. The second season’s official synopsis implies that a boiling point will be reached one way or another as Thornton’s crisis executive and “fixer” Tommy Norris will certainly be forced to put out some fires: “As oil rises from the earth, so do secrets – and Tommy Norris’s (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble – it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break.” Of course, Thornton, who plays Tommy Norris, is an absolute star and makes the show what it is, but his on-screen wife/ex-wife, I guess, Ali Larter, who plays Angela Norris, is easily one of the best characters too, in my humble opinion. Apparently, what you see on-screen is pretty accurate to their real life friendship, and of course, Angela isn’t known for her modesty or for being a shrinking violet… it’s what many of us love about her, she puts it all out there in every sense of the word, but as you can imagine, her son, who is 14 years old, isn’t so sold on her, understandably so. During an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Ali revealed that while her family might not love watching her play Angela because of her obvious, um spiciness, her two kids (she also has a 9 year old daughter) understand that their mom has to work to afford to give them the life that they have: “Well, it’s definitely not the easiest for my son, my heart goes out to him. But he loves the perks of what I do, and that’s for sure. And you know, my kids, it’s really important for me that when they’re older, they understand that I’m a working mom because I love what I do. And if my daughter decides there’s something she wants to do, I want her to do that, and then you spend the quality time together. But you shouldn’t give up your dreams just because you feel like you need to stay at home with your children. For some people, that’s amazing, and I respect that, but that wasn’t the right route for me. And when I really kind of explain that to them, and they see, first of all, the joy that I get, but this is our life. This gives us our life. I have to work, you know? And luckily, I love what I do. And it’s fun for the kids, truthfully, they come onto set.” I mean, I don’t think any of us would want to watch our moms act out some of the scenes that Angela is in… but then again, there a lot of hot moms out there. Teenage boys have been teased about their hot moms since the beginning of time. Ali just happens to be on a hit Taylor Sheridan show. Larter joked that her husband doesn’t watch Landman either, and she really feels for him, her son and even her dad when it comes to some of Angela’s scenes: “He doesn’t watch it either. My family is just like, he’ll laugh at it, and then he’s like, ugh. It’s a lot for them. Even my dad. My son, my dad, my husband… those poor guys.” She’s got a point… luckily the rest of us can enjoy every bit of it on their behalf: @cbssundaymorning What does Ali Larter’s family think of her @Landman ♬ original sound – CBS Sunday Morning This Sunday can’t come soon enough… The post Ali Larter Says “It’s A Lot” For Her Son, Husband, & Dad To Watch Some Of Her ‘Landman’ Scenes: “Those Poor Guys” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

One of the few times he’s tried to play the radio game. As an avid Eric Church fan, I’ve always had this theory that he doesn’t really like his song “Love Your Love the Most.” To be clear, he’s never said as much (at least not that I’ve seen), but it’s just always the impression that I’ve gotten from Church as he talks about that time in his career. The song was released in February 2009 as the first single from his second studio album, Carolina. It was a modest hit, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and eventually being certified Platinum by the RIAA. But compared to Church’s previous singles like “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines” and “Guys Like Me” from his debut album Sinners Like Me, you can see how this one was different. Rather than the bombastic statements he makes about who he is in “How ‘Bout You” or “Guys Like Me,” or the taboo topic of teen pregnancy addressed in “Guys Like Me,” “Love Your Love The Most” is a saccharine checklist ballad not unlike many of the hits on the radio at the time. And in fact, that’s what he was going for when he wrote it. During a 2016 interview with the BBC, Church was asked about “Love Your Love the Most,” and you can almost see him cringe to think about it as he admits that he was trying to write a radio hit: “That was one of the ones in my career – that was a rough time in our career because we got to a point where we had to have a radio hit, in my opinion, to continue to have a record deal. So that was my attempt to write what was being played on the radio. It’s been interesting since then. I don’t play it a lot anymore. It’s one of those songs that, it’s got lines that are very much me. I do like Faulkner books, and stuff that’s weird like that. I do like mustard on my fries.” When you realize that Church was trying to write the song for radio, it makes much more sense than the song otherwise would in his catalog: As Church pointed out earlier in the same interview, country music at the time was largely female-driven, with ballads and love songs dominating the charts. (Or as he puts it, it was “soccer mom” country). But Church has never really been one to play the radio game, or write a song just to have a hit. Which brings me back to my theory that he doesn’t really like the song, or at the very least wouldn’t record it today if he had it to do over again. As Church mentioned, he rarely plays the song in concert. He did break it out recently during his three-night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater this summer, but in introducing the song he said something that made me seem to think I was onto something with my theory that he doesn’t care for the song: “I promised my younger self I would never do two things: One, I would never cover ‘Sweet Caroline’ at Red Rocks. And two, I would never play this song at Red Rocks. So I suck at keeping promises to myself.” He’s also said that Carolina is the only album that he’s ever compromised on, because he felt like he had to in order to save his career. I have a feeling that “Love Your Love the Most” is one of those compromises he’s referring to… And maybe it’s not fair to say that he doesn’t like the song. Maybe he doesn’t feel it was as authentic as the rest of his music that he released, both before and after Carolina. In fact, after “Love Your Love the Most” and one more single from the album (another song that he doesn’t play live much called “Hell On the Heart”) Church threatened to walk away from his record label if they didn’t release “Smoke A Little Smoke” as a single. Maybe seeing the reaction to “Smoke A Little Smoke” from his fans proved to Church that he was right to follow his instincts rather than try to write a song like “Love Your Love the Most” to chase a radio hit. Regardless, the song is still a popular one among Church fans – even if my theory’s correct and he’s not a big fan of it himself.The post Eric Church Says “Love Your Love The Most” Was His Attempt At Trying To Write A Radio Hit To Save His Career first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Ragweed fans can’t stop winning. 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. However, time heals all wounds, and eventually, Cody Canada felt like the stars were aligning for them to give it another go and get the band back together. Canada explained on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast: “I was ready to put down that discomfort. It wasn’t a great breakup, but nobody died… nobody killed anybody. We were just overworked at 30 years old with brand new babies on the ground. We should have said nicer things, and I’m a very stubborn person, and so are the rest of the guys. So we just didn’t talk for 15 years. We started the ball rolling very secretively. Our booking agent and our accountant got together with the other two guys and said, ‘What do you all think?’ And one of the other guys said, ‘I’ve been sober for 10 years waiting for this.’ That’s a green light. So we all signed NDA’s.. I 100% admit that I can’t keep my mouth shut when I’m excited about something. So we signed NDA’s and made it a surprise, and we slowly started unveiling it.” This past year 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 this morning, this time in Athens, Georgia. View this post on Instagram Announced this morning, Cross Canadian Ragweed will once again team up with the Turnpike Troubadours for another concert in Athens, Georgia, at Akins Ford Arena on February 28th. Unlike previous shows, which featured an all-star cast of artists from both Texas and Oklahoma, the Athens show will only feature support from Turnpike and the severely underrated Texan singer/songwriter, Shelby Stone, pointing to a slightly smaller-scale concert compared to the large cast of supporting acts featured in previous “Boys From Oklahoma” shows over the past year. Presale sign-ups start today, November 14th, and will end on Tuesday, November 18th, at 5 p.m. CST. Presale will open on November 20th at 10 AM CST, with general onsale opening on November 21st at 10 a.m. CST. If you don’t want to take my word for it, Ragweed themselves warned fans of low ticket quantities once general sale opens up. If you want to see Ragweed take on Athens, you’ll have to act fast.The post Cross Canadian Ragweed & The Turnpike Troubadours Announce “The Boys From Oklahoma” Show In Athens, Georgia first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Let’s just say, it’s quite complicated. Waylon Jennings and the Country Music Association have quite a history. And if you don’t know about their colorful relationship and are a fan of country music history, or even history in general, it makes for a pretty interesting story. Waylon was nominated for 29 CMA awards throughout his career, and won four of them. It sounds like a pretty low number to most of us I’m sure, but there’s a reason for that… several reasons, actually. Of course, being the true outlaw that he was, Waylon never really cared if he won or lost anyways, which is what led to a lot of the friction between the two parties. In 1970, Waylon had his first real run in with trouble in terms of the CMA’s, which involved him leaving before his performance of his 1968 hit “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” because he was told he would need to cut it short. As he recalled it in his his 1988 autobiography, Waylon: An Autobiography: “One year I’d stormed out of the awards and didn’t mind telling anyone who would listen why. It was Kris Kristofferson’s night… he was a shoo-in for several categories. I had been scheduled to perform ‘Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line.’ They said they were strapped for time, and they wanted me to cut the song to one verse and chorus. I said, ‘Why don’t I just dance across the stage and grin? Maybe do one line. That’ll give you a lot of time.’ They told me to not get smart. Either I did it or I got out. They said, ‘We don’t need you.’ I decided that was true, and I left.” But that beef was far from over… The 1975 CMA Awards In 1975, Waylon was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year, and he won the award for Male Vocalist of the Year. But this time, it was different, because the CMA needed Waylon a lot more than he needed them. Pretty much as soon as Waylon walked into the show with his wife, Jessi Colter, his manager Neil Reshen told him that Jessi didn’t win anything, and as you might guess, Waylon was ready to leave… Jessi insisted that they stay, and Waylon explained his frustrations in his autobiography further: “So much for secrecy. If nobody’s supposed to know the awards before they opened the envelope, how did word get around? My heart went out to Jessi, and though my first instinct was to get the hell gone, I thought that maybe by staying I could raise some of the larger problems that faced country music, such as its closed mindedness and suspicion of change.” And when he finally took the stage to accept the Male Vocalist of the Year award, he kept it very short, and not so sweet, saying simply in his iconic speech… “Thank you, they told me to be nice, I don’t know what they meant by that. Thank you.” Classic. They’re luckily it wasn’t much, much worse than that, to be honest. But as you can imagine, it didn’t end there… later, Waylon was presented the Citation of Merit for his nomination for Album of the Year while on his tour bus in some sort of ceremonial gesture, not long after this show happened. They have the artist who receives the nomination sign the certificate as proof it was received, along with CMA officials, though Waylon was already upset with their antics, and he took this opportunity to express his displeasure in a very obvious way. This was also at the height of his career during the country outlaw movement in the mid 1970’s, if that gives you any context. When they handed him the paper to sign his name, he left his signature and then some, writing: “**** you.” Right at the top of the paper, with his signature underneath it. The guy who now owns that certificate shared even more about that story on Facebook a little over 10 years ago now, where he also revealed that Waylon apparently threw it on the floor after signing it. File this who fiasco under something that would NEVER happen in 2025, and that’s partially why it is one of my all-time favorite Waylon stories. They just don’t make artists like this anymore, and it’s incredibly sad to think that we will never have another Waylon Jennings: The relation between Waylon and the CMA Awards was pretty icy for many years, understandably there was bad blood on both sides, but Waylon did eventually return to the CMA Awards on better terms, though, and around a decade after the whole 1975 debacle, Waylon got back onstage in 1984 for a (full-length, of course) performance debuting his song “America.” If he ever had any bad blood between Waylon and the CMA Award, you’d never know it here: As is evidenced many times over history and his storied, legendary career, you just didn’t mess with Waylon Jennings… and if you did, there was hell to pay, and usually, it was very much deserved. If you’ve never seen that 1975 Entertainer of the Year acceptance speech, you’re in for a real treat… God Bless Waylon Jennings: The 2025 CMA Awards will air live next week from the Bridgestone Arena on November 19 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC with Lainey Wilson taking over as solo host this year. The big show is just under a week away now, and it’s a pretty solid group of artists who will be taking the stage throughout the evening, from Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert to the Red Clay Strays and Zach Top. You can see the full list of nominees HERE.The post Waylon Jennings Famously Signed His 1975 CMA ‘Album Of The Year’ Certificate With A NSFW Phrase first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Revisiting a red dirt classic. Suppose you’re a fan of the cornerstone artists of red dirt music? In that case, the odds are high that you are familiar with Jason Boland & The Stragglers’ famed songs like “Pearl Snaps” or “Somewhere Down In Texas.” Jason Boland, of course, is the Oklahoma native who calls Texas home and has been a mainstay in the Red Dirt music scene for over 20 years with his group, Jason Boland & The Stragglers. The group has a beyond-impressive catalog, with their most recent LP, The Last Kings of Babylon, marking the band’s 11th studio album and coming more than 25 years after the release of their iconic debut project, Pearl Snaps, in 1999. While the music the legendary group is creating today is well worth listening to, there is something about the songs on that debut project that proved Boland would be a timeless staple of the red dirt scene. So timeless that new artists are revisiting these tunes and breathing new life into them two decades after their release. Flatland Cavalry is putting their spin on “Somewhere Down In Texas,” and this is a reimagination I never knew I needed. “Somewhere Down In Texas” is a gorgeous fiddle-driven song about no matter how big the storms of life can get, the sun is always shining somewhere in Texas, and there’s always a place to keep him warm there. Keeping the fiddle focus of the original cut, the West Texas-founded band brings their stylings to the tune without changing the integrity of the original recording. Cleto Cordero’s vocals share the same sincerity as Boland’s, delivering the lyrics with a slightly somber yet hopeful tone, knowing that there is a woman who brings sunshine into his life in Texas. “When I get tied down by the ties that bindSeem like I’m never gonna find the timeTo do what I needAnd that’s to find me a place where I can thinkTalk about love, and laugh and drinkAnd there’s someone there who cares ‘Cause no matter how big it stormsI know I can find me a place that’s warmThe sun is shinin’ somewhere in TexasMm-hm, I hope it’s shinin’ on herSomewhere down in Texas” “Somewhere Down In Texas” was a perfect cover choice for Flatland Cavalry, given the similarity in their band’s sound and the original recording. You can’t blame these Texas boys for passing up a good fiddle tune that highlights their beloved Lone Star State. Good on Flatland for shining a light on this red dirt classic. Twenty-six years after Boland released this tune, the lyrics still ring true. Check it out: And while you’re here, fire up Jason Boland & the Stragglers’ version as well: Flatland Cavalry Tour Dates November 22 – St. Petersburg, Florida – St. Pete Country Fest 2026: February 6 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena February 8 – Christchurch, New Zealand– Wolfbrook Arena February 11-12 – Boondall, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre February 14 – Newcastle, Australia – Howin’ 2026 February 16 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena February 19-20 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena February 22 – Adelaide, Australia – Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena Jason Boland & The Stragglers 2025 Tour Dates: 11/14 – Bakersfield, CA – Barrelhouse Brewing Company 11/15 – Mesa, AZ – Roosters Country 11/21 – Bryan, TX – The Palace Theater The post Flatland Cavalry Releases Stellar Cover Of Jason Boland & The Stragglers’ “Somewhere Down In Texas” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.