Behind the song. 49 Winchester fans are looking forward to a big year with lots of new music on the way, but the Virginia-founded band isn’t forgetting about their beloved songs of the past. Closing out 2025,  49 Winchester announced they had signed with MCA Records through their Lucille Records imprint, which is run by producer extraordinaire Dave Cobb, the Chief Creative Officer. No one has put in more work than they have to get to this point, and frontman Isaac Gibson says they’re “thrilled” to be working with Cobb: “We’re thrilled to be joining the MCA and Lucille family. Working with Dave Cobb is a dream, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear the new music we’re creating together.” Chase Chafin, 49 Winchester bassist and co-founder, thanked the fans for all of their support in helping get to this point: “So grateful to the fans and team who helped us build this to where it is today. We couldn’t be more excited for MCA to be the home of future 49 Winchester releases, and to share this next chapter with those who made it possible.” If you’ve been a fan of 49 since their early days, then you know watching their evolution has been nothing short of extraordinary. They are true road dogs, lyrical wordsmiths, and have cultivated a fanbase that is loyal to the bone. And despite how popular they have gotten, they have never strayed far from what makes 49 Winchester 49 Winchester. Recently, lead singer Isaac Gibson revisited a fan favorite from their third studio album, “Hays, Kansas,” offering insight into what inspired the tune. “I wrote ‘Hays, Kansas,’ I was on a cross-country road trip right after I finished high school. Me and my now ex-girlfriend went on a little trip to Los Angeles. We wanted to see L.A., we wanted to see what the West Coast was like. The van that we were in broke down in the middle of nowhere, and so did we, honestly. It was a terrible time. It was one of the worst days of my life. It was stressful. It was hectic. Everything was just kind of going against me, and I decided to write a song, and it was in a little town called Hays, Kansas. That’s where the song came from. It just really stemmed out of, kind of, a moment of despair, honestly. It was another one of those songs that was kind of like our song ‘Tulsa,’ it was a song I kind of wrote to get something off my chest and to make myself feel better. And I feel like a lot of my best songs have always been that way.”   View this post on Instagram The story of how the song came to be captures the feeling of defeat that Gibson sings in the lyrics. From the opening line to the last verse, Gibson soulfully wails that he is fed up with trying and nothing going his way, wanting to fade into the background where he feel like he can finally win for once. “Well, I wanna do good, I’m sick of doing badI wanna have all the things that you’ve hadHoney, like an inability to feel the way that I doWell, I wanna get out of bed on the right foot for a changeI wanna be able to act my own ageBut the liquor keeps throwing a wrench into thingsAnd I feel like going to bed…” It’s been over five years since 49 Winchester put out this tune, and it still slaps. Fire up the live version of “Hays, Kanas” from The Caverns before you go: The post “One Of The Worst Days Of My Life”: 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson Says “Hays, Kansas” Was Written Out Of A Moment Of Despair first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

I need more from this duo. Landman is taking the world by storm with its action-packed plotlines, but just like many other Taylor Sheridan shows, the plot is just part of what makes the show successful. The music is a significant factor in his shows’ success, often highlighting emerging and established country artists. From featuring Zach Bryan to helping Whiskey Myers become a household name, Yellowstone made a show pillar, highlighting the western community beyond ranching through music, and now Landman is following that motto. Sheridan has crafted a star-studded list of artists featured in each season, ranging from the Turnpike Troubadours and the Red Clay Strays to Tanner Usrey and Lance Roark. But this season, the leading man on screen, Billy Bob Thornton, stepped in to help with the music for Season 2. Billy Bob Thornton played a role in the Landman soundtrack, Landman – Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume I). He and Mark Collie, who plays Sheriff Walt Joeberg in the hit series, are credited with helping out on 5 of the 15 songs that are featured on the soundtrack. Thornton had previously said that he had put together songs that were inspired by the show itself, and that he wasn’t sure if they’d ever find a home: “We wrote a couple of songs (that) were kind of inspired by the area, that business world. We’ll see if they end up on anything. And maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but they’re at least there.” But it did not stop there. Billy Bob Thornton teamed up with more songwriters for  Landman – Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume II), further showcasing his songwriting talent. One of the songs he had a hand in penning from Volume II, “Lay Your Heartache Onto Mine,” was released this week, written alongside Jessie Jo Dillon and Carter Faith and was produced by the legendary Dave Cobb. This is not Carter Faith and Billy Bob Thornton’s first time working together, as he starred in her “Bar Star” music video and was the inspiration behind Faith’s single titled after the legendary actor. I have a feeling 2026 is the year Carter Faith blows up, and “Lay Your Heartache Onto Mine” is a strong start for the “Six String” singer. The tragically beautiful song has a Spanish feel, which lends itself perfectly to the male feature, William Beckmann, a Del Rio, TX native with Mexican heritage on both sides of his family. The ballad features a soft melody that lets the heartbreaking lyrics speak for themselves, as Faith and Beckmann embody two star-crossed lovers who drown their sorrows together on the dance floor. “Lay your heartache onto mine Underneath these dance hall lights Play somethin’ slow and country, uh-huh It’s a long, lonely night Send a message in the wine I’d like to think that we’ll be fine Yeah, at least till closin’ time Lay your heartache onto mine” Beckmann and Faith’s lyrics pair perfectly together, and it makes me want to hear more from these two emerging artists. Turn this one all the way up. Landman The Soundtrack And luckily for you, we gathered up all the great country music from Season 1, as well as everything from Season 2 so far, and put it together in one convenient place, available on Apple Music and Spotify. So go ahead and gas up that Landman Soundtrack featuring GREAT country artists like Turnpike Troubadours, Red Clay Strays, Lainey Wilson, Ian Noe, Ward Davis, Zach Bryan, Kaitlin Butts, Shane Smith and the Saints, Treaty Oak Revival, Whiskey Myers, Brent Cobb, and more: Spotify Apple Music The post Landman’s Billy Bob Thornton Co-Writes Tragically Beautiful New Duet From Carter Faith & William Beckmann first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Performing in front of a crowd of thousands? No problem. Saying the blessing at dinner? That can prove to be too much pressure for Kenny Chesney. See? Country music stars are just like us regular folks. Even the great, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Chesney gets nervous when he’s asked to say the blessing at a small gathering. There’s no doubt that saying grace comes with a lot of responsibility, and the “Summertime” singer recently shared that he can barely handle that pressure when it’s put on him. And that’s coming from a guy who has stood on stage in front of 60,000-plus people. Chesney recently joined Rob Lowe on his Literally! with Rob Lowe podcast (what celebrity doesn’t have a podcast nowadays?) and the two chatted about the country music star’s career, how distracting the Las Vegas Sphere can be for performers, his decision to write a memoir, Kenny’s first rejection in music, and much more. After Kenny spoke about going on his book tour and how uneasy he felt talking in front of people rather than singing and playing, Rob Lowe brought up how uncomfortable he can be giving a toast to just 25 people. Chesney agreed, and then added this: “Have you ever been in a situation where you are in a group of 20 or 25 people and someone, before a meal, randomly asks you to say the prayer? Oh my God, that’s so much anxiety (for me), I crumble… I’m not any good at that, at all.” Anyone else relate? There’s just something about praying (Chesney referred to the intimacy of it) that makes it more difficult to do in front of others. But just as artists get more and more comfortable up on stage after playing concert after concert, praying out loud can get easier and more manageable the more you do it. With all the hosting Kenny does down in the islands, you’d imagine he had to bust out quite a few prayers at the dinner table… but maybe not? That being said, it sounds like Chesney and Lowe have more of a problem with being put on the spot with prayer, which can definitely be a jarring experience. You can hear Rob and Kenny go back and forth about it in the interview below: And since I mentioned Kenny Chesney being on stage a lot up there, some might be happy to know that the Knoxville native and leader of “No Shoes Nation” has some concert dates laid out in 2026. It was actually just a couple of days after Chesney was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year that he formally announced he’s headed back to the Sphere this summer in his second residency titled, I Go Back 2026, with five shows running from Friday, June 19 to Saturday, June 27: “I got a little carried away. But after all the guests, all the songs we hadn’t planned on, all the people who came from all over, I just didn’t want to keep it a secret. I knew we were coming back, and if No Shoes Nation had half as much fun as we did, I wanted them to know we’d see them right here next summer. What could be better?” View this post on Instagram Don’t expect a prayer from Chesney before the show…The post “I Crumble”: Why Kenny Chesney Would Rather Play A Stadium Than Pray Over A Family Dinner first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

An exceptional debut album from the young duo. Though it’s still incredibly early in the year, we’ve already seen some killer releases. Undoubtedly, the biggest drop so far was Zach Bryan’s mammoth record, With Heaven On Top. With that being said, we’ve also seen some stellar singles from the likes of some of the most underrated artists in the game, with Kashus Culpepper, Clay Street Union and Southall all living up to the high expectations set for them. Today, however, marks the release of what can only be described as one of the most impressive debut albums I’ve heard in quite a while. This release, obviously, is none other than Low Gap’s Geneva, which was first announced here at Whiskey Riff back on November 28th. View this post on Instagram In case you’re not familiar with the duo, comprised of brothers, Gus and Phin Johnson, they’ve been making waves across many independent country circles for the past few years. When they were in their early teens back in 2021, they burst onto the scene with their debut single, “Mockingbird,” which has since become a cult-classic among their ever-growing fanbase and has scored the siblings well over a million streams on Spotify alone. Since then, Low Gap has become what can only be described as one of the most exciting young voices in the genre, blending the sounds and stylings of their Appalachian roots in both Lexington, Kentucky and Holmes County, Ohio. Working with the likes of Ryan Youmans (producer of Muscadine Bloodline’s Teenage Dixie) and Adam Odor (producer of Silverada’s 2024 self-titled album), the young duo has built up quite a reputation over the years. Flash forward to 2025, Low Gap had themselves quite a year. In addition to opening for the legendary Chris Knight, whose influence can undoubtedly be heard on the record on tracks such as “Cuyahoga River,” the siblings have continued to elevate their sound, which blends some Americana stylings with traditional country elements, with the release of multiple key singles. After catching lightning in a bottle with fellow rising star, Brendan Walter, and scoring their fastest-rising song to date on the infectious, “If A Song Could Change Your Mind,” back in January, the Johnson brothers would follow it up with the likes of “Churches,” “One Mississippi” and “Someone to Call Home,” all of which showcase their brilliant blend of Americana, Red Dirt and traditional influences and appears here on Geneva. What jumps out at you upon your first listen to the album is just how unique and ultimately authentic their sound truly is. As stated previously, Low Gap has roots in both the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky and Ohio. And while it could have been incredibly easy to lean heavily into the popular Americana stylings from the area spearheaded by the likes of Tyler Childers or even West Virginia’s Charles Wesley Godwin, Gus and Phin simply don’t here. While it would be remiss not to note the Americana influences, highlighted primarily by Phin’s brilliant mandolin work throughout the project on tracks like “Someone to Call Home” and the Julia DiGrazia duet, “Beattyville,” the brothers brilliantly blend some downright killer, Red Dirt-inspired tracks on Geneva such as the rambling “Churches” and the sultry ode to their roots, “Cuyahoga River.” Beyond the stellar production present on Geneva, the strong themes of both religion, history and philosophy can all be felt here. Two songs that best represent this would be the pre-released “Ranch Style House” and “Heroes.” As for “Ranch Style House,” it ultimately serves as a push-back against today’s hyper-materialistic, oftentimes gaudy stylings of today’s current social climate and mainstream music in general. Here, the Johnsons muse about living a simple life working a blue-collar job with a wife, kids and a couple of dogs running around in the yard of the titular 70s-style ranch house. Though it may come across as a bit of a trope in the genre, in an era dominated equally by the bombastic stylings of Morgan Wallen and the dark, self-critical nature of Zach Bryan, a perspective like this from a pair of young brothers simply feels refreshing. As Gus explained, “Ranch Style House” was born out of a frustration with the current state of popular music online today. “I’m just sick of music where people are telling you how you should live your life, especially when they’re wrong. Like, yeah, I think having a family’s great and wanting to own a house is a great financial decision for anybody… I’m just very sick of the whole mindset of, ‘Oh man, you’re not living life unless you go move to LA.’ It’s a celebration of simplicity in a way, just pushing back on hustle culture.” Though “Ranch Style House” is a standout simply due to its existence in direct opposition to today’s culture, the lyrical standout of Geneva is undoubtedly “Heroes.” Similarly, the track also serves as a contrast to a lot of maximalism found in both pop culture and music in general. Opening up the song brilliantly, Gus muses about all of his heroes, ranging from Keith Whitley and Hank Williams to Lane Frost and Dale Earnhardt, all died young. And early in the song, he ponders going out in a blaze of glory, noting that the infamy might get him a shot at some radio play. However, this is Low Gap we’re talking about. Instead of playing on any tropes many young country artists would lean on, from playing into the “good die young” cliche or simply wanting to live like the legends before them, alternatively, they reject this notion and focus on living to see the next generation succeed. “There’s a lot more to this life than stardom I can start building up for the next It’ll be even better than expected Just old enough to contemplate death” It’s not often you see a group as young as Gus and Phin offer up a collection of songs that not only carry on strong instrumentation found in both the Appalachian and Red Dirt scene but also challenge you to look at the world from a different perspective. With that being said, however, that’s exactly what they do here on Geneva. In an era filled with seemingly thousands of young artists trying desperately to latch on to trends and pray for a viral moment, Low Gap proves that all you need to create a meaningful collection of songs is simply staying true to your roots and offering up a unique perspective on life. Simply put, Geneva is a record that demands your attention and will ultimately go down as one of the best debut albums of the year when the dust has settled. “Heroes” “Ranch Style House” “Say a Prayer” Low Gap Tour Dates January 22 – Columbus, Ohio – Rumba Cafe January 23 – Cleveland, Ohio – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern January 24 – Newport, Kentucky – The Southgate House Revival January 29 – Louisville, Kentucky – Zanzabar January 31 – Nashville, Tennessee – The Basement February 12 – Lexington, Kentucky – The Burl February 14 – Toledo, Ohio – Ottawa TavernThe post Low Gap Delivers Heartfelt Ode To Appalachian Roots In Stellar Debut Album, “Geneva” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

This is our birthday gift to Dolly Parton, who turns 80 years old on Monday (Jan. 19). Continue reading…