I don’t know about you, but I’m digging this new Breakfield era so far. In case you missed it, after 15 years with the name, Boy Named Banjo announced the difficult decision back in September that they’d be changing the band name to Breakfield, ushering in a new era for the Nashville-based bluegrass-turned-Americana quartet. Originally formed by childhood friends and now signed to Rounder Records, they released the first single “Canyon Walls” under the new moniker back in October, and followed that up last month with another one in “Ever-Loving Mind.” Now, the band is keeping the momentum going with “Darker Out Tonight,” the third single off of their forthcoming self-titled album produced by Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Morgan Wade, Drayton Farley). Written by founding band members Barton Davies and William Reames, along with some co-writing help from Vaden, “Darker Out Tonight” is a thoughtfully penned tune about finding the light amidst a difficult breakup, conveying a notion of hope that proves to be a core theme throughout this new record. Davies provided some helpful insight into the new track. “‘Darker Out Tonight’ was inspired by a close friend of outs. On the surface, it’s about a broken relationship coming to an end. Though at its core, it’s not just another breakup song. To me, it’s always been about finding the glimmer of light when it feels like darkness is settling in. In this case, it’s the feeling of finally being free, which is the same feeling that this entire record emanates as a whole. Musically, we let it build and stretched it out further than we ever have. It became one of the most poignant, emotional, and exciting songs we’ve ever written.” With that in mind, give “Darker Out Tonight” a listen here: In recent years, Mike and the Moonpies rebranded to Silverada, and Read Southall Band shortened their name to Southall. Both bands seemed to continue without a hitch in the giddy up, per se, and Breakfield should be no exception. The fact of the matter is that most bands grow unsatisfied with the name they chose when they first get started, and although a full rebrand is risky, it may be worth a shot. And Breakfield had the gumption to do it. If you like what you’ve heard from Breakfield so far, make sure to catch a show on their first tour with the new name if they’re coming to a city near you. I’ve had the privilege of catching these guys live, and they put on amazing show. I’ll be catching them in Charlotte myself and can’t wait to hear these new tunes live. Breakfield Tour Dates 4/18 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL 4/23 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC 5/7 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN 5/9 – Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA 5/15 – The Atlantis – Washington D.C. 5/16 – Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY 5/23 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VAThe post Breakfield Finds Hope In A Difficult Situation With Latest Single “Darker Out Tonight” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Today we got our first look at the 2026 class of inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This morning, the Hall announced that Tim McGraw was this year’s inductee in the Modern Era category, while bluegrass legends The Stanley Brothers were (finally) chosen as the Veteran Era inductees, and songwriter Paul Overstreet was named this year’s choice for the Songwriter category, which rotates every three years with the Touring Musician and Non-Performer categories. The Hall of Fame inducts only three members every year, which means that there’s a long waiting list of deserving artists to eventually be granted country music’s highest honor. And in recent years, the Hall of Fame has seemingly tried to right some past wrongs by announcing some long-overdue inductions like Keith Whitley, June Carter Cash, and Hank Williams Jr., along with this year’s induction of the Stanley Brothers. The Modern Era category in particular, though, has quite a few glaring omissions. While Tim McGraw and last year’s selection of Kenny Chesney are obviously worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame, there are several artists who have been around quite a bit longer than both of them who are still waiting for the call from the Hall. The category is open to artists 20 years after they first achieved national prominence, which means that there’s a whole slew of ’90s country artists who are eligible and deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame. And in the Veterans Era category, which is for artists 45 years after reaching national prominence, there are quite a few notable names who haven’t yet been selected. Part of the problem (I guess it’s not really a problem as much as it is an unfortunate side effect) is the fact that there’s only a single inductee from each category every year, when there are so many deserving artists every year who become eligible. You can’t put them all in at the same time, but that means that the waiting list grows longer – and the omissions become more glaring over time. With so many deserving artists still waiting on their time to come, here are 10 names who should be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame: 1. Dwight Yoakam Perhaps the most glaring omission from the Modern Era category, and somebody who I would argue should have been inducted before the last two artists who were chosen. Yoakam released his debut album in 1986 and reintroduced the honky tonk “Bakersfield Sound” to the genre by following in the footsteps of artists like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. His distinctive voice is instantly recognizable, and hits like “Guitars, Cadillacs” and “Honky Tonk Man” are modern day classics. It probably hurts his chances that Yoakam only has two #1 singles in his career (which is crazy to me), but with nearly 30 million albums sold and as a pioneer who paved the way for the return of neotraditional country music in the ’90s, it would be criminal to leave Dwight Yoakam out of the Hall of Fame. And make no mistake, I think he’ll eventually get in, but it should be while he’s still around to be honored in person. 2. Travis Tritt One of the most influential artists of the ’90s and a member of the groundbreaking “Class of ’89,” Travis Tritt revolutionized ’90s country with his gritty, southern rock sound. He’s won two Grammy awards, four CMA Awards, and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992, while scoring 5 chart-topping singles and selling over 30 million albums. Travis may have turned some voters off in recent years with his outspoken nature, criticizing the state of country music and sharing his political opinions, but ultimately none of that should matter: He’s undeniably a country music legend and deserves to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. 3. Alison Krauss When it comes to the popularity of bluegrass today, there’s maybe no artist to thank for that more than Alison Krauss. She released her banjo and fiddle-soaked debut album in 1987, at a time when country music was still largely comprised of the “Urban Cowboy” sound of the 1980s with artists like Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers and Reba McEntire. While many artists from that time are considered traditional country legends today, back in the ’80s their sound pushed country music further towards pop than it had been, arguably, at any time since the “Nashville Sound” of the 1950s. Krauss, though, chose to go in a different direction, and built a legendary career out of her bluegrass roots. Along with artists like Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart, Krauss paved the way for a whole new sound to gain a foothold in mainstream country music, and fit in perfectly alongside the neotraditional revolution of the ’90s. She’s won an incredible 27 Grammy awards, was inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and has frequently been featured as a collaborator with some of mainstream country music’s biggest stars – including her newest feature alongside Luke Combs on his brand new album, proving her longevity in an industry where artists often have short shelf lives. 4. Clint Black Another member of the famous Class of ’89 who revolutionized country music in the ’90s, Clint Black scored an incredible 13 chart-topping singles and was one of the best-selling country artists of the decade. He had hits on the charts into the 2000s, and though he’s been absent from the charts for a while now, it’s impossible to overlook the impact that songs like “Killin’ Time,” “A Better Man,” and “Nothin’ But the Taillights” had on the sound of country music for an entire decade. 5. Martina McBride Martina McBridge is another legend of the ’90s, with hits like “Independence Day,” “A Broken Wing,” “My Baby Loves Me” and more leading the way for a group of iconic female artists. Among them, though, it was McBride’s powerful voice that stood out among the crowd, and earned her 14 Grammy nominations and 6 CMA Awards. She’s also been named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year four times, the second-most nominated artist in the category and third winningest. With a voice that helped define a decade, it’s hard to argue that Martina McBride doesn’t belong in the Country Music Hall of Fame. 6. Lorrie Morgan While her numbers may be lower than some other inductees, Lorrie Morgan has still sold over 8 million albums and scored 3 #1 singles since the release of her 1989 debut album Leave the Light On. She’s also served as an ambassador of sorts for her late husband Keith Whitley’s legacy, and has been named CMA Female Artist of the Year three times. Lorrie Morgan has firmly cemented herself as an iconic artist of the ’90s, and deserves her spot in the Hall of Fame at some point – even if there are likely several others in front of her in line. 7. Tracy Lawrence When it comes to radio success in the ’90s, there aren’t many artists ahead of Tracy Lawrence. With his traditional country sound and reverence for the history of the genre, Lawrence was a standard bearer for the neo-traditional country sound of the decade, and even in 2026 he’s still releasing music that’s true to that sound. Tracy has over 13 million albums sold, 18 #1 singles in his career, and several more signature songs that surprisingly never topped the charts. With hits like “Time Marches On,” “If The World Had A Front Porch” and “Alibis,” it’s hard to overstate the impact that Tracy Lawrence had on country music in the ’90s, and in 1996 he was one of the top 10 played artists on the radio in ANY genre. For some reason he’s often overlooked as a legend of the genre, but behind Garth Brooks there may not be another artist who defined the ’90s more than Tracy Lawrence. 8. Johnny PayCheck Moving to the Veterans Era category, while Johnny PayCheck may have only had a single #1 song in his career with “Take This Job and Shove It,” his influence on country music goes far beyond just his own success as an artist. He was a defining figure of the “outlaw country” movement of the 1970s, and also served as a session musician and background vocalist for legendary artists like George Jones. PayCheck is often credited with influencing the vocal style of George Jones and Merle Haggard, along with dropping 30 of his own studio albums that featured hits like “She’s All I Got,” “Old Violin” and “The Lovin’ Machine.” While he may not have the #1s of some other inductees, his outsized influence on the look and sound of country music should be more than enough to warrant induction into the Hall of Fame. 9. Earl Thomas Conley One of the most successful artists of the 1980s, ETC scored an incredible 18 #1 singles, with 16 consecutive solo singles between 1983 and 1989. He was third in chart-topping singles of the 1980s, behind only Alabama and Ronnie Milsap, while also setting a record as the first artist of any genre to have four #1 singles from one album. He was also a prolific songwriter, with hits being recorded by Conway Twitty, whose single “This Time I’ve Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me” became Conley’s first hit as a songwriter, and even Blake Shelton, who got the ETC-penned “All Over Me” into the top 20 in 2002. If there’s ever a resumé that’s worthy of the Hall of Fame, it’s Earl Thomas Conley. 10. David Allan Coe David Allan Coe has released 42 studio albums containing hits like “The Ride,” “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Longhaired Redneck,” and of course, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” Emerging in the 1970s alongside figures like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, Coe helped define the outlaw movement in rejecting the polished sounds of Nashville in favor of raw, unfiltered storytelling. As a songwriter, it’s hard to deny the impact that his music has had on the genre, and though some of his more controversial music may give voters pause, it’s a glaring omission to leave him out of the Hall of Fame.The post The Wait Continues: 10 Artists Who Deserve To Be In The Country Music Hall Of Fame first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Vince Gill didn’t love the idea of playing at the Trump-Kennedy Center… but the country music legend went through with it for his friend. Late last year, the Kennedy Centers Honors event aired on CBS, and the King of Country Music – George Strait – was there to be recognized alongside other cultural icons like the rock band KISS, movie star Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor. It was a real who’s who. The Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. is the site for the annual Kennedy Center Honors event that inducts a new group of artists and entertainers each year. The living memorial to President John F. Kennedy (that recently tacked on Donald Trump’s name to the building as well) hosts the event that has honored many notable country acts over the years, including the likes of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones and many others. This year, the country music representation at the awards ceremony was the one and only George Strait. You probably saw the viral moment that he and President Trump shared in the Oval Office ahead of the ceremony. That turned into its own sort of spectacle, but what many people were looking forward to was the actual honoring of the notable figures that took place at the Kennedy Center later on. Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill all took the stage to honor the “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” singer. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, Gill admitted that when he was asked to help honor Strait, he admits that he was hesitant to say yes because… well, Donald Trump. Podcast host Joseph Hudak asked Vince Gill if he had to think about saying “Yes” to performing at that event, and here’s what he had to say: “Of course I did. I don’t have very much respect for the kind of person you’re talking about it. I’m not a political guy. I’m not gonna run somebody down, and it’s not my way to do that. I met the man twice and was completely uninspired, you know? I just can’t fathom treating people that way on any level.” It’s interesting that he never chooses to actually say President Trump’s name… but there’s no confusion as to who he’s referring to when he called him “the man.” Gill made sure to back up those thoughts with clarification on how he thinks politically. The “Go Rest High On That Mountain” singer doesn’t like political labels, and said that though you can call him whatever you want to, he considers himself to be in the middle of the road: “I’m a conservative guy on a lot of issues. I’m a liberal guy on a lot of issues. I don’t think I sit one way. You can call me woke, you can call me a Bible thumper. You can call me all those things and I think a lot of them are true. But I don’t think you have to just sit in one lane and only be in that lane. I think every issue has pros and cons and right and wrongs and what’s maybe best for everybody.” But back to saying yes to the Trump-Kennedy Center event. Ultimately, Vince Gill decide to push his disdain for the President of the United States to the side and prioritized his relationship with George Strait – whom he’s known for over four decades. He knew that the moment was about George’s legacy, not anyone else’s, and went through with his attendance and performance at the event: “That was a hard, ‘Yes.’ But George has been my friend for 43 years. And I did it for George. But I’m also… I’m not gonna try to make a point. I’m not gonna try to encourage anybody else to think like I do. You don’t see me out that rattling my opinion, and the moment you do, you piss half the people off, right away. And it’s not because I’m afraid, it’s my make up as a person. It’s not part of my DNA to draw attention to myself… I want people to be kind to each other. That’s what I love seeing. On both sides of the world, both sides are equally as ugly to me, and deserve a good bit of the reason why it is the way it is. Kindness would cure it all.” He went more diplomatic towards the end there, but you can watch the full conversation below: The post Vince Gill Says He Doesn’t Have Respect For “Completely Uninspiring” Donald Trump, But Still Played The Kennedy Center Honors: “I Did It For George” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Out of all the “what if” stories in country music, Keith Whitley and his tragically short career have to be one of them. After getting his start in bluegrass with the Stanley Brothers and Ricky Skaggs in the 70s, he would move to Nashville in 1983. Shortly after, he’d release two albums, L.A. to Miami and Don’t Close Your Eyes, and score five #1 hits, including the likes of “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.” Just when he was on the brink of superstar status, however, tragedy struck, and Whitley passed away at the age of 34 in May of 1989. Of course, this was due to his well-documented struggle with alcohol addiction. Undoubtedly, his tragic death sent shockwaves throughout the entire genre. He had an enormous impact on country music with his neo-traditional sound in the same style as newcomers (at the time) like Strait and Randy Travis. And his sound has continued to influence generations of country artists since his passing, with many of today’s biggest stars citing Whitley as one of their biggest inspirations. Despite his relatively short career, he’s remained one of the most celebrated artists in the genre, and he’s going to be receiving his very own documentary soon. Back in December 2024, it was announced that Blake Shelton was teaming up with Lucky Horseshoe Entertainment and Anomaly Content & Entertainment (ACE) to produce a documentary on the life and influence of Whitley. Shelton shared the announcement on Instagram, saying he’s “honored” to help bring the film to life, with archival footage from the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as Whitley’s wife, Lorrie Morgan: “Keith Whitley released only three albums during his life, but his music has influenced generations of country music artists. I’m proud and honored we get to bring his incredible story to film. The documentary will feature extensive archival footage from the Country Music Hall of Fame and personal collections from Lorrie Morgan, providing a rich tapestry of Whitley’s life and career. It will also explore the small town of Sandy Hook, Kentucky, where Keith grew up, and include reflections from Lorrie as she navigates her own career while honoring his memory.” View this post on Instagram At the time, Shelton and Morgan were confirmed to produce the documentary with Zach Heinzerling, an Academy Award-nominated director renowned for his work on acclaimed projects like “Cutie and the Boxer” and “McCartney 3,2,1,” set to direct the film. With that being said, however, over the past year, there have been little to no updates regarding the film. That all changed last night. After performing Jason Aldean’s “When She Says Baby” during the Georgia native’s 31 #1 hits celebration at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2026, Shelton was asked about the documentary for the first time in over a year. Thankfully, he would confirm that it is still in the works and note how it’s the “most exciting” thing he’s gotten to be a part of in quite some time. “We’re still working on this Keith Whitley documentary, and that’s been the most exciting thing that I’ve gotten to be a part of in a while. I’ve got to do some cool things.” The “Austin” singer would also dive into how eye-opening the whole process of making the documentary has been. Highlighting the well-documented struggles that both Whitley went through during his life and Morgan went through after his tragic death, Shelton would note that the documentary aims to bring a whole new light to their lives. “When you start learning what his life was like and what a struggle it was and the demons that he had and what it was like for Lorrie to navigate that… she had to deal with a lot of rumors and things like that. And even years later, she’s had to deal with that. When you start seeing it from the inside, it just brings a whole new light to it.” As of now, there are still no further updates about a potential release date/timeframe. With that being said, however, it’s incredibly encouraging to hear that the documentary is still in the works. Given the immense amount of influence Whitley has had on multiple generations of country artists over the years, it’s long overdue. Before you go, listen to Whitley’s first #1 hit, “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” The post Blake Shelton Confirms Keith Whitley Documentary Is Still In The Works: “The Most Exciting Thing I’ve Gotten To Be A Part Of In A While” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Have you listened to Colton Bowlin’s new album yet? If not, you need to drop what you’re doing and press play on it ASAP, because he may have just released one of the best albums of the year. It’s definitely one of the best so far, at least. Titled Grandpa’s Mill, the 12-track record is the soundtrack to the 21-year-old Bowlin’s upbringing and coming of age in his hometown of Albany, Kentucky, where his life was often centered around family and his grandfather’s feed mill where he spent quite a bit of time working and learning about life from him and his buddies. When Bowlin’s grandfather passed away just over a year ago, and his family decided to sell the business, it only seemed right to dedicate an album inspired by the people, stories, and circumstances that shaped him into the man he is today to his grandfather. And Grandpa’s Mill was the result. Taking on a nostalgic tone as the young artist reflects on these memories, he manages to set the scene clearly and paint a picture for the listener with imagery-laden lyricism and captivating storytelling. Though rooted in his own experiences with the Bluegrass State as the backdrop to his life, the universal nature of the underlying themes and sentiments conveyed through Bowlin’s songwriting – such as love, family, and mortality – is sure to resonate with listeners no matter where they reside. Sonically, the album covers some serious ground from singer-songwriter balladry, to honky-tonk country, to hard-driving rock and roll, but it all fits together in a cohesive manner bound together by Bowlin’s deft lyricism and unassumingly powerful vocal prowess. Distinctly his own while showing glimpses of similarity to today’s stalwarts like Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, and even the Red Clay Strays at times, it makes perfect sense that he collaborated with legendary producer David Ferguson to bring these songs to life. Best known for his work on albums like Childers’ Purgatory and Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, Ferguson has been an influential contributor on many of Kentucky’s most iconic projects, and his steady hand behind the boards helps elevate Bowlin’s vision here without ever overshadowing it. From love songs to murder ballads, and plenty of songs in between that all draw back to his late grandfather’s mill, Colton Bowlin’s latest album proves he is wise beyond his years with loads of songwriting and vocal talent that demands the attention of country music fans everywhere. Give the album a listen and see for yourself here: Here’s a few early favorites: “Clinton County” “Time for Sale” “Dirty River” “State Lines” “Grandpa’s Mill” Bowlin’s got a run of tour dates with Benjamin Tod on the schedule later this spring, and a slew of festivals lined up as well. If he’s coming to a city near you you’re not going to want to miss it, so check out his tour dates below. Colton Bowlin Tour Dates 4/18 – Roswell Music Festival – Roswell, GA* 4/26 – The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA^ 4/28 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA^ 4/30 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT^ 5/1 – The Mishawaka – Bellevue, CO^ 5/2 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO^ 5/4 – Madrid Theatre – Kansas City, MO^ 5/5 – Gillioz Theatre – Springfield, MO^ 5/7 – The Bluebird – Bloomington, IN^ 5/8 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH^ 5/30 – Bash in the Bend – Gadsden, AL* 6/6 – Railbird Music Festival – Lexington, KY* 6/12 – Laurel Cove Music Festival – Pineville, KY* 6/13 – Braves Country Fest – Atlanta, GA* 6/27-6/28 – Rock the Country Sioux Falls – Sioux Falls, SD* 7/11-7/12 – Rock the Country Ashland – Ashland, KY* 7/31-8/1 – Boots in the Gorge – Oak Hill, WV* 8/8 – Ghost Town Music Festival – Grove City, PA* 8/9 – Rock the Country Hastings – Hastings, MI* 9/19 – Born & Raised – Pryor, OK* *festival date ^supporting Benjamin Tod & The Inline SixThe post Colton Bowlin Reflects On Life Growing Up In Kentucky With Spectacular Sophomore Record ‘Grandpa’s Mill’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.