Round two coming soon? After a huge 2025, which included scoring his first #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “High Road” and capturing iHeart Radio’s #1 country song of 2025 with the track, it was clear that 2026 was primed to be a huge year for Koe Wetzel. He’d start the year by teasing a new album with the simple caption, “Ready for this new chapter to start.” The “February 28, 2016” singer would then follow that up with a brand new song to close January, the reflective “Time Goes On.” Adding more fuel to the fire after confirming a new album was coming in the summer, Wetzel would then plot a massive, 45-city headlining tour, featuring the likes of Shane Smith & The Saints, Ole 60, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Wade Bowen and more. With a tour that extensive, the final step was to finally announce the album. Luckily for dedicated fans of the Texas rocker, he finally released his sixth studio album, The Night Champion, on June 12th. Teaming up once again with Gabe Simon, who produced 9 Lives, The Night Champion ultimately felt like a natural progression for Wetzel, who has undoubtedly changed a lot over the past few years after getting married to Bailey Fisher and becoming a father. View this post on Instagram Just two weeks after the record was released, the “Drunk Driving” singer expanded The Night Champion with five brand new tracks, including standouts such as “Ronnie Ray” and “Rolling & Smoking” and an additional two tracks with two unknown features, which have yet to be announced. With that being said, however, Koe has been dropping some major easter eggs that point to none other than Ella Langley being one of the highly-anticipated features. Last week, the Texas native began teasing a brand new track. It all started when a billboard popped up in Nashville, along with a number that, when called, would automatically play the song. Over the weekend, he’d confirm the song is titled “Jaded,” uploading a promo video with the simple caption, “Stay tuned.” View this post on Instagram If you take a look at the #7 track on the aforementioned deluxe edition of The Night Champion, it appears that both “Jaded” and “Ella Langley”can very well fit in the blurred segments. Of course, that alone isn’t enough evidence to truly confirm the “Choosin’ Texas” singer’s presence on the track. With that being said, however, Wetzel took to his Instagram story earlier today to drop the biggest easter egg regarding Langley to date. In a brief video with “Jaded” playing in the background, a red phone can be seen being picked up with Shiner Bock beer in the background — two key pieces that directly tie back to Langley. As for the red phone, that one should be fairly simple, given the fact that it was used heavily in both the promotion and music video for her #1 hit, “Be Her.” View this post on Instagram As for Shiner Bock, the timing couldn’t be more convenient. Last week, Wetzel took to his Instagram story to thank Langley for sending him a care package from the popular Texas beer company. And in case that wasn’t enough, Shiner Bock would officially confirm that the “Loving Life Again” singer would be releasing her very own line of beer, Dandelion Honey Kolsch. Of course, the two teamed up back in 2023 on the now certified-gold track, “That’s Why We Fight,” and all signs point to the fact that they will be running it back incredibly soon on “Jaded.” And with both artists being much more popular right now than they were at the time, a second collaboration has #1 hit written all over it for the two stars. “That’s Why We Fight” Koe Wetzel Tour Dates Aug. 6 | Bonner Springs, Kan. | Azura Amphitheater Aug. 7 | Evansville, Ind. | Ford Center Aug. 8 | Nashville, Tenn. | Bridgestone Arena Aug. 12 | New York, N.Y. | Pier 17 Aug. 13 | Reading, Pa. | Santander Arena Aug. 14 | Gilford, N.H. | BankNH Pavilion Aug. 19 | Boston, Mass. | Leader Bank Pavilion Aug. 20 | Washington, D.C. | The Anthem Aug. 21 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Petersen Events Center Aug. 26 | Buffalo, N.Y. | Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B Aug. 27 | Cleveland, Ohio | Wolstein Center Aug. 28 | Rochester Hills, Mich. | Meadow Brook Amphitheatre* Sept. 3 | Austin, Texas | Moody Center Sept. 4 | Baton Rouge, La. | Raising Cane’s River Center Sept. 5 | Bossier City, La. | Brookshire Grocery Arena Sept. 10 | Knoxville, Tenn. | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center Sept. 11 | Greensboro, N.C. | First Horizon Coliseum Sept. 12 | Wilmington, N.C. | Live Oak Bank Pavilion Sept. 17 | Alpharetta, Ga. | Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Sept. 18 | Columbia, S.C. | Colonial Life Arena Sept. 19 | Richmond, Va. | Virginia Credit Union LIVE! Sept. 24 | Pikeville, Ky. | Appalachian Wireless Arena Sept. 25 | Huntsville, Ala. | The Orion Amphitheater Sept. 26 | Brandon, Miss. | Brandon Amphitheater Sept. 30 | Rogers, Ark. | The Walmart AMP Oct. 1 | North Little Rock, Ark. | Simmons Bank Arena Oct. 2 | Tulsa, Okla. | BOK Center Oct. 3 | Wichita, Kan. | INTRUST Bank Arena Oct. 8 | Chicago, Ill. | Salt Shed Fairgrounds Oct. 9 | Fishers, Ind. | Fishers Event Center Oct. 10 | Milwaukee, Wis. | Fiserv Forum Oct. 28 | Morrison, Colo. | Red Rocks Amphitheatre Oct. 30 | Lubbock, Texas | Cook’s GarageThe post Is Koe Wetzel Teasing Another Collab With Ella Langley? All Signs Point To Yes first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Tate McRae finally decided to address the absurd backlash she received from her own fans after she collaborated with Morgan Wallen on his I’m The Problem album. Last year, when it was discovered that the pop star was working on a song with the country music superstar, many quickly labeled her as “MAGA Barbie” and condemned the Canadian singer for associating herself with Morgan Wallen. McRae has a knack for riling up her own insufferable fanbase, and teaming up with the “Last Night” singer (as well as dating a Team USA hockey star) really got under the skin of her fans. They even called the “You Broke Me First” singer “MAGA” and “Tate McRae-cist” after she collaborated with Wallen. And there was no part of McRae’s fanbase that was happy that her and Morgan’s song, “What I Want,” debuted at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. They were too busy being blinded by rage. In a recent interview with Variety, McRae finally addressed that whole ordeal, and shocker, her fans are STILL mad that she won’t come out and denounce all thing MAGA and Morgan Wallen. She first mentioned that she tries to not pay too much attention to things online anymore. When the backlash fired up in 2025, the pop singer admitted that she was surprised… and she continues to be shocked when rumors and speculation about her are drummed up online: “I’m always shocked by how much people speculate and talk about things. It’s really scary. So I try not to read it, and let it drift off into the wind.” It was hard to let all of the noise surrounding her collab with Wallen “drift off into the wind” in 2025, and McRae says she eventually realized that her fans didn’t determine her worth as a person. That was up to how she carried herself, and not dependent on fan perspective. Thus, when she was asked about “What I Want,” she responded by saying that her fans should get a good idea of who she is through the things she supports and the energy she puts forth: “I like to say my piece through organizations I support and the environment that I have on tour… I think it’s pretty obvious what kind of person I am and the things I support. And I hope that my fans can see that through the things that I’m putting my energy towards.” Fair enough. But much likely Sydney Sweeney and her American Eagle jeans ad, these people don’t want a rational explanation, they want to hear her apologize and denounce her collab with Morgan Wallen (even though he’s never made a single political statement in his entire career). Next to Trump Derangement Syndrome, Morgan Wallen Derangement Syndrome might be just as common. And that’s why her answer to Variety wasn’t good enough… and they made it known in the comments: if you can’t openly say “i am not maga” something is not right. she doesn’t wanna piss off her conservative fanbase lol — popcultureangel (@lohanisgod) August 3, 2026 She just indirectly said she supports maga. And this bitch is Canadian. Now I know what she dated that hockey player with the jacked up teeth. pic.twitter.com/fbvwUm4kZr — The Audacity of Society (@TheAudacity_26) August 3, 2026 girl its clearly not obvious where you stand if people are fucking asking just say if you’re maga or not — carmie (@carmiieexo) August 3, 2026 She’s so MAGA — La Bruja Medusa (@labruja_medusa) August 3, 2026 then just say it? honestly used to like her till she wouldn’t say if she was MAGA or not.. like it’s morals and your dignity on the line and you’d rather be “rumored” at MAGA… weirdo pic.twitter.com/xE28Rtk9lZ — rain (@ilovearedflag) August 3, 2026 The whole ordeal that stormed up with Wallen and McRae could be categorized as “people always have to have something to be mad about.” After all, the only people who were offended that the pop star worked with Morgan Wallen were her own fans. Country music fans – who can be very protective of their genre – didn’t mind the collab at all. And as far as the song’s success was concerned, it debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Outside of the firestorm that was brought on by McRae’s fans, “What I Want” was all that Wallen and McRae could have hoped for. That being said… I wouldn’t be surprised if the pop star keeps her distance from Wallen from here on out, just so she doesn’t anger her own fanbase. “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae The post Tate McRae Finally Addresses “MAGA” Accusations After Morgan Wallen Collab & Her Fans Are STILL Complaining About It first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Ben Chapman isn’t afraid to call out some of the Nashville artists that both don’t know country music history and tend to put forth “phone in” records. The “Don’t You Dare” singer sat down with us on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast and discussed his favorite places in Nashville, how it’s been to watch Music City change in his lifetime, and how he and his wife – fellow artist Meg McCree – juggle music and raising their little one. Chapman also touched on the music that helped shape who he is, having Channing Wilson as a mentor, and his latest album, Feet On Fire, being called “funky tonk.” Ben also talked about how he approaches songwriting, trying to have songs that jam but avoiding being a “jam band,” and his concern that no cool music will be made in 20 years. Why is he worried about that? Well, Chapman thinks a lot of modern artists are making “phone in” records, and he thinks some of the young artists out there don’t know the history of country music: “I feel like more people should be nerds about country music… there’s a lot of people that don’t know the history of country music, in this town doing music. I don’t know how you do it if you don’t know the history behind it. I’m not saying you have to go and read the country music encyclopedia, and I’m not saying you have to know every person who ever did country music. But it is good to hear some of those legendary songwriters, and legend songs.” Chapman kind of sees it as the “School of Country Music.” How could you make music and add it to the genre if you don’t have some knowledge on the foundation that country is built on? The “Out In The Country” singer also feels as though there’s not as much passion in some of the music that’s coming out of Nashville. As a big Beatles fan, Chapman always appreciated how much creative freedom the group had from album to album. With some artists in country music, he feels like they are just making the same record over and over again: “I’m not knocking any of these artists, because they are all bigger than me and they have more fans than me, and they always will. But I feel like in Nashville, there’s a lot of phone-in records. A lot of people make the same record over and over again. Which if I’m making millions a year, and people are expecting that of me, how could you not fall into that trap?” @whiskeyriff @Ben Chapman #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff You can hear about all of that and more from Ben Chapman by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff.” We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post Ben Chapman Calls Out Nashville Artists For Making “Phone-In” Albums: “Same Record Over & Over” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The fans weren’t having it. Over the weekend, Luke Combs wrapped up his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour at Wembley Stadium in London, which has been a massive success this year. Since kicking off back in March, Combs has broken a staggering four different attendance records both here in the U.S. and across the pond, setting Ohio Stadium’s (97,367), Lambeau Field’s (51,981), and Neyland Stadium’s (92,045) record for highest-attended concerts. Additionally, the “Hurricane” singer would set the record for the largest country music crowd ever in the Nordic region, with 60,826 fans at his July 4th show in Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. On all fronts, 2026 has been a heck of a year for him, as back in March, he dropped his “I’m back” project – the high-energy The Way I Am album, and it was pretty clear that he was, in fact, back. The album would debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, selling 101,000 equivalent units in its first week. Additionally, it debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, The Way I Am marking his seventh Top 10 record on the all-genre chart. And as tradition has bee particularly during the European leg of this tour, Combs brought out a special guest during “1, 2 Many,”, which is when he shotguns a beer right after that line in the song where he talks about it. In Scotland, for example, he brought out Outlander star Sam Heughan, but English soccer legend and former Chelsea captain, John Terry, didn’t receive such a warm welcome during the first night in London… When Combs revealed Terry to be the special guest for that night, fans reportedly greeted him with resounding boos, and it’s not all that surprising considering the soccer star’s controversial past. While Terry is a former England captain, Chelsea legend, and arguably one of the best defenders of all time, he was been accused of racial abuse against Anton Ferdinand, a defender for Queen’s Park Rangers, which reportedly occurred during a 2011 match which led to a high-profile legal trial. Terry was ultimately cleared in criminal court, but he was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by the Football Association, and roughly six years before that, he was accused of having an affair with the ex-girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel, of his former teammate, Wayne Bridge, though he and Perroncel have always denied the allegations. Needless to say, he is not very well-liked in London, so it was kind of surprising to see Combs bring him out, though I have to imagine, as an American, he probably doesn’t know too terribly much about all of that. Combs’ fan page shared a video of Terry and Combs shotgunning, where Terry fittingly kicked the can into the crowd after he was done: “And the kick is good! Shoutout to John Terry for joining Luke onstage at Wembley Stadium for night 1. Any guesses for night 2 & 3?” You can kind of hear some booing in the video, but honestly, it’s definitely not as overwhelming on there as it seems to have been in person: View this post on Instagram Fans in the comments were not having it, though, and many of them stated that the boos were incredibly loud and “immense,” and that they believed the sound on this video had been heavily edited so you couldn’t tell how much he was really booed: “This is confirmation to not believe everything you see on the internet…. The chorus of Boos for John Terry was considerably louder than the cheering this clip would have you believe… very odd choice of guest. The show was SPECTACULAR though.” “The sound on this is definitely edited, I was there Friday night and when John Terry came out it was the loudest the stadium had been that night of everyone booing him. He literally left the stage immediately after.” “The entire stadium booed. Sound editor ain’t fooling anyone.” “I was there last night too and myself and everyone around me were super confused why JT was there … and the boos were so so loud – he must have felt so awkward!!!” “Nah this has to have been edited because there was more boos than cheers. Luke was amazing but I died of secondhand embarrassment for John Terry.” “The boos were immense.” “Not the dubbed cheers over the boos.” “The boooos were LOUD.” “What a PR disaster this was!” “He got boooed.” “Give the sound editor a raise.” Yikes… sounds like Niall Horan, farmer/television personality Kaleb Cooper and Luke’s wife, Nicole, were much safer options when they were the chosen shotgunners the next night: View this post on Instagram The post English Soccer Legend, John Terry, Met With Resounding Boos At Luke Combs’ London Show: “Loudest The Stadium Had Been That Night” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Health — especially mental health — is the most-cited reason for why artists are taking time off the road in 2026. Continue reading…