After Adam Sanders won 'The Road,' judge Keith Urban leaned in and whispered something he won’t soon forget. Here’s what he said — and what’s next. Continue reading…

Almost as if it was meant to be. Though it didn’t quite reach the meteoric heights of Riley Green and Ella Langley’s recent smash hit collaborations, “you look like you love me” and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” there’s absolutely no denying the success of Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s “I’m Gonna Love You” over the past year. Since its release on September 27, 2024, as the lead single off Johnson’s deluxe edition of Leather, the track has already racked up an impressive 99.5 million streams on Spotify alone en route to a Top 10 spot on both of Billboard’s country charts, Hot Country Songs (#7) and Country Airplay (#3). Additionally, it’s been shown quite a bit of love at the award shows, scoring nominations for Music Event and Visual Media of the Year at the 60th ACM Awards as well as Musical Event and Music Video of the Year at the 59th CMA Awards. With all of that being said, “I’m Gonna Love You” has been nothing short of a smash for both Johnson and Underwood, but there was legitimate chance the song never saw the light of day (at least for the “‘Til You Can’t” singer). During a recent conversation with RFD-TV for an episode of On The Record, Johnson would reveal that the road to recording the song was actually quite convoluted. When asked about collaborating with the “Before He Cheats” singer, he’d confirm the fact that Underwood was the first and only option as a duet partner for the song before also noting how much his daughters love her music. “I don’t know why. You know, God makes everything happen for a reason. My daughters love Carrie’s music, and I’ve been listening to her since her very beginning. But me, if I’m driving down the road in my the truck, I’m listening to old Merle Haggard and stuff like that. So there’s a lot of new artists that I find out like, ‘Oh, I  didn’t even know that was them,’ because I stay so glued to the old classics.” Johnson would then reveal that, at the time, “I’m Gonna Love You” was on hold for one of the track’s co-writers, Travis Denning, and amazingly was already pitched to Underwood once before he had even heard the song. “The first time I heard the demo, it was on hold for Travis Denning, one of the writers, and that didn’t work out. I didn’t know that Carrie had gotten the song, and it was talked about and then it didn’t work out. I said, ‘Where did that song go for Leather?’ Then we got it, and I said ‘Carrie Underwood.'” The Texas native would finish by confirming that he was so dead-set on Underwood’s appearance on the track that he was debating scrapping the recording entirely if she passed on it, noting how gracious she was to accept the song after passing on it the first time. “There were some other people in the room that named a few other female artists, a few of the artists I have a good friend/personal relationship with. And I love them, but I just heard Carrie. In my head, I just knew it’s gotta be Carrie. If it’s not her, I just don’t know if I’m gonna cut it. And being the second time that song came into her life, she was gracious enough to say yes.” Completely passing on a song with so much potential as “I’m Gonna Love You” had at the time without one specific artist was certainly a gamble for Johnson, but it turns out it was a pretty damn good one in the long run. Watch the full podcast here: Watch their performance of “I’m Gonna Love You” at the 58th CMA Awards here: Cody Johnson Tour Dates February 6-7 – Birmingham, Alabama – Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex February 13 – Champaign, Illinois – State Farm Center February 14 – Louisville, Kentucky – KFC Yum! Center February 27 – Winston-Salem, North Carolina – LJVM Coliseum February 28 – Columbia, South Carolina – Colonial Life Arena March 6 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – PPG Paints Arena March 7 – Baltimore, Maryland – CGF Bank Arena March 22 – Houston, Texas – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo March 28 – Little Rock, Arkansas – Simmons Bank Arena April 10 – Bossier City, Louisiana – Brookshire Grocery Arena April 24 – Indio, California – Stagecoach May 2 – Clemson, South Carolina – Death Valley (Clemson Stadium) May 9 – Des Moines, Iowa – Casey’s Corner May 30 – Rosemont, Illinois – Allstate Center July 11 – Cavendish, Prince Edward Island – Cavendish Beach Music Festival July 17-18 – Columbus, Ohio – Nationwide ArenaThe post Cody Johnson Says He Didn’t Want To Record “I’m Gonna Love You” Without Carrie Underwood: “In My Head, I Just Knew It’s Gotta Be Carrie” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

When “Trigger” is done, Willie Nelson is done. There may not be a more famous guitar in the music world than Willie Nelson’s trusty Trigger. The living country music legend has played the same Martin six-string since 1969. And the story of how he originally got it – and how much he paid for it – only adds to the lore that surrounds Willie Nelson. While Willie was still cutting his teeth in the industry in the late 1960s, his go-to guitar was ruined by a drunk and disorderly fan. Willie was playing gig at the John T. Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas, and suddenly was in need of an instrument to go up on stage with. Nelson without a guitar is like peanut butter without jelly… they’re fine separately, but there’s some real magic that happens when they’re together. As the story goes, Nelson caught wind of a beautiful Martin guitar nearby that was for sale for $750. That might not seem like a lot for a guitar in the modern day, but back in 1969, that was equivalent to over $5,500. Safe to say that it was a steep price for Willie to pull the trigger on (pun intended), but he did it, and boy oh boy what an investment it turned out to be. If you spread out the investment over all these years later, his trusted, reliable guitar comes out to be about a $13 a year investment. And that’s not even figuring in the countless songs that Nelson has penned and played with trigger, undoubtedly bringing in a much larger return on investment. The fateful day that Willie Nelson bought the guitar, he named it after Roy Roger’s horse “Trigger,” and from that moment on, the country singer made sure the instrument wasn’t ever too far out of reach. Nelson even saved it from a house fire that destroyed every one of his belongings… except for Trigger and a pound or so of weed that the “Red Headed Stranger” had stashed away. Now, Nelson and his guitar are almost synonymous. It’s one of the most famous guitars in all of music (if not the most famous one), and other artists recognize how special the six-string is. Billy Strings recently talked about how special it was to play a song on the guitar. Though “Trigger” is undoubtedly important to Willie’s career, Bill Frisell (and other musicians) told The New Yorker it’s Willie’s touch with the instrument that makes the difference: “You can hear the sound of his voice in what he’s playing. If I gave him one of my guitars, it would sound like Willie Nelson. It wouldn’t sound like me.” So there’s evidently some synergy with Willie Nelson and the old, battered-but-beautiful guitar. In case you didn’t know, guitars can last for decades. Higher end guitars have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years with regular play and proper maintenance. The best of the best have been known to last half a century. Willie’s beloved “Trigger” is now 56 years old. If you’ve seen a picture or video of the instrument as of late, it’s beat up… and it’s looked like that for quite some time. But there’s no doubt that Willie takes good care of it, and the 92-year-old artist says that the day his guitar gives out, he’ll likely walk away from music altogether: “When Trigger goes, I’ll quit.” It’d certainly be sad to see “Trigger” retire, but it’d be even harder to accept Willie Nelson hanging it up… even as he enters into his mid-90s. Then again, guitars can usually be repaired… maybe that’s Willie’s way of saying he’ll tour until he dies. Regardless, it’s clear that he has so much love for his guitar, one that’s been in his life across six decades, that it would be hard for him to imagine a music career without it. Willie’s connection with Trigger (they’ve known each other for 56 years) is indisputable, and Trigger’s significance in the fabric of country music history is hard to put into words. Willie and Trigger have been together for a long, long time… and here’s to hoping that their relationship continues to flourish for years to come. @willienelsonI’ll always pick you, Trigger♬ Still Not Dead – Willie Nelson The post Willie Nelson Reveals The One Thing That Will Make Him Quit Music first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Farmer Wants a Wife star Colton Hendricks surprised fans by quietly tying the knot. Just months after going public with his relationship, the Season 3 farmer got married in a weekend ceremony surrounded by family and friends. Continue reading…

Another week, another stellar round of editions to the Landman soundtrack. Landman is officially back for Season 2, which kicked off a few weeks back with the season premiere, and I won’t get into any spoilers on this blog, but we’re 6 episodes deep right now and the show is getting GOOD. Cartel bosses, major corporate wheeling and dealing, love stories, family drama, and brand new characters. Sam Elliott has showed up for Season 2, and we’re getting much more prominent screen time from a couple Oscar-nominees, Andy Garcia and Demi Moore. But at Whiskey Riff, we’re all about the soundtrack from Taylor Sheridan and Music Supervisor Andrea von Foerster, and they picked up right where Season 1 left off with some off the best that country music has to offer. Season 2 has featured Turnpike Troubadours, Cody Jinks, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Charley Crockett, Whiskey Myers, George Strait, Drayton Farley and more. Landman Soundtrack Sometimes it can be difficult to notice every song that is featured in the show especially when you’re trying to focus on the plot, but we tracked down every country song featured so far this season, and put them conveniently into a nice little list, and the complete playlist to go with it. Featuring every song from Season 1 and everything so far from Season 2, it’s a must-listen. Check it out: Episode 1: Death And A Sunset 1. “Nothing You Can Do” – Turnpike Troubadours 2. “Game I Can’t Win” – Charley Crockett 3. “The Devil Plies His Trade (Sn6 Ep3)” – Turnpike Troubadours 4. “Cowboy Friends” – Ella Langley 5. “Wyoming”- Benjamin Tod Episode 2: Sins of the Father 1. “Bitin’ List” – Tyler Childers 2. “Cheers to Disagree” – Hunter Hicks 3. “Gettin’ By (Far Out West Sessions)” – Flatland Calvary Episode 3: Almost A Home 1. “Ramblin'” – Red Clay Strays 2. “Do It To Myself” – Tanner Usrey 3. “Taking The Long Way” – Larry Fleet 4. “What’s Going On In Your World” – George Strait 5. “Touch & Go” – Drayton Farley Episode 4: Dancing Rainbows 1. “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” – Georgia Satellites 3. “Hard Luck and Circumstances” – Charley Crockett 6. “Time Bomb” – Whiskey Myers 8. “Wasting Time” – The Red Clay Strays Episode 5: The Pirate Dinner 1. “Winner At Losing” – Gavin Adcock 2. “One For The Road” – Hunter Hicks 3. “No Way Out” – The Jack Wharff Band 4. “Drink That Strong” – Channing Wilson 5. “Big Bad Heart” – Lance Roark 6. “Grease” – Lainey Wilson 7. “Heaven Sent” – The SteelDrivers Episode 6: Dark Night of the Soul 1. “Ruby Ann” – Turnpike Troubadours 2. “Hang Your Head Down Low” – Vincent Neil Emerson 3. “Be Here” – Turnpike Troubadours 4. “I Ain’t Drunk Enough Yet” – Madeline Edwards 5. “Black Powder” – Luke Grimes 6. “Lost Highway” – Cody Jinks 7. “It’s Called Doubt” – Drayton Farley 8. “Snakes In Tall Grass” – Hunter Hicks 9. “All Around Cowboy” – Charley Crockett 10. “Nothin’ But Texas” – Wade Bowen 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’ The Soundtrack: Every Country Song Featured In Season 2 So Far, & The Playlist To Go With It first appeared on Whiskey Riff.