The country music community lost a great one today. Bluegrass great, country hit songwriter, and frequent Chris Stapleton collaborator, Ronnie Bowman, tragically passed away today, March 22, 2026, following a motorcycle accident in Nashville. He was 64 years old. Born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman was raised on the “high lonesome” sounds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Like many in the country music world, he got his start in music at a young age singing Gospel music and hymns at various local churches. He began his professional journey in the late 1980s with The Lost & Found, but his breakout moment in the genre came when he joined the Lonesome River Band in 1990. Alongside bluegrass greats Sammy Shelor and Dan Tyminski, Bowman worked to become in integral part of the bluegrass scene in the ’90s. Their 1991 album, Carrying the Tradition, became a landmark recording, winning the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Album of the Year. Solo Work and Songwriting As a solo artist, Bowman’s smooth yet soulful voiced earned him the IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year award three times (1995, 1998, and 1999). His solo albums, particularly Cold Virginia Night and The Man I’m Tryin’ to Be, are must-listen albums for any bluegrass fan. And while his voice made him a star in bluegrass, his pen made him a legend in Nashville. Bowman became one of the most sought-after songwriters in country music, frequently collaborating with the great Chris Stapleton on a number of hits, including the Kenny Chesney Hit “Never Wanted Nothing More.” He’s also wrote a number of songs that Chris himself cut, including “Outlaw State of Mind,” “Nobody To Blame,” “It Takes A Woman,” among others. He also has cuts with Marcus King, Jake Owen, Brooks and Dunn, Cody Johnson, George Strait, and more. Ronnie Bowman was more than a singer and a songwriter… he brought eras together, a quintessential pillar of bluegrass history that connect the legends of old… and the modern day stars of today. Country star and bluegrass aficionado, Dierks Bentley, shared some pretty powerful words following the passing of his friend, including a great personal story that is truly emblematic of the kind of guy Ronnie was: “Going to take awhile for it to sink in that Ronnie Bowman is gone. He was the favorite bluegrass and country singer of everyone I know. And he was everyone’s favorite hang. So many memories come to mind of my earlier days hanging out with him and the Station Inn and bluegrass pals here, but one that just came to mind was at the inaugural Delfest. My wife loved Ronnie’s song “It’s Getting Better All the Time” (which Brooks and Dunn cut.) Obsessed really. And while she was sleeping in a bunk on the bus, I went and found Ronnie and asked him if he would come serenade her! He came up on the bus with his guitar, snuck back into the middle bunk section which is very dark, hit the first chord and “I don’t stop breathing every time the phone rings….” Imagine sleeping and all of a sudden you hear someone who’s voice you love but hadn’t met, singing your current all time fav song, six inches away from your head on the other side of a bus bunk curtain, in the pitch dark. Shock and confusion followed by tears and laughs. It was the sweetest thing to do, and that’s just how he was. Listening to that song takes on a whole new meaning now. Can’t imagine what Garnett, his family and all his close friends are feeling right now. Thoughts and prayers for them, and for all the RoBo fans out there, as he’s affectionally referred to in my band. We all loved him.” View this post on Instagram Our condolences to his family and friends, I have already seen eulogies come in from stars like Dierks Bentley, as well as Alison Krauss and others, and it’s only a matter of time before many more pour in as well for someone as beloved as Ronnie. RIP Ronnie… you will be greatly missed. The post Bluegrass Great & Hit Country Songwriter, Ronnie Bowman, Dead At 64 After Tragic Motorcycle Accident first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

You’d think they would know who Luke Bryan is in his home state. But apparently, Eric Church was recently mistaken for the “Country Girl Shake It For Me” singer ahead of a show in Georgia. Church was in Atlanta this weekend for a stop at State Farm Arena on his Free the Machine Tour. And obviously Church has spent plenty of time in the area over the course of his career. But maybe he needs to make a few more stops in the Peach State, because as he revealed during his show on Friday, he was still mistaken for Luke Bryan: “I was reminiscing with some people at soundcheck tonight. They were down at Wild Bill’s, if you remember that one. They were down at Wild Bill’s, they begin to tell me this progression of songs that I had played that night. I started realizing that all those songs belonged to another artist. And I thought, ‘Do I tell ’em?’ Or do I tell ’em that they have me confused with someone else? So I didn’t tell ’em that I wasn’t Luke Bryan. I love Luke. But if you’re here tonight, we’re not gonna do “Country Girl Shake It For Me.” Well, we could.” Brutal. Of course Church and Luke are good friends: Last year, Eric even stepped up at the last minute when Luke was forced to pull out of three festivals due to vocal issues. Despite not having his full band, Church filled in for Luke and delivered three incredible acoustic performances. @q104kc Eric Church performed acoustically in Bonner Springs as he is filling in for Luke Bryan at Country Stampede @_scarlett.oliv1a_ #kansascity #ericchurch ♬ original sound – Q104 Kansas City Luke and Eric even teamed up back in 2012 when they joined Jason Aldean on his single “The Only Way I Know.” But as far as similarities in their music go…well, that song’s pretty much where it ends. I can’t imagine Church singing about country girls shaking it for him, and I definitely couldn’t imagine Luke singing about “smoking a little smoke.” Not sure how anybody got those two mixed up… If you haven’t caught Church on his Free the Machine Tour though, one of the best parts is when he shares stories like this of the cities he’s playing in. Of course he came up in the music industry playing rock clubs and much smaller venues than he’s playing now, so returning to these cities and hearing the memories of those days when he was still an up-and-coming artist is something special. But Atlanta wasn’t the only time that Church wasn’t recognized on this tour: Last year during a show in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Chief decided to go undercover at his own show to see if he could walk around the arena without being recognized – and it worked: @ericchurch Chief went undercover in Grand Rapids… would you have recognized him? ♬ original sound – Eric Church Maybe that’s why he was mistaken for Luke Bryan in Georgia: They didn’t recognize him without the sunglasses. Free the Machine Tour Remaining Dates: Mar. 27 || Hollywood, Fla. || Hard Rock Live || Kashus Culpepper Apr. 3 || Greenville, S.C. || Bon Secours Wellness Arena || Ashley McBryde Apr. 4 || Charlotte, N.C. || Spectrum Center || Ashley McBryde Apr. 10 || Jacksonville, Fla. || VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena || Ashley McBryde Apr. 11 || Tampa, Fla. || Benchmark International Arena || Ashley McBrydeThe post Eric Church Was Mistaken For Luke Bryan Before His Show In Atlanta: “Do I Tell ‘Em?” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

He helped shape the sound of bluegrass for decades — both on stage and behind the scenes as a songwriter. Continue reading…

Combs' opening night outsold the 2024 Super Bowl, plus previous concerts at Allegiant Stadium from Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Morgan Wallen. Continue reading…

That’s how you do it. It’s been a big weekend for Luke Combs: He kicked things off by dropping his sixth studio album, The Way I Am, and last night he opened his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour by setting the attendance record at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. By the time openers Thelma & James, Ty Myers and Dierks Bentley had finished their sets, 70,921 fans had packed into the home of the Las Vegas Raiders, breaking the attendance record previously set at the stadium by Riyadh Season’s TKO boxing match headlined by Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford. View this post on Instagram That June 2025 fight drew 70,482, breaking the record previously set by Garth Brooks of 68,000 on his stadium tour stop in 2021. Luke debuted a new “in the round” stage setup on this tour that featured a stage in the center of the field with four catwalks allowing him to venture further out into the crowd and perform to every corner of the arena. @churro_obsessed Luke Combs stage set up is 360° #mykindasaturdaynight #lukecombs ♬ 鍵穴の外 – yasuhiro soda And when he took the stage in front of the record crowd, he ripped through 28 songs, including 7 songs from his new album that was released the day before. The album provides plenty of stadium-ready bangers that made their way onto the setlist, including “Back In the Saddle” and the title track for the tour, “My Kinda Saturday Night,” but he also included included the sultry “Be By You,” which he released back around Valentine’s Day as a tribute to his wife Nicole, as well as current single “Sleepless In A Hotel Room.” Luke recently became a father for a third time, with his newest son Chet Wiley Combs being born back in February, so he’s significantly scaled back on touring this year to spend time with his family. Las Vegas was the first of only nine US shows he’ll be playing this year, along with 14 international dates in Canada and Europe (which includes three nights at Wembley Stadium in England to round out his 2026 tour). Given his limited schedule, as well as a stage setup that’s favorable to packing large crowds onto the field, it’s possible that we see Luke breaking a lot of attendance records on this limited tour. But the real test for Luke’s record will come in just over a month when Morgan Wallen hits Allegiant Stadium for two nights on his Still the Problem tour, which could very well mean that Luke’s single-night record could be short-lived. Either way, it shows what a massive superstar Luke Combs is to be able to pack in record crowds and beat global events like the Super Bowl and the Riyadh boxing match, as well as artists who have performed at the stadium in the past like Garth Brooks, Beyoncé and Bad Bunny. You gotta love it when a good guy like Luke just keeps on winning. @ethanfontes Luke Combs Vegas Show 1 #lukecombsconcert #mykindasaturdaynighttour #countrymusicconcert #vegas #entrance @Luke Combs ♬ original sound – Ethan Fontes My Kinda Saturday Night Tour – Allegiant Stadium Setlist My Kinda Saturday Night Lovin’ On You Hurricane She Got The Best Of Me Tell ‘Em About Tonight One Number Away Going, Going, Gone Back In the Saddle Must’ve Never Met You The Kind Of Love We Make Sleepless In a Hotel Room Rethink Some Things Forever After All Better Together I Ain’t No Cowboy Even Though I’m Leaving Remember Him That Way Be By You Beautiful Crazy Crazy Train / She Will Be Loved / Billie Jean / I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing / Something Like That Ordinary (Alex Warren cover) Cold As You When It Rains It Pours 1, 2 Many Beer Never Broke My Heart Fast Car Where The Wild Things Are Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma My Kinda Saturday Night Tour Dates April 4 – Scott Stadium – Charlottesville, VA April 11 – Jack Trice Stadium – Ames, IA April 18 – Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, IN April 25 – Ohio Stadium – Columbus, OH May 2 – Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN May 9 – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium – Norman, OK May 15 – Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI May 16 – Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI May 30 – Parc Jean-Drapeau – Montreal, QC June 5 – Rogers Stadium – Toronto, ON June 6 – Rogers Stadium – Toronto, ON July 4 – Ullevi – Gothenburg, Sweden July 7 – Accor Arena – Paris, France July 11 – Johan Cruijff Arena – Amsterdam, Netherlands July 18 – Slane Castle – Slane, Ireland July 19 – Slane Castle – Slane, Ireland July 25 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield – Edinburgh, UK July 31 – Wembley Stadium – London, UK August 1 – Wembley Stadium – London, UK August 2 – Wembley Stadium – London, UKThe post Luke Combs Sets Attendance Record At Allegiant Stadium In Las Vegas On Opening Night Of ‘My Kinda Saturday Night’ Tour first appeared on Whiskey Riff.