Ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get the perfect shot. Kacey Musgraves announced her sixth studio album Middle of Nowhere this week, which was produced by Kacey alongside longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. Kacey is a proud Texas girl, and so the album draws on plenty of inspiration from her home state, and considering there’s a sign in her tiny, unincorporated, no-stoplight hometown of Golden, Texas, with a population of under 300 that reads “Golden, TX: Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere,” that sparked the idea for the title track and much of the theme for the entire album. It also inspired many of the visual elements we’ve already seen from the album, including the album cover, which shows Kacey standing on a sidewalk looking off to the side with a Texas longhorn to her right. And during an interview with NPR Music’s Jewly Hight, ahead of a listening event for the new album, she noted there were rodeo barrels and a longhorn bull on the premises, and Kacey says she wanted to spotlight those very unique Texas elements. She also revealed how they shot the cover, as Kacey’s sister took the photos in Dallas one day and the bull is totally real. She had her friend Evan bring one from his ranch, and Kacey explained that they rode around Dallas one day, and would block traffic to take pictures and eventually ended up with the album cover you see here: View this post on Instagram Kacey said they didn’t have any sort of permits, but they ended up with the perfect shot: “It’s those pieces of Texas and country life that often get overlooked. It’s not trying to convince anyone that it is overly country or western, because that’s what can make something feel cliche. It’s just about finding those little elements that are so mundane that they’re so overlooked sometimes. The album cover, my sister took those photos in Dallas one day, and haters are gonna say that that bull is AI, but it is definitely not. We had my friend Evan bring a bull from his ranch, and we just rode around Dallas and would quickly get out and try to block traffic with some cones. We had no permits or anything.” I mean, what a production… I can’t imagine driving up on that scene, but she did get a really cool album cover out of it so I’d say it was well-worth whatever stress likely went into getting all this together and actually capturing the photos. Kacey says she was also inspired by the diversity and variety of people she found cutting a rug on the dance floor in an Austin dive bar dance hall, leading her to incorporate some of those rhythms into the record too. She noted that “America needs to two-step together” and “be on the dance floor,” and I couldn’t agree more: “During this time period, I wound up in Austin one night and I went out to a super divey dance hall and there was a live country band playing. It was really nice to see so many different kinds of people having the best time decked out in their western wear. It was hot Latino couples, it was hot Black cowboys, it was older white cowboys dancing with younger cowgirls, and everybody was having such a good time dancing with each other. I was like, ‘Damn, America needs to two-step together. America needs to be on the dance floor.’ It’s really a great equalizer, and it’s where your differences sort of melt away, and the one goal is to connect via music and have fun and move your body. It made me really inspired to infuse some of that Texas dance hall feeling and rhythms into the record.” Middle of Nowhere is due out everywhere on May 1st, and Kacey will also feature several duets on the record including collaborations with icon Willie Nelson, bluegrass phenom Billy Strings, and South African musician Gregory Alan Isakov, and yes, that long-awaited, seemingly improbable duet with Miranda Lambert is coming on a song called “Horses and Divorces.” The lead single, “Dry Spell,” is not subtle but really funny in case you haven’t heard it yet: “Dry Spell” Middle of Nowhere Tracklist: 1.Middle of Nowhere 2.Dry Spell 3.Back on the Wagon 4.I Believe in Ghosts 5.Abilene 6.Coyote feat. Gregory Alan Isakov 7.Loneliest Girl 8.Everybody Wants To Be a Cowboy feat. Billy Strings 9.Horses and Divorces feat. Miranda Lambert 10.Uncertain, Texas feat. Willie Nelson 11.Rhinestoned 12.Mexico Honey 13.Hell on MeThe post “Haters Are Gonna Say That Bull Is AI” – Kacey Musgraves Stopped Traffic In Dallas (Without Permits) To Shoot Album Cover With Real Bull first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Who will carry the torch? Throughout history, country music has been defined by legendary storytelling through masterful lyrics, clever puns, and heartfelt life lessons. The faces behind some of country music’s most legendary songs either have a profound way of putting pen to paper to create lasting lines or have the creativity to craft a tale that teaches you a life lesson. The songwriting found in this genre is what makes fans fall in love with it. Songs that can paint an incredible picture in your mind, leaving you thinking and wondering whether the words can apply to an experience you’ve also lived. Sometimes the story is just compelling. Over the years, we have been blessed with music from amazing singers and songwriters like Hank Williams and Hank Jr., Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson, to name a few. But there are also plenty of songwriters who have helped shape the genre who might not have been breakout stars themselves, like Brett James, Dean Dillon, Keith Gattis and many more. Sadly, we have lost a few greats from this short list, leading us to wonder who will become the next songwriting greats in country music. With many stellar songwriters in the genre today, from Ernest to Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker, we asked our fans the hard-hitting question of who they think will carry the torch for great songwriting in country music. View this post on Instagram We asked, and Whiskey Riff followers delivered. After sharing this poll, our fans quickly filled up the comments section with names they championed. So without further ado, check out who is projected to be the next torchbearer of songwriting in country music: Charles Wesley Goodwin Chris Stapleton Tyler Childers Evan Felker Joybeth Taylor Ernest Eric Church Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Charley Crockett Colter Wall Sierra Ferrell Chancellor Lawson Jason Isbell Sturgill Simpson AKA Johnny Blue Skies Noeline Hofmann Brent Cobb Ella Langley Muscadine Bloodline Drayton Farley Stephen Wilson Jr. While time will only tell who becomes a great from this list (I guess that’s something the next generation will have to decide), I think the future of country music is in great hands.The post Country Fans Reveal Who They Think Is Carrying The Torch For Great Songwriting Right Now first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

She's got a lot to say. Continue reading…

Bunnie Xo explains why Jelly Roll may not want to read her new book. Continue reading…

Collecting a piece of history from one of his favorite authors. Zach Bryan apparently just made a very large purchase in honor of Jack Kerouac, marking Bryan’s second purchase of history related to the famed author. It’s no secret that the “With Heaven on Top” singer is a big fan of Jack Kerouac’s work. He’s often cited the author’s writing as inspiration for his music, and the Kerouac estate has even posted some of his music to their social platforms, notably “Burn, Burn, Burn,” which was partially, if not wholly, inspired by Kerouac’s novel On The Road. The novel includes the following passage, which ZB used as a muse for the track. “The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or saw a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”  View this post on Instagram Last year, Bryan made a huge purchase in honor of one of his favorite writers, buying the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Massachusetts. “Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning artist Zach Bryan has purchased the historic former Saint Jean Baptiste Church building in Lowell, Massachusetts, ensuring its transformation into the previously announced Jack Kerouac Center. The project was initially announced in November 2022, but stalled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and funding issues. The collaboration between Bryan and the Jack Kerouac Estate marks a significant step toward honoring the legacy of one of America’s most iconic writers while fostering creativity in the heart of Kerouac’s hometown. The former church, a beloved Lowell landmark where Kerouac served as an altar boy, and mourners gathered for his 1969 funeral mass, will be converted into a vibrant cultural hub where two creative forces meet. Bryan’s involvement marks a turning point, bringing essential funding and renewed energy. His commitment has provided the momentum needed to turn years of planning into a tangible reality, paving the way for the Center to become a cornerstone of creativity and inspiration in Lowell. The Center will feature exhibits, live music, public readings, and community events.” View this post on Instagram The sale was announced right after ZB re-signed his $350 million record deal; however, according to Sylvia Cunha of the Jack Kerouac Estate, he had been eyeing this building for many months, and it was far from an impulse purchase. “We’ve been working on this deal with Zach and his team for several months. Zach reached out in October, and right from the start, it was clear he shared our passion for honoring Jack’s legacy while also creating a dynamic, creative space. He stepped up and delivered in a big way, showing incredible generosity.” And apparently, Bryan just bought something else that is near and dear to Kerouac. Simon Warner, co-editor of Kerouac on Record: A Literary Soundtrack, reported on his Substack that Bryan bought the original scroll of On the Road during a New York auction for an astonishing $12.1 million. “JACK KEROUAC’s Original Scroll of his most famous novel has been purchased for over $12m by leading country artist Zach Bryan at an auction in New York City staged yesterday.” Shortly after, other sources began sharing the same news of ZB’s purchase: BREAKING: It appears as if singer @zachlanebryan is the buyer of the “On the Road” scrolls for $12.1 million tonight. His Instagram story wished Kerouac HBD and said its coming to Lowell. Bryan purchased Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell, where Kerouac was an alter boy. pic.twitter.com/oTNFcETIl8 — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 13, 2026 The famed novel was written on a continuous roll of teletype paper, allowing Kerouac to maintain a seamless flow of thoughts as he wrote, without having to pause to begin a new sheet of paper as he would with traditional print paper. The scroll was previously owned by billionaire Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who passed away last year, leading the piece of art/history to go to auction. Warner’s Substack reveals plans to display the scroll at the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Massachusetts. Bryan is doing his part to honor the life and legacy of the famed novelist and poet. Given he called his purchase of the church “life’s greatest honor,” I wonder what ZB considers the purchase of this scroll…The post Zach Bryan Reportedly Purchases Jack Kerouac’s Original ‘On The Road’ Scroll For $12.1 Million first appeared on Whiskey Riff.