For more than two decades, Ryan Bingham has built a career out of turning his own experiences into songs for restless souls — cowboys, drifters, vagabonds, road warriors, and anyone who fantasizes about such a way of life. But on his latest record, They Call Us The Lucky Ones, he sounds less like a man outrunning the darkness of the past and more like one who has found peace in the light of the present. The ironically titled album still carries the scars of the hard-lived experiences that have always defined Bingham’s music. But on They Call Us The Lucky Ones, Bingham, who recently sat down with us at Whiskey Riff to discuss the project, reframes those experiences through a lens of love and gratitude – emotions that have become especially prominent in this current chapter of his life. It’s no coincidence that this is Bingham’s first album since marrying his wife, Hassie Harrison, nor is it a coincidence that it is his first project recorded with The Texas Gentlemen as his backing band. But to understand how different this chapter really is, you have to go back to where it all started. In 2007, Bingham introduced himself to the alt-country and Americana world through the release of his acclaimed debut record Mescalito. A standout album steeped in the life of a near-the-border rambler, Mescalito immediately earned Bingham a cult following that has only grown in both stature and intensity over time. A couple of years later, in 2009, Bingham’s “The Weary Kind” won an Oscar for Best Original Song after being featured as the theme for the film Crazy Heart, accelerating the trajectory of his career. As his fanbase grew, Bingham put the pedal to the metal, and over the next decade he became one of the defining voices of modern roots music. Following his acting role as Walker on the hit TV show Yellowstone, Bingham’s fame achieved an all-time high in recent years, and as a result, his music is reaching more ears than ever. But despite the expanded reach, he still has not compromised his authenticity. His music has long been rooted in the loneliness of small border towns and lost highways, and with tales of addiction, loss, and depression, they’ve have often served as an anthem for the downcast. But They Call Us The Lucky Ones feels different from the start. Written and originally recorded by Bingham’s longtime guitarist Cody Huggins, the album’s title track, “The Lucky Ones,” is the only song on the record that he didn’t write himself. But Bingham had been a fan of it for quite some time, and at this point in his career, he felt the phrase was fittingly ironic: “I feel like [the song] kind of sums up our whole little ragtag group — The Texas Gentlemen and me, Cody, and all of us… guys who have been through the trenches and wear a lot of hard-earned luck on our sleeves.” The “hard-earned” aspect is where the irony comes in, as it’s clear everyone involved in this album — especially Bingham — has been through a lot over the years. Much like he has done in his music throughout his career, the title track and album as a whole turn the mythical nature of the outlaw troubadour on its head, revealing a lifestyle far less glamorous than it appears. Instead, it’s often defined by exhaustion and loneliness — the emotional toll that comes with chasing highways and outrunning problems. But They Call Us The Lucky Ones differs from much of Bingham’s earlier work in one major way. Throughout the record, love emerges as an anchor, one of the only things capable of grounding such a life. And much of that perspective can be traced back to Bingham’s wife, Hassie Harrison. Having met and fallen in love on the set of Yellowstone, Bingham and Harrison married in 2023, and this album marks the first collection of songs he has written and released since the beginning of their relationship. As a result, this may be the first Bingham album where love feels permanent instead of fleeting. In “Blue Skies,” Bingham sings “Wouldn’t trade a blue sky honey, for the way I feel for you.” And in “I’m A Goin’ Nowhere,” he states that “Love is all around and nothing more.” That emotional shift isn’t accidental, either. When asked directly whether his relationship with Harrison was a major aspect of this record, Bingham didn’t hesitate to agree. “There’s just a lot of laughs and a lot of joy hanging out with her,” Bingham said with a smile, agreeing that his improved perspective after meeting her has shone through in these new songs. Still, They Call Us The Lucky Ones features plenty of references to the darker themes that are synonymous with Bingham’s catalog. “Cocaine Charlie,” for example, considers the brutal reality and intertwined nature of desperation and life on the border, and is based on stories he’s heard and people he’s known in his own life. “Twist the Knife” and “Relevance” both wrestle with regret, anger, and the pressures of the outside world. But unlike many of the previous records, those darker notions are no longer presented as inescapable, rather aspects of life for which genuine love can be a cure. He makes this as clear as ever in “Relevance,” as the final line in each verse may as well serve as the album’s thesis statement: “What’s the relevance if you can’t get no love?” With Harrison by his side, it seems as if Bingham no longer romanticizes the suffering that has long been central to his songwriting. “That’s part of growing up – we don’t have to keep living the same story we did when we were kids. I think it’s important that you experience things, and the stuff that wasn’t so good in your life back in the day, you don’t have to keep repeating that,” he explained. But even as a man who is at peace with the present, Bingham still sounds incapable of slowing down and staying put, holding onto the instincts that led him to competing on the rodeo circuit as a teenager and young adult, and to being a touring musician ever since. They Call Us The Lucky Ones is full of references to highways, trails, and trains. That restless spirit wasn’t necessarily an intentional theme in the album, but Bingham wasn’t a bit surprised it came out that way. “I think I’ve always just gravitated towards that vagabond kind of lifestyle. So much of my life has been spent traveling and being on the road.” Bingham may have found the love and happiness he was searching for all along, but that hasn’t stopped him from heeding the road’s call. And his new backing band, The Texas Gentlemen, are partly to blame (and thank). An established Dallas/Fort Worth-area act with killer original music, The Texas Gentlemen are an eclectic five-piece outfit of accomplished musicians that started playing together as far back as 2014. As Bingham recalls it, their paths crossing was equal parts happenstance and fate, but it happened in a rather high stakes scenario in 2021. “When I was working on the Yellowstone show, I couldn’t really put out music or tour very much. I was under contract with them, and had to be on call and working in Montana. I had a one-off show booked at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, and it was sold out. I didn’t have a band at the time because all the guys that I was normally playing with were working with other bands and on the road. My friend Charlie Sexton told me to call these guys The Texas Gentlemen… So I literally called them up and said, ‘Hey, I got a show in a couple of weeks, and I really need a band. And a good one.’ And they said, ‘Yeah, just send us the songs and the set list, and we’ll learn everything. We’ll meet you there.’ And they did. They showed up. We had hardly rehearsed at all, and played a sold out show at Billy Bob’s, and just had an absolute blast.” And the rest is history, because The Texas Gentlemen have backed Bingham at most every show since, and they’re just as important a part of this album as Bingham himself. In fact, if it weren’t for the band, this album might not even exist and he’d be spending all his time at home with his family this summer instead of in a tour bus: “If it weren’t for The Texas Gentlemen, I probably wouldn’t have put a record out, and I probably wouldn’t be going on tour. I’m pretty happy at home these days, enjoying my wife and my animals and kids and enjoying being home, but this has been a whole lot of fun.” Whether he realized it in the moment or not, the same ease and joy that Bingham was feeling in his personal life with Harrison had eased into his professional life, with a reinvigorated love for the creative process of making music that was inspired by The Texas Gentlemen. And what better way to capitalize on it than by releasing new music together? Working with his friend and longtime collaborator Grant Wilborn at his studio in Fort Worth, Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen started out with a plan to just cut a song or two for the fun of it. But in just as organic a manner as their relationship was forged, so too did the prospect of creating a full album together. “We would go in for a couple of days at a time, without much of a plan. Just to go in there and have fun and hang out and have an opportunity to jam together. One day, I’d have a couple of songs and we’d go record those two, and a month later I had two or three more. And then we kind of looked up and were like, sh*t, we’ve got an album here. Let’s put it out and go hit the road!” And that’s exactly what Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen have done. Sonically, the album is a sensible extension of Bingham’s catalog to date. Weaving seamlessly through rock-and-rollers like “Let the Big Dog Eat” and soulful ballads like “Twist the Knife,” the album spans multiple subgenres of roots music in a manner that pushes the boundaries yet feels tasteful within Bingham’s existing realm. But as tends to be the case, the songwriting and content matter are what sets this album apart from records being released by other artists. From rambler anthems, to heartfelt love songs, to larger than life stories, the album has it all, and every word is personal to Bingham in one way or another. “My songs are always something that I’ve experienced or been through. I find it quite difficult to write about stuff that I haven’t really experienced in one way or the other.” The personal connection Bingham has with the lyrics in his music and the brotherly connection he possesses with the members of the band that backs him both enhance the live show beyond the stand alone strength of the songs themselves. And with 23 shows on the schedule for the summer, beginning in Pittsburgh this Friday and ending at Montana’s Under The Big Sky Festival in July, Bingham and the boys have plenty of opportunities to play the new songs live. They even gave several of these songs a test drive by adding them to his set on the last tour, and things went seamlessly. “The crowds have been really receptive to them,” he said, noting how quickly the songs have connected on tour. And the way that the songs on the new album mesh with the older classics has been a pleasant surprise to Bingham as well: “It feels like they kind of highlight some of the older stuff and then add to this new chapter.So our show really creates this arc from the past, and evolves into the middle of it, and then shows what it’s turning into and where it’s going to go from now.” Even for an artist with as much experience as Bingham, a new album and a full tour can still feel nerve-racking. But with Harrison by his side and The Texas Gentlemen behind him, he’s leaning into the moment — and he’s not measuring its success in terms of streaming numbers or ticket sales. “What matters at the end of it all is that people still want you to come play the songs for them. The happiness of it all right now has been all the success I could ever ask for. There’s a purpose in all of this and it’s a lot bigger than any of the business stuff.” That perspective loops back to the album’s title and the irony at its core. For most of his career, Bingham has written from the perspective of drifters, outlaws, addicts, and a cast of characters who have been down on their luck. They Call Us The Lucky Ones still lives in that world, with never ending highways and scars that never fade away. But it also carries something new. Love, connection, gratitude – reasons to appreciate the moment. And that’s the real irony of it all. After everything he’s written about survival, Bingham now suggests the lucky ones aren’t the ones who got away from the road, but rather the ones who finally found something worth staying for. They Call Us The Lucky Ones Tracklist “The Lucky Ones” “Let The Big Dog Eat” “I Got A Feelin'” “Twist the Knife” “Americana” “Cocaine Charlie” “Blue Skies” “Relevance” “Ballad of the Texas Gentlemen” “I’m A Goin’ Nowhere” Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen Tour Dates May 22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE May 23 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! May 24 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora May 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre May 27 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre May 29 – Buffalo, NY – Artpark Mainstage Theater May 30 – Kingston, NY – Ulster Performing Arts Center June 1 – South Deerfield, MA – Summer Stage at Tree House Brewing Company June 2 – Portland, ME – State Theatre June 3 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner June 5 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre June 6 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place June 7 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater June 9 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza June 10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore June 12 – Richmond, VA – The National June 13 – Washington, D.C. – Lincoln Theatre June 14 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva June 16 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal June 18 – Fayetteville, AR – Ozark Music Hall June 19 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Backyard Amphitheater July 11 – Alta, WY -Grand Targhee Resort July 18 – Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky FestivalThe post Exclusive Interview: How Ryan Bingham’s New Album ‘They Call Us The Lucky Ones’ Marks A New Chapter In His Legendary Career first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Disco meets country thanks to Miranda Lambert. Today, she released a new single called “Crisco,” very much pulls from both disco and country and makes for a very nostalgic song unlike anything else in her catalog. Miranda recently announced that she will release future music with MCA, marking a new chapter in her decorated recording career. Miranda was previously with Republic for a couple of years, and MCA has an impressive roster of country artists, so it’s clear she’s ready to get back to a Nashville-based label and continue her commitment to the creative community and roots that have long shaped her artistry. Miranda is now be label mates with George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Reba McEntire, and she will fit right in and certainly be an asset to an already-impressive group of artists. Miranda most recently put out her most recent album Postcards from Texas in 2024, and she’s been working with Ella Langley to write and produce her monster new album Dandelion, where she’s also featured on a duet called “Butterfly Season,” in addition to appearing on Kacey Musgraves’ highly-anticipated album for a duet called “Horses and Divorces,” which I have not stopped listening to. This is her first release with MCA, and she wrote “Crisco” with Aaron Raitiere, Jesse Frasure and Chill Fellacheck. Miranda says she included a lot of country elements she’s never “put on tape before,” and it’s meant to be a fun, and maybe a little nostalgic, song that fans can simply enjoy for what it is without overthinking anything: “It has so many elements of the country music that I love that I’ve never put on tape. There’s a looseness to it, a joy. It feels like dancing in your kitchen with the person you love, spinning old records, not overthinking a thing.” She adds that it was a unique challenge to make a song that was “familiar” and “Fresh” at the same time, and of course, she was deeply inspired by the likes of  Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and that 70s and 80s time when those artists in particular were fusing in a lot of disco: “We wanted something that feels familiar but also fresh, which is really hard to do. We leaned into all the things I grew up loving about country music – Glen Campbell, Kenny and Dolly; very ’70s and ’80s. It’s a fun mix of all these sides of country music that I’ve never fully explored before, even down to using strings in a bigger way. I almost can’t believe I’ve made this many records without really going there, but it was magical to hear how much strings can transform a song.” I love 70s and 80s-era music of any kind, and really any genre, so I love that she’s playing with that here. From iconic songs like “Southern Nights” and of course “Islands in the Stream,” it’s nothing new for disco to be part of country. I mean, who could forget the whole Urban Cowboy scene? But I’m here for it because Miranda is the kind of artist who can do it and do it well. It won’t be for everybody, but I can appreciate her trying something new and going in a different direction with this new chapter. The chorus pretty much sums it up: “Baby, we’ve been cooking with Crisco Ain’t we mixin’ country and disco Stir it around, give it a spin And it’s a rhinestone world we’re livin’ in…” Miranda teamed up with Chris Stapleton for a very disco-inspired duet called “A Song To Sing” last year, which seems to have been a hint about what she had up her sleeve and I have a feeling there might be more where this came from. It is the most heart-wrenching, poetic song she’s ever put out? No, but it’s fun, and catchy, and obviously groovy because disco is just fun and I really enjoy it from that standpoint. They actually filmed the “Crisco” video on Miranda’s birthday and she got a bedazzled Crisco cake which I am very much here for: View this post on Instagram It’s a new era of Miranda Lambert, and she’s ready to go full-disco with a whole lot of twang… check it out: “Crisco” The post Miranda Lambert Is Cooking With “Crisco” On New Disco-Inspired Song first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Taking a trip around the country. Throughout country music history, there have been plenty of states that have risen the ranks and given us some of the biggest stars in the genres history. With states like Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and more being the homes of some of the most iconic artists like George Strait, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Sr. and many more, those are undoubtedly some of the easiest ones to pinpoint. However, what about states likes Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Idaho or even Hawaii? That’s where things start to get a little bit tricky. Given how much country music has grown over the past century, especially the last decade in particular, I thought now was the best time to try to take the seemingly impossible task of tracking down the best artists from each and every state. Obviously, the aforementioned states like Texas and Tennessee were quite easy. With that being said, there are some incredibly random, seemingly forgotten acts hailing from states all around the country. Of course, it was nearly impossible to track down each and every notable country artist from all 50 states in the union. With that being said, however, after hours upon hours of research, I’ve tracked down at least one notable artist from every state. Keep in mind, some of these states are jam-packed with talent. So if one legend ends up edging out another, it most likely came down to tangible success like George Strait’s record 60 #1 hits or Eric Church’s massive impact on today’s current generation of artists. With all of that being said, let’s dive straight in to this mammoth of a list. Alabama – Hank Williams Sr. It doesn’t get the recognition quite like Texas and Tennessee, but Alabama is jam-packed with talent stretching back to the formative years of the genre. Though legends such as Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, Alabama and more hail from the state, it’s hard not to give the title to one of the forefathers of country music himself, Hank Williams Sr. Honorable Mentions: Tammy Wynette Emmylou Harris Alabama Shenandoah Ella Langley Riley Green Jamey Johnson Jason Isbell Alaska – Jewel* Out of all the things Alaska is known for, breeding artists — let alone country artists — is not one of them. This one comes as a bit of a technicality due to the lack of talent, but Jewel, a four-time Grammy nominee, is the most notable artist from the state. Despite being born in Utah, the “Foolish Games” singer was raised in Homer, Alaska. Arizona – Linda Ronstadt Taking a slight edge over the great Marty Robbins, Linda Ronstadt is easily the most highly decorated artist from Arizona. Though she’d crossover into multiple genres throughout her career, she recorded the country standard, “When Will I Be Loved,” teamed up with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris for the collaborative album Trio and won 11 Grammys throughout her career. Honorable Mentions: Jessi Colter Marty Robbins Dierks Betnley Arkansas – Johnny Cash I don’t think there’s too much of an argument to be made against Johnny Cash being the greatest country artist from Arizona. As one of the most influential artists in the genre and music as a whole, the “Folsom Prison Blues” singer is nothing short of an American icon. Honorable Mentions: Glen Campbell Tracy Lawrence Ashley McBryde Joe Nichols California – Merle Haggard Another one of the most influential country artists of all time, Merle Haggard played a key role in the Bakersfield sound that revolutionized the genre in the 1950s and 1960s. With 38 #1 hits, including the likes of “Mama Tried,” “Okie from Muskogee,” “My Favorite Memory” and more, Haggard remains one of the all-time greats in the genre. Honorable Mentions: Gary Allan Jon Pardi Colorado – Jack Grayson There aren’t many country artists hailing from the Centennial State, meaning the title defaulted to this minor star from the ’70s and 80s. Throughout his career, Grayson charted thirteen singles on the Hot Country Songs chart. His biggest hit came in 1981 thanks to his cover of “When a Man Loves a Woman,” which peaked inside the Top 20 at #18. Connecticut – Gene Pitney Though he’s not closely associated with country music, Gene Pitney takes the crown for the most successful artist from Connecticut in the greater area of the genre. He’d record multiple albums with George Jones, most notably charting their duet, “I’ve Got Five Dollars and It’s Saturday Night,” inside the Top 20 in 1965. Delaware – Chuck Wicks Given the competition included the likes of Jimmie Allen (yeah, THAT Jimmie Allen), Chuck Wicks defaults as the biggest country star from Delaware. Debuting in 2007, he went Top 5 with his first single, “Stealing Cinderella,” and snagged a Top 10 album with Starting Now. Florida – Mel Tillis The Sunshine State has given us some underrated stars over the years, ranging from John Anderson to Easton Corbin. With that being said, however, Mel Tillis has remained the most influential. As an unsung hero from the Outlaw movement in the ’70s, the Florida native scored #1 hits with the likes of “I Ain’t Never,” “Good Woman Blues” and many more. Honorable Mentions: John Anderson Easton Corbin Jake Owen Georgia – Alan Jackson It’s hard to imagine an artist from the ’90s more quintessential than Alan Jackson. Being a complete package for all intents and purposes, both as a singer, songwriter and torchbearer for traditional country, it’s hard not to give it to the “Chattahoochee” singer. Honorable Mentions: Zac Brown Band Patty Loveless Brent Cobb Trisha Yearwood Kip Moore Jason Aldean Hawaii – Melveen Leed Like Alaska, there weren’t too many options for the Aloha State. Given the state has such a focus on native music and culture, there isn’t too much country influence on artists born and raised there. Melveen Leed, a popular Hawaiian singer from the 1960s to 1980s, however, did crossover into the genre on a few occasions. Best known in country music for her 1976 album, Hawaiian Country Girl, Leed performed at the Grand Ole Opry once. Idaho – Colby Acuff The youngest artist on this list so far, Colby Acuff has risen the ranks throughout the independent country scene since his debut in 2020 and has become Idaho’s gem in terms of the genre. As one of the most underrated songwriters working today, Acuff has released a staggering seven albums over the past six years and is only getting better with age. His biggest hit, 2021’s “If I Were the Devil,” has been streamed well over 100 million times on Spotify and was certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 units. Honorable Mentions: Reckless Kelly Illinois – Alison Krauss It was undoubtedly a two-horse race between one of the greatest songwriters of all time, John Prine, and Alison Krauss. Though Prine has one of the best and most influential discographies as a songwriter, it’s hard to ignore Krauss’ career accomplishments. With 27 Grammy wins (both solo and with the Union Station), she is the highest-decorated country musician of all time. Though you can make the argument that she occupied the bluegrass scene more in her career, she is undoubtedly a major influence on country music. Honorable Mentions: John Prine Gretchen Wilson Brett Eldredge David Lee Murphy Suzy Bogguss Margo Price Indiana – Steve Wariner In a few years, we very well might see the red-hot Stephen Wilson Jr. rise to #1 from the Hoosier State. For now, however, that title goes to Steve Wariner. With multiple Grammy wins, 10 #1 singles as a lead artist and multiple songwriting credits on hits like Garth Brooks’ “Longneck Bottle” and Clint Black’s “Nothin’ But Taillights,” Wariner had an incredibly underrated career in the late ’80s and ’90s. Honorable Mentions: Stephen Wilson Jr. Connie Smith Iowa – C.W. McHall C.W. McHall, whose real name is William Dale Fries Jr., had one of the most unique lives and careers out of anyone on this list. Throughout his life, he was an art director, actor, truck-driving country singer and mayor of Ouray, Colorado. From a musical perspective, he’s best known for his all-genre #1 hit, “Convoy,” which has been listed in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Country Songs list. When it’s all said and done, Hailey Whitters has a chance to take the title. Honorable Mentions: Hailey Whitters Kansas – Martina McBride Another state with not much competition, Martina McBride easily takes this one. A four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner, three-time ACM Female Artist of the Year recipient and 14x Grammy nominee, McBride is one of the most highly-decorated female artists of her generation. Honorable Mentions: Logan Mize Chely Wright Nicolle Galyon Kentucky – Chris Stapleton Easily one of the most stacked states throughout country music history, you cannot go wrong with nearly any one of these artists. Being the home state of the likes of Loretta Lynn, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, Bill Monroe and more, Kentucky has raised some of the most talented and influential artists for the past century. Call it recency bias but it’s hard to ignore the incredible influence and impact Chris Stapleton has had on the genre since his debut in 2015. With 12 Grammys, 19 CMA Awards, 11 ACM Awards and a plethora of other hardware from the likes of Billboard, the Americana Music Association, ASCAP and more, the Kentucky native is arguably the biggest and most critically-acclaimed country artist this century and has impacted the genre from a broad perspective in a way only seen by the likes of Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Honorable Mentions: Sturgill Simpson Loretta Lynn Tyler Childers Dwight Yoakam Ricky Skaggs The Judds Bill Monroe Louisiana – Tim McGraw As one of the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Tim McGraw has had a legacy in the genre that few can ever dream of. Scoring 49 #1s hits, 13 #1 albums, 21 ACM Awards, 11 ACM Awards and 3 Grammys, the “My Best Friend” singer is undoubtedly one of the most highly-decorated artists in the genre’s history and Louisiana’s biggest star. Honorable Mentions: Hank Williams Jr. Lainey Wilson Trace Adkins Kix Brooks Jimmie Davis Maine – Dick Curless Another small, northeastern state, Maine has had little to no impact on the genre over the years. Because of this, minor star Dick Curless defaults as Maine’s biggest star. Throughout his career, he’d chart multiple songs inside the Top 40, with his biggest hit being 1970’s “Big Wheel Cannonball,” which peaked at #27. Maryland – Brothers Osborne As one of the highest-decorated duos in country music history, Brothers Osborne has remained one of the best of the decade. With six ACM awards, five CMA awards and a Grammy since their debut in 2015, they’ve been nothing short of dominant. Given that Maryland hasn’t produced many country artists to speak of, there’s no competition here. Massachusetts – Lori McKenna Though Jo Dee Messina has scored the most mainstream success out of her Massachusetts natives, Lori McKenna has remained one of the best songwriters of the current generation. The two-time Grammy Award winner has been a mainstay in country’s songwriting circle, cutting songs such as “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town, “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw, “Cry Pretty” by Carrie Underwood and multiple cuts on the Academy Award-winning film, A Star is Born. Outside of her mainstream, award-winning album cuts, McKenna also has 12 solo records in her personal discography Honorable Mentions: Jo Dee Messina James Taylor Michigan – Billy Strings Like Krauss, Strings is undoubtedly planted in the bluegrass scene — essentially popularizing it to a new audience. With that being said, however, his frequent crossovers into the genre, ranging from appearances with Luke Combs, Zach Top, Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves and more over the years, give him enough leeway to wind up at the top of Michigan’s finest Honorable Mentions: Whitey Morgan & the 78’s Frankie Ballard Minnesota – Trampled By Turtles Similar to Strings and Krauss, Trampled By Turtles lean much closer to the bluegrass and folk scene. Despite this, Minnesota has not birthed many notable country artists to speak of over the years. Given how talented a band they are and their influences on other country artists, they lead Minnesota’s roots scene. Honorable Mentions: Caitlyn Smith Mississippi – Conway Twitty Though he moved to Arkansas at the age of 10, Conway Twitty was born in Friars Point, Mississippi. Though Charley Pride and Tammy Wynette have made an impact on the genre, it’s hard to ignore how much of a force Twitty was throughout his career. With 40 #1 hits throughout his career, he held the record for most chart-toppers for decades until George Strait came along and broke it. Couple that with classics like “Slow Hand,” “Hello Darlin’,” “That’s My Job” and more, Twitty is the king of Mississippi. Honorable Mentions: Charley Pride Faith Hill Tammy Wynette Jimmie Rogers Marty Stuart LeAnn Rimes Hardy Randy Houser Missouri – Porter Wagoner Known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry, Wagoner was a multimedia star in the 1960s and 1970s, charting 81 songs throughout his career and hosting The Porter Wagoner Show from 1960 to 1981. It was here that he helped introduce the world to Dolly Parton back in 1967. Throughout his career, he’d score multiple #1s, including “A Satisfied Mind” and “The Last Thing On My Mind.” Honorable Mentions: Sara Evans Rhonda Vincent Sam Barber Chris Janson Montana – Tim Ryan With not many stars hailing from Montana, Tim Ryan found the most success throughout his brief career. Despite only releasing four albums in his time as an artist from 1990 to 1997, he’d wind up charting six singles on the Hot Country Songs chart. His biggest career hit was “Dance in Circles,” which peaked at #42. Nebraska – Tompall & the Glaser Brothers After getting their start by appearing on the popular television show, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Show, and catching the attention of Marty Robbins, the Glaser Brothers put together a rock-solid career from 1960 to 1982. Throughout the years, they’d chart multiple songs inside the Top 15. Evidently, their biggest hit was a cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” which peaked at #2 in 1981. Additionally, they’d score Top 20 hits with the likes of “California Girl (And the Tennessee Square),” “Ain’t It All Worth Living For,” “Just One Time” and “It’ll Be Her.” Nevada – Tanya Tucker* Despite containing Las Vegas, which is the entertainment capital of the country, there weren’t many notable country artists to speak of in Nevada. Because of this, Tanya Tucker, who was born in Seminole, Texas, makes this list due to her moving to Henderson at the age of 11 and regularly playing in the state during her formative years. New Hampshire – Tom Rush Like most northeastern states, New Hampshire is another state that has made little to no impact on the genre as a whole. Rush, who made a career in the singer/songwriter and folk scene, would score his biggest hits in 1968 with the likes of “No Regrets,” “Urge for Going” and “The Circle Game.” New Jersey – Clint Black Unlike most of its bordering states, New Jersey gave us one of the most underrated stars of the ’90s with Clint Black. With 13 #1 hits, including the likes of “Killin’ Time,” “A Better Man” and “Like the Rain,” a Grammy win for Best Country Collaboration (“Same Old Train”) and a handful of CMA and ACM Awards, Black takes New Jersey’s top country artist fairly easily. Honorable Mentions: Mary Chapin Carpenter Richard Sterban (of the Oak Ridge Boys) New Mexico – John Denver Though Denver leans more towards folk, there’s too much of a crossover to ignore here. Simply put, he dominated the ’70s with tracks like “Rocky Mountain High,” “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and, of course, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Given the fact that “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has become nothing short of an American standard regardless of genre, it would be remiss not to crown him the King of New Mexico. Denver’s influence is simply too hard to ignore. Honorable Mention: Ryan Bingham New York – Eddie Rabbitt Despite the historic nature of New York as a state, it hasn’t given much to the U.S. in terms of country music (for some obvious reasons). With that being said, however, Eddie Rabbitt made quite a name for himself as a New York native in the genre throughout the late ’70s and ’80s. Overall, Rabbitt would score a staggering 20 #1 hits during his career, with 11 of those coming from his incredibly successful stretch from 1978 to 1983. Additionally, he’d also snag an ACM for Top New Male Artist in 1978 and receive three Grammy nominations throughout his career. North Carolina – Eric Church Simply put, North Carolina is absolutely stacked with talent throughout the past decades. With legendary artists such as Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels and Ronnie Milsap of yesterday and modern stars like Eric Church and Luke Combs, it’s one of the most slept-on states in terms of talent over the years. Given how much of an impact on the current generation he’s had the past two decades, Eric Church takes the slight edge over Travis. Of course, we all know the impact that the Chief has had on the likes of Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and HARDY. Additionally, he’s influenced some of the best and brightest stars in the independent and alt country scene, such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Carter Faith and Colby Acuff. He’s served as a great unifier for so many different subgenres of country over the years, and for that, he stands as North Carolina’s greatest country artist. Honorable Mentions: Randy Travis Luke Combs Charlie Daniels Earl Scruggs Ronnie Milsap Doc Watson North Dakota – Lynn Anderson Another Midwestern state with little to no competition, Lynn Anderson is the clear standout from North Dakota. Scoring a handful of ACM and CMA Awards, as well as a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1971 for “Rose Garden,” Anderson was no stranger to hardware throughout her career. She’d score five #1 hits over the course of her six-decade career, including “You’re My Man,” “How Can I Unlove You” and the aforementioned “Rose Garden,” which also went #1 all-genre. Ohio – Bobby Bare Surprisingly, Ohio had some stiff competition compared to the rest of its bordering Midwest states. Though outlaws, Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe, as well as Earl Thomas Conley, hail from the Buckeye State, Bobby Bare’s impact on the genre in the ’60s gave him the edge here. Working with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Shel Silverstein, Billy Joe Shaver and more, Bare would record standards like “How I Got to Memphis,” as well as hits like “Marie Laveau”, “Detroit City,” which won him his first and only Grammy in 1964 for Best Country & Western Song, and “500 Miles Away from Home. He’d finish his career as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. Honorable Mentions: Johnny Paycheck David Allan Coe Earl Thomas Conley Oklahoma – Toby Keith Arguably the most successful state outside of Texas, Oklahoma has been an absolute powerhouse since the ’90s. Being the home of ’90s legends such as Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Joe Diffie, alternative country powerhouses like Zach Bryan, Turnpike Troubadours, Cross Canadian Ragweed and 2000s stars, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood, there’s an incredible amount of variety coming out of the state. With that being said, Toby Keith takes the crown as Oklahoma’s finest. Throughout his illustrious career, the “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer scored 41 Top 10 hits, 20 #1 singles, 10 #1 albums, 14 ACM Awards and a plethora of other awards, including a posthumous induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. Honorable Mentions: Turnpike Troubadours Reba McEntire Vince Gill Garth Brooks Carrie Underwood Zach Bryan Joe Diffie Blake Shelton Cross Canadian Ragweed Oregon – Joni Harms Like many Western states, there wasn’t a ton of noteworthy country artists hailing from Oregon. Because of this, Joni Harms gets the nod here. Before beginning her music career, Harms would get her start in the rodeo scene, being named Miss Rodeo Oregon and the runner-up for the national Miss Rodeo America title. Throughout her career, she’d chart two songs on the Hot Country Songs chart, with her biggest hit being 1989’s Top 40 hit, “I Need a Wife.” Pennsylvania – Taylor Swift You can feel whichever type of way you want about Swift, her music and her transition out of country music to pop in the 2010s; however, there’s truly no denying the sheer amount of success she had in the genre. Even ignoring the fact that Pennsylvania isn’t home to many notable country artists, Swift still remains one of the most commercially successful female country acts of all time, despite her short-lived time in the genre. Honorable Mentions: Dan Smyers (Dan +Shay) Gabby Barrett Jeannie Seely Rhode Island – Jimmy Gaudreau Since Rhode Island isn’t exactly known for its country scene, Jimmy Gaudreau slots in here for the Ocean State. Throughout his career in bluegrass, he worked alongside the legendary Keith Whitley, as well as Tony Rice, on multiple albums. Being a standout mandolinist, Gaudreau was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013 South Carolina – Bill Anderson “Whispering” Bill Anderson has had a career few can match longevity-wise. During his time as a solo artist, he’d score six #1 hits with the likes of “Still,” ” Mama Sang a Song,” “I Get the Fever” and more. Late in his career, he’d become a prominent songwriter in Nashville, snagging ACM and CMA Awards for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss’ iconic ballad, “Whiskey Lullaby,” as well as George Strait’s “Give It Away.” Thanks to his legendary songwriting career, Anderson is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Honorable Mentions: Josh Turner Darius Rucker The Marshall Tucker Band South Dakota – Buddy Red Bow Like its northern state, South Dakota has not had a huge impact on the genre. Warfield Richards Red Bow, better known as Buddy Red Bow, gets the nod here due to his impact in the genre as a Native American. As a member of the Lakota tribe, Red Bow released four albums from the 1970s to the 1990s. Tennessee – Dolly Parton If anyone had an artist other than Dolly Parton as their top country performer from Tennessee, they’re simply wrong. There’s not much to say that hasn’t been said about Dolly. As an American icon, her reach and influence have spanned far beyond music over the years. Even if you want to ignore that, she’s still written arguably the most iconic ballad in all of American music, “I Will Always Love You.” Additionally, she’s penned standards in the genre such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home” and many more. Honorable Mentions: Chet Atkins Kenny Chesney Kitty Wells Roy Acuff Morgan Wallen Chris Young Kelsea Ballerini Texas – George Strait Easily the most star-studded state in the union in terms of country music, Texas’ influence throughout the years simply cannot be understated. Being the home of the likes of legends such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and George Jones, as well as modern stars like Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Cody Johnson, the Lone Star state is unmatched in terms of talent. While it feels absolutely blasphemous not to choose the living legend himself, Willie Nelson, due to his key role in the Outlaw movement, his songwriting career and his status as an American icon, it’s hard not to choose George Strait thanks to his unprecedented success since the 1980s. With the 60 #1 hits, which is the most by any artist in history, 27 #1 albums and over 100 million records sold worldwide, it’s truly hard to ignore Strait’s long-term success. Honorable Mentions: Willie Nelson Waylon Jennings George Jones Kris Kristofferson Robert Earl Keen Miranda Lambert Cody Johnson Kacey Musgraves Kenny Rogers Ronnie Dunn Utah – SHeDaisy A bit of a forgotten group from the ’90s and 2000s, SHeDaisy experienced quite a bit of success throughout their relatively short career. From 1999 to 2005, they’d score four Top 10 hits, chart all five of their studio albums in the Top 10 and snag two RIAA certifications for their 1999 debut album, The Whole SHeBANG, (platinum) and Sweet Right Here (gold). With not many country artists hailing from Utah, SHeDaisy is the clear standout from the Beehive State. Vermont – Dan Tyminski Another bluegrass artist hailing from the northeast, Dan Tyminski takes the crown for Vermont. As a former member of Alison Krauss’ Union Station, he’s best known for his work on the iconic O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Being the driving force behind the soundtrack’s updated version of “Man of Constant Sorrow,” he won the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals and Single of the Year in 2002 and Single of the Year at the 2001 CMA Awards. Thoughout his career, Tyminski has won a staggering 14 Grammy Awards. Virginia – Patsy Cline Though Virginia is home to the likes of legends such as The Carter Family, Roy Clark and more, Patsy Cline takes the crown as Virginia’s finest. Despite only having an eight-year career in music due to her life tragically being cut short in a fatal plane crash, Cline recorded some of the most iconic songs of the era such as “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces.” As one of the most inconic voices in country music’s history, she has remained one of the most influential female artists throughout the decades. Honorable Mentions: The Carter Family Old Crow Medicine Show Steve Earle Roy Clark Phil Vassar Washington – Zach Top It feels a bit early to crown the new-comer Zach Top as Washington’s greatest country artist, but he’s already set himself on a path few can match in today’s era. Though there are plenty of other stellar artists keeping the traditional scene alive, such as Jake Worthington, Charley Crockett and more, the Washington native has launched himself into the stratosphere, Most notably he became the first-ever winner of the brand-new Best Traditional Country Album category, winning it with his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health . Honorable Mentions: Brandy Clark Brandi Carlile West Virginia – Brad Paisley West Virginia has been home of some great talent throughout country music history. Whether it’s legends like Connie Smith and Kathy Mattea or current giants in the Americana scene such as Sierra Ferrell and Charles Wesley Godwin, there’s never been a shortage of talent coming out of Appalachia. With that being said, Brad Paisley has remained one of the most successful to hail from the Mountain State. With guitar work on par with the likes of John Mayer and songwriting that will simultaneously make you laugh and cry, the “Whiskey Lullaby” singer has cemented himself as a cornerstone of country music in the 2000s and 2010s. Couple that with 19 #1 hits, nine #1 albums and over two dozen RIAA certifications, Paisley has been the complete package throughout most of his career. Honorable Mentions: Sierra Ferrell Kathy Mattea Little Jimmy Dickens Charles Wesley Godwin Connie Smith Wisconsin – Pee Wee King Born all the way back in 1914, Pee Wee King was an important member of the Grand Ole Opry, being credited with bringing the musicians union to the Opry. Throughout his commerical music career, which predominantly spanned from 1948 to 1954, he’d chart eight songs inside the Top 10. His first and only #1 hit came in 1951 with “Slow Poke.” Wyoming – Chris LeDoux Finally, Chris LeDoux takes the crown as the best country artist in the barren state of Wyoming. Being incredibly multifaceted, LeDoux was a ProRodeo Hall of Famer and bronze sculptor. During his music career, he’d chart over a dozen songs, with his biggest hit coming in 1992 with none other than Garth Brooks on the duet, “Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy.” In addition to scoring multiple gold and platinum certifications from the RIAA, LeDoux also received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award at the 2005 ACM Awards.The post The Best Country Singer From Every U.S. State first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

These two go way back. Today Charles Wesley Godwin dropped his latest single, a collab with Luke Combs called “Better That Way,” just a couple weeks after teasing the song during his performance at Stagecoach Festival in California. The West Virginia native opened up for Luke on his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old stadium tour back in 2024, but as it turns out, their relationship goes back even further than that – before either of them were the stars they are today. Charles first opened for Luke nearly 10 years ago, way back in January 2016 at a bar called Schmitt’s Saloon in CWG’s hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia. (The bar was owned by Mountaineers legend Owen Schmitt, a fullback who famously split his head open with his own helmet). Obviously this was before Luke was selling out stadiums: He had just released his This One’s For You EP back in November 2015, which featured songs like “Hurricane,” “She Got the Best Of Me,” and “Beer Can.” This EP would later go on to become his debut full-length album, which has since been certified 8x platinum. Charles, meanwhile, was just getting started in music himself and would release his first project, an EP with his band Union Sound Treaty, later that year. Well for the Morgantown show, Luke didn’t even have an opener – so Schmitt’s Saloon called on a local guy to kick things off. During a conversation we had with Charles, he recalled for us the experience of getting to open up for the future superstar – in front of a crowd of about 350 people: “Owen really believed in me and would give me regular gigs. Every Monday I would play Wing Night, Monday Night Football. And then he would have my band play all the time and give us opportunities to open for people. So Luke came through town. Luke wasn’t at the point yet where he was bringing openers on the road with him. So they plugged me in there as the local opener. It was wild. I think we played to like 350 people. Luke Combs is singing Hurricane, which was starting to blow up there on the radio. And it was amazing.” @whiskeyriff♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff Obviously things have changed quite a bit for both of them. Just a year later, Luke would have his first #1 single with “Hurricane” and would go on to become one of the top-selling country artists in history – in less than a decade. And Charles has become one of the top artists in the so-called “alt. country” scene (which is a title that I hate, because he should be included right up there with the top mainstream country artists). It was no doubt a full-circle moment when Charles had the opportunity to collab with Luke for his latest single, a reflective, blue-collar anthem that fits perfectly for both artists: “I’m better when my jeans have lost about half their blue I’m better when the work on the farm is done by noon Better when her eyes of green are looking back at me We fell in love at 23, you’re still mine to this day Yeah, I’m just better that way” There’s no doubt that Charles has already been introduced to many in the mainstream thanks to festivals like Stagecoach – and thanks to opening for names like Luke Combs and, this past year, Eric Church. Hopefully though, adding Luke to the song provides an opportunity for Charles to finally get a radio hit and show everybody else what they’ve been missing. (Honestly, I’m jealous of people who get to listen to Seneca and How the Mighty Fall for the first time). It would only be fitting if CWG finally has his mainstream breakthrough moment thanks to a collab with Luke Combs. After all, these two go way back – all the way back to a bar in Morgantown, West Virginia in front of a crowd of 350 people. The post Long Before Their New Collab, Charles Wesley Godwin Opened For Luke Combs At A Bar In Morgantown, West Virginia first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Miranda Lambert is cookin' with "Crisco" in her single. Continue reading…