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Every Country Album Set To Release In The Second Half Of 2026
Get ready for a big second half of 2026.
As we’ve seen so many times in the past few years, 2026 has been filled to the brim with stellar album after stellar album from week to week. Despite the controversy as of late, Zach Bryan officially kicked things off on January 9th with the release of his stellar sixth studio album, With Heaven On Top. Later that month, we also saw brilliant debuts from the likes of Kashus Culpepper on Act I and the severely underrated duo Low Gap on Geneva.
The rest of the winter months would be highlighted by the likes of Megan Moroney snagging her first all-genre #1 with her junior record, Cloud 9, Clay Street Unit proving why they’re one of the most underrated bands on Sin & Squalor, Luke Combs continuing his hot streak with the release of his “comeback” album, The Way I Am, and Flatland Cavalry and Drayton Farley ending March on a high note with brilliant albums of their own on both Work of Heart and A Heavy Duty Heart.
Of course, you can’t not mention the convoluted rollout of Sturgill Simpson’s latest outing as Johnny Blue Skies on Mutiny After Midnight, Ella Langley’s record-shattering release of Dandelion, Ernest setting sail on Deep Blue and Kacey Musgraves’ feature-filled outing on Middle of Nowhere.
Simply put, it’s been a massive year already for country music, both commercially and critically, and it’s honestly just getting more jam-packed from here.
May closes out with a bang next week, with Willie Nelson releasing his mind-blowing 156th-career album, Kip Moore dropping Reason to Believe and an unearthed collection of Don Williams songs slated to release.
On June 12th alone, we have Koe Wetzel dropping his recently-announced album, The Night Champion, Midland returning to their roots on their new album, Stages and Keith Urban making the bold move to release a yacht rock cover album. Throw in the likes of Colby Acuff planning to release his seventh album since 2020 on HANDMADE HORSEPOWER, reigning CMA Group of the Year winners, The Red Clay Strays releasing their junior album, Cody Johnson closing the month on his long-awaited return, Banks of the Trinity, you have a month for the ages.
July is not quite as stacked but still busy. Charles Wesley Godwin headlines with the recently-announced Christian Name, with Carter Faith dropping a deluxe edition of her ACM Album of the Year-nominated debut album, Cherry Valley , and Waylon Wyatt and Buffalo Traffic Jam dropping their debut albums to close out the month.
As of now, August is highlighted by Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) dropping their second album under the Silverada title, Living Proof. From there, it’s a bit unclear what the final quarter will bring. However, it’s speculated that Shane Smith & the Saints, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wyatt Flores, Waylon Jennings and more are dropping projects as well.
May
May 29
Dream Chaser – Willie Nelson
Reason to Believe – Kip Moore
Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes – Don Williams
Ain’t Dead Yet – Joshua Ray Walker
I HOPE THIS HELPS – Alana Springsteen
June
June 2
HANDMADE HORSEPOWER – Colby Acuff
June 5
Grateful – The Red Clay Strays
Union Made – Old Crow Medicine Show
Bridges – Jo Dee Messina
Live at Third Man Records – Sierra Ferrell
A Sign In The Weather – Bella White
Heavy Thrill – Caleb Caudle
Tulsa Turn Around – Jason Eady
Signs – Charlie Marie
June 12
The Night Champion – Koe Wetzel
Stages – Midland
Flow State – Keith Urban
California Sunrise (10th Anniversary Edition) – Jon Pardi
Breakfield – Breakfield
Fool in a King Size Bed – Kenny Whitmire (EP)
June 19
The Story of Michael and Tanya – The War And Treaty
June 26
Banks of the Trinity – Cody Johnson
Pink Pocket Pistol – Willow Avalon
Then Again – Rodney Crowell
Good for the Soul – Frank Ray
July
July 3
Something to Say – Blake Whiten
July 17
The Great Unknowing – John R. Miller (Digital release)
One Track Mind – Gary Stewart
15 – Scotty McCreery
July 24
Christian Name – Charles Wesley Godwin
Cherry Valley Forever – Carter Faith
Little Miss Twain – Shania Twain
Sins of the Father – Brantley Gilbert
Dustpiles – Waylon Wyatt
July 31
Pictures of You – Buffalo Traffic Jam
The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales – Shaboozey
August
August 7
Living Proof – Silverada
Dark Horses – Corb Lund
Piecemeal – Joshua Quimby
August 14
Half Moon – Maggie Rose
Ashley Cooke – Ashley Cooke
August 20-21
Trespasser – Grace Potter
Tonight’s News – Ken Pomeroy (EP)
Young – Dan + Shay
August 28
Country Desire – Alicia Blue
Signs of Life – Trey Pendley
September
September 18
Signs – Luke Bryan
October
October 2
Sunriser – Lee Brice
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