country music

Willi Carlisle Press Photo by Whit Stone.jpg

Willi Carlisle blends the absurd and the sentimental on 'Winged Victory'

9:16am June 28, 2025

by Scott Simon

On Winged Victory, songwriter Willi Carlisle weaves between the absurd and the sentimental. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Carlisle about the 11 tracks of originals and covers.

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Orville Peck always wants a sense of mystery

7:00am June 05, 2025

Orville Peck is performing on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret. His winding path to his dream role included a stint as a punk drummer and hitting pause on his country career to get sober.

Vince Gill Hosts "Insight: Iconic Artists And The Gear That Inspires Them" To Kick Off Summer NAMM, July 17-19 In Nashville

He's been nominated 32 times for CMA Musician of the Year — but never won

5:15am November 20, 2024

by Neda Ulaby

Steel pedal guitarist Paul Franklin set a CMA record as a 32-time nominee for Musician of the Year. Will this year be different?

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Musgraves performs in Nashville in March.

Kacey Musgraves says a past boyfriend helped her become more accepting

3:30am September 05, 2024

From the beginning of her career, Grammy-winning musician Kacey Musgraves has been doing what feels authentic to herself. She sings about familiar country themes like falling in love and heartbreak. But she also sings about smoking pot and queer relationships. Musgraves talks to Rachel about not being defined by anyone but herself, becoming more open-minded and living with the ghost of her grandma.

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Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center, Nov. 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. Beyoncé is full of surprises — and on March 12, 2024, she announced she is dropping a new album: Act II: Cowboy Carter.

Beyoncé's new album is inspired by backlash to her entering the country music genre

8:34pm March 19, 2024

by Jonathan Franklin

With less than 10 days until the release of her new album, Cowboy Carter, the multiple Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter discusses the moment that inspired her to delve into country music.

Beyoncé attends the Luar fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 13, 2024 in New York City.

Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em' debuts at No. 1 on the country chart

6:17am February 21, 2024

by Ayana Archie

Beyoncé became the only other solo woman alongside Taylor Swift to achieve the feat with no accompanying artists, Billboard said.

Toby Keith performs during a 2014 "Salute to the Troops" concert in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Toby Keith's 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue' lives on in MAGA country

11:27am February 16, 2024

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Keith's death shined a new spotlight on his music, particularly political anthem "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," best known for its lyric: "We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way."

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Beyoncé watches Jay-Z as he accepts the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award during the 66th Grammy Awards on Feb. 4.

A radio station is now playing Beyoncé's country song after an outcry from fans

12:22pm February 14, 2024

by Ayana Archie

A fan said he emailed KYKC in Oklahoma and was told KYKC doesn't play Beyoncé, as it is a country radio station. The station said it did not yet have access to the song.

Tim McBride and Toby Keith at a VIP meet-and-greet before a concert in 2017.

Toby Keith never knew it, but he helped my brother make a big life change

5:34pm February 06, 2024

by Kelly McBride

Tim is a Special Olympian who until recently had lived with our parents. My mom and I were collaborating to get him excited about relocating to my home, when Toby announced a concert near there.

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney — aka Dan + Shay.

The speed of fame almost made Dan + Shay split up. This is how they made it through

7:19am October 04, 2023

Country music duo Dan + Shay have had a successful few years: Three Grammys, a hit song with Justin Bieber, and a highly anticipated new album, Bigger Houses. But the album almost didn't happen.

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