Country Now News

To honor Veterans Day, Luke Combs shared a poignant clip of him performing his unreleased song, “Ever Mine,” which the country superstar co-wrote with Charlie Worsham and Hailey Whitters. In the caption of the video, which Combs shared on Monday (November 10), he wrote: “In honor of Veterans Day tomorrow, here’s “Ever Mine.” We wrote this from the perspective of a soldier writing a letter to his wife during war without knowing if he’ll ever see her again. Love this one a lot.” Combs first performed a spare, acoustic take on “Ever Mine” in 2020 during lockdown, with the deeply emotional track clearly holding a special place in his heart, even though he has yet to release an official version of the song. With an upcoming studio album expected in early 2026, hopefully this stunning song will find its way onto the tracklist of Combs’ highly-anticipated new project. (Holler)

Darius Rucker and fiancée Emily Deahl, who announced their engagement on October 8, are taking a laid-back approach to their wedding plans. The 59-year-old country star revealed during an appearance on the Today Show on Monday (November 10) that they aren't planning anything formal and will "just get married and have a big party somewhere." The couple have been together for several years, but kept their relationship private in order to protect their love, with Rucker proposing on Pawleys Island, South Carolina, describing the special occasion as "a great day." Deahl, 33, a lifestyle content creator and singer-songwriter, said that “somewhere along the way of loving him I discovered how sacred love is to me. And all I wanted to do was protect it." Rucker was previously married to Beth Leonard from 2000 to 2020, and they share two children together, daughter Daniella, 24, and son Jack, 21, with the Hootie & the Blowfish frontman also a dad to daughter Carolyn, 30, with ex Elizabeth Ann Phillips. (People)

On Tuesday (November 11), Megan Moroney shared the details of her upcoming album, Cloud 9, which is set for release on February 20, 2026. Her new project features 15 tracks spread across three sides, including the title song, “Beautiful Things,” and “6 Months Later,” which earlier this year reached the Top 10 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and cracked the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I am so excited for my fans and I to dive into this new world of Cloud 9 together,” Moroney said in a statement. “These songs were written by the strongest, most confident version of myself I’ve ever been. Cloud 9 is a state of mind, and I have no doubt this will be the best chapter yet.” Moroney, the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year, is gearing up for a standout performance at the 59th annual CMA Awards on November 19, where she is tied for the most nominations with six, including single, song, and album of the year, as well as female vocalist of the year. (Billboard)

During a recent interview with Adriana Trigiani on the You Are What You Read podcast, Kenny Chesney reflected on his new book, Heart Life Music, by sharing the touching story of the first time his mother heard him sing. “The first time was at school, actually. I was in a music program,” Chesney recalled. “It was the first time my mom ever heard me sing, and she was so nervous because she goes, ‘You're going to do what? You're going to get up and sing in front of the student body and all their parents?’ And I went, ‘Yeah, I think so’. It was such a different thing for both of us. I remember driving home with her and my stepfather, and they were stunned. And I was stunned! Because I'd never done it.” Chesney’s solo vocal debut was a defining moment for the future country music star, an experience that revealed his talent and sparked a new passion. Chesney will conclude his book tour at the Miami Book Fair on Sunday (November 16). (Holler)

Drake Milligan released his sophomore album, Tumbleweed, on Friday (November 7), with the 27-year-old Fort Worth native blending traditional Texas country, Western swing, and modern Nashville sounds on his new material. Recorded in Nashville with producer Trent Willmon, the album features the standout track, “Old Flames, Old Whiskey,” which he released as a single on October 17. After making his name opening for a variety of country superstars after taking third place on America's Got Talent in 2022, Milligan is excited to embark on his own headlining Tumbleweed World Tour, which kicks off November 11 in Nashville and continues with stops across the U.S. and Europe in 2026. “After a year of opening for legends like Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, and Blake Shelton, it feels amazing to step out and headline these shows,” Milligan says. “I can’t wait to see the fans singing these new songs back to me in the crowd.” (People)

CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Stephen Wilson Jr. has just announced his 2026 Gary The Torch Tour. The 17-date run kicks off on March 6 in Columbus, Ohio, and hits major music markets like Toronto, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Denver, before concluding on April 25 in Chicago. The Indiana-born, Nashville-based rising country star won over fans during his acclaimed two-year søn of dad tour, alongside notable appearances supporting Eric Church and HARDY. Wilson Jr. will start 2026 with additional shows opening for Church and some high-profile festival appearances, before launching his headlining tour. Ahead of his scheduled performance at the CMA Awards on Nov. 19, Wilson Jr. will also be the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Nov. 18, while also making his headlining debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with two sold-out shows on Nov. 23 and 24. Ticket pre-sales for the newly announced shows start on Tuesday (November 11), with general on-sales beginning Friday (November 14). (All Country News)

Trisha Yearwood reflected on her marriage to Garth Brooks during her appearance at the "In Her Own Words: An Evening with Trisha Yearwood" event at The Paley Center for Media in New York City on Saturday (November 8). The 61-year-old singer shared that after marrying Brooks, 63, and moving to Oklahoma, she shifted her focus from “touring 200 days a year” to building their family life. “I was a bonus mom to three children and I was trying to make a marriage work, because I had learned that marriages don't work if you're never together,” Yearwood shared, while adding, “You have to be together. I made a conscious effort to be there." The couple, celebrating their 20th anniversary next month, first met in 1987 and have since collaborated and toured together extensively. Yearwood just released her new album, Christmastime, on November 7, and revealed that the opening track, “Christmas Time Is Here,” was her wedding entrance song when they were married on December 10, 2005. (People)

Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill will be honored with the 2025 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th annual CMA Awards on November 19 in Nashville. The award is presented to “an iconic artist” who has “positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre over the course of many years,” with past recipients including Johnny Cash (2015), Alan Jackson (2022), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Loretta Lynn (2021), Charley Pride (2020) and George Strait (2024). This new honor only adds to Gill’s distinguished career, which includes 22 Grammy wins, 18 CMA Awards including four wins for Song of the Year, and a record 12-year run hosting the CMA Awards. Recently signed to a lifetime deal with MCA Records, Gill released the EP, 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had, in October, and continues to actively shape the genre both as a solo artist and collaborator, including performing live with the Eagles since 2017. (Billboard)

During a recent backstage tour of her talk show, Kelly Clarkson revealed her top three all-time favorite albums, with the pop star teasing viewers by proclaiming, “I  hope you like them. If you don’t, you’re dumb.” After praising a diverse series of artists like Alanis Morissette, the Toadies. and Aretha Franklin, Clarkson shared her top three picks, which are: Patty Griffin’s 2002 folk classic, 1000 Kisses, with Clarkson praising Griffin as her all-time favorite singer-songwriter; U2’s 1998 greatest hits compilation, The Best Of 1980-1990, with the host recalling seeing the Irish rock band play a transformative show at Madison Square Garden which “was like a spiritual experience”; and Lauryn Hill’s Grammy-winning debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which Clarkson admires for its organic sound, vocal brilliance, and deeply authentic songwriting that inspired her own musical journey, crediting the album with being one of the reasons she became a songwriter. (Billboard)

Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” continues to rule the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for a fifth consecutive week. This marks Swift’s third single to spend at least five weeks at No. 1, alongside “Anti-Hero” (eight weeks in 2022) and “Blank Space” (seven weeks in 2014). “The Fate of Ophelia” garnered 27.4 million streams, 59.2 million radio airplay audience impressions, and sold 29,000 copies in the U.S. over the past week, bolstered by the release of the song’s “Alone in My Tower Acoustic Version.” The single’s continued success coincides with her No. 1 album, The Life of a Showgirl, claiming its fifth consecutive week atop the Billboard 200, extending Swift’s record as the first artist to simultaneously have both her album and single spend their first five weeks at No. 1.

In another notable move, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” surges back into the Top 10, with the King of Pop’s 1982 hit jumping from No. 32 to No. 10 on the strength of substantial Halloween streaming numbers and significant radio airplay around the holiday. With that achievement, Jackson becomes the first artist to rank in the Hot 100's Top 10 in six distinct decades, reaching the top tier of the chart in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ‘20s. Notably, an 11-year-old Jackson also was a member of The Jackson 5 when they spent their first week in the Hot 100’s Top 10 on the last official chart of the ‘60s (dated Dec. 27, 1969), with their breakthrough hit, “I Want You Back.”

The rest of this week’s Top 10 remains mostly the same as the previous week, as HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, holds at No. 2, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” stays at No. 3, Swift’s “Opalite” remains at No. 4, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” keeps at No. 5, Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” sticks at No. 6, Kehlani’s “Folded” stays at No. 7, Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” moves up two spots to No. 8, and Morgan Wallen’s “I Got Better” remains at No. 9. (Billboard)

Clay Walker, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1996, revealed that he is currently facing a challenging period with his condition. The 56-year-old country star underwent surgery in March 2025 to implant a baclofen pump aimed at easing muscle spasticity, though his balance and mobility remain difficult. Despite the rough patch and visible struggles on stage, Walker remains determined and optimistic, crediting physical therapy and small progress like walking unassisted on a treadmill for hope. Celebrating nearly 30 years of living with MS, Walker is embracing his journey with resilience, describing himself as "like a pit bull" who refuses to give up, finding joy and energy in performing while acknowledging MS as the difficult cross he must bear. “MS has been a journey and some of it has been pretty rough, but I've started to turn the corner,” Walker shared, while adding, “My joy comes from being on stage.” (People)

On Friday (November 8), Jelly Roll canceled the final show of his debut Australia and New Zealand tour scheduled to take place in Auckland later that night. The Grammy-nominated country star announced via Instagram just hours before showtime that his headlining concert at The Outer Fields at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand, was cancelled due to illness. “Dear Auckland, I’ve done everything I can, I just can’t shake it,” he wrote on Instagram, while adding, “It breaks my heart, I’ve probably missed three shows in the last decade. I pride myself on showing up no matter what. Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.” The late cancellation frustrated many fans who only learned of it upon arriving at the venue, especially as it was his first-ever New Zealand performance following a successful tour that included sold-out shows across Australia. Live Nation confirmed the cancellation, offering full refunds while thanking fans for their understanding. (Billboard)

Chase Matthew has scored his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “Darlin’,” after garnering 31.3 million audience impressions for the week of Oct. 31–Nov. 6. This marks Matthew’s third charting single, following his first appearance in the Top 10 with his 2014 breakthrough hit, “Love You Again,” which peaked at No. 9. The Sevierville, Tennessee native co-wrote the track with Jake Angel and Alex Maxwell, who also share producer credits. Matthew’s rapidly growing fanbase was bolstered by a recent high-profile opening stint on Keith Urban's High and Alive World Tour, with a series of solo headlining dates scheduled into next year. Meanwhile, Washington-born Tucker Wetmore earned his second Top 10 on the Country Airplay chart as “3, 2, 1” climbed to No. 10, also marking a breakthrough for co-writer Summer Overstreet, daughter of esteemed songwriter Paul Overstreet, who celebrated her first ever Top 10 hit as a writer. (Billboard)

Following last month’s announcement of an upcoming blockbuster show in Clemson, South Carolina, George Strait has revealed another major 2026 concert. The one-night-only stadium performance will take place in Strait's home state of Texas on April 25 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. Joining the King of Country are Texas stars Miranda Lambert and Hudson Westbrook, making it a true all-Texas affair. “There’s nothing quite like a George Strait show in the Lone Star State,” reads the caption on the show announcement on Instagram. This newly announced date comes over a decade since the 73-year-old music legend’s last show in Lubbock, with tickets set to go on-sale on Friday (November 21). In June of 2024, Strait broke the U.S. outdoor attendance record with his show at Kyle Field on the Texas A&M University campus, which was subsequently broken by Zach Bryan’s historic gig at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor in September 2025. (Holler)

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl continues its dominance by securing a fifth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 120,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 6. It is the second album in 2025 to spend its first five weeks atop the chart, following Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, which led for eight straight weeks following its May release. Showgirl marks Swift’s third album to start off with at least five consecutive weeks at No. 1, alongside the six-week chart-topping run of Folklore in 2020, and the initial 12-week rule of The Tortured Poets Department in 2024. Other notable moves in this week’s Top 10 include Florence + the Machine notching their fifth Top 10 of their career, as Everybody Scream debuts at No. 4, while Tyler, The Creator’s former chart-topper, CHROMAKOPIA, surges from No. 117 all the way up to No. 5 following its one-year anniversary reissue.

The rest of this week’s Billboard 200 Top 10 includes a series of former No. 1 albums, with the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack holding at No. 2, Wallen’s I’m the Problem staying at No. 3,  Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend slipping one spot to No. 6,  SZA’s SOS rises two slots to No. 8, Wallen’s One Thing at a Time jumps up two places to No. 9, and Cardi B’s AM I THE DRAMA? falls two spots to No. 10. The Top 10 is rounded out by Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, which drops one slot to No. 7. (Billboard)

As part of its centennial celebration, the Grand Ole Opry released Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs on November 7, a double album featuring 20 previously unreleased live recordings spanning over 60 years. The collection starts with Patsy Cline’s 1962 rendition of “Crazy,” and includes covers like Ashley McBryde’s 2024 rendition of “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” while also highlighting fan-favorite songs from over the decades by the likes of George Jones, Vince Gill, Luke Combs, and Carrie Underwood. To promote the release, Billboard exclusively premiered a 2007 video of Dolly Parton singing “I Will Always Love You” to Porter Wagoner on his 50th Opry anniversary, accompanied by Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart. “If it hadn’t been for Porter, I wouldn’t have written this song. It was kind of my goodbye song to Porter,” Parton affectionately says of her former collaborator. Dan Rogers, the Opry’s VP and Executive Producer, says the album’s 20-song tracklist came together by “treating the selection process as if we were putting together a perfect night at the Opry.” (Billboard) 

On Wednesday (November 5), Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins shared a heartfelt video on Instagram capturing the moment they revealed her pregnancy news to their family, announcing they are expecting their fifth child. The clip shows Lauren setting up a camera before telling Rhett and their four daughters – Lillie Carolina, 4, Lennon Love, 5, Ada James, 8, and Willa Gray, 10 – about the exciting news, eliciting joyous reactions from the whole family. Rhett teased in the caption of the post, “Finding out about #5. Saw that phone propped up from a mile away and knew Laur was up to something 😂.” The couple had initially announced the pregnancy in August with an updated version of Rhett’s song “Life Changes,” reflecting the reality of "five under 10." Rhett, who cherishes fatherhood despite its “beautiful chaos,” has praised his daughters for teaching him patience and love, while describing being a dad as the greatest blessing in his life. (People)

Kelsea Ballerini is set to release her six-song EP, Mount Pleasant, on November 14, previewed by the new single, “I Sit In Parks,” which arrived on Friday (November 7). The project signals a new creative era for the 32-year-old country star, and includes tracks like “People Pleaser,” “Emerald City,” and “Check on Your Friends,” with the tracklist and cover art revealed on Ballerini’s Instagram post on Thursday (Nov. 6). Following her 2024 No. 1 album Patterns, Ballerini continues to gain acclaim with multiple award nominations this year, including Entertainer and Female Artist of the Year nods at the ACMs, while also being up for Female Vocalist of the Year at the upcoming CMAs. Ballerini recently wrapped her highly successful 2025 Live On Tour dates, and recently took part in honoring former tourmate and frequent collaborator Kenny Chesney during his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. (Billboard)

On Thursday (November 6), the CMA Awards announced the initial lineup of performers for the November 19 ceremony, featuring live performances from all three top nominees Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Ella Langley – each with six nominations – alongside Zach Top, who scored five nods. Langley will perform her new single “Choosin’ Texas,” Moroney will sing “6 Months Later,” and Top will perform “Guitar.” Other announced performers include Shaboozey, BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, and New Artist of the Year nominees Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr., who will perform solo and in a duet with Shaboozey. In addition to being a leading nominee, Lainey Wilson will also serve triple-duty by performing during the event as well as solo hosting the three-hour show live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The CMA Awards will be airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu the following day, with more performers set to be revealed in coming weeks. (Variety)

Todd Snider was arrested on Sunday (November 2) in Salt Lake City on charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing, and making threats of violence, after an alleged assault outside his hotel led to his hospitalization and subsequent disruptive behavior at Holy Cross Hospital. The incident reportedly involved Snider refusing to leave the hospital after being discharged, with the Americana singer-songwriter later returning to confront hospital staff and make verbal threats, which resulted in his arrest. Following the assault, Snider’s team announced the cancellation all the dates on his 2025 High, Lonesome and Then Some Tour as he recovers from severe injuries sustained during the attack, with no current timeline for his return to performing. His tour, which began in Englewood, Colorado to support his recent album, has been paused indefinitely while he seeks medical treatment. (Billboard)