New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Smile"

New Music Video From Post Malone and Morgan Wallen - "I Had Some Help"

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Graveyard Whistling"

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "One Thing At A Time"

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Thought You Should Know"

That Nashville Sound's Top Country & Americana Songs of 2021

2021 has been another fabulous year of country music. Traditional country, bluegrass, modern country and Americana are all represented well in this modern day and age and this list proves that out- we’ve cast a wide net over that definition of roots-oriented music.  

Later this month, we'll unveil our top albums of 2021, but today, we tackle our favorite songs. Few are radio singles. But you probably knew that already if you read this site.

Here are the rules by which this list was selected. It had to be released off an album that was released in 2021, is an independent release not on any other project, or is an already-released single off a to-be-released album. If the album came out in 2020 or before, it couldn’t be included- even if it wasn't released as a single until 2021. 

Looking back, there's some amazing songs that moved us more than all the others:

2020 - Mickey Guyton - "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?" 

2019 - Erin Enderlin - "Broken"
2018 – Ashley McBryde – “Girl Goin’ Nowhere”
2017 – Sunny Sweeney – “Bottle By My Bed”
2016 - Jack Ingram - "The Sailor and the Sea"
2015-  Chris Stapleton - "Tennessee Whiskey"
2014 - Emily West - "Made for the Radio"
2013 - Kacey Musgraves - "Follow Your Arrow"
2012 - Waylon Jennings - "I Do Believe"
2011 - Ronnie Dunn - "Cost of Livin'"
2010 - Joe Diffie - "Route 5 Box 109"
2009 - Dean Brody - "Cattleman's Gun"
2008 - Jamey Johnson - "In Color"
2007 - Miranda Lambert - "Gunpowder and Lead"
2006 – Johnny Cash – “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”

And without further ado, we count down the songs that moved us the most in 2021. 

1. Jason Eady - "French Summer Sun" - Co-written with fellow Texan (and That Nashville Sound favorite) Drew Kennedy, this song proves that the songwriting spirit of the likes of Guy Clark, John Prine and Woody Guthrie continue to live on in those they inspire. The song's heavy topic is the weight of the cost of war and all that follows the loss of a soldier. It shares dual stories of the same soldier, one who died on the beaches of Normandy and one that survived. He outlines the life (and the branches that break off from those branches of the survivor) and compares it against the story that ends and is cut down on that beach in the French summer sun. It's a cinematic masterpiece in five minutes and is pure genius. Eady is a frequent name at this site and this is just another demonstration of his lyrical brilliance. 

2. Addison Johnson - "Cumberland River '58" - This song is another great story about an up-and-comer musician who mistakenly sleeps with the wife of one of the "Fat Cats" and is cut down in his prime. The haunting pedal steel in this song accompanies the track and the analogy of today's "disposability" of artists to the major labels cannot be overstated despite the fact that this fictional story occurred sixty years ago. 

3. Elvie Shane - "My Boy" - Our first major radio hit on our list comes from a brand new artist who took a heartfelt slow-tempo song with heart through the clutter of drinking and backwoods uptempo songs all the way to number one. That alone is remarkable. It's a tribute to a stepson from a stepfather and a statement that blood alone doesn't tie family binds. It's got great heart and Shane delivers it with passionate conviction. One look to the comments on the video comments on YouTube shows just how much this song has meant to blended families of all ages. 

4. Lainey Wilson - "Things A Man Oughta Know" - The song itself is all about a woman teaching a few lessons to a man, breaking gender stereotypes in a way that is both enticing and important. “Things A Man Oughta Know” reflects this honesty and self-conviction. “I can hang a picture same as I can take it down/ And how to keep it hidden when a heart gets broke/ Yeah I know a few things a man oughta know,” she croons on the track. Written with Jonathan Singleton and Jason Nix, “Things A Man Oughta Know” had the collaborators discussing the characteristics their parents taught them to look for in themselves and others. “It’s really a song about having good character and a song about treating people the way that you want to be treated — something that we all should know,” she explains. “It’s about standing up for what’s right. I would like for people to hear that through my music too.”

5. Megan Conner - "Me, 10 Years Ago" - I heard Megan (songwriter on tracks cut by Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Danny Gokey and more) perform this track for the first time at my Golf & Guitars Music Festival and it floored me. Part retrospective, part sentimental, it tells the story of a woman who has had some successes and some challenges penning a message to herself ten years prior and giving herself advice on what's important and what's not. Conner's "Bonnie Tyler" powerhouse vocals deliver it with emotional feeling and the highly personal lyrics are introspective and in some cases, revealing. She's hopeful of releasing it as a single early in 2022 so keep an eye out for this brilliantly written song. 

6. Marc Broussard - "Sad Songs" - This Louisiana-native usually borrows from zydeco and soulful themes and productions in his song, but this one slows things down with the blues- with an assist from a little guitar and keys. Broussard's voice is the greatest instrument here and his delivery on this (and nearly every other song he sings) delivers a room-capturing attention that only voices like the Chris Stapleton and Jamey Johnson's can do. 

7. Cody Jinks - "I Don't Trust My Memories Any More" - This is incredible classic country along the lines of the best of Waylon, Haggard, Randy Travis and others. Damn this sing cuts deep. "No I Don’t Trust My Memories Anymore/They ain’t the friends I thought they were before/They used to be so fond /Now my faith in them is gone/No I Don’t Trust My Memories Anymore." The pedal steel in the background is just haunting and it's a great reminder that we've got a champion like Jinks to carry the traditional country torch going forward in a major way. 

8. Morgan Wallen - "Sand In My Boots" - Much has been made of Wallen's discretions this year and the reaction of the media and country music. But if you peel back the controversy, what you get is a (mostly) terrific mainstream country album filled with some strong radio-friendly songs on his Dangerous album. The standout on that project is this longing song about a Tennessee boy who lost his heart to a girl at a beach and now's back home longing for her. It's a simple hook but delivered with a lush production and heartfelt delivery with great lyrics. 

9. Marty Stuart - "I've Been Around" - More than a decade after his passing, Johnny Cash's voice was heard again as Stuart took lyrics that Cash had written and released them to this incredible tribute in song. Stuart nails Cash's lyrics with a country thump, with Stuart imitating Cash’s signature vocal. It's classic Cash at his Man In Black best. Stuart says that he created the song’s melody in the style he figured Cash would have used and he nailed it perfectly. This track deserves to be on this list for it's historic relevancy alone. 

10. Mae Estes - "Hell You Raised" - Estes channels the best of Miranda Lambert's fire and brimstone style and delivers this bad girl anthem with a great groove and spirit. She channels Wynonna and Dixie Chicks attitude and sings the gritty uptempo lyrics with conviction. She makes it damn-near impossible not to move along. Co-written with TNS favorite writer Chris Roberts and Brandon James. 

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen – "More Surprised Than Me"

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "7 Summers"

Deep Cut Challenge Making The Rounds Around Country Music

Tim McGraw decided to create his own internet web challenge called the #DeepCutsChallenge. He first posted a video over the weekend explaining that all artists have a song they love to sing or jam out to when alone, even if it may not be a very popular song to perform. These songs are more commonly referred to as "deep cuts" or songs on an album that never made it to radio and are therefore not very well known or popular.

McGraw sang his favorite song "Take the Long Way Home" by John Schneider and then nominated Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and Kenny Chesney to sing one of their favorite "deep cuts" and post it to Instagram while tagging other artists to also participate. It's gone on to include the likes of Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Vince Gill & more.  Here's a collection of some of the performances and the songs they chose- click on the song title to watch/hear the performances. 

Tim McGraw - John Schneider's "Take The Long Way Home"

Vince Gill - Bob McDill's "Last Dance At The Old Texas Moon"

Luke Combs - Chris Stapleton's "What Are You Listening To?"

Morgan Wallen - Jason Aldean's "Water Tower"

Brad Paisley - Steve Wariner's "What I Didn't Do"

Darius Rucker - Foster and Lloyd's "You Can Come Cryin' To Me"

Charles Kelley - Temple of the Dog - "Call Me A Dog"

Russell Dickerson - Tim McGraw's "Seventeen"

Thomas Rhett - Hank Williams, Jr's "Blues Man"

And keep an eye on Faith Hill's Instagram account this week. She was the most recent to be nominated by Vince Gill... 

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Chasin' You"

New Music Video From Morgan Wallen - "Whiskey Glasses"

That Nashville Sound Tuesday Newsbytes: Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Morgan Wallen & More

There's some news, some new music videos and a couple of new music albums forthcoming that are all yours in one big post this Tuesday morning. Happy reading...

- A new music video came out from the Forever Words project, an album that came out last Friday featuring today's biggest country stars singing never-heard lyrics written as poetry by Johnny Cash. "Forever/To June This Morning" features Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly.

- Zac Brown's side band Sir Rosevelt came out with a new music video for their latest single "Something 'Bout You."

- Deana Carter has announced that she's back in the studio recording new music for an upcoming project.

- Luke Combs is releasing a deluxe version of his debut album This One's For You on 6/1 with five additional songs.

- The duo of LOCASH released a new music video for their hit single, "Don't Get Better Than This."

-  Morgan Wallen is parlaying his success of "Up Down" to the release of his new 4/27 album release, If I Know Me. “I moved to town three years ago and have gotten to write with some of the best songwriters and artists in Nashville,” says Wallen. “I’m ready for people to hear this album and get to know what I’m all about. There are songs that have made the journey with me and I’m just really proud to be putting If I Know Me out there.”

Golf & Guitars Music Festival Sets May 21 & May 22 For 2018 Dates- Crosses Million Dollar Mark In Fundraising For Children's Charities

The Haggin Oaks Golf Complex is thrilled to be partnering with KNCI 105.1 FM and hosting the 11th Annual Golf & Guitars Music Festival and Children’s Charity Concert on May 21 and May 22. Golf and Guitars is a celebrity pro-am golf tournament and concert featuring nationally recognized & major label country music artists that raises money for two key children's charities here in Sacramento. This year will mark the million dollar mark that has been raised for charity in the event's history.

Each golfer in the tournament gets to play with one of the celebrities and then gets a seat next to the stage where these artists put on a tremendous concert underneath the beautiful golf course sky.

The hottest acts in country music, the up-and-coming artists you’ll soon see topping the charts and some of Nashville’s very best songwriters are all donating their time to help raise funds for children’s charities during the Golf and Guitars KNCI Music Festival. Funds will go to the Morton Golf Foundation and a portion will paid out via a tournament purse to the artist’s children’s charity of choice.

Ticket Prices:
Day Two Concert General Admission: $35
VIP Ticket: $150 - VIP Tickets include designated concert seating, buffet dinner and a non-alcoholic drinks for both nights.
New One Day VIP Ticket: $100 (Tuesday night only) - includes designated concert seating, buffet dinner and non-alcoholic drinks for both nights.

 

The Beneficiaries:
The Morton Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, is to create a recreational environment that builds lasting personal development and that seamlessly introduces life’s core values of the great game of golf to the youth, disabled and underserved communities in the Sacramento region.

 

Tuesday, May 22 Night Performers:

Kane Brown
Love & Theft
Maggie Rose
Jason Michael Carroll
Jimmy Wayne
Runaway June
Jordan Davis
Morgan Wallen

preshow- Cripple Creek Band

Monday, May 21 Night Performers:

Bryan White
Drew Kennedy
Courtney Patton
Jason Eady
Jamie Lin Wilson
Jake Worthington
Jim McCormick
Megan Conner
Erin Enderlin
Avalon Kali
Chris Roberts
Kimbery Dahme
Derek George

Get your tickets and raise money for a wonderful cause at www.golfandguitars.com.