The mother-of-two postpones her ‘Studio Sessions’ residency to prioritize family amid her ex-husband’s health struggles. Continue reading…
Country Music News – Taste of Country
Month: August 2025
The country legend will get her final sendoff at the legendary venue where she performed more than any other artist. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Lambert and her husband Brendan McLoughling are juggling busy schedules, but they always make time for each other, too. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
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The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
The mother-of-two postpones her ‘Studio Sessions’ residency to prioritize family amid her ex-husband’s health struggles. Continue reading…
The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
This week, Megan Moroney threw the ultimate bash in celebration of earning her second-ever No. 1 at country radio with the PLATINUM-certified hit “Am I Okay?” Surrounded by songwriters, friends, fans, and her team, Moroney reflected on the fan-favorite anthem that she says “created a whole era” of her life.
The milestone event took place at The Emo Cowgirl, Moroney’s own pop-up bar located at The Westin’s Nashville’s L27 Lounge. Her talented co-writers Luke Laird and Jessie Jo Dillon as well as the song’s producer, Kristian Bush, listened intently as the Georgia native gushed over the song’s journey.
“This has been crazy. I mean, ‘Am I Okay?’ This song created a whole era for me. We invented the color blue with this song,” Moroney joked, earning a laugh from those in attendance. “So to my songwriters, I don’t know, writing with y’all is just so effortless. I love both of y’all so much.”
She then hinted that this might not be the last hit these songwriters create together, because since writing “Am I Okay?” they have come together on plenty more occasions to pen songs that we have yet to hear.
“We have songs in our phone that no one else here does that I think are, I don’t want to say better than this song, but I just mean I’m just so happy with where this write then led to the other writes. And then we just, I feel like are writing soulmates. So I love y’all so much,” she added.
As Megan Moroney continues to create hit songs and play in front of massive crowds across the country, she admits that she’s starting to notice just how much her life has truly changed since earning her first No. 1, “Tennessee Orange.” But thanks to the people around her, she still feels like the same girl who started out chasing a dream just hoping to write songs that mattered.
“I can feel that it gets bigger because I can’t just go places anymore without someone knowing who I am. But it feels so normal and like it always did at the beginning and I think it’s because I have such solid people around me from the producer, the songwriters, my team. I know that in every corner I look, there are genuine people that want what’s best for me and they trust me and my instincts. And that’s all you can ask for as a songwriter. And I just appreciate everyone here so much,” she gushed.
The “Man On The Moon” singer ended her heartfelt speech by giving a special shoutout to her friends in attendance and then offering a final overarching message of gratitude.
“Thank y’all so much for everything. This is really cool and hopefully we’ll have so many parties. I love parties,” she concluded.
The buzz around “Am I Okay?” continues as it recently earned a nomination for the Best Country category at the 2025 MTV VMAs. The catchy tune serves as the title track to Moroney’s massively acclaimed sophomore album, which was named 2024’s third-biggest debut from a female country artist.
Meanwhile, her latest release, “6 Months Later” continues to heat up the charts as it recently landed in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs. Prior to this week’s celebratory event, Moroney hosted a fan watch party at The Emo Cowgirl, where she alongside a group of lucky listeners got the first look at her “6 Months Later” music video.
@countrynow.com see inside the @Megan Moroney Emo Cowgirl pop up in Nashville! 👀💙 #meganmoroney #emocowgirl #Nashville #nashvilletn ♬ original sound – CountryNow.com
Fans have a limited opportunity to check out the Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter’s custom pop-up at the Westin. The venue’s full transformation first launched in June with signature cocktails and will remain open through August 31.
Megan Moroney’s historic AM I OKAY? TOUR has taken her across the country all summer long, breaking records and playing to packed-out crowds with each stop. The 50-date tour continues through October 12, with upcoming stops at some of the most iconic venues, including Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on September 30 and back-to-back nights at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on October 2 and 3.
The post Megan Moroney Reflects On Her ‘Am I Okay?’ Era During No. 1 Celebration appeared first on Country Now.
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Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) announced Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Jim Lauderdale, Don Cook, Steve Bogard, and Tony Martin as the Hall’s Class of 2025 during a special event held at Nashville’s historic Columbia Studio A, part of Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business on Wednesday morning (Aug. 6).
Rich Hallworth, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, its executive director, were on hand to reveal the exciting announcement alongside existing Hall of Fame members, family, friends, and media.
Seated (l-r) are: NaSHOF executive director Mark Ford, HOF member Sharon Vaughn, class of 2025 inductees Don Cook, Tony Martin and Steve Bogard and HOF member Jerry Foster. Back row (l-r) are: Wayne Kirkpatrick, Marcus Hummon, Gary Nicholson, Tim Nichols, Even Stevens, Kix Brooks, Larry Gatlin, Victoria Shaw, Tony Arata, Gary Burr and Rich Hallworth, chair of the organization’s board of directors. Not pictured: Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale and Brad Paisley.
“Gathering as we do each year – to reveal and welcome the members of our incoming class – is truly one of the highlights of our calendar,” Hallworth said. “To these outstanding songwriters, we say – thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us. We are proud to honor you this fall, when you will officially join your legendary peers in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
The six electees include: Bogard and Martin, elected in the contemporary songwriter category; Lauderdale in the contemporary songwriter/artist category; Cook as the veteran songwriter, Harris as the veteran songwriter/artist, and Brad Paisley, who was elected in 2024 but deferred at his request to 2025.
Steve Bogard
Bogard admitted to being both “humbled and excited” over the honor. He thanked the board of directors and the voters, joking, “I don’t really know who they all are, but they have pretty good taste.”
“I’m thrilled to be in a group with my songwriting heroes. These are men and women that I looked at the back of records and read their names. I learned their songs and covered their songs. I saw their names on Billboard and tried to live up to him. Never dreamed I’d be actually in their company. So it’s for me, the ultimate acceptance, and I can’t express my gratitude enough,” he stated before thanking his wife for suggesting they move to Nashville in the first place.
“The creative community, the songwriters, the musicians, engineers, producers, publishers, artists, and all the folks who dedicate their careers to music make Nashville completely unlike any other city on earth,” he pointed out. They’re soulful, caring, and welcoming people. So I want to thank all those folks, those folks along the way, who opened their arms and their hearts, who, me and my family, and made this place home. I’m so proud and grateful to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
Bogard’s songwriting credits include “New Fool At an Old Game” by Reba McEntire, George Strait’s “Carried Away” and “Carrying Your Love With Me,” “Prayin’ For Daylight” by Rascal Flatts, and “Every Mile A Memory” and “Long Trip Alone” record by Dierks Bentley.
Tony Martin
Martin is credited with writing hits such as “A Little More Summertime” by Jason Aldean, “I’ll Think of a Reason Later” by Lee Ann Womack, “Just to See You Smile” by Tim McGraw, “Living and Living Well” and “Go On” by George Strait, “No Place That Far” by Sara Evans, “Settle for a Slowdown” by Dierks Bentley, “Third Rock from the Sun” by Joe Diffie, and “You Look Good in My Shirt” by Keith Urban.
He took to the podium to share his gratitude and told the audience, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
He continued, “I always said, half jokingly, that writing a song is either the easiest thing in the world to do or it’s impossible. And that’s kind of how I feel about trying to describe how I feel right now. It’s very easy to express, but finding all the right words is going to be impossible.”
Martin thanked the board and voters and admitted, “To have the words Nashville and songwriter forever attached to my name. That’s a privilege and I thank you.”
Jim Lauderdale
Elected into the Contemporary Songwriter/Artist category is Jim Lauderdale, who penned songs like “Gonna Get a Life” by Mark Chesnutt, “Halfway Down” by Patty Loveless, and “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me” by Loveless and George Jones. Toward the end of the decade, George Strait landed Top 5 hits with Lauderdale’s “We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” and “What Do You Say to That.”
Lauderdale has also enjoyed an impressive career as an Americana artist, releasing 37 albums, earning two GRAMMY Awards, including one for Bluegrass Album of the Year, and charting bluegrass hits such as “Mighty Lonesome,” “One Blue Mule,” and “Iodine.”
He was unable to attend today’s event but sent a video message expressing his excitement over the news.
“This just means the world to me to be in the company of so many of my songwriting heroes,” he said. “And I would be there with y’all today, but I’m out on the road or I would be in a heartbeat and I’m looking forward to October and thank you so much and really appreciate it.”
Don Cook
Cook, elected into the veteran songwriter category, reflected on his time in Nashville and the many roles he’s played in Music City during his emotional speech.
“Thanks so much. Thanks to the Hall of Fame Board and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame for this incredible honor. I’ve worn a lot of hats in this community. I’ve been here for a long time. Elvis was alive when I got here, and some people say he’s still alive, but if I’m remembered for anything, I hope I’m remembered for my part in this beautiful community. I can’t believe that I get to do this for a living. My first demo session, Grady Martin, played guitar on it. That’s how long I’ve been here. And my last demo session, Jeff King played on it and my first co-writer was Ray Van Hoy, who’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. My last co-writer was Kix Brooks,” he said.
Brooks, who is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, was in attendance and joked about it being his last songwriting session to which Cook remarked, “I think we have a couple more to write probably!”
Cook wrapped up his speech by expressing heartfelt gratitude for being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“It is such an unbelievable honor for me. I don’t know what to say other than I just, the blessing of my life is my wife, Charmaine, that I’ve been married to for a long time. But the blessing of my career is being a Nashville songwriter, and it’s absolutely topped off by this honor. I thank you so much for it.”
Don Cook’s early songwriting credits include “Cryin’ Again” by The Oak Ridge Boys and “Lady Lay Down” by John Conlee, his first No. 1 hit as a songwriter. He also wrote “Julia” by Conway Twitty, “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” by T. Graham Brown, “Small Town Girl” by Steve Wariner, and “Somebody’s Gonna Love You” by Lee Greenwood. In the early 1990s, Cook co-wrote “Brand New Man,” the debut single for Brooks & Dunn, and went on to produce the duo. Their partnership led to a string of chart-topping hits he co-wrote, including “My Next Broken Heart,” “Only in America,” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.”
Emmylou Harris
Harris was unable to attend Wednesday’s event but shared that she’s looking forward to celebrating with everyone at the gala in October.
While she’s had songs recorded by other artists, most notably “In My Hour Of Darkness” by Gram Parsons, Harris is best known for her work as both a songwriter and artist. She penned many of her own standout songs, including “A River For Him,” “Amarillo,” “Red Dirt Girl,” “The Pearl,” and “Woman Walk the Line.”
She was elected into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the veteran songwriter/artist category.
Brad Paisley
Paisley was initially selected for the 2024 class but chose to defer his induction to 2025. Though he couldn’t attend the announcement event in person, he shared a video message to mark the occasion.
“I really wish I could be there…What an honor this is to be included in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. I moved to town to do this because of all of you in this room and so many of the people in this Hall of Fame and to be included in it, it’s still sinking in what that means. It’s really an amazing thing to be in this group and to know that I’m accepted enough in the town that I wanted to live in so desperately and to be a part of this industry is such an amazing honor and blessing. And thank you so much for this.”
Early in his career, Paisley earned cuts from artists like David Kersh, David Ball, and Tracy Byrd. He eventually signed with Arista Nashville and began recording his own material. As an artist, he’s charted 33 self-written songs on Billboard’s Top 20, including 15 No. 1 hits and 14 more that reached the Top 10.
His songwriting credits include fan favorites like “He Didn’t Have To Be,” “Alcohol,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Celebrity,” “Ticks,” “Letter To Me,” “Then,” “This Is Country Music,” “Water,” and the duet with Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me.”
Brad Paisley was elected into the contemporary songwriter/artist category.
The six inductees will become part of the prestigious group of 247 members when they are officially welcomed into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during its 55th Anniversary Gala on Monday, October 6, at the Music City Center.
The post Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Unveils Class of 2025 appeared first on Country Now.
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The late country music legend, Jeannie Seely, is set to be honored with a celebration of life in the place that played such a huge part in her life – the Grand Ole Opry.
A public memorial service titled “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show” will be held on Wednesday, August 14 at 10 a.m. CT at the historic Nashville venue. The special event will be broadcast live on 650 AM WSM and livestreamed here, allowing fans around the world to take part in honoring her memory.
According to a press release, Seely, famously known as “Miss Country Soul,” was 85 years old when she passed away August 1, 2025 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee. She died as a result of complications caused by an intestinal infection.
The “Don’t Touch Me” singer had been battling ongoing health complications since last fall, when a trip to her Pennsylvania hometown ended with a hospital stay. She was treated for acute diverticulitis and dehydration at that time. In the months that followed, Seely underwent multiple back procedures to address damaged vertebrae, as well as two emergency abdominal surgeries.
Her health further declined after the passing of her husband of 14 years, Eugene W. Ward, in December 2024. Seely passed away in hospice care shortly after celebrating her 85th birthday on July 6.
On March 1, 2025, Seely made her final public appearance at the grand reopening of the Legends of Country Music Museum in Nashville’s Music Valley. The building now features her portrait on its exterior as well as a reimagined exhibit inside that celebrates her impact on country music.
Throughout her groundbreaking career, she became an essential part of the Opry family, performing in its coveted circle a record-breaking 5,397 times, which is more than any other artist in history. Her legendary journey at the Opry began when she became a member in 1967 and famously became the first person to wear a mini skirt on the Opry stage.
She went on to be recognized as the longest-performing female artist still actively working in country music at the time of her passing.
In keeping with that legacy, her final sendoff is being dubbed her 5,398th show. This event will serve as both a heartfelt goodbye and a fitting tribute to her immense contributions to the country music community.
Fans are encouraged to celebrate Jeannie Seely’s life with donations to the Opry Trust Fund in lieu of flowers. This fund provides assistance to members of the country music community in need. Since it was founded in 1965, over $4.8 million has been distributed amongst members of the music industry.
The Pennsylvania native’s team also suggested sending a donation to a pet charity as a way to honor a cause close to her heart.
Throughout her career, Seely racked up countless accolades, including her achievement as the third female country artist to win a GRAMMY. Jeannie Seely was a member of the Music City Walk of Fame, and recently received CMA’s prestigious Joe Talbot Award on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
Jeannie Seely’s voice, contributions and trailblazing spirit helped shape both the Opry and country music as a whole. Now, the spotlight will shine on her one final time at “Jeannie Seely’s 5,398th Opry Show.”
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