Author Archives: Echoes Staff

Before American Idol and America’s Got Talent, there was Star Search.  Singers, dancers, comedians, and models flocked to Hollywood to impress a panel of judges. The show’s first run, hosted by Ed McMahon, lasted 12 years. It launched the careers of a number of today’s stars, including Sawyer Brown, Bill Engvall, and Britney Spears.  While the original show would […]

The post Country Star Jelly Roll Joining Netflix’s Reboot of a Beloved 80s and 90s Talent Show appeared first on Wide Open Country.

Dolly Parton will turn 80 on January 19, 2026. That could be one reason why she is now reflecting on her amazing career. This superstar has accomplished so much! She is a brilliant singer, songwriter, actress, businessperson, and philanthropist. Parton has excelled at everything she tried her hand at doing. She’s got guts, talent, and […]

The post Dolly Parton Reflects on Major Career Milestone Nearly 60 Years Ago: “It Was a Dream Come True” appeared first on Wide Open Country.

It started during the pandemic. Cooped up in their homes, folk-music vets Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon began meeting for weekly writing sessions over Zoom, ultimately composing nearly 200 songs. That collaboration inspired these old friends to record the 2023 album, Together. Now they’re following it with Together

The “Choosin’ Texas” phenomenon is now starting to break out of the country realm into the wide consciousness, and puncture the zeitgeist. This week, the song went Top 5 in the Billboard Hot 100.

The post Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Isn’t a Hit. It’s a New Phenomenon first appeared on Saving Country Music.

EDITOR’S NOTE: No Depression’s “Postcard From” series features dispatches from artists’ daily lives on the road, in the studio, or anywhere in between. Our next installment comes from The SteelDrivers, who celebrated 20 years of being a band with a new album

 Sam Bergquist “Louisiana Lightning”  Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Sam Bergquist’s song “Louisiana Lightning” from his forthcoming album Devils & Doves, which is slated for release on March 13.  This song will be available on Jan 9. Devils & Doves was co-produced by Sam Bergquist and Dave Westner; mixed by Dave Westner; and […]

The post Song Premiere: Sam Bergquist “Louisiana Lightning” appeared first on Americana Highways.

At the end of each year the contributors here at Twangville vote on our favorite 25 releases and tally up the results on a magic spreadsheet. Everyone’s vote counts the same, although Mayer’s should probably count double since he consumes more music than anyone I know. On the other hand, my taste is better. I […]

Nothing beats a Willie Nelson throwback. It feels like the Red Headed Stranger has been around forever, does it not? In a way… he kind of has been. The 92-year-old country music legend was born in 1933, and started writing and releasing music in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For those not gifted in math, that means Nelson has been contributing to the world musically for over six and a half decades. That being said, Willie’s path to country […]

The post Revisiting Willie Nelson’s Iconic Debut On The First-Ever ‘Austin City Limits’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Giving fans a life update after being MIA online. Mason Ramsey, who was once a young yodeling boy in the aisles of Walmart, has grown up quite a bit since he was first discovered. In 2018, Mason Ramsey went viral for yodeling in the aisles of a Walmart in Harrisburg, Illinois, leading to him signing a record deal. He recorded songs like “Famous,” “Before I Knew It,” and one of my personal favorites, “Twang.” And let us not forget his feature […]

The post “One Of The Most Difficult Years Of My Life”- Mason Ramsey Gives Fans Life Update After Being Dropped By Label first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Finally ready to move on, eh? Brianna Chickenfry (whose real name is Brianna LaPaglia) is ready to jump back into dating (and into the bedroom) this year after her breakup with Zach Bryan back in 2024. Of course Zach has clearly already moved on: The country superstar married his girlfriend Samantha Leonard in Spain over New Years, after months of speculation that they were engaged or even already married. Bryan and Leonard’s relationship went public around August of 2025, and Zach […]

The post “I Would Like To Have Sex This Year” – Brianna Chickenfry Says She Has “Sexual Trauma” From Her Relationship With Zach Bryan first appeared on Whiskey Riff.