genre country
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Morgan Wallen has his sister, Ashley, to thank for his new collaboration with pop star Tate McRae.
The country star and Canadian singer pair for the shimmering “What I Want,” about two broken hearts who find solace in each other, if only temporarily, on Wallen’s new album, I’m the Problem, which came out Friday (May 16).
“My sister turned me on to Tate and her music a few years ago and I’ve been a fan ever since,” Wallen tells Billboard. “She is a true pop star, a prolific songwriter and is also an extremely underrated vocalist.”
It turns out this duet has been a few years in the making. “We have known each other for a couple years and have been talking about doing a song together if the right one came about,” Wallen continues.
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“What I Want” wasn’t originally intended to be a duet, “but after listening to it a few times, she kept coming to my mind as someone that would really give the song a dynamic element that I felt it deserved,” Wallen says. He co-wrote the track with McRae, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Ryan Vojtesak, John Byron and Joe Reeves.
Wallen has long wanted to record a duet with a woman, but was being very selective. In a Billboard interview at the end of 2023, the country star said, “I’ve reached out to a couple of people, and they’ve turned me down.” He declined to name names. “I just really want certain people, and I haven’t gotten the chance to do it yet. I’m going to keep trying to write songs for it or write with them.”
Wallen has released a number of successful collaborations with male artists, including “I Had Some Help,” his massive hit with Post Malone, as well as songs with Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line and rapper Lil Durk. In addition to McRae, the new album also includes duets with Church, HARDY, ERNEST and Post Malone.
Like Wallen’s, McRae’s career is on fire. She earned her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 earlier this year with So Close To What, which came out Feb. 21. She is on a worldwide Miss Possessive arena tour that comes to the U.S. in August.
Sam Hunt rolls up his 13th top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart dated May 24, as “Country House” rises 12-10. The song advanced by 17% to 16.3 million audience impressions May 9-15, according to Luminate.
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Hunt co-authored the cut with Ross Copperman, Michael Lotten and Josh Osborne. It’s from his four-song set Locked Up. The single from the Cedartown, Ga., native follows “Outskirts,” which became his 10th Country Airplay No. 1, for three weeks beginning in April 2024.
In April 2022, “23” marked Hunt’s fourth straight Country Airplay leader, after “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” (May 2021), “Hard to Forget” (July 2020) and “Kinfolks” (February 2020). He launched his career with three consecutive No. 1s: “Leave the Night On” (November 2014); “Take Your Time” (May 2015); and “House Party” (September 2015). “Make You Miss Me” became his fourth leader in September 2016, and his crossover blockbuster “Body Like a Back Road” dominated for three frames in May 2017. It also ruled Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Country Songs list for a then-record 34 weeks.
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Currently touring, Hunt will perform at the Gulf Coast Jam on May 28 in Panama City, Fla.
Still a ‘Problem’
Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem” tops Country Airplay for a fifth total and consecutive week (32 million, up 4%). It became the third No. 1 from his album of the same name, ahead of its May 16 release, following “Love Somebody” (three weeks in February) and “Lies Lies Lies” (one week, November). His latest single being promoted to country radio, “Just in Case,” rises 16-15 (13.4 million, up 21%).
“I’m the Problem” marks the fourth of Wallen’s 17 Country Airplay No. 1s to reign for five weeks or more. His longest-leading hit, “You Proof,” began a 10-week command in October 2022. It’s tied for the longest No. 1 run in the chart’s 35-year history with Nate Smith’s “World on Fire” (2023-24).
Morgan Wallen’s fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, has officially arrived, heralding the next chapter in Wallen’s already massive, stadium-headlining career.
His previous album, 2023’s One Thing at a Time, featured 36 sprawling tracks, and with his new project he does it one better, with I’m The Problem clocking in at 37 songs.
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The album features collaborations with Tate McRae (“What I Want”), plus artists he has previously collaborated with including Eric Church (the new album features the song “Number 3 and Number 7”), HARDY (“Come Back as a Redneck”), ERNEST (“The Dealer”) and Post Malone (“I Ain’t Comin’ Back”), but many of Wallen’s solo songs are among his most intimate, such as “Superman,” a song devoted to his son Indigo Wilder.
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Wallen co-wrote 22 songs for the album, which arrives on Big Loud/Mercury. He’s already released a handful of songs from the project, including the Billboard Hot 100-debuting “Love Somebody,” the Hot Country Songs chart-topping title track “I’m The Problem,” as well as songs including “Just in Case,” “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” and “Lies Lies Lies.”
I’m The Problem releases on the same day Wallen’s Sand in My Boots festival launches in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The three-day festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists including Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Three 6 Mafia, Wiz Khalifa, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival and more.
“We didn’t come up with this idea trying to fill a gap, but I believe that is what we have done,” Wallen told Billboard via email. “We created a festival that was centered around my country culture and that just so happens to include a variety of sounds. Sand in My Boots really was born out of building something that I was proud of, and also having a festival that these artists enjoy coming to.”
Wallen also noted in his interview with Billboard that yes, fans can expect to hear music from the new album featured during his set at the festival.
Listen to I’m The Problem below:
Morgan Wallen, country’s biggest star and one of the biggest stars in the music world right now, has built his success on super-serving his audience, and his new album, I’m the Problem, is no different. The set, out today, has 37 tracks, besting its predecessor, 2023’s One Thing at a Time by one song and 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album by seven tracks.
As on his past albums, Wallen is still looking for love in all the wrong places, with the majority of the songs serving as midtempo explorations on heartache, longing, co-dependence and missed chances, often while drowning his sorrows. When it comes to love, Wallen (or the songs’ protagonists) admits many of the wounds are self-inflicted and he just can’t get out of his own way.
His willingness to expose his vulnerability is one of the album’s top selling points, as is Wallen’s voice. He’s in fine shape here especially when his twang is matched with a Southern rock-leaning tune, such as on “Workin’ Man’s Song,” where he gives Travis Tritt a run for his money. Similarly, on songs like “I’m a Little Crazy” or “The Dealer,” where he’s examining broader issues than romance, he shows an appealing range.
When there are so many songs, it’s inevitable that some of them sound similar, and that’s not helped by too much reliance on a Roland TR-808 beat and a midtempo sway that renders some of the tracks virtually indistinguishable from each other. Putting out so many songs at once has proven a winning gambit for Wallen with his fans and with the charts, but this album could have lost at least 12 songs for a tighter, less repetitive sound.
Morgan Wallen ‘I’m The Problem’
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Wallen co-wrote 22 songs on the project, which, like his past projects, is helmed by producer Joie Moi, with help from Charlie Handsome and Jacob Durrett. He gets some help from his friends, some old — like Eric Church, Post Malone, HARDY and ERNEST — and some new, like Tate McRae.
The album’s success is a foregone conclusion, given that it’s already spawned three Country Airplay No. 1s with “Lies, Lies, Lies,” “Love Somebody” and “I’m the Problem,” and there seems to be no saturation point when it comes to his fans lapping up his songs.
There’s plenty to enjoy here. Below is an early take on our ranking of the songs on the highly anticipated set.
“Miami”
Mewow! Billboard’s Power Pets is a new feature focusing on musicians’ best friends — no, not the humans — but the furry (and some scaly and feathery!) ones who bring extra joy and companionship to artists. Celebrities will be sharing sweet details about their beloved pets and how their furbabies enrich their lives. For the second story in the installment, we talked to country artist Chase Rice.Chase Rice may sing “you’re right there in that bench seat next to me” in his emotional tune “Bench Seat,” but nowadays, it’s Jack – his beloved dog and best friend – who sits next to him on the concert stage during his performance of that song.
“[‘Bench Seat’] was the reason I got Jack,” the country artist tells Billboard of his black Lab and the track about the healing power of dogs that was inspired by a friend’s mental health struggles. As the songwriter previously shared, Rice’s pal’s own dog saved the friend from a very dark moment by simply laying its head on his lap to create an unbreakable connection during that difficult time.
“[Jack] was originally supposed to be the puppy in the video, but it took us a year and a half to get it together, so he’s the middle-aged dog in the video,” Rice explains of the visual for “Bench Seat,” which reveals that the track is from the pooch’s point of view. “That song is the very reason that I got him. I knew the day that I wrote it that it was finally time for me to get a dog.”
Rice says that he’s always wanted a duck dog since childhood, so that’s what he looked for when he began his search. “I met a guy who works with Mossy Pond Retrievers in Georgia, and he said if you want a duck dog, get a black Lab, so we made a plan.” Now, shares Rice, Jack is “certified as a master hunter and he’s my best buddy.”
And a much-loved friend at that. “Before every meal, I have him sit and I hug him and tell him, ‘I love you and you’re the best dog I’ve ever had.’” the singer-songwriter says. “He has no clue that he’s the only dog I’ve ever had, but I’ll keep telling him that all the same.”
Rice says Jack has taught him about love and responsibility as well: “I know he’s made me a better man.”
Read on to learn more about Jack from Chase Rice.
All About Jack
Image Credit: Evan DeStefano
Age: 4 years Hometown: Nashville Type/breed: Black Lab Favorite toy: Water bottles. It drives me crazy, but he loves them. Favorite nap spot: The couch, then the floor, and back and forth for no reason.
“He was the chunkier one out of the two males from [the litter I was considering]; the other one looked like the Terminator,” Rice recalls of selecting his pup. “Jack looked fat and I loved that. He’s since shaped up.”
The Best Thing Jack Has Changed About Chase’s Life
Image Credit: Evan DeStefano
“The time we spend and adventures we get into” are two things the singer cherishes that his dog has brought into his life. “I’ve ended up chasing birds in places I had never even heard of because of Jack and knowing I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see him get one more bird.”
“One time this year I sent Jack on a 350-yard retrieve for a wounded mallard in Oklahoma; just a few hand signals and he was all over that duck,” recalls Rice. “That’s a long retrieve, but he did it perfectly. Just a few hours later, he was on stage with me that night partying. He’s a jack-of-all-trades: business by day, party by night.”
Jack’s Reaction to Being on Stage
Image Credit: Evan DeStefano
“I bring him on stage for one song during my set; he just sits next to me and looks for my approval at the end to not have to heel anymore and to be able to go party with the fans,” explains the artist.
As for the first time Jack went on stage? Rice says the Lab was still a puppy at the time, and was “a little nervous.” But that didn’t last. “He got used to it when I started letting him go down and run towards the crowd, because he loves people. The first time I did it was really just about me wanting to have my dog with me. He was going to training that night for about six months, and I wanted him with me as much as possible, so I brought him up there on stage. That was a tough night once he left.”
Jack’s Musical Tastes
Image Credit: Evan DeStefano
“I think he’s pretty sick of hearing anything by me at this point,” admits the singer.
Regardless of how Jack may feel about his music, that hasn’t stopped Rice from mentioning his beloved buddy in his songs. “‘Arkansas’ had a mention of him in there,” the songwriter shares. “An unreleased song called ‘October’ has his name – not sure if I’ll put that one out. He will get a bunch of songs over these next few years, I’m sure.”
A Sibling for Jack?
Image Credit: Evan DeStefano
Rice mentioned in a sweet March 2023 Instagram post for Jack’s 2nd birthday that his dog was “dangerously close to having a little bro.” So did the musician grow his family? “I’ve really been messing with the thought of breeding Jack or just getting another breed that’s not a working dog,” he shares. “With my schedule, it’s gonna be real tough to have two, so for now, I’m sticking with just Jack. Quality over quantity.”
Forever yours, faithfully. Steve Perry and Willie Nelson unveiled their new duet version of Journey‘s “Faithfully” for charity on Wednesday (May 14). The former Journey frontman and the country icon turn the band’s classic 1983 single into a wistful, meditative ballad as Nelson warbles, “Highway run in the midnight sun/ Wheels go round and round/ […]
It all began with a song. In 2022, Goldenvoice/AEG executive vp Stacy Vee and Morgan Wallen’s booking agent, The Neal Agency’s Austin Neal, were planning the country superstar’s 2024 Stagecoach headlining gig. Wallen’s “Sand in My Boots” had recently become his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
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“I couldn’t get the song out of my head, and it inspired the concept,” Vee says, via email. “I brought up the idea of partnering on a [festival] and giving Morgan the keys on curation on a gorgeous beach and calling it Sand in My Boots. It turned out, they had been discussing the exact same idea at the exact same time.”
“Morgan has a wide range of musical tastes and influences, and we felt that would be cool to showcase on a big stage,” Neal says via email. “Plus, it felt like a legacy play and good opportunity to bring artists he likes and listens to all together at one time to play a show.”
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This weekend, that idea becomes a reality as the first Sand in My Boots festival takes place May 16-18 on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., where the Hangout Festival was formerly held.
Headliners Wallen, Post Malone and Brooks & Dunn will be joined by an extremely varied lineup — many of them among Wallen’s personal favorites — that includes fellow country artists Ella Langley, Hardy, Ernest, Treaty Oak Revival, Riley Green and Bailey Zimmerman, as well as rappers Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, BigXThaPlug and Moneybagg Yo and indie rockers The War on Drugs and Real Estate.
“When the idea of Sand in My Boots started becoming a reality, it was extremely important to me to build a festival of artists that I enjoy and listen to regularly,” Wallen says in an email interview. “Having a blend of different genres was exciting and I hope fans feel the same way.”
“It felt like something was missing in the space of a country-led multi-genre music festival,” Neal says. “Ours brings other genres to the format vs. the other way around and allows us to be a more eclectic, version curated around Morgan’s influences and tastes.”
There are few festivals as musically eclectic as SIMB that feature acts of from so many different genres. “We didn’t come up with this idea trying to fill a gap, but I believe that is what we have done,” Wallen says. “We created a festival that was centered around my country culture and that just so happens to include a variety of sounds. Sand in My Boots really was born out of building something that I was proud of, and also having a festival that these artists enjoy coming to.”
Wallen and Neal, who also began managing Wallen last summer, say their biggest challenge was wondering if people would buy into the multi-genre concept. “Will fans be receptive to it? Will the artists enjoy it? How do we put forth a weekend the fans will remember and want to come back to?” Wallen says.
They needn’t have worried. The festival’s 40,000 tickets sold out in under two hours, Vee says. But Neal admits there were a few lingering thoughts as to how it would sell. “The night before we went on sale Morgan and I laughed, ‘They’ll either love it or hate having that many styles of music with a festival built around that,’” he says. “It happened so quick, and that tells us there are more people out there that listen to all styles of music.”
“I think it’s just a testament to all the teams involved that helped build and deliver a bill that fans were excited to check out,” Wallen adds. “I wasn’t worried, more so curious how they would respond, and I am extremely grateful they responded the way they did by selling it out that fast.”
There is now a waiting list for all tiers of tickets ranging from general admission ($599 +$77.87 fees) up to Livin’ the Dream. ($7,999 +1,039.87 fees). As Wallen has done for the last few years with his concerts, $3 from every ticket goes to the Morgan Wallen Foundation, which supports sports and music programs for youths.
Wallen and Neal worked hand-in-hand with AEG on all facets of the festival. “We advise(d) on everything from production to curation and design graphically. Ticketing to influences, and merchandise and sponsorship are all done in partnership with AEG,” Neal says.
“Morgan was so collaborative,” Vee says. “He gave such great ideas, so hands on with activations, sponsors, the look and feel of it, the creative. He had his hand in everything. He’s a great promoter. He has such wonderful ideas. He never left us waiting, always quick with the feedback, through his manager.”
Of course, the one thing none of them can control is the weather. Luckily, as of publishing it looks like clear skies for the three days. When asked how often he’s consulting the weather, Neal says, “Every minute.”
The opening day of the festival coincides with the release of Wallen’s new album, I’m the Problem, but it wasn’t necessarily planned that way. “I would love to say it was, but it wasn’t originally,” Neal says. “The timeframe just worked out to fit the weekend and we felt it would be a cool tie to have uniquely Morgan experiences around the release of his fourth studio album.”
Wallen says he will highlight a few new songs in his set. Given all the demands on Wallen’s time with the festival and release, though, Neal says it’s unlikely Wallen will be popping up on stage to join other artists.
Even though this year’s event sold out immediately, Neal says there are no plans to expand to two weekends should there be future festivals. “We’re happy with where it is,” he says. “An exclusive event that exists in one weekend, where everything is highly curated.”
The only disappointment so far has been rock hitmakers 3 Doors Down having to drop out due to leader Brad Arnold’s cancer diagnosis. “It’s an incredibly sad thing, and I hate that Brad is going through that,” Wallen says. “I’m just praying that Jesus is with him and his family during this time and gives the strength to get through it.”
Post Malone has been tapped to headline the 2025 Cattle Baron’s Ball, the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. According to a release, the reveal of Posty’s performance at the 52nd annual event was made on Wednesday night (May 14) during the Trailblazers and Headliner Reveal Party. This year’s Ball will take […]
Billboard Country Live is set to return to Nashville this summer, with the Bud Light-presented, two-day tentpole celebration highlighting rising country stars and industry tastemakers on June 5-6 at venue Category 10 in downtown Nashville.
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The country music celebration will launch on Wednesday, June 4, with an exclusive gathering held on the rooftop of Category 10, honoring Billboard’s Country Power Players and recognizing the most influential executives shaping and leading the country music genre today.
On Thursday, June 5, a showcase concert presented by Bud Light will spotlight rising artists, with live performances from Alexandra Kay, Ashley Cooke, Drew Baldridge, Max McNown and Reyna Roberts. Inside Billboard’s video lounge, Major League Baseball will film exclusive interviews with the country stars featured in players’ walk-up songs.
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The celebration will continue Friday, June 6, with a second evening of music that will feature “Country on the Rise,” honoring the future of the genre with a lineup set to be announced in coming weeks.
Each of the artists featured in the showcase concert on June 5 have earned ever-heightening career milestones in recent years. In 2024, Baldridge earned a top five hit on the Country Airplay chart with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter (Reimagined).” Kay, who signed with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville this year, also released her latest single “Cupid’s a Cowgirl.” Cooke earned a No. 2 Country Airplay chart hit with “Your Place” and recently teamed with Joe Jonas on the song “All I Forgot.” McNown broke through with his song “A Lot More Free,” while his song “Better Me for You (Brown Eyes)” cracked the top 30 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Roberts released her debut album, Bad Girl Bible Vol. 1, in 2023 and last year was featured on the song “Blackbiird” from Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning Cowboy Carter album, as well as providing background vocals on the album’s track “Tyrant.”
Since its origin in 1894, Billboard has become the essential barometer of music success, through its authoritative charts, news, detailed analysis, multi-platform storytelling and multiple events that celebrate artists and various industry sectors. Billboard’s annual events also include the Billboard Power 100, Billboard Women in Music, Billboard Latin Music Week and Billboard Live.
Sneedville, Tennessee native and reigning CMA entertainer of the year Morgan Wallen has been breaking chart records with regularity over the past few years as he’s evolved from a top country music hitmaker to a multi-genre hitmaker and musical supernova, on the strength of projects including Dangerous: The Double Album and his 2023 project One […]