genre country

Jelly Roll Cancels New Zealand Show Due to Illness: ‘Please Forgive Me’

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Jelly Roll has been forced to cancel the final date of his debut Australia and New Zealand tour, citing illness, just hours before the headline show was set to kick off.

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The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist announced via Instagram on Friday (Nov. 8) that he would not be performing at The Outer Fields at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand, as originally scheduled for tonight.

“Dear Auckland, I’ve done everything I can,” he wrote on Instagram. “I just can’t shake it. 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.”

Fans reported that they didn’t discover news of the cancellation until arriving at the venue. The late notice left many frustrated and disappointed, particularly as some had travelled long distances to attend Jelly Roll’s first-ever New Zealand performance.

The cancelled concert was set to wrap Jelly Roll’s tour across Australia and New Zealand, which marked the country-rock star’s first-ever visit to the region. The run included back-to-back shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (Oct. 28–29), a sold-out night at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena (Nov. 4), and an Adelaide show at AEC Theatre (Oct. 26). He also headlined the inaugural Strummingbird Festival on the Sunshine Coast (Oct. 25), followed by dates in Newcastle (Nov. 1) and Perth (Nov. 2).

In 2023, his album Whitsitt Chapel peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and in 2024, his follow-up Beautifully Broken debuted at No. 1 — marking his first chart-topping release on the all-genre tally. He has also earned eight consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, including fan favourites like “Heart of Stone,” “I Am Not Okay,” and “Liar,” the latter of which held the top spot for six weeks.

No official update has been issued yet regarding potential rescheduling or refunds for the cancelled Auckland date.

Could Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ or Sombr’s ‘Back to Friends’ Crack the Hot 100 Top 10? | Contenders

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Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is making waves on the Country Airplay chart, Sombr’s “Back to Friends” hit No. 12 on the Hot 100 — but can the two songs break into the top 10 of the Hot 100? Can Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” head into the top three of the chart? Keep watching to see what our experts have to say! 

Tetris Kelly:

As we saw last week, anything can happen. Who’s dropping into the Hot 100 next? Is it time for Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” to hit the top 40? Will we see Olivia Dean make it to the top three? Can we expect a Sombr November? We’re giving you the rundown of some of the contenders on this Week’s Hot 100. Ella Langley had a promising viral moment in the past years. 

But will this track tug at people’s heartstrings and take it to the top? 

Xander Zellner:

This song had a great debut on the Hot 100 recently, and I feel like it’s gonna crack the top 40 on the latest chart. It also has a big start at Country Airplay. So I think getting that country boost and at that format is going to really help it. 

Tetris Kelly:

“Man I Need” stays steadily climbing. Can she crack the top three?

Delisa Shannon:

We’ve seen so much excitement around this song. Also, like we know she’s been opening up for Sabrina Carpenter, opening her up to a completely new audience. The song is inescapable right now, so I would not be surprised if she’s cracking the top three next week. 

Tetris Kelly:

“Back to Friends” may bring Sombr his first top 10.

Trevor Anderson:

Called it a Sombr September a couple months ago. Maybe it’s gonna be a Somber November instead. But the song “Back to Friends” is really making its way up. No. 12 this week on the Hot 100, so only a few spots outside of the top 10, very much on the cusp of the top 10 on the Pop Airplay chart.

Keep watching for more!

Country Continues to Be the Grammys’ Poor Relation

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The Grammys have a country problem.

This is not new news, of course, but in another banner year for country music it was reinforced when the nominations for the 68th annual Grammy Awards were announced on Friday morning (Nov. 7).

Nowhere is the omission more obvious than in the best new artist category. To be sure, it was an extremely competitive race across several genres — but in a year when nascent country acts like Megan Moroney, Ella Langley and Zach Top were legitimate contenders with commercially and critically acclaimed breakthroughs, their names were nowhere to be found.  No country artists made the cut.

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Looking further in the six general field categories, which, in addition to best new artist, include record, album, song, producer (non-classical) and songwriter ((non-classical) of the year only two country creators made the cut and both for songwriter of the year: Jessie Jo Dillon, who co-wrote songs for artists including Moroney, Jelly Roll, Russell Dickerson and Morgan Wallen that were released during the eligibility period and Laura Veltz, who had songs cut by BigXthaPlug, Jessie Murph, Josh Ross and Maren Morris, among others. (It must be noted that country’s biggest artist, Wallen, took himself out of contention this year and did not enter, but given his past lack of nominations other than for his duet with Post Malone, the voters would likely have continued to ignore him).

This has been an ongoing issue. For the last 10 years, including today’s nominations, only five country projects have received album of the year nominations among 74 contenders (and that’s generously including efforts by Americana-leaning artists, like Sturgill Simpson and Brandi Carlile, and artists who have temporarily dipped into the genre, like Beyoncé). There have only been two winners: Kacey Musgraves for Golden Hour in 2018 and Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter earlier this year.

In song of the year, over the last 10 years the only country nominations have gone to the writers of Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now” and Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

For record of the year, the outlook is even similarly bleaker: the only country nominations have gone to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’s “Old Town Road” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”  

Despite today’s goose egg, as country music has boomed over the last several years, country artists have fared best in the new artist category with eight artists receiving nominations over the last decade. However, there has been no country winner in 15 years since Zac Brown Band in 2010. And we know there won’t be one at the 2026 ceremony.

To state the obvious, the fans who have propelled country’s popularity aren’t voters. Grammy voting is a numbers game and until there are enough voters among country creators, it’s hard to see things changing. It’s clear among the winners and nominees that many of them, such as Beyoncé and Shaboozey, had projects with crossover appeal, which likely garnered them votes from beyond the country community.

That brings up a broader point, unlike other genres, such as rap and alternative, country often still remains its own island and doesn’t always cross over with other genres. That is changing, with artists like BigXthaPlug and Tate McRae collaborating with country artists and bringing new fans in, but there still seems to be a bigger divide: country listeners (including voters) likely listen to other genres of music, while fans of other genres don’t necessarily listen to country.

The Recording Academy is well aware of the country lag, and even added a new country category this year, Best Traditional Country Album, which was the only new music category added for the 68th annual Grammy Awards. 

“The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal and said we would like to have more variety in how our music is honored,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. told Billboard in June when the category was announced  “They said, we think we need more space for our music to be celebrated and honored.” 

That’s a great move and puts the country categories in line with a number of the other genres that have both contemporary and traditional categories, but until the number of country creators who vote rises, there is very likely to be no change in the general field because the numbers just aren’t there to cross a country artist or project over the mainstream finish line.  

The Recording Academy has been on a massive drive over the last several years to diversify its ranks especially among women, younger voters and people of color, adding 2,900 new voting members this year alone. Total voting membership is now approaching 15,000, with 73% joining since the Academy introduced a new membership model in 2019. Tellingly, only 1% of this year’s new voting members identified as being most aligned with the country genre.


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Cody Johnson Releases Studio Version of ‘Travelin’ Soldier’: ‘It Kind of Went Viral’

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Five years after Cody Johnson first recorded his version of The Chicks’ hit “Travelin’ Soldier” during a livestream performance session, and three years after he released an acoustic performance rendition of the song, he has finally released his official version of the track.

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In a video posted on Instagram Thursday (Nov. 6), Johnson spoke about his fans’ love for the tender song about a young woman whose love story with a deployed soldier ends in heartbreak and tragedy.

“We recorded this song in 2020 on a livestream during COVID, and then it kind of went viral,” Johnson explained in the video. “I’ve traveled all over the world and there’s signs in the crowd that say, ‘Play “Travelin’ Soldier”‘ and people come to the meet-and-greets and say, ‘Play “Travelin’ Soldier.”‘ It kind of turned into this thing, like, ‘I guess we’re going to have to record this song.’”

Singer-songwriter Bruce Robison wrote and first recorded “Travelin’ Soldier” in 1996. Ty England also recorded a version of it for his 1999 album Highways & Dance Halls. But it was trio The Chicks’ rendition that became a No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs chart hit in 2003. However, that victory was short-lived, as country radio stations pulled the song from airwaves after The Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London on March 10, 2003, just prior to the Iraq War, that she was ashamed to be from the same state as George W. Bush, who was president at the time. Two weeks after Maines’ comment, “Travelin’ Soldier” was no longer in the top 40 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs/Country Airplay charts.

Still, the song has remained a longtime fan favorite, and Johnson has previously included the song in his concerts. In the video, Johnson said, “This is just because we love you guys and figured we’d give you what you want.”

He releases the song just before Veterans Day, and as his radio single “The Fall” continues climbing Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart.

Hear Johnson’s studio version of “Travelin’ Soldier” below:


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Chase Matthew Scores His First No. 1 on Country Airplay Chart With ‘Darlin’ ‘

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Chase Matthew lands his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “Darlin’.” The single tops the ranking dated Nov. 15 with a 3% gain to 31.3 million audience impressions Oct. 31–Nov. 6, according to Luminate.

The Sevierville, Tenn., native cowrote the song with four others, including Jake Angel and Alex Maxwell, who also share producer credits. It’s Matthew’s third charted single and follows his first top 10, “Love You Again,” which reached No. 9 in September 2024.

The coronation of “Darlin’” marks another breakout moment for the relative newcomer, highlighting both his growing fan base and rising momentum at radio. Matthew recently wrapped a special guest run on Keith Urban’s High and Alive World Tour, which closed in Nashville late October, and has his own dates booked through next year.

Matthew becomes just the second artist this year to earn a career-first Country Airplay No. 1, after Corey Kent with “This Heart” in July. Not since Jelly Roll and Nate Smith in 2023 have so few artists done so. Last year saw nine first-time leaders, including five collaborations. Since the start of 2016, 51 artists have scored their first No. 1s on the chart; narrowing that list to solo performances puts the number at 33 (among 299 total leaders in that span).

‘3, 2, 1’ Top 10

Washington state-born Tucker Wetmore breaks into the Country Airplay top 10 for a second time as “3, 2, 1” rises 11-10 (17.6 million, up 1%). His “Wind Up Missin’ You” reached No. 2 in January.

The single also delivers a breakthrough for Summer Overstreet, who cowrote it alongside veteran hitmakers Josh Miller and Jordan Reynolds. The Nashville native — daughter of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Paul Overstreet, who penned hits of his own and for many others beginning in the 1980s — earns her first top 10 on Country Airplay as a writer.


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Garth Brooks’ Sexual Assault Accuser Wants Her Name to Stay Hidden

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A woman who has accused Garth Brooks of sexual assault is refusing to concede defeat in her fight to remain anonymous.

The allegations, which Brooks vehemently denies, were raised by the star’s former hairstylist, identified only as Jane Roe in court filings. But the country star won a ruling in September that she must use her real name as the litigation moves ahead.

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In a notice filed last month, Roe said she would ask a federal appeals court to reverse that ruling, saying that she was “appealing those portions of the order pertaining to her motions to maintain the confidentiality of her name and proceed using a pseudonym.”

A spokesperson for Brooks did not immediately return a request for comment on the case or the new appeal.

The legal battle kicked off last year, when Brooks filed a preemptive lawsuit under the name John Doe, claiming he was facing an “ongoing attempted extortion” by a woman falsely accusing him of sexual assault. Weeks later, Roe filed her own case in Los Angeles, accusing Brooks of assaulting her while she worked for him as a hairstylist.

Brooks has vehemently denied the allegations, saying in a statement that he had been threatened that the woman’s “lies” would be released to the public unless he wrote “a check for many millions of dollars.”

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Since last year, much of the case has been shrouded in mystery because the entire court docket has been kept under seal, an unusual step in any federal lawsuit. The judge overseeing the case took that step after Brooks filed case documents last fall in which he publicly disclosed the accuser’s name.

That disclosure sparked outrage from Roe’s attorney, who vowed to re-hide her name and seek penalties against Brooks: “Out of spite and to punish, he publicly named a rape victim,” said her attorney, Douglas Wigdor. “With no legal justification, Brooks outed her because he thinks the laws don’t apply to him.”

In later court filings, attorneys for Brooks pushed back on that, arguing that the accuser “already agreed to use her name” — citing earlier court filings in which her attorneys argued Brooks must use his.

In September, Judge Henry T. Wingate denied Roe’s motion to remain under the pseudonym, though his reasoning is unclear because the ruling remains under seal, like the rest of the docket. Her team then filed a motion for an interlocutory, or immediate, appeal of that ruling.

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Though the appellate case is underway, the accuser has not yet filed formal arguments. In a statement to Billboard, another of her attorneys, Jeanne M. Christensen, said they could not speak about the specifics of the appeal because of the judge’s sealing orders.

“The Mississippi action filed by Garth Brooks in a desperate effort to preemptively silence our client is currently under seal, and therefore, we cannot comment on the appeal,” said Christensen, a partner at Wigdor’s firm. “We continue to applaud our client’s courage in coming forward with her allegations of sexual assault against Brooks and are confident that he will be held accountable for his actions.”


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10 Songs Lainey Wilson Wrote for Other Artists

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Lainey Wilson continues to amass an array of impressive career accolades as an artist and entertainer, including trophies from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, and the Recording Academy. She’s one of the most-nominated artists leading into this year’s CMA Awards, where she’s vying again for the coveted entertainer of the year title. A testament to her onstage poise and charisma, the Louisiana native will also solo host the CMA Awards this year.

She previously won the CMA’s entertainer of the year honor in 2023, and has taken home the ACM’s entertainer of the year accolade in 2024 and 2025. She’s spearheaded her headlining Whirlwind arena tour, and has had both her own Billboard Country Airplay chart hits with “Heart Like a Truck,” “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” as well as the collaborative hits “Save Me” (with Jelly Roll) and “Never Say Never” (with Cole Swindell).

Wilson’s collaborative spirit extends to recording (and often co-writing) duets with several artists, including Anne Wilson (“Praying Woman”), HARDY (“Wait in the Truck”), Lukas Nelson (“More Than Friends”), ERNEST (“Would If I Could”), Muscadine Bloodline (“Pieces”) and Miranda Lambert (“Good Horses”).

Throughout songs such as “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Grease,” Wilson has constructed a reputation as an artist driven by devotion to exemplary songcraft, and drawn to compositions both brave and vulnerable, songs that elevate country living, strong and independent women, but that also put forth wisdom and a fun-loving ethos. That dedication to making every song on an album deserve its place has resulted in her album Bell Bottom Country winning a Grammy for best country album, while her album Whirlwind earned a nomination in the same Grammy category.

Along the way, she’s distinguished herself as not only an entertainer, but a songwriter of an exceptional caliber, writing songs recorded by other artists. Here, we highlight some top Wilson-written songs that have been recorded by other artists.


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Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey & More to Perform on 2025 CMA Awards

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Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey are among the initial lineup of performers for the upcoming 59th annual CMA Awards.

The Country Music Association and ABC revealed the first round of performers for the Nov. 19 awards ceremony, with the lineup also featuring performances from Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore and Stephen Wilson Jr.

Wilson, the reigning CMA female vocalist of the year and a six-time nominee this year, will perform during and host the event, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC, and will stream the following day on Hulu.

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Combs will offer a rendition of his single “Back in the Saddle,” while six-time nominee this year Langley will perform her new song “Choosin’ Texas,” and reigning CMA new artist of the year and six-time nominee this year Moroney will perform “6 Months Later.”

Top, who has five nominations, will offer a performance of “Guitar,” while new artist of the year nominee Wetmore will perform his hit “Wind Up Missin’ You.” Wilson Jr., also a new artist of the year nominee, will offer a rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”

The evening will also feature plenty of collaborations, as Combs will join BigXthaPlug for their song “Pray Hard,’ while Shaboozey will team with Wilson Jr. to perform their collaboration “Took a Walk.”

More performers and presenters for the 59th Annual CMA Awards will be revealed leading up to the ceremony. This year, the nominees for the entertainer of the year trophy are Combs, Wilson, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen. Wallen is also the reigning CMA entertainer of the year.


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Kelsea Ballerini Teases Dreamy Song ‘I Sit In Parks’ & Reveals New Project ‘Mount Pleasant’

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Kelsea Ballerini is set to release her latest project, the six-song EP Mount Pleasant, on Nov. 14. Ballerini will preview the set via the release of her new song, “I Sit In Parks,” on Friday (Nov. 7). In the process, the singer-songwriter is ushering in her new creative era.

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The Mount Pleasant project will include the tracks “I Sit in Parks,” “People Pleaser,” “Emerald City,” “587,” “The Revisionist” and “Check on Your Friends,” according to Ballerini’s social media post on Nov. 6.

Earlier this week, Ballerini teased the forthcoming release by posting a video on her socials that showed Ballerini swinging on a swingset in a park. The video was captioned simply with the phrase “I Sit In Parks.”

The new project follows Ballerini’s 2024 project, Patterns, which was her first album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. Patterns included the single “Baggage,” as well as the Noah Kahan collaboration “Cowboys Cry Too.”

At this year’s ACM Awards, Ballerini was nominated for the entertainer of the year accolade, as well as for female artist of the year and music event of the year (the latter for her Kahan collab). Ballerini is also nominated for female vocalist of the year at the upcoming CMA Awards, slated to take place in Nashville later this month.

Earlier this year, Ballerini spearheaded her 2025 Live On Tour trek, which ran from January through March. More recently, Ballerini also attended several high-profile events, including honoring Kenny Chesney during his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and attending the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.


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Watch Dolly Parton Sing to Porter Wagoner at the Grand Ole Opry From ‘Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs’: Exclusive

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As part of its year-long centennial celebration, the Opry will focus on the music that has made it so special with Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs. Out Friday (Nov. 7), the Virgin Music Group-distributed double album features 20 previously unreleased live recordings from the Opry stage.

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The collection, which highlights songs from the fan-voted Opry 100 greatest songs list, spans more than 60 years of recordings, starting with Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” captured live in 1962, as well as well-chosen covers like Ashley McBryde’s “Your Cheatin’ Heart” from 2024.  There are also a pair of “Full Circle” tracks, which are mixes of two live performances featuring artists of different eras, including a 1981 take of Marty Robbins singing “El Paso” with a later performance of the same song by Marty Stuart.

Below, Billboard premieres a 2007 Opry appearance by Dolly Parton singing her classic, “I Will Always Love You,” to Porter Wagoner on his 50th anniversary of being an Opry member, 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 says of her former musical partner.

Dan Rogers, vp and executive producer at the Opry, tells Billboard how the 20 album choices were pared down from the Opry 100 greatest songs list. “We began treating the selection process as if we were putting together a perfect night at the Opry. With every show, we seek not just to create a highly entertaining performance beginning to end, but also to celebrate the past, present, and future of country music and to showcase numerous styles under the country umbrella,” he says.

The selections are meant to take the listener on a journey. “We wanted to ensure that as the listener continues, he hears about everything Opry audiences have experienced for 100 years: Jesus, whiskey, love, heartache, and more from Patsy Cline, George Jones, Vince Gill, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and their contemporaries who have been stepping up to the Opry microphone for decades.”

The Opry owns the recordings of the live performances that take place on its stage, but Rogers says the Opry worked closely “with artists, labels, and publishers to obtain any necessary rights that may be required for using the recordings. Like every piece of music being released, it takes a whole lot of communication and partnership to make it to release day with everyone on board.”

Even as the Opry looks back, Rogers says the 100th anniversary celebration is setting up the beloved institution for the next century. “Our 100th celebration, which will continue well into 2026, is about both celebrating the Opry’s past and paving a path for the next 100 years, and this project is an audio representation of that celebration,” he explains. “The music included features some of the oldest, most authentic sounds from the Opry’s early days to contemporary sounds that help make the Opry relevant for younger fans with broad tastes.”

A number of promotions will surround the project’s release, including Opry member Don Schlitz, who wrote Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler,” guest hosting on WSM Radio today (Nov. 6). On Friday,  SiriusXM’s The Highway channel will celebrate they 100th anniversary during Music Row Happy Hour. On Nov. 8, Opry Live, which airs every Saturday, on the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels, among other outlets, will air a special, hosted by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, that features performances of 10 songs on the album.

The Opry’s official 100th anniversary show is scheduled for Nov. 28 and will feature more than 20 members of the Grand Ole Opry, including Bill Anderson, John Conlee, The Gatlin Brothers, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson and Ricky Skaggs.

 OPRY 100: Country’s Greatest Songs Track Listing:

1.     “Your Cheatin’ Heart” – Ashley McBryde (2024)
2.     “El Paso” – Marty Robbins and Marty Stuart (1981 / 2024) (Full circle mix)
3.     “Crazy” – Patsy Cline (1962)
4.     “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash (1967)
5.     “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn (1985)
6.     “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” – Darius Rucker (2021)
7.     “I Will Always Love You” – Dolly Parton (feat. Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart) (2007)
8.     “The Gambler” – Don Schlitz (feat. Vince Gill) (2025)
9.     “Devil Went Down to Georgia” – The Charlie Daniels Band (2015)
10.  “Elvira” – The Oak Ridge Boys (1980)
11.  “Tennessee Whiskey” – Luke Combs (2016)
12.  “He Stopped Loving Her Today (Full Circle Mix)” – George Jones and Alan Jackson (1993 / 2013)
13.  “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” – Kelsea Ballerini (2025)
14.  “Forever and Ever, Amen” – Randy Travis (1989)
15.  “Don’t Close Your Eyes” – Keith Whitley (1988)
16.  “Fancy” – Reba McEntire (2017)
17.  “Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson (2020)
18.  “Go Rest High on That Mountain” – Vince Gill (feat. Patty Loveless) (2015)
19.  “Jesus, Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood (2018)
20.  “Mama Don’t Allow / Will The Circle Be Unbroken?” – Old Crow Medicine Show, Dom Flemons, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle (2020)