'Grand Ole Opry: Live in London' (Courtesy Grand Ole Opry)
The Grand Ole Opry's sold-out September 2025 show at London's Royal Albert Hall will air as the first-ever two-part Opry Live special starting this weekend.
Grand Ole Opry: Live in London premieres Aug. 22 and concludes the following Saturday. You can watch via the Opry's Facebook and YouTube channels, Circle Country and RFD-TV starting at 9 p.m. ET.
The trip across the pond celebrated the Opry's 100-year anniversary and was the first broadcast ever to originate outside the U.S.
The night featured several once-in-a-lifetime collaborations you'll want to watch for, including Luke Combs and Carly Pearce doing "I Hope You're Happy Now," which they wrote together.
Ashley McBryde subbed for Travis Tritt on Marty Stuart's "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," while Luke Combs and Marcus Mumford tackled Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind," and Darius Rucker and Breach did "Wagon Wheel."
Morgan Wallen competes for artist of the year at the upcoming 2026 MTV Video Music Awards alongside the show's two top nominees, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter.
Ella Langley battles against them both for song of the year with her mega-hit "Choosin' Texas."
Newcomer Stella Lefty also picks up a best new artist nod on the strength of her debut hit, "Boston."
The VMAs air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, on CBS, MTV and Paramount+.
Here's the rundown of the contenders in the show's only country category:
BEST COUNTRY Ella Langley - “Choosin’ Texas” Kacey Musgraves - “Dry Spell” Lainey Wilson - “Somewhere Over Laredo” Luke Combs - “Back in the Saddle” Shaboozey - “Cowgirl” Stella Lefty - “Boston” Tucker Wetmore - “Brunette”
Miranda Lambert: One Night Only (Courtesy MCA/Miranda Lambert)
Miranda Lambert will be the first artist to play new Nashville music venue The Truth on Oct.1, celebrating the release of her new album, Crisco, the next day.
She'll add a 12-piece string section for the show, which will include a full set of her hits and songs from the new project.
“It was magical to hear the way strings can transform a song when we were in the studio creating this record, and I can’t wait to bring that to life in an even bigger way with our full setlist,” she says. “We’ve never gotten to play that way on stage, and to have the opportunity to do it for the first time at the opening of a beautiful new venue right here in Nashville is going to be really special.”
Ticket sales for Miranda Lambert: One Night Only go on sale Friday.
Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen's "I Can't Love You Anymore" (SAWGOD/Columbia Records)
Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen top Billboard Country Airplay for the second week in a row with "I Can't Love You Anymore," marking another milestone for the ACM female artist of the year.
It's Ella's third #1 from her sophomore album, following "Be Her" and the mega-hit "Choosin' Texas." That makes Dandelion only the 13th album by a woman to do so since the 1990 launch of the chart.
Kelsea Ballerini is the most recent woman to do so, sending "Love Me Like You Mean It," "Dibs" and "Peter Pan" to the pinnacle in 2015-16 with her debut album, The First Time.
Wynonna, Deana Carter and Jo Dee Messina have matched the feat, while Shania Twain has two albums with three number ones and Carrie Underwood has three. Sugarland and Lady A are also included in the tally, since they have female members.
Warren Zeiders' 'No Brakes' album release shows (Shore Fire Media)
Warren Zeiders will play four intimate shows at the end of September to celebrate the release of his third studio album, No Brakes.
“Happy to say that I'm officially going back to these venues that I played five years ago, when it was just me and my guitar player on the 717 Tapes Tour," the "Pretty Little Poison" hitmaker says. "I'm excited to bring my show back to small clubs, pack them full with high energy, full band — me and the boys together playing the whole album top to bottom for the fans."
Warren kicks off the No Brakes album release shows Sept. 23 at Nashville's Exit/In, before playing Detroit's El Club on release day, Sept. 25.
He'll continue Sept. 28 at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern, before stopping at Champs Downtown in State College in his home state of Pennsylvania.
Chayce Beckham's building on the "Dirt Floor" he unearthed in July, releasing a new song and revealing his Old Fashioned EP will follow.
The five-song collection from the 2021 American Idol winner will arrive Sept. 25, featuring the title track, "Ain't Lying to Myself," "Today Feels Like Tonight," "Dirt Floor" and the just-released "Take Me Home."
The California native co-wrote all five songs. He's currently on tour as he works on the full-length follow-up to 2024's Bad for Me.
Hudson Westbrook's 'Made You Look' (River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville )
First, Hudson Westbrook Made You Look with his breakthrough #1, "House Again," and now he's prepping his sophomore album.
“The last two years have been insane,” the Texas native reflects. "If you would have asked me what I thought my life would look like at 22, my wildest dreams wouldn’t even come close. And none of that would be possible without the people who love my music.”
The 16-song collection includes the previously released tracks "Hits Me," "Backwards" and "Hey Dallas."
“Sometimes it feels like we’re all chasing the same thing, trying to find new ways to keep our fans guessing and listening. To keep their attention – to make them look," Hudson says. "This record is built on the experiences and memories that my fans made possible for me over the last couple of years. We made it with them in mind, staying true to my Texas roots. I’m really proud of the album – how we pushed our sound and dug in on the songwriting. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
The title track is out now, ahead of the record's Nov. 6 arrival.
It follows Texas Forever, which came out in July 2025.
Gavin Adcock's 'The Day I Hang It Up' (Warner Records Nashville)
Newcomer Gavin Adcock weighs the cost of his success in his new track, "Shoes."
"I’ll have to admit/ I don’t have a problem paying bills/ But I don’t ever make it back home/ To any of Mama’s Sunday meals," he sings. "And I had a friend/ The last time we talked/ We didn’t see eye-to-eye/ And I was off, way out west/ When they said he died."
Gavin co-wrote the song from his third studio album in three years.
“‘Shoes’ is about how everybody looks in the mirror and for some reason thinks their life isn’t good enough," he reflects. "They look at other people and think the grass is greener on the other side. It’s a reminder for everybody that we’ve only got one life. Live it. Love it. Make the best out of it!”
The Day I Hang It Up arrives Oct. 2 and included his current radio single, "Wannabe."
Zach John King's 'I'm What You Get' (Sony Music Nashville)
Brooks & Dunn topped the country chart with "That Ain't No Way to Go" in 1994, about three years before Zach John King was born. Now the newcomer's releasing his own "Way to Go" — and the Country Music Hall of Famers are singing it with him.
"'Way To Go' is a fun one," Zach says. "I write a lot of heartbreak songs, so this one is a nice change of pace.It's about seeing somebody you know is trouble and choosing to follow through anyway. Getting Brooks & Dunn on this song still doesn't feel real to me. They were such a massive part of my journey with country music, and we've gotten to know each other over the past year."
"The song was already done, and it was never written to be a duet," he explains. "But the idea hit me and I just thought, 'how cool would it be to have them on this track?' They graciously said yes and what came out of it is something I'm really proud of. It's a perfect mix of new and classic all in one song."
The duet appears on Zach's 20-track debut album, I'm What You Get, which also features his top-15 breakthrough "Get to Drinkin'." It comes out Aug. 28.
Josh Ross' "Kicked Out of Bars" (Universal Music Canada/MCA/CORE Records)
After two consecutive number ones, newcomer Josh Ross is getting "Kicked Out of Bars."
The new song follows "Single Again" and "Hate How You Look" as his latest radio single, and counts fellow Canadian Brad Rempel of High Valley as one of its co-writers.
“‘Kicked Out Of Bars’ felt like me from the minute we wrote it," Josh says. "It’s one of those songs almost everyone can relate to, whether you’ve been the one getting kicked out or you’ve got a buddy who has."
"I wanted to give fans something fun and upbeat to close out the summer," he continues. "We’ve been playing it live and seeing everyone already singing along has been pretty incredible. I’m excited for fans to finally have it.”
The reigning CCMA entertainer of the year will defend his title at September's awards, shortly after he heads out on The Young Tour with Dan + Shay.
Matthew McConaughey performs onstage during 'The Rivals Of Amziah King' special screening at Matthew McConaughey Cinema on August 10, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Rick Kern/Getty Images)
What's better than having a song that's been #1 for 17 weeks? Having an Oscar-winning actor sing that song.
Wednesday night on The Late Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Matthew McConaughey ended up playing and singing a bluegrass version of Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" as part of the show's ongoing Audience Suggestion Box segment.
During the segment, Fallon claimed that a viewer had suggested it would be a "dream come true" for her if he managed to combine "Choosin' Texas" with McConaughey's upcoming movie The Rivals of Amziah [am ZIE uh] King, in which he plays a bluegrass musician.
"This is The Tonight Show, where dreams become reality," Fallon announced, as the curtain opened to reveal McConaughey, playing the mandolin in a bluegrass band called The Last Bison. Fallon joined them, playing washboard.
Ella reposted a clip of the performance on her Instagram Story and captioned it, "I may never get over this." And on the original post, she commented, "Omg."
What made the moment even more special is that McConaughey is actually from Texas. He was born in Uvalde, raised in Longview and later attended UT-Austin. And speaking of Austin, that's where Ella is performing on Thursday night.
All for the Hall Los Angeles (Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Lainey Wilson will lead this fall's All for the Hall benefit Thursday, Sept. 17, at The Novo in Los Angeles.
While the rest of the artists are yet to be revealed, we do know it'll be a Nashville-style "guitar pull," with everyone onstage at once taking turns doing their songs.
“I’m so excited to host All for the Hall this fall," Lainey says. “The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does incredible work preserving the music we love and sharing it with the next generation, and it means a lot to me to support that mission. It’s going to be a special night, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
Tickets for fundraiser for the hall of fame go on sale Friday.
Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris hosted the first All for the Hall show in New York City in 2007. Blake Shelton was the force behind the latest one, which took place in 2024 in his native Oklahoma.
Global Citizen Festival (Courtesy of Global Citizen)
Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey are two of the artists set to perform at the 2026 Global Citizen Festival, happening Sept. 26 on the Great Lawn in New York’s Central Park.
Other performers include Lenny Kravitz, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, who will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fugees’ album The Score; John Legend; and K-Pop stars TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
The event will be hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman, with appearances by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King.
“It’s time to gather once again on the Great Lawn, in the middle of New York City, to tell the world an end to extreme poverty is possible,” says Jackman. “There’s something every one of us can do to change the world, and what better way to participate than by taking action with Global Citizen, earning those points, and celebrating with a day of music and advocacy to close out the summer. See you there!”
Free tickets can be earned by taking action through the Global Citizen app or globalcitzenfestival.com on the issues Global Citizen is focusing on this year. These include helping more children go to school, supporting farmers who feed their communities and providing electricity to millions of people around the world.
Global Citizen Festival launched in 2012 featuring performances by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters and others. Subsequent festivals were headlined by such artists as Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé and more.
Rhett Akins' Opry Induction (Courtesy Grand Ole Opry)
Rhett Akins will officially be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on his birthday, Tuesday, Oct. 13.
His son Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson and Jon Pardi are just some of the artists who'll play that night in his honor.
Jon surprised Rhett with the invitation back in June. Rhett's one of the writers of Jon's 2017 #1 "Dirt on My Boots."
Known for his own hits "That Ain't My Truck" and "Don't Get Me Started," Rhett's written 36 country number ones, going on to become a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and ACM Songwriter of the Decade.
Luke Combs' My Kinda Saturday Night Tour (Courtesy Luke Combs/Sacks & Co.)
Luke Combs' My Kinda Saturday Night Tour didn't end with his three sold-out shows at London's Wembley Stadium. He's extending the run into 2027.
The "Be By You" hitmaker will restart the trek April 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The dozen-date itinerary wraps June 26 at Petco Park in San Diego.
Along the way, he'll hit Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium, Detroit’s Ford Field, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium and Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High.
Treaty Oak Revival, Avery Anna, Shenandoah and Wyatt McCubbin will open the in-the-round shows.
Presales start Aug. 19, before tickets become available to the public on Aug. 21.
Luke sold more than 1.3 million tickets his initial My Kinda Saturday Night run.
Brooks & Dunn's 'Brand New Man' (Arista Nashville)
Nearly four decades after its release, the debut album by Brooks & Dunn will finally be pressed on vinyl.
“When we released Brand New Man, we were two songwriters trying to make the best record we could and hoping people would connect with it,” Kix Brooks says. “To see those songs still finding their way to new fans 35 years later is something we never could have imagined. Getting to finally put this album on vinyl and celebrate where it all started is pretty special.”
The duo had a hand in writing every song on the record, with half the tracks becoming country hits. The title track, "My Next Broken Heart," "Neon Moon" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" all topped the chart, while "Lost and Found" made it to #6.
“We never set out to make a record that would still be talked about 35 years later, we were just two crazy guys chasing the Nashville dream,” Ronnie Dunn reflects. “The fans are the reason these songs have lasted, and seeing the younger generation connect with them is what keeps it exciting. Brand New Man will always be a special part of our story.”
Kix and Ronnie are set to play the Grand Ole Opry Wednesday night to mark the album's Aug. 13, 1991 release.
Vinyl copies of Brand New Man will be available Oct. 23 and come autographed for $50.
Garth Brooks' Blame It All on My Roots Tour (Courtesy Garth Brooks/Ticketmaster)
Garth Brooks will bring his Blame It All on My Roots Arena Tour to the nation's capital as its fourth stop.
The superstar is set to play Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19.
All seats will be priced at $155 this time, with tickets going on sale Friday, Aug. 21.
The trek kicks off Thursday, Aug. 20, in Indianapolis, with a news release clocking demand for tickets there at 380,000 fans, with subsequent stops in Denver and Chicago each hitting the half-million mark.
Imagine you're taking wedding photos by a river when Shaboozey floats by.
That's what happened to a California couple taking photos on their big day in Mammoth Lakes, California.
In a video shared on Monday by Southern California wedding planner K. Rose Events, a couple -- who have chosen to stay anonymous -- was taking photos when they were interrupted by the "Bar Song (Tipsy)" singer as he floated on a tube behind them.
Shaboozey was accompanied by a group of other bystanders on floaties, drifting behind him.
"POV: you're getting married on the Owens River in Mammoth… and SHABOOZEY floats by," the caption for the video began. "Not a styled shoot. Not a setup. This actually happened."
The caption continued, "Mid-ceremony in Mammoth Lakes, CA — vows under the Sierra peaks, granite + sage as far as you can see — and Shaboozey makes a cameo coming down the river. The bride’s face says it all. The groom couldn’t stop laughing. Even I lost it for a second."
According to Shaboozey, who commented on the post, the group he was with was for The Woolly Run, a trip for those who enjoy motorsports and the outdoors. According to its website, the group spent a night camping in the Alabama Hills located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and spent three nights at a campsite along the Owens River in Mammoth.
Shaboozey commented on the post and wrote, "CONGRATULATIONS! From Shabozzey and @thewoollyrun!!"
Woolly Run also commented, writing, "We know how to crash a wedding."
Shaboozey recently released his new album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, on July 31. It features Jamie Foxx, Gunna, Leon Bridges, Teyana Taylor, Kehlani, Orville Peck and Sam Elliott.
Russell Dickerson performs on ABC's ‘CMA Fest presented by SoFi' (Disney/Connie Chornuk)
Russell Dickerson's currently out on his Russellmania tour, but he says since the success of his smash hit "Happen to Me," he's noticed something different about his audiences: They're multi-generational.
"That is the most beautiful thing," he tells ABC Audio. "They're like full families — kids, sons, daughters — they're coming, they got their merch, they've got their wrestling gear, and the sunglasses and the boas."
He says it's an "honor" to be "trusted with somebody's Friday night," adding, "Being a family environment, they can all go and make memories together as a family." In fact, Russell says for the first time, he's selling kids' merchandise at his concerts, because "there are a ton of kids" there.
There's also about to be more kids back home: Russell and his wife Kailey Dickerson recently announced that they're expecting baby #3, who'll join sons Remington Dickerson, 5, and Radford Dickerson, 2. Now, he just has to hope that the home reno project he and Kailey have been dealing with for ages will be ready in time for the new arrival.
"It's been two years!" he laughs. "It went from a renovation to, like, completely rebuilding our dream home. And I'm just grateful to have had the success I've had in the last two years, because otherwise I would be completely freaking out!"
One feature of the new house, though, will be a number of firepits and fireplaces, which are, as Russell says, "100% s'mores ready." Which is convenient because he's just partnered with Hershey’s to ask fans to join in a national debate: When it comes to the marshmallows in your s'mores, are you Camp Toasty or Camp Gooey?
"I have a very passionate stance on Team Gooey, because I want it to be gooey all the way through," he says. "I like the gooeyness of the mallow dripping down onto the chocolate, you know? And then it's like running down your hand and just, like, that's a s'more to me."
And as for letting Remy and Rad chow down on the sweet treats?
"To me, it's all about the memories, you know?" he says. "I feel like we do pretty good throughout the day. So when it's time for a s'more, we just let them have at it."
Two years after going on the Take Me Home Tour with Little Big Town, Sugarland's getting back together to hit the road again.
Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will kick off the 26-city Ride or Die Tour Oct. 1 in St. Augustine, Florida, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their second album.
“Enjoy the Ride was such a turning point album,” Jennifer reflects. “It literally catapulted us onto the ride of our lives with a carnival of hits and a life on The Road. We couldn’t let its anniversary pass without marking it as something special with our fans, live and on tour!”
The 2006 album featured the hits "Stay," "Want To," "Settlin'" and "Everyday America."
“There is truly nothing more satisfying than the lights going up on the Sugarland stage and feeling our songs rumble out of the speakers,” Kristian adds. “I’m excited just thinking about it and even more thrilled to be celebrating the anniversary of Enjoy The Ride.”
The trek wraps Nov. 21 in Dallas. You can sign up for presales now at SugarlandMusic.com.
Jennifer just starred in the off-Broadway run of Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo, which she also wrote, while Kristian's been busy producing hits for Megan Moroney.
