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Congratulations to The Avett Brothers on winning a British Arrows award for their "Love Of A Girl" music video! Directed by Victor Haegelin, the video features Seth and Scott Avett as characters in a creative stop-motion presentation of this single from their 2024 album, The Avett Brothers . Watch the winning video below! About British Arrows : For almost fifty years, British Arrows has been championing, awarding and celebrating the innovation, bravery and artistry of moving image advertising. In that time technology and media have changed beyond all recognition but the essential aspects of craft have remained constant. Talent, dedication, innovation, and professionalism have never gone out of fashion and it is these skills that we will focus on, honour and support throughout the year.

As they are getting ready for a night at the Grand Ole Opry, Riders in the Sky have been featured in Rolling Stone for the classic Western look they always bring with them. With an excerpt from the new book 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry: A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans, and the Home of Country Music , Rolling Stone dives into the cowboy hats, suits, and rhinestones that come across the Opry stage. Too Slim says: "Even at our first show, 47 years ago, we wanted to play great music, do silly and smart comedy, and look like our western music cowboy heroes.    When we come on stage, like we will tonight on the Opry, it always feels like ‘OK, these guys are serious about entertaining.’   The 100 Years Opry tradition of paying attention to the “show” part of show business is in our jeans. I mean genes.” Read the full article from Rolling Stone below. Country music’s most famous stage and radio show is marking its 100th anniversary this year with special performances, honors, and a recent three-hour NBC TV special. But fans of country music, and broadcast history too, would be remiss to not seek out a copy of 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry : A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans, and the Home of Country Music . A gorgeously crafted new book by members of the Opry and Nashville author Craig Shelburne, it looks at the institution’s colorful legacy, with photos from all eras, both backstage and under the spotlights. In this excerpted chapter, titled “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry traces the arrival of cowboy clothing on the Opry stage and explains why dazzling rhinestones and Nudie suits became musts for nearly any Opry performer. “On December 1, the Grand Ole Opry, WSM’s four-hour Saturday night barn dance, will celebrate its ninth anniversary as one of the most popular programs of its kind ever put on the air. For the first time since the program was started, the performers are dressing their parts. Overalls, hickory shirts and battered hats predominate among the old time fiddlers and banjo pickers while Uncle Dave Macon, long since the star performer, continues to wear his ten-gallon hat, gates-ajar collar and flashes his gold teeth at the spotlight, which plays on him in WSM’s brand new auditorium studio.” The November 18, 1934, Tennessean documented the Opry’s evolution from a barn dance of the airwaves and imagination—where a few lucky fans could crowd into a radio studio each week—to a stage show where musicians’ costumes reflected the hillbilly image the show cultivated from the beginning. In WSM’s Studio C, five hundred fans per two-hour segment could witness the performances. Even if the hillbilly look was out of character for musicians such as Dr. Humphrey Bate, a harmonica player with a medical degree from Vanderbilt, it was powerful in distinguishing the Opry and underscoring the show’s down-home identity. From then on, each show would be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. As the Opry attracted more full-time professionals, some musicians felt that the hillbilly image was denigrating, so they took a cue from the cowboy movies dominating the cinematic landscape of the day. Zeke Clements, Texas Ruby Owens, and Pee Wee King donned cowboy hats and colorful Western wear and adopted band names such as the Bronco Busters and Golden West Cowboys. The cowboy style became more fanciful through the 1940s in the hands of Jewish immigrant tailors such as Rodeo Ben in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Nathan Turk and Nudie Cohn in Hollywood, California. Though small in stature, Little Jimmy Dickens made a sizable impression in 1949 when he took the Opry stage wearing one of Cohn’s creations, which would become known as “Nudie suits”—the first Opry member to do so. In the 1950s, the style was embraced by many top young country stars. As Nudie’s designs became more elaborate and eye-catching, the Opry sparkled with flashing rhinestones and colorful embroidered designs that reflected performers’ individuality. From Hank Snow’s “I’m Moving On” suit with embroidered train motifs to Porter Wagoner’s heavily rhinestoned stage suits decorated with Conestoga wagons and wagon wheels, audiences knew, without a doubt, they were seeing a star. Stage wear for Opry women proved more conservative in the 1950s. Minnie Pearl’s frilly dress and a $1.98 price tag hanging from her hat became her signature look. Similarly, Kitty Wells and Wilma Lee Cooper dressed modestly, cradling acoustic guitars against their square-dance-style dresses. By the 1960s, women were making more fashionable style choices. Patsy Cline helped usher in elegant cocktail dresses, many made by her mother. Sonny James, Jim Reeves, and other smooth-singing men in the Nashville Sound era opted for trim, modern suits. The 1970s saw a new era of self-expression for women. Loretta Lynn donned floor-length gowns; Dolly Parton’s embellished bell-bottom jumpsuits created an unforgettable silhouette; and Dottie West raised the glam factor with stage wear by Bob Mackie, designer of choice for Cher and Carol Burnett. Success allowed these stars to leave behind the old-fashioned notions of how a woman in country music should look and dress. The Outlaw and Urban Cowboy eras introduced a much more casual country style, with jeans, cowboy boots, and Western shirts worn by entertainers and their audiences alike. As the nineties rolled around, the look got crisper. Jeans showed an ironed-in crease. Cowboy hats, which were back in style for Clint Black, Terri Clark, and Alan Jackson, were pristine and clean. In the 2000s, the Del McCoury Band, Ricky Skaggs, and Rhonda Vincent carried on the dress-to-impress bluegrass tradition, always looking sharp for their audience. These days, the Opry stage might showcase fashion inspiration from throughout the show’s history. Banjo player and comedian Mike Snider has been known to sport overalls, Riders in the Sky adhere to the Western look, and Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives wouldn’t dare come to the Opry without gorgeous custom-tailored Western suits. For his induction, Mark Wills borrowed an embellished jacket that George Jones wore for his final promotional photo. Terri Clark, Jamie Dailey of Dailey & Vincent, and Jamey Johnson are among the Opry artists who turned to esteemed Nashville designer Manuel Cuevas (a protégé of Nudie Cohn simply known as Manuel ) for their induction wardrobe. Meanwhile, the glamour of a bygone era continues to inspire fashion-forward entertainers such as Sara Evans, Carly Pearce, and Carrie Underwood. Said Underwood, “I always try to dress a certain way for the Opry because of the rich tradition established by women at the Opry. You look at the pictures on the walls, they’re just stunning. And they really respected the Opry and wanted to dress a certain way. I try my best to keep that going.”

Rodney Crowell and Willie Nelson have come together again for Nelson's new album, Oh What A Beautiful World . Coming out on April 25th, the album highlights twelve Crowell songs including "Oh What A Beautiful World," released earlier this week as a duet between Crowell and Nelson. This album will reimagine a variety of Crowell favorites with Nelson's own twist on them. Each track was written or co-written by Crowell, pulling songs from throughout his songwriting career. From early hits such as "Banks Of The Old Bandera" (1976) to more recent releases like "Oh What A Beautiful World" (2014), this set showcases many eras of Crowell's work. This is not the first time these two Texas icons have crossed paths. Crowell was first introduced to Nelson's work in the 1960s, and they have since collaborated on multiple projects. Nelson first recorded one of his songs in 1983 and did so again on his 2024 album, The Border. Pre-order the album now, and see which of your Rodney Crowell favorites made the track list! 1. What Kind Of Love 2. Banks Of The Old Bandera 3. The Fly Boy & The Kid 4. Forty Miles From Nowhere 5. I Wouldn’t Be Me Without You 6. Making Memories Of Us 7. Oh What A Beautiful World (with Rodney Crowell) 8. Open Season On My Heart 9. Shame On The Moon 10. She’s Back In Town 11. Still Learning How To Fly 12. Stuff That Works

Congratulations to the 2025 "Entertainer of the Year" - Reckless Kelly ! The band was honored at the Texas Music Chart Awards on March 8th, taking home the biggest award of the night. This award recognizes the impact Reckless Kelly has had on the Texas music scene, along with the success of their recent album and outstanding live performances. Willy Braun accepted the award with many thanks to their fans, crew, and Texas Radio for the continued support. Since the release of The Last Frontier in September, the album has been a hit, featuring two multi-week #1 singles on Texas Radio - "Keep Lookin' Down The Road" and "What's Left of My Heart." The Last Frontier Tour is taking the album on the road around the U.S. and to Spain, including upcoming appearances with Steve Earle, Parker McCollum, Lucinda Williams, and festivals including Cattle Country, Azkena Rock Festival, and their annual Braun Brothers Reunion. The tour picks back up later this month with the Treefort Music Fest, and there is much more to look forward to with a packed year for Reckless Kelly. For all upcoming show details, visit their Tour Page .

Happy release day to Paul Thorn ! The album we've all been waiting for, Life Is Just A Vapor , is out now with eleven songs to enjoy, including "Tough Times Don't Last" and "Geraldine & Ricky." Each track brings another powerful story from Thorn, inspired by his personal experiences and years of wisdom. “Thorn’s exceptional new album… features a spicy mix of traditional rock ’n’ roll flavors…” –  Nashville Scene “It’s quintessential Thorn: facing up to hard truths, but also offering hope. And doing it with an infectiously down-home music and plainspoken, humor-laced profundity…” –  No Depression Holding the second slot on the album is "Courage My Love," described by No Depression as “a brawny heartland rocker about what it takes to make it together.” Also out today is a live performance video for this new song. Check it out below! Thorn will be ringing in the new album with two nights at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville on February 21st and 22nd. Visit his tour page for tickets to this album-release celebration, and see where he'll be bringing these hits next!

2025 is off to an exciting start for Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley - between a GRAMMY win, Trey's guitar debut, and many upcoming shows, there is much to celebrate for this duo. As members of the Taj Mahal Sextet, Rob and Trey took home the GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Blues Album alongside 2025 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Taj Mahal, Bobby Ingano, Bill Rich, and the late/great Kester Smith. This award recognizes the group's record Swingin' Live At The Church In Tulsa that was released last spring. Rob and Trey's first duo album was nominated for a GRAMMY and they have been part of many nominations and winning projects since then, but this is the first time they've been awarded a GRAMMY themselves. Congratulations to Rob, Trey, and the entire Taj Mahal Sextet on this well-deserved award! Trey recently partnered with Huss & Dalton Guitar Company to craft the Trey Hensley TD-R Signature Model Guitar. His guitar debuted to the public at the 2025 NAMM Show, held in Los Angeles from January 21st through 25th, and was chosen as the NAMM 2025 Editor's Pick by Premier Guitar. As described by Premier Guitar, "The adventurous bluegrass burner Trey Hensley & acoustic stalwarts Huss & Dalton combined to release a delightful dread." Learn more about how this guitar came to be in the video below. With their tour in full swing and a number of festival appearances to come, there is much to look forward to as the year continues. Visit their tour page to make sure you don't miss this GRAMMY-winning duo at a show near you. You might even get to hear Trey's Signature Guitar in action!

We're counting down the days to Paul Thorn 's upcoming album Life Is Just A Vapor , with less than a month left until its release on February 21st. Until then, Thorn is keeping us on the edge of our seats with a new single, "Geraldine & Ricky," out today along with an animated music video. "Geraldine & Ricky" draws from Thorn's memory of the real Geraldine and Ricky of his childhood. Geraldine was a traveling evangelist who would bring along Ricky, a ventriloquist doll, to share the Lord's word. Thorn recalls being mesmerized by the act at just five years old, and even thought he'd follow in their footsteps when he got his own ventriloquist doll. He says, “I had made up my mind that when I grew up, I was going to be a ventriloquist.” Thorn takes us through the adventures of Geraldine and Ricky with this catchy track, adding his own twist to the duo's story. He paints Geraldine as “a toxic opportunist looking for anything that will better her situation." When Geraldine leaves Ricky behind for someone new, karma quickly catches up to her. How does their story end, you ask? Watch the video below to see for yourself!

The Avett Brothers are making their grand return to Austin City Limits for the series' 50th Anniversary! Premiering this Saturday, January 18th, their one-hour episode will take you through many eras of The Avett Brothers with an energetic and captivating performance. Austin City Limits has celebrated the best in live performance for 50 years, showcasing some of the most iconic performances on television. The Avett Brothers made their debut on the show in 2009 for Season 35, and returned for Season 40 in 2014. After more than two decades together, The Avett Brothers continue to put on a one-of-a-kind show that they are bringing back to Austin City Limits for this historic season. These North Carolina roots and alt-country trailblazers sure know how to wow a crowd, and this episode does just that. With a set highlighting classic hits and much of their 2024 album The Avett Brothers , each song is a true display of the band's powerful stories, signature harmonies, and connection to fans. Also adding to their set is a stripped-down cover of "As Good As I Once Was," honoring Toby Keith with their Avett-style rendition. Catch the The Avett Brothers' episode on PBS this Saturday at 8pm ET/7pm CT, or stream it after the premiere at pbs.org/austincitylimits .

Last Thursday, Peter Rowan joined Sam Grisman Project for their eagerly anticipated debut at Ryman Auditorium. It was an unforgettable evening honoring Rowan and Old & In the Way. The audience danced along to two sets and an encore packed with fan favorites from Old & In the Way and Rowan's own musical projects. There was never a dull moment onstage as Rowan performed alongside Sam Grisman Project and friends. Special guests included Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Lindsay Lou, Ronnie and Rob McCoury, and the band featuring Alex Hargreaves, Chris J. English, Dominick Leslie, Logan Ledger, Max Flansburg, Nat Smith and Victor Furtado. Billy Strings, Gillian Welch, and David Rawlings also made surprise appearances throughout the show. As described by Relix , this show certainly "represented the best and brightest in the bluegrass ether, a promising display of the longevity and enduring spirit of the genre." Read the full Relix review below for more on Peter Rowan and Sam Grisman Project's big night at Ryman Auditorium.

Peter Rowan will be taking the Ryman stage with Sam Grisman Project on January 9th for the band's debut at this iconic venue. The show will celebrate the music of Old & In the Way, taking Rowan back to his music with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia in the early '70s, while also recognizing his work since then as solo singer-songwriter and band member. In a recent interview with The Bluegrass Situation , Rowan reminisced about Old & In the Way and the nights they spent playing together at Garcia's house. He recalls the encouragement and "go for it" attitude between them that made the band so influential. Rowan is now the only member of the band actively performing and has been touring with Sam Grisman Project regularly, carrying on the legacy of Old & In the Way. Sam Grisman also reflected on the influence that Rowan and Old & In the Way have had on bluegrass music, mentioning how playing with Rowan has shown " how important it is to bring your own approach to these timeless songs that we love, while still honoring what it is that makes us love them in the first place." Tickets to see Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project at Ryman Auditorium are still available, and you won't want to miss this special performance. Get your ticket here !

Chatham County Line is kicking off 2025 with a celebration of Bob Dylan's 15th studio album, Blood on the Tracks. The band is heading to Tulsa, OK on January 24th for Shelter from the Storm, an event honoring the 50th anniversary of this album. Chatham County Line is the house band for this special concert, where they will play the album in its entirety alongside other iconic Dylan hits. Chatham County Line is backing up a stacked lineup including Elvis Costello, Robyn Hitchcock, Lucinda Williams , and more! Tickets sold out instantly for this exciting one-night-only event.

Just a few weeks after its release, Paul Thorn ’s new song “Tough Times Don’t Last” is already punching above its weight! The first single from his forthcoming album  Life Is Just A Vapor  was the most added song on the Americana singles chart this week, and debuted at #26 with a bullet! Listen to "Tough Times Don't Last" below, and pre-save the new album coming February 21st.