Mark Chesnutt photo courtesy of Lofton Creek Records.

When Mark Chesnutt welcomed his first son, he named the boy Waylon in honor of rough-and-tumble Texas musician Waylon Jennings.

Now Mark is honoring Waylon and a slew of like-minded country acts with a new album titled Outlaw, set for release June 22. Produced by Pete Anderson, best known for his work with Dwight Yoakam, Outlaw serves up new versions of songs associated with Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and — of course — Waylon.

Continue Reading

ShareThis

George Strait photo by Danny Clinch, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Some of the biggest stars in country music history — George Strait, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Tammy Wynette — are among a slew of Country Music Hall of Fame members who’ve made their way into the headlines of late.

George set an unprecedented mark on the country charts, Hank earned a prestigious honor and Willie went to a Texas courtroom, where he could have been called on to testify in a trial involving a shooting outside a bar.

Here’s a roundup of Hall of Famers who continue to make an impact in a variety of ways:

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Kenny Chesney’s collaboration with Dave Matthews, “I’m Alive,” hit No. 12 last week on the Country Aircheck singles chart. It’s an achievement that’s four years in the making, going back to the first time they met at Farm Aid in 2005.

“I had already written ‘I’m Alive,’ and Dave told me he loved that ‘I’m Alive’ song and that he felt like that would be something that would fit on one of his records to stand alone,” Kenny recalls. “I said ‘Well, why don’t we try doin’ it?’ Continue Reading

ShareThis