Country Music Songs You Need To Hear This Week Featuring Megan Moroney, Ashley McBryde, Braxton Keith & More
- All Country News
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Megan Moroney - Cloud 9
What makes Cloud 9 compelling isn’t just its polish or its guest list. It’s the balance. Moroney understands the power of aesthetic, the pink palette, the princess energy, but she refuses to let it flatten her. Beneath the gloss is a writer deeply aware of the world she’s navigating. She knows the industry. She knows the expectations. And she knows exactly how to twist them into hooks. With Cloud 9, Megan Moroney doesn’t just float above the noise, she rises through it. The album is confident without being cocky, feminine without apology, and clever without sacrificing heart. Country music has always made room for queens. On Cloud 9, Megan Moroney proves the princess era is just getting started.
Ashley McBryde - Arkansas Mud
There’s a certain kind of dirt that never washes off. On “Arkansas Mud,” Ashley McBryde doesn’t try to clean it up. She leans into it, boots planted, jaw set, guitar snarling. And in doing so, she delivers the kind of statement that feels less like a new chapter and more like a full-circle return. From the first line, “Arkansas Mud” is all sinew and smoke. It’s McBryde at her most unvarnished. unapologetic, sharp-edged, and cinematic in a way that feels lived-in rather than stylized. This isn’t a radio-chasing pivot or a glossy reinvention. It’s the sound of an artist reclaiming the raw, barroom grit that first made her impossible to ignore. There’s muscle in the production, thick guitars, a backbeat that lands like a slammed screen door, but the heart of the song is in its defiance. McBryde has always written like someone who’s seen the other side of last call, but here she sounds like she owns the joint. The chorus detonates into something anthemic, a proud and pounding homage to her beloved home state. It’s not nostalgia. It’s allegiance. And that’s the magic trick: “Arkansas Mud” feels both deeply personal and stadium-ready. You can picture it in a packed venue, lights low, crowd roaring, the first chord sparking recognition. A new set opener? It certainly plays like one. The kind of song that doesn’t ask for attention, it commands it. For longtime fans, this track carries a particular weight. There’s an echo of the hunger that defined her early days, the years of grinding it out, writing truth like it was the only currency that mattered. But now there’s confidence layered over that grit. McBryde isn’t fighting for a seat at the table anymore. She’s flipping the table over. “Arkansas Mud,” she reminds us why she was never meant to be polished into something prettier or more palatable. Her power has always been in the rough edges, in the stories that sting a little, in the pride that borders on stubborn, in the refusal to smooth out the corners. Some artists evolve by shedding their past. Ashley McBryde evolves by digging her heels deeper into it.
Braxton Keith - I Own This Bar
There’s something deliciously mischievous about a country song that knows exactly how to have fun, and Braxton Keith’s latest single, “I Own This Bar,” lands squarely in that sweet spot. From the first strum, it’s clear this isn’t just another honky-tonk track; it’s a playful declaration, a wink to anyone who’s ever held court at their favorite watering hole. Keith steps behind the bar of imagination, adopting the persona of the local who can be anyone he wants, from Dale Earnhardt to George Strait. He struts through the verses with swagger, proving the old saying true: you can’t “BS a BS’er.” It’s a line that doesn’t just elicit a laugh, it cements Keith’s knack for storytelling with a mischievous grin. Vocally, Keith shines. There’s a richness and clarity in his delivery that allows the humor to land without undercutting his serious chops. He makes you believe he owns that bar, even if your favorite spot is a thousand miles away. It’s the kind of performance that can turn a casual listener into a loyal fan in a single chorus.
What makes “I Own This Bar” stand out in today’s crowded country landscape isn’t just the clever lyricism or the honky-tonk charm, it’s the authenticity Keith brings. This is a track made for the nights when the neon lights hum, the jukebox spins, and you feel like the king of your own little universe. It’s cheeky. It’s fun. It’s Braxton Keith at his most charismatic. And if country music needs a reminder that not every song has to be heavy to be memorable, he’s delivered it, one confident, playful line at a time.
Corey Kent - Empty Words
Corey Kent has a knack for turning heartache into art, but with “Empty Words,” he’s operating on an entirely new level. The latest single finds the rising country star diving deep into the bluesy, soulful corners of heartbreak, delivering one of his most intoxicating performances yet. The lyrics are clever without ever feeling contrived. Lines like: “Hey there Mr. Webster / Could you make a couple more / ‘Cause I could really use a sorry / That I ain’t used on her before” capture the universal frustration of trying to undo what’s been done, all while blending wit with raw emotion. Kent’s chorus lands like a gut punch. It’s a narrative of accountability and consequence, yet Kent’s delivery, soulful, sultry, and dripping with authenticity, keeps the track from feeling like a mere lament. Instead, it’s an intimate confession, a sonic apology note sent out into the ether, hoping someone, somewhere, will hear it and relate. “Empty Words” straddles the line between country and blues, offering a new creative direction for Kent. The instrumentation supports the narrative beautifully, allowing his vocals to soar and break, and giving space for every pause, every sigh, every admission of guilt, to resonate. For Corey Kent, “Empty Words” isn’t just another single, it’s a statement. It’s proof that the young artist isn’t afraid to confront the messy, human side of love, and to do so with sophistication, heart, and a voice that sticks with you long after the song ends. If there’s a lesson in Kent’s latest offering, it’s this: sometimes, words aren’t enough, and sometimes, the spaces between them say more than anything ever could.
Ryan Bingham - Ballad of the Texas Gentlemen
Ryan Bingham has long been the outlaw voice for those who live on the edges, the ones who feel every heartbreak, every high, and every road-worn mile. With his newest single, "Ballad of the Texas Gentlemen", he proves once again why he’s one of country’s most raw and magnetic storytellers. Opening with a delicate acoustic melody, the song draws listeners into a world that feels both intimate and cinematic. Bingham’s vocals, gritty, soulful, and impossibly precise, carry the weight of the road, the whiskey, and the small-town stories that shaped him. It’s an acoustic dream, yet it’s anything but sleepy; there’s fire simmering beneath every note. As the track unfolds, what begins as a slow, reflective jam gradually swells into a rowdy, joyous crescendo. The piano, unexpected yet perfectly placed, pushes the song into cinematic territory, lifting it from heartfelt ballad to an anthem of mischief, grit, and sheer Texas charm. By the time the final chord hits full of fiddle, you’re left feeling like you’ve just ridden shotgun through a smoky bar, a desert highway, and a backyard hoedown all in one. "Ballad of the Texas Gentlemen" isn’t just a song, it’s an experience. It’s Ryan Bingham at his unfiltered, unpolished best: a storyteller, a rebel, and a musician who reminds us that country music still has room for risk, honesty, and fire. With this single, Bingham doesn’t just sing about life; he drags you into it. And if you’re ready to feel every beat, every note, and every story, you’re in for one hell of a ride.
Coleman Jennings - Flyin'
Coleman Jennings is not the kind of artist who follows the rules, he bends them, snaps them, and sometimes drives straight past them in a pickup with the windows down. His latest single, “Flyin’,” is a perfect showcase of that restless spirit, a song that’s as much about motion as it is about feeling alive. Written solo, “Flyin’” taps the hard-twang of a Buck Owens classic, but it’s not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Jennings’ vocals carry a time-bending quality, conjuring the warm crackle of old WSM radio while still feeling immediate and alive. It’s the kind of voice that makes you imagine road dust on your boots and the horizon stretching forever. In an era when country music often drifts toward polish over grit, Jennings leans into the raw and the real. “Flyin’” is more than a song about roads and movement; it’s a modern nod to the timeless Americana of hard-twang guitars, honest storytelling, and a voice that feels like it’s traveled decades in a single breath. For fans of country that remembers its roots while still looking forward, Coleman Jennings is a pilot worth following, and “Flyin’” is your first ticket along for the ride.
Madden Metcalf - I Don't Wanna Cry Anymore
Sometimes heartbreak hits in waves. Sometimes it hits with the force of a Gulf Coast tide, messy, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. Enter Madden Metcalf, the rising singer/songwriter from Panacea, Florida, whose latest single, “I Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore”, arrives like a cathartic release you didn’t know you needed. Released via Wexler Records/MCA Nashville, the track is a post-breakup anthem for the “messy middle” of heartbreak, the stage when the tears are drying, but the heart isn’t quite ready to forgive. Metcalf’s candid storytelling feels both timeless and immediate, rooted in the storytelling traditions of country music yet shaped by a modern, resonant sensibility. Hailing from a tiny Gulf Coast fishing town, Metcalf brings a warmth and authenticity to his music that can only come from growing up where life moves slow, and stories run deep. His voice, rootsy, radiant, and achingly sincere, makes the kind of country that invites you to roll down your car windows and let it flood your senses. Early-2010s Florida country vibes reminiscent of Florida Georgia Line or Dustin Lynch are present, but Metcalf’s take feels fresh, contemporary, and unshakably his own. This is only his third release, yet Metcalf carries the nuanced perspective of an artist far beyond his years. “I Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore” isn’t just a song, it’s a moment of reckoning, a spark of liberation, and a bold statement that Madden Metcalf is a voice you’ll want blasting through your speakers all summer long. For a newcomer, the message is simple but profound: heartbreak isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning of a song waiting to be sung.
Skip Ewing & Mae Estes - Stronger When You're Broken
In a genre built on three chords and the truth, few artists have told it more faithfully than Skip Ewing. And on his latest release, “Stronger Where You’re Broken,” the veteran hitmaker doesn’t just revisit heartbreak, he reframes it. The track, the third offering from his forthcoming Dragonfly EP, pairs Ewing with rising country star Mae Estes for a duet that feels both timeless and timely. Written solely by Ewing, the song leans into one of country music’s oldest themes, the healing power of love, but delivers it with a perspective only experience can earn. “Stronger Where You’re Broken” acknowledges the rawness of loss without flinching. “Heartbreak’s hell while the wound is open,” Ewing sings, his voice weathered but warm. It’s a line that lands with lived-in conviction. But instead of lingering in the ache, the song lifts its gaze toward redemption: “But give it time, and you’ll find / That you’re stronger where you’re broken.” That emotional pivot is where the magic happens. Ewing’s delivery carries the steady reassurance of someone who has seen storms pass. Then enters Estes, her harmonies threading through the chorus like light through stained glass. If Ewing is the anchor, Estes is the lift. Her voice, clear, tender, but never fragile, softens the edges of the song’s harder truths. Together, they create a dynamic that feels less like a duet and more like a conversation between scars and hope. Production-wise, the track keeps its boots firmly planted in classic country soil. There’s an upbeat pulse beneath the message, a subtle reminder that healing isn’t passive, it’s active, forward-moving. The instrumentation doesn’t overshadow the lyric; it underscores it. That restraint allows the song’s central thesis to shine: brokenness isn’t the end of the story. It’s where strength begins. For Ewing, a songwriter long revered for his pen, “Stronger Where You’re Broken” feels like both a continuation and a culmination. It’s reflective without being nostalgic, encouraging without veering into cliché. And for Estes, the collaboration signals another confident step forward, showcasing her ability to elevate a song not by overpowering it, but by inhabiting it. Country music has always had a soft spot for the shattered heart. But in “Stronger Where You’re Broken,” Ewing and Estes remind us that the cracks are where the light gets in, and sometimes, where the steel is forged. In a world that often glamorizes perfection, this duet offers something better: resilience set to melody.
Waylon Wyatt & Wyatt Flores - Didn't Forget
In a world where country music often tip toes around raw emotion, Waylon Wyatt and Wyatt Flores dive straight into the heartland of heartbreak with their new collaboration, released via Music Soup/Darkroom Records. The track is more than just a meeting of two rising voices, it’s a full-circle moment steeped in personal history. Waylon first experienced Wyatt live at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and now the two are weaving their stories together in a harmony-laden ode to love lost and trust broken.
From the very first note, the song grabs you. Opening with one of the most cinematic guitar lines we’ve heard in a long time, the track sets a mood that is both intimate and expansive, like standing alone on a dust-swept prairie under a fading sunset. The guitars don’t just accompany the story, they tell it, echoing the heartbreak and aftermath in every bend and slide. Wyatt Flores’ emotive delivery meets Waylon Wyatt’s soulful grit, creating a vocal alchemy that lingers long after the track ends. Their harmonies don’t just sing. they argue, console, and confide, reflecting the tangled emotions of betrayal with uncanny authenticity. It’s a rare kind of collaboration, one that feels lived-in rather than manufactured, like friends sharing the confessional space of a pickup truck at midnight. This isn’t just a song about heartbreak, it’s about the enduring honesty of country music, where personal history, raw emotion, and musical craftsmanship intersect. Waylon Wyatt and Wyatt Flores have created something that resonates far beyond the charts: a story that could only exist where two young talents meet with shared experience, mutual respect, and a love for truth-telling in song. For fans of heartland country, this track isn’t just a listen, it’s an invitation to feel, reflect, and maybe even mend a little of your own heartbreak along the way.
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