Nine Country Music Songs You Need To Hear This Week Featuring HARDY, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lily Rose & More

HARDY - COUNTRY! COUNTRY!

HARDY has always been a restless artist. From the mud-soaked fields of his Mississippi youth to the neon glare of Nashville’s music scene, he’s never settled for a single lane. Last year’s Quit!! saw him leap headfirst into rock, a bold detour that earned critical acclaim and showcased a ferocity few expected from the chart-topping country songwriter. And yet, even in the thrash and roar of that world, something tugged at him, a reminder of where he started, and who he is at his core. COUNTRY! COUNTRY! is that homecoming. The album reads like a love letter to his roots, but it’s far from nostalgic window dressing. It’s HARDY in full color: unfiltered, irreverent, and reflective. Tracks like “Bottomland,” named for a hunting camo pattern that harkens back to his childhood, anchor the listener in memory and place, while songs such as “Y’all Need Jesus” and “Bedroom in the Sky,” featuring Stephen Wilson Jr., reveal his sharp wit and fearless approach to storytelling. The record is also a quiet testament to the value of community. HARDY spent years writing No. 1 hits alongside peers, crafting the HIXTAPE series, and watching country music evolve around him. In COUNTRY! COUNTRY!, HARDY proves that identity in music is fluid. He can thrash, he can soar, he can laugh, and he can lament—all while remaining unmistakably himself. The album doesn’t just celebrate his past or comment on the present; it stakes a claim for the future of an artist unbound by expectation. HARDY reminds us that country music, at its best, is about story, heart, and courage, the courage to be fully, audaciously yourself.

Charles Wesley Godwin - Live From The Steel City

In an era dominated by polished studio perfection and auto-tuned hooks, West Virginia native Charles Wesley Godwin reminds us why live music still matters. His new album, Live From The Steel City, is a rollicking 23-song testament to the power of real instruments, raw energy, and the kind of storytelling that sticks to your bones. From the first strum, it’s clear Godwin isn’t here to hide behind gimmicks. His melodies are tied to memories, his voice carrying the weight of mountains, small-town streets, and the quiet heartbreaks that inspired them. Every note feels lived-in, every lyric earned, a reminder that live music can make an artist soar in a way no studio trick ever can. The album pulls from the full breadth of Godwin’s catalog. Fans will recognize heartfelt tracks from his 2023 studio album Family Ties, including “All Again,” “Another Leaf,” and the haunting “Miner Imperfections.” From 2021’s How The Mighty Fall, he brings back favorites like “Jesse,” “Temporary Town,” and “Strong,” while earlier standouts from Seneca (2019) such as “Hardwood Floors” and “Seneca Creek” reaffirm why he first captured listeners’ hearts. Godwin also pays homage to the artists who shaped him, delivering stirring covers of Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road,” Merle Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever,” and the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Each cover feels like a conversation with musical history, reinterpreted through Godwin’s earnest, Appalachian-tinted lens. Live From The Steel City isn’t just a live album, it’s a masterclass in why live performance matters. Godwin proves that when an artist lets the music speak for itself, stripped of anything unnecessary, the results can be electrifying, emotional, and unforgettable. For anyone questioning whether live music still has a place in today’s landscape, Charles Wesley Godwin provides the answer: yes, and it sounds better than ever.

Thomas Rhett - About A Woman (Deluxe)

Thomas Rhett has built his career on stories that stick, tales of love, life, and the messy beauty in between. With the deluxe edition of About A Woman, he doesn’t just tell those stories, he expands them, giving fans a 25-track canvas that feels at once intimate and expansive. The three new additions, “Water,” “Chapter 10,” and “On a River,” add layers of vulnerability and sonic nuance that reveal why Rhett continues to be Nashville’s chameleon of romance. The album opens this trio with “Water,” a sultry, slow-grooving jam where Rhett’s voice glides over a slinky, lo-fi R&B beat. It’s sensual but understated, a song that lingers like candlelight on warm skin. “Chapter 10” follows, a tender acoustic ballad that chronicles the quiet resilience of love when the story hits a snag. Then comes “On a River,” a soulful, steady sway marked by baritone guitars and a promise: to follow love wherever it flows, toward a horizon that feels endless and true. What sets this album apart isn’t just its storytelling, it’s Rhett himself. Co-writing all but three songs, he brings a rare blend of charisma, heart, and playful authenticity, making even the most familiar themes feel fresh. Each track feels hand-crafted, from the feel-good, foot-tapping grooves to the vulnerable, quiet moments that reveal the man behind the hits. About A Woman (Deluxe) isn’t just an album, it’s a full-bodied, unflinching dive into the chaos and beauty of love. From steamy grooves to heart-worn confessions, Thomas Rhett commands every note like a storyteller at the peak of his powers. Twenty-five tracks in, he proves what Nashville already knows: when it comes to capturing the messy, magnetic pulse of romance, Rhett doesn’t just play the game, he rewrites the rules.

Marcus King - Darling Blue 

Marcus King has never been one to follow a map. why would he, when he’s busy drawing his own? With the release of his highly anticipated LP, Darling Blue, King cements his reputation as a musical scientist, a modern virtuoso unafraid to wander a little left of center. Across 14 tracks, the album brims with ambition, nuance, and the kind of daring artistry that separates the good from the unforgettable. From the opening notes, it’s clear King is on his own wavelength. Collaborations like “The Shadows” featuring Noah Cyrus bring a haunting, genre-blurring beauty, while tracks like “Die Alone” and “No Room For Blue” showcase his signature blend of soul-soaked guitar work and confessional lyricism. Each song is meticulously crafted, proving that King is not just playing music, he’s experimenting with it, stretching the boundaries of what modern country and rock can be. But what makes Darling Blue truly compelling isn’t just the technical prowess; it’s the storytelling. King carries listeners through heartache, longing, and quiet moments of reflection, all while maintaining a fearless, forward-looking energy. There’s an originality here that’s rare in a year crowded with releases, a sense that King is not only in command of his craft but also of his own narrative. Darling Blue isn’t just an album, it’s a declaration. Marcus King is carving a path entirely his own, one where virtuosic musicianship meets emotional honesty, and where the “left of center” feels like exactly the right place to be. This is music that lingers, that surprises, and that proves, yet again, why Marcus King is a force to be reckoned with in the modern musical landscape.

Lily Rose -  I Know What I Want

For years, Lily Rose quietly honed her craft in the background of Music Row, leaving her mark in the writers’ rooms of Nashville while the world waited for her voice to take center stage. That wait is officially over. With the release of her first full-length album, I Know What I Want, Lily Rose emerges not just as a singer, but as a storyteller with a vision all her own. The 13-track collection is the culmination of four years of relentless songwriting, nearly 800 songs in total, carefully curated to form an album that is as personal as it is universal. Some tracks are fresh additions to her repertoire, while others have long simmered in her heart, waiting for the perfect moment to be shared. I Know What I Want is a reflection of a storyteller who has grown up around and contributed to the rich tapestry of Nashville songwriting. Tales of heartbreak, leaving home, and seeking connection thread through the album, imbued with Lily’s voice even when the lyrics belong to someone else. This is the power of her artistry: she channels the universal through the particular, turning every line into a reflection of both listener and songwriter. Beyond its narrative weight, the album marks a profound shift in Lily Rose’s creative journey. For the first time, she embraced full artistic control, crafting a project that is unmistakably hers. The result is a collection that is fearless in its honesty, persistent in its emotional resonance, and luminous in its clarity of vision, a declaration of an artist who refuses to be defined by circumstance and is determined to rise on her own terms. I Know What I Want is more than a debut; it’s a statement of identity, resilience, and the enduring power of story. With this album, Lily Rose emerges not just as a singer, but as a voice capable of leaving a lasting imprint on country music’s landscape.

Ryan Bingham - The Lucky Ones

Ryan Bingham has a knack for turning the grit of life into gold, and his latest single, “The Lucky Ones,” proves he’s still a modern troubadour with a keen eye for the poetry hidden in ordinary days. The song drifts effortlessly between reflection and reverie, painting a portrait of life’s unpredictability with the kind of authenticity only Bingham can deliver. From the first lines, there’s a quiet, almost mischievous charm: “I got high, forgot the words to my own song / And I got lost, couldn’t find my way back home.” It’s confessional, yes, but also universal. Who hasn’t veered off course, forgotten the plan, or stumbled into memory’s sharp corners? Bingham pairs these honest admissions with the bittersweet ache of remembrance: glimpses of lost friends, fleeting luck, and the ever-present road ahead. “The Lucky Ones” is easy and breezy, yet laden with weight. Two hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, there’s movement, but also mindfulness. Bingham captures that tension between the longing for home and the pull of the unknown, a back road to a heavy load, a highway from home. The chorus lands with a simple, unforgettable refrain: “They called us the lucky ones.” And in that line lies the song’s magic: it’s not luck as fortune, but luck as survival, as connection, as noticing the small miracles along the way. Bingham has never been one to chase trends, and here he cements his place as a storyteller who sees the poetry in missteps, the grace in chaos, and the luck in simply being alive to witness it. With “The Lucky Ones,” Ryan Bingham reminds us that sometimes, the greatest fortune is just holding on, keeping the wheel steady, and catching a glimpse of the ghosts who guide us along the way.

Blake Whiten - Hard To Break

In a town of fewer than 800 souls, a 21-year-old from Six Mile, South Carolina, is quietly reshaping the contours of modern country music. Blake Whiten’s new single, "Hard to Break", isn’t just another love song, it’s a meditation on attachment, longing, and the stubborn pull of the heart. The track begins like a private confession, soft guitar strings weaving a fragile backdrop as Whiten admits, “I try to let you go but I just keep givin’ in / My head tells me to stop, but my heart ain’t listenin’.” Already, there’s a tension here that feels larger than his years, a struggle familiar to anyone who’s been caught between reason and desire. As the song unfolds, the arrangement blooms: dobro, banjo, steel guitar, and drums rise in measured waves, echoing the emotional tug-of-war at the heart of the story. Whiten’s vocals remain at the center, alternately tender and taut, carrying lines like, “Maybe it’s a rose, maybe it’s a thorn / Either way I’m torn / It’s a feeling that I just can’t shake / You’re a habit that’s a little too hard to break.” Every note, every phrase is a reminder that the strongest attachments are often the most complicated. What sets Whiten apart is not just his voice, but his ability to inhabit the spaces most young artists shy away from: vulnerability, introspection, and the quiet weight of human experience. In "Hard to Break", he gives form to the invisible, the ache of love that lingers, even when reason demands release. It’s storytelling that feels lived-in, not performative, a rare gift from someone so early in their career. Blake Whiten does more than capture a fleeting emotion, he stakes a claim as a modern country artist whose honesty resonates beyond charts and streaming numbers. In a world of fleeting hits, he reminds us that music’s true power lies in its ability to hold our hearts, even when they’re hard to untangle.

Taylor Austin Dye - Damn Good Day

Taylor Austin Dye has always walked her own line, but with her latest single, “Damn Good Day,” she’s not just walking it, she’s strutting, stomping, and unapologetically claiming every inch. The song arrives like a shot of adrenaline: up-tempo, full of sass, and impossible to ignore. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to roll down your car windows, crank the volume, and raise a fist in solidarity with anyone who’s ever been underestimated. Dye makes it clear she’s here on her own terms. The punchy hook hits hard, but it’s the chorus that lingers, a manifesto wrapped in irreverent humor:

"Must be somethin' in the water / Or the moon's in retrograde / If you're gonna mouth off don't bother / Unless you wanna see how I's raised / Zero to batshit, just one flip of the switch / It's a bad day to be a lady / And a damn good day to be a bitch." It’s cheeky, yes, but beneath the tongue-in-cheek bravado is an undeniable fire. Dye doesn’t just sing the lyrics; she embodies them. She’s taking no prisoners, flipping the stereotypes of what it means to be a “lady” in country music, and asserting her individuality with razor-sharp confidence. It’s both playful and defiant, a rare combination that makes her impossible to ignore. What’s striking about “Damn Good Day” is how effortlessly Taylor balances attitude with authenticity. She’s celebrating that rare, electric moment when confidence, wit, and timing collide, a moment when you feel unstoppable, untouchable, and unapologetically yourself. Dye doesn’t just give us a song; she gives us a moment, a mood, and a manifesto. It’s an invitation to revel in confidence, to embrace audacity, and to recognize that sometimes the best day to take control is the one where you unapologetically flip the script. Taylor Austin Dye isn’t asking for permission, she’s writing her own rules, one ferocious, catchy chorus at a time.

Kolton Moore & The Clever Few - A Place That I Call Home

Texas five-piece Kolton Moore & The Clever Few return with their most introspective work yet, A Place That I Call Home, an album that feels equal parts diary and declaration. From the first twang-laced note to the final reflective chord, the record is a roadmap of adulthood, charting the twists, turns, and hard-earned lessons that come with it.  There’s a rare authenticity in Moore’s storytelling, each track lands like a personal letter, full of the kind of details only someone paying attention to life could catch. The album balances humor, heartbreak, and hard truths, showing a band unafraid to navigate the complexities of growing up while staying rooted in the sound of Texas country. But what sets this record apart isn’t just the lyrical depth, it’s the craftsmanship. Every song is carefully placed, each story thoughtfully told, with subtle flourishes of twang and instrumentation that feel lived-in rather than labored. It’s an album that welcomes you in, letting you witness a band staking out its place in the world while inviting listeners to find their own. A Place That I Call Home isn’t just music, it’s a sense of belonging. Kolton Moore & The Clever Few have crafted a record that resonates because it’s human, honest, and unapologetically real. By the final track, it’s clear: they’ve found their home, and through their stories, they’re helping us find ours, too.

ALL COUNTRY NEWS

Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X | TikTok | YouTube | Podcast | Newsletter | Spotify

Country Music News & Entertainment

Country Music Country Music News Country Music Outlet Latest Country News Recent Country News New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Songs Country