Nine Country Music Songs You Need To Hear This Week Featuring Zach Top, Riley Green, Laci Kaye Booth & More

Zach Top - Ain’t In It For My Health

When Zach Top steps to the mic, country music listens. With the release of his highly anticipated new album Ain’t In It For My Health, the Washington native doesn’t just put out a collection of songs, he plants a flag. Over 15 tracks, Top proves he’s not only a student of the genre but one of its most exciting future architects. At a time when mainstream country often leans toward pop sheen, Top doubles down on the essentials: honesty, grit, and melodies that feel lived-in. His commitment to real stories and real sounds threads the entire record, creating a sonic tapestry that pays homage to the genre’s golden roots while refusing to play it safe. Each song feels carved out of the heartland, yet delivered with a freshness that makes it impossible to dismiss him as a mere traditionalist. From the first spin, it’s clear Top knows how to balance wit, groove, and heartbreak. The cheeky charm of “Splitsville” proves he’s got a sharp pen for humor, while “Tightrope” is a groove-laden toe-tapper that begs for a two-step. But it’s “Honky Tonk Till It Hurts” the album’s crown jewel that cements his reputation as a force to be reckoned with. A barroom anthem that feels destined to echo through jukeboxes for decades, it’s the kind of song that can make a Saturday night last forever. Country music thrives when its storytellers honor the past while daring to push forward. Zach Top does both. He’s not chasing radio trends or glossing over the rough edges, he’s doubling down on the very things that make country timeless. With Ain’t In It For My Health, he stands tall alongside the genre’s greats, carrying the torch with pride and purpose. For fans hungry for country music that cuts to the bone and swings from the rafters, Zach Top’s latest isn’t just an album, it’s a statement. And if this record is any indication, the future of country music is in very good hands.

Riley Green - Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)

When Riley Green first arrived on the scene, he was often pegged as the heir to Country’s rugged traditionalists, a small-town Alabama boy with a voice steeped in steel guitars and Southern grit. Years later, with the release of the expanded Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), it’s clear he’s no longer just carrying the torch. He’s shaping the flame. The multi-PLATINUM, ACM and CMA Award winner has hit a new stride, and this record proves it. If the original 2024 project showcased a confident Green, the deluxe edition cements him as one of Country Music’s most vital storytellers. Six freshly added songs not only deepen the album’s emotional resonance but also reveal Green’s evolution into an artist unafraid of vulnerability while still rooted in the authenticity fans have always loved him for. There’s the gut-punch ballad “Make It Rain” a track that drips with raw ache, Green’s vocals carrying both restraint and fire. In “Cowboy As It Gets” with Randy Houser, two modern-day outlaws trade lines with the kind of grit that calls back to the genre’s rowdier traditions. And in perhaps the album’s most surprising turn, Green softens the edges with “I Just Need You,” a tender duet with breakout artist Hannah McFarland that leans into intimacy and honesty, showing a side of Green rarely glimpsed on record. But he doesn’t stop there. On “What Am I Supposed To Do Now” Green wrestles with regret in a way that feels lived-in, not written. “Bet They’re Biting” is a love letter to the outdoors and simpler days, an ode to his roots as much as it is to the fans who fish, hunt, and live life on their own terms. And then there’s “One To Willie,” a track destined to become a fan favorite, featuring none other than Willie Nelson himself. The presence of Nelson’s unmistakable guitar isn’t just a collaboration, it’s a generational passing of the torch, a reminder that Green’s reverence for the greats is as sincere as his own rise. The result is an album that feels both timeless and timely. In an era where commercial polish often overshadows grit, Riley Green manages to offer both: storytelling with substance and songs that resonate whether you’re nursing heartbreak on a back porch or riding with the windows down on a dirt road. For years, Green has been heralded as “next up.” With Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), that conversation shifts. This is not an artist chasing the legends, this is an artist stepping fully into his own. It’s his time to shine, and if this record is any indication, the long overdue spotlight on Riley Green isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Laci Kaye Booth - Luck Of The Draw

Some voices aren’t just heard, they linger. Laci Kaye Booth, the Geffen Records artist who has long been praised for her smoky, unmistakable tone, has returned with a single that proves why she’s one of the most compelling young storytellers in modern country music. “Luck Of The Draw” isn’t just a song, it’s an exhale, a moment of surrender in the chaos of life. With her signature blend of Texas grit and Nashville polish, Booth lays bare the universal truth of what it feels like to watch the ground give way beneath your feet and realize the only thing left to lean on is fate itself. Singing, “Blame it on the luck of the draw,” Booth frames heartache and uncertainty not as failures, but as inevitabilities, moments written in the stars long before we reach them.

It’s that perspective, wrapped in her singular vocal delivery, that separates Booth from the crowd. Hers is not the kind of voice that chases trends, it’s one that defines them. In a landscape often dominated by glossy perfection, Booth thrives in vulnerability. She leans into cracks and imperfections, building songs that feel less like performances and more like confessions whispered from across the table. “Luck Of The Draw” is Booth at her most honest, threading poetic melancholy with a quiet resilience. There’s an understated power in the way she doesn’t fight against the randomness of life, but accepts it, making the song less of a lament and more of a release. For an artist who has been steadily carving out her lane since first turning heads on American Idol, this single feels like a declaration. Booth isn’t here to play it safe she’s here to remind listeners that country music’s heartbeat has always been its truth-tellers. And with “Luck Of The Draw”, Laci Kaye Booth solidifies herself as one of the genre’s most important new voices, an artist unafraid to put her cards on the table and let fate, and her listeners, decide the rest.

Johnny Dailey - Firewood Joe

Johnny Dailey has always had a knack for turning small-town characters into big-time stories, and with his latest release, “Firewood Joe,” he proves once again why he’s one of country music’s most promising storytellers. Clocking in at just under three minutes, the track wastes no time pulling listeners into its world. With guitars that kick like a diesel engine and a rhythm built for backroad singalongs, Dailey spins the tale of a man who isn’t just known in town, he is the town. “Firewood Joe” is the kind of character you swear you’ve met before: larger than life, equal parts legend and neighbor, the guy everybody’s got a story about. Dailey’s delivery is crisp and conversational, his voice carrying both grit and charm as he paints Joe’s story with broad yet vivid strokes. The instrumentation leans into classic country-rock swagger, drenched in guitar licks that practically beg for a live crowd to stomp along. It’s a toe-tapper in the truest sense, catchy enough to hum after the first chorus, yet built on the kind of narrative depth that rewards repeat listens. This track also reflects Dailey’s wider trajectory. Since breaking onto the scene, he’s carved out a space where old-school storytelling meets modern production, never losing sight of country music’s core values: authenticity, relatability, and a good groove. “Firewood Joe” is a showcase of that balance, a reminder that even in under three minutes, a song can pack the punch of a novel.

Ryan And Rory - Girls Are Pretty

Ryan and Rory, the dynamic duo quickly staking their claim as country music’s next big thing, are back with a single that’s equal parts charm, mischief, and melody. “Girls Are Pretty,” co-written with and produced by Grammy-winning hitmaker Chris DeStefano, trades the buzz of neon city lights for the hum of gravel roads, the warmth of hand-me-down trucks, and the quiet beauty of small-town evenings. Clocking in as a playful, pedal-to-the-metal anthem, the track is built for Friday nights and backroad escapades. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just play in the background, it becomes the soundtrack to a memory, a fleeting summer night, or a first crush. Ryan and Rory’s harmonies are impossibly tight, their chemistry audible in every note, giving the song a lift that’s as infectious as it is unmistakably theirs. But “Girls Are Pretty” is more than a catchy tune, it’s a celebration of youthful adventure, a nod to the charm of the overlooked corners of America where stories unfold beneath starlit skies. With DeStefano’s deft production, the track balances modern polish with timeless country warmth, crafting a sound that’s both radio-ready and rooted in authenticity. For fans of country music that feels both familiar and fresh, Ryan and Rory are proving that their small-town roots are their superpower. “Girls Are Pretty” isn’t just a song, it’s a statement: this duo is ready to light up the country scene, one gravel road at a time.

Zach John King - Space 

Zach John King is proving that his ascent in the country music world is anything but gradual. With the release of his latest single, “Space”, King stakes his claim as a storyteller capable of blending heartfelt introspection with infectious energy. Co-written with Michael Lotten and Blake Pendergrass, Space navigates the universal tension between wanderlust and the pull of home. King opens a window into his own life, exploring the comfort he finds when unplugging in nature and the quiet ache of being away from familiar places. It’s an emotional core wrapped in a vibrant, rock-infused production, giving the song both depth and momentum. The track highlights King’s signature gritty, emotional vocals, which cut through the upbeat instrumentation with a raw sincerity that has become his hallmark. Lyrics are painted with vivid imagery, evoking late-night drives, open skies, and the restorative power of solitude. Yet despite its introspective themes, the song carries a contagious energy, making it impossible not to tap along. “Space” isn’t just another entry in King’s catalog, it’s a bold statement of artistic evolution. It’s clear that King is honing his sound and carving a unique space for himself in modern country music, one that balances raw emotion with melodic accessibility. Fans old and new will find themselves drawn to its lyrical honesty and sonic punch, solidifying King’s place as a rising force in the genre.

Preston Cooper - Toledo Talkin’

From sorting mail to sorting through the highs and lows of life, Preston Cooper’s journey to Nashville’s spotlight has been anything but ordinary. Today, the Ohio native officially stakes his claim as one of country music’s most cravable new voices with the release of his debut album, Toledo Talkin’. Spanning 12 tracks, Toledo Talkin’ is a vivid portrait of a young artist finding his footing and his voice in a genre that prizes authenticity above all else. Cooper’s songs explore themes that resonate universally: chasing dreams that feel just out of reach, confronting self-doubt, and embracing the growth that comes with risk and perseverance. There’s an honesty here that feels rare, a Midwestern sincerity that grounds the stadium-sized ambition of his sound. Listeners will hear the story of a singer who has lived the journey he sings about. Cooper’s transition from singing mailman to Nashville hopeful is woven through his music with a subtle confidence: each lyric, each note, carries the weight of experience and the excitement of possibility. His voice, rich, emotive, and endlessly versatile, anchors songs that range from heartfelt ballads to uptempo anthems, proving that in Cooper’s world, real stories always win.  Toledo Talkin’ is more than just a debut; it’s an announcement. Preston Cooper isn’t just here to participate, he’s here to make his mark, blending hometown roots with a sound built for stages that reach as far as the heart can carry. By the time the final track fades, it’s clear: this is a voice ready to be heard, a songwriter ready to tell his story, and a star on the rise.

Braxton Keith - Wind Blows 

In the crowded world of modern country, few artists arrive with the natural swagger and storytelling chops of Braxton Keith. With his latest single, “Wind Blows,” Keith stakes a claim as one of the genre’s most compelling new voices, blending heart, grit, and a distinctly Texas swagger into a track that’s impossible to ignore. “Wind Blows” pulls listeners into the life of a tumbleweed of a man, a restless soul who drifts from town to town, leaving pieces of his heart behind with every fleeting romance. Keith’s voice, full of raw emotion yet effortlessly smooth, carries both the ache of goodbye and the thrill of chasing something bigger than oneself. It’s a narrative that feels timeless, yet utterly fresh, a reflection of the modern country man who’s torn between roots and the road. The production mirrors Keith’s lyrical journey perfectly: crisp acoustic guitars and driving percussion conjure the open highways and wide Texas skies that are the backdrop of his storytelling. Every verse and chorus is meticulously crafted to highlight Keith’s knack for blending classic country motifs with a contemporary punch, proving that he’s not just following the path laid by country greats, he’s carving his own. Braxton Keith isn’t just another rising star; he’s a storyteller whose music makes you feel every mile of the journey. By the time the final note fades, listeners are left both wistful and exhilarated, eager to see where the wind will carry this Texas talent next. 

Ashley Brooks - Boys In Red Wings 

Ashley Brooks, the rising country star who has captured social media attention and the hearts of fans across the nation, is making waves again with her latest single, “Boys in Red Wings”. Out now, the track marks a bold and heartfelt celebration of the unsung heroes of the working class, the men who roll up their sleeves, lace up their Red Wing boots, and keep the world turning with grit, sweat, and unwavering dedication. In a genre often captivated by the glamour of luxury trucks, polished cowboy boots, and neon-lit honky-tonks, Brooks carves a refreshing path with a narrative rooted firmly in realism. “Boys in Red Wings” is a love letter to the laborers, the factory hands, the construction crews, the everyday men whose hard work fuels the backbone of small-town America. With calloused hands and dirt-streaked jeans, these are the figures Brooks brings to life with lyrical reverence and vocal warmth. Brooks’ storytelling is both intimate and cinematic. Her voice, rich with emotion, effortlessly balances tenderness and grit, making listeners feel every hammer strike, every long drive home, and every quiet sacrifice. “Boys in Red Wings” is more than just a song, it’s a movement, a reminder that the most compelling stories are often those lived away from the spotlight.

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