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classic country

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#1 · 4 stories

#2 · 4 stories

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News

American Songwriter Jul 20

On This Day in 1965, Bob Dylan Released a Hank Williams-Inspired Song That Broke All the Rules and Made Him an International Star

Bob Dylan Hank Williams The Rolling Stones Muddy Waters

2 articles Jul 20

Charley Pride Darius Rucker Loretta Lynn Johnny Cash June Carter Cash Charlie Daniels Porter Wagoner

Billboard, Pollstar

American Songwriter Jul 19

3 Johnny Cash Songs That Should Have Been Way Bigger Hits on the Radio

Johnny Cash Marty Robbins The Carter Family The Oak Ridge Boys

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

Taste of Country Jul 18

Columbia Records Dropped Johnny Cash and Stunned Nashville

Johnny Cash Rick Rubin

American Songwriter Jul 18

The Scandalous Reason Why This Top 10 Country Artist Was Shocked by Johnny Cash and June Carter’s Engagement

Johnny Cash June Carter Cash

American Songwriter Jul 18

68 Years Ago Today, Johnny Cash Stepped Into the Studio To Record His Final Songs for Sun Records

Johnny Cash Elvis Presley Roy Orbison Jerry Lee Lewis Carl Perkins The Beatles Charlie Feathers

American Songwriter Jul 16

On This Day in 1969, Sonny James Was No. 1 With a Tragic Love Song Written by the Big Bopper and Previously Recorded by George Jones

Sonny James The Big Bopper George Jones Elvis Presley Buddy Holly Ritchie Valens

American Songwriter Jul 16

On This Day in 1930, Jimmie Rodgers Recorded a “Blue Yodel” With an Uncredited Jazz Icon Who Revisited It With Johnny Cash Decades Later

Jimmie Rodgers Johnny Cash 1930s Louis Armstrong

5 articles Jul 15

RaeLynn Josh Davis Pistol Annies Blake Shelton Jon Pardi Jelly Roll Luke Bryan Keith Urban

Holler, Taste of Country, The Boot

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

American Songwriter Jul 11

Vince Gill Calls This Hank Williams Hit One of the Most Beautiful Songs Ever Written

Hank Williams Vince Gill Merle Haggard Buck Owens Johnny Cash The Everly Brothers Jerry Lee Lewis

American Songwriter Jul 11

This Merle Haggard Song Started as a Joke, Which Is Probably Why The Grateful Dead Covered It in 1971

Merle Haggard Grateful Dead The Beach Boys Kris Kristofferson

American Songwriter Jul 10

Remember When Merle Haggard Released a Duet With Clint Eastwood in 1980?

Clint Eastwood Merle Haggard Ray Charles Willie Nelson Ernest Tubb Gretchen Wilson Janie Fricke

American Songwriter Jul 10

On This Day in 1970, Johnny Cash Recorded the Live Album That Launched Kris Kristofferson’s Career

Johnny Cash Kris Kristofferson

American Songwriter Jul 8

On the Charts 41 Years Ago, This Underrated Merle Haggard Gem Featuring Harmony Vocals From Janie Fricke Hit No. 1

Merle Haggard Janie Fricke Randy Travis George Strait Randy Jackson

Taste of Country Jul 7

Johnny Cash's Grand Ole Opry Debut Made Country Music History

Johnny Cash Elvis Presley

2 articles Jul 7

Johnny Cash Waylon Jennings Rosanne Cash The Highwaymen Kris Kristofferson Willie Nelson Neil Young June Carter Cash

American Songwriter

American Songwriter Jul 6

52 Years Ago Today, Anne Murray Was at No. 1 With a Gender-Swapped Cover of a George Jones Classic

Anne Murray George Jones The Beatles Dickey Lee Connie Francis

American Songwriter Jul 20

On This Day in 1965, Bob Dylan Released a Hank Williams-Inspired Song That Broke All the Rules and Made Him an International Star

Bob Dylan Hank Williams The Rolling Stones Muddy Waters

American Songwriter Jul 19

3 Johnny Cash Songs That Should Have Been Way Bigger Hits on the Radio

Johnny Cash Marty Robbins The Carter Family The Oak Ridge Boys

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

American Songwriter Jul 18

The Scandalous Reason Why This Top 10 Country Artist Was Shocked by Johnny Cash and June Carter’s Engagement

Johnny Cash June Carter Cash

American Songwriter Jul 16

On This Day in 1969, Sonny James Was No. 1 With a Tragic Love Song Written by the Big Bopper and Previously Recorded by George Jones

Sonny James The Big Bopper George Jones Elvis Presley Buddy Holly Ritchie Valens

5 articles Jul 15

RaeLynn Josh Davis Pistol Annies Blake Shelton Jon Pardi Jelly Roll Luke Bryan Keith Urban

Holler, Taste of Country, The Boot

American Songwriter Jul 11

Vince Gill Calls This Hank Williams Hit One of the Most Beautiful Songs Ever Written

Hank Williams Vince Gill Merle Haggard Buck Owens Johnny Cash The Everly Brothers Jerry Lee Lewis

American Songwriter Jul 10

Remember When Merle Haggard Released a Duet With Clint Eastwood in 1980?

Clint Eastwood Merle Haggard Ray Charles Willie Nelson Ernest Tubb Gretchen Wilson Janie Fricke

American Songwriter Jul 8

On the Charts 41 Years Ago, This Underrated Merle Haggard Gem Featuring Harmony Vocals From Janie Fricke Hit No. 1

Merle Haggard Janie Fricke Randy Travis George Strait Randy Jackson

2 articles Jul 7

Johnny Cash Waylon Jennings Rosanne Cash The Highwaymen Kris Kristofferson Willie Nelson Neil Young June Carter Cash

American Songwriter

2 articles Jul 20

Charley Pride Darius Rucker Loretta Lynn Johnny Cash June Carter Cash Charlie Daniels Porter Wagoner

Billboard, Pollstar

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

Taste of Country Jul 18

Columbia Records Dropped Johnny Cash and Stunned Nashville

Johnny Cash Rick Rubin

American Songwriter Jul 18

68 Years Ago Today, Johnny Cash Stepped Into the Studio To Record His Final Songs for Sun Records

Johnny Cash Elvis Presley Roy Orbison Jerry Lee Lewis Carl Perkins The Beatles Charlie Feathers

American Songwriter Jul 16

On This Day in 1930, Jimmie Rodgers Recorded a “Blue Yodel” With an Uncredited Jazz Icon Who Revisited It With Johnny Cash Decades Later

Jimmie Rodgers Johnny Cash 1930s Louis Armstrong

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

American Songwriter Jul 11

This Merle Haggard Song Started as a Joke, Which Is Probably Why The Grateful Dead Covered It in 1971

Merle Haggard Grateful Dead The Beach Boys Kris Kristofferson

American Songwriter Jul 10

On This Day in 1970, Johnny Cash Recorded the Live Album That Launched Kris Kristofferson’s Career

Johnny Cash Kris Kristofferson

Taste of Country Jul 7

Johnny Cash's Grand Ole Opry Debut Made Country Music History

Johnny Cash Elvis Presley

American Songwriter Jul 6

52 Years Ago Today, Anne Murray Was at No. 1 With a Gender-Swapped Cover of a George Jones Classic

Anne Murray George Jones The Beatles Dickey Lee Connie Francis

Overview

Recent music news highlights tributes and milestones in classic country, including Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings honoring Hank Williams in 1987, the legacy of Hank Williams-inspired songs by Bob Dylan, and ongoing recognition of influential figures like Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson. The genre’s enduring impact is underscored by reflections on timeless songs, collaborations, and the cultural significance of artists from the Lone Star State.

Seen in 61 outlets, tracked since March 2026

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