Crisp fall air is full of new country music sounds
A flurry of albums from vets, newcomers are set to drop
Autumn is less than two weeks away and with it is coming an unprecedented wave of new country music album releases from some the genre’s legendary names, today’s top stars and a host of rising newcomers.
Typically, the months leading into the holiday season are popular for new albums, but that’s rarely been more true than this year. Between now and December, close to 30 country albums have release dates on the books — and even more are in the works.
Here’s what to expect:
FRIDAY
THOMAS RHETT | Life Changes Easily one of the most anticipated country albums of the year, Life Changes follows up Rhett’s platinum-selling Tangled Up.
DUSTIN LYNCH | Current Mood Lynch’s third album is deeply infused with R&B, pop and rock. Current Mood includes Lynch’s hit songs Seein’ Red, Small Town Boy and the soulful duet with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild Love Me or Leave Me Alone.
KIP MOORE | Slowheart
Moore blends the passion and connection for which he’s known with a new self-awareness that will speak to both commercial and underground audiences.
SEPT. 22
CHRIS JANSON | Everybody
This is the follow-up album to the singer’s breakthrough hit Buy Me a Boat.
MIDLAND | On the Rocks Country music fans met the modern retro-country rule breakers when the trio broke into the genre this year with Drinkin’ Problem. HOME FREE | Timeless
The vocals-only country group won season four of NBC’s a cappella singing competition The Sing-Off.
SEPT. 29
DOLLY PARTON | I Believe In You The album is Parton’s first children’s album, and she wrote every song in the collection.
SHANIA TWAIN | Now Twain’s first album in 15 years includes new singles Life’s About To Get Good and Poor Me.
OCT. 6
BLAKE SHELTON | Cheers, It’s Christmas
Shelton first released this album in 2012, but the reissue will contain three new songs.
JERROD
NIEMANN |
This Ride
Niemann rose to popularity with songs including Lover, Lover and Drink to That All Night.
KANE BROWN | Kane Brown: Deluxe Edition
The deluxe version will add four new songs to his self-titled debut, including a duet with Brown’s hero, Chris Young.
OCT. 13
RUSSELL DICKERSON | Yours Dickerson’s debut album is on new label Thirty Tigers and is home to his current single of the same name.
CARLY PEARCE | Every
Little Thing
Pearce is in the process of making a name for herself in country music with the title track, which is edging toward the Top 10 on Billboard’s country radio airplay chart.
REBA
MCENTIRE | My Kind of Christmas The reissue will have three additional songs featuring Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker and Lauren Daigle.
OCT. 20
CHRIS YOUNG | Losing Sleep This is the follow-up to Young’s ACM-nominated I’m Comin’ Over.
TYMINSKI | Southern Gothic Southern Gothic is the work of Dan Tyminski, the Grammywinning voice behind George Clooney on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and on Avicii’s EDM smash Hey Brother.
| When Was The DARIUS RUCKER
Last Time
This is home to Rucker’s eighth No. 1 song, If I Told You, and First Time.
OCT. 27
KENNY CHESNEY | Live in No Shoes Nation
The album is packed with more than 30 hit songs from 10 years of live performances in stadiums, bars and, of course, on the beach.
CRAIG WAYNE BOYD | Top Shelf Boyd won The Voice in 2014, wowing audiences with his baritone voice.
GRANGER SMITH | When the Good
Guys Win
Smith grabbed the attention of country fans with radio hits including If the Boot Fits and Backroad Song from his 2016 album Remington.
NOV. 3
KELSEA BALLERINI | Unapologetically
Ballerini’s follow-up to her debut The First Time is home to her current single, Legends.
NOV. 10
BILLY RAY CYRUS | Set the Record Straight
He rocketed to stardom in the ’90s with Achy Breaky Heart, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.
NOV. 17
CHASE RICE | Lambs & Lions Rice is known for Top 5 hits including Ready Set Roll and Gonna Wanna Tonight. He also co-wrote Florida Georgia Line’s Cruise.
DEC. 1
DANIELLE BRADBERY | I Don’t Believe We’ve Met
Fans grew to love Bradbery when she won The Voice in 2013.
DEC. 8
WALKER HAYES | Boom
Hayes is a father of six who worked at Costco while waiting to break through in country music. His production, lyrics and phrasing push the boundaries of the country genre.