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Jeannie Seely, the Grammy-winning country singer whose soulful voice was matched only by her confident, self-assured air, died on Friday in Hermitage, Tennessee, as a result of complications from an intestinal infection. She was 85. Seely’s representative, Don Murry Grubbs, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone.

The music legend had battled health issues since last fall and undergone multiple back surgeries this spring for vertebrae repairs, including two emergency abdominal surgeries.

A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1967, Seely was a magnetic presence onstage and off, quick...

No trip to Nashville is complete without a day (or late night) spent at Robert’s Western World when Sarah Gayle Meech is onstage: The queen of the honky-tonk plays the last true country bar in town every Thursday and Saturday. On Friday, Meech dropped her new video for “Love Me,” premiering on Rolling Stone Country.

It’s a smooth-as-bourbon performance, with Meech evoking the sheen of Seventies country music. Bonus: There’s a steel guitar! Meech says the track is a nod to Glen Campbell’s polished vibes, in...

K.T. Oslin, a multiplatinum country singer-songwriter who won three Grammys including one for her breakout single “’80s Ladies,” died today. She was 78. She had been battling Parkinson’s disease and living in an assisted care facility for several years and recently was diagnosed with Covid-19. No official cause of death was announced.

Oslin was a rare female late bloomer in the country music industry. She finally hit in 1987 with the top 10 country tune “’80s Ladies.” She was 45 and had made her first record 23 years earlier. Oslin also had the chart-topping country smashes “Do Ya” and “I’ll Always Come Back,” all of which were from her RCA album ’80s Ladies. That disc topped Billboard Country LPs chart and peaked at No. 68 on the pop albums chart.

She followed up with another platinum LP, 1988’s This Woman, which featured the country chart-topper “Hold Me” and No. 2 hit “Hey Bobby,” and the...

K.T. Oslin, the first female songwriter to win the CMA Award for Song of the Year, for her 1987 hit “80’s Ladies,” died Monday at 78. Oslin had been battling Parkinson’s disease and was diagnosed with Covid-19 last week, according to her friend, the journalist Robert K. Oermann, who confirmed her death.

Oslin, born Kay Toinette Oslin in Arkansas, was 45 when she released her chart-topping debut country album, 1987’s 80’s Ladies — a remarkable feat then for a woman in country music and a near impossibility today. Along with the Top 10 title track,...

Kenny Rogers always knew when to hold them, when to fold them, when to walk away, when to run. The beloved country-pop stud died Friday night at 81, after a career full of hits that defined his silver-fox mystique. Kenny was barely north of 40 when he sang his signature song, “The Gambler” in 1978, but he came on like a grizzled old sage who’d seen it all. His hits were full of sensually growled wisdom: walk away from trouble when you can, don’t fall in love with a dreamer, never...

Kenny Rogers, whose music went beyond the country music genre he is known for, died at home in Sandy Springs, Ga., Friday night, according to the New York Times. He was 81.

“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25Pm at the age of 81,” his family said in a statement to Twitter. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”

Rogers was known for duets like his chart-topping pairing with Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream,” and crossover hits like “Coward of the County,” “Lucille,” “Lady,” and his signature song, “The Gambler.” But the Country Music Hall of Famer went through all genres in his musical journey, from playing upright bass in a jazz band, through subtle Vietnam War commentary with his cover of Mel Tillis’ song “Ruby” to psychedelic swing...

With the release of a new single and video for “This Old House,” singer Clint Black pays homage to the Grand Ole Opry, which he joined in 1991. The new clip offers a rare glimpse backstage at the Opry House and features archival footage of Opry legends including Minnie Pearl and the Opry’s founder and first announcer, the “Solemn Old Judge,” George D. Hay.

“This Old House” also spotlights Black’s fellow Opry members Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, and Steve Wariner, as well as country compatriots Cody Jinks,...

Women supporting women was the main topic of conversation Wednesday night at the Tennessee premiere of Lifetime’s new film, “Patsy & Loretta,” held south of Nashville at the Franklin Theater. Starring Megan Hilty (“Smash”) as Patsy Cline and Jessie Mueller (Tony-nominated for “Waitress” and a winner for “Beautiful”) as Loretta Lynn — pictured above, with their wax counterparts — the film shines a spotlight on the friendship that formed between them before Cline’s untimely death in a plane crash in 1963.

Director Callie Khouri, the Oscar-winning writer of “Thelma and Louise” and creator of the ABC/Cmt series “Nashville,” has a history of creating powerful narratives around strong women. “I think the story of women’s friendships has never been told in enough depth,” the filmmaker told Variety at the premiere. “For women to be helping each other back when everybody thought that there was only one slot, to see somebody...

The 2019 class of tunesmiths set for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame have been revealed: Larry Gatlin, Dwight Yoakam, Marcus Hummon, Kostas, Rivers Rutherford, and Sharon Vaughn will be honored during an October ceremony.

Representing literally hundreds of familiar hits covering the past five decades, the inductees will officially join the 213 existing members of the organization at the 49th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, set for October 14th at the Music City Center in downtown Nashville.

Inducted in the songwriter/artist category, Dwight Yoakam was among...

When teenaged powerhouse Tanya Tucker appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in September 1974, the coverline proclaimed, “Hi, I’m Tanya Tucker. I’m 15. You’re Gonna Hear From Me.” While rock fans may not have been as familiar with her at the time, country listeners had been hearing from the Seminole, Texas, native for the past two years — beginning 47 years ago today with the official release of Tucker’s debut single, “Delta Dawn.” In the above clip from around the time of the song’s release, Tucker sings the...

Country superstar duo Brooks and Dunn will be the latest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The duo was announced on Monday morning in Nashville along with singer/songwriter Ray Stevens and producer/executive Jerry Bradley will be inducted at the 2019 ceremony in October. Watch the official video above.

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are two-time Grammy winners, sold over 30 million albums and charted 20 number one songs. Those tunes have included “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” “My Maria,” “Brand New Man” and “Believe.” Stevens made his debut in 1962 and has had such hits as “Everything is Beautiful,” “Gitarzan” and “The Streak.” Bradley ran RCA Records from 1973 to 1982 and was a longtime member of the Country Music Association board. He follows both his father Owen Bradley and uncle Harold Bradley into Hall of Fame induction.

See Acm Awards host Reba McEntire was ‘disapointed’ by nominations: ‘I wanted to hear some women...

On Monday morning, Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens and former label executive Jerry Bradley were announced as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Television and radio host Bill Cody, filling in for an under-the-weather Reba McEntire, handled hosting duties for the live-streamed event in the museum’s rotunda, where plaques of the inductees are placed. As usual, the three inductees were from the Modern Era, the Veterans Era and a rotating category, which this year is the Non Performer designation.

Modern Era inductees Brooks & Dunn are country...

Reba McEntire will announce the 2019 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees on Monday, March 18. Which two country superstars will be selected this year for an induction ceremony slated for next October?

The criteria is pretty simple to get in but it’s an exclusive group since only 2-3 people are inducted each year. One person will be from the Modern Era category (an artist who came to prominence at least 20 years ago). Another will be from the Veterans Era (an artist who came to prominence at least 45 years ago). A third inductee would be a non-performer, songwriter or musician. The artists chosen last year were Ricky Skaggs (modern), Dottie West (veterans) and Johnny Gimble (musician).

Seeacm Awards host Reba McEntire was ‘disapointed’ by nominations: ‘I wanted to hear some women in there’ [Watch]

McEntire herself was already inducted in 2011. Other recent inductees have included Garth Brooks, Roy Clark, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson,...

During this week’s Cma Awards, three new inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame will be recognized. Along with legendary fiddle player Johnny Gimble and singer-songwriter Dottie West, both being recognized posthumously, eight-time Cma award winner Ricky Skaggs will be honored and is also listed as a performer.

The 1982 Horizon Award winner, Skaggs was only the second artist to earn that honor, now called New Artist of the Year. Skaggs was also largely responsible for returning bluegrass music to the mainstream, a feat that earned him the Cma...

Reigning Cma Male Vocalist Chris Stapleton, who garnered more nominations than any other artist this year, will take the stage for a special performance with soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples and Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Maren Morris, as the latest round of performers is revealed for Wednesday’s 52nd annual Cma Awards.

Also set to perform are New Artist nominee Lauren Alaina, Cma Awards co-host Brad Paisley and one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ricky Skaggs receiving the honor this year...

On Sunday night, Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West and Johnny Gimble were welcomed as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at the 2018 Medallion Ceremony, held in the museum’s Cma Theater. Garth Brooks presented bluegrass stalwart Skaggs with the Hall’s Modern Era honor. Connie Smith inducted late fiddle great Gimble in the Hall’s Recording and/or Touring Musician category. And Brenda Lee led a tribute to her late friend, Grammy-winning classic country turned pop-crossover star Dottie West, who received the Hall’s Veteran Era honor.

Fifty-five years ago this summer, on August 4th, 1963, housewife Connie Smith won a talent contest in Columbus, Ohio, earning a performance spot on a local Grand Ole Opry concert where songwriter Bill Anderson took note of her and encouraged her to make a trip to Nashville when the two met again at a New Year’s Day concert in Canton, Ohio.

As 1964 unfolded for the young wife and mother, she garnered yet another invitation – this time a spot on the popular Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree, which followed the Grand Ole Opry on Wsm radio.