country-music

Here Are a Couple Good Merle Haggard Songs

Alex Pareene · 04/06/16 04:37PM

Merle Haggard, one of the finest singers (and songwriters) in American popular music history, died today, on his 79th birthday. Here are a couple good songs.

Ray Price Is Not Dead Yet

John Cook · 12/16/13 11:54AM

Ray Price, one of the great voices and storytellers of the Golden Age of country music, almost died over the weekend. His son, Clifton Ray Price, certainly believed that his father—who is 87 years old and is most certainly, and inevitably, dying of cancer—had passed away on Saturday. But after Price's wife angrily contradicted that report yesterday, the younger Price wrote on his dad's Facebook page that he had "been deceived by some cruel people" and that his dad was indeed "still hanging on." He's going to die, though. Soon. So listen to "Night Life," written by Price's old bass player Willie Nelson. It's the title track from the greatest concept record ever made, a louche, slightly slurred, lipstick-on-your-collar tour through the drunken disintegration of the middle-class American family.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Live Singing Debut at the CMA Awards

Matt Cherette · 11/10/10 11:01PM

Gwyneth Paltrow just performed "Country Strong" (the title track from her upcoming flim) at the CMA Awards. It was odd. You know, in a "Gwyneth Paltrow singing country music is like Martha Stewart singing country music" kinda way. Watch inside.

Is Shelby Lynne People's Big Gay Reveal? (Update: Probably)

Maureen O'Connor · 04/30/10 01:32PM

We called country singer Shelby Lynne's publicist to ask whether her client will announce her gayness the cover of People on May 5. "I don't have any information on that." How can a publicist not know the answer to that?