American Idol University is in session, and they’ve already found their token class clowns. Last night, January 26, marked the season 24 premiere of American Idol on ABC, with returning judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie spearheading a brand new theme: ‘American Idol University’. What better place to launch a school-themed season than Belmont University in the heart of Nashville? Home to one of the top music and performing arts programs in the country, Belmont has produced a long list of familiar names in country music, including Russell Dickerson, Tyler Hubbard, Ashley Cooke, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood,…
Author: Casey Nyman
Casey Nyman
Casey, a New Jersey native raised on country music, graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in Communication and minors in Journalism, English, and Advertising. With her strong journalism background and love for country music, it was only natural for her to start writing about the genre she’s most passionate about. She has been contributing to Country Chord since January 2025. A quick look at her playlists reveals favorites like Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, ERNEST, Zach Top, and Turnpike Troubadours.
Feels like everyone has a hankering for nostalgia right now, especially with every feed looking like a 2016 recap these past few weeks. In the spirit of reminiscing on forgotten memories, we asked country music fans to “Name a country song you still listen to but feel like has been forgotten by everybody else.” Over 400 people chimed in on the discussion with songs ranging from the 1980s to the early 2010s. Obviously, there’s always going to be a few mentions of the classics from the 90s, like Shenandoah’s “Two Dozen Roses” or basically any George Strait song (which it’s…
For a genre with so many distinct sub-sounds and influences, you’d think the debate over what truly defines country music would be minor. Instead, it’s more like politics or religion; there’s no winning when it comes to declaring a concrete definition. At the forefront of this ongoing conversation, there tends to always be one name that rises to the top: Morgan Wallen. Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Wallen is not just one of country music’s biggest stars, but one of the most prominent artists in music today. And of course, with that level of…
Breaking through the noise of winter weather armageddon, last night’s NFC Championship game offered America a much-needed escape from the constant bombardment of headlines. As the final game before the Super Bowl on February 8, the high-octane matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks was made even more memorable by Zach Top’s national anthem performance. When it comes to country music moments that spark a massive online reaction, Top seems to have a Midas touch. The reigning 2025 ACM and CMA New Artist of the Year is riding an unstoppable hot streak, and last night’s performance only…
Not to be the Paul Revere of country music news, but something big is definitely coming. Just this morning so far, Eric Church, Hardy, Tim Mcgraw and Morgan Wallen have all posted cryptic images with no caption to their Instagram accounts. The posts feature a male name believed to be a part of the alleged McArthur family, along with birth and death dates. Eric Church’s post reads, “Junior McArthur b. September 2, 1945 d. April 4, 1967”, HARDY shared, “Jones McArthur b. June 5, 1968 d. January 5, 2025.” Tim McGraw posted, “John McArthur b. November 2, 1920 d. November…
Further solidifying his status as a household name in country music, Zach Top recently performed the national anthem at the NFC Championship game, broadcast live on FOX Sports. As the penultimate matchup of the season, tonight’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams will determine who advances to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on February 8. As if the rampant anticipation wasn’t high enough for football fans, Top delivered a stellar rendition of the anthem that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Despite being a chilly (and of course windy) 40-degree afternoon in…