In case you needed another reason to celebrate this Monday, the state of Tennessee has officially proclaimed that January 19 is Dolly Parton Day. While the iconic country music legend needs no excuse to be celebrated year-round, today is especially meaningful as it marks her 80th birthday. Born on January 19, 1946, Dolly Parton has spent eight decades proving she deserves every balloon, candle, and standing ovation imaginable. According to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, it also means she deserves her own dedicated day, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. A proud Tennessee native born in Sevier County, Parton has remained…
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.
Not to jump the gun, but 2026 may very well be the year of Megan Moroney. With the release of her third studio album, Cloud 9, just a month away, anticipation is heavy as the Georgia-born singer-songwriter prepares to paint the country music scene pink. Ahead of its release, three songs have already been released, including her first drop from last June, “6 Months Later.” Fittingly, six months later, the upbeat, girly-pop anthem has officially climbed to the number one spot on this week’s published US Country Radio (Mediabase) Chart. It was officially introduced to country radio on July 14,…
Long gone are the days when daytime talk shows dominated television. As the era of cable TV continues to fade, so do many of its staples, including log-running daytime programs. After a successful seven-season run, The Kelly Clarkson Show is reportedly nearing its end. Since 2019, the hour-long daytime talk show, hosted and produced by the former American Idol winner, has been rumored to conclude after the current season. Multiple sources claim Clarkson plans to step away once this season wraps. Given the show’s contract expires in 2026, whispers that the production has become too demanding have continued to fuel…
There’s just something about cowboy boots on a red carpet that’s gonna do it for me every time. Luckily for country music fans like me, the 2025 CMA Awards are quickly approaching on November 19 at 8 pm, live from the Bridgestone Arena. Marking the 59th anniversary of the awards, this show has pretty much become my version of fantasy football. There’s a certain thrill of sitting on your living room couch, shouting out your picks at the TV screen for every category. While there’s no real reward, of course, aside from the satisfaction of judging everyone’s outfits in your…
Award shows are almost guaranteed to spark heated debates among passionate fans. No matter the genre, viewers are quick to weigh in on whether a win was deserved or if their favorite artist was unfairly robbed. Most of the time, artists graciously accept their awards, even if the win feels like a surprise (minus the 2009 Taylor Swift-Kanye West VMA debacle, of course). But in 1996, Garth Brooks, one of country music’s biggest stars at the time, broke that norm in a major way. Back in late January of 1996, the country powerhouse of the decade, Garth Brooks, broke this…
With 16 ACM awards, nine CMA awards, 3 Grammy awards, and currently out on a world tour consisting of 45 stops, it’s hard to imagine the queen of bell bottoms as anything but a country music powerhouse. But, at just 18 years old, Lainey Wilson was still just chasing this dream and doing whatever it took to make it a reality, even writing a letter to Tim McGraw. The 15-year-old letter can now be found at Wilson’s brand-new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In a recent clip from the museum’s TikTok, Wilson is shown as…