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…
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.
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…
There are only 18 weekends left until Memorial Day, which not only means that the end to seasonal depression is in sight, but also that there’s still time to plan the best country festival weekend imaginable. If you happen to be in the Virginia Beach area (or, after hearing this incredible lineup, want to book a flight), The Patriotic Festival Country Weekend is returning to the Scope Arena from May 22-24. The three-day lineup is a dream trio with headliners Zach Top, Brooks & Dunn, and The Red Clay Strays. Opening night on Friday, May 22, features CMA New Artist…
Chances are, if you are even the slightest bit chronically online, you’ve heard at least one snippet of Hudson Westbrook’s “LMWYL” somewhere on your feed. As a rising artist in the new class of young bucks taking over the country music scene, Westbrook is a pioneer of tactically using social media to his advantage when promoting new releases. His latest EP, Exclusive, is no exception. The five-song project dropped this Friday, January 23, following months of calculated teasing and staggered single releases. Two tracks were released ahead of the EP, helping fuel anticipation. “Pretty Privilege” arrived in October, followed by…