Sturgill Simpson has just announced that he will be performing a benefit concert at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, North Carolina on October 21st. All proceeds from the show will be donated to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Simpson was originally scheduled to play in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday, October 21 as a part of his critically acclaimed 2024 fall Why Not? Tour. But the devastation in the area caused by Hurricane Helene forced Simpson to cancel the show. He’ll now play two nights at the Koka Booth Amphitheater instead of one, with the first show serving as a North Carolina Benefit Show and a second show added on October 22. Simpson is planning on rescheduling the Asheville show for a future date, with all fans who purchased tickets to the canceled show getting an automatic refund. (Consequence of Sound)

Miranda Lambert brought good vibes and her talented friends to Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday (October 5) for the “Music For Mutts” benefit concert. The charity show helped raise awareness and funds to provide aid to shelter animals and pet shelters. “I’m so happy to be here,” Lambert enthusiastically announced to the crowd. “We’re singing for the dogs — all the dogs!” Jake Worthington served as the opening act for the benefit concert, with Lambert headlining the event. She played a portion of the show solo, before getting into the “Miranda and Friends” part of her set, where she was joined by special guests Worthington, HARDY, Lukas Nelson, Ashley Monroe, Riley Green, Dan + Shay, and Little Big Town. “I work and then I get a concert,” Lambert joked about watching the other performers. “Thank you for spending your hard-earned money on some country music and helping doggies,” Lambert said as the night came to a close. (Billboard)

On Friday (October 4), Eric Church shared his first solo song in three years, "Darkest Hour," to benefit his home state of North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Church signed over all publishing royalties from the song to the people of North Carolina, with the money going toward ongoing relief efforts in the state. “In the area that I'm from, the mountains of Western North Carolina were devastated,” Church said. “There are places that are just biblically gone. These are our family members, they're our friends, they're our neighbors – and they're in dire need of help.”

In an Instagram post announcing his benefit song, Church elaborates, “‘Darkest Hour’ was the best way I could think to try to help. We’ve been helping with boots on the ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery. This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.” (People)

During a press conference in Newport, Tennessee on Friday (October 4), Dolly Parton announced that she will be donating $1 million of her own money for relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. Parton is also working with The Dollywood Company to provide an additional $1 in emergency aid. The $2 million will be donated to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which is providing relief and recovery efforts in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and the greater Appalachian region.  “From myself, personally, I’m donating a million dollars today,” Parton told the crowd. “But there’s a lot to be done and we’re trying to find other ways to even raise more funds. Who knew in our little part of the country here — where I was born and raised right down the road — that we would have this kind of devastation. These are my people and this is my home. I just want you to know that I am totally with you ’cause I am part of you. I love you.” (Rolling Stone)

Zach Bryan has declined to submit his music for consideration for the 2025 Grammy Awards. Voting by Recording Academy members has just started for next year’s music awards ceremony, and Bryan’s name intentionally won’t be on any of the ballots. Sources have confirmed that, “Bryan decided not to submit this year, based on feeling that he does not feel comfortable with awards shows making music competitive.” Bryan joins fellow high profile artists and musicians who have previously opted out of Grammy consideration in the past like the Weeknd, Drake, Macklemore, and Frank Ocean. Bryan won his first and only Grammy in 2024 for his duet with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything,” which earned them the Best Country Duo/Group Performance Grammy Award. Bryan has previously been nominated four times altogether, with all those nods coming in the country field. (Variety)

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet jumps up two spots to reclaim the No. 1 spot on this week’s Billboard 200 Albums chart. This is the fourth nonconsecutive week atop the Billboard 200 for Short n’ Sweet, following its initial three week run at No. 1 after its release back in August. Elsewhere in the Billboard 200 Top 5, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft returns to the Top 5 for the first time in over a month after moving up three places to No. 5., aided by the launch of Eilish’s tour on Sept. 29 and the music video premiere for the album’s second single, “Birds of a Feather,” on September 27. Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess stays put at No. 2, Future’s Mixtape Pluto drops two spots to No. 3, and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time moves up a spot to No. 4. (Billboard)

Kane Brown shared a teaser video on Instagram on Tuesday (October 1) featuring a new song he is working on. But it was the special guests who joined him in the studio that got most of the attention. Brown was joined in the clip by darling daughters Kingsley Rose, 4½, and Kodi Jane, 2, who are shown being held by their famous daddy and playing around in the studio while Brown sang. Kane captioned his post, “My back seat drivers 🙏🏽,” and the lyrics of the new song playing in the clip also seem to be referring to his two daughters and his three-month-old newborn son, Krewe Allen. "My whole world wasn't over that dash, it was back there buckled in," Brown sings in the as-yet-unreleased track. "Saying, 'Daddy, look there's a plane in the sky. Are we there yet? Did you just see that dog run by?’" Brown is set to start a brief tour of Australia and New Zealand in mid-November. (People)

Miranda Lambert realizes that pets and animals have also been greatly impacted by Hurricane Helene. So the country star’s MuttNation Foundation has already donated money to help assist animals in need throughout the areas affected by the storm. The MuttNation Tractor Supply Relief for Rescues Fund has donated nearly $100,000 to help provide aid and assistance to pet shelters, pets and animals that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Lambert shared a deeply moving Instagram video on Wednesday (October 2) to raise awareness and funds for the displaced pets and animals of the area. My heart breaks for the people and pets impacted by Hurricane Helene. In situations like this, a lot of people ask me how they can help,” Lambert wrote in the caption to her post. “I created this fundraiser for anyone who wants to join us in helping💗🐶  100% of your donation goes towards Hurricane Helene disaster relief.” (Billboard)

Lee Brice has revealed the details of his acoustic You, Me and My Guitar Tour in 2025. The show will feature Brice sharing some of the stories behind his songs while he performs acoustic renditions of his chart-topping hits. Brice made his tour announcement with an Instagram post on Wednesday (October 2), with the country star captioning it, “Join me and my guitars for some music and a few stories along the way 😉 I can’t wait to see y’all 🎸” The 16-date trek starts up on January 30 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and includes a sure to be special show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on February 18, before winding down on March 29 in Peoria, Illinois. “I’m so excited to be bringing this tour back in 2025,” Brice says. “We did a run earlier this year and I had one of the best times of my life. There’s nothing like sharing my songs and stories with my fans.” (Music Row)

Following the death of Kris Kristofferson on Saturday (September 28), Eric Church has shared his previously unreleased song, “Kickin’ It With Kristofferson,” to honor the country music legend. Church describes the acoustic demo as a “worktape,” and he shared the spare, emotional number to pay tribute to one of his songwriting heroes. Church’s song is the soundtrack to his deeply moving Instagram video that features personal clips of the two country musicians hanging out backstage and performing together on stage, along with glimpses of their families spending time together. Kristofferson was a longtime creative inspiration for Church, with the country star even naming his one-man show after Kristofferson’s song “To Beat the Devil,” The pair formed a tight personal and professional bond over the years, and duetted many times in the past, singing together on Kristofferson’s celebrated hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down.” (Rolling Stone)

On Thursday (October 2), a woman filed a lawsuit against Garth Brooks alleging that the country music star raped her in a hotel room. The lawsuit claims that Brooks also subjected the woman, a former makeup artist for the musician, to unwanted sexual conduct on multiple occasions, including repeatedly exposing himself to her, sending her graphic text messages, and groping her body. The woman is identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, and she claims the trauma from the rape caused her to contemplate suicide. “Brooks is desperate to prevent his millions of fans from learning about the horrific things he has said and done to a junior female employee who did nothing to deserve such treatment,” the lawsuit states. Brooks had apparently filed a preemptive lawsuit against the woman in a federal court in Mississippi on September 13, seeking an injunction that blocks her from continuing her “extortionate conduct.” (Variety)

Ozzy Osbourne is going to have a star-studded tribute during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland on October 19. The Prince of Darkness is getting recognized for his solo work this year, following Black Sabbath’s induction back in 2006. “I don’t know what to think,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone. “I’m still in shock that I’m getting inducted for a second time. But at the same time, I’m very excited.” Actor and musician Jack Black will give the induction speech for Osbourne, while Tool’s Maynard James Keenan, Jelly Roll, and Billy Idol are all set to sing his songs during a performance honoring the metal icon. Zakk Wylde, Andrew Watt, Steve Stevens, and Wolfgang Van Halen will all play guitar in Osbourne’s All-Star musical tribute, backed by the potent rhythm section of Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. (Rolling Stone)

Keith Urban’s new album, High, debuts at No. 10 on this week’s Top Country Albums Chart, the 11th Top 10 hit record of the country star’s celebrated career. “I love making music, and I’m as passionate about that as I was when I started,” Urban told Billboard. Urban first charted on the Top Country Albums with his self-titled record back in 2000, notching his first Top 10 hit with Golden Road in 2003, and scored the first of his seven No. 1s with Be Here in 2004. The lead single from High, “Messed Up As Me,” jumped to No. 24 on the Hot Country Songs chart this week, while sitting at No. 17 on the Country Airplay tally. “I love discovering new things,” Urban says. “That, blended with my own well of influences and life experiences, is what comes out when I go into a writing room or the studio or even when I play live. I have ‘beginner’s mind,’ so I see each day as brand-new.” (Billboard)

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live, Luke Bryan shared his thoughts about why he believes Beyoncé received zero nominations at the CMAs for her chart-topping country record, Cowboy Carter. "Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody's mad about it," Bryan said. "But where things get a little tricky, if you're gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit. Beyoncé can do it exactly what she wants to do. She's probably the biggest star in music. But come to an awards show and high five us. And have fun and get in the family, too." Bryan has served as the host of the CMAs for the last three years, and is once again set to co-host this year’s awards ceremony alongside Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson. The 2024 CMA Awards will air live on ABC on November 20. (Taste of Country)

On Tuesday (October 1), Billy Strings announced on Instagram that he will offer refunds to fans after missing his headlining sets at Colorado’s Renewal Fest over the weekend. Strings left the festival in order to be with his wife Ally Apostol as she went into labor with their first child, with the couple eventually welcoming their baby boy on Sunday morning. Strings was originally scheduled to perform four total sets at Renewal, with two shows planned on both Friday and Saturday, but his band took his place the first night, and Molly Tuttle, Jerry Douglas, Jarrod Walker performed as the “Renewal Family Band” on Saturday. Strings was hoping the baby would arrive on Sunday, but when his wife’s water broke on Friday, he borrowed Ringo Starr’s private plane to be with her back in Michigan. Strings made another Instagram post on Monday announcing the birth of his son, captioning a tender photo of the musician with his newborn baby, “He’s here! Mommy and baby are both doing great ❤️ I’m a dad.” (Rolling Stone)

On September 30, the Morgan Wallen Foundation made a charitable donation of $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. That money will provide some much-needed support for relief efforts in the areas hardest hit by the storm, including Wallen’s home area of East Tennessee, as well as the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. In a statement provided to Knox News out of Knoxville, Tennessee, Trevor Riggin, the Red Cross National President for Humanitarian Services, expressed his gratitude towards Wallen. “We can’t thank Morgan Wallen enough for his heart and generous $500,000 donation to impact help on the ground now in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene, including his beloved East Tennessee,” Riggin said. Wallen previously shared an update on his loved ones back home in an Instagram story on September 29, writing "My family in East Tennessee are safe but I know many are absolutely devastated there and in multiple states." (All Country News)

In a new interview with Time magazine, Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff shared that he is currently working with the newly-married Lana Del Rey on her highly-anticipated country album, Lasso. Antonoff has been working closely with Del Rey ever since her Grammy-nominated 2019 album, Norman F**king Rockwell. “We have… yeah,” Antonoff disclosed when asked if he’s working with Lana on Lasso. “[It’s] a story for another time. The reason why I don’t talk about things until they’re out is very succinct: I like to let the music be the first entry point for people. I don’t want to rob anyone of their experience of hearing it without context. The second you start talking about work that is coming, you’re planting these seeds in people’s head.” At the Billboard and NMPA Songwriter Awards in January, Del Rey revealed, “If you can’t already tell, the music business is going country. We’re going country. That’s why Jack has followed me to Muscle Shoals, Nashville, Mississippi over the last four years.” (Billboard)

On Friday (September 27), Steve Erickson released his career compilation, Retrospective. The 15-track album draws from the standouts of Erickson’s previous four albums, It’s About Time, Music Tonight, Moving On, and his critically acclaimed 2024 record, Crooked Road. The Asheville, North Carolina based singer-songwriter fluidly blends folk, Americana, blues, and country, while capturing the meditative, traditional Appalachian sounds in his reflective music. “It’s been great to take stock after producing four albums to present a larger collection of these songs,” Erickson says of his Retrospective. “After a decade of recording, it seemed like the right time to review some of my favorites.” The collection highlights Erickson’s insightful sense of storytelling along with his rich, resonant vocals and deft guitar playing, coming together in deeply moving music that deserves an appreciative look back. (All Country News)

Dylan Marlowe released his highly anticipated full-length debut album, Mid-Twenties Crisis, on Friday (September 27). The 27-year-old rising country star opened up about the diverse musical influences that inspired his new record in an interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal. Marlowe’s recent “Boys Back Home” single features a Dylan Scott guest appearance, which resulted in the song reaching the Top 25 on the Country charts. Marlowe describes his new 15-song record as “kind of all over, it's like a chaotic mess,” which helps set his sound apart from modern country. “Somebody commented on my TikTok yesterday of ‘Heaven's Sake’ and they said, ‘This sounds like Blink-182 went down to Georgia and drank some moonshine,’” Marlowe said. “I was like, ’Yes, I love that.’ I’m kind of just trying to make it my own thing. It’s me writing songs that have been fun to write and fun to play live and just aiming for that.“ (Audacy)

Megan Moroney has just announced that she will be releasing her new deluxe album, Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine) on Friday (October 4). The newly expanded edition of Moroney’s July record, Am I Okay?, features three brand new songs, “Break It Right Back,” “Bless Your Heart,” and the track that inspired the new album title, “I'll Be Fine.” Moroney made the announcement with a post on Instagram on Tuesday (October 1), where she shared the cover art for her new deluxe edition while sharing insight into her three new songs. “The 6"2 dream and I broke up the day before I sang vocals for the title track,” Moroney reveals about "I'll Be Fine." ”I remember being in the studio, holding back tears, thinking, ‘How am I gonna sing this every night? Should I just trash this song and rename the album?” I knew everything was gonna be fine but I needed to talk myself into it and that's what this song is.” (Holler)