red dirt proud news & events
Dates To Remember
2025 Events
May 17 – Armed Forces Day
May 26 – Memorial Day
Jun 12 – TCMA Industry Awards
Jun 14 – Flag Day (US)
Jun 15 – Father’s Day
Jun 20 – Summer Begins
Jul 4 – Independence Day (Friday)
Sep 2 – Labor Day (Monday)
Sep 11 – Patriot Day
Sep 22 – Fall/Autumn Begins
Oct 16 – Bosses Day
Oct 31 – Halloween (Friday)
Nov 27 – Thanksgiving (Thursday)
Dec 17 - JB's Birthday
Dec 21 – First day of Winter
Dec 25 – Christmas (Thursday)
Red Dirt Proud News
Nominations for the 2025 Texas Country Music Awards begin on May 1st. Nominations will be taken through June 15th in 28 categories. Final Round Voting should begin in July and the Awards will be handed out November 9that Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth featuring this year’s headliner Kevin Fowler. Head over to https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/2025nominate to nominate your favorite artists today.
Shane Smith and the Saints are heading overseas from June 3rd to June 14th and Texas Music Superstar William Clark Green is joining them. The guys will have shows in Glasgow and London June 3rd and 4th then head out for shows in Amsterdam, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
Aaron Watson recently had a #1 chart topper with “Buy The World A Round” and he just released 2 new songs to the streaming platforms. Go check out “That’s What She Said” and “Sober Truth.” Aaron also posted a picture recently that he is already working on new music.
Cody Johnson had a big night at the ACM Awards, winning Song of the Year for “Dirt Cheap.” Cody and his wife announced during their red carpet interview to let fans know that his wife Brandy is pregnant. CoJo and Brandy already have 2 girls, Clara Mae and Cori, ages 10 and 8 and Cojo said that he would be happy with whatever they were having but his smile got bigger when he announced that baby #3 was going to be a boy. Since Cody is farther along in his career now than he was 10 years ago he said that their new little boy is gonna get a horse a little quicker than my girls did and he is going to get to do a lot of things a little quicker than his daughters.
Word was out a few weeks ago that Johnny Rodriguez was in bad health or had died then his daughter took to social media to say that her dad was alive and dealing with some private health issues. Then word came out that Johnny had been put in hospice. Then it was released that Johnny did pass away on May 9th. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Tristan Roberson is teaming up with Twinstone Hats to launch his first signature cowboy hat, the “Dallas.” Tristan’s is just 17 years old and his debut album, One Night in Dallas, came out on May 9.
Parker McCollum has rebranded his 2025 What Kinda Man Tour as the Parker McCollum Tour, featuring Hudson Westbrook and other talented openers.
Condolences to Texas artist Colton Rice and his family of the death of his father Jerry Rice.
Jessee Lee just won the Gruene (Green) Studios Songwriters Showcase weekend. Jessee performed alongside Drew Moreland, Jeff Hobbs and 6 other singer songwriters and the Judges included Kevin Fowler, Bri Bagwell and Pauline Reese. Jessee earned the top spot and gets some free recording time at Gruene Studios.
Jenna Paulette doesn’t just sing about the cowgirl way of life—she embodies it. That’s why we partnered with her to create this exclusive boot collection, designed by Jenna in collaboration with Justin Boots.
Join The Red Clay Strays Summer Slam Fishing Tournament, running June 1-30! This nationwide online photo entry contest lets anglers compete from anywhere while supporting Camp ASCCA and its incredible mission. The Dates are June 1-30. This is a Nationwide competition and after you sign up you just go fishing, catch something, snap a photo, and enter that online!
William Clark Green is celebrating his album milestones with behind-the-scenes social videos detailing the songwriting process and how the projects came together. It’s been 15 years since Misunderstood debuted, with Green naming "Can't Change" as his favorite track from the album. Rose Queen, released 12 years ago, features his hit "She Likes the Beatles," inspired by a bandmate's observation about musical differences in relationships. Ringling Road, now 10 years old, includes fan-favorite radio hits like "Next Big Thing," "Sticks and Stones," "Creek Don't Rise," "Ringling Road," and "Sympathy." Green hints at exciting plans to commemorate these releases, encouraging fans to stay tuned to his social media for updates.
Wade Bowen got to tour Europe with Carly Pearce earlier this year but he just went back. This time he took his wife and sons along for a vacation. Wade and the family toured Italy for some down time, rest and to see the sites.
Reckless Kelly will be featured on the Outlaw Country Cruise in 2026. This is the 10th anniversary of the cruise and will leave Miami and travel to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatan Honduras aboard the Norwegian Pearl March 20-26 of next year. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Earle, Asleep at the Wheel and many other artists will be there, as well.
Congratulations to Griffin McDonald, fiddle player for Case Hardinwho just got married last weekend. Griffin and Sabrina were so excited to have Case and the entire band at their special day.
Larry Joe Taylor just wrapped up his annual Music Festival in April and he is already gearing up for the next one. LJT’s Rhyme’s & Vines is set for September 17-20 at Melody Mountain Ranch in Stephenville and returning campers get first dibs on camp sites .This year’s festival will feature great music, wine and the 8th annual World Champion Jalapeno Popper Cook-Off, as well.
Album/EP Releases
May 9 Tristan Roberson - One Night in Dallas
May 9 Teague Brothers Band - Wish You The World
Jun 6 Clay Aery – Fractions
Jun 20 Lukas Nelson - American Romance
Jun 20 William Beckmann - Whiskey Lies and Alibis
Jun 27 Parker McCollum - Parker McCollum
Jul 4 Jesse Raub Jr. - What I Came To Do
Jul 11 Tanner Usrey - These Days
Jul 25 Cody Jinks - In My Blood
Aug 8 Hayes Carll - We’re Only Human
Aug 8 Jake Bush - Bar Room Brothers and Sisters
Sep 26 Whiskey Myers - Whomp Whack Thunder
Top Songs in History
2025 – Tristan Roberson – Somewhere In Texas (T3R)
2025 – Grant Gilbert – West of Fort Worth (CDX)
2024 – Amanda Kate Ferris – Tequila & Jesus (T3R)
2024 – Mike Ryan – Way It Goes (CDX)
5 Years Ago – Randall King – She Gone
10 Years Ago – Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers – Standards
*************** UPCOMING EVENTS *********************************
Troubadour Festival May 17th at Texas A&M and feature Shane Smith & The Saints, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, 49 Winchester, Josh Meloy, Hudson Westbrook, Tyler Halverson, Jacob Stelly and Jojo Disalvo. There will also be tons of BBQ Vendors. Get details at https://troubadourfestival.com/
Cody Johnson & Koe Wetzel will be joining Jason Aldean, Riley Green, Hardy and Bailey Zimmerman and others on the Tailgate N' Tallboys lineups. The festivals take place June 5-7 in Clinton, IA and June 12-15 in Bloomington, IL https://tailgatentallboys.com/
The Texas Music Revolution McKinney TX June 6-7, Headliners Dawes and Flatland Cavalry 60-80 artists performing across 15 stagesTickets start at $59—secure yours at https://www.tmrfest.com/
Big Cabo Fest 2025 will be June 8-12 featuring Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager and special guests Doug Moreland, Django Walker, Jake Worthington, Matt Skinner and Wynn Williams at the Hotel Riu Palace in Baja, California. https://www.bigcabofest.com/
Jackalope Jamboree 2025 will be June 26-28 at the Happy Canyon Arena in Pendleton, Oregon and feature 49 Winchester, Paul Cauthen and others. https://www.jackalopejamboree.com/
Casey Donahew’s Boots On The Beach 2025 will be held June 15-19, July 6-10 and July 27-31. BootsOnTheBeach.net or https://www.tixr.com/groups/almostcountry/events/boots-on-the-beach-2025-113194
William Clark Green's Cotton Festlineup this June at Cook's Garage in Lubbock, TX is stacked with stellar acts including Muscadine Bloodline, the Randy Rogers Band, Hudson Westbrook, Ty Myers and more. The fest will be June 26-28 at Cook’s Garage in Lubbock, Texas. https://cottonfestlbk.com/
Jon Wolfe will be a part of the Inaugural America’s Mountain Festival in Woodland Park, Colorado on July 5th of next year which will also feature Curtis Grimes and Michael Martin Murphy. Tickets are now on sale at AmericasMountainFestival.com. Woodland Park is Northwest of Colorado Springs and just North of Pikes Peak. https://americasmountainfestival.com/
Rock The Plains will be Aug 8-9 at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kansas with the Randy Rogers Band, Aaron Watson, Casey Donahew, Josh Abbott Band, Adam hood, Jeanna Paulette, Curtis Grimes, Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts and more. https://www.rocktheplains.com/
Cody Johnson will join Bailey Zimmerman and Old Dominion as headliners for Country Thunder Alberta in downtown Calgary August 15-17. Additional artists include Ashley McBryde, Jake Owen and Riley Green; https://www.countrythunder.com/ab
Cross Canadian Ragweed Turnpike Troubadours, Wade Bowen, Shane Smith & The Saints and American Aquarium Sat, Aug 23 at McClane Stadium on the Baylor University Campus in Waco, Texas.
Caveman Music Festival, happening August 28-31 at Monument Lake Resort in Weston, CO, features artists like The Toadies, Jamestown Revival, Band of Heathens, Uncle Lucius, Josh Weathers, Emily Wolf, Lowdown Drifters, Dexter & The Moonrocks, Charlie Shafter, and Courtney Patton. Tickets: https://cavemanmusicfestival.com/
Tanglefoot Festival Sept 12-13 in Temple Texas featuring headliners Parker McCollum and Cody Jinks, alongside Robert Earl Keen, the Randy Rogers Band, Jack Ingram, Silverada, and The Wilder Blue https://tanglefoottx.com/
Larry Joe Taylor just wrapped up his annual Music Festival in April and he is already gearing up for the next one. LJT’s Rhyme’s & Vines is set for September 17-20 at Melody Mountain Ranch in Stephenville and returning campers get first dibs on camp sites .This year’s festival will feature great music, wine and the 8thannual World Champion Jalapeno Cook-Off, as well. https://www.larryjoetaylor.com/rhymes_and_vines.htm
Feels Like Home Festival in Brownwood, TX Oct 4th. Randy Rogers Band, Josh Abbott Band, Stoney Larue, Pat Green, Bottomland, Graham St. Clair Band and Joe Peters. Tix on sale May 16th. A celebration of community, music, and delicious BBQ. https://feelslikehomefest.com/
The Texas Country Music Cruise for 2025 will take place Nov 2-9, leave from Galveston,
Texas and go to Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Artists that will be playing music during the cruise include Gary P. Nunn, Bart Crow, Micky & The Motorcars, Thom Shepherd, Will Banister, Darrin Morris, Tanner Sparks, Cari Hutson & Good Company and Big Joe Walker. Get details at https://www.texascountrymusiccruise.com/
The 2025 Texas Country Music Awards will be held on November 9th at Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth and the nomination round will start May 1st and end June 15th. Also, Tickets for the awards show will go on sale July 1st. They will also open up for sponsorships and advertising in the program and promotion for the show. https://texascountrymusicassociation.org/