2026 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that will take place in 2026.
| List of years in country music |
|---|
| (table) |
| By location |
|---|
| By genre |
| By topic |
Events
- January 13 – "Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton becomes the first country song in history to be double diamond certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1]
- January 14 – Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association announces that she will retire at the end of 2026 after twelve years in the role.[2]
- January 16 – Suzy Bogguss is inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Reba McEntire, who was also celebrating her 40th anniversary as an Opry member that night. Bogguss was invited on October 11, 2025 by Kathy Mattea, Terri Clark, and Trisha Yearwood.[3]
- January 17 – Blake Shelton scores his 30th number one single on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with "Stay Country or Die Tryin'", placing him second to Kenny Chesney's 33 for the most number one singles on that chart since its inception in 1990.[4]
- January 24 – Paul Brandt makes a post on X using lyrics from his 2005 single "Alberta Bound" that leads to a controversy, with some viewing it as an endorsement of the Alberta separatism movement[5]
- February 9 – "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley becomes the first song by a female artist (and the fourth song overall) to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, and all-genre Billboard Hot 100 charts simultaneously.[6]
- April 24–26 – The 2026 edition of Stagecoach Festival takes place at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, featuring headline performances from Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone.[7]
Top hits of the year
The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, or Canada Country charts in 2026:
Singles released by American and Australian artists
Singles released by Canadian artists
| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 7 | "Drink Around" | Dean Brody | [32] |
| — | 17 | 10 | "Golden Child" | Meghan Patrick | [33] |
| — | — | 12 | "Going Somewhere" | Tim Hicks | [34] |
| — | 32 | 1 | "Hate How You Look" | Josh Ross | [35] |
| — | — | 16 | "Hurtin' Songs" | Brett Kissel and Dierks Bentley |
[36] |
| — | — | 7 | "I'm Leavin' You" | High Valley | [37] |
| — | — | 15 | "Nobody Roads" | Josh Stumpf | [38] |
| — | — | 17 | "Safe Place to Break" | Meghan Patrick | [33] |
| — | — | 18 | "Shooting Star" | Sacha and Restless Road |
[39] |
| — | — | 2 | "Somebody I Know" | James Barker Band | [40] |
| — | — | 14 | "Something Else" | Brock Phillips | [41] |
| — | — | 8 | "Taillight This Town" | Owen Riegling | [42] |
Top new album releases
| US | Album | Artist | Record label | Release date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | With Heaven on Top | Zach Bryan | Belting Bronco/Warner | January 9 | [43] |
| Cloud 9 | Megan Moroney | Sony/Columbia | February 20 | [44] |
Other top albums
Upcoming
| Album | Artist | Record label | Release date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Town | Morgan Evans | Solrise | March 20 | [45] |
| The Way I Am | Luke Combs | Columbia Nashville | ||
| Heavy On The Soul | Ty Myers | RECORDS | March 27 | [46] |
| Dandelion | Ella Langley | Columbia Nashville | April 10 | [47] |
| In the Feeling | Owen Riegling | Universal Canada / Big Loud | April 17 | [48] |
| Songs About Us | Jason Aldean | Broken Bow | April 24 | [49] |
| Sunriser | Lee Brice | Curb Records | June 5 | |
| Ain't That Bad | Matt Lang | Independent | October 23 | [50] |
Deaths
- January 6 - Jim McBride, 78, American songwriter ("Chattahoochee")[51]
- January 19 - Billy Parker, 88, American country music singer and DJ.[52]
- February 11 - Jerry Kennedy, 85, American record producer [53]
- Feburary 16 - Brett Jones, 69, American songwriter ("A Little Past Little Rock", "That's How Country Boys Roll", "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away")[54]
References
- ^ Leimkuehler, Matthew (13 January 2026). "How Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey' Became A Record-Breaking Hit". Forbes.
- ^ Sharpe, Josh (14 January 2026). "Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern to Retire at the End of 2026". BroadwayWorld.
- ^ Reiher, Andrea (18 December 2025). "Reba McEntire to Induct '90s Country Icon Into the Grand Ole Opry". Parade.
- ^ Penuell, Russ (January 9, 2026). "Blake Shelton Marks Milestone 30th Country Airplay Chart Leader". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ Hunt, Stephen (January 25, 2026). "Singer Paul Brandt teases support for Alberta separatist movement". CTV News Calgary. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Hahnen, Madison (2026-02-09). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Makes History". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
- ^ "Stagecoach Festival 2026 Lineup Announced: Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, and More". Pitchfork. 25 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Morgan Wallen - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "Megan Moroney - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Thomas Rhett - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Shaboozey - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Max McNown - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Tucker Wetmore - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Riley Green - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "Ella Langley - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ a b "Luke Combs - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Ty Myers - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ a b "Cody Johnson - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "HARDY - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Hudson Westbrook - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Jason Aldean - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Rascal Flatts - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "George Birge - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ "Old Dominion - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Chris Janson - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ a b "Zach Bryan - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Miranda Lambert - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ^ "Blake Shelton - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Justin Moore - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Jordan Davis - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Dylan Scott - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^
- "Drink Around": "Canada Country: Week of February 7, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ^ a b
- "Golden Child": "Canada Country chart for March 8, 2025". Billboard Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- "Golden Child" (US): "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- "Safe Place to Break": "Canada Country: Week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^
- "Going Somewhere":"Canada Country: Week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^
- "Hate How You Look": "Canada Country: Week of December 13, 2025". Billboard Canada. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- "Hate How You Look" (US): "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. February 20, 2026. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^
- "Hurtin' Songs": "Canada Country: Week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^
- "I'm Leavin' You": "Canada Country: Week of February 14, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ |*"Nobody Roads": "Canada Country: Week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^
- "Shooting Star": "Canada Country: Week of January 3, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^
- "Somebody I Know": "Canada Country: Week of January 24, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
- ^
- "Something Else": "Canada Country: Week of February 21, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^
- "Tailight This Town": "Canada Country: Week of February 14, 2026". Billboard Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (2026-01-09). "Zach Bryan's New Album, 'With Heaven on Top,' Is Here". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ "Megan Moroney Steps Into Her Most Confident Era Yet With New Album, 'Cloud 9'". Country Now. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
- ^ McNamara, Lauren (October 10, 2025). "Morgan Evans Announces New Album, Shares Single". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
- ^ Daykin, James (January 14, 2026). "Road to C2C 2026: Ty Myers Announces new sophomore album 'Heavy On The Soul'". Entertainment Focus.
- ^ "Ella Langley Announces Sophomore Album, 'Dandelion', Reflects On the Hearts and Stories Behind the Songs". Country Now. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Hahnen, Madison (February 13, 2026). "Owen Riegling 'In The Feeling' On New Album". Music Row. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ Black, Lauren Jo (November 7, 2025). "Jason Aldean Reveals 20-Track Songs About Us Album Featuring Wife Brittany, Luke Bryan, & More". Country Now. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
- ^ "Matt Lang dévoile Ain't That Bad, un 4e album aux allures cinématographiques". Info Lanaudiere. January 8, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
- ^ Javon Williams (January 7, 2026). "Alabama Music Hall of Famer, Huntsville native Jim McBride, dies at 78". WAFF. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ Legendary KVOO DJ Billy Parker dies at the age of 88
- ^ Oermann, Robert K. (2026-02-13). "Musician/Producer/Exec Jerry Kennedy Passes". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ^ "William Seaborn "Brett" Jones Obituary February 16, 2026". Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Retrieved 20 February 2026.