CBS confirmed the first performers on October 20 for New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, which returns on December 31 with nearly five hours of live entertainment.

The celebration will take place at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in downtown Nashville, bringing thousands of fans together for an evening of music and festivities. Admission to the outdoor event will be free.

HARDY, known for blending country and rock influences, joins Grammy-winning vocal group Little Big Town and rising Americana act The Red Clay Strays on the initial lineup. Additional performers are expected to be announced as the event approaches.

The evening will also feature Nashville’s traditional Music Note Drop at midnight, marking the beginning of the new year.

Fans watching from home can catch the special on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The broadcast will also stream live on Paramount+ Premium.

The single has now spent 26 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, tying Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You for the longest run at the top.

On the chart dated October 24, 2026, Choosin’ Texas earned 19.8 million eligible U.S. streams during the tracking week ending October 15. That figure represents a 5% decrease from the previous week.

The song first reached No. 1 on January 31 and has returned to the top several times throughout the year. Its longest consecutive run lasted eight weeks, from August 15 through October 3.

Since the Streaming Songs chart began in 2013, only three songs have spent at least 20 weeks at No. 1. Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, previously held the top spot for 20 weeks.

Choosin’ Texas also remains at No. 2 on the Hot 100, behind Taylor Swift’s Patient Zero.

Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart has tracked the genre’s biggest releases since 1964, documenting decades of commercial success and changing listener preferences.

Among its most notable achievements is Shania Twain‘s Come On Over, which spent 50 weeks at No. 1. The album became one of country music’s defining commercial successes.

Taylor Swift also made a significant impact with Fearless, which enjoyed an extended run at the top during her early country career.

More recently, Morgan Wallen has emerged as a major chart presence with albums including Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing at a Time. Both releases demonstrated sustained popularity in an era increasingly shaped by streaming.

The chart now combines traditional album sales, individual track purchases, and streaming activity to determine weekly rankings.

Across generations, these achievements illustrate how country music’s biggest albums have connected with audiences, maintaining their popularity well beyond their initial release dates.

During a recent conversation with actor Matthew McConaughey, Bryan, 30, discussed his decision to stop drinking and the experiences that led him to reconsider his relationship with alcohol.

Bryan recalled a turning point during a month-long motorcycle trip across the United States. While drinking beer outside a truck stop, he began questioning his habits and reflecting on what he wanted from his life.

The singer admitted that he previously dismissed the idea of sobriety because he had not fully recognized his own struggles with drinking.

Since making the change, Bryan says he feels happier, has more energy, and has found new excitement in songwriting. He compared his renewed enthusiasm for creating music to how he felt when he was 17.

His comments come alongside the release of his eight-song EP, Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs, which includes collaborations with Lana Del Rey and Turnpike Troubadours.

The song climbs four positions to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart dated October 24, 2026. It generated 31 million audience impressions, a 28% increase from the previous week.

The achievement gives Alaina her fourth No. 1 on the chart and Matthew his second. Alaina previously reached the top with collaborations including One Beer in 2020, while Matthew led the ranking for three weeks with Darlin’ in November 2025.

Written by Alaina, Jimmy Gutch, Ben Johnson, and Whitney Phillips, All My Exes draws inspiration from a relationship Alaina experienced in her early 20s.

The duet also reflects the growing presence of collaborations on country radio. It becomes the third collaborative No. 1 of 2026, among 20 songs that have topped the chart this year.

For Alaina and Matthew, the achievement adds another significant entry to their country music careers.

Among this week’s releases, Olivia Rodrigo teams up with Chappell Roan for a remix of “Expectations.” The updated track features new vocals from Roan, giving the song a different dynamic through the collaboration.

Tate McRae also returns with “Housewife,” a new single focused on financial independence and enjoying the rewards of success. The accompanying music video reflects those themes with images of luxury and wealth.

Country singer Zach Bryan expands his catalog with Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs, an eight-track EP featuring several collaborations. Lana Del Rey appears on “Lies,” while the Turnpike Troubadours join Bryan on “Plainsman.”

Belgian singer Angèle also joins this week’s lineup with the release of her third studio album, adding another international pop release to the mix.

Together, these projects give listeners a wide selection of new songs and albums across several musical styles.

The country singer shared a collection of photos and videos on Instagram on Wednesday, October 14, offering fans a glimpse into their life together. Her birthday message praised McLoughlin’s smile and expressed her love for him.

The post featured several memorable moments, including McLoughlin fishing, riding a jet ski, enjoying time by the pool, and holding bags from Whataburger. One video showed the couple driving through rural Tennessee with their dog, while another captured McLoughlin helping Lambert lace up her pink sneakers.

The final video brought a musical surprise. Filmed inside a Las Vegas hotel bathroom, it showed Lambert singing personalized lyrics to Choosin’ Texas while her husband prepared for a night out.

Lambert co-wrote the popular country song, making the birthday performance a personal twist on a familiar hit.

The celebration offered fans a lighthearted look at the couple’s relationship through everyday moments, humor, and music.

Released October 2, the album enters the Top Country Albums chart at No. 4 with 24,000 equivalent album units earned in its first week, according to Billboard. The achievement extends Lambert’s streak to 11 consecutive top 10 country albums, beginning with her 2005 debut, Kerosene.

Over the past 21 years, seven of those albums have reached No. 1, reflecting her consistent presence on the country charts.

Produced by Lambert and Jesse Frasure, Crisco features 12 songs blending traditional country influences with elements of 1970s disco. The project also includes collaborations with Chris Stapleton and Ella Langley.

Other country artists are making chart moves as well. Gavin Adcock’s The Day I Hang It Up opens at No. 10, while Wynonna returns with The Hard Truth, her first studio album in a decade.

Lambert’s latest release adds another chapter to a chart history that has remained uninterrupted since 2005.

The exchange began after Talarico attended Musgraves’ concert in Dallas on October 10, 2026, and shared photos from the event. Noem weighed in on October 12, expressing her preference for country artist Ella Langley over Musgraves and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton over Talarico.

Musgraves responded on X with a pointed comment referencing Noem’s controversial account of shooting and killing her dog, Cricket, which Noem described in her 2024 memoir.

The exchange brought together country music and politics as Texas candidates continued their Senate campaigns.

Musgraves has previously spoken publicly about political and social issues, making her response consistent with her history of engaging in public discussions beyond music.

The interaction also placed Ella Langley in the conversation, although the exchange centered on Musgraves, Noem, and their differing political views.

The show at the BOK Center was called off following warnings involving possible bombs and gunfire. Tulsa police searched the venue and found no credible threat, but the decision was made to cancel the performance as a precaution.

Langley addressed the incident during her October 10 concert in Lubbock, Texas, explaining that the safety of her fans, crew, and venue employees came first.

Although disappointed that the Tulsa show could not go ahead, Langley made it clear that she stood by the decision. She told the audience she would make the same choice again under similar circumstances.

The singer also emphasized that she did not want fear to prevent her from continuing to perform.

Her return to the stage came less than 24 hours after the cancellation, allowing her to reconnect with fans and continue her scheduled performances following the security scare.