Three country music up-and-comers who are riding high on the ACM Award hog | Music City Minute

CMA Fest took over Nashville this weekend, and it did not disappoint | Music City Minute

CMA Fest rolled into Music City once again, and between pop-up shows, surprise guests and a reunion four years in the making, country fans got one for the books. Thursday night at Nissan Stadium set the tone early when Jelly Roll made an unannounced appearance breaking his own promise not to perform in the current stadium until the new one opens next door. The Nashville native clearly couldn't resist, delivering a fiery set to 60,000 screaming fans. But the biggest moment of the entire weekend came later that night when legendary boxing announcer Michael Buffer took the mic and introduced Florida Georgia Line. Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard appeared on opposite sides of the stadium, singing "Round Here" as they made their way through the crowd before meeting on stage and sharing a long embrace. Tyler then grabbed the mic and said quote, "God is good. Life is short. And most importantly we back, baby." The surprises kept rolling from there  Ella Langley joined Gretchen Wilson for a rowdy "Here for the Party," Shaboozey brought out his good buddy and KYGO Birthday Bash artist Kevin Powers for a performance of "Move On," Russell Dickerson pulled off one of the wildest crossover moments in CMA Fest history by bringing Fetty Wap to the Nissan Stadium stage, and Dan + Shay debuted an unreleased track called "She Believes in Me" at Brandon Lake's Cowboy Church. Four days, a hundred surprises and one massive reunion — that was CMA Fest 2026.   I'm Brailey, and that's your Music City Minute.

Garth Brooks eyes record-breaking catalog sale, Luke Bryan has bone to pick with internet | Music City Minute

Two massive headlines out of Nashville today. First, Garth Brooks is reportedly considering selling his entire music catalog, and the price tag is staggering. The "Friends in Low Places" singer is seeking roughly two billion dollars for the rights to both his songwriting and recorded music. That would make it one of the largest catalog sales for a single artist in history. Brooks has sold a record 200 million albums in the U.S. – more than The Beatles, more than Elvis – and has kept a tight grip on his music for decades, famously only streaming through Amazon Music.   And then there's Luke Bryan, who's dealing with a very 2026 problem. His new single "Fish Hunt Golf Drink" drew immediate accusations on social media that it was written by AI. Fans pointed to the chorus "Wake up, coffee/camo, climb tree" and said there's no way a human wrote that. While golfing at the Memorial Pro-Am this week, Bryan fired back, calling the accusers "trolls" and saying, "That song was designed for one thing: to have fun and tell the world what I love to do." The song's cowriters, Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem, also set the record straight with Rolling Stone, saying it was entirely human created. "It's not rocket science, but it's true to who Luke is."   I'm Brailey, and that's your Music City Minute.

Jordan Davis admits he whiffed on two huge hits | Music City Minute

Jordan Davis is celebrating his 10th #1 songs, but admits he whiffed on two huge hits. Jordan Davis just parked "Turn This Truck Around" at No. 1 on country radio, his tenth chart topper and further proof the Louisiana native is one of the best hitmakers in Nashville. But this week, Davis was refreshingly honest about the ones that got away. On a recent podcast, Davis admitted he's not always the quickest to recognize a smash, and he's got the receipts to prove it. After his single "Next Thing You Know" was climbing the charts, his brother Jacob – a hit Nashville songwriter – sent him a song he'd written called "Backseat Driver." Jordan told his brother it sounded too close to what he already had out. Jacob's response? He told Jordan he might be an idiot. "Backseat Driver" went on to become a massive hit for Kane Brown. And it doesn't stop there. Davis also revealed he was sent "Where the Wild Things Are" early in the process by a songwriter buddy and passed on that one too a song that, of course, landed with Luke Combs and became one of the biggest records of the year. No hard feelings, though. Davis says it ended up in the right hands and calls it one of his favorite Combs songs to date. Ten No. 1s and a couple of honest Ls, and a brother who's never going to let him forget it.   I'm Brailey, and that's your Music City Minute.

Florida Georgia Line teases surprise show | Music City Minute

It’s CMA Fest week in Nashville, and there's already a major buzz building on Broadway. Yesterday, a billboard appeared on the iconic Nashville sign featuring an orange emoji, a peach emoji, the Spotify logo and a house emoji. Fans were quick to crack the code Florida, Georgia, Spotify House pointing to a surprise appearance at Spotify House at Blake Shelton's Ole Red by none other than Florida Georgia Line. It's only been a few months since Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard took the stage together at Country Radio Seminar to honor their longtime friend Jason Aldean with a performance of "You Make It Easy," marking the first time the duo had shared a stage since their split in 2022. Rumors of a reconciliation have been swirling ever since. The two have reportedly mended fences, even vacationing together with their families. And, just a few weeks ago at the ACM Awards, Hubbard told "Entertainment Tonight" that the pair have been "toying around and flirting with the idea of playing a handful of shows together." Could this surprise CMA Fest appearance be the true start of the FGL reunion fans have been begging for?   I'm Brailey, and that's your Music City Minute.

Morgan Wallen takes over Denver with Broncos legend and flipped piano | Music City Minute

Morgan Wallen brought his Still the Problem Tour to Empower Field at Mile High this weekend for a sold out two-night stand — and the "Chasin' You" singer delivered far more than just music. Friday night's show kicked off with Wallen's signature walkout, and flanking him was none other than Broncos legend, two-time Super Bowl-winning, Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. The stadium erupted as the two made their way to the stage before Wallen launched into over two hours of hits. Although forecasted severe weather stayed away, the night didn't go off without a hitch. During the encore performance of "Sand in My Boots," technical difficulties left Wallen unable to hear his piano through his in-ear monitors. Rather than stop the show, the East Tennessee native finished the ballad a cappella while pacing the stage as the crowd sang along. Then, in a moment that has since gone viral, Wallen took out his frustration by flipping the piano over on stage.   I'm Brailey, and that's your Music City Minute.