Willie Nelson's new album, Last Leaf On The Tree, shows he's still growing, even after six decades in the music industry. His 76th studio album and 153rd overall challenges the musical canon with songs by rock and folk legends, alt-rock pioneers, and some surprising voices, each one given a unique twist. Curated and produced by his son, Micah Nelson, Last Leaf on the Tree is like a masterclass in song interpretation. Willie transforms every song into one that could be unmistakably his own.

Jelly Roll is back with a new album, Beautifully Broken, and he's opening up even more than he did on his record-shattering debut, Whitsitt Chapel. The new album takes a deep dive into the raw realities of life with an unflinching honesty that only JR can deliver. The album features the hit "I Am Not Okay," the fan-favorite "Liar," and the electrifying anthem "Get By," which ESPN selected as the 2024 College Football Season anthem. It promises to be as unapologetically vulnerable as its predecessor, if not more so.

Kalsea released the third single from her forthcoming album, "Two Things," on September 20. This follows the Noah Kahan-assisted "Cowboys Cry Too" and the introspective "Sorry Mom."

Artist of the Year:Tyler ChildersCharley CrockettSierra FerrellNoah KahanAllison Russell

It's been a great year for Americana and all those who contribute to it, as you can see from the list of nominees for this year's 23rd annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony.The ceremony is set for September 18 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. It's the highlight of AMERICANAFEST, which runs from September 17 to 21.I should also mention that Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell each got three nominations for Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year, which is the highest honor of the evening. Charley Crockett, Allison Russell, and folk sensation Noah Kahan are also in the running for Artist of the Year.Childers was recognized for his moving track, "In Your Love," as well as for the album from which it was taken, Rustin' In The Rain. Similarly, Ferrell's "American Dreaming" was nominated for Song of the Year, as well as for his 2024 album, Trail of Flowers.Brandy Clark is up for several awards, including Song of the Year for "Dear Insecurity" with Brandi Carlile, and Album of the Year for Brandy Clark.We're also excited to share that Hurray for the Riff Raff (The Past Is Still Alive) and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Weathervanes), which we love at KSUN66, are up for Album of the Year.

Brooks & Dunn, the best-selling duo of all time, have been shaping the country genre for over three decades. With a catalog of mostly self-written, Grammy Award-winning songs, they could have taken it easy, knowing they'd made a lasting impact on the American songbook. But that's not how the pair operates. Today, they're announcing their next joint project, REBOOT 2, which will be available on November 15th via Sony Music Nashville. REBOOT 2 is the follow-up to their 2019 album, REBOOT. It's in the same format, but this time, a whole new group of today's most committed artists—from country and beyond—have been given maximum creative freedom. The duo let each artist choose the song they wanted to lead the 18-track collection. They gave them one simple instruction: reimagine the song to suit their own taste and style from scratch.You can pre-order the album today HERE.