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Country Albums To Look For In 2016

Country Albums To Look For In 2016
Where did the year go? It’s nearly 2016 and that means tons of new albums to look forward to in the coming 12 months. Some have release dates and titles announced, others are just TBD promises in the works. Either way, here’s a roundup of what you have to look forward to in 2016. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please do keep an eye out throughout the year for amazing new records!

Hank Williams, Jr. ‘It’s About Time’
January 15

This will be Hank’s first record in four years, and his first under Nash Icon. It’s also hitting stores in the first week for country releases in 2016, so not long to wait until you can hold it in your hands. Lead single is ‘Are You Ready For The Country’ with Eric Church, at radio now.

Miranda Lambert TBA
TBA

It will be some months until we get to hear Miranda’s follow-up to 2014’s ‘Platinum’, but word on the street is she’s been writing lots for it and is getting ready to record. She has plenty to write about – her divorce from Blake Shelton was finalised in July of this year – and I’m sure we’ll hear some of the dirty details on what may become her best album yet.

Brothers Osborne ‘Pawn Shop’
January 15

Another January release, this time from breakout, Grammy-nominated duo Brothers Osborne. Their big single ‘Stay A Little Longer’ is at time of writing inside the radio top 10, and could turn out to be their first #1. That would set this highly-anticipated record up for big things.

Kenny Chesney TBA
TBA

Coming off something of a comeback album and a huge record-breaking tour, Kenny Chesney is preparing to return to the studio. Expect more tunes inspired by road life, as he heads back out on tour in February.

Vince Gill ‘Down To My Last Bad Habit’
February 12

The legend is back with his first solo album since 2011 (in 2013 he collaborated with Paul Franklin on Bakersfield), led by single ‘Take Me Down’ featuring Little Big Town. Expect it to be excellent, because Vince is always a class act.

Brad Paisley TBA
TBA

A new Brad Paisley album is coming! He’s currently promoting ‘Country Nation’, the fourth single from his 2014 album ‘Moonshine In The Trunk’, and has started work on his next collection. No word on any dates yet, but I’m sure the next few months will yield some answers.

Joey + Rory ‘Hymns That Are Important To Us’
February 14

As you may know by now, Joey Feek is suffering from terminal cancer, and has entered hospice care. Just before they made the decision to stop chemotherapy treatment, the married duo recorded this set of hymns from Joey’s childhood. This will be their last record together, and is due for release on Valentine’s Day.

Jake Owen TBA
TBA

After lead single ‘Real Life’ stalled on the charts this year, things went a little quiet for Jake Owen, but according to label rep Steve Hodges his next album is definitely coming in 2016. Look out for a new single in the first couple of months of the year, and potentially material covering his divorce.

Loretta Lynn ‘Full Circle’
March 4

Traditional country fans rejoice! The country music legend will release her first studio album since 2004 in March, and although there will be some re-imaginings of old hits, there will also be some new material. Plus, she signed a multi-album deal with Legacy Recordings, so there’s plenty more where that came from.

Maren Morris TBA
TBA

She just released her debut EP, and the soul-pop turned country Columbia recording artist is set to make big waves in 2016. She’s appearing at C2C Festival in March, and will release debut single ‘My Church’ to country radio in January/February. Her album will likely follow towards the end of the year.

Brandy Clark ‘Big Day In A Small Town’
April 1

Although not officially announced yet, it’s been confirmed that current street date for Brandy Clark’s sophomore album is April 1. Lead single ‘Girl Next Door’ goes to radio on February 15, and we can’t wait for her brand of dark wit and devastating narratives to return.

Jason Aldean TBA
TBA

Jason Aldean is due another record later in 2016 after ‘Old Boots New Dirt’ hit stores in October 2014, and the fourth single off that project ‘Gonna Know We Were Here’ is about to peak at radio. Whether he’ll take a break and then launch a lead single or go with a fifth release to tide him over remains to be seen, but we do know whatever he does will be a big deal.

Florida Georgia Line TBA
TBA

Whispers have begun regarding the highly-anticipated third studio album from the hitmaking duo, and we know it’s either finished or very close to being done. Fifth single ‘Confession’ is currently at radio, but come February/March, it’s time for a new single and album plans.

Dierks Bentley TBA
TBA

Dierks Bentley has come off one of the most successful and critically lauded albums of his career, so he has a hard task in following that up. Still, with reports of current single ‘Riser’ having peaked, we might hear a new lead single as early as January or February, so not long to go before we find out if he can continue on this level of commercial and quality.

Blake Shelton TBA
TBA

Just as his ex-wife Miranda Lambert is due a new album that could reportedly cover their divorce, Blake Shelton is due a new one too, although likely later in the year. Will he release a tell-all account, or ignore the subject altogether? Only time will tell.

Annette Gibbons
Hi, I’m Annette, I have been a huge country music fan since the early 90s those were the days we were lucky enough to have CMT in the UK. I enjoy nothing more than listening to country music whilst having a cold beer (or a moonshine) with friends. I try to as many gigs as I can here in the UK and in the USA; I think of Nashville as my second home and I am lucky to have made some amazing friends in Tennessee. Think Country is something I am very proud of, I just want to share my love and passion of all things country music related with you all.
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