WPYB Country

12/18/2025

The Soda Crackers are keeping that Bakersfield sound alive these days. Since 2021, this group of young musicians native to Bakersfield have been doing what they can to keep the authentic sounds, songs, and stories of The Bakersfield Sound living. Directly inspired by making sure the town’s legacy is preserved in the live setting, they’ve been reprising the old classics for audiences old and young at The Crystal Palace and other local haunts. And with their official debut self-titled album, The Soda Crackers offer up some original songs of their own, inspired by the Bakersfield legacy. Read about them and find 3 songs I have posted on tonight’s ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

Since 2021, this group of of young musicians native to Bakersfield have been doing what they can to keep the authentic sounds, songs, and stories of The Bakersfield Sound alive.

12/17/2025

From finding her spark at a county fair contest in her hometown of Iowa City to performing on some of the biggest stages in the country, Abbie Callahan’s musical journey has been anything but ordinary.
She started out writing songs as a teen that centered around real-life moments, and her heightened emotions of love and heartbreak. Eventually, she was inspired by another artist to fully commit to music. This led her to Nashville, where she studied songwriting at Belmont University and paid her way with late-night performance gigs on Broadway. Performing ’90s rock and grunge, learning new songs on the fly, and experimenting with different genres helped her develop her own sound, which has evolved into a vibrant, genre-blending style she calls “kaleidoscope country.” Listen to “I’ll Bring You Flowers” a song that really grows on you. It’s my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

We’re proud to showcase country music’s brightest new stars through our Country Next series. In this installment, we talk to Abbie Callahan.

12/16/2025

Kelly Clarkson put her own spin on Ella Langley’s chart-topping hit, “Weren’t For The Wind,” during her “Kellyoke” segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and fans are loving it.
Clarkson is known for covering songs across nearly every genre on her show, but there’s something extra special when she delivers a country song. As a Texas native, it’s in her roots, and for years, fans have been begging her to release a full-length country album. While she has dabbled in the genre through collaborations with Jason Aldean, Reba McEntire, and others, a complete project has yet to happen.
As fans await that day, which honestly may never come, they can always count on her to deliver country hits on “Kellyoke,” and her cover of Langley’s hit did not disappoint. The performance even caught the attention of Langley herself, who called it “Insane” and added a few mind-blown emojis, clearly shocked that an iconic artist like Clarkson was covering a song she co-wrote.
Of course, Clarkson’s rendition was flawless and warmly received by fans.
You can watch it on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

Fans continue to beg Clarkson to release a country album.

12/14/2025

Cody Johnson joins Michael Martin Murphey for a fresh take on the Platinum-certified ballad, “Wildfire,” which first appeared on Murphey’s notable album Blue Sky Night Thunder back in 1975. In celebration of the song’s its 50th anniversary this year, the pair of artists teamed up to release a new duet as well as a powerful music video that shines a light on the haunting story that has captivated fans for generations.
The accompanying visuals add another layer to the landmark milestone, as it brings new life to the classic narrative. Inside the video, viewers are treated to a series of breathtaking scenes from Wildfire: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse, a new feature film inspired by Murphey’s iconic hit. Fans get to see a glimpse of how the story is portrayed in the full film, which arrived in select theaters this fall and become available nationwide on October 10 via Fandango at Home and on-demand platforms. Watch it on my ‘Facebook Post of the Day’

The collaboration and music video were unveiled in honor of the song's 50th anniversary.

12/13/2025

With a name like Waylon, you better be country, and you better be at least a little bit Outlaw. For Michigan native Waylon Hanel, luckily he meets both of these requisites on what’s officially his third album When Waylon Came To Nashville. A student, champion, and torch bearer for all the old Outlaw greats, Waylon is looking to put his own stamp on the music with original songs, but is also impassioned by elevating the songs of the oldtimers so they don’t get lost in time. Take a listen to “Keith Whitley Blue” and “Red Bricks” from Waylon Hanel on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

With a name like Waylon, you better be country, and you better be at least a little bit Outlaw. For Michigan native Waylon Hanel, luckily he meets both of these requisites on his third album.

12/13/2025

Mark your calendars! Santa will be in his house for the two weekends right before Christmas:
Thursday - Sunday
Be sure to stop by, say hello, and drop your special letter into his magical mailbox!

12/12/2025

Zach Top is no stranger to neotraditional country music fans. With a sound heavily influenced by ’90s music, Zach Top has turned back time in the best way possible, creating a multi-generational fan base. However, as much as Zach Top is honored to lead the movement to make country music that honors traditional roots, he’s shared more than once that he never set out to.
During a recent VIP acoustic set ahead of his show in Eugene, Oregon, Top delivered the loving lyrics to the intimate crowd. “If I Didn’t Have You” was penned by Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes. Randy Travis recorded the single as the lead single for his first greatest hits album, which was released in 1992. “If I Didn’t Have You” became Travis’ 13th number one hit single, topping the country charts in the United States and Canada and Zach does a great job with it, on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

A RIFF on what country is really about.

12/12/2025

The legendary Mickey Raphael is Willie’s longtime harmonica player, and has been in Willie’s band since 1973.
Mickey recalled sitting on Willie’s bus before a show, and hearing a low rumble in the parking lot… I look out and it’s about 10 motorcycles.
There’s a knock on the door, I open up the door, and it’s Hells Angels. They say they wanna meet Willie. Willie comes to the door to meet them, and starts talking to them and they chat for a little bit.
I guess Willie signed some autographs, and Willie goes, ‘Well boys, I gotta go. I gotta go to the gig.'”
And they said, ‘Well come on, we’ll take you.’ So we got off the bus, and I got on the back of one of the guy’s bikes, Willie got on the back of the other, and we rode down the 405 to the venue, about 20 minutes.
I had never done anything thing like that before, I figured if I’m ever gonna ride a motorcycle, this is the place to do it. This is the time to do it.
This is just thunderous noise going down the highway, in formation. It could’ve been 10 F-18s. So anyway, we go to the race track we’re playing, and pull up to the backstage entrance.”
And the security guy stopped us, says ‘You can’t come in here.’ It’s like 10 angels and they’re wearing their colors and it’s obvious who they are. and the front bike pulls up and says, ‘This is Willie Nelson.’
And the cop goes, ‘Sure it is.’ and then Willie had to pull out his American Express card to prove who he was before they let him in.”
On tonight’s ‘Facebook’ watch a clean shaven Willie Nelson perform with Mickey and Leon Russell.

A RIFF on what country is really about.

12/11/2025

Fresh off the announcement (and further extension) of his 2026 self-titled tour, Parker McCollum turned a lot of heads last week. After originally setting his eyes on a short but sweet, 14-show tour spanning from January to March, the “Stoned” singer decided to pull the trigger on a massive, 44-show tour stretching from January to September.
the Texas native shared a brand new teaser from the vault, simply titled, “Jet Plane.” By the looks of it, “Jet Plane” is a working demo first recorded back in August of 2024, judging by his Instagram caption that simply reads:
“8•17•24 – Jet Plane idea” As of now, “Jet Plane” has no release date. Judging by the early reactions, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCollum hits the studio soon to put the finishing touches on this gem of a track soon. Listen to the demo on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

A RIFF on what country is really about.

12/09/2025

Flatland Cavalry is putting their spin on the Jason Boland song “Somewhere Down In Texas,” and this is a reimagination I never knew I needed. “Somewhere Down In Texas” is a gorgeous fiddle-driven song about no matter how big the storms of life can get, the sun is always shining somewhere in Texas, and there’s always a place to keep him warm there.
Keeping the fiddle focus of the original cut, the West Texas-founded band brings their stylings to the tune without changing the integrity of the original recording. Cleto Cordero’s vocals share the same sincerity as Boland’s, delivering the lyrics with a slightly somber yet hopeful tone, knowing that there is a woman who brings sunshine into his life in Texas. Compare both versions on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

A RIFF on what country is really about.

12/09/2025

There’s no real way to soft peddle or sugar coat it. Jake Owen has been personally responsible for some of the most reprehensible atrocities in country music genre in the last decade, releasing songs that set the pace for non-potable, rant-worthy audio filth, including songs that are fit to call bad parody like “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” and “On The Boat Again.” At times, Jake Owen has defined the very worst of B-level mainstream country. Jake has said in the past, “We need more songs than just songs about tailgates and Bacardi and stuff like that. We need songs that get ourselves back to the format that made me love it . . . [like] when guys like Randy Travis released songs like ‘He Walked on Water’ songs that meant something, man!” he was still releasing his own commercial country radio fare, and up until about 2021, fairly successfully, including nine #1 songs. When you’re in the major label radio-chasing business, sometimes you don’t even have a choice but to record whatever radio ready single the label selects for you. Many performers come to Nashville with strong principles to go along with their dreams. But the Big Machine has a way of breaking you down.
That’s all the setup for Jake Owen’s first independent release in his 20-year career called Dreams To Dream. Produced by Shooter Jennings at his Snake Mountain Studio, it’s like nothing you ever heard from Jake Owen. Give him a shot and listen to a couple of songs he’s sharing with us on my ‘Facebook Post of the Night’

Produced by Shooter Jennings at his Snake Mountain Studio, it's like nothing you ever heard from Jake Owen or really any current or former mainstream country music before.

12/08/2025

New first-year, full-time students who reside in Harnett County will have 100 percent of their undergraduate tuition covered by Campbell University beginning in 2026.