Big Week for Ashley McBryde, Cody Johnson, and the ACMs

May 15, 2026

New albums, a big ACM countdown, chart heat, and a country-classic honor worth cheering.

Alright y’all, here’s what’s making noise in country music right now—quick, clean, and catch-you-up-fast.

Ashley McBryde turns loose with Wild

Ashley McBryde’s brand-new album Wild is officially out (released May 8), and it’s another reminder why she’s one of the sharpest storytellers we’ve got in country. If you like your songs honest, lived-in, and a little rough around the edges in the best way, this one’s for you.

Cody Johnson reveals the full Banks of the Trinity tracklist

CoJo fans, circle June 26. Cody Johnson’s next album, Banks of the Trinity, is on the way—and this week he shared the full 16-song tracklist. So if you’ve been waiting to see what he’s putting in that next chapter, the table of contents is officially out there.

The ACM Awards are right around the corner

The 61st ACM Awards are coming up Sunday, May 17, streaming live from Las Vegas. If you’re a watch-it-live type, you can catch it on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, with Shania Twain hosting.

Country Airplay: Megan Moroney hits the top 10

On the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated May 9, Megan Moroney pushed “Beautiful Things” into the top 10—marking her fourth top 10 on that chart. That’s the kind of steady climb we love to see, because it usually means radio listeners are really locking in.

A big country tip-of-the-hat from the Library of Congress

One more cool moment: the National Recording Registry’s class of 2026 includes some serious country history—Reba McEntire’s Rumor Has It, Rosanne Cash’s The Wheel, and Ray Charles’ country crossover classic Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. That’s a pretty great reminder that country music’s roots (and reach) run deep.