Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter Megan Moroneyhas announced the upcoming release of her globally anticipated new album, Cloud 9. Due out on February 20, the Country superstar’s third studio LP is poised to be one of the defining and most exciting releases of 2026.

“I am so excited for my fans and I to dive into this new world of Cloud 9 together,” shares Moroney. “Similar to the first two albums, it’s all written about honest, personal experiences, but these songs were written by the strongest, most confident version of myself I’ve ever been. My feet feel firmly planted in my artistry and it was fun to play around sonically, while still sticking to my roots of what my fans and I love. Cloud 9 is a state of mind, and I have no doubt this will be the best chapter yet.”

After going dark on socials over the weekend, Moroney said goodbye to the signature blue of her sophomore album Am I Okay? and launched the Cloud 9 era with a feed awash in the LP’s trademark pink, including an album-color teaser video released on Sunday (11/9) — check it out here. Already on the radar of every fan and tastemaker, Cloud 9 is the MULTI-PLATINUM sensation’s studio follow-up to Am I Okay? — a game-changing, GOLD-certified release that marked 2024’s third-biggest Billboard 200 debut from a female Country artist, turned up on best-of-the-year lists from major outlets like Rolling Stone, and delivered massive hits like its 2X PLATINUM title track (her second No. 1 at Country radio) and PLATINUM-certified “No Caller ID.”

While touring North America on her history-making AM I OKAY? TOUR (a SOLD-OUT headline run that kicked off in March and wrapped up last month), Moroney treated fans to a pair of songs slated for the Cloud 9 tracklist. Released in October, her achingly tender ballad “Beautiful Things” notched 69 first-week adds at Country radio (ranking among the most-added upon impact), debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, and landed on Billboard’s “5 Must-Hear New Country Songs” list (where it was hailed as “an essential track for young women facing harsh headwinds, feeling like wise perspectives and a warm hug wrapped together”). In addition, Cloud 9 will feature “6 Months Later” — a breezy but soul-baring post-breakup anthem that marked her highest Billboard Hot 100 debut to date and continues to dominate Country radio, recently climbing into the Top 10.

Soon after closing out the AM I OKAY? TOUR — and immortalizing the record-breaking trek with her first-ever live album, the 24-song Am I Okay? Tour (Live) — Moroney headed to Australia for a series of live dates, including a SOLD-OUT show at Riverstage in Brisbane City (10/23). She also performed at the two-stop Ridin’ Hearts Festival 2025 at Sydney Showground (10/25) and at Melbourne’s Caribbean Gardens (10/26), where she dazzled the crowd by inviting singer/songwriter Avery Anna onstage for a confetti-drenched surprise duet of “Am I Okay?”

The Cloud 9 announcement arrives as Moroney gets set to perform at The 59th Annual CMA Awards, where she’s tied for the leading number of nominations. Now reigning as New Artist of the Year thanks to her win at last year’s ceremony, she scored SIX nods in total for 2025: Single of the Year for “Am I Okay?”; Song of the Year for “Am I Okay?”; Album of the Year for Am I Okay?; Female Vocalist of the Year; Musical Event of the Year for her collaboration with Kenny Chesney, “You Had To Be There”; and Music Video of the Year for “Am I Okay?” Broadcasting live on ABC, The 59th Annual CMA Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 19, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Legendary country singer Larry Gatlin and acclaimed recording artist Jaimee Paul are making the most wonderful time of the year even more special with the timeless holiday single, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (available via Green Hill Music/CDX). The two recently wrapped their take of the Christmas favorite filled with jazzy vocals and mistletoe playfulness. It’s produced by Jack Jezzro with Greg Howard serving as executive producer.

Gatlin says the enchantment captured while joining Paul in the studio makes the single worth adding to your holiday playlist. “Jaimee Paul can really sing, and I ain’t too bad myself. Listen up,” he says.

“I am so honored to have been able to record this song with Larry,” Paul says. “What a voice! It was so much fun! I am truly humbled.”

In addition to the holiday music release, Gatlin is gearing up to hit the road for The Gatlin Brothers: Country & Christmas shows, part of the group’s 70th Anniversary Tour. He’ll also serve as the returning host of Opry Country Christmas in Music City. The celebrated trio will be featured among the lineup for each performance.

About Larry Gatlin
The close family harmonies of Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers have given the trio a signature sound that led to country classics like “All the Gold in California” and “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You).” The brothers won a GRAMMY® for their 1976 breakthrough hit, “Broken Lady,” and reached #1 with several other songs soon thereafter. Along with five career nominations for the ACM Vocal Group, the Gatlin Brothers picked up three 1979 trophies: Single of the Year (“All the Gold in California”), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year for Larry Gatlin. The brothers were also nominated for multiple CMA Awards including Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Larry Gatlin has written songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, Roy Orbison, Barry Gibb and countless gospel artists including the Gaither Vocal Band, the Booth Brothers, the Isaacs and many more. Larry was formally inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the fall of 2019.

About Jaimee Paul
Jaimee Paul is a sultry jazz singer that has not only performed background vocals for Wynonna Judd and Kelly Clarkson, but has made a career of her own by putting new twists on the Great American Songbook. After living in Nashville for nine years, passing out hundreds of demos, performing live at several Music City hotspots, Paul finally found her niche in the world of jazz. Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole and Etta James are among her top female influences.

The Country Music Association and ABC have revealed another round of performers for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards.” Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton join the growing list of performers for this year’s star-studded CMA Awards. Hosted by Lainey Wilson, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday Nov. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC and is available next day on Hulu.

CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Kelsea Ballerini is set to debut her brand-new song, “I Sit In Parks,” while Brandi Carlile will hit the CMA stage for a can’t-miss performance. Four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner Kenny Chesney will mark his 2025 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame with a special performance celebrating his career milestone. Reigning CMA Musical Event of the Year winner and four-time nominee this year, Riley Green will bring a captivating performance of his hit “Worst Way” while Patty Loveless will take the stage for a show-stopping performance. Old Dominion, seven-time reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year winners and nominees in the category again this year, will perform a medley of their hits “Break Up With Him,” “Memory Lane,” “One Man Band,” “Hotel Key,” and “Snapback.” Fellow CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominees this year The Red Clay Strays will deliver an electrifying performance of their song “People Hatin’.” Reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and three-time nominee this year Chris Stapleton takes the stage for a powerful performance of “Bad As I Used To Be” from “F1: The Movie.”

The collaborations continue as CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Miranda Lambert joins Chris Stapleton for a must-see performance of their duet “A Song To Sing.”

Additional performers already announced include BigXThaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Lainey Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.

About the CMA Awards  
First held in 1967, the CMA Awards is the longest-running, annual music awards program on network television. Each year, the show honors outstanding achievement in Country Music—celebrating the artists, songwriters, musicians, and industry professionals whose work has shaped the genre. Winners and nominees are determined by CMA’s Professional voting membership, reflecting the voices of their peers across the industry. The CMA Awards airs live on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu, and is part of CMA’s television portfolio alongside “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”  

The Grand Ole Opry marks the release of its 100th anniversary acclaimed double album OPRY 100: Country’s Greatest Songs with a week of special events showcasing the decades of performances included on the project. The Opry partnered with Virgin Music Group on the one-of-a-kind album commemorating 100 years of the Opry and featuring 20 never-before-released live recordings from its iconic stage. OPRY 100: Country’s Greatest Songs releases Friday. Nov. 7, just three weeks before the official 100th anniversary of its November 28, 1925 inaugural broadcast with an all-star Opry member show.

OPRY 100: Country’s Greatest Songs features performances drawn from the official, fan-voted Opry 100 Greatest Songs list, which launched at the dawn of the Opry’s 100th year. Fan voting for the #1 all-time greatest country song continues here through Nov. 14. The collection spans iconic Opry moments, from first-time performances of hits like “Elvira” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” to superstar collaborations and contemporary artists paying tribute to their heroes. It also includes two “Full Circle” tracks – pairing historic and modern Opry performances of the same song, such as Marty Robbins and Marty Stuart on “El Paso,” and George Jones and Alan Jackson on “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Other highlights include Patsy Cline’s 1962 classic “Crazy” and Kelsea Ballerini’s recent Opry 100 performance of Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”

The first single from the collection, Ashley McBryde’s rendition of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” arrived earlier this summer. The Opry followed with the “Full Circle” mix of “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” blending Jones’ 1993 Opry performance with Alan Jackson’s moving tribute from Jones’ 2013 funeral. Additional released performances include Ballerini’s take on “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” the “El Paso” mix of Robbins and Stuart, and Darius Rucker’s tribute to Charley Pride with “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

OPRY 100: Country’s Greatest Songs Track Listing:

1. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” – Ashley McBryde (2024)
2. “El Paso” – Marty Robbins and Marty Stuart (1981 / 2024) (Full circle mix)
3. “Crazy” – Patsy Cline (1962)
4. “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash (1967)
5. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn (1985)
6. “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” – Darius Rucker (2021)
7. “I Will Always Love You” – Dolly Parton (feat. Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart) (2007)
8. “The Gambler” – Don Schlitz (feat. Vince Gill) (2025)
9. “Devil Went Down to Georgia” – The Charlie Daniels Band (2015)
10. “Elvira” – The Oak Ridge Boys (1980)
11. “Tennessee Whiskey” – Luke Combs (2016)
12. “He Stopped Loving Her Today (Full Circle Mix)” – George Jones and Alan Jackson (1993 / 2013)
13. “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” – Kelsea Ballerini (2025)
14. “Forever and Ever, Amen” – Randy Travis (1989)
15. “Don’t Close Your Eyes” – Keith Whitley (1988)
16. “Fancy” – Reba McEntire (2017)
17. “Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson (2020)
18. “Go Rest High on That Mountain” – Vince Gill (feat. Patty Loveless) (2015)
19. “Jesus, Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood (2018)
20. “Mama Don’t Allow / Will The Circle Be Unbroken?” – Old Crow Medicine Show, Dom Flemons, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle (2020)

Legendary singer-songwriter John Oates will be the NYU-Americana Music Foundation artist-in-residence for Fall 2025 at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. During his three-day residency, November 10-12, 2025, Oates will discuss his life in music, engage with students and faculty in the classroom, conduct a master class, and lead a collaborative performance with select students.

A joint effort of NYU Steinhardt and the Americana Music Foundation, the program aims to spotlight Americana music’s heritage, preserve its legacy, and ensure its future. Rosanne Cash inaugurated the residency in 2021-22, followed by bluesman Taj Mahal in 2022-23, Brandy Clark and Allison Russell in 2023-24, and Joe Henry and Rodney Crowell in 2024-2025.

“I am thrilled to welcome John Oates as our Fall 2025 NYU-Americana Music Foundation Artist-in-Residence. His many contributions to and understanding of the creation and culture of popular music will enrich our students’ education and celebrate Americana music’s rich heritage. We are so grateful for our partnership with the Americana Music Foundation, which allows us to bring such award-winning and highly accomplished artists to our community,” says Jack H. Knott, the Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

“John is a great songwriter and a great performer, with a body of work that stands out in every genre in which he engages,” added Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We’re honored to host a music creator of John’s status and stature,” commented Phil Galdston, Director of Songwriting. “The opportunity to hear and learn from a practitioner of the art and craft of his magnitude is one we’re very proud to offer our students.”

John Oates is co-founder of the iconic music creators Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, American Songwriters Hall of Fame, a recipient of the prestigious BMI Icon Award, multiple Grammy nominations, and numerous American Music and MTV awards.

Prior to his work with Daryl Hall, Oates’ music was focused on the roots of Americana and blues. In the late 1990s, he began to work in Nashville. His collaborations and friendships with the likes of Sam Bush, Jim Lauderdale, and Jerry Douglas helped him rekindle his early influences that have defined his solo career and have yielded nine solo albums: Phunk Shui, 1000 Miles of Life, Mississippi Mile, The Bluesville Sessions, Good Road To Follow, Arkansas, Live from Nashville with the Good Road Band, Reunion, and the most recent release, OATES. A joyous return to his R&B soul roots, OATES featuring eleven new original songs and collaborations with some of pop’s exciting young artists, including Lawrence and Devon Gilfillan. His 2017 autobiography, Change of Season, released by St. Martin’s Press, was an Amazon bestseller.

In 2021, John and his wife Aimee partnered with the streaming broadcast service NugsTV and co-producer Drive Entertainment Group to create a virtual celebration of stories and songs called—OATES SONG FEST 7908—inspired by a live series of shows that they created in 2010 at the historic Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, CO. OATES SONG FEST 7908 became a free streaming concert with all donations and proceeds going to feedingamericana.org. The broadcast featured an all-star roster of artists, all of whom have volunteered their songs and performances to help families without food across the nation, and as a result, over 450,000 meals were provided for American families.

In 2022, John became the international ambassador for “MOVEMBER,” the men’s health initiative, and released a new original song called “Pushing A Rock,” which has a theme of overcoming life’s challenges and struggles. More recently, Oates has been named Ambassador for the Roger Daltrey-led “Teen Cancer America.”