2025

Cover Story – Dylan Scott

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From small-town roots to country stardom, Dylan Scott opens up on fame, family, and his biggest album yet — Easy Does It is just the beginning. Dylan Scott doesn’t arrive with a roar. He doesn’t need to. While other artists blare headlines and chase virality, Scott has crafted one of the most quietly dominant careers in modern country music. With nearly five billion career streams, six No. 1 singles, and sold-out tours including his first arena headliners, the Louisiana native is a certified chart-topper. And yet, he’s never lost the aura of a grounded dreamer. “I still pinch myself every day I wake up,” Scott tells Maverick Magazine. “This life is all I dreamed as a kid. So to continue to stack number one songs is crazy to me. I get so caught up in the daily grind and touring that sometimes it’s almost like I’m numb to everything, but each time a song of mine hits number one, it takes me back to that same feeling I had as a kid when I dreamed of doing this.” That kid’s dream has become a wildly successful reality. Scott entered 2025 as the fourth most-played country artist in the format, thanks to back-to-back No. 1s — “Boys Back Home” with Dylan Marlowe and the Platinum-certified “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us.” His newest single, “What He’ll Never Have,” is already shaping up to be the biggest of his career, boasting over 300 million global streams and rising fast on the Country Airplay charts. Still, Scott isn’t one to coast on statistics. Instead, he moves with an energy rooted in family, humility and gratitude. His success isn’t wrapped in flash. It’s in the authenticity of a life lived close to the music — and even closer to home. This quiet confidence now fuels his third full-length album, Easy Does It, a collection that celebrates the calm earned through years of grinding, loving, and learning. “I’m not the 20-year-old kid anymore,” he says. “I’m 34 with kids and a wife, and I hope fans can see where I’m at in life. I just hope they see that I’m having fun and not too worried about things. Just enjoying life.” Before the platinum records and arena tours, Dylan Scott was just a small-town boy from Bastrop, Louisiana, chasing a sound that felt like home. Raised in a working-class family where hard work was the norm and music was a family affair, Scott’s roots are steeped in the grit and romance of the American South — a region where the back porch is as sacred as the stage. He grew up listening to country greats, but it was Keith Whitley who hit differently. “He’s my biggest inspiration,” Scott shares simply — a nod to the kind of emotional storytelling and vocal vulnerability Whitley mastered. That influence runs deep through Scott’s own catalogue, from his breakout ballads to the slow-burning sincerity of his latest work. To read the full article, download our latest issue for free here.  Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Barefoot Country Music Fest 2025 Comes to a Close

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Some of the biggest names in country music took to the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey, as the Barefoot Country Music Fest returned from 19–22 June. The lineup featured major acts including Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, and Lainey Wilson—alongside a standout performance by a local hometown band. Rustic Revival, a southern rock and country outfit based in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region, was selected as the featured hometown band for the festival. They performed on 22 June at 4 p.m. on the Discovery Stage, sharing the bill with country music’s biggest stars. Ahead of their set, Rustic Revival joined Daisha Jones on PHL17 to reflect on the opportunity and preview their performance, offering viewers a glimpse into their distinctive sound and what it meant to share the stage at such a high-profile event. The festival faced a brief interruption on Thursday evening when severe weather—including lightning and powerful storms across the Philadelphia area—forced organisers to temporarily close the venue for safety reasons. Despite damage and outages caused by the storm system, the event quickly resumed, bringing fans back to the shore for a weekend of live music and celebration. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Jenna Paulette & Ashley McBryde Duet on “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)”

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When cowgirl and songstress Jenna Paulette released her sophomore album, Horseback, last September, the 13-track project featured one song in particular that held a special place in the Texan’s heart. “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song),” written by Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg and Lori McKenna, was dedicated to Paulette’s grandfather, and encapsulates the reverence felt toward the patriarch who shaped her life. Now Paulette is teaming up with McBryde for a special collaboration version of the track, as the pair release a duet of the song, available everywhere now. “I grew up in a ranching family on the Texas/Oklahoma line in Thackerville, Oklahoma,” Paulette reflected on her upbringing at her recent Opry appearance, sharing the inspiration behind the song. “I’d be listening to Don Williams, Eddie Arnold and George Strait in my grandad’s ranch truck as we checked cattle, and I just thought to myself, ‘well, if they can sing about what they’re living, maybe I can too.’ That Grandaddy that took me with him to check cows made a huge impact on me. “This song was sent to me by the A&R from my label, and was written by Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg and Lori McKenna,” she added. “When it was sent to me, I asked ‘do you think they would mind if I put my grandad into these lyrics?” I thought, I just want to put him all the way in it, and I want my daughter, who is 7 months old, to be able to know my grandaddy because of this song. And they said yes, very graciously. So I put it on my record that came out a month before she was born, and Ashley McBryde actually said yes to putting out a duet version including her own lyrics to this song.” “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)” was originally released as a solo track on Horseback in September 2024. Upon its release, Paulette remarked that Horseback “is a culmination of perspectives I have of myself—to the things my family instilled in me, the men and women I grew up with and the ones I am blessed to be surrounded by where we live in a small town in West Texas. A window into the way so many of us feel and the things we value.” Paulette most recently released “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” in April, which coincided with the kickoff of her headlining Horseback Acoustic Tour. Since November 2024, Paulette has further expanded her brand, teaming up with Ely Cattleman for her women’s rangewear collection, CowboyGirl, and Justin Boots for her recently-launched Sunrise and Sunset Boots collection. Both bridge the gap in women’s fashion, creating apparel that’s both functional and appealing. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Josh Ross and Akon Unveil “Drunk Right Now” Summer Anthem

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Award-winning country rocker Josh Ross and global hitmaker Akon have released the official video for their collaborative new official music video Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na)’. Produced by COMING OF AGE and directed by Mattias Russo-Larsson & Lewis Atallah, the official music video captures the essence of the track and amplifies its no-regrets energy. Since its release last month, ‘Drunk Right Now’ has racked up millions of streams and sparked viral dance clips onTikTok. The video aims to take that momentum global with a visual that’s as addictive and unexpected as the track itself. “Akon’s music was always a huge part of my life growing up,” Ross shared when the track released in May. “Having two older siblings, his songs were always playing—his sound, his hooks, everything about it just stuck with me before I even knew what the words meant. I’ve always been a fan. About a year ago, I was messing around in the studio and reimagined his song ‘Right Now’, just for fun. We started playing it before our shows and the crowd went nuts—it turned into this wild country party anthem.” “I ended up sending it to him, not really expecting anything… and he actually loved it,” he continued. “He said he wanted to jump on it, and suddenly it turned into a real collab. It’s one of those full-circle moments I never saw coming and I’m truly grateful to have a summer party anthem.” The current CCMA Entertainer of the Year has amassed nearly 1 billion global streams. At Canadian country radio, Ross’ current single, “Leave Me Too”, is Top 10-and-climbing. Ross dominated Nashville’s CMA Fest with performances at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, MCA’s SkyDeck activation, and a surprise pop up during Bailey Zimmerman’s Nissan Stadium set Sunday night, performing with Zimmerman on his Luke Combs collaboration, ‘Backup Plan’. On top of that, he takes on a full slate of appearances at fairs and festivals all summer long across North America. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter Cam Announces New Album

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Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Cam has announced her highly-anticipated album and third full-length release, All Things Light, out Friday, July 18 via RCA Records. The album announcement is accompanied by the news that Cam will be returning to London to perform for the first time since she played at London’s Roundhouse in 2023. Cam will be playing a special one-off intimate album preview show at The Tabernacle on 10th July 2025. Her first album since The Otherside in 2020, the album and live announcement follows the release of Cam’s latest single “Alchemy” last month and comes with the second offering from the project and album opener, “Turns Out That I Am God,” a spellbinding and potent arrangement of stacked vocals and stark guitar tones. “There’s an Alan Watts talk where he speaks about how we’re all God, we’ve just forgotten,” says Cam. “I wanted this song to express that idea humbly, asking how we might live our lives if we acknowledged that we are all God together.” All Things Light arrives as a truly revelatory offering and her most visionary work to date. At a time when she desperately needed a guiding light in the dark, Cam lit her own way with a wild journey inward. While dealing with the intense isolation of becoming a mother in the early days of the pandemic, the Nashville-based artist started writing songs as a means of finding solace, and soon unlocked an entirely new level of depth in her lyrics. As her daughter Lucy grew older and began asking questions about life and death, Cam felt called to dig even deeper and create a body of work embedded with insights for Lucy to carry with her through the years. All Things Light finds Cam working with her longtime producer Tyler Johnson (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé) as well as an elite lineup of co-producers and contributors, including Michael Uzowuru (Frank Ocean, SZA), Ethan Gruska (boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers), Jeff Bhasker (Rihanna, Bruno Mars), Aldae (Miley Cyrus), Starrah (The Weeknd), Ilsey Juber (Bon Iver), Nick Lobel (Steven Sanchez), Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves), Anders Mouridsen (Meghan Trainor), and Simon Maartensson (Beyoncé). With its gorgeous convergence of country, folk, left-field pop, and more, the album emerged from the same creative wellspring that gave rise to Cam’s contributions to Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER, a 2024 effort that earned Cam an ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy for her songwriting work. With its graceful entangling of catharsis, contemplation, and occasional epiphany, All Things Light ultimately delivers the kind of soul-baring songs we return to again and again, endlessly providing clarity and sustenance and ecstatic peace of mind. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Cole Swindell Releases Emotional New Song “Dale, Jr.”

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Multi-Platinum-selling superstar and multi–ACM Award-winner Cole Swindell has released his highly-anticipated new song, “Dale, Jr.,” in honour of Father’s Day. The track will be on his upcoming fifth studio album, Spanish Moss for Warner Music Nashville, Spanish Moss, scheduled to be released June 27. “Dale, Jr.,” written by Cole Swindell, Greylan James and Matt Alderman, is a true story about Cole and Jr. just doing “what missin’ dad son’s do” – connecting on and reminiscing and remembering the memory of their Dads. “It’s one of the most emotional songs on this album,” said Swindell. “It’s track three, obviously, on purpose as a little nod to Dale, Sr and I don’t think you would expect what you’re about to hear. It’s just a true story. Dale Jr. reached out to me years back when I had, ‘You Should Be Here’ and he said he could relate to the song after the loss of his Dad, Dale, Sr. Obviously, he had never heard of my dad or met him, but it just shows you that people are real people. They’re dads, too. It’s not about what their occupations were. Dale Jr. and I connected over a common bond of loss. ‘We just did what missing dads sons do’ is one of my favorite lines I’ve ever been a part of writing. I hope Dale finds his song as special as I do.” Swindell has been releasing new music from his upcoming album Spanish Moss, including his new radio single “We Can Always Move On,” the album’s debut No. 1 single “Forever To Me,” as well as the digital-only releases of “Bottom Of It,” “Dirty Dancing,” “We Can Always Move On,” “Spanish Moss,” “Kill A Prayer,” and “One Day” – all of which will be on Spanish Moss, which will be available on June 27. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Ashley Gorley Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

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With an unprecedented 83 No. 1 radio singles to his name, Ashley Gorley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last week alongside The Doobie Brothers, George Clinton, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Tony Macaulay. Following an introduction and performance by Dan + Shay – whose smash hits “Nothin’ Like You” and “Save Me The Trouble” were co-written with the inductee – Gorley’s daughter Sadie took the stage to welcome her father, adding a personal note to the milestone moment. “I spent the last few weeks trying to internalise that this is a real thing, and that I somehow belong on this list, and in this room with you guys,” Gorley shared during his speech. “And as much as part of me is still in shock, I look around this room, and I know I belong. “I belong because it’s a room full of people who love music. People who are passionate about creating. Who have 10,000 untitled voice memos on their phones of random gibberish and melody scats, like me. Who write down titles and ideas in the middle of the night and hope the next morning they look half as brillant…I look around this room, and I see family.” Ahead of the induction ceremony, Gorley joined Anthony Mason, Adriana Diaz and Vladimir Duthiers on CBS Mornings Plus to discuss the honour. He also appeared on the debut episode of Sony Music Publishing Nashville’s new podcast Thank A Songwriter, hosted by SMPN’s CEO Rusty Gaston. Part 1 of his in-depth conversation with Gorley is available now. Gorley recently received his 25th and 26th CMA Triple Play Awards, continuing his reign as the most-decorated recipient. He is ASCAP’s 2024 Country Songwriter of the Year and has been honoured with the award 11 times. ASCAP also celebrated his co-written monster hit, “Last Night,” released by Wallen, as their 2024 Country Song of the Year. In recent years, Gorley has held the number-one spot on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 Songwriter chart for multiple weeks, earned GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award honours, including Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year, and has co-written multiple most-played songs of the year on country radio, including Nate Smith’s ten-week number-one, “World On Fire,” in 2024. He was named Songwriter of the Decade for 2010-2019 at the Nashville Songwriter Awards and has earned all-genre Songwriter of the Year honors from Variety and iHeart Radio. Gorley’s songs “Last Night” by Wallen and “I Had Some Help” by Malone and Wallen are two of the biggest country crossover hits of all time. Recent hit, “I Am Not Okay” released by Jelly Roll, has served as a platform for important conversations about mental health, sparking an initiative cultivated by Gorley to create songwriter-specific therapy programs at Onsite in Nashville, Tenn. In 2011, Gorley formed his own publishing and artist development company, Tape Room Music. Under his leadership and mentorship, writers for Tape Room have celebrated over No. 1 songs, including 2018 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, “Body Like A Back Road,” 2021 ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC Country Song, “One Of Them Girls,” and 10-week Country Airplay number-one hit, “World On Fire.” To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Garth Brooks a Surprise Guest at 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Country music icon Garth Brooks was a Surprise Guest at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame annual induction and awards dinner in New York City on Thursday night. Held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the event saw Brooks make a surprise appearance, delighting the audience with an electric performance of “Long Train Runnin” and “China Grove” in honour of his friends Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers ahead of their induction. The evening kicked off with a standing ovation for Linda Moran before Nile Rodgers introduced Living Colour who delivered a groovy performance of “Cosmic Slop.” George Clinton was inducted as “the man who brings us together as one nation under a groove” prior to performing a stunning rendition of “(I Wanna) Testify” bringing the crowd to their feet. SHOF scholarship recipients MŌRIAH, Sam Opoku, and Daphne Browdy performed songs by Tony Macaulay, before Debbie Gibson honored Macaulay with an energetic performance of his timeless classic “Build Me Up Buttercup” before his inductIon. To celebrate Ashley Gorley,  Dan + Shay performed a sing-a-long medley of “You Should Probably Leave,” “Last Night,” “Play It Again,” “All American Girl” and “I Had Some Help,” then Sadie Gorley delivered a heartfelt speech for her father and a tear jerking performance of “Youre Gonna Miss This” before his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Fellow inductee, Teddy Riley introduced Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins with a touching speech and his children honored his songwriting legacy with a remarkable rendition of “The Boy Is Mine, followed by a 10-song medley that included “Say My Name,” “It’s Not Right But It’s Ok,” “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” “If You Had My Love,” and more, ending in a standing ovation. The evening continued as Pasek and Paul honored Stephen Schwartz with the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award by performing a medley of “Colors of The Wind” and “Corner Of The Sky.” Kristin Chenoweth and Mary Kate Morrissey also enchanted the audience with a stunning performance of “For Good.” Prior to his memorable performance of “Can You Imagine That?” Schawrtz said, that his name being on the Songwriter Hall of Fame list “is so stunning and humbling.” John Stamos inducted dear friend Mike Love into the Songwriters Hall of Fame stating Love’s “lyrics are cinematic” as he joined him for an exciting medley of “California Girls,” ‘I Get Around,” “Kokomo,” and “Good Vibrations.” Prior to the sing-along performance, Love said that “gratitude is the main emotion he feels and that it’s a great honour.” Aaron Dessner took to the stage to honor Gracie Abrams with the Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs. Dessner said Gracie is ”one of the greatest songwriters and musicians in the world today”  and “one of the most gifted lyricists and melodic writers” he has ever encountered. After receiving her award, Abrams performed “Free Now.” To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com  

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Robert Ross Releases New Single “People Like Me”

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Following the success of his Top 25 New Music Weekly AM/FM Country hit “Better With Time,” country singer-songwriter Robert Ross is back with a blue-collar anthem tailor-made for summer: “People Like Me”. Rooted in heartland honesty and set to a boot-stomping groove, “People Like Me” is a salute to the salt-of-the-earth folks who work hard, live real, and enjoy unwinding with a drink in hand. Whether you’re clocking in on a job site, behind a desk, behind the wheel, or standing a post overseas, Ross’ new single celebrates the camaraderie, grit, and good times shared by everyday Americans. “People like you and people like me, we like to drink,” Ross belts out in the instantly catchy chorus, backed by driving guitars and the kind of rough-hewn charm that made country radio famous. But “People Like Me” isn’t just a party track—it’s a respectful nod to the people who make America run. From the working class to the front lines, Ross honors those who give it their all and don’t pretend to be anything they’re not. With lines like “We raise our glasses to the ones that save our ass,” the song offers a powerful tribute to service members and first responders who sacrifice for the greater good. “This one’s for the doers,” says Ross. “The people who punch in, get the job done, and crack open a cold one when it’s all said and done. No frills, no BS. Just good people living honest lives. I wanted to write a song that lets them know they’re seen—and appreciated.” With its singalong chorus, barroom swagger, and heartfelt message, “People Like Me” is destined to become a staple in backyard barbecues, dive bars, and tailgates across the country this summer. It’s Ross at his most authentic: direct, grounded, and full of respect for his audience. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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