2017 promises new releases from many Country Universe favorites, along with other new and veteran artists.
Here’s a look at what’s already slated for release in the first quarter, followed by a list of projects that are being prepped for release later in the year.
January 13
Jeannie Seeley
Written in Song
Jessi Colter, Marty Stuart, and Connie Smith are among the guests on the Grand Ole Opry legend’s first studio album in six years.
January 27
Lauren Alaina
The Road Less Traveled
The American Idol veteran returns with a new studio album produced by busbee (Maren Morris, Keith Urban.)
Brantley Gilbert
The Devil Don’t Sleep
The artist’s fourth studio album will coincide with a tour of the same name.
Tift Merritt
Stitch of the World
In a nice change of pace, a set of bonus tracks are available with purchase of the physical album, instead of the digital version.
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau
Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau
Our generation’s Willie Nelson collaborates with Brad Mehldau on a double-length set of cover songs and original material.
February 3
Jim Lauderdale
London Southern
Like the Rimes album below, this set is being released in the U.K. first, and will be available for import. Expect an official U.S. release in May.
Reba McEntire
Sing it Now: Songs of Faith & Hope
Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson are among the guests on this double album of gospel classics and original material. Side note: it’s also her first album in thirty years to include her last name on the cover.
LeAnn Rimes
Remnants
Following its U.K. debut last year, this excellent album finally gets its stateside release, wreaking havoc with the internal logic of our year-end lists.
February 10
Brett Young
Brett Young
The new singer-songwriter releases his debut album, featuring “Sleep Without You.”
February 27
Ryan Adams
Prisoner
Fans of his alt-country should look elsewhere. This is an album inspired by eighties rock.
Alison Krauss
Windy City
Her first solo album in seventeen years features covers of well-known standards and more obscure material, including the Willie Nelson composition, “I Never Cared For You.”
February 24
Rhiannon Giddens
Freedom Highway
The hotly anticipated follow-up to her solo debut, Tomorrow is My Turn. The songs are based on slave narratives from the 1800s and will draw parallels with the Civil Rights struggles of the present day.
Little Big Town
The Breaker
The genre’s most dominant vocal group returns with a set led by the Taylor Swift-penned hit, “Better Man.”
Aaron Watson
Vaquero
Watson’s newest release is led by the single, “Outta Style.”
March 3
Brad Paisley
Love and War
“Today” is the current single from Paisley’s twelfth album of new material, which also includes “Without a Fight,” his duet with Demi Lovato.
March 24
Jessi Colter
The Psalms
Her first album in eleven years features twelve original songs based on Psalms from the Old Testament.
March 31
Rodney Crowell
Close Ties
His new studio album is led by first single, “It Ain’t Over Yet,” which features Rosanne Cash and John Paul White.
The Mavericks
Brand New Day
The band continues its renaissance with its first release on its own label, Mono Mundo Recordings.
Slated for 2017
Pam Tillis
Her first solo studio album in ten years is inspired by the seventies country rock that she grew up with. Tillis is also working with Lorrie Morgan on a follow-up to their previous collaboration, Dos Divas.
Shania Twain
Once again, Twain is promising new music for the new year. It has been fifteen years since her last studio album, the 11x platinum Up!
Trisha Yearwood
We’ve gotten a decent amount of new material from her lately, thanks to the new tracks on her 2014 hits package, her contributions to The Passion soundtrack, and her collaborations with Garth Brooks in 2016. Yearwood is promising her first new studio album since 2007’s Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love in mid-2017.
What 2017 releases are you most looking forward to? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Really looking forward to Little Big Town’s new album. Country music isn’t much of a thing over here (the Netherlands), so I’ve been late discovering pretty much everything that’s not Dolly Parton or Shania Twain through Country Universe, and they’ve been one of my favourites along with Kacey Musgraves. I hope there’s more from Jimi, Phillip and Kimberly than there’s been on their recent single releases though. Love Karen’s voice, but I also liked hearing others (or hearing them together more prominently).
Also, a year with Pam Tillis, Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood releasing new music feels like spoiling.
So excited for Lauren Alaina’s album. It’s been a very long time coming and I am so happy to she will finally release the album!
Hah! I hadn’t realized that McEntire’s last name was on the album cover until now. I’m looking forward to the Krauss release too.
I’m most looking forward to the Reba McEntire, Rhiannon Giddens, Pam Tillis, LeAnn Rimes, Rodney Crowell and Trisha Yearwood albums. I’ll be curious to hear Shania Twain’s album as well. I’m hoping that the Mavericks will not keep doing mono albums like their last one was, though the name of their label is making me a little nervous.
I’m looking forward to Josh Turner’s new album being released. At one time, it was reported to be coming out in March. But they’ve been saying it’s coming out soon for over a year now.
At this point, I am very keen upon Tift’s album. She, by far, is my favorite female artist to pop up in this century. And with Trisha, I am anticipating what she has got coming up as well.
I’m looking forward to Delbert McClinton’s new album, Prick of the Litter, which his website says will be released Jan 27th. I have tickets to see him at the Nashville City Winery Feb 4th. The sold out show is billed as a record release party.
Article on Country Standard Time says that the Zac Brown Band will be releasing a new album, “Welcome Home”,on May 12th. It’s said to be returning to their roots. I didn’t think much of Jekyll & Hyde or the Grohl sessions but I liked their first 3 albums.
Of the albums listed above, I’m most interested in hearing the Alison Kraus album. I’ll also check out the albums from Trisha, Pam T, and maybe a few others.
I believe Sara Evans will also be releasing her first effort for Sugar Hill Records. I wonder if the latest under-performing singles by The Band Perry and Toby Keith will lead to album releases.
Lee Ann Womack said in concert last week that she expects her new album to be out in August or September.
Cant wait to hear new music from Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack, Sara Evans, Reba, Rodney Crowell, Pam Tillis, Rhiannon Giddens. Wow. Whatever else is released, recordings from those artists will make for a stellar year.
There are so many different reasons to look forward to the new releases, but the two I am most excited about as a pure fan are The Mavericks and Trisha Yearwood. The Mavericks have an aura about them of being re-born, of having new gifts to offer. Trisha Yearwood is a gift herself and it has been too long since I have been able to lose myself in an new album fully of her own material and making. My apologies to everyone else!
Jordan, thanks for the update from Lee Ann Womack. I’m just sad we’ll have to wait that long but I’m sure it will be worth the wait.
At least the new Lee Ann Womack album is coming this year! So many great releases to look forward to. So ready for new releases by Pam Tillis and Trisha Yearwood.
Found an interview today where Crystal Gayle said she’s recorded a classic country covers album. No idea if or when such a project may see release. Our spotlight of her music on My Kind of Country this month has me binging on her music. I literally can’t get enough.
Let’s not ignore Jenny Gill’s EP. She hasn’t received nearly the coverage she deserves.
Jon, so glad to hear from another Crystal Gayle fan. Can you believe the incredible range of styles she can sing? From country to pop to jazz to blues to ballads to uptempo – she can do it all and do it so well.
No two albums sound alike. Cage The Songbird and When I Dream are my personal favorites but they’re all great and worth listening to.
She’s being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by sister Loretta Lynn tomorrow and I wish I could be there to see it. Long overdue and well deserved. Keep enjoying her music, Jon
I’m looking forward to releases by Reba McEntire Trisha Yearwood & Shania Twain. I also hope that Lee Ann Womack and Tanya Tucker can release albums this year. I’m from Australia and I’ve just discovered tbis page. I loove country music.
Welcome, Michelle! Based on the music you’re looking forward to, I think you’ll like it here.:)
Charlie Worsham will be releasing his new album, The Beginning of Things, on April 21! I’m looking forward to it!
I listened to the LeAnn Rimes album in Asia, and its amazing
Lauren Alaina’s album coming out Friday. I know you guys aren’t the biggest fan of hers. But check out the song “Same Day Different Bottle” as it is hauntingly beautiful.
Great news for Josh Turner fans. Josh has announced that his new album titled Deep South will be released on March 10th. It will contain 11 tracks including Lay Low and current hit Hometown Girl. I saw this on the Wide Open Country website. Can’t wait!!!