Notable Texas artists, actors and athletes joined Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas Sunday night for their “Band Together Texas” benefit concert, honoring the lives lost in the Central Texas floods, and celebrating the every day heroes and first responders who saved countless others. The event, which benefitted The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas Community Foundation, raised over $8.5 million and counting.

The sold-out evening spanned nearly three hours and was livestreamed via iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, YouTube, Facebook and nugs.net, with a call to action directing fans to donate to continued relief efforts.

Actor Matthew McConaughey opened with a monologue underscoring the importance of the event: “The devastating floods that took so many lives, businesses and homes last month broke a lot of hearts. As that day gets further away into the distance of our rearview mirror, it’s only natural that our concern and attention recede just like those flood waters—but we must remember, for the families who suffered, they are just beginning the lengthy journey to rebuild their lives.

​​”Tonight is about restoration… we are here to revive–Because even in the hardest times, we have to believe in the power of joy. So while we honor the heavy truths that brought us here, we will also celebrate the light that must continue to shine.”

“Thank you Austin, Texas for showing up tonight. Thank you, everybody, for tuning in and showing up for us. We are banding together as Texans tonight,” Lambert addressed the audience following her duet with McCollum on the George Strait classic, “True,” marking the first live performance of the evening. “It’s going to be a magical night of music, and for an amazing cause. My buddy Parker and I, we called each other right away and we asked, ‘What can we do? We can sing, so let’s go sing.’ And that’s what we’re doing tonight!”

Following Lambert’s performance of “Bluebird” and “The House That Built Me,” she introduced her friend, Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen, for a touching in memoriam honoring victims lost in last month’s floods. As Bowen sang an acoustic rendition of “A Beautiful World,” names, images and videos of flood victims flashed across the screen as the crowd remained silent, in a powerful moment that could be felt by viewers at home and in the arena alike.

“I’d like to give a shout out to Miranda Lambert, she’s the whole reason all of this is going on,” McCollum shared as he took the stage to perform “Solid Gold Country” and “Handle On You.” “She texted me right away and asked, ‘What can we do?’ I said, ‘I’ll do anything I could ever possibly do to help these people.’ So, good on all of y’all for being here on a Sunday night. I’ve never been more proud to be born and raised in the great state of Texas than I am tonight.”

Between the 29 songs played throughout the night, actor Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott took pause to reflect on moments of remembrance, bravery and resiliency in the Hill Country.

Acho, who spoke with camp counselors from Camp Mystic on a recent episode of Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, brought 19-year-old counselor Ainslie Bashara on-stage in a touching moment celebrating her heroic actions which saved 16 lives.

Honoring first responders, Scott paid tribute to public information officer for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, Razor Dobbs, and the Fire Chief, Charles Holt; while Harrison acknowledged the Texas Game Wardens in attendance.

Reigning ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean, who performed at the Moody Center on Saturday, Aug. 16, extended his stay, joining as a surprise guest after generously donating his stage and production crew. Taking the stage with an uptempo performance of “She’s Country,” Aldean then welcomed Lambert on-stage for a duet of “Amarillo Sky.”

“Thank you guys so much. Yeah, I had to stay an extra day here in Austin, I can’t think of a better cause to be here for than this,” Aldean shared. “Huge thank you to Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum for doing this tonight.”

“Jason was here last night, as you already know, but he left all of his stuff for us to use, and stayed an extra day to sing a song for us, so you’re an honorary Texan tonight, friend,” Lambert added.

Later, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn let music speak where words failed. “I tried to come up with something to say earlier. It was profound, it would do what it needs to do, but I don’t think there’s a song on Earth – no words, no rhyme, no reason – that can heal the pain, the suffering, the sorrow brought on by what’s happened here. So, I’m just going to share a story with you,” he concluded, before delving into his show-stopping performance of faith-based “I Believe” with The Levites Music Group, a choir comprised of members Shedrach Rowry Jonathan Davis, Kevin Overton-Hadnot, De’Juana Shaw, Kraven Rowry and Agnes Henry.

After Cody Johnson’s performance of his No. 1 hits “Dirt Cheap” and “Til You Can’t” – as well as a cover of “How Great Thou Art” –  the all-star roster of Texas talent including Lambert and McCollum, Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers joined together on-stage for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again.”
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Band Together Texas was made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, John Paul & Eloise DeJoria Family Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber, and Whataburger.

Jacquie Roar slams the gas and kicks things into high gear with her explosive new single, “Til the Gas Runs Out,” available now on all major streaming platforms here. Fueled by southern grit and unapologetic firepower, the breakout country rocker is leaving nothing in the rearview.
 
Co-written with Jesse Slack, the single channels rough, tough, and rowdy country rock in its purest form, with the gritty opening line “I’ve been addicted to the smell of gasoline like nicotine” setting the tone for a track that feels like a spark caught mid-ignition. For fans of Jelly Roll, Hardy, and Lainey Wilson, this release delivers the kind of high-octane energy and fearless storytelling that hits like a full-throttle rush.

“This track is pure fuel,” says Roar. “It’s about grit, guts, and pushing past limits. Following your fire, holding nothing back, and going all in. No brakes, no fear... just pedal down until there’s nothing left to burn.”
 
Following the success of her last single, “Free,” which racked up over 100K streams, Jacquie continues to prove she’s ready to accelerate her rise to the top of the charts. With a sound that lives at the intersection of outlaw country and rebel rock, she’s quickly becoming one of the most raw and unforgettable new voices in the genre.

"Til the Gas Runs Out” is a red-hot anthem for the dreamers and drifters who live loud, love deep, and never look back. Don’t get left in the dust—stream it now!

Rising singer/songwriter Shaylen isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade in her new track “Loneliest Man,” out now via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Driven to her wit’s end when her partner abruptly decides to get out of dodge, she plainly lays out the inevitable repercussions of his avoidant tendencies and the secluded road he’s paving for himself as a result. She reminds him that leaving when times get tough isn’t an act of a martyr – it’s one of a coward who runs away from their problems instead of confronting them head on. Written by Shaylen alongside Andrew Baylis, Conor Matthews and Riley Thomas and co-produced by Shaylen alongside award-winning producer Julian Raymond, “Loneliest Man” finds the standout vocalist delivering an emotional, stripped-back performance that pulses with feigned indifference and palpable pain.

Listen to “Loneliest Man” HERE

“I think we've all gotten the ‘it's not you, it's me babe’ line at least once in our lives. When it happened to me this time around – just as things were starting to feel serious – I didn't spiral. I didn't cry for months or question my worth. I just smiled and thought, ‘go be the best at it, babe,’” shares Shaylen. “That's the heart of 'Loneliest Man.' It's soft on the surface, but underneath is this quiet strength that comes from knowing rejection is protection, and the right person won't risk losing you. This song is for the moment when you stop chasing answers and start choosing yourself instead.”

“Loneliest Man” follows the release of “Daddy Issues” in May. “A bold, emotionally charged anthem that underscores Shaylen’s rising star power and vocal prowess” (COWGIRL Magazine), the track finds the singer/songwriter coming to the realization that the only “daddy issue” at play in her lackluster relationship is the fact that her dad is ready to bury her man for what he’s done to his little girl. Since signing with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment last year, she’s also releaesd “Second Time Around” with her labelmate Noah Hicks and the brutally honest ballad “To Tell You The Truth.”

Shaylen will hit the road later this month as direct support for Redferrin as part of his Some City, Somewhere Tour. She will also play a number of fairs and festivals this summer including the Ozark Empire Fair (7/25), Watershed Festival (8/1), and more. For more information and tour dates, visit ShaylenMusic.com.

Mae Estes finds herself in an uphill battle in her new track “Mountain Of A Man,” out today via Big Machine Records. Left in disrepair after a short-lived fling with a blue-collar cowboy, she’s having a hard time getting over his larger-than-life magnetism. Spellbound by his alluring charm from the get-go, she fell headfirst despite knowing exactly what she was getting herself into with this modern-day John Wayne. Written by Jon Decious, Lauren McLamb, Liz Rose and Paul Sikes, “Mountain Of A Man” is an upbeat, toe-tapping depiction of the outlaws who ride away and the trail of broken hearts they leave behind on their journey to a new horizon. Beautifully grounded by Estes’ signature Neotraditional sound backed by twangy fiddle, pedal steel and dobro, the track serves as an important reminder that all that glitters isn’t gold, and things that seem too good to be true are usually just that. Listen to “Mountain Of A Man” HERE. 

“This tune reminds me of an old Patty Loveless song. It’s so much fun and I feel really lucky that the songwriters let me record it,” shares Mae. “We always have a good time picking out an honorary ‘mountain of a man’ in the crowd at my live shows, and I think lots of summertime memories will be made with this one blaring in the background!”

“Mountain Of A Man” follows the release of the “upbeat and endearing” (MusicRow) “Mr. Fix It” in May. Sweetly depicting the ways in which Mae’s real-life mechanic husband is not only the fixer of appliances and cars, but the mender of hearts in their relationship, “Mr. Fix It” quickly gained traction on TikTok earlier this year, with the original video now boasting more than 800K views and thousands of comments. The song even sparked an organic TikTok trend where users created videos showcasing the “Mr. Fix It” in their lives. More new music from Mae is expected later this year.

Named as one of All Country News' Artists To Watch In 2025, Mae is one of Nashville’s hottest newcomers, praised for bringing back traditional Country and making fast fans in artists including Carly Pearce, Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Jake Worthington, Rhonda Vincent and more. Earlier this summer, Mae acted as tour support on select dates of Brad Paisley’s Truck Still Works World Tour, and she’s currently opening on select dates of Luke Bryan’s Country Song Came on Tour. For more information and tour dates, please visit maeestes.com.

MaRynn Taylor has had quite the year. She started off opening for country superstar Kelsea Ballerini, this summer she is opening for Jake Scott, and in August she will be releasing her first album, and she isn’t slowing down. Yet despite all the milestones, accolades, and recognition she is receiving, performing and observing at CMA Fest remain as her favorite activities. She enjoys playing for her fans just as much as she enjoys fan-girling over her favorite country artists.  She truly is one of us!

This CMA Fest was truly special for her—among other things, she had a Fan Club Party that sold out in 5 minutes. (So jealous we were not able to snag a ticket!) Before that exclusive Fan Club Party, she performed at the Chevy Vibes stage where she premiered her new single “Dirty Blonde,” which Taylor described as “a bop and a half.”  

Taylor’s single, “Same Girl Same,” which premiered earlier this year, gained traction when Talyor opened with Kelsea Ballerini. This song was inspired by Taylor’s ex showing up to one of her shows with a date immediately after their breakup.  While all of us might not have experienced this exact situation, most of us have likely run into an ex in a less-than-ideal place. Interestingly, this relatable, reflective, country-pop ballad song puts you in the shoes of your ex’s new flame. Rather than criticizing her, Taylor takes a sympathetic and compassionate approach towards her ex’s new paramour, warning her that she could end up in the same place as Taylor, and perhaps sooner rather than later.  Check out “Same Girl Same” HERE.  
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Check out MaRynn Taylor’s new album HERE, and who knows, maybe next year she will be playing at Nissan Stadium at CMA Fest. One thing is for sure, Taylor is living out her wildest dreams, having her true Hannah Montana moment, and we could not be happier for her.