This Week’s Hot Country Hits: Zach Bryan, Loren Ryan, Lee Kernaghan & More

Gosh dang, what a week it’s been for scorchin’ new country tunes! Not only were we blessed with spicy new releases from some of Australia’s finest up-and-comers, like Loren Ryan (who just dropped Hoedown), Christie Lamb (who went all out with Weekend Wasted) and Matt Ward (whose new cut Morning Light is destined to be a hit), but the international heavyweights were out in full force: Zach Bryan came in guns blazing with his wicked new album The Great American Bar Scene, for example, while Morgan Wallen delivered another instant classic in Lies Lies Lies, and Lainey Wilson got her fans going absolutely mental with 4x4xU.

With all of that in mind, now seems like as good a time as any to remind you – or clue you in, if you didn’t know already – that we have our very own playlist dedicated to bringing you the best new music from all corners of the country music landscape, fittingly named Hot Country Hits Australia. We update it every Friday with more than a dozen of the brand new tracks we simply can’t get enough of, giving you the ultimate soundtrack to fuel your weekend.

You can listen to the Hot Country Hits Australia playlist on Spotify (here) and Apple Music (here) – and make sure to hit us up on Instagram or Facebook to let us know what songs you’ve been loving!

Here are just a few of our personal favourites from this week’s update to the playlist...

Zach Bryan – 28

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WHAT HE SAYS: “This record tested the hell out of me and I failed most days it did but we finally made it. I’m glad this chapter happened but I’m more glad that it’s coming to an end.

“Every pine has its time to outgrow the rings of days’ a’younger. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this album, I don’t deserve you.”

Loren Ryan – Hoedown

WHAT SHE SAYS: “Out here in the country, we have a certain way of settling disputes or acts of disrespect – and they don’t often include cozy conversation... if you know what I mean. Hoedown serves as a double entendre without using cheap or explicit language so the kids can sing along innocently while the real meaning of the song lands with anyone clever enough to catch on.

“There’s been instances where I’ve had to be the bigger person and take the insult without losing my composure. It’s bizarre to me how certain people think they can say whatever they like and get away with it. This song for me is letting people know I’m not the one to be tested – I will stand up for myself.”

**Lee Kernaghan – Who I Am (ft. James Johnston)**

WHAT LEE SAYS: “I remember meeting James when he was just ten years old busking on Peel St Tamworth. I shook the little bloke’s hand and signed a tour poster for him writing: ‘To James – you will rock Australian country! Lee Kernaghan 2001’. James told me that the autographed poster hung on his bedroom wall for many years alongside his childhood musical heroes. Twenty years later he’s gone on to become one of the most popular new artists in country music. To be able to release this song together and share a part of our story is pretty special to me.”

WHAT JAMES SAYS: “As a young boy, I grew up listening to Lee’s music, it made me feel proud of the life I lived as a small town country kid. Who I Am is an extension of that, it’s about being proud of the person you are and celebrating the life you love. To be able to have a song with this message with my childhood hero is something I’m incredibly excited about.”