8 New Country Songs You Must Hear: Charley Crockett, Darius Rucker, Jennifer Nettles and more

In this week's new batch of country music, we have the great new album from country/Americana maestro Charley Crockett, plus new songs from Darius Rucker with Jennifer Nettles, as well as Ole 60, Karley Scott Collins, MacKenzie Porter and Karli June. Additionally, bluegrassers The Del McCoury Band offer new music as well as a collaboration from Tony Trischka and Vince Gill.

Charlie Crockett, $10 cowboy

Over the course of more than a dozen studio albums, Crockett has painstakingly built a reputation as an electrifying live performer and queen of traditional country tunes, skillfully blending layers of various styles into her work, including soul, blues, funk, gospel and more. . On his latest, there are moments of converging country and R&B, while his penchant for capturing a live-performance feel is evident on $10 Cowboy, which he recorded live to tape in Austin, Texas, with stablemate Billy Horton. Songs like the horn-heavy 'America', the frenzied acoustic country of 'Hard Luck and Circumstances', the blues-rock of 'Solitary Road' as well as songs like the title track and 'Midnight Cowboy' pay tribute to his skill with keen observations and his journey from street busker to his current status as an accomplished headliner.

Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles, “Never Been Over”

Two of country music's loudest, most recognizable voices collide here, as Rucker welcomes Nettles to a reimagined version of this song, which he first recorded for Carolyn's Boy album. Nettles joins in on the song's second verse, adding another rich layer of nuance to the story of a couple unraveling the bonds that bound them for years. As the song reaches its climax, Nettles cranks up some soaring vocals as Rucker holds down the melody. Rucker has one of the most commanding voices in music, but Nettles perfectly matches his steady, slightly raspy vocals with her charismatic soprano. In recent years, Rucker has shifted a bit from the uptempo, radio he's become known for, and has delivered some of his strongest performances of late, including another stellar collaboration with Dax on “To Be a Man.”

Karli June, “Still Make Cowgirls”

She's not afraid to be a fearless, independent cowgirl in a world of followers, and she's tough enough to dare a potential suitor to go with her. Canada's June is currently celebrated with four CMA Ontario Award nominations and follows them up with this song she co-wrote with Deric Ruttan. Her heavy vocals also have a slight edge as they float over the western yet modern sounds.

The Del McCoury Band, “Just Why”

Since the 1960s, when Del McCoury played as part of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, he's been a torchbearer, helping to both set the standard for the genre—and push beyond its traditional boundaries. The two-time Grammy Award-winning The Del McCoury Band, led by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer, has blended its signature sound with a range of musical styles over the years, leading to collaborations and/or performances with artists such as Dierks Bentley , Steve Earle and Phish. That genre-spanning intent continues into the band's latest, as they cover the blues-based 'Just Why', originally recorded by The California Honeydrops on their 2013 album. As you mean it. Here, The Del McCoury Band transforms it into a deftly rendered, galloping bluegrass tune, complete with fleet picking, tuned fiddle and McCoury's commanding tenor.

Ole 60, “Beside You”

This Kentucky quintet broke out earlier this year with the viral hits “A Smoke & a Light” and bluesy ballad “Brother Joe.” They follow with “Next to You,” a harmonica and banjo-driven song that begins with an effortless, moody ethos, before picking up speed in the latter half of the song, soaring into a commanding bluegrass jamband vibe. Recently signed to The Neal Agency for booking, this indie band keeps their exciting music rolling with this one, which incorporates intense details revolving around an on-and-off relationship. “Fools in love ain't no fools/ That's why I pick up every time you call,” sings frontman Jacob Young, continuing, “Pack of Marlboro Lights and some Adderall/ I'll be on my way.”

Tony Trischka and Vince Gill, “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”

From Trischka's upcoming project Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs (released June 7), this track features a stellar lineup of top bluegrassers, including Trischka, Vince Gill, Michael Cleveland, Brittany Haas, Dominick Leslie, and Mike Bub. Together, they provide exemplary mandolin, guitar, banjo and fiddle on this classic from the country music canon, popularized by The Carter Family and recorded by the family band during country music's “Big Bang,” the Bristol Sessions, 1927. The fiddle lines from Cleveland and Haas are superb, enhanced by Trischka's banjo and rounded out by Gill's high-level vocals.

Karley Scott Collins (feat. Charles Kelley), “How Do You Do That”

Collins teams up with Lady A's Charles Kelley on this pulsating collaboration, which spotlights their tight harmonies and delves into the moments of a broken relationship that leaves one questioning everything they knew about a former lover. Kelley's super country voice is in top form, while Collins' deep vocals provide a remarkable, dynamic foil. Collins wrote this track with Kelley, Jordan Reynolds and Tom Jordan.

MacKenzie Porter, “Foreclosure”

MacKenzie Porter made her breakthrough at American country radio with her collaboration with Dustin Lynch, the multi-week No. 1 “Thinkin' Bout You.” But she wants to showcase her own talents and singer-songwriter perspective on her newly released debut album Big Loud No one is born with a broken heart. Porter's warm, softly focused voice is enhanced by sleek, pop-oriented production on this standout track, which she co-wrote with Luke Niccoli, Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling.

“I lost all my good faith,” Porter sings, the slightly husky quaver in her voice poignantly embodying both hope and despair in a song that chronicles a couple's journey from buying a house together to watching later the relationship to falter – so they tolerated the foreclosure sign, which comes out and moves on.