Live country music and Americana singers are always well represented in Nashville. However, this year was especially big for country music fans. The genre's newest superstar, Ella Langley, successfully broke the all-time record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, placing "Choosin' Texas" on top for 24 weeks (and counting). She surpassed the mark set by the previous record holder, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Meanwhile, Taylor Swift returned to her country roots with a hit she wrote for the fifth installment of the "Toy Story" film franchise ("I Knew It, I Knew You"). The CMA Awards are set to celebrate it all on Nov. 18.
Meanwhile, fans in Music City have plenty of concerts to choose from if they want to enjoy
live performances. As usual, Nashville remains at the center of the country conversation. These concerts show it is still the best place in the world to see a roots music show.
Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds, Oct. 2
Country fans know him as the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson, but lately he's been performing as his alter ego Johnny Blue Skies. On Oct. 2, the Kentucky native brings his band The Dark Clouds to Bridgestone Arena for the Mutiny for the Masses 2026 Tour. They'll deliver what promises to be a night thick with greasy Southern soul from their recent album, "Mutiny After Midnight," with no opening act. Long performances have become the group's calling card, along with the use of a Ticketmaster feature that makes it impossible to resell tickets for a higher rate. This makes it easier for fans to get affordable access and meet each other in person at a venue full of diehards. It's going to be an unforgettable night.
The Chicks, Oct. 15
The Truth's grand opening month continues on Oct. 15 when The Chicks come through to celebrate 20 years of their "Taking the Long Way" album. Released in the wake of controversy after lead singer Natalie Maines' 2003 comments about President George W. Bush and the Iraq War, the album has become a significant milestone in the band's evolution, including tracks like "Not Ready to Make Nice." The show is sold out (like the rest of their 20th anniversary Taking the Long Way tour) and will find the trio performing the album in full along with crowd favorites like "Wide Open Spaces," "Goodbye Earl" and more. Resale tickets are in high demand.
Jesse Welles, Oct. 16
Troubadour Jesse Welles makes music in the folk and Americana realm, and he's built a huge following online with fast-talking protest anthems delivered from back alleys and barren hillsides all over America. His work draws on the legacy of artists like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, and on Oct. 16 he'll bring it to The Pinnacle. His Red Tour will feature a full band, mixing his rootsy foundations with a blast of anti-establishment rock energy.
Zach Top and Lukas Nelson, Oct. 30
Both Zach Top and his country music come straight out of the '90s. The critically acclaimed neo-traditionalist plays with a style that harkens back to the heyday of Alan Jackson and George Strait, and he'll turn Bridgestone Arena into a massive time machine on Oct. 30. Joined by special guest Lukas Nelson, Top's Cold Beer & Country Music Tour will put a back-to-basics approach to live music on display, along with the guitar-picking talent Top picked up from his love of bluegrass. It all adds up to a 29-year-old Grammy winner who stays true to country's roots.
Dwight Yoakam, Nov. 4-5
There's only one Dwight Yoakam. The iconic country star and actor has always insisted on creative authenticity, and decades into his career that is still the case. Yoakam will visit the Ryman Auditorium for back-to-back nights Nov. 4-5, bringing his outsider mentality and old-school blend of honky tonk and Bakersfield-style country back to Nashville. With a long history of uncompromising twang (and some of the tightest jeans in the game), he'll mix '80s and '90s hits like "Honky Tonk Man" and "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" with newer material, like the tracks from 2024's "Brighter Days."
Jo Dee Messina, Nov. 6
Famous for the enduring 1996 hit, "Heads Carolina, Tails California," Jo Dee Messina returned with the new album "Bridges" in June of 2026. Three decades on from her biggest success, the new collection paired a hard-won sense of maturity with that same effervescent vocal spark, then sent Messina on a tour to match. She'll headline The Truth on Nov. 6 as part of her Bridges Tour: Celebrating 30 Years of Jo Dee Messina. Expect some good old '90s country nostalgia and a sense of optimism for whatever comes next.
Max McNown, Nov. 7
Max McNown is a breakout singer-songwriter who's viral favorite "Better Me for You (Brown Eyes)" became a country radio hit earlier this year. He'll headline the third annual Red Bull Jukebox Nashville concert at The Pinnacle on Nov. 7, which features a unique "interactive" show design. Audience members can vote ahead of time on the night's setlist, special song versions and even surprise guests. Fans will also get a say during the show. Each person in the crowd will wear a special illuminated wristband which lets them signal what they want to happen next, like a real-life jukebox. The concert will also feature Kameron Marlowe and Cassidy Daniels.
Lauren Alaina, Nov. 12
Country artist Lauren Alaina is known for powerhouse vocals and a shining personality. She'll bring them both to the Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 12. The hallowed stage will mark another milestone after the August release of her "Stages" album, which finds the Georgia songwriter in uncharted territory. Now a mother (to 1-year-old Beni) and wife, the former American Idol runner-up has been looking back on family tragedy, like the sudden passing of her father, and learning to balance the career of her dreams with a healthy home life. Expect crowd favorites like "Road Less Traveled" and a rendition of "What Ifs," one of her hit collaborations with Kane Brown.
Brett Eldredge, Nov. 27-28
The holidays always seem to highlight how quickly time flies. Country crooner Brett Eldredge will be feeling it more than most this year as he embarks on his Glow: 10 Year Anniversary Tour. The run will celebrate what has become an annual tradition among lovers of Christmas tunes and country music alike, starting with Eldredge's 2016 album, "Glow." He's only grown his reputation as "Mr. Christmas" since then, and by kicking this year's tour off with three nights at the Ryman Auditorium Nov. 27-28, he'll get Nashville in the Yuletide spirit early. Don't forget your ugly sweater.
Chris Parton is a music reporter for The Tennessean. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram @partonikusmax.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's top country concerts for October and November
