Jon Batiste's ninth studio album, BIG MONEY, was written and recorded mostly live in single takes over two weeks, capturing a raw immediacy and spontaneous energy. Batiste views his organic approach as a direct statement on the importance of keeping musical traditions alive, in part as a rejoinder to A.I. music.

Commercial success

• BIG MONEY debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Albums chart.

• The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 64, marking his highest entry on that chart.

Cultural impact

• Jon Batiste embarked on “The Big Money Tour: Jon Batiste Plays America,” stopping at more than 30 venues across the US

• Batiste also performed “Lean On My Love” for A COLORS SHOW.

• The singer coined the term 'New Americana' around the album, describing an effort to expand the genre's boundaries in the current landscape.

Critical response

• DownBeat stated, "With Big Money, Jon Batiste hits the ears with a perfect little package of pure joy, fantastic wordplay, amazing musicianship and subtle soul all bundled in a stripped-down set of nine tunes that groove, bop and flow with perfection." Read full review

• AP News reported that Jon Batiste "opts for a surprisingly intimate sound" on BIG MONEY, with "stripped-down, mostly acoustic arrangements creat[ing] a chill vibe." Read full review

• Riff Magazine praised the album as "a compact, authoritative statement on American roots music," noting how Batiste "integrates diverse American musical traditions to create an intimate yet communal work." Read full review

Larkin Poe's eighth studio album, Bloom, released on their own label, Tricki-Woo Records, follows their 2024 GRAMMY-winning album Blood Harmony.

Commercial success

• Bloom debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart.

• The album reached No. 11 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 16 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart.

Cultural impact

• The sisters have been busy all 2025 supporting the new album with an international tour spanning from their home location of Nashville to Belgium.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone France noted, "Avec Bloom, Larkin Poe élargit son spectre musical en incluant à ses compositions des influences multiples, pour un résultat réussi." Read full review

• Billboard highlighted the project’s "fiery musicianship and authentic songwriting," framing Bloom as a statement that reinforces Larkin Poe’s status at the forefront of modern Americana. Read full review

Willie Nelson's 76th solo studio album, Last Leaf On The Tree, was produced in collaboration with his son, Micah Nelson, and features covers of songs by artists including Tom Waits, Neil Young, and Beck.

Commercial success

• The album debuted at No. 2 on the Official Country Artists chart.

• It also reached No. 5 on the Official Americana chart.

• The album debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 with 15K equivalent units.

Cultural impact

• Willie Nelson performed "Last Leaf" live at Farm Aid 2024 in Saratoga Springs, New York, bringing the album's themes to a major national stage.

• The album has been noted for its reflection on mortality and legacy, resonating deeply with audiences and critics as a testament to Nelson's enduring influence in American music culture.

• Last Leaf On The Tree continues Nelson's tradition of advocacy, with performances and interviews highlighting his ongoing support for family farmers and environmental causes.

Critical response

• Uncut observed that "Aged 91, Nelson brings gravitas to any lyric, the more world-weary or wistful the better, and these covers fit him like a glove." Read full review

• "With Last Leaf on the Tree, Willie Nelson and Micah have crafted a relaxed album of subtle virtuosity, as if every song could be the last," noted AllMusic. Read full review

• The Telegraph (UK)'s review highlighted the album as "bathed in qualities of ancient grace," reflecting Nelson's advancing years while sounding "astonishingly contemporary." Read full review