Jelly Roll's tenth studio album, Beautifully Broken, marks his sophomore country release, with net profits from pre-orders benefiting organizations helping individuals facing challenges with mental health and addiction.

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 161K equivalent units in its first week.

• Received Platinum certification from the RIAA.

• Achieved the third-largest week for any country album in 2024, becoming the fifth country album to lead the all-genre Billboard 200 that year.

Cultural impact

• ESPN selected the album track "Get By" as the official anthem for the 2024-25 college football season.

• Jelly Roll performed "Winning Streak" during his musical debut on the premiere episode of SNL’s 50th Anniversary Season.

• He also performed "I Am Not Okay" during the 'In Memoriam' segment at the Emmys.

Critical response

• Variety described Beautifully Broken as "more ebullient than Jelly Roll’s surprisingly bracing lyrics sometimes are" and a "heartening piece of work." Read full review

• Rolling Stone highlighted that the album "succeeds because he’s singing about what he knows firsthand." Read full review

• The Guardian noted that the album's "originality, such that it is, comes from DeFord’s gravelly, untutored voice and the lyrical fixation on addiction." Read full review

Eric Church's eighth studio album, Evangeline Vs. The Machine, was recorded live at The Pinnacle in Nashville, capturing the raw energy and spontaneity of his live performances.

Commercial success

• The album peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart.

• It also landed at No. 5 on the Top COuntry Albums Chart.

Cultural impact

• Eric Church released the song "Darkest Hour" early to provide immediate relief following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

• The album blends country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, R&B, and soul influences, reflecting Church's ongoing role in expanding the boundaries of contemporary country music.

• The album is accompanied by an IMAX concert film, Eric Church: Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive, filmed over two sold-out nights at The Pinnacle in Nashville.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone described the album as "dazzling and challenging, and creates a listening experience that upends the idea of what country music is... It is also a masterwork." Read full review

• Country Central noted that "Ultimately, '_Evangeline vs. The Machine_' is more than another Eric Church album; it’s a statement. Laid out over eight beautifully arranged tracks, the album pushes Eric into a new creative space. This record is alive, honest, and unafraid to sit in the tension between darkness and light." Read full review

Kelsea Ballerini's album, Patterns, was created with an all-female production team and features a collaboration with Noah Kahan on the track "Cowboys Cry Too."

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

• Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

• Delivered 54K equivalent units in its first week.

Cultural impact

• The album's songwriting retreat brought together a group of acclaimed female songwriters, fostering a collaborative environment that emphasized emotional honesty and creative risk-taking in Nashville's country scene.

• The album has been noted for its honest songwriting and emotional acuity, with tracks like "Sorry Mom" and "Baggage" sparking conversations about vulnerability and personal growth in country music circles.

• Ballerini celebrated the album release with a headlining show at MSG in NYC in October 2024, followed by her first headlining arena tour in January.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone praised Patterns as "a characteristically varied collection that finds her looking inward with honesty and resolve, staying strong without sounding too heavy about it," and highlighted the album's blend of country pop and R&B influences. Read full review

• NPR Music noted that "Ballerini's reflections have crystallized into a new album... I really do feel like there's something for every season of life," emphasizing the album's relatable themes and emotional resonance. Read full review

• The Los Angeles Times highlighted Ballerini's "emotional acuity" and the album's "sonic and structural innovations within an unabashedly commercial country-music framework," underscoring her growth as both a songwriter and performer. Read full review