Believe it or not, the train has left the station for the ride that is 2026. And we at the Scene are proud to present our fifth annual Country Music Almanac, a look at the state of Music City’s biggest cultural export now and in the year ahead.
In the issue, we catch up with rising Oklahoma-residing country star Ken Pomeroy, discussing her 2025 breakout with her album Cruel Joke and the role of her professional relationship with director and showrunner Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs, The Lowdown). We also check in with Andrea Vasquez and Angie K, founders of the Country Latin Association, and our writers share the skinny on 12 artists to watch in the new year. And in our annual survey, we hand the mic over to journalists and scholars for their perspective on the highs, lows and in-betweens of country music. Pull up a chair: It’s a big table and there’s a lot to dig into.
A conversation with the rising star about weathering the whirlwind of her breakthrough year
From Palmyra and Kashus Culpepper to Laci Kaye Booth, Meels and beyond, we pick 12 artists to look out for
Writers, broadcasters and scholars weigh in on the present and future of country music
Talking with Angie K and Andrea Vasquez about supporting Latino musicians around the world
Ken Pomeroy
