2022 was quite the year for music. This year’s Top 10 stories include two appearances by both Walker Hayes and Carly Pearce, along with a couple of recurring stories from 2021, and the first appearance by newcomer, Alexandra Kay, whose fanbase rivals any major artist. The stories cover everything from new music to the Grand Ole Opry, sobriety — twice — and more.

Above all, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU — to every reader and every artist who shared our stories. Our goal was to create a space for positive, uplifting stories, about music, about Nashville, about life. We are deeply grateful for each one of you.

10. 2022 CMA Awards: HARDY and Lainey Wilson Perform ‘wait in the truck’ [WATCH]

HARDY and  Lainey Wilson captured attention all across the country and beyond, with their performance of their “wait in the truck” collaboration at the 2022 CMA Awards. The two singers made their performance as true to the story as possible, earning a hearty standing ovation as a result, and well-earned acclaim from everyone who watched.

9. Carly Pearce, ‘What He Didn’t Do’: Story Behind the Song

Carly Pearce wrote “What He Didn’t Do” for her 29: Written in Stone album, about the end of her marriage to Michael Ray. The Kentucky native knew right away the song, which she penned with Ashley Gorley and Emily Shackleton, was special, but she had no idea how special until she started playing it live. Her telling of the inspiration behind the emotionally-charged song clearly resonated with others, and was shared over and over again.

“I’ve never had a song that just organically, socially — people asked for it in everything I do, whether it’s online or in a tweet or in a DM, or if I’m doing an interview,” Pearce shared. “Radio stations have asked about it. I think that’s the power of — people may think that I write too much of my story, but for me, that’s my duty, and I feel like when I’m writing my story, I’m writing other people’s story, and this song proves it.”

8. Alexandra Kay Covers The Judds, Announces More Tour Dates [WATCH]

If there’s one breakout star of 2022, it might be Alexandra Kay. The singer-songwriter’s covers shared on TikTok of various country songs earned her a spot on Tim McGraw‘s McGraw Tour 2022. But when she covered The Judds‘ “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” in honor of Naomi Judd, only a few weeks after Naomi passed away, country music fans couldn’t get enough of it. Kay has, fortunately, continued to share covers of other people’s music, as well as released plenty of her own new music, including  “Skip This Part” and “Backroad Therapy,” and plans to release her debut album in 2023.

7. Scotty McCreery Shares the Story Behind ‘Damn Strait’ [EXCLUSIVE]

Scotty McCreery‘s entire career changed with the success of “Damn Strait,” which spent three weeks at No. 1. The song, from his Same Truck album, was written by Trent Tomlinson and Jim Collins, but sounded as authentic to him as if he had written it himself. McCreery has always had a deep love and respect for George Strait, which is why he was able to deliver the song so powerfully. His explanation of why he wanted to release “Damn Strait” was captivating.

“We had the songs put on there, but for me, when I heard a song ‘Damn Strait,’ I immediately raised my hand and said, ‘Me, me, me,'” McCreery told Everything Nash. “It’s such a cool song. It’s so cleverly written. And obviously, I’m a massive George Strait fan. It just sounded so much like me.”

6. Morgan Wallen on Injury That Ended His Baseball Career: ‘I Was Devastated’

This story was first published in early 2021 — and made our Top 10 list last year as well — but still made our list of our ten biggest stories of 2022. Wallen’s first dream was to be a professional baseball player, but when an injury derailed those plans, the Tennessee native turned to music, which is where he clearly belongs. Although his original hopes were dashed, Wallen now says he is grateful everything turned out the way it did. Maybe it’s his superstar status, maybe it’s his story that is relatable to so many, but whatever it is, Wallen’s story is still resonating with people today.

“It was hard,” Wallen admitted to Nashville Lifestyles. “I was devastated because I’d put so much time and effort into baseball. So, I started writing songs and playing guitar. It was a way to help me get my feelings out and just to keep my mind occupied and to say the things that I wanted to say. By the time I was about 19 is when I really started growing the love for music that could be my music.”

5. Home Free: 11 Things to Know About the All-Vocal Group

Country music fans can’t get enough of Home Free. The five-man group continues to put out music — and videos — that people love, both of original songs, as well as their take on other people’s songs as well. Although we first published this story in 2021 — and it made it on our Top 10 list then — old and new fans still want to know more about Home Free, which is how this story landed in our Top 5 biggest stories of the year.

4. Carly Pearce Was ‘Out Of Her Mind Overwhelmed’ After Her ‘The Voice’ Performance

Although Pearce’s debut performance on The Voice took place in 2021, this article saw a resurgence in 2022, especially after she returned to The Voice, this time to sing “What He Didn’t Do.” Still, it was her inaugural performance of “29,” the title track of her autobiographical album, which people keep reading again and again.

“I just am out of my mind overwhelmed with getting to sing ’29’ on The Voice,” Pearce said. “Everything the last few months has just felt mind-blowing for me. I’m kind of having a moment of, oh my God, just how different my life looked a year and a half ago, and where it is now. I’m just thankful to all you guys that have loved this record. Thank you. This is all I ever wanted to do.”

3. Walker Hayes Credits Divine Intervention With Keeping Him Sober

Walker Hayes has never been shy about his sobriety, and the toll drinking took on him, his family and his marriage. The singer has also not been shy about his strong Christian faith, which he credits with helping him stay sober, even after the tragic loss of his daughter Oakleigh in 2018, In fact, it was that incident that made Hayes, understandably, almost start drinking again, but didn’t, thanks to what he is sure was divine intervention.

“I was two years sober, and I drove to a bar, and I just wanted to get in the fight,” Hayes told CBS Sunday Morning. . “I just wanted to get hammered and get in a fight. But, the Lord had other plans. I didn’t have my wallet.”

2. 10 Country Artists Who Should Be Grand Ole Opry Members

We were frankly surprised at how much this article was shared, and continues to be shared. Apparently people have very strong feelings about some of the artists still not members of the Grand Ole Opry, but whose careers have more than earned them an induction. Although there could be more on the list, we included Luke Bryan, McCreery, Michael Ray and Tim McGraw on this list of artists who are long overdue to be inducted.

1. Walker Hayes Opens Up About His Fight for Sobriety [EXCLUSIVE]

Hayes’ sobriety clearly resonated with people, with another story about his determination to not drink — this one in an exclusive interview with Everything Nash — topping our list of stories in 2022. In our conversation, Hayes admitted that not drinking was still a struggle for him sometimes, offering a refreshingly candid take on what it’s like to be a recovered alcoholic.

“I often wonder, like in Heaven is the beer really good, and if you drink it, are you satisfied with just one, ’cause you don’t need to be drunk?’ Hayes reflects to Everything Nash. “There’s nothing to cope with. I have a song on one of my 8 Tracks called ‘Wish I Could Drink.’ One day my kids are gonna turn 21, and I can’t have a beer with them. Will it kind of hurt when I watch them? And I think, ‘Man, I hope you don’t have that me in you.’ I think about that all the time. I wish I could do anything responsibly. I’m really such an addictive personality.”

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