BONUS TRACKS: Dolly Parton's AMERICANAFEST Award, New Sierra Ferrell Track, Bandcamp Friday, and More Roots Music News

The Americana Music Association announced yesterday that Dolly Parton will be awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards. The ceremony will take place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during this year's AMERICANAFEST and Parton will accept the honor via video.

Sierra Ferrell shared her first new music of 2026 today. The new single, "Trying to Love You," was produced by Gabriel Kelley. It follows Ferrell's live LP that was recorded direct-to-acetate, Sierra Ferrell: Live at Third Man Records, which came out in June.

In other new music news, fiddler and singer-songwriter Laura Cortese announced her first album in six years, Lucky Water, due October 9 via Compass Records. Lead single “Face the Rain” is available now.

Singer-songwriter (and frequent collaborator and occasional producer) Mary Bragg announced her new album Secrets To Strangers is due out October 9 via John Paul White's Single Lock Records. The first single, “What Do I Do,” features White, who also produced the LP. They both appear in the video, which is out now.

Beloved Minnesotan folk musician Charlie Parr announced a concept album titled Rooming House, described in a press release as, "a compelling folk opera chronicling the lives of ordinary people in the Upper Midwest." The LP, Parr's 20th release, is due out October 16 via Smithsonian Folkways and the title track is available now.

Athens alt-country band The Star Room Boys will reissue their debut album, Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Other's Hearts, on September 25 via Strolling Bones. Find an excerpt from No Depression's original review from 1999 here and check out the full digitized issue by becoming a member.

Today is Bandcamp Friday again! Despite the platform's sale to corporate partners in 2023, it's still a great way to put money directly into artists' pockets.

Solidarity with all of the music journalists, writers, and other staffers who got laid off from BrooklynVegan, Alternative Press, Revolver, and Goldmine earlier this week. Read more about how a LiveNation subsidiary gutted these long-standing print and digital outlets at Pitchfork, and once again, don't forget to support your favorite independent media sources.

Lastly, happy belated birthday to the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO

The Frames - Fitzcarraldo
Hayden Pedigo - I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away
The Mary Wallopers - "Landlord’s Demise" (from their forthcoming album, Paddywhackery, due out September 18 via BC Records)

Buffalo Traffic Jam - "Pictures of You"

Mama's Broke - "Old-Fashioned Love Song" (from their forthcoming album, Reunion, due out August 28 via Free Dirt Records/Forward Music Group)

Steve Earle - "Volver A Celaya" (ND feature)

NEW RELEASES - 8/7/26

Corb Lund - Dark Horses
Margaret Glaspy - I Am Both
The Mountain Goats - DAYS
Grace Potter - Trespasser
Silverada - Living Proof
Various Artists - Sittin' with Blaze
Charlie Worsham - Once Upon A Second Time Around
Rowena Wise - Bad Things Feel Good

COMING SOON - 8/14/26

The Arcadian Wild - Make It Out Alive
Jon Batiste - Black Mozart
Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Weekend
Bronwyn - Rattlin’ Bones
Elizabeth Cook - Great Television
Lindsay Lou - Bluegrass Woman
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Roots, Rock, Reggae: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon
Maggie Rose - Half Moon
Johanna Samuels - Sorry, Kid
Carly Simon - Comes in Waves
Various Artists - Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience
Laura Veirs - Temple Songs
The Womack Sisters - The Womack Sisters