'They Call Us the Lucky Ones' and 5 upcoming country music albums
May 15 (UPI) -- Country music singer and Yellowstone actor Ryan Bingham released They Call Us the Lucky Ones, his first full-length album in over seven years, on Friday.
Recorded with the Texas band The Texas Gentlemen, the album features 10 tracks: "The Lucky Ones," "Let the Big Dog Eat," "I Got a Feelin'," "Twist the Knife," "Americana," "Cocaine Charlie," "Blue Skies," "Relevance," "Ballad of the Texas Gentlemen" and "I'm a Goin' Nowhere."
They Call Us the Lucky Ones is one of several new country music albums slated for release in May, June and July. Here's a list of five others ahead of the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday.
Dream Chaser, Willie Nelson
Legendary singer-songwriter and activist Willie Nelson will release his 79th solo album, Dream Chaser, on May 29.
Dream Chaser features a title track of the same name and nine other songs, including "I Can't Read Your Mind," the first song co-written by Nelson and Bob Dylan in over 30 years.
Nelson, who turned 93 years old in April, will conclude his Willie Nelson & Friends In Concerttour May 24 in Charleston, S.C., and perform at his Willie's 4th of July Picnic on July 4.
Grateful, The Red Clay Strays
Country rock music group The Red Clay Strays will release its third studio album, Grateful, on June 5.
The album was preceded by three singles, "People Hatin'," "If I Didn't Know You" and "Demons in Your Choir."
The Red Clay Strays will perform Sunday at the ACM Awards, along with Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and other artists.
Flow State, Keith Urban
Australian country music singer Keith Urban will release his 13th studio album, Flow State, on June 12.
Flow State is a cover album of yacht rock songs including "Steal Away," "Baby Come Back" and "Just the Two of Us," along with the new song "We Go Back" featuring Michael McDonald.
Urban will perform Saturday at the ACM Next Wave: Country's Beach Bash at Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas before presenting an award Sunday at the ACM Awards.
Banks of the Trinity, Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson will release his 10th studio album, Banks of the Trinity, on June 26.
In addition to the singles "I Want You" and "Hello Lonesome," the album features 14 other tracks, including "Fool Proof" featuring Brothers Osbourne and "Shoot the Bull" featuring Luke Combs.
Johnson will perform Sunday at the ACM Awards.
The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, Shaboozey
Shaboozey will release his fourth studio album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, on July 31.
Cherie Lee is a concept album narrated by actor Jamie Foxx that follows the titular Cherie Lee, a woman who must challenge "everything she once thought true about her world." The album features the single "Born to Die."
Shaboozey previously described his third album, Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going, as "a journal entry and an opportunity for the world to get to know more more about me as a person," while Cherie Lee will showcase who he is "as an artist and storyteller."
The singer-songwriter will present an award Sunday at the ACM Awards.
The 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be held Sunday in Las Vegas and stream on Prime Video. Shania Twain will host the ceremony, while Megan Moroney is the most-nominated artist.
2026 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.