A Summer Adventure Worthy Of America’s 250th
Zipping from Colorado to Utah through Lodore Canyon wasn’t always such a pretty endeavor. Now it’s a summer adventure worthy … The post A Summer Adventure Worthy Of America’s 250th appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Zipping from Colorado to Utah through Lodore Canyon wasn’t always such a pretty endeavor. Now it’s a summer adventure worthy of marking a nation’s 250th anniversary. Not much has changed in Lodore Canyon—at least in all the right ways—since the first fabled whitewater descent of this spectacular leg of the Green River happened many moons and Junes ago. Back in America’s pre-centennial days, pushing paddle here hung somewhere between uncharted ordeal and terror quest. Today, as momentous summer rafting adventures go, there’s no 250th Anniversary-worthy riverine time machine quite like it. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320601 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-1024x698.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="698" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-300x205.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-768x524.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-1536x1047.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/M72K28-RGB-2048x1397.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> The three-night journey begins in Colorado at the Gates of Lodore—a massive pair of cliffs just upriver from Disaster Falls—and ends in Utah. Credit: Alamy. Flowing between northwestern Colorado and Utah, Lodore Canyon is a 43-mile, cliff-flanked Class II-IV thrill ride complete with beachside campsites and uninterrupted beauty. This remarkable stretch of waterway cuts through Dinosaur National Monument, where it’s easy to overlook in favor of the monument’s famous dinosaur fossils and exhibits at the Quarry Visitor Center. Commonly dubbed “The Little Grand Canyon,” there’s nothing little about Lodore Canyon — as explorer John Wesley Powell discovered on his maiden voyage through the broiling gorge at a time when remote river expeditions were far less comfortable than they are today. On June 8, 1869, the famed Western explorer and cartographer led a 10-man crew through the canyon’s dramatic entrance, marked by a pair of 2,000-foot quartzite cliffs they named the Gates of Lodore, inspired by an English poem. Reality struck almost immediately. That same day, one of their four wooden rowboats was smashed to pieces in a stretch of rapids later named Disaster Falls, taking with it a third of the expedition’s food supplies and valuable surveying instruments. Five miles downstream, Powell would christen another intimidating section of whitewater Hell’s Half Mile. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320602 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="685" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-300x201.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-768x514.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS-1_Steamboat-Rock_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB.jpg 1936w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> As multiday summer rafting adventures go, there’s no riverine time machine like the Green River through remote Lodore Canyon. Credit: James Kaiser; courtesy of OARS. More than 150 years later, those colorful names remain. Fortunately, modern rafters experience Lodore’s ancient geological wonderland under much different circumstances. Guided multiday trips now feature self-bailing inflatable rafts, experienced river guides, sturdy camping gear, titanium cookware, and even satellite phones—luxuries Powell and his crew could scarcely have imagined. So why does this spectacular destination still feel so untouched? “The current river management plan and permit system work to preserve the natural and cultural resources along the river—and part of that resource is the solitude and wilderness character of the place,” says Dan Johnson, program manager for interpretation, education, and visitor services at Dinosaur National Monument. The canyon’s geology also limits visitor numbers. “When river flow rates are high, campsites are only available in places that are slightly wider—and those are extremely limited,” Johnson says. During peak season, from May through early September, Lodore Canyon receives roughly 17,000 rafting permit applications for only 300 noncommercial launch slots. That makes the park-regulated river corridor one of the most difficult whitewater lotteries in the country to win. For most visitors, the easiest path to the canyon is through an authorized outfitter. Based in Vernal, Utah, <a href="https://www.oars.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=829_S_Brand_US&utm_term=oars&utm_content=Brand_General&utm_term=oars&utm_campaign=829+-+S+-+Brand+-+US&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9134830620&hsa_cam=702023210&hsa_grp=34851902817&hsa_ad=631434978126&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-297267198201&hsa_kw=oars&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=702023210&gbraid=0AAAAAD_hrX9EAlvL-TLI5wqFJp0Z3LfkU&gclid=CjwKCAjwxb7RBhA5EiwAQ-AAdJEVexhYD3Gi9IWqP8r-up5SIor7yJLeNB6kQt-r51Mrk3PnVebmZRoCHPMQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OARS has been guiding whitewater expeditions throughout the American West since 1969. The company’s multiday Lodore Canyon trips include side hikes, riverside camping, and plenty of opportunities to experience the canyon’s remote beauty. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320604 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="685" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-300x201.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-768x514.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OARS_4_One-boat_credit-James-Kaiser-courtesy-of-OARS-RGB.jpg 1936w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Credit: James Kaiser; courtesy of OARS. “A rafting trip on the Green River through the Gates of Lodore is such a fun and easy way to get completely off the grid and experience the dramatic scenery of Dinosaur National Monument,” says OARS Vice President Steve Markle. Markle recommends booking the company’s signature three- or four-day trips several months in advance, especially during this historic anniversary season. “We’re definitely seeing a surge in interest this year,” he says. My own first journey through Lodore Canyon began with a splashy lesson in history shortly after passing through the Gates. “Here’s where Powell lost his first boat,” my seasoned river guide casually remarked while steering our wide-eyed, water-soaked crew through the churning waters of Disaster Falls. Later that day, while navigating a chaotic rock garden featuring a notorious ledge that has trapped boats for generations, he pointed to the canyon wall above. “Up there’s where he got stuck on a ledge and had to hoist himself all the way down on a leather strap—with one arm.” The southbound Green River eventually joins Colorado’s west-flowing Yampa River at Echo Park, the geological centerpiece of the journey. The natural amphitheater is defined by towering cliffs, dramatic fault lines, and the massive formation known as Steamboat Rock. Just when the scenery seems incapable of becoming more dramatic, a thunderclap echoes through the canyon and a rare rainstorm bursts overhead. Within minutes, waterfalls cascade down canyon walls that moments before appeared bone dry. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320600 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/D2109H-RGB-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Echo Park with its colossal Steamboat Rock centerpiece marks the trip’s geological opus. Credit: Alamy. A few drizzly miles later, the clouds part and the sun returns, casting a fleeting rainbow across the canyon before fading into the evening sky. That night, we settle into camp on a sandy riverside beach beneath a canopy of stars, warming ourselves with bowls of elk chili. Tomorrow, we’ll continue toward Utah and the takeout point at Split Mountain. And if we somehow miss it? Eventually, the Green River joins the Colorado River, and about 800 miles downstream lies the Grand Canyon—just as Powell discovered during his legendary three-month expedition. We’ll sleep on that. From our June/July 2026 issue. For guided trips from the Gates of Lodore on the Green River and numerous other river adventures throughout the West, visit <a href="https://www.oars.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=829_S_Brand_US&utm_term=oars&utm_content=Brand_General&utm_term=oars&utm_campaign=829+-+S+-+Brand+-+US&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9134830620&hsa_cam=702023210&hsa_grp=34851902817&hsa_ad=631434978126&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-297267198201&hsa_kw=oars&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=702023210&gbraid=0AAAAAD_hrX9EAlvL-TLI5wqFJp0Z3LfkU&gclid=CjwKCAjwxb7RBhA5EiwAQ-AAdJEVexhYD3Gi9IWqP8r-up5SIor7yJLeNB6kQt-r51Mrk3PnVebmZRoCHPMQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OARS. PHOTOGRAPHY: (Header image): James Kaiser, courtesy of OARS. The post A Summer Adventure Worthy Of America’s 250th appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
From The C&I Studio: Berto Colón Of Dutton Ranch
As Miguel, he emerges as a major player in the latest episode of producer Taylor Sheridan’s hit Paramount+ drama. Before … The post From The C&I Studio: Berto Colón Of Dutton Ranch appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
As Miguel, he emerges as a major player in the latest episode of producer Taylor Sheridan’s hit Paramount+ drama. Before Episode 106 of Dutton Ranch premiered Friday, June 12, Miguel — played by Puerto Rican-born actor Berto Colón — came across as a secondary character, serving mostly to perform chores and open doors as bodyguard for Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), owner of the Ten-Petal Ranch. But in the episode titled “A Cowboy Saint,” Miguel wasn’t merely the right man in the right place at the right time. He was, quite literally, a life-saver. And a life-taker. Warning: Spoiler Alert! Late one night at Ten-Petal, Joaquin Jackson Reyes (Juan Pablo Raba), Beulah’s eldest son and fixer for the family, was seriously wounded in his hand by Chet Davis (Hart Davis), a former ranch employee who blamed Joaquin for his firing. But before he could finish the job, Miguel stepped out of the shadows and defused the situation — by terminating Chat with extreme prejudice. And mind you, all of this occurred in full view of Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), who was seated nearby in his truck because Joaquin had invited him to drop by for a drink. Rip looked at Miguel, Miguel looked at Rip — and I swear, I couldn’t help thinking that, at that moment, both men immediately recognized each other as dangerously loyal dudes who took out the trash for their employers whenever necessary. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-320592" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Berto Colon as Miguel In Dutton Ranch" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Berto2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Berto Colon as Miguel in Dutton Ranch. During a recent C&I Studio interview, Colón — whose previous TV credits include The Night Agent, Power Book II: Ghost, and Orange is the New Black — freely admitted that he was greatly relieved when he learned he would be the shooter, not the shot. “Being on the other side of that at other times in my career,” he told us, “I believe that there was probably a [hint] or two prior ... that maybe Miguel was going to get the X. “But I have a lot of respect for Hart Denton. I think he's a magnificent actor. We got on so well … You don’t really take relish in the demise of another character when it means another actor’s not going to be working any further. It’s not good energy and I don’t have anything like that. “Again, being on the other side of that, I understand what that’s like and I felt for him. But I was just glad that, this time around it wasn’t me.” Here is our full C&I Studio interview with Berto Colón. The post From The C&I Studio: Berto Colón Of Dutton Ranch appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
World Premiere Video: “Vaquero” by Midland
Cowboys & Indians has the exclusive drop of the Texas band’s latest track. The genius of Midland has always been … The post World Premiere Video: “Vaquero” by Midland appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Cowboys & Indians has the exclusive drop of the Texas band’s latest track. The genius of Midland has always been its ability to crank out fresh country classics that instantly feel as familiar as your favorite pair of jeans. With its new release, the Grammy-nominated trio formed in Dripping Springs, Texas, continues spinning its resonant magic, this time making the song and video’s exclusive debut available to Cowboys & Indians. “Vaquero” is a waltz-time ode to an aging cowboy that doesn’t so much sparkle as it flickers through a dusty film of crusty nostalgia, stubborn pride, and muscle ache. “Where oh, where oh, will you go, Vaquero, now that your Cuervo’s run dry … there ain’t no cattle to drive,” sings Mark Wystrach with the road-weary crackle that’s been packing venues since the band’s debut album, On the Rocks, in 2017. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320559 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20260318_HSmith_BHRowns_DSC3484_EditHS_FNL-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> In cowboy-roustabout-turned-actor Ty Mitchell (True Grit, Killers of the Flower Moon), the band has found the perfect weather-beaten avatar for its “Vaquero” hero. Throughout the video, the 60-going-on-80 roughneck drives, rides, smokes, drinks, sweats, wanders, mends fences, and contemplates life, chewing up as much of the sweeping Southwestern scenery as director Manuel Mancilla can pack into this heartfelt end-of-the-line saga. “Our vision for the ‘Vaquero’ video was for it to feel like a portrait of a cowboy who has given his life to the land,” says Wystrach. “Ty Mitchell embodied that character so perfectly. He’s proud, he’s tough, he doesn’t say too much, but there’s a whole lifetime behind his eyes.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320560 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Midland_P_20251026_HSmith_BMLGowns_DSC2556_RT_FNL-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> “Ty was the perfect person to carry this story because he brings such an authentic stillness to it. He didn’t have to overplay anything,” says guitarist and vocalist Jess Carson. “Sonically, ‘Vaquero’ feels like an old photograph coming to life, so we wanted the visual to have that same emotional impact,” says bassist and vocalist Cameron Duddy. “There’s beauty in it, but there’s also loneliness and grit.” Midland are masters of postmodern country traditionalism. Unlike the character at the center of “Vaquero,” however, their latest release proves they’ve got a lot more miles to ride before hanging up their spurs. PHOTOGRAPHY (All images): Credit Harper Smith. The post World Premiere Video: “Vaquero” by Midland appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
What Happens When 1,700 Country Music Fans Set Sail Together
Our C&I correspondent hits the high seas for a week of song, sailing, healing — and roadie-ing. The Chad Bushnell … The post What Happens When 1,700 Country Music Fans Set Sail Together appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Our C&I correspondent hits the high seas for a week of song, sailing, healing — and roadie-ing. The Chad Bushnell on the speaker sings about taking whiskey to work, to church, about being baptized by that magical brown elixir, etc. The Chad Bushnell sitting next to me leans back in his seat and talks about, well, I don’t know … I can’t hear a thing he says … so I ask someone to turn down the music. That’s a new one: Turn down Chad Bushnell so I can hear Chad Bushnell! A rancher, rodeo athlete, hunter and country music singer, Bushnell is as western as they come. On this morning, he is far from his northern California home as he lounges in the sun, smiling as he drip-dries on a catamaran after having spent 30 minutes snorkeling at a reef off Key West. He sips his drink—technically it is mimosas, not whiskey, doing the work across this boat—as we talk about Country Cruising, the five-day celebration of country music that makes this snorkeling excursion possible. Suddenly the catamaran slows to a stop. “DOLPHINS!” the captain yells from the stern. I look to the boat’s right … one, two, five, eight dolphins frolic in the deep blue water. I look to the left, the front, the back—more, more, more, I’m guessing 50 total. Dark shadows flutter just below the surface before bursting into sunlight, gulping air, and disappearing into the deep. One flips backward, others appear to be playing leapfrog and still more soar as if trying to clear a high jump bar. A guide walks near the edge of the boat. He holds his arms out wide, his expression, tone of voice and posture exuding baffled amazement. “What is happening right now?” he asks no one and everyone. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” All week long on Country Cruising—a chartered cruise with 1,700 country music fans and 30-plus performers that sails from Fort Lauderdale to Key West to the Bahamas and back—exuberant passengers and energized performers ask the same question … and give the same answer. Great shows! Great conversations! Great dolphins! The trip seems so kissed with kismet I wonder if I am letting how much fun I am having cloud my judgement. I’m supposed to be a Serious Journalist Who Observes Important Things And Writes About Them. So why do I have a big dopey grin on my face for five days? In an era of unending divisiveness, am I so thrilled to find connection that a week’s worth fills my heart to overflowing? After dozens of conversations with artists, fans and organizers in which I ask the guide’s question, I conclude that three chords and the truth, as the old description of country music goes, form a powerful combination. This ship full of disparate people shared their common triumphs and tears, their highs and lows, the stories that make them who they are, the stories that determine who they will become, the stories that sound remarkably like the stories in the songs they came to hear. “Country music is,” as singer Zac Grooms said late one night, “real life.” In the heartfelt conversations, in the giggling laughter, in the halved sorrow and doubled joy, our week on the open sea is as real as real life gets. “We’ve all got problems,” Preston Brust, half of the duo LOCASH, tells me. “We’ve all got things hanging over our heads, in our pasts and in our futures. Ultimately we’re all headed to the same destination. Music helps us get there a little smoother. It helps heal. And I think the stories and connections and friendships on this boat help us realize we’re not alone.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320537 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Whey-Jennings-and-Dirty-Grass-Soul-Pool-Deck-RGB-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> The power of country music is that it’s aspirational. We want for ourselves the laughter, the life, the love we hear in those songs. As Trace Adkins, who gives the first of more than 70 performances puts it, we want to hear “songs about us.” That includes the us we hope to become. Which brings me to Gary and Joyce Winters. Cheek to cheek, they sway to the beat. Their wrinkled hands pancaked together, they place each foot carefully in time, their synchronization evidence of their weekly dance outings. They have spent so many hours in this warm embrace that I bet Gary’s right shoulder blade has Joyce’s left handprint sunk into it, like a couch that conforms to your body after years of sitting in it. Silver hair spills from under her pink cowboy hat. Silver fringe shimmers against her black shirt. Silver stars on her black pants, same. Toenails painted red peek out from her black sandals. Gary is decked out in black, too. He smiles like someone who can’t believe, even after 19 years of marriage, he gets to dance with Joyce whenever he wants, all he has to do is offer his hand. At the microphone, Grooms watches in delight as he plays Friends in Low Places, Take Me Home Country Roads and a few others. There is no higher compliment fans pay musicians than to dance to their music. Show me a couple dancing like the Winters and I’ll show you why musicians play. I need to know the beginning and middle of the story that ends with Gary and Joyce spinning together on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, so I grab a chair and wait for them to finish dancing. They do, sit down for two seconds, and go right back to dancing. This time, I hear them singing “Back to the Basics of Love” to each other. A man spins around in his seat to take video of them; he asks me to send him this story so he can put it in a scrapbook of the trip. I can’t help but think of my parents—my late mother (who would have been a few years older than Gary) and my still-hanging-in-there father (who is Joyce’s age). I never saw them dance and I would have died laughing if they sang to each other, but I saw them love each other like this my whole life. Three couples interrupt Joyce and Gary’s dance to tell them how cute they are, how inspirational they are, and to ask the secret to the joy that ricochets off every step they take. “I want to be you when I grow up,” one of them says. “Y’all made my night.” This happens whenever they go dancing. “You think, how old do we look?” Gary cracks. Joyce is 86, Gary is 81. “I’m a cougar,” she tells me with a look that could have stopped the ship. Both widowed, they met on eHarmony.com. Sixty men—60!—connected with her. She obliged 10 of them with dates, and she knew Gary (the 9th of 10) was the one when on their first one he fed money into the juke box, queued up Rock Around the Clock and led her to the dance floor. They’ve danced together ever since. Well, almost ever since. She had to take a chunk of 2024 off after she got run over in a grocery store parking lot by a man driving a white pickup who was, as she put it, “drunk as a skunk” She suffered two broken bones in her leg, five pelvic fractures, a T3 fracture in her spine and broken ribs. She came home in a wheelchair. Doctors expected her to use a walker after that. They didn’t know Joyce. At all. “I just said, I will be me again,” she says, emphasizing each word. On the deck, her smile glows. Behind her, the ink black night creeps into eternity. “I will not be in this wheelchair. I’m Irish, and I’m very stubborn. I’m hard to kill.” The secret—to Joyce’s recovery, to their dance, to their joy—is there is no secret. They take tai chi classes, they swim, they travel the world. They dance so they can live active lives, and they live active lives so they can dance. A life of dancing kept her fit, which made her recovery possible. And her recovery allowed her to resume her life of dancing. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320551 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fan-on-Pool-Deck-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> I have never, ever had FOMO so bad. It is late Thursday night, or maybe early Friday morning. On the pool deck, Whey Jennings, grandson of Waylon, leads a jam session. I want to see him in action because he and I had a fascinating conversation about writing early in the week. But I also want to go to bed. Desperately. Normally the only reason I’m not in bed at 10 p.m. is that someone has stolen it. I tell my newfound friends I am done for the night … but then I notice everyone else is going, so I go, too. I’m 54 and cave to peer pressure. I arrive just as Jennings finishes a new song called “I’ll See You Soon,” the writing of which is the proudest moment of his career. Inspired by his wife’s work in nursing homes, the song is about what the surviving half of an old married couple says when one of them dies. He plans to write the song from the other point of view next. I promise myself I’ll stay for one song. That turns into two turns into five turns into what the hell time is it?!? I stumble to bed so wired from a day of live music it take me forever to fall asleep. I almost get back up and go back out. The next day I talk to a half dozen people who experienced the exact same thing—a desire to go to bed, an attack of FOMO, a longer-than-planned visit to the pool deck, exhilaration at what they saw there, wonder at what they missed when they finally bailed. And a few who stayed up until Jennings finally wrapped it up 2:30 a.m. As LOCASH (a duo comprising Preston Brust and Chris Lucas) put the final touches this year on the first album they would release under their own label, they already had a hit single—"Hometown Home”—but they needed title track. They wanted something bold, something strong, something that spoke to what this key moment in their lives and careers represented. Then late one night, someone pitched Brust a song to include on the album. In his dark kitchen, he threw popcorn in the microwave and hit play on his phone. Out came a love song called Bet The Farm. That three-word phrase … he wanted it as the title track right away because it perfectly encapsulated what he and Lucas were doing by starting their own label. Without telling Lucas what he thought, Brust played the song for him in his pickup truck the next day. “This is it,” Lucas said immediately, “this is our album title.” More than any other artist onboard, the cruise came in a crucial stage of LOCASH’s career. They were there to party, meet new and old friends, schmooze fans … and also to seize this moment. They scouted artists to sign, wrote a song in their rooms and plotted ways to keep the momentum going. “This is our life, right where we are,” Brust says. “We have bet everything on ourselves.” They stalk Country Cruising like their careers depend on it. They shoot baskets late at night on the ship’s roof, walk from stern to bow looking for a TV to watch Monday Night Football, sit at seemingly every bar, chat with fans new and old, and crack up the audience in an hourlong Q and A that covers everything from their love of conspiracy theories to performing at the White House to their first single from their label (Hometown Home) soaring to No. 1. And, oh, yeah, they rip through two ridiculously entertaining sets. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320552 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trace-Adkins-Pool-Deck-Audience-Facing-Shot-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> I have deep conversations with men and women I just met and, in some cases, whose names I never learn. We talk about love and loss and death and birth and sorrow and joy and fatherhood and rum and whiskey and, of course, dolphins. Fans bond with fans bond with artists bonded with other artists. There are intimate shows, intimate conversations, intimate … um … well … um … let me just say the first quote in my notebook comes from a woman at a Trace Adkins meet and greet: “At least I didn’t proposition him this time.” J.B. Aaron works the crowd like the world’s most charming lounge lizard. During Neon Moon, he leaves the stage, crosses the dance floor to the seating area, picks a woman out of the crowd to dance with … and she refuses. The next one says yes, so he wraps his arms around her and sings as they dance together. He does all this with a broken heart. His dad and brother died in quick succession earlier this year, and he almost backed out of the cruise. He asked himself how he could perform with such heartache. The answer: How could he not. He asks the crowd to wave their cell phones and the glowing devices moved to the beat in the dark lounge in the front of the ship. “It’s a Monday, and look at us,” he says. “Give as much love as you can to your family and friends. Make up with your enemies. Because life is so short.” It is a powerful message marbled into a powerful performance. Word about Aaron’s show spreads through the ship, and at his next one, there is nowhere to sit. In Aaron’s heartbreak, in LOCASH’s decades long quest for success finding fruition, in Joyce’s return to full strength, everywhere I look I find country music songs come to life. But songs aren’t always about heartbreak or hard work or harboring hope amid crushing pain. Sometimes they are about partying. And there is plenty of that. “You can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning,” as one fan put it while nursing a mimosa on Bushnell’s snorkeling trip. One night, I see a woman walk face first into a wall … then double over in laughter. One afternoon, a man (accidentally) pours beer on my feet as I interview him, and in what passes for an apology he said the beer wasn’t any good anyway. The next day, I walk across the pool deck as a man asks his wife, “do you want a Bloody Mary?” “Yeah,” she says. I look at my watch. It is 10:01. In the morning. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320553 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kin-Faux-Pool-Deck-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Crystal Campbell, president and co-owner of Flying Dutchmen Travel, which put on the event, doesn’t normally answer reservation calls. But one day she jumped in to help. At the other end of the line was Robert Wiley. He told her he was recovering from a stroke. He really, really wanted to join the cruise. But he needed help. So Campbell gave it. She booked all his travel for him, from his reservations for the cruise to his flight to Fort Lauderdale to his hotel the night before to the scooter he used to get around the ship. I meet him at breakfast. He’s sitting in the scooter across from his cousin, who is also a close friend, fishing buddy and, this week, chaperone. His shirt says, “I survived a stroke and all I got was this stupid shirt.” Wiley is still fighting to get back to normal. Sometimes the right word won’t come, he still needs that scooter to get around, and it will be a bit before his right arm casts his lure to just the right place as it once did. “I wanted to come,” he says, “to prove to myself I could do it.” By the time he disembarks on Saturday morning, he considers the week he spent Country Cruising to be a huge step in his recovery. What is it about country music that makes such conversations, such relationships, such healing, possible? I’ll answer that question with one last story. Late one night, I corner Grooms to tell him about Joyce and Gary. Two women join my conversation with him … by which I mean they interrupt my interview with him, but they have had a drink or six and don’t know it is an interview and who in the hell cares besides. They tell him that if he ever gets down, if he ever wonders whether his music has meaning, if he ever questions whether what he does matters, he should think of them. One says she used music to get through her son’s heroin addiction (which he kicked.) The other has an ongoing battle to stay steady through her work in a children’s hospital. Some days she cuddles preemies. Other days she buries them. Music helps her celebrate the former and endure the latter. “When you’re having a bad day,” one of them says, “remember us.” They feel blessed for having told him that. He feels blessed for having been told. “That’s the magic of music, man,” he says. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320554 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Canaan-Smith-Celebrity-Poker-Tournament-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Country Cruising 2027 sails April 11, 2027–April 18, 2027, departing Tampa, Florida, with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico. Headliners include Randy Travis’ More Life Tour, James Dupré, and Craig Morgan. Double-occupancy rates start at $1,599 per person. From our June/July 2026 issue. PHOTOGRAPHY: (All images) Nick Taveras / NTP Photography. The post What Happens When 1,700 Country Music Fans Set Sail Together appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Country Legend Randy Travis Gets Nashville Palace Tribute
A full-circle moment at the Nashville Palace saw Randy Travis honored with a dedicated room and a concert celebrating his … The post Country Legend Randy Travis Gets Nashville Palace Tribute appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
A full-circle moment at the Nashville Palace saw Randy Travis honored with a dedicated room and a concert celebrating his storied career. Before CMA Fest officially kicked off in Music City, the Nashville Palace celebrated the legacy of country music icon Randy Travis, who began his career at the venue as a catfish cook. Travis returned to the Nashville Palace on Wednesday, June 3, for a ribbon cutting celebrating the landmark’s rebranded front room, now the “Randy Travis Room.” Adorned with pictures and memorabilia ranging from a copy of his first paycheck at the Palace when he went by the name Randy Traywick to photos showing him cutting his teeth on stage soon thereafter as Randy Ray, the space serves as a tribute to a career whose impact still reverberates throughout country music today. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320565" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1708" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-14-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /> “John A. Hobbs, the original owner of the Nashville Palace, believed in Randy when he came to Nashville back in the early 1980s and gave him a job here,” says Travis’ wife, Mary, who tied the knot with the “Forever and Ever, Amen” singer in 2015. “For them to celebrate him like this during CMA week, with the mural out front and everything in this room, is an honor. Randy is so humble that for a long time he didn’t fully understand the magic his music has been for so many people — it’s truly changed lives. From being played at funerals and weddings to being the soundtrack while someone dances around the kitchen making dinner, Randy’s music has been a soundtrack for both the good and bad times, which speaks volumes to the kind of music he made.” That impact was felt most following the room-naming ceremony, when the party moved into the Palace’s main room for a concert paying homage to Travis’ catalog that featured the likes of Waka Flocka Flame, Drake Milligan, Kylie Frey, Walker Montgomery, Jacob Tolliver, Cassidy Daniels, and many more. Although one of its highlights was a group singalong of the aforementioned “Forever and Ever, Amen” from his 1987 album Always & Forever, much of the night’s music centered on Storms of Life, the album he released the year prior that became Travis’ commercial breakthrough. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320564" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1708" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-10-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /> Containing bona fide hits like “On the Other Hand,” “Diggin’ Up Bones,” and “No Place Like Home,” Storms of Life was released on June 2, 1986, and laid the foundation for one of the most successful careers country music has ever seen — and likely ever will. One day before the Palace’s ribbon cutting, and exactly 40 years after the album’s release, Storms of Life was further given its flowers when the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the City of Hendersonville, and Sumner County Tourism unveiled a Tennessee Music Pathways marker outside the Moby Dick Restaurant, the former site of Morningstar Sound Studio where the album was recorded. The occasion also included a proclamation declaring June 2 as Randy Travis Day in the state of Tennessee. “The making of the music is almost like a megaphone,” explains Mary. “Even though you’re singing into a mic, it’s being broadcast out to the world and can sometimes be hard to comprehend the reach it has. All artists paint on their palette and hope every song becomes a hit, even though we know most of them won’t. Randy’s been fortunate to have more than a few reach No. 1 and achieve legendary status, so I hope he feels some sort of pride in that. Even though it wasn’t one of those hits, a favorite song of mine is ‘I Did My Part,’ and Randy now deserves to look back and say, ‘I did my part, and I did it well.’” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320566" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1708" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pc_-Maddie-Ormand-x-Warner-Records-Nashville-x-Kylie-Frey-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /> Travis will conclude his touring career with fans this summer and fall with the More Than Life Tour. While Travis can’t perform on these dates due to complications from a stroke in 2013, he does interact with fans from the stage while longtime members of his touring band join special guest vocalist James Dupré to perform some of the singer’s biggest hits. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit RandyTravis.com. PHOTOGRAPHY: Maddie Ormand x Warner Records Nashville The post Country Legend Randy Travis Gets Nashville Palace Tribute appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Farewell To Country Music Broadcast Legend And Grand Ole Opry Announcer Bill Cody
Nashville stars and longtime admirers mourn the passing of the iconic country music champion. The C&I crew wants to wish … The post Farewell To Country Music Broadcast Legend And Grand Ole Opry Announcer Bill Cody appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Nashville stars and longtime admirers mourn the passing of the iconic country music champion. The C&I crew wants to wish happy trails to Bill Cody, legendary announcer for the Grand Ole Opry and genial host of the long-running WSM radio show Coffee, Country & Cody, who passed away Tuesday, June 9, in Nashville at age 67. A Country Radio Hall of Fame and Music City Walk of Fame honoree, Cody was widely admired and deeply appreciated as an indefatigable advocate of the music he deeply loved. As Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos noted on the Saving Country Music site, Cody was “a champion of traditional country artists, up-and-comers, legends and independent performers who others in radio would sometimes ignore, but Bill would give them a voice on one of the most important radio stations in country music.” “There might be someone somewhere in the world who loved country music as much,” country superstar Garth Brooks said in a prepared statement, “but nobody loved country music more than Bill Cody.” Dierks Bentley posted a similarly respectful tribute: “Country music has lost one of its pillars. Bill was just as important to the fabric of our music and city as any artist, songwriter, or musician. No one loved country music, its history and its characters more than Bill Cody. Prayers to his family and Charlie and Kelly [Coffee, Country & Cody cohosts Charlie Mattos and Kelly Sutton] and everyone that knew and loved him at WSM and the Opry.” Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley wrote: “Devastated by this news. We loved you Bill. When the roll is called up yonder, I hope it’s your voice.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320504" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TGBrown.jpg" alt="" width="506" height="738" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TGBrown.jpg 506w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TGBrown-206x300.jpg 206w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px" /> “Like so many of us at the Opry,” said Opry executive producer Dan Rogers, “Opry executive producer Bill Cody lived out his dreams on the Opry stage. More times than I could count he and I would look at each other as if to say, ‘Can you believe we get to do this?’ Even better, he made Opry audiences tuned in from around the world feel like they were here too, themselves a part of country music’s most famous show. Then, he’d get up early the next morning and — with that signature smile in his voice — tell everybody about it on his show. He was the best of friends to country music and to everyone who was a part of it. We’re sure going to miss him.” “Bill Cody was a wonderful man and a dear friend for over 40 years," said Bill Anderson, the Opry's longest-serving member. “I hope they have meat ’n threes in heaven! Rest in peace, my friend, and we'll have lunch again one of these days!” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320507" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSMremembers.jpg" alt="WSM remembers Bill Cody" width="624" height="754" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSMremembers.jpg 624w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSMremembers-248x300.jpg 248w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320506" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wsmtribute.jpg" alt="WSM Tribute to Bill Cody" width="435" height="599" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wsmtribute.jpg 435w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wsmtribute-218x300.jpg 218w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px" /> Cody sustained a career spanning nearly 50 years on the airwaves, including roles in nationally syndicated radio and television. Born Trent Clutts in Huntsville, Alabama, he changed his name on the advice of a program director when, in 1971 at age 17, he landed his first job as a night DJ at WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky. Yes, you guessed it: He borrowed the name from the Old West legend Buffalo Bill Cody. After working his way up through various stations in Kentucky and elsewhere, he landed his dream job at Nashville’s WSM in 1994. “My first day,” Cody recounted to Country Aircheck, “they asked me who I wanted to have as my first-ever guest, and I said, ‘Charlie Daniels,’ who’s been such a hero to me. Because the studio is in the Opryland Hotel, it provided the coffee, which turned out to be chocolate raspberry truffle-flavored. Charlie took one drink and gave me this look. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. [Daniels responded:] ‘Cody, you’ve come to Nashville and started drinkin’ hippie coffee.’” Whatever the type of java he consumed, Cody freely admitted to drinking gallons of the stuff over the years as he divided his time between introducing artists at the Grand Ole Opry, hosting syndicated shows such as Classic Country Weekend With Bill Cody and Pure American Country, emceeing the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame induction dinners — and, of course, serving as the centerpiece of Coffee, Country & Cody, aptly described by Variety as a show “which few country stars worth their salt had not made appearances on over the last 32 years.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320512" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Darius-Rucker.jpg" alt="" width="468" height="362" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Darius-Rucker.jpg 468w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Darius-Rucker-300x232.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px" /> Here are some of the other tributes paid by friends and admirers of the broadcast legend: Trisha Yearwood: “This one hits hard. Bill Cody was the ultimate country gentleman. His knowledge and love for country music is unmatched, and this community will feel his loss deeply. Sending all of my love and strength to Bill’s family. Rest in peace, friend.”. John Berry: “It is a difficult day here in our music community. Bill Cody, one of the most prominent voices in country radio as well as one of the most sincere advocates for recording artists, has left us too soon. His door was always open, and his conversation encouraging as he brought my music and that of so many others to the Nashville airwaves and online to the world. I am grateful for the time I spent with him at WSM and cherish the memory of him welcoming me to the stage at The Grand Ole Opry, as well as singing for his neighbors and friends in his beloved Cross Plains, TN. I, like many others, will miss Bill, but I know his faith was in Jesus Christ, so my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, especially his wife Rebecca, as they navigate the days ahead. See you there, Bill.” Lacy J. Dalton: “Oh, my heart is on the ground! Bill was a fine, kind, gentle man. Always warm and real. We will all miss having our morning coffee with him. Godspeed, old friend.” Trace Adkins: “Bill Cody has been an institution in this business for decades. He was a friend and an ally, and he always conducted himself with old-school class. You will be missed, buddy. RIP — Trace.” Ray Stevens: “I awoke this morning to the sad news of the passing of our dear friend Bill Cody. What a fine man! Bill always had a smile on his face that even people listening to the radio could hear. R.I.P. Bill and our heartfelt sympathy to his family.” Kelly Lang: “I am still in disbelief and deeply saddened by the passing of my sweet friend, Bill Cody. He is the only person I can honestly say that everyone who met him loved. His voice was truly magical, and watching him effortlessly multitask during interviews was always mind-blowing. Bill had the most infectious smile and a remarkable gift for making everyone around him feel important, valued, and seen. I am so grateful to have had the privilege of calling him my friend. I have countless cherished memories with Bill, but the one that stands out most is the night he graciously introduced me during my Opry debut. I will treasure that video — with his sweet face and beautiful voice — for the rest of my life. His passing leaves an enormous void, not only in country music but in all of our hearts. Please keep his precious family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” Moe Bandy: “Bill Cody was one of a kind. He was in my hometown, San Antonio, for several years and helped break my first records. I have so much respect for this great man. I will miss him very much. He did so much for country music. RIP my friend.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-320515" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeeGreenwoodBillCody.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="445" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeeGreenwoodBillCody.jpg 446w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeeGreenwoodBillCody-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeeGreenwoodBillCody-236x236.jpg 236w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px" /> Tracy Lawrence: “I’m very saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Bill Cody. We’ve been friends for over 35 years, and I have shared many highlights of my career with him. No. 1 records, platinum parties, weddings, birthdays, and everything in between. In fact, one of those milestones came on Bill’s very first day at WSM on April 25, 1994, when the first song he ever played on the station was ‘If the Good Die Young.’ You will surely be missed, my friend, for your intelligent, cheerful commentary and unwavering support. You were a true lover of all things country music, and I’m honored to have known you.” Christopher Taylor/The Malpass Brothers: “Taylor and I would like to send our condolences to the family of Bill Cody. We also would like to send our condolences to the Grand Ole Opry family. There have been lots of announcers that graced the waves of WSM through the years but none better than Mr. Bill Cody. He was always kind and welcoming. He was also very knowledgeable about the history of country music. He presented with such class and dignity. When I think of Nashville’s warm Southern hospitality, the Grand ole Opry, and its rich history, I think of Bill Cody. He will forever be missed but never forgotten.” T.G. Sheppard: “My heart is broken over the passing of Bill Cody. It’s going to take a long time for me to come to terms with his leaving for home. He was not only a dear and cherished friend but also one of the greatest radio voices of all time. Bill always made me feel very special each and every time I was in his presence. I am so grateful for the countless memories we shared over the years. We often laughed about the fact that we had known each other longer than just about anyone in Nashville. Please keep Bill’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Rest in peace, my friend. I will miss you deeply.” Lee Newton: “Bill Cody had a way of making every person he interviewed feel seen, valued, and welcomed. He wasn’t just a voice on the radio — he was a champion for artists, a storyteller, and a true ambassador for country music. I was honored to have the opportunity to sit down with him over the years, and I’ll always remember his kindness, professionalism, and genuine love for the people behind the songs. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the doors he opened for so many in our industry. Country music has lost one of its very best, and he will be deeply missed.” Trey Calloway: “I am devastated to hear about the passing of this legend. A man synonymous with country music, he will be missed greatly. Some of my earliest memories are listening to him on WSM with my mom and dad; it won’t be the same without him. Rest in peace, Bill Cody. Heaven gained a voice for the angels.” Alex Miller: “What a great man. He will be missed by so many. Prayers for his family.” John Ford Coley: “I am so beyond sad to hear this news about Bill Cody. He has been a staple in this industry for as long as I can recall. I’m accustomed to hearing of all the musical heroes that have passed away, that are passing before our eyes, but sometimes we forget that our heroes behind the turntable suffer the same fate. What a horrible piece of news to get. Thank you, Bill. You were a hero to so many of us. Thank you for playing our records and keeping us alive all these years. Rest in peace.” The post Farewell To Country Music Broadcast Legend And Grand Ole Opry Announcer Bill Cody appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
For fathers who believe the best gear is used, trusted, and passed down. Father’s Day can be a difficult holiday … The post C&I’s Father’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
For fathers who believe the best gear is used, trusted, and passed down. Father’s Day can be a difficult holiday to shop for — most dads already own the basics, and if they need something, chances are they’ve already bought it themselves. The trick isn’t finding something flashy; it’s finding something useful. A piece of clothing or gear that earns its place in Dad’s truck, the tack room, or beside the back door. Whether he spends his mornings on horseback, his weekends on the water, or his evenings around a campfire, here are a few gifts worthy of the fathers who embody the Western way of life. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320370 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2600_short-sleeve-rangetek-western-guide-snap-shirt_white_lifestyle-768x1024.webp" alt="" width="768" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2600_short-sleeve-rangetek-western-guide-snap-shirt_white_lifestyle-768x1024.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2600_short-sleeve-rangetek-western-guide-snap-shirt_white_lifestyle-225x300.webp 225w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2600_short-sleeve-rangetek-western-guide-snap-shirt_white_lifestyle.webp 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> Schaefer Outfitter RangeTek Guide Shirt Few brands understand the West like Schaefer Outfitter. Their RangeTek Guide Shirt combines traditional Western styling with the performance features today’s outdoorsmen actually need. Breathable and built with stretch, it’s equally at home mending fence, flying cross country, or grilling burgers. Why we like it: Classic pearl-snap styling Lightweight performance fabric Built for long days outdoors <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320372 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934-1024x1024.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934-768x768.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934-236x236.webp 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ostrich_Culver_Square_0000_DSC09934.webp 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Hyer Boots Culver Before many of today’s bootmakers existed, Hyer was helping define the cowboy boot. Recently revived, the brand blends historic craftsmanship with modern comfort. A good pair of boots is more than just footwear, it’s a companion through years of wear and countless memories. Why we like it: Authentic Western heritage Premium leather construction Built for daily wear and longevity <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320373 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/685922940_1416956747126588_401025415373788816_n-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/685922940_1416956747126588_401025415373788816_n-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/685922940_1416956747126588_401025415373788816_n-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/685922940_1416956747126588_401025415373788816_n-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/685922940_1416956747126588_401025415373788816_n.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> Credit: 6666ranch American Hat Company Straw Hat For many dads, summer doesn’t officially begin until the straw hat comes out. American Hat Company remains one of the most respected names in the business, producing hats seen everywhere from ranches to rodeo arenas. Their quality straw hats are both practical and stylish. Why we like it: Handmade Texas craftsmanship Excellent shape retention A true cowboy staple <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320375 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK-1024x1024.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK-768x768.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK-236x236.webp 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/010-BLACKFOOT-TANBLACK.webp 1300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Montana Knife Company Blackfoot 2.0 Some gifts get tucked away in a drawer. Others end up on dad’s belt every day, like the Blackfoot 2.0 from Montana Knife Company. Designed by master bladesmith Josh Smith and built in Montana, it reflects the same values that defines Dad: durable and practical without unnecessary frills. Whether it’s carried during hunting season, packed into a saddlebag, or used around the ranch, it’s a knife built to work. Why we like it: Made in Montana Lightweight and built for everyday carry Premium steel with great edge retention <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320376 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-1024x1024.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-768x768.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982-236x236.webp 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Miami24_01982.webp 1800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Orvis Helios F Fly Rod The best fishing stories rarely begin with on crowded boat ramp. They’re made on hidden bends in mountain streams and remote stretches or lake. That’s where the Helios F fly rod from Orvis shines. Built for precision and feel, it delivers remarkable accuracy while remaining lightweight in hand. For fathers who’d rather spend a morning casting, it’s hard to imagine a better gift. Why we like it: Lightweight and responsive Designed for accuracy and finesse Built by one of fly fishing's most respected names <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320377 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pelican-1535-air-travel-organization-case-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pelican-1535-air-travel-organization-case-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pelican-1535-air-travel-organization-case-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pelican-1535-air-travel-organization-case-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pelican-1535-air-travel-organization-case.jpg 1050w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Pelican 1535 Air Carry-On Case Modern life covers a lot of ground — one week it’s hunting camp, the next it's a rodeo. The Pelican 1535 Air is built to to go wherever the road leads you. Light enough for airline travel yet sturdy enough for truck beds, it’s a case that protects everything from cameras and optics to high-dollar electronics with the same confidence Pelican has built its reputation on. It’s a piece of gear you can trust. Why we like it: Airline carry-on approved Lightweight without sacrificing durability Protects valuable gear from dust, water, and impact <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320381 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Passion_Spirits_Yellowstone_Binghams_Bourbon_Black_3_fbc270caa3-819x1024.jpg" alt="" width="819" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Passion_Spirits_Yellowstone_Binghams_Bourbon_Black_3_fbc270caa3-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Passion_Spirits_Yellowstone_Binghams_Bourbon_Black_3_fbc270caa3-240x300.jpg 240w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Passion_Spirits_Yellowstone_Binghams_Bourbon_Black_3_fbc270caa3-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Passion_Spirits_Yellowstone_Binghams_Bourbon_Black_3_fbc270caa3.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /> Bingham’s Bourbon Black Created by singer-songwriter and Yellowstone actor Ryan Bingham, Bingham’s Bourbon draws from the same tradition that shaped his music. Made with Texas-grown grains and aged in American oak, the Black expression delivers a richer, more robust profile while maintaining an easy-drinking character. It's a bottle that feels right at home around a campfire or a back porch. Why we like it: Launched by Ryan Bingham Crafted with Texas-grown grains Rich flavor profile with genuine Western credibility <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320379 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB-1024x1024.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB-768x768.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB-236x236.webp 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BX4-Range-HD-Gen-2_PDP_Image_SmallB.webp 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Leupold BX-4 Range HD Binoculars Every has been caught staring at the horizon. Maybe it’s glassing for elk, checking cattle, or just appreciating the landscape. The BX-4 Range HD from Leupold combines premium optics with an integrated rangefinder, delivering sharp clarity and practical functionality in one package. Rugged enough for rough country, it’s the kind of tool that will become a must-take for every trip. Why we like it: Integrated laser rangefinder Exceptional low-light performance Built to withstand use in the field <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320380 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/70302_57255_ALT4-819x1024.jpeg" alt="" width="819" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/70302_57255_ALT4-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/70302_57255_ALT4-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/70302_57255_ALT4-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/70302_57255_ALT4.jpeg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /> Pendleton Yakima Camp Blanket For generations, Pendleton blankets have kept families warm in cabins, camps, and cruisers through the American West. The Yakima Camp Blanket continues that tradition with a wool blend that’s warm, durable, and timeless. It’s the kind of gift that gets better with every use, and is equally at home draped across a favorite chair or packed into the truck for a cold morning. Why we like it: Classic Pendleton craftsmanship Durable wool blend construction A timeless piece of Western heritage PHOTOGRAPHY: (Header image) credit ferrantraite. The post C&I’s Father’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Western-Inspired Whiskey To Sip This Summer
Now’s the season to savor your new favorite whiskey or bourbon-based cocktail in the perfect setting. Whether that’s right at … The post Western-Inspired Whiskey To Sip This Summer appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Now’s the season to savor your new favorite whiskey or bourbon-based cocktail in the perfect setting. Whether that’s right at home or way down the road at your westernmost saloon, these stellar sips will point you in the right direction. The Occidental In Buffalo, Wyoming — a remote ranching town tucked at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains — bullet holes puncture the embossed tin ceiling inside the Occidental, a reminder that the area’s oldest saloon was once (as one early visitor put it) “a regular gambling hell” where high-stakes poker games stretched for days. Opened in 1880 along the cattle-drive route north, “The Ox’s” namesake historic hotel lured cowboys, lawmen, and the occasional outlaw of Butch Cassidy fame. Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway dropped in, too. In 1908, the barroom was transformed with a stained-glass back bar and a 25-foot counter that still anchors the place. Today, locals and travelers alike belly up for bison burgers, pot pies, and a stiff whiskey beneath that same tin ceiling. Swing by for Thursday bluegrass jam sessions led by Ox owner David Stewart, and stay for more live music and dancing on the weekends. Wyoming Whiskey- Small Batch Bourbon Launched 20 years ago in pint-sized Kirby (pop. 76), Wyoming Whiskey — the first (legal) distillery in the Cowboy State — continues to source its non-GMO grain from local farms and draw glacier-filtered water from a nearby aquifer. Big seasonal swings push oak deep into its signature Small Batch Bourbon for over five years in new charred wood. Dessert-ish tasting notes like “caramel pudding,” “browned butter,” and “warm toffee” will make the end result a midsummer night’s dream dram, whether poured neat or over a large rock. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320451 size-medium" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-207x300.jpg" alt="" width="207" height="300" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-207x300.jpg 207w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-708x1024.jpg 708w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-768x1110.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-1062x1536.jpg 1062w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-1416x2048.jpg 1416w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Wyoming-Whiskey-scaled.jpg 1771w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px" /> Leopold Bros. - 8 Year Cask Strength Bourbon Denver-based brothers Todd and Scott Leopold revived the pre-Prohibition-era three-chamber still to chase the flavor of a bygone era in crafting the brand’s booziest (55 percent ABV) spirit. Rested in oak before a second stretch in three-chamber rye barrels, this unique bourbon boosts its sweetness with some hearty spice that’s even more intense in Leopold Bros’. recently released nine-year Three-Chamber Rye offering. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320452 size-medium" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeopoldBros8YearOldCaskStrengthBourbon-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeopoldBros8YearOldCaskStrengthBourbon-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeopoldBros8YearOldCaskStrengthBourbon-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeopoldBros8YearOldCaskStrengthBourbon-236x236.jpg 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/LeopoldBros8YearOldCaskStrengthBourbon.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> Westland Distillery- Flagship Single Malt American Whiskey Local barley grown in Washington’s ideal climate is a staple for Westland, Seattle’s single malt institution and founding member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. The brand’s aptly named “Flagship” offering — created from roasted malts matured in new and used oak — lends opening notes of custard and marionberry, followed by almond nougat, crème brûlée, and a floral finish that lingers warm under the stars. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320453 size-medium" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Westland-Flagship-Single-Malt-American--300x286.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="286" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Westland-Flagship-Single-Malt-American--300x286.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Westland-Flagship-Single-Malt-American--768x731.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Westland-Flagship-Single-Malt-American-.jpg 840w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> 2 Classic Cocktails Our favorite whiskey cocktails are spiked with tasteful ingredients and authentic cowboy tales. We asked award-winning beverage writer Andre Darlington to single out a pair of winning whiskey elixirs from his recent lore- and booze-soaked book Cowboy Cocktails: 60 Recipes Inspired by the American West. Big Fifty <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-320454" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-971x1024.jpg" alt="" width="971" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-971x1024.jpg 971w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-284x300.jpg 284w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-768x810.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-1457x1536.jpg 1457w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Big-Fifty_credit-Bill-Milne-1942x2048.jpg 1942w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 971px) 100vw, 971px" /> Named for the iconic Sharps “Big Fifty” rifle — prized in the Old West for its ability to drop buffalo and keep enemies at bay — this elegant cocktail channels that long-range power with a bourbon base and bright lift of Champagne. As rail lines pushed west in the late 19th century, imported bubbles followed, stocked in boomtown saloons and frontier hotels where expansion was toasted and fortunes were made. Here, that sparkle keeps the drink light and refreshing, softening the bourbon’s edge and finishing clean. Ingredients: 1 ounce bourbon whiskey ½ ounce dry Curaçao ½ ounce fresh lemon juice 1 barspoon simple syrup 3 ounces sparkling wine Orange peel, for garnish Directions- Shake the whiskey, Curaçao, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange peel. Stirrup Cup <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-320455" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Stirrup-Cup_credit-Bill-Milne-2048x1364.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Before a hunt began, English riders were handed a drink while still astride their horses. The custom crossed the Atlantic to colonial taverns and later to the trail tents that served as early Western bars, where cowboys could enjoy the same ritual without ever leaving the saddle. Think of it as the cowboy’s version of a drive-in — if a rider dismounted, a receipt was issued for the animal, much like modern valet parking. By the 1890s, imported maraschino cherries marked this old-fashioned variation as a touch of refinement after weeks on the open range. Ingredients: 1 sugar cube 2 dashes Angostura bitters 1 ounce brandy 1 ounce bourbon whiskey Maraschino cherry, for garnish Directions- Add the sugar cube to a rocks glass and muddle with the bitters. Add the brandy, whiskey, and a large ice cube. Stir; then garnish with a cherry. Photography: Courtesy of Occidental Hotel and Bill Miln The post Western-Inspired Whiskey To Sip This Summer appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Country music icons gather in Nashville to celebrate the people, songs, and traditions that make country music great. CMA Fest … The post The Best Moments From CMA Fest 2026 appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Country music icons gather in Nashville to celebrate the people, songs, and traditions that make country music great. CMA Fest is called country music’s biggest party for a reason. The mammoth music and fan festival gathers hundreds of the genre’s most beloved musicians, songwriters and other personalities along with nearly 100,000 fans each day in downtown Nashville, where parties pour out from stages and barrooms all along Broadway and even across the river to Nissan Stadium, where star-studded performances cap off all four nights. However, the best part of CMA Fest isn’t just the music, the location or the people, but rather that much of the action can be observed free of charge. After attending CMA Fest for the first time in 2025 as credentialed media, I made my way back to Music City this year to take in the first half of the festival without wristband access. With a half dozen free stages along with access to all the bars on Broadway, I quickly learned the lack of a credential was not going to prevent me getting my boot scootin’ boogie on. With that in mind, continue reading to relive the best things I saw at CMA Fest, from C&I cover stars Cody Johnson and Ashley McBryde at Spotify House to a Randy Travis room naming at the Nashville Palace and the long-awaited return of Florida-Georgia Line. Randy Travis Room Naming Capping off two days that included the proclamation of Randy Travis Day in Tennessee and the naming of a room at the Nashville Palace in his honor, the six-time GRAMMY award winning crooner was on hand to witness a multi-genre and multi-generational lineup of artists jam to his songs at the Palace Wednesday night. Top highlights included James Dupré tackling Travis’ second ever no. 1 hit “Diggin' Up Bones”, Kylie Frey putting her own spin on “I Told You So” and a group sing on perhaps Travis’ most prominent song, “Forever And Ever, Amen” that featured the likes of Waka Flocka Flame, Drake Milligan, Walker Montgomery, Jacob Tolliver, Cassidy Daniels, James Dupré, Jeff Bates, Palmer Anthony, Dianne Sherril, Dalton Webb, Bobby Johnson, Cody Glenn Cox and others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cassidy Daniels (@cassidydanielsmusic) Stephen Wilson Jr. The Southern Indiana songwriter delivered introspective lyricism with sweaty, rustic guitar riffs from the banks of the Cumberland River Thursday afternoon, sending fans filling the hillside viewing area into a frenzy with songs like “Cuckoo” and “Gary”, the latter of which produced a nearly 10 minute long jam that saw Wilson Jr. venture into the crowd before eventually finding his way back on stage to close out the bonafide rock anthem. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephen Wilson Jr. (@stephen.wilson.jr) Cody Johnson & Ashley McBryde At Spotify House One of the hardest rooms to get into all week at CMA Fest was Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, which was officially rebranded as Spotify House for the past seven years, and Thursday was no exception. With music kicking off with Jon Pardi and also featuring Texan Koe Wetzel, a surprise performance from Jason Aldean and evening performances from C&I cover stars Cody Johnson and Ashley McBryde as well as Jelly Roll. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ole Red (@olered) Among day one’s biggest moments were Wetzel previewing music from his album The Night Champion out June 16 like “Dollar And A Bottle” and “Hurts Like You”, Aldean bringing his dirt road anthem “Try That In A Small Town” to the bright lights of Broadway, and McBryde welcoming rock icon Melissa Etheridge to sing her hit song “I’m The Only One”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ole Red (@olered) But the biggest surprise came when Johnson, on the heels of releasing his new record Banks Of The Trinity June 26, opted to perform his five no. 1 hits — “Til You Can’t”, “The Painter”, “Dirt Cheap”, “I’m Gonna Love You” and, just two weeks ago, “The Fall” — rather than focusing on new material. The crowd of course ate up every minute of it, even joining him in singing his first no. 1 “Til You Can’t” that left me with goosebumps. Florida-Georgia Line Reunites Following internet rumblings Thursday afternoon about the bro-country duo of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley soundchecking their behemoth 2012 debut single “Cruise” inside Nissan Stadium, Florida-Georgia line made the long bubbling rumors of a reunion a reality when they took to that stage together later that night to officially close their more than four year hiatus with performances of the aforementioned “Cruise” and “Round Here”, sending the crowd into a frenzy in the process. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Country Music Association (@cma) Country Central Songwriter Round Singer-songwriters Charles Wesley Godwin, Willow Avalon, Wyatt Flores and Stella Lefty convened on the Close Up Stage of CMA Fest’s Fan Fair X for a captivating songwriter round presented by Country Central. Notable performances ranged from Flores joining Godwin on “Hey There Son” from his album Christian Name out July 24, Lefty performing her song “Something To Lose” with her partner Vincent Mason, and Avalon throwing together her spicy, “Goodbye Earl” inspired single “Hypothetically Speaking”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Country Central (@countrycentral) PHOTOGRAPHY (header image): Courtesy CMA. The post The Best Moments From CMA Fest 2026 appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
New Don Williams Music Emerges On The Cellar Tapes
Gentle Giant Don Williams gave us giant country hits over decades. Now, songs found in a cellar after his death … The post New Don Williams Music Emerges On The Cellar Tapes appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.
Gentle Giant Don Williams gave us giant country hits over decades. Now, songs found in a cellar after his death bring “new” music. Almost a decade after his death in 2017, the first posthumous music release from the man known as “The Gentle Giant” is finally seeing the light of day. Available now, Don Williams’ Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes captures the Texas born singer at his best across several sessions recorded between 1979 and 1984 with his longtime coproducer, Garth Fundis, who returned to the same production role for this project alongside Williams’ son Tim. Tim first became aware of the tapes stashed away in the cellar of the family’s rural Tennessee home when one of his father’s longtime managers asked for access to get them digitally transferred. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320364 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10-236x236.jpg 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/a0087074471_10.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Initially, Williams wasn’t too enthused about the idea. “At first I was pretty lukewarm about it,” Williams recalls. “I didn’t even know what was on the tapes, but once we got them restored and I heard the songs — especially my dad’s voice and how strong it was — I became real excited.” Fundis was likewise lukewarm till thoughts of the original recording sessions nearly 40 years prior began flooding back. “It took me a while to get on board too,” Fundis says. “But once I heard the songs, it took me right back to when we first recorded them, which left me wondering why they hadn’t seen the light of day yet.” In many ways, Fundis says, working on the project was like revisiting an old friend. “Those years between 1979 and 1984 were some of Don’s prime years, with songs like ‘Good Ole Boys Like Me’ and ‘I Believe in You.’ So to get to transport myself back to that time — even for a brief moment — is very special.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-320366 size-large" src="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-1024x1024.webp" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-300x300.webp 300w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-768x768.webp 768w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB-236x236.webp 236w, https://www.cowboysindians.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DonWilliams_EpilogueTheCellarTapes_CR01020_LP_BackCover_RGB.webp 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Although time had done a number on some of the multitrack elements of the tapes, Fundis and Williams were able to reconstruct the arrangements by enlisting many of the musicians who previously toured with Don, including Joe Allen (bass), Kenny Malone (percussion), and Charles Cochran (strings). Fortunately, Williams’ original vocal recordings remained intact, offering a shining glimpse into his golden era. “If I had to play a song [from this new record] for an alien to show them what Don sounded like, I’d play ‘How Can I Miss What I Never Had,’” Williams says. Other standouts include the Rodney Crowell-penned “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” and two versions of “I’m the One,” a cowrite between Don and longtime collaborator Wayland Holyfield, who he also joined forces with on No.1 hits like “You’re My Best Friend,” “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” and “Till the Rivers All Run Dry.” Rodney Crowell and other country luminaries — Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Brandy Clark, Jamey Johnson, and more — will celebrate the legacy of “The Gentle Giant” when the special show Opry 100 Honors: Don Williams takes place June 10 in Nashville. Get tickets here. PHOTOGRAPHY (Cover image): Credit Jim McGuire. The post New Don Williams Music Emerges On The Cellar Tapes appeared first on Cowboys and Indians Magazine.