Stellar albums by some of today's top country stars highlighted the 2022 release calendar. Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris impacted a lot of Spotify Wrapped results, and their names should pop up again on critics' year-end lists. In the same 12-month stretch, Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean added to their legacies with new music, while Zach Bryan and Lainey Wilson may have put the final punctuation marks on the first chapters of storied careers.
As for country legends, Willie Nelson netted more Grammy award nomination love with A Beautiful Time, while Ronnie Dunn stuck with what worked for Brooks & Dunn on 100 Proof Neon.
On the Americana end of the spectrum, legends (Delbert McClinton, Lyle Lovett), current heavy-hitters (Amanda Shires, Marcus King) and underground favorites (Wade Sapp, Teddy and the Rough Riders) offered listening alternatives for country lovers and haters alike.
Read on for a lengthy roundup of new albums, EPs, compilations and deluxe editions by a wide range of country, bluegrass and roots music acts.
Country, Bluegrass and Americana Albums Released in 2022
January
Jan. 14: Bar Stool Preacher, Jacob Bryant
Jan. 14: Didn't Go Too Far EP, Conner Smith
Jan. 21: Skeletons (Deluxe Edition), Brothers Osborne
Jan. 21: Country Stuff the Album, Walker Hayes
Jan. 21: Good To Be, Keb' Mo'
Jan. 28: And Now, Let's Turn To Page..., Brent Cobb
Jan. 28: Through The Madness Vol. 1, Maddie & Tae
Jan. 28: Reckless (Deluxe Edition), Morgan Wade
February
Feb. 4: Diamonds, EmiSunshine
Feb. 4: Dispatch to 16th Ave., Muscadine Bloodline
Feb. 11: Welcome To The Block Party, Priscilla Block
Feb. 11: One Day, The Cactus Blossoms
Feb. 11: Blue in the Sky, Dustin Lynch
Feb. 11: Wish For You, Allison Moorer
Feb. 11: Good Day for Living, Joe Nichols
Feb. 18: Almost Proud, The Del McCoury Band
Feb. 18: Nightroamer, Sarah Shook and The Disarmers
Feb. 18: Product of a Small Town, Sean Stemaly
Feb. 22: Nature Child - A Dreamer's Journey, Sylvia
Feb. 25: Get Away With It EP, Teddy Robb
March
March 4: Run, Rose, Run, Dolly Parton
March 4: Light Shines Through, Lloyd Miller
March 4: Married in a Honky Tonk, Jenny Tolman
March 11: Greenbroke, Jackson Dean
March 11: Buckskin, Cherokee Rose
March 11: Soon Come, Teddy Grossman
March 11: Invisible Pictures, Jeremy Ivey
March 11: Buckskin, Ned LeDoux
March 11: Rain in the Desert, Lisa Morales
March 11: How Does One Begin, Mary Simich
March 11: Sometimes Y, Sometimes Y (Shooter Jennings and Yellawolf)
March 18: Shot Glass, Randall King
March 18: Raised, Hailey Whitters
March 18: All About Love EP, Tiffany Woys
March 25: Find My Joy, John Berry
March 25: Changed Everything EP, Austin Burke
March 25: Baker Hotel, William Clark Green
March 25: 40 East, Erin Kinsey
March 25: Humble Quest, Maren Morris
March 25: River Fools & Mountain Saints, Ian Noe
March 25: Never Slow Down, Po' Ramblin' Boys
March 25: My Chains Are Gone, Reba McEntire
April
April 1: Country Coming Down, Paul Cauthen
April 1: Maybe This Time, Bobby Duncan
April 1: First Generation American, Elliah Heifetz
April 1: Where We Started, Thomas Rhett
April 8: High, Caitlyn Smith
April 8: Stereotype, Cole Swindell
April 13: Brand New Day, Jessica Willis Fisher
April 15: What Else Can She Do, Kaitlin Butts
April 15: Hearts Don't Rust, Brandon Davis
April 15: Even If It Breaks Your Barefoot Friday Night, Eric Paslay
April 15: Sex, Drugs & Country Music, Wheeler Walker Jr.
April 22: Georgia, Jason Aldean
April 22: Hate Me EP, Abbey Cone
April 22: Neon Blue, Joshua Hedley
April 22: Stephanie Quayle, Stephanie Quayle
April 22: Paint This Town, Old Crow Medicine Show
April 22: Masquerades EP, Tenille Townes
April 29: Faded Memories, William Beckmann
April 29: All In, Chris Janson
April 29: Wise River, Kitchen Dwellers
April 29: Palomino, Miranda Lambert
April 29: Around the Sun, Erika Lewis
April 29: Songs My Friends Wrote, Corb Lund
April 29: Self Inflicted Scars, Bryan Martin
April 29: Miller Time, Alex Miller
April 29: Shelby Park, Sarah Jane Nelson
April 29: A Beautiful Time, Willie Nelson
April 29: The Moment of Truth, The Red Clay Strays
April 29: Southern Man, Tommy Townshend
May
May 6: Born Ready EP, Gable Bradley
May 6: Slow Down Sunrise EP, Ryan Griffin
May 6: Four Good Years EP, Andrew Hyatt
May 6: Obsessed With the West, Brennen Leigh
May 6: Back to Me EP, Alannah McCready
May 6: The Last Resort: Greetings From, Midland
May 6: Single Wide Dreamer, Aaron Raitiere
May 10: Acquired Taste, Dustin Herring
May 13: Fortune Favors the Bold, 49 Winchester
May 13: If She Ain't Country EP, Justin Champagne
May 13: 12th of June, Lyle Lovett
May 13: Outdated Emotion, Delbert McClinton
May 13: Every Hat is a Cowboy Hat, Scott Stevens
May 13: Black Banjo, Tray Wellington
May 20: American Heartbreak, Zach Bryan
May 20: Way Back, High Valley
May 20: Wildhorse, Matt Koziol
May 20: Dirt Does Dylan, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
May 20: Kenny Rogers: All in for the Gambler CD/DVD, Kenny Rogers
May 20: I Hope I Know, Seth Walker
May 27: Jerry Jeff, Steve Earle & The Dukes
May 27: Hard Workin' Man, The Singing Contractors
June
June 2: One of These Days EP, Sophia Scott
June 3: Something I Would Do EP, MaRynn Taylor
June 3: Welcome to the Club EP, Twinnie
June 3: Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition), Chris Young
June 3: Love Talking, Eli Young Band
June 9: Kellyoke EP, Kelly Clarkson
June 10: As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, Bill Anderson
June 10: Spray Painted Line, Ray Fulcher
June 10: Snacks, Corey Grinder & The Playboy Scouts
June 10: Honestly, Jillian Jacqueline
June 10: Walkin' on a Wire, Danni Leigh
June 10: Coastin' EP, Niko Moon
June 10: Denim & Rhinestones, Carrie Underwood
June 17: Come on With It EP, Coffey Anderson
June 17: Songs About You, Brett Eldredge
June 17: Unwanted Man, Aaron Watson
June 17: Southern Circus, IV and the Strange Band
June 17: Rich White Honky Blues, Hank Williams Jr.
June 24: Tulip Drive, Jimmie Allen
June 24: Blue Highway, Blackhawk
June 24: 52- In the Key of Summer, Kristian Bush
June 24: Growin' Up, Luke Combs
June 24: Balls, Elizabeth Cook
June 24: Madeline Edwards EP, Madeline Edwards
June 24: Rebel In The South, Creed Fisher
June 24: A Tale of 7 Cities EP, Raleigh Keegan
June 24: In My Head, Peytan Porter
June 24: This Music Be the Place, Brandon Stansell
June 29: Planes Don't Wait EP, Shawn Austin
July
July 1: P.S., Kylie Morgan
July 1: Teddy and the Rough Riders, Teddy and the Rough Riders
July 8: I'll Tell You What's Gonna Happen, Kimberly Kelly
July 15: Peculiar, Missouri, Willi Carlisle
July 15: Jacob, Ty Herndon
July 15: Self-Titled, The Local Honeys
July 15: Kingmaker, Tami Neilson
July 15: History of Breaking Up (Part Two), Alannah Springsteen
July 15: All This Life, Parker Twomey
July 15: Open the Road, We Banjo 3
July 22: The Rest of It's Mine, Billy Dean
July 22: Firstborn, Nicolle Galyon
July 22: Vol. 1 EP, The Kentucky Gentlemen
July 22: Birds in the Ceiling, John Moreland
July 22: Nation of Heat Revisited, Joe Pug
July 29: 100 Proof Neon, Ronnie Dunn
July 29: Choosing You, Brooke Eden
July 29: Half the Story EP, Patrick Murphy
July 29: Tornillo, Whiskey Myers
July 29: Radio Check, Wade Sapp
July 29: Take It Like a Man, Amanda Shires
August
Aug. 5: Might as Well Be Me EP, Travis Denning
Aug. 5: Livin' My Best Life, Dylan Scott
Aug. 5: The Future's Neon, CJ Solar
Aug. 5: Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson, Various Artists
Aug. 12: Somewhere Between a Secret and the Truth, Wade Bowen
Aug. 12: Make a Little Room, Steve Moakler
Aug. 12: Love Is The Only Thing, Peter Mulvey and SistaStrings
Aug. 12: Getcha Some EP, Frank Ray
Aug. 12: No Regular Dog, Kelsey Waldon
Aug. 12: Lunatics, Lovers & Poets, The Western Express
Aug. 19: Boy From Anderson County To The Moon, Kolby Cooper
Aug. 19: Dancin' in the Country EP, Tyler Hubbard
Aug. 19: The Show: Live From The UK, Gretchen Peters
Aug. 19: Vol. II, Watkins Family Hour
Aug. 19: All Those Days of Drinking Dust, Tiffany Williams
Aug. 26: Good Person, Ingrid Andress
Aug. 26: Long Time To Be Gone, Nora Brown
Aug. 26: Volunteer Jam 1 - 1974 - The Legend Begins, Charlie Daniels and Friends
Aug. 26: My Heart and My Head, Steffi Jeraldo
Aug. 26: Under Cover EP, Valerie June
Aug. 26: Young Blood, Marcus King
Aug. 26: Game Changer, Jim Lauderdale
Aug. 26: Highway 99, Alexander Ludwig
Aug. 26: What I Get for Loving You EP, Seaforth
September
Sept. 2: Strong, Ian Flanigan
Sept. 2: Mr. Saturday Night, Jon Pardi
Sept. 2: Guardian, Ragland
Sept. 2: Wonderland, Martha Spencer
Sept. 9: Cross Country, Breland
Sept. 9: Different Man, Kane Brown
Sept. 9: The Man from Waco, Charley Crockett
Sept. 9: Electric Mountain, Derek Hoke
Sept. 9: I Draw Slow, I Draw Slow
Sept. 9: The Way Back, Jeremy McComb
Sept. 15: Dallas/Fort Worth, Drake Milligan
Sept. 16: Made in the USA, Clayton Anderson
Sept. 16: Brand New Country, Brei Carter
Sept. 16: Let's Sing Some Country!, Dailey & Vincent
Sept. 16: Bad Days Better, Adam Hood
Sept. 16: Shine All Night, Hot Buttered Rum
Sept. 16: Side A EP, Kat & Alex
Sept. 16: Mr. Sun, Little Big Town
Sept. 16: If It All Goes South, Amy Ray
Sept. 16: god's work, LeAnn Rimes
Sept. 16: This is the Heavy, Mitchell Tenpenny
Sept. 16: Outside the Box, Gene Watson
Sept. 23: Conversations with My Other Voice, Buick Audra
Sept. 23: Subject to Change, Kelsea Ballerini
Sept. 23: The New Faith, Jake Blount
Sept. 23: Quaalude Lullabies, Chris Canterbury
Sept. 23: Denim & Diamonds, Nikki Lane
Sept. 23: Through The Madness Vol. 2, Maddie & Tae
Sept. 23: Come on Sunshine, Kendell Marvel
Sept. 23: Married Alone, Sunny Sweeney
Sept. 28: In These Silent Days (Deluxe), Brandi Carlile
Sept. 30: Country Born, Drew Baldridge
Sept. 30: Mary Bragg, Mary Bragg
Sept. 30: Tears the Size of Texas, Ben Burgess
Sept. 30: 52-New Blue, Kristian Bush
Sept. 30: Keep Up With a Cowgirl, David Adam Byrnes
Sept. 30: Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?, Tyler Childers
Sept. 30: A Great Many Things, Mariana Devlin
Sept. 30: Barstool Whiskey Wonderland, Adam Doleac
Sept. 30: This Machine Still Kills Fascists, Dropkick Murphys
Sept. 30: The Liar, John Fullbright
Sept. 30: 1992 EP, Jennifer Hart
Sept. 30: Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde
Sept. 30: Round Feet, Chrome Smile, Ragged Union
Sept. 30: November Songs EP, Shadowlands
Sept. 30: A Hundred Highways, Zach Williams
October
Oct. 7: Mood Swings EP, Avery Anna
Oct. 7: Loose Future, Courtney Marie Andrews
Oct. 7: Forsythia, Caleb Caudle
Oct. 7: Kings Of The Dairy Queen Parking Lot: Side B, Everette
Oct. 7: Shapeshifter, Violet Bell
Oct. 14: Real to Me: The Way I Feel, Callista Clark
Oct. 14: Feel Like Coming Home, Miko Marks
Oct. 14: Songs to Say I Do EP, Kylie Morgan
Oct. 14: A Holly Dolly Christmas Ultimate Deluxe, Dolly Parton
Oct. 14: Sisyphus Happy, M. Lockwood Porter
Oct. 14: Homecoming, Randy Rogers Band
Oct. 14: War Hippies, War Hippies
Oct. 14: Glasshouse Children: Tilted Crown, Sam Williams
Oct. 14: Leave the Light On EP, Bailey Zimmerman
Oct. 21: Western, Spencer Crandall
Oct. 21: Manchester, Sam Grow
Oct. 21: Spirit & Joy, Jamie O'Neal
Oct. 21: Wyoming, Jo Smith
Oct. 21: Midnights, Taylor Swift
Oct. 21: Waging Peace, Alex Williams
Oct. 28: Providence, The Great Divide
Oct. 28: Honey Harper & The Infinite Sky, Honey Harper
Oct. 28: The Hometown Kid, Gabe Lee
Oct. 28: Sweet Tooth, Mali Obomsawin
Oct. 28: Ain't in No Hurry, Julie Roberts
Oct. 28: Longcut, Mike Ryan
Oct. 28: Free, for a While, Joseph Shipp
Oct. 28: Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson
November
Nov. 4: Russell Dickerson, Russell Dickerson
Nov. 4: Crashland, Madeline Edwards
Nov. 4: Palomino, First Aid Kit
Nov. 4: On the Ranch, Emily Nenni
Nov. 4: On the Edge, Stephanie Quayle
Nov. 4: JR Vol 3: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, Various Artists
Nov. 4: This is Your Brain on Love EP, Lauren Weintraub
Nov. 10: So Help Me God, Brantley Gilbert
Nov. 11: Note to Self, Randy Houser
Nov. 11: Blood Harmony, Larkin Poe
Nov. 11: God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition), Craig Morgan
Nov. 11: Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver, Various Artists
Nov. 18: if your tired heart is aching..., Bo Armstrong
Nov. 18: Enjoy the Ride, Vince Herman
Nov. 18: Same Truck: the Deluxe Album, Scotty McCreery
Nov. 18: Live at Bodukan, Willie Nelson
Nov. 18: Diamonds & Rhinestones: the Greatest Hits Collection, Dolly Parton
Nov. 18: CAZIMI, Caitlin Rose
Nov. 18: Moonrise, Granger Smith
Nov. 18: ME/AND/DAD, Billy Strings
December
Dec. 2: Cody Johnson & The Rockin' CJB Live, Cody Johnson
Dec. 2: First Christmas In Love EP, Jordana Bryant
Dec. 9: Tale Of Two Towns Vol. 1, Brandon Ratcliff
Dec. 16: What We're Known For, Adam Warner
