Brittney McKenna

Sean Watkins, Chris Thile and Sara Watkins sequenced Nickel Creek's Celebrants as a way to write the album. "We wanted the songs to relate to each other," says Sara Watkins. Josh Goleman/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Andrew Combs' new album, Sundays, is focused on hopefulness in the wake of hardship. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Amanda Shires' new album, Take It Like a Man, is her finest release, encapsulating much of what makes Shires an artist deserving of the word "singular." Michael Schmelling/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Miranda Lambert's Palomino includes contributions from many Music Row mainstays, but also a playful assist from The B-52s. Robert Ascroft/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Caitlyn Smith's new album, High, is out April 8. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Across Brandi Carlile's new record, In These Silent Days, she sounds assured, content and, often, joyful. Neil Krug/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Left to right: Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins and Chris Thile chat with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in June 2001. NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images hide caption

The destroyed exterior of The Basement East following a tornado that struck in the early hours of March 3, 2020 in Nashville. At least 24 people have reportedly been killed, with many more still missing. Jason Kempin/Getty Images hide caption

Shovels & Rope's By Blood is out April 12 on Dualtone. Curtis Millard/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Yola's Walk Through Fire comes out Feb. 22 via Easy Eye Sound. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Becky Warren's new album, Undesirable, comes out October 19. Anna Haas/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lucero's new album, Among the Ghosts, is out August 3. Dan Ball/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lori McKenna's The Tree comes out July 20. Becky Fluke/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lera Lynn's Plays Well With Others comes out June 22. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Natalie Prass' The Future and The Past comes out June 1. Tonje Thilesen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Elise Davis' new album, Cactus, is due out later this year. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Joshua Hedley. Jamie Goodsell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Darlingside's Extralife comes out Feb. 23 via Thirty Tigers. Cameron Gee/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Caroline Rose's LONER comes out Feb. 23. CJ Harvey/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Courtney Marie Andrews' May Your Kindness Remain comes out March 23. Laura E. Partain/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lee Ann Womack's The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone is out Oct. 27. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Maren Morris's "Dear Hatred" is an epistolary conversation with hatred itself. Terry Wyatt/FilmMagic/Getty Images hide caption

Rodney Crowell's new album, Close Ties, comes out March 31. Joseph Llanes/Courtesy of the artist hide caption