Country Music

Classic Country Music Hits

Country Music

“LAS VEGAS HAS SEEN A LOT. THIS… WAS DIFFERENT.” Las Vegas thought it was ready. It wasn’t. The Red Clay Strays walked out and suddenly “Folsom Prison Blues” didn’t sound like a song anymore. It sounded heavy. Loud. Alive. The kind of sound that makes people stop talking and just stare. Then Gabriella Rose stepped onto the stage. No big announcement. No drama. Just a quiet moment before everything cracked open. For a few minutes, it felt like the room shifted. Like old country found its way back under the lights. You could almost feel someone watching from the shadows. And when it ended, nobody rushed to clap. They needed a second.

The Red Clay Strays and Gabriella Rose Channel Johnny Cash in Las Vegas

The National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas isn’t just the Super Bowl of rodeos — it’s also a celebration of country music. With ten rounds of non-stop action, the city becomes a magnet for some of the best names in the genre. And this year’s lineup didn’t disappoint, featuring performances from Zach Top, Riley Green, Cody Jinks, Ian Munsick, Colter Wall, and many more.

Among the standout moments? The Red Clay Strays bringing up viral newcomer Gabriella Rose for a surprise duet of Johnny Cash’s iconic “Folsom Prison Blues.”

A Cover with Grit and Soul

Gabriella Rose, who’s been making waves with her breakout single “Doublewide” and was recently announced as a supporting act for J.R. Carroll’s Hometown Hero Tour, joined the Alabama-based band on stage — and together, they laid down a cover that can only be described as timeless.

Frontman Brandon Coleman kicked things off with raw, Cash-like energy before handing off the second verse to Rose, whose old-soul vocals stunned the crowd. Their chemistry, both vocally and stylistically, made the performance feel like it could’ve been pulled straight from the golden era of country music.

As the bridge hit, Coleman leaned into his guitar part with a subtle Elvis sway, adding even more vintage flair to the already electric performance.

Watch the Performance

@theredclaystrays
Glad we got to sing one with ya @Gabriella Rose
♬ original sound – The Red Clay Strays

The internet lit up in response:

  • “Johnny Cash would approve of this band and this cover.”
  • “Yes! More Red Clay Strays and Gabriella Rose, please.”
  • “I don’t think there’s a song they can’t sing!!”
  • “Brandon Coleman is the songbird of our generation.”
  • “Please record this.”

Revisit the Original from The Man in Black

To truly appreciate the tribute, queue up the original version by Johnny Cash — a classic that continues to inspire artists across generations:

“I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend…”

Whether you were in Vegas or catching the clips from home, this moment was proof that country music’s roots run deep — and with voices like these, its future looks just as bright.

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Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens — When Fame Changed Everything. Before Merle Haggard was a legend, Bonnie Owens believed in him. She sang backup. Gave advice. Opened doors. Then fame arrived — and everything tilted. Merle cheated. Drifted. Took her devotion for granted. Bonnie stayed longer than she should have. Years later, Merle confessed: “I hurt the best woman I ever knew.” Some success stories are built on sacrifice. And some regrets never stop singing back.

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