If 2025 was the year country music decided it was okay to wear cowboy hats with sweatpants, 2026 is apparently the year things get weird.
The folks over at the Bobby Bones Show just dropped their annual bucket of “bold, wild, and slightly unhinged” predictions for 2026, and we’re still trying to figure out if they’re using a crystal ball or just really strong Nashville espresso.
Since we at ACountry like to keep one boot on the ground (and the other in a honky tonk), we’ve decided to break down their “chaos” with some of our own highly professional, definitely-accurate-maybe reactions.
1. The “Major Country Divorce” Vague-Book
The show predicted a “major country divorce” without naming names. Our Take: This is the “horoscope” of country music predictions. It’s like saying, “It will rain at some point this year.” Technically, someone in Nashville is always breaking up. Our prediction? The only major divorce will be between fans and their bank accounts when the 2026 festival ticket prices drop.
2. Riley Green’s… Soft Side?
They’re pegging 2026 as a “softer” year for Riley Green. Our Take: Does “softer” mean he’s trading in the duck blind for a botanical garden? Is he going to start singing about the feelings of the fish he just caught instead of how he caught them? We’re not ready for a “Weighted Blanket” era of Riley Green, but we’ll listen to the ballads anyway.
3. The Bailey Zimmerman Legal “Situation”
There was a prediction about Bailey Zimmerman getting arrested (possibly a misunderstanding) and/or becoming a dad to a kid that isn’t his. Our Take: That’s not a prediction; that’s the plot of a 90s country music video. If Bailey gets arrested, we’re betting it’s for “Vocal Cord Overuse” or “Exceeding the Legal Limit of Energy.” As for the surprise baby? As long as the kid can scream-sing as well as Bailey, we’re on board.
4. The Dolly Parton Retirement (The “Off Limits” Topic)
While they agreed predicting a legend’s passing is a no-no, they did speculate Dolly might finally hang up the rhinestones. Our Take: Dolly Parton retiring is like the Grand Canyon closing. It’s a physical impossibility. Dolly doesn’t retire; she just expands her empire. 2026 is more likely to be the year she launches a Dolly-branded space station.
5. Megan Moroney: Entertainer of the Year?
The room agreed Megan Moroney is taking home the big hardware (ACM or CMA EOTY). Our Take: Finally, some sanity! We’ve been living in Megan’s world since “Tennessee Orange,” and frankly, it’s about time the industry caught up. If her 2026 tour doesn’t involve a mandatory “Blue Jeans and Eyeliner” dress code, we’re suing.
The Verdict: Predictions are like Nashville demo tapes; most of them won’t see the light of day, but the ones that do are going to be stuck in our heads all year. Whether Chris Gaines makes a comeback or Florida Georgia Line 2.0 becomes a reality, we’ll be here with the popcorn.
What do YOU think? Is 2026 the year of the “Unhinged Country Era,” or are we all just caffeinated? Let us know in the comments.
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