‘Bout damn time.
It’s safe to say 2025 was arguably the biggest year to debate from the Red Dirt legends, Turnpike Troubadours. In addition to scoring massive opening spots on Cross Canadian Ragweed’s highly successful “Boys From Oklahoma” concert series, both in Stillwater, Oklahoma and Waco, Texas, the Red Dirt legends would also score appearances at Zach Bryan’s concerts over the summer, notably performing to his huge, sold-out shows at both BST Hyde Park in London and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Of course, they also released their sixth studio album, The Price of Admission, in April to high praise from both fans and critics alike. Marking the second release since the band returned from an extended hiatus, The Price of Admission proved to many (myself included) why Turnpike is ultimately one of the greatest bands in the history of the genre, featuring some all-time tracks from the group such as “Heaven Passing Through,” “On The Red River” and the severely underrated, “Ruby Ann.”
2026 has been no different for the Red Dirt band. Throughout the year, they’ve been selling out venues across the country on their extension of 2025’s Wild America tour and a plethora of dates with Muscadine Bloodline. Couple that with a few sold-out stadium shows with Cross Canadian Ragweed once again, dropping a stellar cover of Robert Earl Keen’s “Feelin’ Good Again” with Sierra Hull back in June and scheduling back-to-back nights at Red Rocks in May of 2027.
The past few weeks, in particular, have been particularly successful. Back on October 16th, they teamed up with Zach Bryan on “Plainsman,” a track from the fellow Oklahoman’s new EP, Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs — a project that landed Bryan a #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and a #2 entry on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Unsurprisingly, the song has been a huge hit for the pair — Turnpike in particular. In fact, it’s been such a success that “Plainsman” is officially the Red Dirt legend’s first-ever entry on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, debuting this week at #45 on the chart with six million official streams and nearly 1,000 downloads in the U.S. alone.
Additionally, “Plainsman” earns Turnpike their first-ever entry on the Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative charts, debuting at #14 on each. This marks just their second-ever entry on any of Billboard’s songs charts, with the first being the aforementioned “Heaven Passing Through,” which peaked at #46 on Country Airplay back in March.
Their first-time entry on the Hot 100 comes during a string of career firsts for Turnpike. Back in September, they scored their first-ever set of certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), receiving Platinum plaques for “7&7,” “Good Lord Lorrie,” “Long Hot Summer Day” and “Gin, Smoke, Lies,” as well as Gold plaques for “Every Girl,” “Diamonds & Gasoline” and “Play No Rent.”
With a hugely successful past two years, and more on the horizon heading into 2027, it’s a great time to be a Turnpike fan.
“Plainsman”
Turnpike Troubadours Tour Dates
October 24 – St. Augustine, Florida – The St. Augustine Amphitheater with Muscadine Bloodline & Drayton Farley
October 25 – Clearwater, Florida – The BayCare Sound with Muscadine Bloodline & Drayton Farley
November 14 — Phoenix, Arizona– The Hondo Rodeo
December 11 — Las Vegas, Nevada — Brooklyn Bowl Vegas
February 13 — San Antonio, Texas — San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo 2027
March 19-21 — Willowbank, Australia — CMC Rocks
April 25 — Indio, California — Stagecoach
May 13 — Morrison, Colorado — Red Rocks Amphitheater
May 14 — Morrison, Colorado — Red Rocks Amphitheater