BIG & RICH TAKE ON THE AI DEBATE WITH THOUGHT-PROVOKING NEW SONG "HELLO, AI"

THE HEART OF A SONGWRITER IS THE BEST OF HUMANITY AND CANNOT BE DUPLICATED LEGALLY BY AI 

MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERED EXCLUSIVELY BY BILLBOARD; TUNE IN FOR LIVE STREAM ON MONDAY 7:00 PM CENTRAL on X @JOHNRICH 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 28, 2026) — Throughout their career, Big & Rich have never shied away from tackling topics that spark conversation, challenge conventional thinking, and encourage audiences to see the world through a different lens. From patriotic anthems to cultural commentary, the award-winning duo has built a reputation for hitting the bullseye on issues that matter to everyday Americans.

Kenny Alphin and John Rich penned “Hello, AI” to generate meaningful conversation about the future of creativity, intellectual property, and the irreplaceable role of human experience in the art of songwriting. The video is directed by frequent collaborator “Doc” Abbott.

Purchase / listen here. 

Watch here.

The music video was premiered exclusively by Billboard yesterday.  

SMARTURL LINK:

More than a song, "Hello, AI" is a conversation starter. It asks listeners to consider the future of intellectual property, artistic ownership, and the value of authentic human expression in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

As acclaimed songwriters whose work has influenced country music and crossed genre boundaries for more than two decades, Big & Rich understand firsthand the power of a song. They also understand what is at stake when the very foundation of creativity faces unprecedented challenges.

The song shines a spotlight on a growing concern among songwriters, artists, authors, filmmakers, and creators around the world: Can technology replicate creativity, or merely imitate it?

For Big & Rich, the issue extends far beyond the music business. At its core, it is about protecting one of humanity's most universal and unifying art forms, the ability to tell stories, share experiences, and connect people through song.

For more than twenty years, the duo has championed the voices of creators. Through "Hello, AI," they continue that mission by encouraging a thoughtful discussion about the future of songwriting and the importance of preserving the human right to create.

"Songs are born from life experiences, triumphs, failures, faith, heartbreak, hope, and imagination," says Big & Rich. "Technology can process information, but it cannot live a life. That's what makes human creativity irreplaceable."

For Big & Rich, the question isn't whether AI has a place in the future. Will society continue to recognize, protect, and value the creators whose work has inspired generations.

With "Hello, AI," Big & Rich invite listeners to join that conversation.

About Big & Rich

Big & Rich are America’s Technicolor cowboys, brothers-in-arms in service to the creed that great music has no boundaries. Individually, John Rich and Big Kenny are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers, entertainers. Together, they are one of the most truly original musical forces ever unleashed on a welcoming world. Big & Rich have made a career of being relatable and musically relevant since exploding into the public consciousness in 2003 as the rarest of breeds—true country music game changers. With 2004’s triple-platinum “Horse of a Different Color,” they were able to tap into the best strands of a wide spectrum of popular music, filter them through their pens and voices and produce a sound that is instantly recognizable, if not classifiable.

BIG & RICH AND GRETCHEN WILSON FEATURING COWBOY TROY 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TOUR

BIG & RICH AND GRETCHEN WILSON FEATURING COWBOY TROY 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TOUR

THE LEGENDARY MULTI-PLATINUM HIT MAKERS TOGETHER AGAIN TEARING IT UP ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AS ONLY THE REDNECK WOMAN AND TECHNICOLOR COWBOYS CAN DO

NASHVILLE, TENN. (February 12, 2024) —  The 2024 concert season, “ain't ever gonna be the same,” as the genre bending chart-topping duo Big & Rich, in collaboration with the incomparable Gretchen Wilson, announce the revival of the iconic MuzikMafia for an electrifying 20th-anniversary celebration tour. The multi-platinum hit-makers tagged as “Country Rebels” on Entertainment Weekly’s cover story, are set to kick off the tour February 23rd at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Full tour ticket information is available HERE.

In a celebration of two decades of musical fellowship, the MuzikMafia will hit the road once again, promising fans an experience filled with the spirit of country music collaboration and innovation that kicked off a true musical ‘movement.’ “The movement, a force to be reckoned with, changed the course of country music,” says John Rich of Big & Rich. 

MuzikMafia, a musical movement founded in the early 2000s, became synonymous with breaking genre boundaries and fostering creativity. Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy, key figures in the original MuzikMafia lineup, are set to bring back the magic that made the movement a force to be reckoned with. The legendary MuzikMafia jam sessions, was a movement that launched numerous careers and often had such superstars as Kid Rock, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and others drop by to jam on any given night. 

The tour is expected to showcase a mix of classic hits from their massive debut albums Here For The Party and Horse Of A Different Color that defined the act’s careers, as well as new collaborations that demonstrate the enduring creativity of these country music icons.

"Reuniting for the 20th Anniversary Celebration Tour feels like coming home," expressed Big & Rich. "The energy and camaraderie that defined the movement are as alive as ever, and we can't wait to share that with our fans.”

Gretchen Wilson added, "I’m not sure if it’s the smile on Kenny’s face, the fire in John’s eyes, or the red of my neck…but something tells me this year’s 20th anniversary is gonna be epic!”

Please refer to bigandrich.com/shows/ or gretchenwilson.com for more details on upcoming show dates.

2/23/2024 - San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, TX

3/9/2024 - Ostrich Festival, Chandler, AZ

4/6/2024 - Rock the Country, Gonzales, LA

5/10/2024 - Rock the Country, Rome, GA

6/2/2024 - Worldwide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL

6/8/2024 - Bradley 315 Fest, Bourbonnais, IL

6/21/2024 - Rock the Country, Mobile, AL

7/6/2024 - Pearl River Resort, Choctaw, MS

7/12/2024 - Country Concert, Fort Loramie, OH

7/13/2024 - Beaver Dam Amphitheater, Beaver Dam, KY

7/19/2024 - Rock the South, Cullman, AL

7/27/2024 - Rock the Country, Anderson, SC

8/16/2024 - Turning Stone Resort Casino – Event Center, Verona, NY

8/17/2024 - Foxwoods Resort Casino – Premier Theater, Mashantucket, CT

- MORE DATES BEING ADDED -

Tour Poster: HERE.

For updates, tour dates, and exclusive content, visit bigandrich.com or gretchenwilson.com and follow Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson on their social media channels.

FOX SPORTS’ BIG NOON KICKOFF TO FEATURE BIG & RICH WITH COWBOY TROY THIS WEEKEND WITH NEW SONG

The multi-platinum hit-makers will bring football fans to their feet with the new song set to the crowd favorite “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 3, 2023) – BIG & RICH is set to debut a new song for FOX Sports’ BIG NOON KICKOFF with a revved-up anthem featuring Cowboy Troy.  Fans can hear it this Saturday during BIG NOON KICKOFF, beginning at 10:00 AM ET on FOX. The familiar melody will have the listeners wanting to “Save A Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” before they catch the No. 7 Texas Longhorns take on the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats on FOX, live from Austin, Texas. 

Big & Rich’s John Rich states, "Big Kenny and I, along with our buddy Cowboy Troy are so excited to debut this song for FOX Sports’ BIG NOON KICKOFF this Saturday! It's a great feeling to have graduated to network television with FOX and be part of college football from coast to coast!"

The BIG NOON KICKOFF rendition is written by Big Kenny, John Rich and Cowboy Troy.

Big & Rich is no stranger to college football, as the super duo has spent the last 15 years opening ESPN’s “CGD” show with the hit “Comin’ To Your City.” 

Longhorns superfan Matthew McConaughey joins the show live on-campus this weekend.  Ironically, UT is Rich’s and Cowboy Troy’s favorite team as well.

About Big & Rich:

Big & Rich are America’s Technicolor cowboys, brothers-in-arms in service to the creed that great music has no boundaries. Individually, John Rich and Big Kenny are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers, entertainers. Together, they are one of the most truly original musical forces ever unleashed on a welcoming world. Big & Rich have made a career of being relatable and musically relevant since exploding into the public consciousness in 2003 as the rarest of breeds—true country music game changers. With 2004’s triple-platinum “Horse of a Different Color,” they were able to tap into the best strands of a wide spectrum of popular music, filter them through their pens and voices and produce a sound that is instantly recognizable, if not classifiable.

 Big Kenny:

William Kenneth Alphin, best known by his stage name Big Kenny, is an American country music singer. Her and John Rich comprise the duo Big & Rich,, who recorded six studio albums and charted nineteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Before Big & Rich, Big Kenny recorded a solo album, Live a Little, for Hollywood Records in 1999 (although it was not released until 2005) and fronted a band called luvjOi. He has also written or co-written several of Big & Rich’s songs with Rich, as well as singles for Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, McBride & the Ride, and Tim McGraw. His first solo single, “Long After I’m Gone,” was released to country radio on August 3, 2009, from the album, The Quiet Times of Rock and Roll Farm Boy.

 John Rich:

John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After departing from the band in 1998, he embarked on a solo career on BNA Records in the late 1990s, releasing two singles for the label and recording Underneath the Same Moon, which was not released until 2006. In 2001, he self-released Rescue Me, an album he was inspired to record by a cancer patient named Katie Darnell. By 2003, he joined Big Kenny to form the duo Big & Rich, who released three albums on Warner Bros.

About Cowboy Troy:

Cowboy Troy’s album, Songs from the Piney Woods (2023) gives the listener a window into Troy’s rendition of Texas country and traditional country. Back in 2020, Troy released his four-part Galaxy project. Each EP contained four songs each. Many songs were very forward thinking in the Hick Hop genre but some of the songs had a retro feel in the vein of Texas swing. Looking for the right mix of country radio friendly songs and dance club shakers, Troy intends on keeping the party going. Since 2001, Cowboy Troy has incorporated elements of rap into his version of country music. The native Texan continues to develop his artistry while exploring new topics and incorporating new sounds.

2022 saw Troy star as Finnegan in the western, Desperate Riders and appear in the Bar-S Foods, Ham or Turkey Time ad campaign video with Big & Rich. He was part of the ESPN College Gameday video intro, alongside Big & Rich, from the 2006 college football season until 2022. Troy has also served as co-host for USA Network’s Nashville Star in 2006 and 2007. Troy also performed on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars on the final episode of the 2012 Spring season.

John Rich hosts Redneck Riviera Whiskey tasting and signing at Kelley's Beach Liquors on September 1

WHO: Award-winning, multi-platinum hit-maker, entrepreneur and one half of the super-duo Big & Rich, John Rich

WHAT: Redneck Riviera Whiskey tasting and purchased bottle signing

A percentage of every sale from Redneck Riviera Whiskey will go towards Folds of Honor, an organization whose mission is to provide educational and scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. For more information, visit foldsofhonor.org. Redneck Riviera Whiskey has paid for over 50 college scholarships through the Folds of Honor program.

WHERE: Kelley's Beach Liquors located at 2435 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408

WHEN: Sunday, September 1 from 12 Noon - 1:30 p.m.

About Redneck Riviera:

Redneck Riviera, John Rich’s privately held lifestyle brand, celebrates America’s hard-working men and women. Built for people who live to turn up the music and have fun with friends and family, Redneck Riviera is America’s ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ brand that offers something for everyone who likes to rock the red, white and blue all year long. Launched in 2014, the brand brings these values to life through footwear, apparel, hospitality, food, spirits and licensed products in a variety of categories. Redneck Riviera has expanded its reach with the opening of a honky-tonk bar in Nashville, Tennessee's famous Lower Broad. More information can be found at www.redneckriviera.com.

About Eastside Distilling:

Eastside Distilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: EAST) has been producing high-quality, award-winning craft spirits in Portland, Oregon since 2008. The company is distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Burnside Bourbon, West End American Whiskey, Goose Hollow Reserve, Below Deck Rums, Portland Potato Vodka, Hue-Hue Coffee Rum and a distinctive line of fruit infused spirits. Eastside Distilling is majority owner of Big Bottom Distilling (makers of The Ninety One Gin, Navy Strength Gin and Delta Rye whiskey) and the Redneck Riviera Whiskey Co. All Eastside, Big Bottom and Redneck Riviera spirits are crafted from natural ingredients for quality and taste. Eastside’s MotherLode Bottling subsidiary is one of the Northwest’s leading independent spirit bottlers and ready-to-drink canners. For more information visit: www.eastsidedistilling.com or follow the company on Twitter and Facebook.