Country Sound Rocks The Woodlands

Rocking country duo beats the 100-degree heat with their own hotter than hot performance

Let’s face it – there aren’t many good reasons to go outside the loop (unless you count a visit to the in-laws), but Hank Williams Jr. and Chris Stapleton are a mighty fine reason for a visit to The Woodlands.

The twangy pair sold out the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Friday night where thousands of fans braved 100-degree temperatures to see the two country legends (yes, after Friday’s performance, Stapleton can surely be called a legend already) put on one heck of a show.

Kicking off the night was Texas’ own Wade Bowen. “I used to tell people I wrote this song for Chris Stapleton and no one knew who that was. My how things have changed,” the country musician joked.

One of the highlights for many country fans was the Willie Nelson connection on stage next to Stapleton. Mickey Raphael, Willie Nelson's harmonica player for 43 years now plays with Stapleton. Stapleton told Rare Country in July that he “pulls some legends,” when referring to having Raphael and other big guns by his side.

Stapleton, a Kentucky native clearly still in awe and shock of his own success, remained humble and fun on stage. "There's more people here than in the town I grew up in," he says.

More of a legend in musical rights, Hank Williams Jr. took the stage, starting off his set with his own rendition of Waylon Jennings “Are You Ready For The Country,” which fans in attendance most certainly were. Fans of all ages and all backgrounds packed the Pavilion to see the two musical geniuses. (If the temperature got too hot, the House of Blues Lounge allows all guests to cool off in the air conditioning, buy beverages and food before, during, and after a concert.)

Hank Jr., obviously, is the son and namesake of ultimate country legend Hank Williams, which fans continue to get nostalgic over. His style is much of his father's with some added southern and blues and rock and anything else he can throw in the mix to please fans.

The two continue their tour throughout the end of August with many sold out shows around the country.

Together, Stapleton and Hank Jr. closed out the night with their own rendition of the popular “Family Tradition.” We can all agree concerts like this should be more of a family tradition…at least in Houston.

Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton on stage at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands.

Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton, Aug. 2016, The Woodlands

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Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton on stage at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands.

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In the spotlight

Houston reels in new rank among 10 best cities for filmmakers in 2026

Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

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Houston has just snapped up new recognition as the No. 10 best place to live and work as a filmmaker in North America, according to MovieMaker Magazine's annual report, "The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2026."

The Bayou City has made improvements after ranking 12th in the magazine's 2025 list.

The annual list ranks the best cities in the U.S. and Canada for individuals to live while working in the film industry, based on production spending, tax incentives, cost of living, the prevalence of "local film scenes," and additional factors. The list is divided into two categories: 25 big cities and 10 smaller cities or towns.

The spotlighted cities are the places where the publication believes filmmakers "have the best chance of both succeeding in the famously difficult entertainment industry, and making [their] own art."

For up-and-coming filmmakers that want to live in Texas, MovieMaker says doing it in Houston is "more sustainable than ever" thanks to incentives like the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which increased its production grant rebate from 22.5 percent to up to 31 percent for qualified in-state spending. The report also said Houston has an "arms-wide-open" approach for filmmakers.

"As the biggest city in Texas, and fourth biggest city in America, Houston has nearly every type of location, from cityscapes to piney woods to rolling hills to nearby farmland," the report said. "It’s close to Galveston Island and the Gulf of Mexico, and car commercials love the absence of billboard advertising."

MovieMaker also highlighted Houston's diversity, its low cost of living compared to the national average, and its local festivals like the Houston Cinema Arts Festival and Houston Latino Film Festival.

"The city has enough film crew for two to three sizable features, and recent shoots have included the thrillers Eleven Days, with Taylor Kitsch, and A Love, from director Courtney Glaude, Tyler Perry Studios’ executive creator of Scripted and Unscripted," the report said. "Houston is also notable for a strong contingent of films with budgets under $1 million."

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin ranked as the No. 5 best place to live and work as a filmmaker in North America. Dallas ranked seventh, while neighboring Fort Worth ranked 12th. San Antonio appeared as No. 14, and El Paso landed 25th on the list.

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