Messina Replaces Jewel, Hank Jr. Launches New Whiskey

Messina to Replace Jewel for Nashville Symphony Series

Jo Dee Messina will perform with the Nashville Symphony this weekend, taking the place of Jewel, who was forced to cancel due to illness. Messina will be featured as part of the Bank of America Pops Series, to be held November 11-13 and Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena.

The Grammy-nominated artist, with an illustrious career of nine No. 1 singles and awards from both the CMA and the ACM, will perform her biggest hits and songs from her latest effort, a trilogy of EPs entitled Unmistakable.

Hank Jr. Launches Tennessee White Whiskey

Hank Williams Jr. announced the launch of Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey. This spirit, courtesy of a “secret recipe blend” by the late Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, will debut in Middle Tennessee bars and expand accordingly throughout the region. Legendary moonshine maker Sutton was known for the “smooth going down” taste, and as a business partner with J&M Concepts and widow Pam Sutton, Hank Jr. has been entrusted with keeping the legend alive.

While Hank Jr. never met Sutton before his death in 2009, he was an admirer of the moonshine runner as a man who appreciates good liquor and respects the free spirited souls of mountain men. “He was the last of the real mountain moonshiners,” Hank Jr. explains. “Popcorn was part of the real ‘Thunder Road’ legend, and that is a real part of country music history.

Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey is the first “white whiskey” to be approved by the federal government. Hank Jr. celebrated the launch of the new whiskey with friends Kid Rock, Martina McBride, Zac Brown, Jamey Johnson, the Grascals, Randy Houser and Tanya Tucker.