Photo Collage

Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski visited the CMT Top 20 Countdown yesterday (4/4) to talk about the first Alison Krauss & Union Station album in seven years, set for release April 12. During the taping Krauss and company had to retreat to a designated tornado shelter, but eventually got to discuss the new album Paper Airplane with CMT host Evan Farmer. See this episode Friday and Saturday (4/8 and 4/9) at 10AM/CT.

(L-R): Evan Farmer, Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski. Photo: Amber McSwain

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Revered hitmakers Steve Cropper and Jeffrey Steele headlined BMI’s 2011 Tin Pan South show on Thurday night (3/31) at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe. Steele, who has written more than 80 top ten hits, kicked the night off, and Stax-bred icon Cropper followed, backed by Steele and his ace band.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins and Jody Williams, Jeffrey Steele, BMI’s David Preston, Steve Cropper, and BMI’s Mary Loving.

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Kobalt Nashville helped songwriter Shane McAnally celebrate his first No. 1 recently. Co-written with JT Harding, “Somewhere With You” was recorded by Kenny Chesney, marking the artist’s 21st chart-topper.

Pictured at the party co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI at Cabana are (L-R): Kobalt client Shane McAnally; Kobalt Nashville’s Sr. VP Creative Whitney Daane; JT Harding; and Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer. Photo credit: Ed Rode

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Photographer Alan Mayor submitted this shot from his old files: Gov. Ned Ray McWherter wearing Willie Nelson pigtails. McWherter died yesterday (4/4) at age 80, and Mayor remembers the late politician as “always fun to be around.”