CMT has announced its slate of original programming for 2016, including a new annual music event titled Concert of the Summer, as well as a second season order for I Love Kellie Pickler. In addition, the network is moving its annual CMT Artists of the Year event to October.

CMT also revealed the first round of casting for Million Dollar Quartet (working title), as well as the premiere dates for Still The King, The Dude Perfect Show and NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed at the network’s annual Upfront presentation held Thursday (March 3) at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

“Much like our hometown of Nashville, CMT embraces both tradition and change,” said Brian Philips, President of CMT. “This year, we are doubling our original programming to celebrate the bigger and broader country fan base. We’re crafting stories and characters that are multifaceted and unexpected.”

Drake Milligan and Kevin Fonteyne attend the 2016 Viacom Kids and Family Group Upfront on March 3, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Viacom)”

Coming this November, Million Dollar Quartet, produced by Thinkfactory Media’s Leslie Greif (Hatfields & McCoys) and directed by Oscar nominee Roland Joffé, is a coming-of-age story set in the unraveling world of 1950s Memphis where music and race collide, ultimately creating pop music’s first superstars.

After a nationwide casting call held at Elvis Presley’s high school alma mater in Memphis, CMT has cast Drake Milligan as young Elvis Presley, Kevin Fonteyne as Johnny Cash, and twins Christian Lees and Jonah Lees as cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart, respectively. Additional cast members will be announced at a later date. During the Upfront event, Fonteyne and Milligan performed together for the first time as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

The comedy Still The King debuts Sunday, June 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series stars Billy Ray Cyrus, Joey Lauren Adams, Madison Iseman, Lacey Chabert, Leslie David Baker, Kevin Farley, Travis Nicholson and Jon Sewell. Still The King follows Vernon (Cyrus), a scandal-ridden, washed-up, one-hit-wonder who crashes back into the life of his ex and discovers he had a daughter he knew nothing about.

The network’s signature event, the 2016 CMT Music Awards, premieres Wednesday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This summer, CMT also teams up with one of country’s biggest stars to redefine the concert-going experience; giving fans an all access pass and an unforgettable look at one of the year’s most sought-after tickets with the inaugural music event, Concert of the Summer. In addition, CMT Artists of the Year premieres live on Wednesday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

As previously announced, CMT will debut four new episodes of CMT Crossroads. Episodes feature Jason Derulo and Luke Bryan (summer), Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett (summer), Cheap Trick and Jennifer Nettles (March 24 at 11 p.m. ET/PT), and Rob Thomas and Charles Kelley (late spring).

Having notched three critically acclaimed documentaries watched by more than 25 million viewers, CMT’s slate this year includes the three-night event NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed (May 8, 15, 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT) as well as original documentaries The Bandit in August and Chicken People in November.

The Dude Perfect Show, whose trailer was released today to their 25 million fans, kicks off Thursday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Known for their wildly popular trick shot and stunt videos, the series, from producer Rob Dyrdek (MTV’s Ridiculousness and Fantasy Factory), follows the five viral sensations as they open the doors to their mancave in Dallas, Texas, to showcase exactly how they cook up their next crazy idea. The debut season will feature appearances from Luke Bryan, Chris Paul, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aaron Rogers and more.

On the heels of scoring CMT’s highest-rated series premiere since 2012 and highest with women since 2008, I Love Kellie Pickler from executive producer Ryan Seacrest returns for a second season in August, along with the 11th season of the fan-favorite Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, which is coming off its highest-rated season to date.

Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Sheryl Crow will headline Nashville’s July 4 celebration, which will include six acts in concert on two stages at Ascend Amphitheater and The Green at Riverfront Park, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp announced on Thursday (March 3).

Crow’s concert will be followed by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra accompanying the fireworks show. Also sharing the bill are Maddie & Tae, Erin McCarley, and Andrew Combs. Ruby Amanfu will open the free concert at 5 p.m. by starting her set with the National Anthem.

“With two stages and six acts, our free July 4 concert will showcase the great talent and the diversity of genres creating and performing music in Music City,” said Ken Levitan, board chair of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and co-president of Vector Management.

“This exciting new location will be a great venue for attendees to see and hear all the free music, and it will open up Lower Broadway for those interested in viewing the spectacular fireworks show. We expect tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy our Independence Day festivities, filling up hotel rooms across Davidson County and generating economic activity that is good for the city,” Levitan added.

There will be two main stages – the Jack Daniel’s Stage at Ascend Amphitheater and the Music City Stage at The Green at Riverfront Park. The Green is the grassy park space behind Ascend Amphitheater in the new section of Riverfront Park. Multiple screens will be placed throughout the event sites. Festivities will also take place on July 3, starting at 3 p.m. All times and artists subject to change.

Pictured (L-R): Ellen Bligh Truley, Cathy Grizzell

SESAC has announced the promotions of Ellen Bligh Truley to Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, and Cathy Grizzell to Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration. Effective immediately, the promotions were announced Thursday (March 3) by John Josephson, Chairman and CEO of SESAC.

Truley will continue to oversee all marketing, advertising, sponsorships, publicity, event production and digital strategy for the music rights organization, as well as for Harry Fox Agency, Rumblefish and SESAC. In her expanded role, Truley will be instrumental in the formulation of SESAC’s future marketing and creative strategies as they expand across SESAC’s combined portfolio of businesses. Truley will work closely with the senior management teams in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, London, and Portland, Oregon, as well as SESAC headquarters in Nashville. She reports directly to Josephson.

As Senior Vice President, Grizzell’s responsibilities will expand across SESAC’s combined portfolio of businesses of SESAC Performing Rights, the Harry Fox Agency and Rumblefish. She will guide the overall administration, coordination, evaluation and operation of Human Resources, Benefits Administration and Facilities Management/Operations. Grizzell has played a key role in the strategic initiative to expand SESAC’s operations into its new state-of-the-art facility on Music Row, where she will continue to manage expanded facilities operations. She reports directly to Kelli Turner, SESAC’s Executive Vice President, Operations, Corporate Development, and Chief Financial Officer.

“I am pleased to announce these richly deserved promotions,” Josephson said. “Cathy and Ellen are proven leaders who have played key roles in SESAC’s transformation through the years and been instrumental to developing and executing tactics that have led to SESAC becoming the dynamic and successful Music Rights Organization it is today.”

Formerly Vice President, Corporate Relations, Truley is a 20-year veteran of SESAC, joining the company in 1996 as Advertising/Promotion Manager before being elevated to Senior Director, Corporate Relations and, then, Associate Vice President in 2008. Truley is the head communication liaison, spearheading the development and execution of all SESAC’s branding, which has led to partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Luxury Resorts & Hotels, Netflix, Maker’s Mark, Icelandic Glacial Water, Red Bull and ReverbNation. A Nashville native, Truley holds a B.A. degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Advertising/Journalism and is a member of the Recording Academy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. She has been selected as one of Billboard’s Women In Music and also Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Music City for two consecutive years.

Grizzell joined SESAC in 1981 in the General Licensing department in New York. She then moved into Licensing Administration, Broadcast Licensing and Collections and was instrumental in the computerization of the Licensing and Collection systems which improved licensee retention and income. In 1987, she played a key role in moving General Licensing and Licensing Administration to Nashville and focused on building those departments and continued to computerize and streamline processes. In the mid-1990s, Grizzell transferred to the Corporate side of the company, where she focused on employee relations and benefits, ultimately resulting in the development of the Human Resources department. Grizzell was promoted to Vice President, Human Resources, in 2006. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Middle Tennessee Society of Human Resource Management (MT-SHRM), HR Leadership, the Recording Academy and the Country Music Association.

Rendering: Forestar Development Group/Niles Bolton Associates

The corporation owning nearly 1.38 acres of razed properties on Music Row has put the site back on the market, according to The Tennessean.

The property was purchased by Texas-based Forestar Group just over two years ago for $6.25 million, according to The Tennessean. Commercial brokerage firm HFF is in charge of the listing for the land.

Located on the former site of SESAC, the property was intended to be a 230-unit apartment building with retail, with the name Music Square Flats, MusicRow reported last March. It was expected to be open in early 2017 and encompassed the addresses of 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 Music Square West.

Pictured (L-R): Wynn Varble, Bobby Braddock. Photo: Glen Rose

On Tuesday, March 1, Music City celebrated The First And The Worst from its talented songwriter community as hit-makers Jessi Alexander, Bobby Braddock and Lee Brice, along with special guest Sandy Knox, performed the very first and worst songs they have ever written, as well as their biggest hits, to benefit Music Health Alliance. The event was hosted by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Peter Cooper.

Garth Brooks performs at Music Health Alliance, The First And The Worst fundraiser. Photo: MusicRow

Joining for the sold-out show was Garth Brooks, who stepped in for Chris Stapleton after an unforeseen scheduling conflict. The second annual event raised over $200,000 for the non-profit, representing more than half of its annual budget. Music Health Alliance has secured over $10 million dollars in life-changing healthcare resources and enabled access to doctors, medicine, health insurance and financial assistance for 4,100 music industry entrepreneurs and professionals in only three years.

“It gives me chills to witness our amazingly talented creative community come together to support the long-term health of our own industry at The First And The Worst,” said Music Health Alliance Founder and 2015 Nashville Healthcare Hero, Tatum Hauck Allsep. “Not only was it an incredibly memorable night of music, the funds raised will allow us to provide access to life-saving medicines, surgeries, treatments and health insurance that is not readily available to the majority of the music industry who are self-employed and part of small businesses.”

Country Music Hall of Famer Braddock received the “Crappy” Award for a song he wrote at the ripe old age of four, voted by over 500 audience members, as The First And The Worst’s most memorable song of the night. Last year’s recipient, Wynn Varble, presented the award. Braddock later received a standing ovation for his iconic song, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Angela Talley

Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Jessi Alexander. Photo: Angela Talley