The Bluebird Café has installed a new art exhibit featuring the work of Nashville songwriter Ray Stephenson. The exhibit features his paintings of legendary songwriters, both past and present.

The paintings Stephenson selected – and in some instances specifically painted – for the walls of The Bluebird Café concentrate exclusively on renowned figures in songwriting history. Some of these esteemed songwriters – from Willie Nelson to John Prine – have actually played The Bluebird Café.

In addition to paintings of Nelson and Prine, the exhibit also features paintings of Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Lennon & McCartney, Guy Clark and Johnny Cash.

Stephenson joined songwriter friends Buddy Owens and Steven Dale Jones on Friday (May 20) for an in-the-round performance and exhibit opening party.

“Music and painting for me are both sides of the same coin. They both are lyrical, both involve singing, both tell stories, and reach inside and speak to others from what is coming from inside of me,” Stephenson explains. “It’s an incredible opportunity to share both sides of my creativity in one venue, The Bluebird Café, which is where I began my songwriting career many years ago.”

Bluebird Café GM Erika Wollam Nichols said, “These ‘heroes of song’ that Ray brings to life through his paintings represent the shoulders on which today’s songwriters stand. Having them here at The Bluebird is both an homage to musical history and an inspiration for the current generation of writers who play here today. His work not only portrays these iconic figures but also reflects their spirits and their characters, through his use of composite imagery and text, in a way that no photograph can duplicate.”

Stephenson’s songwriting credits include the title tracks of Kenny Chesney’s Hemingway’s Whiskey and Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue.

CMT has announced that sportscaster/TV personality Erin Andrews and football star J.J. Watt will host the 2016 CMT Music Awards, live on Wednesday, June 8 at 8 pm ET/PT from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

In addition, Cam and pop group Fifth Harmony will perform a pop-country mash-up of the group’s hit single, “Work From Home.”

Newly-added presenters include Dan+Shay, Charles Kelley, Kellie Pickler and Cole Swindell, as well as actors Rob Riggle and Vince Vaughn, and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. Joey Lauren Adams and Madison Iseman of CMT’s upcoming series Still the King will also present. The series will debut on CMT on June 12. More performers and presenters will soon be announced.

Watt is known for his defense on the field with the Houston Texans. Andrews is recognized for her role as a FOX/Sports broadcaster and host of Dancing with the Stars. This marks Watt’s first time as host, while Andrews returns for a second consecutive year.

“I’m thrilled to come back to Nashville to co-host the CMT Music Awards,” said Andrews. “I had so much fun last year, and I can’t wait to see what antics J.J. and I will get into together. Plus, there’s nothing better than seeing my favorite country artists get recognized for their great work.”

“Having presented at the CMT Awards last year, I got a first-hand look at the energy and excitement of the event and I am very excited to be involved in a much larger capacity this year as co-host,” said Watt. “There are two things that I know about the people of Nashville…they love country music and they know how to throw a party. When you put those two things together, it makes for one heck of a night. I can’t wait to host the awards with Erin and be part of such a great night, honoring the biggest stars in country music.”

Fan voting continues until Monday, June 6 at 12:01 AM ET. On Wednesday, June 1, CMT will announce a brand-new surprise awards category.

Now in its fourth year, the BMI stage at Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, showcases some of the best up-and-coming musicians in genres ranging from rock to hip-hop to indie pop and more. The stage this year, held May 20-22, was no different, featuring 12 acts from around the Southeast, including Nashville.

 

 

On June 10, Universal Music Group Nashville will release Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 9, the latest installment in the popular NOW series.

Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 9 includes 15 No. 1 singles from today’s most popular country hits, plus a bonus track from NOW’s What’s Next artist, Clare Dunn.

The project is a joint venture from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, and is distributed by Universal Music Group.

Track Listing For Now That’s What I Call Country Volume 9

1. Luke Bryan, “Strip It Down”
2. Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
3. Carrie Underwood,”Smoke Break”
4. Cam, “Burning House”
5. Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
6. Chris Young, “I’m Comin’ Over”
7. Kenny Chesney, “Save It For a Rainy Day”
8. Brad Paisley, “Country Nation”
9. Dierks Bentley, “Drunk on a Plane”
10. Granger Smith, “Backroad Song”
11. Chris Janson, “Buy Me a Boat”
12. Maddie & Tae, “Girl in a Country Song”
13. Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs”
14. Jana Kramer, “I Got the Boy”
15. Brothers Osborne, “Stay a Little Longer”
16. Billy Currington, “Don’t It”
17. Old Dominion, “Break Up With Him”
18. Rascal Flatts, “I Like the Sound of That”
19. Clare Dunn, “Tuxedo