Artist Updates: Craig Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Kane Brown, Mark Collie, Ashley McBryde

Pictured (L-R): Chris DuBois (Sea Gayle Music), Tim Teague (guitar), Jerrod Niemann and Abi Tapia (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Jerrod Niemann performed and told stories about his career during the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s  Songwriter Session at the Ford Theater in Nashville on Saturday (June 17). Niemann performed songs like “My Saving Grace” and “Redneck Side of Me” which he co-wrote for Jamey Johnson, and recounted stories from his 10-plus year career during the event.

Kane Brown’s Self-Titled Debut Gets Vinyl Treatment

Kane Brown is set to release a vinyl version of his self-titled debut album on June 30. Featuring updated cover artwork, the vinyl album contains seven tracks penned by Brown and 11 tracks total, including “What Ifs,” and the autobiographical track, “Learning.” Kane Brown is produced by Matt McVanay and Dann Huff.

Mark Collie Helps Tennessee Inmates Through New Music Therapy Program

Mark Collie has been appointed Corizon Health’s Music Therapy Ambassador and will be working with Corizon’s behavioral health team to develop practices for integrating music into group counseling sessions for Tennessee inmates. A 10-week pilot program focused on inmates diagnosed with a variety of mental illnesses such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse Disorder has launched this month at two Tennessee correctional facilities, and the initiative will involve groups receiving a trauma-focused curriculum with music activities to highlight teaching points from the program. During weekly sessions, Collie will lead music expression through a variety of techniques including songwriting, singing and playing instruments.

Ashley McBryde Makes Opry Debut

Ashley McBryde made her Grand Ole Opry debut last Friday, (June 16) performing her SiriusXM “Highway Find,” “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” and some other tracks from her upcoming album produced by Jay Joyce. She’ll join Eric Church and The Brothers Osborne on the road for select dates in September.