Warner Music Nashville Celebrates 2017 With CMA After-Party

Warner Music Nashville toasted awards season ahead of the 51st Annual CMA Awards this week with a spirited celebration surrounded by its label family, artists and management teams, gathering with WMN Chairman and CEO John Esposito to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. From Chris Janson, RaeLynn and Brett Eldredge’s No. 1 debuts on the Billboard country albums charts, to Blake Shelton, High Valley and Cole Swindell’s sold-out tour stops, the WMN family had much for which to be thankful for.

Additionally, following the 51st Annual CMA Awards, artists, staff and industry guests gathered at the George Jones Museum downtown, pictured below.

Photos by John Shearer/Getty Images for Warner Music Nashville

Pictured (L-R) Row 4: Monique Benjamin (SVP Finance), William Michael Morgan, Megan Joyce (SVP Business & Legal Affairs), Curtis Rempel (High Valley), Brad Rempel (High Valley), Matt Signore (COO), Morgan Evans, Ben Kline (SVP Global Revenue & Touring)
Row 3: Cale Dodds, Tim Foisset (VP Streaming), Frankie Ballard, Cole Swindell, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO), Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, Sophie Dawn (Walker County), Ivy Dene (Walker County)
Row 2: Shane Tarleton (SVP Artist Development), Dan Smyers (Dan + Shay), Shay Mooney (Dan + Shay), Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R), Michael Ray, Devin Dawson, Ryan Kinder, Ashley McBryde, Cris Lacy (SVP A&R)
Row 1: Tegan Marie, Kristen Williams (SVP Radio & Streaming), RaeLynn, Hunter Hayes, Bailey Bryan, Wes Vause (SVP Publicity), Randy Travis.

Pictured (L-R): Michael Ray, Curtis Rempel, Brett Eldredge, Brad Rempel, and Cale Dodds.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville John Esposito, Ashley McBryde, and Brett Eldredge

Pictured (L-R): Devin Dawson, Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville John Esposito, and Morgan Evans

Adkins Publicity Signs Tanya Tucker

Tanya Tucker

Tanya Tucker has joined recently-launched public relations company Adkins Publicity.

Tucker is the latest in a string of signings with the company, which owner Scott Adkins launched after exiting Webster PR. Others recently added to the Adkins Publicity roster include Gene Watson, Lucas Hoge, Phil Vassar, The Bellamy Brothers, Naomi Judd and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Tucker, a CMA and ACM-winning vocalist known for hits including “Delta Dawn,” “Two Sparrows In A Hurricane,” and “A Little Too Late,” recently performed on TBN’s Huckabee, NBC’s TODAY Show and graced the cover of Closer Weekly. She also recently appeared on Inside Edition, Fox News Edge, The Insider, Lifeminute, Celebrity Page and SiriusXM.

UMG Nashville Toasts Wins By Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and More

Universal Music Group Nashville celebrated the 51st Annual CMA Awards at an after-party at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum on Wednesday night (Nov. 8).

The label group brought home multiple trophies including Keith Urban, Single of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color;” Jon Pardi, New Artist of the Year; Chris Stapleton, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for From A Room: Volume 1; Brothers Osborne, Vocal Duo of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “It Ain’t My Fault;” and Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year.

(L-R): UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Darius Rucker, UMGN Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, UMG CFO and EVP – Boyd Muir. Photo Credit: Chris Hollo

(L-R): UMG CFO and EVP Boyd Muir, John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), TJ Osborne (Brothers Osborne), UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Jon Pardi, UMGN Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan. Photo Credit: Chris Hollo

(L-R): UMG CFO and EVP Boyd Muir, UMGN Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Hannah Lee Hunt, Sam Hunt. Photo Credit: Chris Hollo

Garth And Miranda Make History At CMA “Unity” Show

Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year at The 51st Annual CMA Awards, live Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

The ABC-TV network telecast of the 51st Annual CMA Awards conveyed a theme of love, unity and respect while honoring some of the genre’s most recognizable names.

Garth Brooks repeated his 2016 win as Entertainer of the Year. This set a CMA record of six wins for him in this category. Miranda Lambert also made history, claiming her seventh Female Vocalist award.

Little Big Town won its sixth Vocal Group prize. Mac McAnally topped his own record with his ninth Musician of the Year win. Chris Stapleton claimed his third Male Vocalist honor as well as Album of the Year. Brothers Osborne were also double winners, garnering Duo and Video awards.

Winners’ remarks and show highlights stressed a theme of unity and healing in the face of national catastrophes, including October’s mass shooting of fans during a country-music festival in Las Vegas.

“Tonight should be about harmony and what we can do together to change things,” said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. “Kindness is an attractive quality. We can change things if we step out together.”

“More than any other year, I feel like there is a family in the room tonight,” said Lambert.

“Miranda said it best: We are family,” echoed Brooks. “The most important people…are the people who allow us to do what we do – the fans.”

Carrie Underwood performs “Softly and Tenderly” at The 51st Annual CMA Awards, live Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. [Click to enlarge] Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

The show opened with Eric Church singing “Amazing Grace” and then Darius Rucker leading an all-star assemblage in performing his uplifting 1994 Hootie & The Blowfish hit “Hold My Hand.”

Co-hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley set the tone for the show. “This has been a year marked by tragedy,” said Underwood. “So tonight we’re going to do what families do—come together, pray together, cry together and sing together. Our music lifts…”

Later in the show, she stood in the center of Bridgestone Arena and sang “Softly and Tenderly” as photos of country-music folks we lost during the past year appeared. The segment concluded with portraits of all 58 Las Vegas victims.

One of the late performers she saluted was a 2017 award winner. Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson’s performance of “Funny How Time Slips Away” on Campbell’s final Adios album claimed the Music Event award.

Little Big Town performed a flawlessly harmonized version of Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” in tribute. Jimmy Webb, the song’s composer, accompanied the group on piano.

Brothers Osborne performs “It Aint My Fault” and “Tulsa Time” at The 51st Annual CMA Awards, live Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts saluted the late Troy Gentry by singing “My Town” on the show. Gentry’s duo partner Eddie Montgomery came onstage to sing the last verse and offered a shout-out to “T-Roy.” Angie Gentry, the star’s widow, wept in the crowd.

Brothers Osborne rocked their hit “It Ain’t My Fault” and then shifted gears into “Tulsa Time” to honor the late Don Williams.

Another highlight was Keith Urban’s introduction of his pulsing, heart-in-throat song “Female” as an anti-sexual harassment statement.

Kane Brown’s appearance with Brad Paisley during the cheery, downhome “Heaven South” was a statement of inclusion. Paisley’s t-shirt read, “Unity.”

Presenter Tyler Perry also offered a rebuke to the more extreme elements of Trump Nation. “It’s important that we come together and find some common ground, and realize that we are more alike than not alike,” he said.

Rucker’s show-opening appearance and the prominence of The McCrary Sisters and Joanna Cotton during the Eric Church performance of “Chattanooga Lucy” also underscored the theme of diversity and inclusion.

Chris Stapleton performs “Broken Halos” at The 51st Annual CMA Awards, live Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: John Russell/CMA

Another musical highlight was Lambert’s stone-country delivery of “To Learn Her,” which earned her a standing ovation. The same was true for Stapleton’s soulful performance of “Broken Halos” and for Alan Jackson’s plain-spoken delivery of “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”

Brooks earned a long ovation for a torrid, dramatic performance of his current hit “Ask Me How I Know.” He shared his microphone with Mitch Rossell, who co-wrote the song.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill electrified the arena with the deeply romantic “The Rest of Our Life.” Reba McEntire offered an effective alto harmony on Kelsea Ballerini’s “Legends.”

Other performances included Pink’s acoustic ballad “Barbie,” Old Dominion’s hit “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” Maren Morris and Niall Horan’s mash up of “I Could Use a Love Song” with “Seeing Blind,” Thomas Rhett’s “Unforgettable” and New Artist of the Year winner Jon Pardi’s “Dirt on My Boots.”

Luke Bryan’s “Light It Up” led into a Chevy commercial by him. Lauren Alaina sang The Youngbloods’ 1967 hippie peace anthem “Get Together” with Dan + Shay, which led into a Walmart commercial utilizing the same song.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host The 51st Annual CMA Awards, live Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Many of ABC’s TV stars were included as presenters, alongside such country artists as Trisha Yearwood, Brett Young, Luke Combs, radio winner Bobby Bones, Kellie Pickler, Brett Eldredge and an apparently reunited Sugarland.

Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” won Single of the Year. Taylor Swift’s “Better Man,” a hit for Little Big Town, won Song of the Year.

The CMA Awards telecast had many moments of levity, as well as healing. Co-host Paisley provided most of these, offering parody tunes ranging from “Before He Tweets” to “Total Eclipse of the Garth.”

The show’s theme of unity-through-song led Paisley to go off script at one point. “The warmth in this room tonight is amazing,” he stated. He also offered the telecast’s benediction: “This show is dedicated to all those we have lost….we will never forget you.”

New Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jackson closed the program with Paisley and Underwood doing a rousing rendition of “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.”

51st Annual CMA Awards Winners Announced

The winners were revealed for the 51st Annual CMA Awards last night (Nov. 8). The event aired live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Earlier in the day, the Musical Event of the Year honor went to Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell’s “Funny How Time Slips Away,” while the Music Video of the Year honor was awarded to Brothers Osborne’s “It Ain’t My Fault.”

Winners marked in red:

Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Keith Urban
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

New Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina

Music Video of the Year 
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett ft. Maren Morris
“Vice,” Miranda Lambert
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne

Vocal Duo of the Year
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Brothers Osborne

Single of the Year (Award goes to the artist, producer(s), and mix engineer(s))
“Better Man” – Little Big Town; Producer(s): Jay Joyce; Mix Engineer(s): Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban; Producer(s): Dann Huff, Keith Urban; Mix Engineer(s): Chris Lord-Alge
“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt; Producer(s): Zach Crowell; Mix Engineer(s): Zach Crowell
“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi; Producer(s): Bart Butler, Jon Pardi; Mix Engineer(s): Ryan Gore
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert; Producer(s): Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Mix Engineer(s): Eric Masse

Album of the Year (Award goes to the artist and producer(s))
The Breaker – Little Big Town; Producer(s): Jay Joyce
From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton; Producer(s): Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Heart Break-Lady Antebellum; Producer(s): busbee
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; Producer(s): Dave Cobb
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert; Producer(s): Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse

Song of the Year (Award goes to the songwriter(s))
“Better Man” — Songwriter(s): Taylor Swift
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Songwriter(s): Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen
“Body Like A Back Road” — Songwriter(s): Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Dirt On My Boots” — Songwriter(s): Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
“Tin Man” — Songwriter(s): Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

Vocal Group of the Year (Award goes to the group)
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Musical Event of the Year (Award goes to each artist)
Craving You – Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris)
Funny How Time Slips Away – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson
Kill A Word – Eric Church (feat. Rhiannon Giddens)
Setting the World on Fire – Kenny Chesney (with P!nk)
Speak to a Girl-Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Musician Of The Year (Award goes to the musician)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)

In October, Keith Urban congratulated winners of the 2017 CMA Broadcast Awards. Those winners included:

2017 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Winners:

National – “The Bobby Bones Show” (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, and Eddie Garcia–  iHeartMedia
Major Market – “Mike & Amy” (Mike Chase and Amy Faust) – KWJJ, Portland, Ore.
Large Market – “Amanda and Jesse” (Amanda Valentineand Jesse Tack) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
Medium Market – “Cash and Bradley” (Natalie Cash and Matt Bradley) – KWEN, Tulsa, Okla.
Small Market – “Officer Don and DeAnn” (Don Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.

2017 CMA Radio Station of the Year Winners:
Major Market – WIL – St. Louis, Mo.
Large Market – WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Medium Market – WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.
Small Market – WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.

Registration Open For ASCAP Expo

ASCAP’s “I Create Music” EXPO will be held Monday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 9 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. Registration has just opened for the 13th annual event at ascap.com/exporegister.

Every year, ASCAP welcomes aspiring music professionals of all types for three days of education and inspiration from some of the most talented and forward-thinking songwriters, composers, producers and industry executives in the music business. Previous keynote speakers include Justin Timberlake, Tom Petty, John Mayer, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Quincy Jones.

The EXPO agenda includes creative and business-focused panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, one-on-one sessions, networking events, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations and performances.

Industry Pics: The Valory Music Co., Banner Music, Warner Music Nashville, Belmont University

The Valory Music Co. Celebrates 10 Years

Pictured (L-R): The Valory Music Co.’s Ashley Sidoti, Adam Burnes, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, The Valory Music Co.’s Amy Staley, George Briner, Brooke Nixon, Don Gosselin, Lauren Simon and Brad Howell

The Valory Music Co. celebrated 10 years of success with a gathering this week in Nashville. With over 8.5 million albums and 40 million singles sold, the powerhouse imprint toasted to a decade of accomplishments including 31 No. 1 singles and albums. The roster includes chart-topping acts Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Eli Young Band as well as rising stars Delta Rae and Tara Thompson.

 

Banner Music At The Listening Room Cafe

Pictured (L-R): Alex Dooley, Josh Johnson, Brooke McBride, Victoria Powell, Sam Varga, Daniel Kleindienst, Shelby Lee Lowe, Matt Bell

On Tuesday (Nov. 7) Banner Music took over The Listening Room Cafe for two special writers rounds in partnership with The Movement. Banner Music writers Daniel Kleindienst, Shelby Lee Lowe, Alex Dooley, Victoria Powell, and Josh Johnson were joined by special guests Brooke McBride, Sam Varga, and Matt Bell.

Banner Music’s next venue takeover will be held on Dec. 5 at The Frisky Frog.

 

Warner Music Nashville Celebrates Tegan Marie

Pictured (L-R): John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN); Tegan Marie; Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R;, WMN)

Warner Music Nashville recording artist Tegan Marie visited her label home recently to preview her new music for label execs including WMN Chairman and CEO John Esposito, and EVP A&R Scott Hendricks, as well as her Sweety High management team Frank Simonetti and Veronica Zelle. Tegan Marie’s label home surprised the rising singer, who recently celebrated her 14th birthday, with a birthday cake and rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Tegan Marie is expected to release new music in the New Year.

 

Belmont University Welcomes BBC Announcer Bob Harris

Pictured (L-R): Belmont professor Don Cusic, Bob Harris and BBC producer Trudy Myerscough-Harris.

Legendary BBC announcer Bob Harris, whose Bob Harris Show is the only country show on BBC Radio, spoke to students at Belmont University on Tuesday evening.

Prescription Songs Signs Truitt

(L-R):Presciption Songs’ Katie Fagan, Brigetta Truitt, Brett Truitt, Rachel Wein

Prescription Songs has signed duo Truitt, the musical brainchild of siblings Brett Truitt and Brigetta Truitt. Beginning in 2016 with their self-titled, self-released, EP the two quickly gained traction on Nashville’s ever expanding pop music scene.

Truitt spends much of their time behind the scenes penning songs for other artists. Their most recent placement was the song “Constellation,” recorded by Win and Woo, which was featured in a Blue Moon campaign on SoundCloud. The duo has also been busy releasing collaborations with artists such as Brooks Brown, Light House, and Rusty Hook—the latter of which was released by L.A. music collective/ record label Moving Castle.

They have been covered on sites and print magazines including JustJaredJr, Substream Magazine, and PopCrush.

Truitt is managed by Risch Group, Nashville.

Nashville Writers Nominated For NY Songwriters Hall of Fame

Several writers with Nashville ties are nominated for election to the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City. The organization announced its slate of nominees, which includes Tom T. Hall and Alan Jackson in the Performing Songwriters category, and Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff, Kye Fleming/Dennis Morgan, and Randy Goodrum in the Non-Performing Songwriters category.

The Annual Induction & Awards Gala will take place June 14, 2018 in New York.

To qualify for induction, a songwriter must be a published writer for a minimum of 20 years with a notable catalog of hit songs.

Eligible voting members will have until Dec. 17, 2017 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from a non-performing and three from a performing category. For information on joining or renewing as a voting member before Nov. 17 in order to participate in this election, please go to songhall.org/join.

Bios and photos of the 2018 nominees from songhall.org:
(Note the five songs listed after each nominee are merely a representative sample of their extensive catalogs)

Performing Songwriters

Tom T. Hall—Known as “The Storyteller,” Country Music and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Tom T. Hall typically told stories in songs such as the Grammy-winning “Harper Valley PTA,” which allowed Jeannie C. Riley to top both the pop and country singles charts in 1968, and Hall’s own No. 1 country hit “(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine,” which Rolling Stone has ranked in its list of 100 greatest country songs. Hall’s other hits include country classics “I Love,” “Country Is,” “The Year Clayton Delaney Died,” “I Like Beer” and “Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet).” Other artists who have recorded Hall compositions include Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings and Alan Jackson, who took his “Little Bitty” to No. 1 on the country charts in 1996.
Key songs in the Hall catalog include: * Harper Valley PTA * I Love * Old Dogs Children And Watermelon Wine * I’m Not Ready Yet * Little Bitty

Alan Jackson—Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson, who is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, has had 35 No. 1 country hits since his 1989 debut, having written or co-written 26 of them. They include such landmark singles as “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” (1991) and “Chattahoochee” (1993)—both earning Billboard song-of-the-year citations—and “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” Jackson’s 2001 response to 9-11 that won multiple awards at the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Awards, including Song of the Year, and also earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Country Song. Besides writing hits for other country artists including Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Clay Walker and Chely Wright, Jackson has covered songs honoring his favorite singers including Charley Pride, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard and George Jones, while winning over 50 ASCAP awards for his own writing.
Key songs in the Jackson catalog include: * Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) * Remember When * Chattahoochee * Here In The Real World * Drive (for Daddy Gene)

Mariah Carey: * Vision Of Love * One Sweet Day * Hero * Always Be My Baby * We Belong Together

Tracy Chapman: * Baby, Can I Hold You * Fast Car * Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution * Give Me One Reason * Across The Lines

Jimmy Cliff: * The Harder They Come * Many Rivers To Cross * Sitting In Limbo * Wonderful World, Beautiful People * You Can Get It If You Really Want

Alice Cooper: * No More Mr. Nice Guy * I’m Eighteen * School’s Out * Only Women Bleed * You And Me

Chrissie Hynde: * Brass In Pocket * Talk Of The Town * Back On The Chain Gang * I’ll Stand By You * My City Was Gone

Ernie, Marvin, O’Kelly, Ronald & Rudolph Isley & Chris Jasper p/k/a “The Isley Brothers”: * Fight The Power * It’s Your Thing * Nobody But Me * Shout * That Lady

Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown & James “JT” Taylor (Kool & The Gang): * Celebration * Fresh * Get Down On It * Joanna * Ladies Night

John Mellencamp: * Jack And Diane * Hurts So Good * Pink Houses * Small Town * R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.

Eazy-E (d), Dr Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren & DJ Yella p/k/a “NWA”: * Straight Outta Compton * F**k Tha Police * Express Yourself * Gangsta Gangsta * Boyz-N-Tha-Hood

Tom Waits: * Ol’ 55 * Jersey Girl * (Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night * Innocent When You Dream * Downtown Train

Non-Performing Songwriters

Bill Anderson—The only songwriter in history to have written charted songs in each of seven consecutive decades, legendary Grand Ole Opry headliner Bill Anderson is among the few country songwriters to cross over to the pop charts in the 1960s with such hits as “Still,” “8 X 10,” “The Tip of My Fingers” and “Mama Sang a Song.” His first #1 (of 14) was “City Lights” for Ray Price in 1958 – when Anderson was just 19, and he soon had hits with the likes of Connie Smith, Hank Locklin, Porter Wagoner, Jim Reeves, Faron Young, Roger Miller and Kitty Wells. Topping the country charts in the ‘60s and ‘70s with classic songs like “I Get the Fever,” “My Life” and “Sometimes,” the hits he had from the ‘90s on with artists including Steve Wariner, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, George Strait and Brad Paisley (whose Anderson-penned “Whiskey Lullaby” won the 2005 Country Music Association Song of the Year award) led to his becoming the first country songwriter to receive the BMI Icon Award, in 2002.
Key songs in the Anderson catalog include: * Mama Sang A Song * Po’ Folks * Still * Tips Of My Fingers * Whiskey Lullaby

Steve Dorff—Grammy and Emmy nominated Steve Dorff has written songs sung by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Anne Murray, George Strait and Vanessa Williams, while also establishing himself as a gifted film and television composer. He’s tallied over 40 BMI awards with hits like Rogers’ “Through the Years,” Murray’s “I Just Fall in Love Again” (Billboard’s top country hit of 1979), Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” Lee Greenwood’s “Don’t Underestimate My Love for You,” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose”—the title track from Clint Eastwood’s 1978 film. The father of actor Stephen Dorff and late songwriter Andrew Dorff, he also composed TV music for Spenser: For Hire, Murphy Brown, The Singing Bee, Just the 10 of Us, Growing Pains, Murder She Wrote, Columbo and Reba; his other film contributions include songs and scores for Bronco Billy, Rocky IV, Pure Country, Tin Cup and Honky Tonk Man.
Key songs in the Dorff catalog include: * Through The Years * I Just Fall In Love Again * Heartland * Every Which Way But Loose * Hypnotize The Moon

Kye Fleming/Dennis Morgan—Both signed to Charley Pride’s Pi-Gem Music publishing company headed by Nashville producer/publisher Tom Collins, Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan began writing together in 1978 and quickly churned out “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” which became Barbara Mandrell’s first country chart-topper that year. That the team had the magic touch was soon borne out by such country hits as Mandrell’s “Years” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World,” and Sylvia’s “Nobody” and “Tumbleweed.” Morgan was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004, and Fleming joined him there in 2009.
Key songs in the Fleming/Morgan catalog include: * Sleeping Single In A Double Bed * I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool * Crackers * I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World * Smokey Mountain Rain

Randy Goodrum—Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Randy Goodrum was the 1981 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year. But he had already made a big name for himself with hits like Anne Murray’s much-covered 1978 pop chart-topping signature song “You Needed Me.” Numerous other pop and country hits were forthcoming, most notably Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie” and DeBarge’s “Who’s Holding Donna Now” on the pop side, and Dottie West’s “Lesson In Leavin’” and the Kenny Rogers-Dottie West duet “What Are We Doin’ In Love” on the country side.
Key songs in the Goodrum catalog include: * You Needed Me * Bluer Than Blue * I’ll Be Over You * Foolish Heart * Oh Sherrie

L. Russell Brown/Irwin Levine (d): * Tie A Yellow Ribbon * Knock Three Times * I’m Gonna Boogie Tonight * Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose * I Woke Up In Love This Morning

Mike Chapman: * Kiss You All Over * Heart And Soul * Better Be Good To Me * Love Is A Battlefield * The Best

Jermaine Dupri: * Always Be My Baby * We Belong Together * Confessions Part II * U Got It Bad * Jump

Sandy Linzer/Denny Randell: * A Lover’s Concerto * Let’s Hang On To What We’ve Got * Native New Yorker * Opus 17 (Don’t Worry ‘bout Me) * Workin’ My Way Back To You

Tony Macaulay: * Baby Now That I’ve Found You * Build Me Up Buttercup * Don’t Give Up On Us * Last Night I Couldn’t Get To Sleep At All * Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

Maurice Starr: * Candy Girl * I’ll Be Loving You Forever * Is This The End * Jealous Girl * Step By Step

William “Mickey” Stevenson: * Beechwood 4-5789 * Dancing In The Street * Devil With The Blue Dress * It Takes Two * Pride And Joy

Allee Willis: * Boogie Wonderland * I’ll Be There For You * Neutron Dance * September * What Have I Done To Deserve This

 

Dollywood Child Season Passes For 2018 Include Copy Of Parton’s Children’s Album

All 2018 child season passes to Dollywood will come with a copy of Dolly Parton’s first-ever children’s album I Believe In You. The project, benefiting Parton’s Imagination Library program, was released Oct. 13 worldwide to critical acclaim.

With season passes for 2018 now on-sale, Smoky Mountain Christmas guests can upgrade a paid one-day admission ticket to a regular 2018 season pass for as low as $30.

Additionally, guests who book single-day tickets to Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country (in 2018 season), and Dollywood’s Dream More Resort & Spa have the ability to add the album to their purchase. The album is also featured in retail locations throughout the Dollywood attractions.

Visit dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD for more information, including operating days and hours, daily show schedule and more.