Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris’ nearly five decades in music will be spotlighted in a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Emmylou Harris: Songbird’s Flight, will open Oct. 5, 2018, and will run until Aug. 4, 2019.

Harris released her first major-label album in 1975. She had seven No. 1 country hits and 14 Top Ten country albums. In early 2018 the Recording Academy presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Emmylou Harris has spent a lifetime teaching master classes in integrity, musicality, individuality, and harmony, by example rather than by admonition. She seeks, finds and inspires the best in others, whether in melody and rhyme or in kindness and generosity,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “We are privileged to pay homage to the career and contributions of one of country music’s most important and visionary artists.”

“From my first album, in 1975, the country music world has embraced me with open arms,” Harris said. “This exhibit at the Hall of Fame makes me realize once more how grateful and honored I am to be part of such a remarkable musical family.”

Harris gave early career boosts to Rodney Crowell, Buddy Miller, Ricky Skaggs, Gillian Welch, and many others. Countless country singers cite Harris as an influence, including Suzy Bogguss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood. Harris’ influence extends beyond country music. Acclaimed artists such as Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams and many others reference her as an artistic guidepost.

Emmylou Harris: Songbird’s Flight includes many unique items such as Harris’ first guitar, a Kay 1160 Deco Note, built c. 1965, and a jacket designed by Manuel Cuevas that Harris wore on the cover of the album Trio and in performance with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.

Additional highlights include military decorations awarded to Harris’ Marine fighter pilot father, Walter “Bucky” Harris, for service in World War II and the Korean War, including the Legion of Merit. The exhibit will spotlight a two-page handwritten letter from an 18-year-old Harris to the editor of Sing Out!, a quarterly journal of folk music, and a Gibson J-200N acoustic guitar with blonde finish given to Harris by Gram Parsons.

A tunic with fringe and embroidery, blue jeans; and thigh-high, oxblood leather boots, worn by Harris on the cover of her 1975 album Elite Hotel will be featured, as well as handwritten lyrics by Paul Kennerley to “Diamond in My Crown” and “White Line.” Both songs were co-written by Harris and Kennerley, and were included on her 1985 album, The Ballad of Sally Rose.

Harris will participate in a special program in the museum’s CMA Theater on Sat., Nov. 3, 2018.

Nashville-based PR firm Elizabeth Meadia has rebranded as Threebrand Media, and has relocated to 2020 Lindell Avenue in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston community.

Threebrand has also added Ashley Wright as creative director and head of artist development. Wright joins the team as former creative director for Red Griffin Entertainment.

Meade, a Belmont University graduate, began her career in public relations as a junior publicist at Holly Gleason’s 3 Ring Circus. In 2011, she branched out on her own, opening Elizabeth Meadia with then-MCA artist David Nail and duo Joey + Rory. Meade made the transition from country to pop in 2014 with her campaign for Warner Bros. Records recording artist Daniella Mason, and has since handled PR for Nashville-based pop artists including EZA, Super Duper, and pop singer Jennifer Paige. Currently, she represents a diverse roster of indie and major label musicians, and contracts for the pop music divisions of Curb Records and Starstruck Entertainment.

“I started my business out of necessity,” Meade explains. “We were in desperate need of resources in Nashville for pop music artists, and we planted roots here to be a support system for those musicians that didn’t want to move to New York or LA to make it. That’s been the crux of our business… holding down the fort here to expand our community and provide the tools for independent musicians to achieve success on their own terms. It’s so wonderful to see how much our pop scene has grown and changed over the years, and I feel so grateful every single day to be a part of this community that allows us to grow and change along with it.”

An open house for Threebrand Media will take place at their new location on Sept. 15 from 7-11 p.m. The event will be held in conjunction with Fort Houston’s presentation of BBQLA, and will offer an array of food truck options as well as DJ sets from Nashville’s own Yabé and Kevin Kendall, photo booths from HiFi Media, ballon installations from Vroom Vroom Balloon, an open bar, and a video game arcade.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Redeye, the North Carolina-based music company, has announced a new U.S. distribution deal with New West Records.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia, New West Records’ roster includes Aaron Lee Tasjan, American Aquarium, JD McPherson, Shovels & Rope, and many more. Forthcoming albums from Richard Thompson, Ron Gallo, John Hiatt and All Them Witches will be released under the new agreement with Redeye.

“I remember being at SXSW in 1998,” says Glenn Dicker, co-founder of Redeye, “when New West first kicked it off and was extremely impressed to see a massive billboard celebrating their artists! I’ve been a big fan since the get-go with artists like Vic Chesnutt and Drive-By Truckers, to their current roster including Richard Thompson and John Hiatt to the Live From Austin, TX series….great catalog with massive integrity throughout. We’re very proud to be representing this important independent label to the physical and digital music retail community and look forward to a great relationship for years to come!”

“I’ve known and respected Glenn Dicker for well over a decade, starting when I was at Bug Music Publishing where we worked with many of the same artists,” says John Allen, President of New West Records. “In the current changing distribution landscape, Redeye’s knowledgeable, experienced staff and streamlined, efficient distribution system is a perfect fit for New West’s growing catalog. Redeye are one of us and I look forward to many successful album releases with their stellar team.”

The Vegabonds

Blue Élan Records has signed Nashville-based band The Vegabonds. Their new album, V, symbolizing their fifth release, is set for in January 2019. The band will celebrate their new album at the Blue Élan AmericanaFest showcase in Nashville on Sept. 14 at The Filming Station.

The quintet joins Los Angeles-based Blue Élan Records for the first label deal of their career. Explains lead singer Danny Allen, “We’ve put in 10 years of hard work on the road and in the studio to get to this point and we’re ready to work even harder now to achieve our new goals with the label!”

The album V was produced by Tom Tapley, known for his production work with Kristian Bush and Larkin Poe, and engineering work on projects for Sugarland, Bruce Springsteen, Destiny’s Child, and Elton John. The work follows previous Vegabonds albums including What We’re Made Of, Southern Sons, and Dear Revolution.

The Vegabonds, which includes Daniel Allen (vocalist/writer), Richard Forehand (lead guitar/vocals), Paul Bruens (bass), Beau Cooper (keys/vocals), and Bryan Harris (drums), launched in 2009, playing college campuses across the Southeastern United States.

Track Listing for V:
1. Partyin’ With Strangers
2. Generation Of Happiness
3. I Ain’t Having It
4. When The Smoke Clears Up
5. Everything I Need
6. Best I Can
7. Traveling Man
8. Help Is On The Way

Country music singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin is set to be spotlighted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum during a special Songwriter Session. Gatlin’s Songwriter Session will be held in the museum’s Ford Theater this Saturday, Sept. 8 at 11:30 a.m.. During the 45 minute program, Gatlin will perform several of his hit songs and will discuss his 60+ year career as a singer and songwriter.

Immediately following the program, items purchased in the museum store will be available for Gatlin to autograph.

The program is free with museum admission or museum membership. For more information on obtaining a program pass or members-only advance reservation, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.