Striking Gold: Ryan Hurd, Matt Stell, Colt Ford

Ryan Hurd Celebrates Gold Success Of “To A T”

Pictured (L-R): Janet Weir, 42 Entertainment/Red Light Management, Dennis Reese, SVP Promotion RCA Records Nashville, Steve Hodges, EVP Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville (SMN), Caryl Atwood, SVP Sales/Streaming, SMN, Ryan Hurd, Tracy Fleaner, VP Creative Services, SMN, Jim Catino, EVP A&R, SMN, Paige Altone, Sr. Director Marketing, SMN, Taylor Lindsey, SVP A&R, SMN   Photo Credit Alan Poizner

Ryan Hurd received a Gold certification for his single “To A T” on Tuesday (Sept.  after participating in the SIP Hope 4 Hope Town benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Monday. Late Tuesday, Hurd was rehearsing for his upcoming opening slot on the Old Dominion “Make It Sweet Tour,” which kicks off on Sept. 27 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte when members of his management team and Sony Music Nashville surprised him with T-shirt-shaped cookies and a Gold plaque for “To A T.”

On Friday he’ll release his five-song Platonic EP which includes his current rising radio hit “To A T” and the sweetly wistful “Wish For the World,” which Hurd performed during the Hope 4 Hope Town benefit. The star-packed concert raised funds for an estimated 70,000 people in the Bahamas left homeless by the ravages of Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 1.

Matt Stell’s “Prayed For You” Achieves Heavy Metal Status

Pictured (L-R): Liz Cost, Sr. Director Marketing, SMN, Keith Gale, Good Company Entertainment, Ash Bowers, Wide Open Music, Barry Weiss, RECORDS, David Enriquez, RECORDS, Brendan Rich, Wide Open Music, Matt Stell, Josh Easler, VP Promotion Arista Nashville; Jamice Jennings, GCE Promotion, and Laurent Thomas, Director National Promotion, SMN  Photo Credit Alan Poizner

Matt Stell was surprised Monday night (Sept. 16) with a Gold plaque for his hit single “Prayed For You” presented by his management and label teams in front of a capacity crowd at Whiskey Jam in Nashville. “Prayed For You” is currently at No. 9 with a global reach of more than 90 million digital streams.

Jamey Johnson Surprises Colt Ford With Gold At Opry

Pictured: Jamey Johnson, Colt Ford. Photo: Alan Taylor

Colt Ford was surprised on the Grand Ole Opry last night (Sept. 17) by Jamey Johnson, who presented him with an RIAA Gold-certified plaque marking sales of more than 500,000 units of Ride Through The Country, Ford’s debut album released in 2008 featuring Johnson on the track, “Cold Beer.” The RIAA certification comes just days before Ford releases his seventh album, We The People, Volume 1 this Friday. Ford’s new video and radio single, “Slow Ride” featuring Mitchell Tenpenny debuted on CMT Music and CMT.com this week.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Riley Thomas Inks With ONErpm Nashville - June 26, 2026
• Reba Releases Latest In Capsule Collection, ‘Ain’t Gonna Keep It Waitin’ - June 26, 2026
• The Braymores Sign With Red Light Management & ROAM Agency - June 26, 2026