Industry Ink: Eddie Stubbs, Darius Rucker, Joe Nichols

Eddie Stubbs Bids Final Farewell To WSM 650 AM

Pictured: Marty Stuart and Connie Smith join Eddie Stubbs in studio for Stubbs’ final show. Photo: Courtesy of WSM

Eddie Stubbs said farewell to over two decades on the air in his final show on WSM 650 AM last Wednesday (July 29) with a star-studded finale. Connie Smith and Marty Stuart visited with Stubbs in-studio on the show, and he also received well wishes via phone from Loretta Lynn, Too Slim of Riders in the Sky and for the first time in his 25-year career, a chat with Dolly Parton.

In addition to the interview with Parton, Stubbs checked another entry off his bucket list when legendary journalist Dan Rather joined him on Monday (July 27). Rather shared his love of country music and recounted listening to the Opry on WSM as a child sharing, “It was like an adventure. When the program was over you felt like you’d been on a trip.” He also offered his well wishes to Stubbs and declared, “if you get in trouble and need bail money don’t hesitate to call me.”

On July 8, 1996, Stubbs began hosting the evening shift on WSM and now holds the distinction of being the longest-serving broadcaster in the 7 p.m. to midnight slot in WSM’s 95 years of operation.

Darius Rucker Leads 11th Annual Benefit Concert For St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Pictured (L-R): Clint Black, Darius Rucker, and Tracy Lawrence at the 11th Annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert. Photo: Courtesy of LiveXLive

Three-time Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker continues to give back to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with the Thursday, July 30 live-streamed edition of his annual “Darius & Friends” benefit concert raising over $255,000 and adding to the event’s overall total of more than $2 million.

“When we first started talking about this year’s concert, which usually takes place during the week of CMA Fest, I had the idea to make it a really fun night of ’90s country,” Rucker said. “Even though gathering in person for our normal show wasn’t possible this year, we still wanted to do as much as we could to support the great work happening at St. Jude. I’m so thankful to my friends Clint Black and Tracy Lawrence for helping that ’90s country vision still come to life, and to the folks at LiveXLive for bringing this concert to everyone’s screens at home.”

Joe Nichols Hosts “Joe’s Place” On SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry Channel

Joe Nichols has signed on to host one hour of programming for SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry. “Joe’s Place” debuted Aug. 1, and airs new episodes at 5 p.m. ET on the first Saturday of each month, featuring songs curated by Nichols. Each episode will also feature a live musical performance from Nichols, making his the first artist-hosted show to include a live music component.

“I’m so excited to be expanding my relationship with the SiriusXM family by hosting my own show on Y2Kountry,” shared Nichols. “It’s a real full-circle moment from the days I hosted the overnight show in Arkansas as a teenager, but now I get to play what I want! I hope the listeners enjoy coming along on this new journey with me as we kick off ‘Joe’s Place’!”