Industry Ink: Eric Church, Cody Johnson, Dillon Carmichael, More

Eric Church Receives North Carolina Award For Fine Arts

Pictured (L-R): DNCR Secretary Reid Wilson, Eva Clayton, Priya Kishnani, Eric Church, Governor Roy Cooper, Mickey Michaux, Stanley Riggs, and David Zucchino.

Country music star Eric Church, along with five other distinguished North Carolinians, were recently presented with the North Carolina Award by Governor Roy Cooper.

The other 2022 honorees include the Honorable Eva Clayton for Public Service, Honorable Mickey Michaux for Public Service, David Zucchino for Literature, Dr. Stanley Riggs for Science, and Dr. Priya Kishnani for Science.

As the state’s highest honor, the award recognizes significant lifetime achievements in the areas of fine arts, which was given to Church, as well as literature, public service, and science. Established by the General Assembly in 1961, the awards were first given in 1964. Since then, more than 250 notable natives have been honored by the state of North Carolina.

Cody Johnson Joins Pandora’s Billionaire Club

Pictured (L-R): Howie Edelman, Durango Artists; Ben Kline, WMG; Buzz Brainard, SiriusXM; Cody Johnson; Cris Lacy, WMG; and Alina Thompson, SiriusXM Pandora.

COJO Music / Warner Music Nashville singer-songwriter Cody Johnson was recently awarded the Pandora Billionaires plaque. This achievement marks more than one billion streams on the music service. Johnson, a Platinum-selling, two-time CMA Award winner was surprised with the news following his CMA performance rehearsal during an interview with SiriusXM’s Buzz Brainard.

“This is all because of the fans, they did this,” Johnson explains. “They’ve stuck with me for many years and never cease to surprise me in their constant support and involvement.”

Johnson’s current Pandora streams have notched 1.5 billion, and he has been added to Pandora’s Country Billionaires Radio in celebration of the honor.

Dillon Carmichael Raises Nearly $20K At Wilmington, North Carolina Benefit Show

Pictured (L-R): WAZO PD/ AM co-host Jason “Foz” Fosdick, AM co-host Michaela Batten, and Dillon Carmichael.

Riser House Records artist Dillon Carmichael headlined a special cancer benefit concert in Wilmington, North Carolina, raising nearly $20,000 for his drummer’s sister last weekend. The concert also included sets from Nashville artist Jason Cross and local talent Asia Daye.

Held at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, the capacity crowd endured inclement weather from tropical storm Nicole as Carmichael performed a 90-minute set. Carmichael’s camp, along with support from Make Wake Artists management and Riser House, acted to help Lisa Collins Stophel, an 18-year paramedic veteran, cover medical expenses for her cancer treatments. Stophel was diagnosed with Stage 4 Small Bowel Cancer last August.

Carmichael visited the WAZO studios in Wilmington and talked with Z1075 morning show “Foz in the Morning starring Michaela” ahead of the performance.

Terry McBride Earns Trailblazer Award, Country Music Single Of The Year At Texas Country Music Awards

Terry McBride. Photo: Courtesy of Richlynn Group.

Terry McBride was honored with the Trailblazer Award on Sunday night (Nov. 13) at the Texas Country Music Awards held at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. He also won Country Music Single of the Year for his song “Wild Horses,” performed by Kin Faux (featuring McBride). He co-wrote the song with fellow Texan Jim Beavers.

The Trailblazer Award honors McBride’s career as frontman of McBride & The Ride, a solo artist, and his massive list of songwriting credits for both himself and other artists. He has received 13 awards from BMI in his career for cuts with Garth Brooks, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Cole Swindell, and more.

“As a proud Texan it was truly an honor to receive the Trailblazer Award from the TCMA,” McBride shares. “Growing up, most of my favorite artists and songwriters came out of Texas and I burned up the road from my hometown of Lampasas to Austin to see my hero’s perform in person every chance I could get, so to be recognized by my home state in front of a house full of talented Texans at last night’s event is a night I won’t soon forget.”

McBride & The Ride, who have recently reunited and are releasing their first offering of new music in over two decades, performed their latest single “Marlboros & Avon” at the ceremony.

Medical Musical Group Hosts 2022 National Veterans’ Day Concert

Medical Musical Group hosts the 2022 National Veterans’ Day Concert. Photo: Courtesy of 117 Entertainment.

The Medical Musical Group hosted the 2022 National Veterans’ Day Concert in Nashville on Nov. 10. The concert benefitted children of military families who battle cancer at Vanderbilt, St. Jude’s, and Shriners Hospital. The show also strived to raise awareness about veteran’s physical and mental health.

Special guests included the Rhonda Vincent and new country duo War Hippies. Veterans, as well as the Nashville community came out to celebrate the special holiday.

The Medical Musical Group is America’s premiere chorale and symphony orchestra comprised of musically-gifted doctors, nurses, volunteers, and others in the medical field. Well-renowned musicians and directors from the group include Victor Wahby (Senior Conductor), Joe A. Fitzpatrick (Chorus Master), and Joseph Car (Associate Conductor).