Industry Ink: Tim McGraw, Sawyer Brown, Jimmy Carter, More

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Tim McGraw Performs At City Parks Foundation Benefit

Tim McGraw. Photo: Sylvester Zawadzki

Tim McGraw and Train performed recently at the City Parks Foundation’s 2023 benefit fundraiser in Central Park at the flagship SummerStage venue. This year’s event honored Tom Poleman with the SummerStage Icon Award and Devon Eisenberg with the People & Parks Award.

The event raised over $1.3 million in donations, making it their most successful benefit to date, and all funds raised will support City Parks Foundation’s free arts, sports, environmental education and community-building programs produced each year in New York City public parks.

 

Sawyer Brown Celebrates Documentary At Nashville Film Festival

Pictured (L-R): Duncan Cameron, Shayne Hill, Mark Miller, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard, Joe Smyth, Bobby Randall. Photo: Michael Gomez

Sawyer Brown kicked off its 40th Anniversary celebrations at the Nashville Film Festival with the premiere of its career-spanning, Blake Shelton-produced documentary Get Me To The Stage On Time.

Following the film premiere, Sawyer Brown took the stage for a special acoustic performance of some hits, including “Some Girls Do,” “The Walk,” “Thank God For You” and more that made the band a country music staple in the ’80s and ’90s. The band also debuted the title track from its upcoming record Desperado Troubadours for the audience.

 

Opry Honors Former President Jimmy Carter’s 99th Birthday

Opry member Charlie McCoy Honors Pres. Carter with Performance of “Georgia On My Mind.” Photo: Chris Hollo

The Grand Ole Opry honored President Jimmy Carter on the eve of his 99th birthday Saturday night (Sept. 30) as Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy dedicated his performance of “Georgia On My Mind” to the former president. The tune is the official state song of Carter’s home state.

The 39th President of the United States visited the Opry before his presidency, during his time as Chief Executive, and in the 42 years since he left office. Carter’s most recent visit to the stage was the capstone of his week in Nashville with Habitat for Humanity in 2019, when more than 20 homes were built for people in need of affordable housing.

“All of us at the Grand Ole Opry are always thankful and humbled to learn when famed personalities from all walks of life are fans of the Opry, perhaps no more so than with a man who has truly dedicated his life to service not only to our country, but to the world,” said show host Mike Terry.

 

HunterGirl Helps Isaiah 117 House At Hometown Video Viewing Event

HunterGirl

HunterGirl recently gave her hometown a special, private viewing of the video for her debut single “Ain’t About You” at the Oldham Theater in Winchester, Tennessee. Along with a private, acoustic performance, the sold-out event raised over $6,000 for the Isaiah 117 House, a local charity that provides foster children awaiting placement a loving and safe home.

“The private viewing of my first official music video for my debut radio single, ‘Ain’t About You,’ was a night I’ll never forget,” says HunterGirl. “I’m so thankful to my hometown for showing me so much love and support! I am happy to say that we raised over $6,000 for the Isaiah 117 House, and we are able to give back to the children in the community. Having the viewing at the Oldham Theater in Winchester, Tennessee, was a full circle moment. Every Sunday night, they hosted American Idol watch parties and cheered me on throughout the competition. I will never forget how much their support pushed me to do my best, so I could make my hometown proud.”

 

BMI Wraps 9th Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Festival

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Dan Spears, City Tavern Assistant General Manager Meghan Fitzmaurice, BMI songwriter Charlie Worsham, iHeart Media Vice President of Events & Client Activation Adam Bauer.

The 9th annual Island Hopper Songwriter Festival wrapped recently with BMI, iHeart Media and the Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau partnering at the event to help boost the economies of Captiva Island, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, communities hit hard by Hurricane Ian last year.

75 BMI songwriters made their way to southwest Florida to help provide support to the business owners who have faced a challenging 12 months, as the local restaurants, bars and hotels worked hard to rebuild their properties to be open in time for this year’s festival. Thousands of fans flocked to the area to connect with the songwriters at the festival, which concluded at the Pink Shell Resort in Fort Myers Beach with a high energy performance by BMI songwriter Chris Janson in front of a record-breaking crowd.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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