Industry Ink: Kix Brooks, Jon Pardi, Don McLean

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Kix Brooks Bids Adieu To American Country Countdown

Pictured (L-R): Writer Suzanne Alexander, Host Kix Brooks, Producer Nikita Palmer and Executive Producer Lonnie Napier. Photo: Courtesy of Cumulus/Westwood One

Kix Brooks and his staff commemorated the final recording session of American Country Countdown together with a group photo at the studio in the historic RCA Studio A building on Music Row. In addition to Brooks concluding his run as host, the entire staff have exited their roles with the show and Cumulus/Westwood One.

 

Jon Pardi Celebrates The Holidays With Christmas Shows

Jon Pardi performs. Photo: Evan De Stefano

Jon Pardi made a big band holiday run this year, hitting the stage for five festive “The Christmas Show” dates backed by a 13-piece band including twin fiddles and a horn section.The lively set list included a mix of holiday classics like “Please Come Home for Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” alongside tracks from his 2023 Christmas album Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi, including originals “Beer for Santa,” “Merry Christmas from the Keys” and “400 Horsepower Sleigh” as well as his chart-topping hits.

Offstage, Pardi has donated $50,000 to support local charities in each city he visited: Chalk It Up (Sacramento, CA), Time for Change Foundation (San Bernardino), Tulsa Youth Symphony (Tulsa), Center for Children and Families (Norman) and Road Runner Food Bank (Albuquerque), all through his newly established Starlight Fund.

 

Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’ Gets Gold & Platinum Recognition

Don McLean & UMe President & CEO Bruce Resnikoff.

Don McLean was celebrated in L.A. recently during two special events. He took part in a TalkShopLive session followed by a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Lou Simon on the SiriusXM ’70s on 7 channel, which welcomed dozens of fans for an intimate conversation about McLean’s storied career and enduring musical legacy. The day was further highlighted when McLean was presented with plaques commemorating RIAA Gold & Platinum certifications for his timeless ballad “Vincent.”

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) President & CEO Bruce Resnikoff presented the awards, recognizing both Gold and Platinum accolades for the song. During the presentation, Resnikoff praised McLean’s enduring impact on music history and his continued digital influence, with more than 250 million global streams of “Vincent.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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