Industry Ink: Jamey Johnson & Megan Moroney, Willie Cole, Craig Morgan, More

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Jamey Johnson & Megan Moroney Raise $315K For Charities At MOJO Show In Birmingham

Megan Moroney and Jamey Johnson. Photo: Joe Cash

Jamey Johnson and Megan Moroney‘s one-night-only acoustic MOJO show at The Social at the Fennec in Birmingham raised $315,000 for their respective charities. Over 250 people gathered to enjoyed the special evening, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and his wife Elee, songwriters Rob Hatch and Jeremy Popoff, and several state senators and representatives. Hosted by radio personality Storme Warren of The Big 615, the special night benefited Jamey and Brittney Johnson’s Give It Away Foundation as well as The Megan Moroney Foundation and was a blend of humor and humility, with both songwriters sharing the stories behind their biggest hits. Powerful moments during the evening included the two uniting their voices on Don Williams’ hit “Till the Rivers All Run Dry,” and John Prine’s iconic song, “Angel from Montgomery,” which mentions Johnson’s hometown.

 

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Celebrates Opening of ‘Willie Cole: Old School’ Exhibit

Haley Gallery Director Daniel Lonow and Willie Cole at the Haley Gallery. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Haley Gallery at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the opening of “Willie Cole: Old School” last week, an exhibit showcasing new works by the American sculptor and printmaker. The exhibition is free and open to the public through March 13 and offers a new series of seven chalkboard paintings featuring one topical word and multiple acronyms created from the artist’s thoughts and inspirations on the word, including “Dixie,” “Hate” and “Love.” The exhibit includes Cole’s largest chalkboard painting, inspired by the word “Patriot.” In addition to this new group of paintings, the gallery presents a series of rarely seen artist studies, created over more than three decades, in which Cole develops his acronyms for larger works.

 

Craig Morgan Promoted To Chief Warrant Officer 2 In Army Reserve

Craig Morgan, Karen Greer (wife of Craig Morgan) and Pete Hegseth. Photo: DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza

Country star and soldier Craig Morgan was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the Army Reserve on Jan. 15 at The Pentagon with Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth officiating. Morgan is nearing two decades of service to our nation, having previously served 17 years in the Army and Army Reserve with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, and he returned to service when he was sworn-in to the Army Reserve on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on July 29, 2023.

 

Maggie Coyle Promoted To Publicist At Milestone Collective

Maggie Coyle. Photo: Courtesy of Milestone Collective

Maggie Coyle has been promoted to Publicist at Milestone Collective. The Belmont graduate initially joined Milestone as an intern in 2024, and quickly rose to Associate Publicist. She has since further sharpened her public relations skills working on campaigns across the firm’s diverse roster of artists.

“Since day one, Maggie joined the team with a drive to learn and become a sharp publicist, and she’s done just that,” says Mike Gowen, the company’s founder and CEO. “We’re proud to have her as part of our team and excited to watch her continue to grow as a publicist while building a strong reputation within the music industry.”

 

Nashville Business Journal Recognizes Derrek Kupish

Derrek Kupish

Nashville Business Journal has named Derrek Kupish as one of its 2026 40 Under 40 honorees. Kupish stands out as a creative force in the highly competitive entertainment industry and is recognized alongside doctors, lawyers, CEOs and business leaders across the Nashville community in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2026.

“It’s a hustle being a self-employed entrepreneur—overseeing brand and image, managing artists, directing music videos, and capturing album covers and movie marquees isn’t a traditional path,” Kupish shared. “But it’s one I’m incredibly proud of.” On his most challenging days, Kupish draws inspiration from the late Naomi Judd, who once told him, “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.”

 

Randy Rich Opens Get Rich Trying Publishing With John Major As First Signing

Pictured (front): John Major; (back, L-R): Preshias Harris and Randy Rich

Randy Rich has launched a new publishing company, Get Rich Trying. As its first initiative, the company has signed rising country artist and songwriter John Major to an exclusive songwriting deal. He launched his career in 2023, and has a catalog featuring more than 2,500 original songs. His singles “Backwoods Outlaw” and “Callus On A Heart” are currently on 80 stations nationwide, and Major is currently in the studio putting finishing touches on new material scheduled for release later this year.

 

Premiere Networks Launches New Married To The Music Podcast

Premiere Networks is launching a new podcast, Married to the Music, hosted by Nashville-based iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks producer and country music reporter Hanley Riggs. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the program will debut Feb. 13, with iHeartPodcasts. Married to the Music takes listeners behind the scenes and into the lives of country artists and their spouses.

From navigating parenthood and relationships to balancing personal dreams while supporting a partner’s career, Riggs and her guests explore the realities of being a country artist’s significant other. Through intimate stories, candid conversations and real-life experiences, the podcast humanizes the lives of country stars and offers a fresh perspective on love, family and life in the music industry. The debut episode features an interview with Sara Brice, and future guests include Meghan Patrick, Kristen Brust, Hally Williams Cooper, Hannah Ellis & Nick Wayne, Peyton Niemann and others.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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