Industry Ink: Brett James, Luke Combs, Corey Kent, Little Jimmy Dickens, Sierra Hull

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The Listening Room Honors Brett James With Special Tribute Show

Photo: Courtesy of The Listening Room

Industry friends and family from across the country gathered at The Listening Room on March 23 for a night of music honoring the legendary songwriter Brett James, who tragically passed away on Sept. 18, 2025, at age 57. The evening was hosted by TLR Owner & Founder Chris Blair, and performers paying tribute to their friend at the special show included Chris DeStefano, Rivers Rutherford and Gordie Sampson. All proceeds from the evening were donated to St. Jude in James’s name.

 

Luke Combs Kicks Off ‘My Kinda Saturday Night Tour’ In Vegas

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Lauren Zimmerman and Caryl Atwood, KYGO Denver’s Brian Michel, the label’s Christy Garbinski, KUPL Portland’s Dylan Salisbury, KWBL/KCCY/KXBG PD Jojo Turnbeaugh, Audacy’s ‘Sabrina From Queens’ Sergio, KYGO PD Shawn Patrick, Luke Combs, Westwood One VP/Programming George King, KWNR Las Vegas PD MoJoe Roberts, the label’s Larry Santiago, KPLM Palm Springs PD Kory James, KCYE Las Vegas PD Shawn Stevens, the label’s Taylor Sowers

Luke Combs kicked off his sold-out, record-breaking “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” stop in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium last week with some label family and radio friends on hand for the packed out show.

 

Corey Kent’s ‘Something’s Gonna Kill Me’ Reaches Platinum Status

Pictured (L-R): Paige Altone (VP, Digital Marketing & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville), Chris Fox (Artist Manager, Triple 8 Management), Ken Robold (President & COO, Sony Music Nashville), Corey Kent, George Couri (CEO/Founder, Triple 8 Management), Caryl Atwood (SVP, Commercial Partnerships, Sony Music Nashville) and Jason McColl (Sr. Director, A&R, Sony Music Nashville). Photo: Matthew Berinato

Corey Kent’s fan-favorite track “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” has been certified Platinum, marking another major achievement in his growing career. The certification adds to an already impressive run for the hitmaker, who surpassed one billion career streams and continues to earn more hardware with a string of hits, including his triple-Platinum No. 1 breakout “Wild As Her” and No. 1 follow-up “This Heart.” Originally released on his 2023 album Blacktop, “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” has resonated deeply with fans and become a staple in Kent’s live show, showcasing his signature rasp of country grit and guitar-driven melodies that define his sound.

“‘Something’s Gonna Kill Me’ going Platinum is so special to me and something that I have to thank the fans for,” says Kent. “This song is a huge part of my world view. Living life fully. Not allowing fear, even the fear of death, to stop you from doing the things that make you feel most alive. It means so much that the message resonated so deeply with fans. Their support made this a platinum record.”

 

Brad Paisley, Bill Anderson, More Pay Tribute To Little Jimmy Dickens At Opry 100 Honors Show

Opry member Brad Paisley photographed on stage with Little Jimmy’s guitar and red glitter guitar case given to Brad by Jimmy’s wife Mona. Photo: Chris Hollo for The Grand Ole Opry

As part of its ongoing Opry 100 celebration, the Grand Ole Opry continued its “Opry 100 Honors” series on March 21, celebrating the bigger-than-life Opry icon Little Jimmy Dickens. The evening featured Dickens’ longtime friend Brad Paisley, who also celebrated 25 years of Opry membership, along with Opry members Bill Anderson, The Gatlin Brothers and Trace Adkins, who was invited in 2003 by Little Jimmy, famously using a stepladder to ask the 6’6” star to join the Opry family. The evening also included The Oak Ridge Boys, who were officially inducted as Opry members by Little Jimmy in 2011, Julia Cole, and 49 Winchester, along with special guest announcer Pat Sajak.

 

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Hosts Musician Spotlight With Sierra Hull

Sierra Hull and Museum Senior Writer-Editor Angela Stefano Zimmer at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a Musician Spotlight with Sierra Hull in support of the opening of the museum’s newest “American Currents: State of the Music” exhibit. Hull is one of the artists featured in the exhibit, which takes a broad view of the genre over the past year to explore musical developments, artist achievements and notable events, as determined by the museum’s curators and editorial staff. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Hull is a seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year award winner, and has collaborated with Brandi Carlile, Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Rhonda Vincent, Bill Anderson, Dolly Parton and more. In 2025, Gibson released the Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model and the Sierra Hull F-5G mandolins, making Hull the first woman to be honored with a signature Gibson mandolin.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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