Industry Ink: Tracy Lawrence, Parker McCollum, Maddox Batson, CMHOFM, IBMA
Tracy Lawrence Presents $50,000 To Local Non-Profits
Photo: Evan DeStefano
Tracy Lawrence took to the Ryman Auditorium stage for the third year in a row to perform to a sold-out crowd on Sunday night (May 3).
Lawrence and his charity Mission:Possible took a moment on stage to present $50,000 total to various local non-profit organizations including Brooks House, People Loving Nashville, Open Table, The Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn.
Parker McCollum Surprises Hometown Nurses
Photo: Courtesy of Create Amor
Parker McCollum recently surprised a group of nurses at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. The visit was part of the Healthcare Heroes Initiative, a national effort founded by Create Amor to recognize and support nurses. As part of the initiative, a total of 500 nurses were gifted a pair of Create Amor scrubs.
“This community is home to me, and these nurses are a big part of what holds it together,” shares McCollum. “Being here to give back, even in a small way, means a lot.”
Maddox Batson Visits Seacrest Studios In Salt Lake City
Photo: Courtesy of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
Maddox Batson recently visited Seacrest Studios, bringing an acoustic set of songs to Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital of Salt Lake City in addition to a Q&A session and rounds of mini golf with patients.
“It was an honor to spend the morning at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Thank you to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation for giving me the privilege to connect and perform for patients like Piper,” shares Batson. “I was beyond inspired by the determination and joy from the patients, family and entire staff at the hospital. Much appreciation to the child life specialists, doctors and the team at Seacrest for welcoming me.”
“We are always so appreciative to our celebrity partners who are able to come into Seacrest Studios and spend time with patients, with many becoming repeat visitors and friends of RSF,” says Meredith Seacrest Leach, Executive Director & CEO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “Maddox has quickly become a friend, and we are so grateful that he has continued to make time to visit as he juggles his busy tour schedule.”
CMHOFM Hosts Program Exploring Woody Guthrie’s Home Recordings
Steve Rosenthal, Erin Osmon, Anna Canoni and Jesse Welles. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Over the weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a program exploring Woody Guthrie’s home recordings and the recently released two-volume collection Woody at Home.
Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon led a discussion with Guthrie’s granddaughter, Anna Canoni, and Grammy-winning producer and engineer Steve Rosenthal, who discussed their work on the collection. Jesse Welles performed during the program.
IBMA Taps Maggie O’Connor As Events Director
Maggie O’Connor.
The International Bluegrass Music Association has named Maggie Carruth O’Connor as Events Director. Based in Chattanooga, O’Connor will lead event production of the IBMA’s major events.
“I moved to Chattanooga from Atlanta in 2019 with my husband and dog and immediately felt at home,” says O’Connor. “The sense of community here, especially in the music world, is undeniable. My work over the past five years has focused on building more equitable, sustainable opportunities for local artists, including founding Highland Park Porchfest, a free festival now in its fifth year that features local bands performing on neighborhood porches. Joining IBMA as Events Director feels like a natural extension of that work. I am excited to support the IBMA team and help bring people together around bluegrass music.”
