Industry Ink: Vince Gill, Vincent Mason, Top Shelf Country Cruise, Walker Montgomery, CMHOFM, More
Vince Gill’s Go Rest High On That Mountain Enters Library Of Congress
Congress Robert Newlen and Vince Gill. Photo: Shawn Miller/Library of Congress
Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has been selected for preservation by The National Recording Registry Of The Library Of Congress.
“I’ve been writing songs for over 50 years, and if you asked me what’s the one song you’d want to be remembered for, I would pick this one, hands down. Wouldn’t even be close,” Gill says. “In my era of success, it was probably the least charting record I’ve had, but what this song has gone on to do for other people is what makes it special to me. It was written while I was grieving the loss of my big brother, and the truth is, I had never planned on recording it. But a fellow I worked with, Tony Brown, heard the song and said ‘you have to record it. The world should hear this song.’”
Vincent Mason Makes Late Night TV Debut
Vincent Mason made his late-night TV debut on May 13 with a performance of his breakout hit “Damned If I Do” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Backstage, Vincent Mason was surprised with a plaque presentation commemorating the song’s recent RIAA Gold certification.
Top Shelf Country Cruise 2026 Raises $250,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Photo: John Abbott
The Top Shelf Country Cruise raised $250,000 for its inaugural year supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The lineup included Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, LeAnn Rimes, Cooper Alan, Kassi Ashton, Thelma & James, Britnee Kellogg, Paul Sykes, Ken Domash, Goose Gossett and Rodeo Disco.
“For years, Signature Cruise Experiences has proudly supported the incredible work of St. Jude,” says Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of Signature Cruise Experiences. “Selecting St. Jude as the official benefactor of the charitable efforts of Top Shelf Country Cruise was a natural extension of that relationship and a cause deeply meaningful to our team. No child should ever have to suffer from cancer.”
Walker Montgomery Visits Sunrise Hospital And Medical Center in Las Vegas
Photo: Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives
Walker Montgomery recently visited Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas with ACM Lifting Lives and Musicians On Call.
During the visit, Montgomery treated caregivers and physicians to a performance of songs including “I Love The Way You Love Me,” “Nothing Like You Nowhere,” “Saving The Honky Tonks,” and “Wouldn’t Be A Country Boy.” Following his performance, Montgomery walked the halls of Sunrise Hospital giving special bedside performances to a number of patients.
CMHOFM Celebrates 25 Years Downtown
Photo: Courtesy of CMHOFM
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating the 25th anniversary since moving downtown in 2001.
First located on Music Row, the original museum opened in 1967. Today, the museum is among the most-visited history museums in the U.S., welcoming nearly 1.4 million visitors in 2025. In the past two years, the museum received the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts institutions by the United States government, and achieved accreditation for the fourth time by the American Alliance of Museums.
BlackHawk & The Outlaws Donate Collective $50,000 To Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center & MusiCares
Photo: Courtesy of BlackHawk/The Outlaws
BlackHawk and The Outlaws recently made a collective $50,000 in charitable donations to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares.
BlackHawk presented a $25,000 donation to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Research Lab, continuing a mission the band began in 2004 in memory of former BlackHawk singer-songwriter Van Stephenson, who passed away from melanoma in 2001. A $25,000 donation to MusiCares was also presented by The Outlaws, honoring the memory of former original members of the southern rock group.
“Our charitable efforts have given us an empathetic perspective and a unique sense of purpose,” says Henry Paul, a founding member of both bands. “We get a lot of help from fans and friends and we appreciate all those that invest in our mission.”
Kylie Frey Appears On RFD-TV
Kylie Frey recently appeared on RFD-TV’s Market Day Report with host Suzanne Alexander about her music and the current Horses For Mental Health Campaign.
“This was a no brainer, I said absolutely sign me up for this! I remember being a kid and having a lot of feelings, and when I couldn’t understand what was happening inside, or what I was feeling, I would go out to my barn and talk to my horses, and literally cry on their shoulders. I think this is a beautiful organization and I’m so proud to be an ambassador,” she shared.
“We’re grateful to the celebrity ambassadors lending their voices and horse stories to amplify awareness,” says Shantel Klinger of Horses For Mental Health. “The Nashville music community has especially embraced this campaign and we’re so thankful for those who have saddled up to spread the word about these incredibly intuitive creatures positively impacting lives around the world.”
