Artist Action: Tanya Tucker & Dennis Quaid, Blake Whiten, Brittney Spencer, More

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Tanya Tucker & Dennis Quaid Make Opry History With First-Ever Video World Premiere

Dennis Quaid and Tanya Tucker at the “On My Way to Heaven” after-party at Robert’s Western World. Photo: Caleb Herring

Country Music Hall of Fame member Tanya Tucker and actor and singer-songwriter Dennis Quaid joined fans on June 20 for the first video world premiere event in the Opry’s 100-year history with the debut of the video for “On My Way to Heaven.” The video and audio project was a historic collaboration which featured one of Kris Kristofferson’s final filmed performances before his passing in 2024.

The evening included Quaid singing “Fallen” from his Gaither Music project, Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners, and Tucker singing “Texas (When I Die).” Tucker also performed her unreleased version of “Moment of Forever” (written by Kristofferson and Danny Timms) in honor of Kristofferson’s birthday on June 22. In the finale, a performance of Tucker’s signature song, “Delta Dawn,” she was joined on stage by Quaid, T. Graham Brown, and Presley Tanita Tucker. Gaither Music Group and Sun Label Group hosted an after-party event at Robert’s Western World’s Green Room where Quaid and Tucker shared the backstory of the project,  and the vision for this video and song in 2019.

 

Blake Whiten Receives International Gold For ‘Rollin’ Stone’

Pictured (L-R): John Turpin (Management), Lisa Grossi (Director, National Radio and Media Relations, WMC), Dave Stelling (Director, Communications, WMC), Blake Whiten, Ken Boyer (Senior Marketing Manager, WMC) and Madelaine Napoleone (Co-GM, WMC).

Rising country star Blake Whiten was presented with his first international Gold plaque for the hit single “Rollin’ Stone” on June 18 by Warner Music Canada. The presentation followed an exclusive, sold out fan event at the WMC office that drew people from as far as five hours away. Canada remains the first international territory to certify “Rollin’ Stone” Gold.

 

Brittney Spencer Shares ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’ For Songs Of The U.S. Series

Brittney Spencer. Photo: Bella Sgarlata

Brittney Spencer has shared a soulful cover of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” along with an in-depth interview for Salt Lick’s new “Songs of U.S. Series.” She also released a cover of Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me.” followed by a performance of her original song “Bigger Than The Song” on June 24. The trio of performances and her interview reflect on how music reveals the evolving concept of what home and comfort look like in America. “Songs of U.S.” brings together musicians from across genres to reinterpret songs that have shaped the country’s cultural identity while exploring what belongs in the American songbook today.

 

Chandler Walters’ Western Wednesday Returns With Jamey Johnson, Travis Denning, More

Jamey Johnson joins Chandler Walters for Walters Western Wednesday on June 24 at Riley Green’s Duck Blind. Photo: Devin Flanagan

Chandler Walters has brought back his Western Wednesday celebrating honky tonk and western music, and kicked things back off this week at Riley Green’s Duck Blind in Midtown Nashville. He welcomed a plethora of special guests at the event’s return, including Jamey Johnson, Travis Denning, Kenny Whitmire and Dalton Davis.

 

Riley Downing Signs With Oh Boy Records

Riley Downing

Riley Downing is releasing his new album, Landfill Poetry, his second solo LP and first on Oh Boy Records on Aug. 28. When off the road, Downing spent downtime at his Grandparents’ house workshopping what was to become Landfill Poetry. In the home of the same couple who used to drag their young grandson to hear live honky tonk music at rural dance halls and barn parties, Downing spent his nights writing songs rife with influences beginning all the way back then, and bringing them to life. The title track and video from the new project are out today.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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