Industry Ink: Ashley Gorley, Truist, Jake Owen, International Country Music Conference, More

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Ashley Gorley Featured In CMHOFM Poets and Prophets Program

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, Ashley Gorley and museum writer-editor Allison Moorer at the museum. Photo: Mary Caroline Russell for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

This past weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum welcomed Ashley Gorley as part of its Poets and Prophets series, which spotlights songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music. Moderated by museum writer-editor Allison Moorer, the program featured an in-depth conversation with Gorley, along with live performances of several of his songs and a multimedia presentation of photos, film and recordings. The event was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital series, available for streaming on the museum’s website.

Widely regarded as the most commercially successful country songwriter of all time, Gorley has written more than 80 No. 1 hits and has had more than 400 songs recorded by artists including Kelsea Ballerini, Bon Jovi, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Weezer. Among his chart-topping credits are “I Had Some Help,” “What He Didn’t Do,” “You Should Probably Leave,” “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” “Last Night” and “You Proof.” A Belmont University graduate originally from Danville, Kentucky, Gorley has earned eight Grammy nominations, 10 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honors, the NSAI Songwriter of the Decade award for 2010–2019, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025. In 2023, he spent multiple weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters chart as “Last Night” led the all-genre Hot 100 for a record-breaking 16 weeks.

 

Truist To Host 26th Annual Hot Dog Day

Truist will host its 26th annual Hot Dog Day tomorrow (June 3) from 11 a.m – 2 p.m. at 1026 17th Ave S.

The event will feature hot dogs from Daddy’s Dogs, drinks and chips, as well as performances by Somewhere Blue, Taylor Goyette, Ja’Cee, Kelsey Lamb, Adysen Malek, SJ McDonald, Danny Myrick, Bridgette Tatum and Emma Zinck.

 

Jake Owen Wraps The Uwohali Bucket Invitational

Jake Owen. Photo: Spidey Smith

Last week, Jake Owen hosted the second annual Uwohali Bucket Invitational, bringing together top bucket players from around the world to compete for the championship title.

This year’s champion was Justin Williams. Other participants included Ben Rector, John Daly, Dylan Marlowe, Scotty Emerick, Yelawolf, Zach Top, Travis Denning, Parks Bonifay and Brian Grubb. Sponsors for the event included Kress Lawn Mowers, Imperial, KOW Steaks, Clubhouse Events, and Daddy’s Dogs.

 

International Country Music Conference Concludes 42nd Annual Meeting

Pictured (L-R): Dr. Holly Riley, ICMC Co-Chair Dr. Don Cusic, Mickie Akenson, ICMC Co-Chair Dr. James Akenson, Olivia Beuadry and Dr.Jada Watson. Photo: Courtesy of ICMC

The International Country Music Conference concluded its 42nd annual gathering this past weekend at Belmont University in Nashville. Held May 28–30, the conference brought together scholars, journalists, authors and country music fans from around the world for three days of presentations, discussions, and awards. The Belmont University Curb Music Industry Award for Country Music Book of the Year was presented to HOWDY! The Minnie Pearl Story by Mary Ellen Pethel and Don Cusic, while David B. Ramsey received the Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism for Ain’t It a Cold, Cold World?: The Collected Stories of Blaze Foley. A special Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to ICMC Co-Founders James Akenson and Mickie Akenson for their longtime dedication to the conference.

Participants traveled from countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and across the United States. This year’s program explored many styles of country music, including Americana, bluegrass, honky tonk, country rock, and western swing. Highlights included a presentation by Lisa Sorrell of Sorrell Custom Boots on boot history and a keynote address by Jamie Kent about how data from the 2024 Greater Nashville Music Census is helping shape policies that support musicians and music venues in Nashville.

 

The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project Partners With Shield 616

Members of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department stand alongside newly donated advanced body armor provided through a partnership between The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project and Shield 616 during a special presentation on May 26

The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project partnered with Shield 616 to provide advanced ballistic vests to the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department during a special event on May 26. Together, TCDJHP and Shield 616 invested more than $150,000 to provide the body armor and help improve officer safety and readiness.

During the event, Shield 616 Founder Jake shared his experience responding to the active shooter incident at the Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, highlighting the importance of proper protective gear for first responders. The partnership also supports TCDJHP’s broader mission of helping those who serve. While the organization is widely known for supporting military veterans, it also recognizes the sacrifices made by first responders and continues to support efforts that strengthen and protect local communities.

“We are excited by the response from our community and look forward to expanding this mission to support additional divisions within the Sheriff’s Department, particularly our School Resource Officers who serve throughout Wilson County’s educational system,” says David Corlew, President and Co-Founder of The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project. “Ensuring those who protect our children have access to life-saving protective equipment is a responsibility we take seriously. This is a model that communities across the country should consider as they look for ways to better support and protect the men and women who serve on the front lines every day.”

Madison Hahnen
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