Industry Ink: Mac McAnally, Joe Nichols, Bobby Bones, The Listening Room, More

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Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Hosts Musician Spotlight With Mac McAnally

Ben Ford and Mac McAnally. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Singer-songwriter Mac McAnally participated in a Musician Spotlight program at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13.

During Musician Spotlights, artists perform, share inside stories and discuss their creative process and technique. McAnally is a 10-time CMA Musician of the Year. Kenny Chesney has recorded two tracks from McAnally’s 1990 album, Simple Life including “Back Where I Come From” and “Down the Road,” a duet with McAnally. He also penned “All These Years” and “Thank God for You” for Sawyer Brown, “Old Flame” for Alabama and “Two Dozen Roses” for Shenandoah. He is also a longtime member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band.

 

Joe Nichols Celebrates Triple Platinum Certification For ‘Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off’ At Billy Bob’s Texas

Mike Nash, Joe Nichols and Kendra Whitehead. Photo: Jessica Crans

Joe Nichols was recently surprised with a plaque celebrating the Triple Platinum certification of his No. 1 hit “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” at his show at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. The song has surpassed three million in sales, and rose to No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay Chart and the Radio & Records Country National Airplay Chart.

Nichols, whose catalogue recently surpassed three billion streams, continues to climb the charts with his latest single “Say La V,” which earned Nichols the biggest radio impact date of his career.

 

Bobby Bones, Dollar General & iHeartRadio Give Back To Mountain Pine School District

Bobby Bones reads to students during school visit.

Bobby Bones, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and iHeartRadio recently visited Bones’ hometown in Mountain Pine, Arkansas to give back to his former schools in the Mountain Pine School District during National Literacy Month in September. The event included a surprise $50,000 donation from Dollar General’s Reading Revolution program, which may be used to purchase books, technology programs, computers and education supplies or resources needed to advance literacy gains. Bobby Bones and iHeartRadio provided more than 700 free new books for students’ personal libraries. Additional donations included DG gift cards for supplies and materials for all teachers and staff from Dollar General as well as a copy of Bones’ children’s book, Stanley The Dog: The First Day of School for each elementary student and a copy of Bones’ bestselling motivational memoir, Fail Until You Don’t: Fight. Grind. Repeat for all Mountain Pine High School students.

“Growing up in Mountain Pine, books and education gave me the opportunity to believe bigger things were possible,” says Bones. “Every student deserves that same chance. Being able to come back home, put books into students hands and help invest in these schools means a lot. I’m grateful to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and iHeartRadio for joining me in supporting the next generation of kids in Mountain Pine.”

 

The Listening Room Launches New Sunday Singin’ Faith-Based Series

The Listening Room is hosting a new monthly “Sunday Singin‘” series. The event is centered around sharing hymns and messages of faith. The first installment, hosted by Rebecca Lynn Howard, will feature Tommy Sims and Chuck Cannon on Sept. 27.

 

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum To Showcase Photo Exhibit From Lawson Little

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled a new photo exhibit, “Grit and Glory: The Photography of Lawson Little,” featuring a selection of photos from Little’s career. The exhibit is free and will be open to the public until August 2027 in the museum’s first-floor gallery.

Mentored by a local street photographer while he was growing up, Little attended the Rhode Island School of Design and photographed musicians for commercial work in Southern California and Nashville. Highlights of photographs on display include Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess and staff of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville (1972), Roy Acuff performing a yo-yo trick onstage at the Ryman in Nashville (1972), Tammy Wynette backstage at the Ryman (1972), Dwight Yoakam at the Exit/In in Nashville (2000), Billy Joe Shaver on the floor of the Opry in Nashville (2001) and more.

 

Lee Newton Inks With Wildhorse Records

Photo: Courtesy of Wildhorse Records

Lee Newton has signed with Wildhorse Records. Lee is Josie Music Awards winner, an ISSA Entertainer of the Year and received the 2025 ISSA Song of the Year for “Meant To Be.”

“Lee is an incredibly talented artist with a genuine love for country music, and we are excited to work alongside her on select songs and upcoming projects,” says Brian Orr, Founder and CEO of Wildhorse Records. “This partnership brings together Lee’s unmistakable voice and talent with Wildhorse Records’ commitment to creating and promoting great country music. We believe this is the beginning of something special. Stay tuned! There’s much more to come!”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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