BMI has launched a new free service, BMI Health Connect, designed to help its music creators find healthcare coverage.

The service is available exclusively for its U.S.-based songwriters and composers, and makes it easier to find the right healthcare coverage for them and their immediate families. Created in collaboration with Gallagher Alternative Health Solutions, a global leader in insurance brokerage, the program connects creators with advisors who provide personalized, one-on-one guidance to help understand options and choose the best healthcare coverage that fits their individual needs, circumstances and budget.

Through BMI Health Connect, music creators will be able to understand and compare nationally recognized health coverage options, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange plans, private off-exchange plans and Medicare, as well as dental, vision and other types of insurance offerings. They can also get answers to questions from independent and unbiased healthcare insurance experts who have access to hundreds of insurance plans, including those not available on state exchanges, and whose goal is to help find the best insurance options available.

“Supporting our music creators is at the heart of everything we do at BMI,” says Mike O’Neill, CEO, BMI. “We know first-hand from our affiliates that finding the right healthcare coverage can be overwhelming and isn’t a one size-fits-all experience, especially for music creators and their families. BMI Health Connect was created to help bring clarity to an often-complex process and connect our songwriters and composers with a trusted resource so they can spend less time navigating health coverage and more time doing what they do best – creating the world’s best music.”

BMI Health Connect is available right now, and BMI affiliates are encouraged to contact an advisor before open enrollment begins for ample time to ask questions and go over available options. BMI Affiliates in need of immediate coverage can enroll in short-term medical plans right now or enroll in other plans with a Qualifying Life Event. Click here to learn more or call (833) 997-5805.

Enrollment deadlines for 2027 coverage:
Medicare Open Enrollment: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7
ACA Open Enrollment: Nov. 1 – Dec. 15

Dolly Parton is being commemorated in a series of new collector Dolly Dolls in conjunction with Integrity Toys and her new Life of Many Colors Museum.

Dolly and her team had been working on the new Dolly Dolls for more than a year alongside Integrity Toys, and Dolly can be seen joking and playing with one of the dolls in a recently released video snippet as part of behind-the-scenes footage for her Life of Many Colors Museum. This latest iteration of Dolly Dolls marks a new chapter in a long history of Dolly-inspired dolls, dating back to the 1970s.

The first three Dolly Dolls feature Dolly recreated in 1:6 (12-inch) scale, with a vinyl, poseable body. The outfits are all based on looks from her personal fashion archive, and each doll’s outfit and accessories are handcrafted with luxurious details and couture styling. Each doll’s makeup palette has also been created to match specific products in Dolly’s “Dolly Beauty” line.

The Dreamin’ in Gingham Dolly Doll features a gingham and denim look with custom embroidered roses and a blinged-out custom-designed guitar that matches one played by Dolly on stage, as well as fabulous shoes and jewelry, including a Dolly signature necklace.

The World on Fire Dolly Doll features a fashion reminiscent of the one Dolly wore to the 2023 ACM awards, with a custom top with zip front and tails, crystal rhinestone and glittered embellishments, buckle details and a decorative cross zipper pull, custom matching rhinestone pants and a custom faux-leather capelet with buckles. The doll has a removable massive overskirt printed with a graphic of the world map, and also comes with a mic stand with a detachable wireless mic and jewelry and shoes.

The Diamond in a Rhinestone World Museum-Exclusive Dolly Doll is only available in person at the Life of Many Colors Museum and features an elaborate custom rhinestone-embellished white suit styled to match one of Dolly’s fashions visitors will see at the Museum. The look features a miniature of Dolly’s butterfly “jeweled” necklace among other jewelry, sparkling shoes, and an embellished electric guitar with neck strap.

“I have come a long way from that cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, but I am still the same girl of many colors that I was then,” Dolly said in a statement that has been included on the dolls’ package. “I am so excited to have my newest tiny tassel top to share with all of you. Her corn silk colored hair has come a long, long way too! Integrity Toys, along with my archive team, has lovingly created a beautiful collection of brand new Dolly Dolls. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.”

“There is no celebrity who is more beloved than Dolly Parton,” says Carol Roth, who helped put together and manage the collaboration for Integrity Toys. “She is not only a global pop culture icon, entertainer, fashionista and philanthropist, but she is an ambassador to being beautiful inside and out. It is the Integrity Toys team’s complete honor and privilege to have worked with Dolly and her incredible, thoughtful team on carefully crafting a museum-worthy, beautiful tribute in doll-size that captures Dolly’s essence and unique style and that collectors and fans alike can proudly display  and love for decades to come.”

The Dreamin’ in Gingham and World on Fire dolls have limited quantities available at the Life of Many Colors Museum online store here and also have quantities available in the Museum store in person for visitors. Diamond in a Rhinestone World is available exclusively in-person at the Museum store for Museum visitors. Fans and collectors desiring more information on these or future Dolly Dolls can join the email notification list at integritytoys.com/dollydolls.

Jeremy Lister has signed a global publishing deal with Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music.

A Nashville-based vocalist, songwriter and producer, Lister has built a strong track record of music placements across film, television and advertising. His work has been featured on shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Found and All American, as well as in campaigns for Jeep, Toyota, Google and T-Mobile.

Lister is also an accomplished recording artist, having performed with vocal group Street Corner Symphony and as a solo artist with Nashville songwriter collective Ten Out Of Tenn. He has most recently toured as a background vocalist for Post Malone. His solo releases and collaborations with Alison Krauss are among his career highlights. At Jody Williams Songs, Lister will serve as the company’s first dedicated sync writer while also writing for artists across multiple genres.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy to JWS,” shares Jonah Gordon, Jody Williams Songs Manager, Sync/A&R. “He embodies all of the talent and skill for JWS to excel in the sync area and beyond.”

“Jonah’s first signing at JWS is a perfect fit for us,” says Nina Fisher, Jody Williams Songs VP/GM. “Jeremy is a master of his craft, and we are excited to help him build the next chapters of his career.”

“I’ve known Jody for almost my entire 23 years in Nashville, and I’m honored to finally be working with him,” adds Lister. “I’m also thrilled to be back with my longtime sync wizard and pal Jonah Gordon from my Big Yellow Dog years. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten to know Nina, Tenasie [Courtright] and the rest of the JWS team, and I’ve been so impressed by how much time they pour into their writers, their warmth, and the family atmosphere there. I can’t wait to add something new to their already incredible catalog.”

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

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

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, 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

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!”