Entries by Sarah Skates

Big Loud Shirt Retreat; Sandbox Contact Update

Last week Big Loud Shirt held its 2nd annual Christmas writer retreat, bringing in outside writers to pen Christmas tunes. Last year’s retreat resulted in Dave Barnes’ current single “Christmas Tonight” (a duet with Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott). The song was written by Barnes and Clint Lagerberg. ••••••••••••• Jason Owen’s Sandbox Entertainment has set up […]

Nashville Planning Artist Residence

An artist residence for Music City is in the works thanks to a partnership between the Nashville Music Council, Metro Development Housing Authority and Mayor Karl Dean’s office. Several cities across the country have artists residences, offering affordable housing to members of the creative community, and supporting them culturally and economically. It remains unofficial, but […]

Lucinda Williams Sets March Release

Lucinda Williams is prepping for the March 1 release of her new album Blessed, on Lost Highway. For the 12-song project she paired with Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was, and co-producers Eric Liljestrand and Tom Overby. Williams recruited Elvis Costello for guitar work on the track “Seeing Black.” Also making appearances on the album are […]

Kennedy Center Honors Haggard, McCartney

Washington D.C. was glowing with star power on Sunday night, Dec. 5, for the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors. Merle Haggard was among the esteemed honorees, alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Bill T. Jones, and Jerry Herman. Vince Gill opened the salute to Haggard, calling him the “poet of the common man.” Willie Nelson narrated […]

Photos: Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker

Willie Nelson helped Virgin America airlines launch its new service to Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW). To celebrate, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson hosted a Texas-sized party in downtown Dallas at the Winspear Opera House. Darius Rucker visited The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Dec. 1 to perform his latest No. 1 Country […]

Travis Tritt Signs With Parallel Entertainment

Travis Tritt has signed with manager J.P. Williams of Parallel Entertainment, home to Larry The Cable Guy and others. The Los Angeles-based talent management and production company handles a wide range of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD premiere features, comedy and music albums, and television series and specials. Parallel has produced one-hour specials for […]

Vassar To Headline Nashville New Year’s Eve

Phil Vassar will headline Nashville’s Bash On Broadway New Year’s Eve party. The free block party starts at 7:30 PM with performances by Will Hoge, Heidi Newfield and Damien Horne. GAC and Sirius/XM host Storme Warren will emcee the event on Lower Broadway leading up to the midnight Guitar Drop and fireworks. Also on the […]

Photos: Brett Eldredge; Eric Lee Beddingfield

Atlantic Records’ rising star Brett Eldredge made his debut television appearance Dec. 4 on the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s “Together for Care” telethon. Eldredge performed his single “Raymond,” which he wrote after being inspired by his grandmother’s battle with the disease. Among the other stars on the telethon were Al Roker from NBC’s Today Show. ••••••••••• Eric Lee […]

Nettles Helps VH1 Divas Salute The Troops

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles helped VH1 Divas Salute The Troops in last night’s (12/5) television special. She joined pop, rock and hip-hop stars Katy Perry, Keri Hilson, Nicki Minaj, Paramore and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals for the show taped primarily last week at San Diego’s Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The stars donned military-inspired wardrobe […]