Daughter Of Hank Williams Jr. Dies In Car Crash

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Hank Williams Jr. Photo: David McClister

Hank Williams Jr.‘s daughter, 27-year-old Katherine Williams-Dunning, was killed in a one-car crash on Saturday (June 13) in Henry County, Tennessee.

The Tennessean reported that Williams-Dunning was driving the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe on Highway 79 near Antioch Road when an SUV, which was towing a boat, crossed the median and crashed around 7:45 p.m. CT Saturday evening. Williams-Dunning was killed, while her 29-year-old husband, Tyler Dunning, who was also in the vehicle, was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Katherine and Tyler were married on Oct. 15, 2015, and share two children, son Beau Weston (5) and daughter Audrey Jane (2). Katherine owned the clothing company Weston Jane.

Williams-Dunning is the daughter of Hank Williams Jr. and Mary Jane Thomas and the sister of Sam Williams. Williams-Dunning is the half-sister of Holly Williams and Hilary Williams (mother: Becky White), and Shelton Hank Williams, also known as Hank Williams III (mother: Gwen Yeargain).

Holly Williams shared a family photo taken with Katherine one day before the crash.

“I have no words,” Williams said via the Instagram post. “On Friday morning I talked the family into taking this picture and had no idea it would be our last together with my precious little sister Katie. We all went to my great aunts funeral on Thursday whom we all loved dearly, and now are faced with another one. ALL we need is prayers. My daddy. My little brother. Katie’s husband (he is awake and responding don’t know injury extent yet). My niece and nephew. Her Mama. The Dunning family. All of us. So. Many. Prayers. Jesus is close. Thank you all ??❤️ Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9”

Daniel Tashian, Burt Bacharach Collaborate On ‘Blue Umbrella’ EP

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Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian have collaborated on a Blue Umbrella EP, out July 31 on Big Yellow Dog Music. The project marks Bacharach’s first album in 15 years.

The album was recorded in Nashville and features Tashian on vocals and Bacharach on piano, along with musicians Dennis Crouch, Fred Eltringham, Tom Bukovac, and Jim Hoke.

“Daniel’s instincts are always right on target,” says Bacharach. “Musically, he’s got the chord before I’ve got the chord, when I can’t find the chord. I appreciate it so much. He hears impeccably. He brings to the table a great lyric sense. He tells a great story. He also brings some valuable music stuff. It’s a really collaborative thing.”

“There’s nothing I’d rather do than make music with Burt Bacharach,” adds Tashian. “They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes because they’ll disappoint you. But I haven’t found that about Burt.”

Bacharach is a recipient of three Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and eight Grammy Awards (including the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and 1997 Trustees Award). Tashian has written songs for Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Lady A, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Turner, Maisie Peters, NeedtoBreathe and Brett Eldredge. As a producer, he’s recently made albums with Eldredge, Lily & Madeleine, Jessie James Decker and A Girl Called Eddy. His songs have appeared in such TV shows as Breaking Bad, Pretty Little Liars and Nashville. Aside from his two Grammy Awards for Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour, he has been nominated for another for his children’s music album I Love Rainy Days and just released his second children’s music album Mr. Moonlight (Big Yellow Dog Music).

BLUE UMBRELLA TRACKLIST
Bells of St. Augustine
Whistling in the Dark
Blue Umbrella
Midnight Watch
We Go Way Back

IBMA Elects New Board of Directors Members

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The International Bluegrass Music Association has elected new members to its Board of Directors, as well as officers.

The following members were elected or reelected to serve a three-year term commencing on Wednesday, June 10, 2020:

Darin Aldridge – Artists, Composers, and Music Publishers (member elected)
Christine Funk – Merchandisers & Luthiers (member elected)
Carolyn Hotte – Bluegrass Music Associations (member elected)
Christopher Howard-Williams – International At Large (board appointed)
Andrea Roberts – At Large (member elected)
Mike Simpson – At Large (board appointed and reelected)
The Board of Directors elected the following as officers on its Executive Committee:
Board Chair – Ben Surratt
Board Vice-Chair – Daniel Boner
Treasurer – Mike Simpson
Secretary – Michelle Conceison
Additional Officer – Ashley Moyer

“I’d like everyone to know how honored I am to have the opportunity to serve IBMA as the Board Chair,” Surratt says. “I am grateful for the service of our outgoing chair, Joe Mullins, for the steadfast leadership he has provided us the last three years. While I’ve learned a lot looking over his shoulder, I know I have a big pair of shoes to fill, and I will be working hard to do just that. I look forward to working with our Executive Director, Paul Schiminger, and the IBMA staff – Eddie Huffman, Amy Beth Hale, Casey Campbell, and Ethan Charles – to serve our membership and create opportunities for our bluegrass industry.”

EmiSunshine, Bootsy Collins Team For New Track "Stars"

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EmiSunshine

Teen country singer EmiSunshine has collaborated with Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Bootsy Collins on the new single, “Stars.” Proceeds from streams and downloads of the song will benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which offers aid to help musicians and music industry members who have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also collaborating on the song are Béla Fleck, Steve Jordan, Victor Wooten, Olvido Ruiz, Uché, Manou Gallou, Brian Culbertson, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Dr. Cornel West, the philosopher, professor and political activist.

Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame member Collins invited EmiSunshine, who has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry 14 times, to collaborate on the song after both artists were scheduled to appear in the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Parade, which was later canceled due to COVID-19.

“I was very impressed by this young lady’s depth in the world around her,” Collins said. “It is my pleasure to support EmiSunshine in her musical career. She has all the real qualities of a real person and a true star.”

“I am excited and honored to be working with Bootsy Collins,” Emi said. “We come from different musical worlds, but I have always loved exploring and incorporating other styles in my own songs. The fact that ‘Stars’ will be used to help other struggling artists makes this project even more meaningful.”

Luke Bryan’s Latest Single, "Build Me A Daddy," Out Today

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Luke Bryan. Photo: Jim Wright

Luke Bryan is releasing a brand new song, “Build Me A Daddy,” digitally today. He’s set to perform the new song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next Thursday (June 18).

The single is the latest offering from his upcoming seventh studio album, Born Here Live Here Die Here, due out Aug. 7, and was penned by Jake Mitchell, Josh Thompson and Brett Tyler. A video for the song, shot earlier this year south of Nashville, is being released today as well.

The album has already yielded two No. 1 hits “Knockin’ Boots,” and “What She Wants Tonight,” plus his current smash single “One Margarita.” “One Margarita” is the No. 1 most downloaded country song for two weeks in a row, and the three tracks have racked up nearly 600 million streams.

Born Here Live Here Die Here Track listing:
1.  Knockin’ Boots (Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite, Gordie Sampson)
2.  What She Wants Tonight (Luke Bryan, Ross Copperman, Hillary Lindsey, Jon Nite)
3.  Born Here Live Here Die Here (Jake Mitchell, Jameson Rodgers, Josh Thompson)
4.  One Margarita (Michael Carter, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson)
5.  Too Drunk To Drive (Luke Bryan, Michael Carter, Brandon Kinney)
6.  Build Me A Daddy (Jake Mitchell, Josh Thompson, Brett Tyler)
7.  Little Less Broken (Michael Carter, Lindsay Rimes, Matt Rogers)
8.  For A Boat (Randy Montana, Josh Thompson, Mike Walker)
9.  Where Are We Goin’ (Luke Bryan, Brent Cobb)
10. Down To One (Dallas Davidson, Justin Ebach, Kyle Fishman)

Whiskey Myers Reveals Firewater Music Festival Lineup

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Whiskey Myers has weathered the pandemic in creative ways, continuing to push boundaries on what a concert can look like by streaming live from Billy Bob’s Texas to 20,000+, and performing to a sea of vehicles at the recent Texas Rangers “Concert In Your Car” series. Today, the band announces the lineup of their personally-curated Firewater Music Festival this Fall in Kansas City.

Set to perform on Oct. 2-3 at the Firewater fest in addition to Whiskey Myers are Drive-By Truckers, Whitey Morgan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Steel Woods, Shane Smith & the Saints, Chris Knight, Bones Owens, Tennessee Jet, Jamie Wyatt and Rob Leines.

Event organizers are taking extra precautions based on guidance from health authorities including the CDC and are working in tandem with state and local government officials to ensure that the three-day event will be safe for attendees.

The festival will take place on 150 acres of meadows, ponds and wooded hills just south of Kansas City offering the ultimate outdoor lifestyle experience. In addition to the live concerts, on-site activities will include canoeing, zip-lining, rock climbing, archery and a swimming pool.

All tickets are on sale now with layaway payment plans available, and the GA and VIP tickets have discounted rates available when purchased as four-packs. For more information about the event and to purchase passes, visit FirewaterMusicFestival.com.

BMLG, CreatiVets Join Forces To Offer Musical Outlet To Combat Veterans

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Some of Nashville’s top songwriters are teaming with Big Machine Label Group and non-profit organization CreatiVets to help offer military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress and brain injuries a creative outlet to help the healing process.

All songs created through the venture will be released via the Big Machine Records imprint, with Big Machine Music serving as co-publisher for CreatiVets to provide licensing, administration and royalty collection services for mentor songwriters as well as participants who opt in.

Scott and Sandi Borchetta‘s Music Has Value Fund has also contributed to CreatiVets’ operational initiatives and will continue to serve as a connector for opportunities that can magnify CreatiVets within the entertainment space.

An 11-track album, Veteran Songs, will release July 3. One of the songs from the project, “Stories,” was penned by combat veteran Geneo Graves alongside CreatiVets co-founder/executive director Richard Casper and Nashville songwriters Heidi Raye and Johnny Bulford, who also performs the recorded version of the song.

“Richard’s vision and passion to help veterans understand their value and offer them the chance to heal through creating music is nothing short of groundbreaking,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “We welcome this partnership with CreatiVets to provide therapeutic solutions not only with our record and publishing divisions but also with our Music Has Value fund, which is dedicated to providing support to music programs that educate and encourage those who aspire to make music.”<

“CreatiVets’ vision for this partnership is to be in the homes of every veteran in the United States,” said Casper. “We are so thankful that Big Machine Label Group wants to help spread our message, our music and give us the opportunity to reach thousands more veterans that may need our programing. I know that this partnership will change and save veterans’ lives.”

Craig Wayne Boyd, Casey James, Adam Wakefield Form New Trio

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Pictured (L-R): Craig Wayne Boyd, Adam Wakefield, and Casey James. Photo: Debbie Wallace.

Former musical reality show contestants Craig Wayne Boyd, Casey James, and Adam Wakefield have joined to form a new trio, Texas Hill. The trio has debuted the new single “Darkest Sky,” penned by Ryan Beaver, Mike Walker and James LeBlanc.

Wakefield and Boyd each competed on NBC’s The Voice, while James competed on ABC’s American Idol. The three began performing shows together in 2019 and began co-writing songs, enough to create an upcoming six-song EP to release later this year.

Carolina Story Announces Sophomore Album For September

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Carolina Story has released “Hold Of Me,” an inspirational, autobiographical new track about finding strength in one another while weathering life’s biggest storms. The song is featured on their upcoming new sophomore album, Dandelion, which is due out Sept. 4 on Black River Americana.

“‘Hold of Me’ is an autobiographical song about our family and chasing down a dream,” explain Carolina Story’s Ben and Emily Roberts. “It’s about holding onto and leaning on one another to keep going one day at a time in the face of wanting to give up and give in. The overall realization and truth of the matter is that the only way to keep the pieces of ourselves intact is to do it together.”

Recorded with producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Moak (Joy Williams, Ashley Monroe), Dandelion is infused with Carolina Story’s organic, homespun craftsmanship and features a captivating collection of raw, to-the-heart storytelling and a lush instrumental blend of folk intimacy, country grit and alt-rock muscle. The project offers a reflective look at moments of loneliness, depression and economic hardship. “There’s just something about the dandelion that spoke to us,” said Ben. “It’s this humble, unassuming plant that’s so tough it can grow through cracks in concrete. It’s an underdog, just like us.”

John Prine’s Last Recorded Song, "I Remember Everything," Out Today

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John Prine‘s last song he ever recorded, “I Remember Everything,” is being released today. The track was penned by Prine and longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin, and recorded last year in Prine’s living room with producer Dave Cobb and engineer Gena Johnson.

The new song, along with never-before-seen footage, debuted following last night’s “Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine,” which included memories and performances by special guests including Eric Church, Dave Cobb, Vince Gill, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, and many more. The tribute has raised over $250,000 so far for NAMI, Alive and Make the Road New York, and remains available to view through the weekend at YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.

“I Remember Everything” is the first new Prine music since the release of his acclaimed Cobb-produced 2018 album, The Tree of Forgiveness. The album was Prine’s first album of new material in over 13 years and debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, with over 54,000 equivalent albums sold in its first week—a career high chart position for the legendary songwriter/artist.