Nashville’s largest race is getting a format change. The event, which has been known as the Country Music Marathon since its inception, has been renamed the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.

The name change is meant to integrate the event into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series global brand, and will allow for a greater musical variety in the bands that perform along the course each year.

“Nashville grew from a foundation built on music, and while country music is a pivotal piece of that, it’s not the only genre that defines Music City,” Josh Furlow, President of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, said. “The rock and roll genre roots itself in a spectrum of music styles including bluegrass, jazz, folk, soul and of course country. Our goal is to celebrate Nashville as a destination for live music and running by linking the historical race with the power of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon brand.”

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and 1/2 Marathon will take place on April 30, 2016, beginning on Broadway in downtown Nashville and finishing at Nissan Stadium.

A $55 registration fee is available now through Friday at RunRocknRoll.com/Nashville.

Belmont University’s Don Cusic is releasing his new book The Beatles and Country Music.

In the book Cusic examines The Beatles’ earliest influences, including skiffle and folk music, as well as early rockabilly influences from Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Bill Haley and Carl Perkins. Early in their career, The Beatles performed country songs in Hamburg and at the Cavern in Liverpool.

When the group first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, George Harrison was playing a Gretsch guitar—inspired by his love of Chet Atkins, who also played a Gretsch.

Gene Autry was one of Ringo’s biggest musical influences, according to the book. And Ringo sang the Buck Owens hit, “Act Naturally,” on an album by The Beatles. Ringo recorded his 1970 album Beaucoups of Blues in Nashville, which was produced by legendary Music City steel guitarist Pete Drake.

Drake also played on George Harrison’s album, All Things Must Pass and Harrison’s song “Behind That Locked Door.”

The book documents Paul McCartney’s 1974 Nashville recording sessions with local steel guitarist Lloyd Green.

Cusic writes about country artists who have recorded Beatles songs, including Chet Atkins, who also played on a McCartney song.

This is the 26th book by Cusic. He has written biographies of Eddy Arnold, Roger Miller, and Gene Autry. Other books include Elvis and Nashville, Baseball and Country Music, and Saved By Song: A History of Gospel and Christian Music.

The Beatles and Country Music is available here.

Kip Moore

The Country Music Association and the critically-acclaimed music series “Front and Center” have announced Kip Moore along with Brett James and Jaren Johnston as the stars of the next songwriters series taping, to be held Sept. 21 at the Iridium in New York City.

Moore co-wrote all three of his No.1 singles; every track on his latest album Wild Ones; and penned songs for Jake Owen and Thompson Square.

Both James and Johnston have written hit songs cut by artists including Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and more.

“Front and Center” is the critically-acclaimed, original one-hour concert series that airs commercial-free on public television. Now in its sixth season, the show has presented an eclectic mix of Grammy, CMA, and American Music Award winners, rock icons, and multi-Platinum sellers including Bentley, Counting Crows, Goo Goo Dolls, Jack Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, The Fray, Train, Urban, and more.

For more information on the “Front and Center” music series, visit frontandcenter.com.

Brett James

Jaren Johnston

When Wisconsin native Josh Thompson performed for the MusicRow staff he was greeted by a member of the Green Bay Packers.

After releasing his debut album in 2010, singer-songwriter Josh Thompson enjoyed the success of three Top 30 singles, including “Way Out Here,” “Beer on the Table” and “Won’t Be Lonely Long.”

His new album, Change: The Lost Record, Volume One, the first in a two EP series, was originally recorded in 2011 while Thompson was still signed to RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, Thompson held onto the songs, refashioning them into his new project, set for digital release Oct. 9 via partnership with ole Digital/The Orchard.

Thompson visited the MusicRow office to preview a few songs from the project, including “Work In The Mornin’,” “Same Ol’ Plain Ol’ Me,” and a track he calls the “leavin’ song” on the album, “Over Me.”

“I could have released it on another label, but I would have had to release it to them, so I kept it and decided to release it now,” said Thompson.

After his last record release, Turn It Up in 2014, Thompson has been cranking out the songs, writing an average of 80-120 songs per year. He penned Joe Nichols’ current single, “Freaks Like Me,” which he obliged MusicRow staffers with an acoustic rendition, before ending with a snippet of his 2013 hit “Cold Beer With Your Name On It.”

Thompson also recently teamed with band The LACS for the song “Tonight On Repeat.”

Josh Thompson and his team with MusicRow staff.