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.

“It’s been soul cleansing to finally be able to share this music with my fans,” said Thompson, who is a co-writer on every song from the album. “I think if there’s one thing people can cling to it’s their beliefs and their way of life, I think people need that simplicity in country music and that was my goal with this record.”

“ole is proud to facilitate the long-overdue release of such an incredible album from Josh Thompson,” said John Ozier, GM of Nashville Creative at ole. “Ever since we first heard this record, we knew that we needed to have Josh on the ole team. We’re thrilled that his fans and the world at large will finally have a chance to hear these songs, and we look forward to ensuring that these EPs receive all the attention they deserve.”

Paul Simon

Paul Simon has been added to the stellar lineup for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s All for the Hall New York benefit concert on Oct. 6 at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square. He will join award-winning Grand Ole Opry members Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, as well as Country Music Hall of Fame (and Opry) members Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris in a guitar-pull format performance.

All for the Hall New York is produced by CAA’s Rod Essig, Vector Management’s Ken Levitan, Gary Overton and BMI’s Jody Williams. The event is made possible by the generosity of AEG Live and the Best Buy Theater.

Concert tickets for mezzanine seating are on sale at axs.com or at the Best Buy Theater box office for $100. A limited number of VIP tables and tickets are on sale, and patrons have the option of purchasing a full table of 10 for $10,000, a half table for $5,000, or individual floor-level seats for $1,000 each. A full list of VIP ticket levels and benefits can be found at www.countrymusichalloffame.org/afthny. To purchase VIP tickets or for more information, contact Rachel Shapiro at 615-416-2069 or rshapiro@countrymusichalloffame.org. A portion of this year’s table and ticket purchases are a tax deductible charitable contribution to support the preservation and interpretation of country music’s heritage.

Chris Isaak, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Turner, and Holly Williams have been added as performers for the upcoming 9th annual ACM Honors. They join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Roy Clark, Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen and Restless Heart, as well as presenters Kelsea Ballerini, RAC Clark, and The Swon Brothers. In addition to performing, Owen will serve as host for the evening. Frank Liddell returns as musical director.

Honorees include Special Awards recipients Barry Adelman, Luke Bryan, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (awarded posthumously), Eric Church, Tim DuBois, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill and Alabama. 

Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Chuck Ainlay, Tom Bukovac, Dan Dugmore, Jay Joyce, Greg Morrow, Michael Rojas, Ilya Toshinsky and Glenn Worf.

Industry Award winners include Ed Warm of Joe’s Live, Sally Williams of Ryman Auditorium, Country Thunder USA: East in Twin Lakes, WI, Hard Rock Live in Biloxi, MS, Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA, Joe’s Bar in Chicago, IL, MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, NV, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

Luke Laird will be honored as Songwriter of the Year.

The 9th annual ACM Honors will be held Sept. 1 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Who Knew…, presented by MusicRowSearch, is partnering with MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment for the networking and speaker series at 3rd & Lindsley on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Students from the college will provide video and technical support, and the college’s $1.6 million mobile video lab will serve as an on-site control room.

The line up of guest speakers includes Lars Murray, Pandora VP of industry relations; Benji Rogers, Pres. and founder of Pledge Music; Steve Schnur, worldwide executive for music at video game giant Electronic Arts; Anastasia Brown, a well-known music supervisor, consultant, author and producer; Mike Butera, creator of Instrument 1, and Craig Havighurst, a noted music historian.

Set to perform are The Mulligan Brothers and Matthew Perryman Jones.

Lightning 100 radio personality Dan Buckley will emcee the event.

$10 tickets are on sale here.

Carrie Underwood will release her latest album, Storyteller, on Oct. 23, propelled by the project’s first single, “Smoke Break.” The track was co-written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano.

Underwood revealed the album’s cover in an online feature on EW.com, and debuted the music video for “Smoke Break” earlier this week. The clip was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who shot Underwood’s video for “Blown Away.”

“I feel like [Storyteller] is just really relatable,” Underwood told EW.com. “There’s going to be a lot of songs on the album that people can listen to and be like ‘I totally get what you’re trying to say.’ Each album so far has had its own look, its own feel, its own sound, and this upcoming album is definitely no exception.”

Underwood surprised the Sony Music Nashville staff earlier this week by dropping by to say thanks to the entire company for their contributions in launching “Smoke Break.” 

Pictured (L-R): Christy Garbinski, Promotion Representative, Sony Music Nashville; Olivia Laster, Specialist, Promotion, Arista Nashville; R.G. Jones, Director, Promotion/Strategy & Analysis;  Rusty Sherrill, Regional Promotion Manager, Arista Nashville; Andy Elliott, Director, National Promotion, Arista Nashville;  Carrie Underwood;  John Sigler, Director, National Promotion, Arista Nashville; Steve Hodges, EVP, Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville; Lesly Tyson, VP, Promotion, Arista Nashville.