Pictured are (L-R): Gold Mountain Entertainment’s Burt Stein, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Kyle Young, Ronnie Milsap, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Carolyn Tate and Lisa Purcell. Photo: Rick Diamond.

Ronnie Milsap is now the center of a new exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame titled Ronnie Milsap: A Legend in My Time. The music legend and 2014 Hall of Famer now finds himself represented in three spots throughout the museum: one in the permanent collection, another honoring the most recent Hall of Fame inductees and the newest opening, celebrated last night (Feb. 6) during a private gathering of 100+ individuals.

Replacing the Crystal Gayle exhibit, Milsap’s turn in the museum’s spotlight focuses on the flashy outfits, award presentations, a segment of his soundboard from the 80s-90s in braille, and a keytar along with many other artifacts.

Ronnie Milsap. Photo: Rick Diamond.

Last night’s reception for friends, family and colleagues was held upstairs near the museum’s corporate offices where Milsap was recognized for career achievements, prior to today’s public opening (Feb. 5).

“He rose from a childhood fraught with emotional trauma and depravation,” said Museum’s Director and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Young. “You would never know that to meet him. He’s one of the most upbeat human beings on earth. Perhaps the most important measure of Ronnie’s success is his joyful heart. His love of life shines from his core. We’re honored and exceedingly proud to share this new exhibition with our visitors.”

“Jerry Bradley told me after I won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA that one day [I’ll] be in the Hall of Fame,” explained Milsap. “I’m gonna continue to make records, play show dates. I’m thankful my wife Joyce is with me today, she’s been an inspiration in my life. And to quote a song title for all of you here today: ‘What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life’!”

To celebrate the exhibit’s launch, a special conversation with Milsap will be hosted by museum writer-editor Peter Cooper in the museum’s 750-seat CMA Theater, Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:00 p.m.

Native Run Signs Up For ACM Membership

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Show Dog-Universal duo Native Run to the office, where they performed their debut single, “Good On You” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

Native Run sign up as members of the ACM. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

ASCAP Hosts Showcase Series’ February Installment at the Bluebird Cafe

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) hosted the February installment of its long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe on Wed., February 4th. The “in the round” showcase featured veteran hit songwriter Marla Cannon-Goodman (“The Fool” – Lee Ann Womack), songwriter-artist Josh Jenkins, Combustion Music Publishing songwriter-artist Matt Jenkins (“Where It’s At” – Dustin Lynch), and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing songwriter Aaron Eshuis (“Payback” – Rascal Flatts), who celebrated his first-ever performance at Nashville’s famed listening room.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Aaron Eshuis, Matt Jenkins and Josh Jenkins. Photo: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.

CMT Welcomes Mitchell Tenpenny

New artist Mitchell Tenpenny visited CMT last week to perform songs from his new album Black Crow.

Tenpenny is currently on a radio tour and is featured in a documentary entitled Voyage which is also available on iTunes. Tenpenny wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs on Black Crow, which will release April 28.

Mitchell Tenpenny with CMT staff.

Capitol Christian Music Group President & CEO Bill Hearn presents TobyMac with a plaque to commemorate five studio records becoming RIAA Certified Gold

Capitol Christian Music Group artist TobyMac‘s album Eye On It recently earned an RIAA Gold Certification, marking a new career milestone.

TobyMac was honored during a staff presentation at Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) by President & CEO Bill Hearn, recognizing that the honor makes TobyMac the first artist in CCMG history to have five studio solo projects achieve Gold certification.

“The fact that Eye On It and now all five of TobyMac’s albums have been certified Gold by the RIAA is a testimony to how deeply his music resonates with music lovers all over the world. This remarkable achievement is also a first for any artist at Capitol Christian Music Group. The team at Capitol could not be more proud of our history and now extended partnership with the iconic TobyMac,” said Hearn.