Pictured (L-R): Alex Heiche of Sound Royalties, Misty Head, Dean Dillon, Sundance Head, John Marks of Spotify, Sheryl Steinmeyer with Sundance Head/Dean Dillon Wildcatter Records, David Preston of BMI

Country-soul singer and The Voice Season 11 winner Sundance Head and his producer, BMI Icon Dean Dillon, gathered with industry executives and influencers in Nashville on Monday night (May 20) at an exclusive listening party to celebrate Head’s new album Stained Glass and Neon.

Hosted by Sound Royalties at a venue in The Gulch, the event gave representatives from BMI, Spotify and country radio an early listen to new original songs “Working on That,” “Close Enough to Walk,” and “Showing Off” from Head’s recently-released album, which is the first project on Dillon’s new Wildcatter Records label.

During the VIP event Dillon was also presented with a special Sound Royalties’ BillionAire Award. Presented by Sound Royalties Founder and CEO Alex Heiche, the award honors creatives who have surpassed one billion song streams on online listening platforms. Heiche not only praised Dillon as an iconic songwriter, who has penned hit songs for country legends including George Strait and David Allan Coe, but also as a warm and genuine personality in the music community.

“This event truly brought together the best of old and new Nashville,” said Heiche. “It was an honor to present the legendary Dean Dillion with Sound Royalties’ signature BillionAire Award, and to hear firsthand the incredible talent of his record’s flagship artist Sundance Head, whose music will soon be taking over country radio nationwide.”

“A BIG thank you to Alex and Sound Royalties for their support and for honoring me with their first BillionAire Award,” said Dillon, CEO of Wildcatter Records. I’m just a simple music man, I love great country music and great country singers. I am so excited about this new record label and the immensely talented Sundance Head. I owe a debt of gratitude to Greg McCabe and the Wildcatters for believing in Sundance and for coming onboard with this label. Sundance has a voice like I’ve never heard and I look forward to great success in the future.”

“What can you say about a guy like Dean Dillon? A LOT! He is such a force in the songwriting, production and A&R community and I cannot believe that I get to work with him,” said Head.

Sundance just released a brand new single, “Close Enough To Walk,” which he co-wrote with Bobby Tomberlin.

Alex Heiche presenting BillionAire Award to Dean Dillon

Sundance Head performs songs from his album

CMA has announced additional performances and appearances at Xfinity Fan Fair X, where fans get up close and personal with their favorite artists. Xfinity Fan Fair X returns to Music City Center for entertainment daily from 9:30-5:00 PM June 6-9, featuring three stages with artist panels and performances, meet-and-greets, music and lifestyle exhibits, prize giveaways and more. The CMA Close Up Stage’s Artist of the Day sessions feature Trisha Yearwood (Thursday), Old Dominion (Friday), Chris Young (Saturday) and Tracy Lawrence (Sunday). As one of the biggest draws to Xfinity Fan Fair X each day, the Artist of the Day sessions spotlight Country Music’s biggest acts offering a unique glimpse into their lives and careers.

Dayton Duncan, writer/producer of the forthcoming Ken Burns documentary Country Music, will be joined by Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor, Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart on the CMA Close Up Stage on Sunday for a conversation about the 16-hour film series, set to air on PBS starting Sunday, Sept. 15.

Admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X is open to all four-day CMA Fest pass holders and Xfinity Fan Fair X ticket holders. Tickets can be purchased for $10 per day or $25 for all four days at CMAfest.com/tickets.

Additional programming for the CMA Close Up Stage includes:
• Performances with Billy Ray Cyrus, LOCASH, Song Suffragettes, Rita Wilson with Kristian Bush and more.
• The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum presents an interview with 2019 inductee Ray Stevens, hosted by Peter Cooper
• “Telling All My Secrets” with Mitchell Tenpenny
• “Life on the Road” with LANCO
• “Off the Road” with Runaway June
• “Jesus Calling” Presents Conversations with Randy and Mary Travis
• “Off the Mound” with MLB Network’s Ryan Dempster
• CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship Panel with Kassi Ashton, Travis Denning and Jameson Rodgers
• First-Ever Budweiser x Kassi Ashton Fashion Collaboration
• Meet the Stars Behind the Breakthrough Motion Picture Soundtrack with Chrissy Metz, Mickey Guyton, Diane Warren and Devon Franklin.
• TG Sheppard – Nothin’ But The Hits

The Radio Disney Country Stage returns to Xfinity Fan Fair X Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, hosted by Radio Disney Country’s Betsy Spina and Radio Disney Country’s “Let the Girls Play” hosts Kalie Shorr andSavannah Keyes, with performances daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Tenille Arts, Olivia Barker, Gabby Barrett, Blanco Brown, Bailey Bryan, Morgan Evans, Caylee Hammack, Walker Hayes, Honey County, Jessie James Decker, LOCASH, Tegan Marie, Mignon, Jenna Paulette, Stephanie Quayle, Runaway June, Smithfield, Alana Springsteen, Christina Taylor, Temecula Road, Tenille Townes and Rachel Wammack.

The Spotlight Stage once again showcases more than 50 emerging acts performing acoustic sets and hosting meet-and-greets daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9 with a lineup including Tommy Ash, Lyn Avenue, Megan Barker, Maggie Baugh, Renee Blair, Blue Honey, Marty Brown, Joe Buck, Campbell Station, CC & The Boys, Rachel Curtis, Rye Davis, Josh Dorr, Alexis Ebert, Chris Gantry, Alissa Griffith,Honey County, Preston James, Paulina Jayne, JoLivi, John King, AJ Kross, Maddie Leigh, Lockeland, Sandra Lynn, Maybe April, Madeline Merlo, Emily Minor, Blake O’Connor, Olivia Ooms, O’SHEA, Dylan Raymond, Tyler Reeve, The Reklaws, Reverie Lane, Travis Rice, Ava Rowland, Kaylee Rose, Ben Rue, Kaylee Rutland, Payton Smith, Royal South, J.D. Shelburne, CJ Solar, Carson Taare, Terra Bella, Adam Wakefield, Maddie Wilson, Aubrey Wollett, Adam Yarger and Zoee & The Band.

P!nk and Chris Stapleton perform onstage during the P!nk Beautiful Trauma 2019 Tour at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2019 in New York City. Photo: Zachary Mazur/WireImage

The year of unusual collaborations continues.

Today, it’s pop queen P!nk and country king Chris Stapleton. Their track on P!nk’s album is essential listening and was a highlight of her recent TV special.

In more familiar terrain, the chest-out, proudly country new track by Jon Pardi wins the Disc of the Day award, and the rockin’ country of James Wesley earns him a DisCovery honor.

LOVE AND THEFT/Gimme Tonight
Writers: Jaren Johnston/Andrew Dorff; Producers: Josh Leo/Jim Ed Norman; Publisher: none listed; Curb
-I have always liked this duo. This pop confection sports their twin-like harmony voices amid a choppy, electronic and sophisticated production. Airplay ready.

SARA EVANS & THE BARKER FAMILY BAND/Dreams
Writer: Stevie Nicks; Producers: Sara Evans/Ben Fowler; Publisher: none listed; Born to Fly
– It sounds almost exactly like the Fleetwood Mac 1977 mega hit, so why not listen to the original version? That said, it is a splendid showcase for how gifted Sara’s teen children are.

JAMES WESLEY/Running
Writers: Marcum Stewart/Zack Wrixon/James Wesely Prosser; Producers: none listed; JWM
– Nicely done. He has a tough, confident, traditional-country vocal delivery, and the band cooks with gas on the rocking track. This has a driving “open road” tone that is perfect for summer.

JOHN BERRY/The Richest Man
Writers: John Berry/Liz Hengber/Will Robinson; Producer: Chuck Howard/Barry Weeks; Publishers: JB/Modern Music Works/Give It All/More Coco/Notting Hill/Will Chill, SESAC/ASCAP/BMI; JB Music
– I never tire of hearing this most fundamental message of country music — happiness doesn’t lie in wealth, but in love. Few have the heart and soul to deliver it as effectively as this guy. Brilliantly crafted, wonderfully melodic, exquisitely poetic and flawlessly produced.

JON PARDI/Heartache Medication
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol
– Just when you thought country music was dead and buried, along comes an artist and a single like this. So righteous and hillbilly, I practically shouted hallelujah. The fiddles-and-steel production, the peppy-two-step rhythm and his drawling delivery are beamed straight from Hillbilly Heaven. Turn it on, turn it up, turn it loose.

P!NK & CHRIS STAPLETON/Love Me Anyway
Writers: James Allen Shamblin II/Tom Douglas/Alecia B. Moore; Producers: Pink/Sal Oliveri/Simon Gooding; Publishers: Sony/ATV, no performance rights listed; RCA
– Gorgeous. It’s a stunning, vulnerable Nashville love ballad that P!nk delivers with seething passion. Stapleton provides occasional harmony and then answers her phrase-for-phrase as the song moves into its luscious finale. I’d have used his vocal talent a little more, but they sound great together.

NOE PALMA/This Summer
Writers: Brian Kolb, Brian McElyea, Noe Palma; Producer: Brian Kolb, Brian McElyea, Noe Palma; Publishers: none listed; Mae Capital
– From the “woah-oh” shouted interjections to the generic country-party lyrics, this doesn’t break any new ground. However, the relentless tempo is irresistible and the youthful, “this summer’s gonna last forever” hook is completely captivating. This definitely belongs on your June/July/August playlist.

WALKER HAYES/Don’t Let Her
Writers: Walker Hayes/Shane McAnally/Andrew DeRoberts; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Arista/Monument
– His delivery remains more spoken than sung. I remain confused about how and why this is a “country” artist.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY/King of the World
Writers: Troy Jones; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Average Joes
– Hale and hearty. It’s a delightful, cute and clever little ditty about the simple pleasures of being a country boy. Your toes will tap and your lips will smile. I’m a little unclear about the billing. It’s an Eddie Montgomery solo performance, but still seems to have the “Montgomery Gentry” imprimatur.

LEE ANN WOMACK/Hollywood
Writers: Waylon Payne/Mando Saenz/Lee Ann Womack/Adam Wright; Producer: Frank Liddell; Publishers: Drip Rock Creek/Words & Music/Scrambler/Tiltawhirl/Casa de Casa/Carnival, ASCAP/BMI; ATO
– The second single drawn from her acclaimed The Lonely The Lonesome & The Gone collection is a hypnotic, sultry, shimmering heartache ballad. She is an absolutely magical vocalist. To listen is to fall in love.

Lori McKenna is celebrating the 15h anniversary of her album Bittertown by releasing new acoustic versions of Bittertown’s “Bible Song” and “Stealing Kisses” July 24 on CN Records. The re-recorded songs were produced by Luke Laird and recorded at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville.

In addition to being released digitally, the songs will appear on limited edition 7” vinyl along with specialty merch which will be available for purchase at six intimate performances of the album this summer. McKenna will play shows in Washington D.C, New York, Portland, Maine, and several others through Aug. 4 in support of the new project. Tickets for the special shows go on sale this Thursday, May 23.

“Bittertown was my fourth record,” said McKenna. “It came out in 2004, three days before my fifth and youngest child was born and it changed my life. Faith Hill recorded three of the songs on that record and that was my introduction to Nashville and how I found my second home. Boston to Bittertown to Nashville you could say. It was a blessing and remains a huge part of my life even now.”