Tucker Wetmore Rises To The Top Of The MusicRow Radio Chart

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Tucker Wetmore. Photo: Chase Foster

Tucker Wetmore rises to the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with his hit, “Brunette.”

The track, off of his debut studio album What Not To, was written by Chris LaCorte, Chase McGill, Josh Miller and Blake Pendergrass.

Wetmore released a new track, “Sunburn,” earlier this month following the recent extension of his “The Brunette World Tour, “ adding 17 new dates to the run.

“Brunette” currently sits at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 9 Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Ashley McBryde Is ‘Utterly Magnificent’

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Ashley McBryde. Photo: Nathan Chapman

Country music displays some substance this week.

Romantic troubles are creatively explored by Parker McCollum, Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick. Existential musing infuses the new sounds by The Jack Wharff Band, Mumford & Sons with Chris Stapleton and Jelly Roll. Tigirlily Gold turns country cliches upside down. Mike Parker’s single exudes production creativity.

Rising above them all is Ashley McBryde with a simply brilliant piece of songwriting that earns a Disc of the Day award.

Add Alison Nichols to the list of current creative country females. And give her a DISCovery Award while you’re at it.

THE JACK WHARFF BAND / “Strange”
Writers: Evan Novoa/Garrett Howell/Jack Wharff/Joe Clemmons/Ryan Atchison; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Big Machine Records
– Drowsy and languid, with painful nostalgia for the man he used to be. A sonic stew of edgy rock, creamy harmonies and folkie sincerity. The band plays the Ryman next Wednesday (April 1).

TIGIRLILY GOLD / “Country & Midwestern”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Very cute. It bops along, name-checking all the northern things that are “country,” as opposed to the Southern cliches. Essential listening: “’Bless your heart’ don’t mean ‘Buck you’…When the Cowboys lose, we don’t shed a tear/It’s ‘Go, Pack, go’ ‘round here.”

PARKER McCOLLUM / “Killin’ Me”
Writers: Monty Criswell/Parker McCollum/Randy Rogers; Producers: Eric Masse, Frank Liddell; Label: MCA
– Echoey twanging guitars swirl around while she seduces him with every look and every move. Beautifully produced and sung.

ALISON NICHOLS / “Box Wine Problems”
Writers: Alison Nichols/Sherrie Austin/Will Rambeaux; Producers: Ilya Toshinski, Will Rambeaux; Label: BMG/BBR Music Group
– It seems that the “problems” in the title aren’t so bad. In fact, they’re a real good time. A saucy tempo tune delivered with moxie.

ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Bottle Tells Me So”
Writers: Ashley McBryde/Shelly Fairchild/Terri Jo Box; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– Chilling, stark, and utterly magnificent. Staring alcoholism in the face in the cold light of the morning after. The ballad and her performance seethe with authenticity. This is one of our finest singer-songwriters at the peak of her powers.

MIKE PARKER / “Bone Dry”
Writers: Dirty Rice/Jimmy Robbins/Mike Parker/Notelle; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Mailbox Money Records
– It’s over. She’s gone. He’s left high and dry. The choppy, percussive elements in the production are super catchy, and Parker’s vocal is doubled, tripled, stacked and layered in ear tickling complexity. Highly creative.

KELLY LANG / “I Reach For Red”
Writer: Kelly Lang; Producer: Kelly Lang; Label: Leopard Entertainment
– Country veteran Lang remains a stunningly effective, throaty alto. In this lustrous, sophisticated track, she’s in praise of the comforting presence of red wine when the mood is blue.

MUMFORD AND SONS & CHRIS STAPLETON / “Here”
Writers: Aaron Dessner/Ben Lovett/Marcus Mumford/Ted Dwane; Producers: Aaron Dessner, Mumford & Sons; Label: Glassnote Entertainment Group
– This group-sung anthem relates regrets and mistakes in a hooky, folkie track that grabs your ears and doesn’t let go. A slam-dunk Americana chart-topper if I’ve ever heard one.

BRANTLEY GILBERT / “Good Damn”
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill/Michael Hardy/Taylor Phillips; Producers: Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– He runs into an ex. She still looks hot. He misses her. She misses him, too. The song meanders around in search of a melody.

MITCHELL TENPENNY / “Speed of Light”
Writers: Dallas Wilson/Jaten Dimsdale/Jesse Hampton/Mitchell Tenpenny; Producer: none listed; Label: Sony Music Nashville/Riser House Records
– A vow of devotion and fidelity. He’ll be there for her, no matter the time or place. The electronic, computer-enhanced production ranges from gentle to roaring as he unspools his passion. Recommended.

MEGHAN PATRICK / “Safe Place to Break”
Writers: Meghan Patrick/Shane Minor/Zach Kale; Producer: Karen Kosowski; Label: Riser House Records
– Gritty and soulful, this is a stately ode to the shelter of a lover. She wails righteously while a bluesy track builds tension. Patrick is a multiple Canadian country Female Vocalist of the Year who is working on stateside stardom in Music City. She and Tenpenny are spouses.

HUDSON WESTBROOK / “Hey Dallas”
Writers: Beau Bailey/Hudson Westbrook/Lukas Klingensmith/Reid Haughton; Producers: Lukas Scott, Ryan Youmans; Label: River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville
– Look out, Texas, there’s a female tornado headed your way. Boyish and earnest, Westbrook knows he’ll be helpless when she touches down.

JELLY ROLL & CARIN LEÓN / “Lighter”
Writers: Daniel Rondón/Edgar Barrera/Henry Walter/Jason Deford/Jessi Alexander/Jessie Jo Dillon/Jon Randall/Luke Dick/Manuel Lorente Freire/Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez; Producers: Cirkut, Luke Dick; Label: Def Jam Records
– This is the FIFA World Cup soccer theme song. León is a huge Latin star. On this three-way international collaboration, he represents Mexico; producer Cirkut represents Canada; Jelly Roll represents the U.S. Cirkut’s stomping pop track is dominated by Jelly Roll’s rousing shouts of victorious liberation with León chiming in with similar Spanish lyrics. It’s a worthy accompaniment to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

BREAKING: Warner Records Nashville Makes Executive Promotions

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Patrick Sabatini, Kristen Williams and Victoria Mason; (L-R, bottom row): Rohan Kohli, Austin Jenkins and Brooke Hardesty

Warner Records Nashville has made a series of strategic promotions in its executive leadership and creative teams.

Patrick Sabatini has been named Executive Vice President, WRN Operations and Business & Legal Affairs; Kristen Williams has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Radio & Commercial Partnerships; and Victoria Mason was elevated to Executive Vice President, Marketing. All report to Cris Lacy, Chair & President of Warner Records Nashville.

Brooke Hardesty has been upped to Senior Vice President, Digital Marketing, and will be reporting to Mason. Rohan Kohli has been promoted to Senior Vice President, A&R, and Austin Jenkins joins the team as Senior Vice President, A&R from his previous position at MCA and Lucille Records. Both Kohli and Jenkins report to Lacy.

“It’s a privilege to make music with such strong leaders who embody and uphold our core values. We meet artists where they are. We share the belief that our artists are the source of Truth,” says Lacy. “Protecting, igniting, and evangelizing their influence across the global stage is the foundation of everything we do. An unwavering commitment to this ideal has propelled the iconic careers of Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell, Gabby Barrett and Randy Travis, and has inspired the aggressive campaigns driving next-gen superstars like Gavin Adcock, Avery Anna, Chase Matthew, Hudson Westbrook, Bailey Zimmerman, and many more.”

BREAKING: The Orchard Appoints Heather Vassar As Sr. VP, Nashville

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Heather Vassar

The Orchard has appointed Heather Vassar as its new Senior Vice President, Nashville. She will report to Colleen Theis, The Orchard’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

Vassar will spearhead and strategically guide The Orchard’s Nashville division, focusing heavily on bolstering the company’s overall footprint and visibility throughout the market, from driving new relationships within Nashville’s independent music community, to overseeing day-to-day operations.

Prior to joining The Orchard, Vassar served as SVP at EMPIRE, where she launched their Nashville division and was instrumental in signing and developing breakout acts such as Shaboozey, CeCe and Wyatt Flores. Under her leadership, EMPIRE Nashville delivered numerous Billboard Hot 100 chart placements, billions of streams, and high-profile partnerships with DSPs, brands, and media outlets alike.

“We are excited to welcome Heather to The Orchard. Heather brings an invaluable level of expertise to our organization, given her deep-rooted relationships within the Nashville market and significant connections throughout the wider music industry,” Theis shares. “Her proven ability to strategically cultivate opportunities for artists spanning an array of genres will be instrumental in helping us further our mission: to connect our diverse roster of clients with exponentially growing global audiences. Her appointment also represents a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to elevating and empowering women in high-visibility leadership roles across our company.”

“I’m honored to join The Orchard as SVP, Nashville, at an exciting time as genre lines blur and independent artists scale globally,” says Vassar. “I look forward to elevating our footprint to support this momentum while maintaining the vision and integrity established by Brad, Colleen and The Orchard team.”

Vassar will continue to maintain ownership of her venture, Casual Media Partners, a multi-faceted music and media company that blends record label services, artist management, content creation and innovation initiatives spanning AI, tech and cross-media storytelling.

Josh Thompson Enters Top 15 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Josh Thompson. Photo: Verba M Photography + Film

Josh Thompson has moved into the top 15 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. HARDY’s “McArthur” collaboration with Eric Church, Morgan Wallen and Tim McGraw, Jordan Davis’ “Turn This Truck Around,” and LOCASH’s “Wrong Hearts” push the songwriter to No. 15 this week.

Blake Pendergrass takes the No. 1 spot with “20 Cigarettes,” “Ain’t A Bad Life,” “Brunette,” “Don’t We,” “I Got Better,” and “Wish You Well.” Randy Montana sits at No. 2 with “Change My Mind,” “Make A Liar,” “Sleepless In A Hotel Room,” and “Time’s Ticking.”

Chase McGill (No. 3), Ty Myers (No. 4) and Luke Combs (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

CRS Highlights Six At 2026 New Faces Of Country Music Showcase

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Kelsey Hart, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick, Ella Langley, Josh Ross & Chase Matthew. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

To close out this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS), six breakout artists took to the New Faces of Country Music showcase stage on Friday (March 20).

Since its inception in 1970, the showcase has been a pivotal launching pad for country hitmakers. Participating acts have achieved significant country radio success during the qualification period—from Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 31, 2025.

Hosted by Elaina Smith, this year, Kelsey Hart, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, John Morgan, Meghan Patrick and Josh Ross graced the stage.

Chase Matthew. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

Matthew was the first artist to perform. He took the stage after a heartfelt video that highlighted his roots as a Nashville native, included appearances from his parents and thanked the radio executives in the room who helped him fall in love with music and rise to the top of the charts.

He kicked off his high-energy set with his first top five single at radio, “Love You Again.” He moved into his current single, “Holdin’ It Down,” before surprising the audience with Lauren Alaina for “All My Exes.” He finished his set with his first No. 1 track, “Darlin’.”

Kelsey Hart. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

Hart followed, stepping onstage after a sizzle reel that played on the idea of “new faces,” tracing how his move from Kentucky into a town full of them and life on the road surrounded by them turned strangers into friends, fans and family.

He opened his set with “Put It On The Map,” setting the tone early. He kept the momentum going with “Fireworks” before closing things out with his viral hit “Life With You.”

Meghan Patrick. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

Patrick’s intro video showed her band getting warmed up backstage, with appearances from her husband, fellow country artist Mitchell Tenpenny.

The room lit up with synchronized LED wristbands as she took the stage, kicking things off with a dynamic medley of Led Zeppelin covers. The room lit up golden as Patrick moved into her breakout track “Golden Child.” She ended her performance with a nod to Tenpenny as she introduced “Safe Place To Break.”

John Morgan. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

Morgan brought a touch of humor with a playful intro video featuring frequent collaborator Jason Aldean as his “Uber driver,” leaning into the joke with a quick cameo that had the room laughing.

He made his way to the stage with “Way Out Would” and “One More Sunset.” He shared his current single, “Kid Myself,” before ending his performance with his first chart-topper, “Friends Like That.”

Josh Ross. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

Ross followed, stepping onstage after a sizzle reel that showcased his achievements, from CCMA Awards to chart-topping hits.

He opened his set with “Hate How You Look” before delivering the vulnerable “Scared Of Getting Sober.” After “Namin’ Names,” he closed out his set with his No. 1 hit, “Single Again.”

Ella Langley. Photo: Courtesy of CRS

The crowd gathered around the stage as Langley began her set to close out the evening.

She opened with “Dandelion” followed by the recent fan-favorite “Be Her.” She delivered her most recent track “Loving Life Again,” which she released on Friday as the last track ahead of her sophomore album, which is due April 10.

She ended the night with a crowd sing-along of the newly minted No. 1 track, “Choosin’ Texas.”

Following her set, Langley shared a parody of her recently viral “Be Her” music video featuring appearances from various industry personalities and executives.

CRS will return to Nashville March 17-19, 2027.

Beloved Artist-Songwriter Ronnie Bowman Passes

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Ronnie Bowman. Photo: Courtesy of Eclipse Music Group

Award-winning bluegrass artist and country songwriter Ronnie Bowman died Sunday (March 22) following a motorcycle accident. He was 64.

A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Bowman became one of bluegrass music’s most respected voices, earning widespread recognition both as a solo artist and as a longtime member of the Lonesome River Band. He joined the group in 1990 as a vocalist and bass player, remaining until 2001, and previously performed with The Lost and Found after joining that band in 1987.

Over the course of his career, Bowman received numerous honors from the International Bluegrass Music Association, including three Male Vocalist of the Year awards. His song “Three Rusty Nails” earned both Gospel Performance of the Year and Song of the Year, while “Cold Virginia Night” also took home Song of the Year honors.

Bowman launched his solo career with 1994’s Cold Virginia Night, an acclaimed project featuring Alison Krauss, Del McCoury and Tony Rice that won IBMA Album of the Year. He later released Starting Over (2003) and It’s Gettin’ Better All The Time (2006), further cementing his reputation as a leading artist in the genre.

In addition to his work as a performer, Bowman found major success as a country songwriter. He co-wrote Brooks & Dunn’s No. 1 hit “It’s Getting Better All the Time” with Don Cook, and Kenny Chesney’s chart-topping “Never Wanted Nothing More” with Chris Stapleton.

Bowman also contributed two songs to Stapleton’s multi-Platinum album Traveller, including “Nobody to Blame,” co-written with Stapleton and Barry Bales, which earned the ACM Award for Song of the Year. Continuing their collaboration, Stapleton’s 2025 single “It Takes A Woman,” co-written with Bowman, won the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance.

His catalog was recorded by a wide range of artists, including Don Williams, Lee Ann Womack, Cody Johnson, Ralph Stanley, Jake Owen and Marcus King.

Born into a musical family, Bowman began singing gospel music at age three, performing in churches across North Carolina and Virginia alongside his four sisters.

In recent years, Bowman continued to record and perform, releasing a self-titled album and collaborating with the Band of Ruhks alongside fellow former Lonesome River Band members Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith. He also frequently performed with Dan Tyminski. In 2021, Bowman extended his publishing deal with Eclipse Music Group.

News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the bluegrass and country music communities.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Bowman’s wife Garnet and their family shared the following statement: “Ronnie was beloved by so many in our music community, whom he loved so dearly… and we are beyond grateful for all of the love & outpouring toward us already. Right now, as we process, we just covet your prayers. We have no words at this time, but thank you and graciously request that you honor our privacy while we try to put our heads around this and grieve. What we know and hold onto, is that he is with his Savior Jesus in Heaven, although already terribly missed here on Earth.”

MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)

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This week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly reflects a dynamic stretch across Nashville’s music industry, with major leadership moves, new ventures, and artist signings signaling continued momentum in both the label and management sectors. Click here to see the full edition.

Scott Borchetta has officially launched a management division under Borchetta Entertainment Group. Carly Pearce has been named the division’s first client, and Mike Blong joins as Manager.

Clint Higham, John Esposito, and Kris Lamb have unveiled a new label venture, HEY NOW Records. The imprint launches with major star power, signing Kenny Chesney as its flagship artist. Lamb will serve as Co-Founder and President.

MCA has elevated Miranda McDonald and Jimmy Rector to Senior Vice President, Promotion & Regional Marketing, while Triple 8 Management has promoted Aaron Sawyer to Partner.

The industry also celebrated excellence at CRS 2026, where the Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was unveiled during the annual CRS Honors ceremony. Previously inducted figures Mike Moore and Trish Biondo revealed this year’s honorees. In the On-Air Personality category, Chris Carr, Michael J, and Rick Jackson will be recognized, while the Radio category includes Marci Braun, Phil Hunt, Bruce Logan, and John Marks.

At Curb Records, Todd Thomas has been promoted to National Director, Promotion, where he will work alongside Allyson Gelnett (Massey) to co-lead the label’s country radio department. At the same time, longtime executive RJ Meacham will depart at the end of March after a decade with the company.

Sony Music Nashville and global superstar Kane Brown have renewed their relationship with a new multi-album, worldwide deal.

The independent publishing community is also preparing to take center stage, as the Association of Independent Music Publishers has announced the final nominees for the 2026 AIMP Nashville Awards. Set for April 14 at Analog at the Hutton Hotel, the ceremony will be hosted by Storme Warren and will spotlight songs driven by Nashville’s independent publishing sector. Songwriters Johnny Clawson and Jessie Jo Dillon lead this year’s nominations.

Jeanette Porcello has joined Concord Label Group as Senior Director of A&R. Rising talent continues to secure key representation and deals, with Cori Kennedy signing with WME for worldwide representation, and Ethan Garner inking a label deal with RECORDS Nashville in partnership with RCA Records.

In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Jordan Davis takes the No. 1 spot with “Turn This Truck Around.” Explore more chart data here.

The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.

Flatland Cavalry Debuts New Era At Intimate Nashville Pop-Up

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Flatland Cavalry. Photo: Louie Nice

The room filled up quickly Wednesday night (March 18) at Nashville’s 6th & Peabody for an intimate pop-up performance from Flatland Cavalry, where the Texas-born group delivered a high energy set that blended fan favorites with a preview of what’s to come.

Opening with “I’ve Been Gone,” the band quickly settled into a rhythm with the audience. They followed with “On And On,” a track from their upcoming album Work of Heart, offering one of several glimpses into new material that shaped the evening. “One I Want” and the unreleased “Birds Eye View” continued to build momentum, each song highlighting the band’s signature storytelling and understated musicianship.

Midway through the set, “Mountain Song” and another unreleased track, “Nightshine,” carried a reflective tone, giving the audience a sense of the sonic direction of the forthcoming project. Before continuing, the band paused for a moment of sincerity, telling the crowd, “I don’t know if this song is technically ‘country,’ but country is what country means to you. Thank you for showing up and listening to us tonight.”

They leaned further into new territory with “Unglued,” another unreleased song, before returning to familiar ground with “A Life Where We Work Out,” which drew a particularly strong response from the crowd. “Never Comin’ Back,” currently making its way through country radio, kept the crowd rocking.

Closing with “Stompin’ Grounds,” the band gathered around a single front microphone, creating a front-porch feel that perfectly matched the spirit of the evening.

The band’s new album Work Of Heart will release on March 27 via Lost Highway. They are currently amidst their “Work Of Heart Tour,” and will make festival appearances at Troubadour Festival, Tortuga Music Festival, WE Fest and more throughout the year.

Tyler Nance Celebrates ‘Midwest Memoir’ At Nashville Palace

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Tyler Nance. Photo: Justin Mayotte

Tyler Nance celebrated his debut album Midwest Memoir with a release show at the Nashville Palace last night (March 19), delivering a confident, crowd-pleasing set that showcased both his songwriting depth and growing stage presence.

He opened with “Ain’t Getting Paid” and quickly settled into a groove, moving into “Hell If I Know,” where he balanced guitar work with harmonica. “Don’t Care At All” drew strong audience engagement, with the crowd clapping along and feeding off the band’s energy. From there, Nance leaned into the emotional core of the record with “Shovel,” “Under the Weather,” and “Bad News,” before delivering standout performances of “I’m Not Him” and “Whiskey Me or the Pain.”

Nance kept the momentum high with “Too Good to Be True,” before bringing out Karley Scott Collins for “Leave Me Alone.”

Karley Scott Collins & Tyler Nance. Photo: Justin Mayotte

Midway through the performance, the band temporarily exited, leaving Nance in a stripped-down setting with just a guitar player. This quieter segment, featuring “Beer Tabs,” “Liza Ann,” and “Sorrows,” highlighted his songwriting and vocal delivery, offering a more intimate connection with the audience.

When the full band returned, so did the energy. “Nothing’s What It Seems” with another guest appearance from Jackson Dean. Nance then introduced “Whitney Wants a Song,” performing it live for the first time.

Closing out the night, “Same Song and Dance” and “Here’s to Tomorrow” set the stage for the album’s title track, “Midwest Memoir,” before the final run of “Ways Away” and “Keeps Me Sane.” The latter, already a viral hit, brought the evening to a peak as the crowd sang along loudly, turning the performance into a shared moment of celebration.

Midwest Memoir dropped today (March 20) via Santa Anna Nashville. Nance will support Ian Munsick and Gavin Adcock on select dates this year, as well as make festival appearances at Cattle Country, Windy City Smokeout, Country Thunder Wisconsin, and more.

Jackson Dean & Tyler Nance. Photo: Justin Mayotte

Tyler Nance. Photo: Justin Mayotte