DISClaimer Single Reviews: Luke Combs Proves Why He’s A Country Superstar

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Luke Combs. Photo: Zack Massey

It’s all superstars, no waiting, today in DISClaimer.

Packed into this edition of the column are Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce, Lorrie Morgan, Lainey Wilson, Billy Currington and our Disc of the Day winner, Luke Combs.

Mix them together with talents like Drew Parker, Levi Hummon and Don Louis, there’s just no room for a newcomer to squeeze in. So there’s no DISCovery Award winner this week.

DREW PARKER / “Better On A Boat”
Writers: Dan Isbell/Drew Parker/Jacob Rice; Producer: Jacob Rice; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– I have made no secret of my admiration for this country-as-grits performer. His latest is a rocking summertime romp. As always, he sings with an endearing drawl and the production is perfection. ‘Pop, pop, pop-a-top/Pour yourself a  beer/Chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug/Your troubles disappear.’ And if you are chilling on the water, so much the better. Please make this the mega  smash it deserves to be. 

LUKE BRYAN / “Mind Of A Country Boy”
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Dallas Davidson/Luke Bryan/Rhett Akins; Producers: Jeff Stevens/Jody Stevens; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Love the banjo. I am SO over bro country songs. Pass.

DON LOUIS / “Liquor Talkin’”
Writers: Cale Dodds/Don Louis/Thomas Kipp Williams; Producer: Kipp Williams; Label: Money Myers Entertainment LLC/ EMPIRE
– The groove is sultry and darkly rhythmic. His voice has baritone heat. The mood is mellow. The lyric is about a guy who needs a couple of shots to get the courage to talk to a lady. Roll with this bluesy winner. The EMPIRE imprint is on a roll with Niko  Moon, Wyatt Flores, Shaboozey and more.

LORRIE MORGAN / “Dead Girl Walking”
Writer: Kelly Lang; Producer: Lawson White//Lorrie Morgan/Richard Landis; Label: Cleopatra Records
– This is the title tune of Morgan’s first album in seven years. It’s a soulful heartache ballad stirred with terrific echoey guitars and percussion. She remains a sterling singer, investing every line with passion, heart and nuance. Morgan celebrated her 40th anniversary as an Opry member earlier this month. Dead Girl Walking is the final album produced by the late talent Richard Landis (1946-2023).

ANGEL WHITE / “2733”
Writers: Angel White/James Droll/Reed Jacob Berin; Producer: Dwight A. Baker; Label: Wyatt Road Records
– This Black Texan sings in a heartfelt tenor as he communicates open-sky loneliness, yearning and loss. His harmonica and  guitar propel the tasteful production. Give the guy extra points for playing both CMA Fest and Bonnaroo.

LUKE COMBS / “Remember Him That Way”
Writers: Erik Dylan/Jessi Alexander/Jonathan Singleton/Luke Combs; Producers: Chip Matthews/Jonathan Singleton/Luke Combs; Label: Seven Ridges Records/Columbia Nashville
– This warm recollection of an aging dad is drawn from Luke’s excellent Fathers and Sons album. Dobro, guitar and mandolin notes ripple around his heartfelt vocal. The whole project is emotionally awesome. There is a reason why this man is a country superstar.

BREI CARTER / “Sun Still Shining”
Writers: David Frasier/Lonnie Fowler/Marti Dodson; Producer: Bill McDermott; Label: BC
– It’s a lilting, upbeat ode to surviving a breakup. She’s not a powerhouse vocalist, but has a sweet, light soprano that covers the bases just fine.

LAINEY WILSON / “Out Of Oklahoma”
Writers: Lainey Wilson/Luke Dick/Shane McAnally; Producer: Luke Dick; Label: Atlantic Records
– This is drawn from an impressive, 29- track album of music from the soundtrack of the movie blockbuster Twisters. It drops on July 19. In the meantime, check out Wilson’s haunting, wistful, evocative, airy and delicious performance of this gently seductive reflection. She is not alone on this marvelously curated collection of established stars (Combs, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Kane Brown, Megan Moroney, Thomas Rhett) and gifted talents (Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Tanner Adell, Leon Bridges, Warren Zeiders, Bailey Zimmerman).

LEVI HUMMON / “Make It Love”
Writers: Andrew Dorff/Levi Hummon/Marcus Hummon; Producer: Eric Arjes; Label: Red Van Records
– The single remains his duet with Walker Hayes, “Paying For It.” Now comes this newly issued track, a hopeful, moving pop ode to curing the world’s ills with love. Very, very pretty and thoroughly enjoyable from the opening acoustic guitar notes to the string embellished finish.

DYLAN SCOTT / “I Owe You One”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ernest Keith Smith/Mark Holman/Morgan Wallen; Producer: Mark Holman; Label: Curb Records
– This oomphy performance is a salute to the community that raised him. It’s not particularly musical, but everyone can relate to this lyric.

CARLY PEARCE / “Oklahoma”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Jordan Reynolds/Nicolle Galyon/Shane McAnally; Producers: Shane McAnally/Josh Osborne/Carly Pearce; Label: Big Machine Records
– ‘I might be in Oklahoma, but I’m not OK,’ she sings as she drives as far from a broken heart as she can get. As always, she’s a brilliant vocalist, one of the finest in all of country music.

Billy Currington / “Everything Is Changing”
Writers: Billy Currington/Cary Barlowe/Rømans/Will Weatherly; Producer: Will Weatherly; Label: Mercury Nashville
– The scampering rhythm track gives this performance little electric jolts. But Currington’s delivery of the nostalgic lyric remains front and center. He looks around and sees that everything is being transformed so much that he doesn’t even  recognize his own town. Loved the rousing, naked-vocals ending.

Black Country Celebrated At Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

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Pictured (L–R): CMHOFM’s Michael Gray, Blanco Brown, Hubby Jenkins, The War and Treaty’s Tanya Trotter and Michael Trotter, Miko Marks, Darius Rucker, Cowboy Troy, Tony Jackson, Wendy Moten, Barrence Whitfield, Rissi Palmer, CMHOFM’s Lisa Purcell and Shannon Sanders. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Black country staged a triumphant event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Tuesday (June 18).

10 artists raised their voices at the CMA Theater to salute the release of From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music. This is a CD boxed set of Black country recordings that is being updated and revived by the institution via Warner Music Nashville this summer. The new version will contain new essays as well as a new fourth CD. Many of the artists who performed at the museum’s venue are featured on the set’s fourth CD. Music by some of the others was on the original, three-CD collection. This project updates that landmark release, compiling Black country music up to 1988.

The commemorating show for the updated From Where I Stand was co-produced by “Color Me Country” Founder Rissi Palmer and Grammy-winning bandleader Shannon Sanders. Palmer kicked things off with a jubilant performance of “Country Girl,” preceded by a vivid historical video of Hall of Fame member DeFord Bailey.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight!” Palmer said to the sold-out audience. She favored the crowd with “Bad Case of the Blues,” to honor Linda Martel, one of the collection’s featured stars. “This is a very historic and significant night of music,” Palmer continued. “It’s more than just music tonight. We are honoring the ancestors.”

Former Carolina Chocolate Drops banjo player Hubby Jenkins saluted Black, old-time, string-band music artists Frank Patterson and Nathan Frasier, who are also represented on From Where I Stand. Barrence Whitfield sang “Hank and Lefty Raised My Country Soul” to honor Stoney Edwards. He also sang Merle Haggard’s song of interracial love “Irma Jackson.”  Wendy Moten received the night’s first standing ovation after she performed a soul-saturated version of “Release Me.” The country standard’s original Black version by Esther Phillips is on the boxed set. Moten also performed a simmering version of Tammy Wynette’s “Til I Get It Right.”

“Normally, I feel like the only raison in the rice pudding; so this is new,” said Tony Jackson about the event. He sang “The Grand Tour,” represented on the original album by Aaron Neville. Jackson also added his own “I Didn’t Wake Up This Morning” to the evening’s entertainment. Miko Marks took the stage with a spirited rendition of “It Feels Good,” then drew a standing ovation for her version of “Misty Blue.” On the album, that country classic is represented by Dorothy Moore’s hit 1976 version. Good-time country “hick hop” artist Cowboy Troy delighted the room with his 2005 hit “I Play Chicken With the Train,” which drew another standing ovation.

Blanco Brown rocked out with a highly entertaining version of his hit “The Git Up,” highlighted by his instrumental solo, playing the spoons. The War And Treaty revived the Ray Charles hit “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” which was a Don Gibson/Kitty Wells/Conway Twitty/Sammi Smith country evergreen. The duo then sang “Yesterday’s Burn,” drawing another standing ovation.

Hootie & The Blowfish pop/rock star Darius Rucker has become contemporary country’s leading Black artist with seven No. 1 smashes. He sang his career-launching “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” Rucker also saluted his forefather, Charley Pride, with “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.” Next, he brought the entire crowd to its feet with his 11-time Platinum hit “Wagon Wheel.” Rucker recalled the night he joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. “Jimmy Dickens drew me aside and said, ‘Don’t ever let them tell you that you don’t belong [as a Black country artist].'” He then summoned all 10 artists back to the stage for the Hall’s anthem “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” with Sanders guiding the band and the massed singers to the evening’s climax.

The new version of the boxed set will also be available as an online experience, consisting of this concert, educational lesson plans and more, via countrymusichalloffame.org.

ACM Announces Special Award Winners & ACM Honors Hosts

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The Academy of Country Music has announced the Special Award winners for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards. The winners will be celebrated alongside the recipients of the ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards, which will be presented by Tyler Hubbard, during the 17th Annual ACM Honors. Hosted by Carly Pearce and Jordan Davis, the ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

“I’m thrilled to return to host ACM Honors for the fourth year in a row,” says Pearce. “It’s always an unforgettable night that I look forward to, and I’m excited to have Jordan joining me this year!”

“I’ve performed at ACM Honors for the past two years and love that the show celebrates the behind-the-scenes titans in this industry as well as so many of the artists I’ve looked up to for years,” Davis adds. “I’m really honored to join Carly as host this year and excited for what will be a great night.”

Lainey Wilson will receive this year’s ACM Triple Crown Award following her win for ACM Entertainer of the Year last month. By claiming that title along with ACM New Female Artist of the Year at 57th ACM Awards and her first ACM Female Artist of the Year at the 58th ACM Awards, Wilson qualified for the Triple Crown Award, which only nine other artists have received. She is the first solo woman to be honored with the award in a three-year span as well as the first act since The Chicks to qualify in that timeframe. Wilson has also been chosen as the recipient of the ACM Milestone Award, which honors the contributions of longtime ACM Awards Director & Producer Gene Weed. This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader for a specific, unprecedented or outstanding achievement in the field of country music during the preceding calendar year.

Tony Brown and Trisha Yearwood will both be presented with the ACM Icon Award. The award honors the contributions of Cliffie Stone, who was known for his work as producer as well as his country music career, and is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who, throughout their career, has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple industry facets. Throughout his storied career, Brown has played piano with Elvis Presley and Emmylou Harris in addition to playing as a part of the TCB Band. He has also produced over 100 No. 1 country hits for Yearwood, Reba McEntire, George Strait and more. The former President of MCA Nashville has previously won seven ACM Awards, including Producer of the Year. Yearwood emerged as one of the top country voices in the ’90s, winning ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year in 1991 and winning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year in 1997. Along with a win for ACM Video of the Year in 2016, she has taken home three ACM Awards over the course of her career thus far.

Shannon Sanders has been named this year’s ACM Lift Every Voice Award recipient. Presented for the first time last year, this award recognizes a country music artist, duo/group, industry leader or affiliate/partner who plays a pivotal role in elevating underrepresented voices throughout the genre, transcending demographics and geography. The nominee for this category is proposed by the rising leaders of ACM’s LEVEL UP: Lift Every Voice professional development and enrichment program. Sanders is a respected member of Nashville’s music industry with multiple awards under his belt as a songwriter, producer and musician. He currently works as Executive Director, Creative at BMI, and serves on the ACM Board of Directors as well as chairs the ACM Lifting Voices Council.

Luke Bryan will take home the ACM Lifting Lives Award, which honors the contributions of business manager and past ACM Lifting Lives President Gary Haber. This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry professional who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music, possesses a generous spirit and is committed to serving others. The recipient is voted on by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors. The three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year winner has 30 No. 1 singles and ten total ACM Awards under his belt. Along with his music, Bryan is known for his philanthropic efforts, including his annual “Farm Tour.”  Son of a peanut farmer, he brings his shows to farms across the country to honor the hard work. Since the tour’s inception in 2009, Bryan has awarded over 80 scholarships, and raised enough money alongside sponsors to donate more than eight million meals.

Walt Aldridge and Alan Jackson will both receive the ACM Poet’s Award, which presented to a country music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career, with special consideration given to a song or songs’ impact on the culture of the genre. Aldridge has amassed over 20 Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications. He has been named one of Billboard’s top writers of the year twice and has written hits for Ronnie Milsap, Earl Thomas Conley, Travis Tritt and Heartland. An accomplished musician, singer and producer, Aldridge spent nearly 20 years in Muscle Shoals working at Fame Recording Studio. Jackson is a 20-time ACM Award winner, a Country Music Hall of Fame member and a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. He has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide and charted 50 top-10 hits and 35 No. 1s.

These honorees join the previously-announced ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Chris Stapleton, and ACM Songwriter of the Year, Jessie Jo Dillon.

Tickets for the 17th Annual ACM Honors will be available to ACM A-List Newsletter subscribers and ACM members through an exclusive presale beginning this Thursday (June 20), with general sales starting this Friday (June 21), through AXS. For more information, click here. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

BREAKING: Sony Music Nashville Elevates Lauren Thomas

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Lauren Thomas

Sony Music Nashville has elevated Lauren Thomas to Senior Vice President, Promotion.

Thomas most recently served as Vice President, Columbia Promotion. She joined Sony Music Nashville in October 2009, and has held various roles on the Promotion team during her tenure while scoring nearly 80 No. 1 records. For the past year two years, Thomas has overseen the promotional efforts for the Columbia Nashville roster and staff. She has led chart-toppers for Old Dominion, Megan Moroney and Mitchell Tenpenny as well as multiple hits for Luke Combs.

Most recently, Thomas and her team landed Combs his 18th consecutive No. 1 record. She also played a part in the overall Sony Music Nashville team earning three debut No. 1 records on the country charts in just five months. Prior to joing the label, Thomas spent five years at KMLE-FM in Phoenix.

In her new role, she will oversee the day-to-day promotional operations of the RCA and Columbia imprints. Thomas will continue to report to Executive Vice President, Promotion Steve Hodges, working with him across the roster on all national promotional strategies and initiatives.

“For the past nine years I have watched LT grow and develop into a strong team leader and industry power player. Her passion and work ethic are infectious and second to none,” says Hodges. “I’m very proud to see her rise with this well-deserved promotion to Senior Vice President as she continues to step up and help the overall Sony national representation while continuing to lead the Columbia team.”

On The Cover: Hailey Whitters Graces Cover Of MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster Issue

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MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2024 Artist Roster print issue, featuring ASCAP songwriter and Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters/Pigasus Records recording artist Hailey Whitters on the cover.

Over the past year, Whitters’ career has continued to skyrocket as she took home the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year and was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. Last year alone, Whitters made her night TV debut on multiple programs and performed her hit single “Everything She Ain’t” at the ACM Awards. The hit appeared on her breakthrough album Raised, which, like her 2020 album The Dream, appeared on over 15 year-end best-of lists, and was named Rolling Stone’s No. 1 country album of the year.

“Everything She Ain’t” marked multiple firsts for the Iowa-born artist including her first-ever top 20 single at country radio, appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 and RIAA Platinum certification. The song has been played over 175 million times on TikTok, inspiring many trends on the platform.

This year’s Artist Roster print edition features exclusive editorials including a celebration of Curb Records’ 60th anniversary. In the six decades since its inception, the company has achieved an impressive 435 No. 1 hits, garnered over 1,500 top 10 songs and charted over 4,500 total records. Founder and Chairman Mike Curb talks to MusicRow about the label’s journey and his vision.

Three of Nashville’s top managers—Daniel Miller, Charly Salvatore and Juli Griffith—come together for a roundtable discussing the opportunities and challenges they face in our rapidly-growing industry.

The Artist Roster issue also explores the impact of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album on the industry and the featured artists that have been championed because of it. Elsewhere, Asha Goodman, Exec. VP of Sacks & Co. and head of its Nashville office also talks with MusicRow about elevating their expansive client list.

Finally, this issue features a look inside the exciting Nashville Yards development. Pinnacle’s Head of Music, Sports and Entertainment Andy Moats; CAA Co-Head of Nashville Music Jeff Krones; Southwest Value Partners’ Managing Partner Cary Mack and AEG Presents’ Regional VP Mike DuCharme all give their expertise on the value the new neighborhood will bring to the industry.

In addition to its editorial features, MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster contains a six-part company directory, complete with client rosters in the categories: Label, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity, Artist Services (Banking, Business Management/Financial/Insurance, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing and Radio Promotion), Media and Organizations (Trade & Professional Development, Performing & Mechanical Rights and Unions).

This edition also offers a summarizing Artist Grid, which has become an indispensable tool connecting artists to their team members in Label, Management, Talent Agency and Publicity categories.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

ACM Unveils Industry & Studio Recording Award Winners

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The Academy of Country Music unveiled the winners of the Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards today (June 17) through video announcements featuring Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, Tigirlily Gold and Keith Urban as well as local media personalities from across the nation.

All winners and the soon-to-be-announced Special Award recipients will be celebrated during the 17th Annual ACM Honors on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The ACM Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music. To be eligible, each artist, musician, producer and engineer must have played a part in a commercially-released single or album embodying the creator’s performance that achieves top 20 chart position or better during the eligibility period. Nominees are then selected by a professional panel of judges approved by the ACM Officers before being voted on by members classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist categories and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager categories.

Paul Franklin won his second ACM Specialty Instrument Player of the Year award, marking his 18th ACM Award overall while tying fellow steel guitar player J.D. Maness for most ACM Studio Recording Award wins. Dann Huff scored his fifth win for ACM Producer of the Year, bringing his total ACM Award count to 11. Huff is the most-nominated non-artist in ACM Awards history with 57 nominations, surpassed only by artists Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw and George Strait.

Jimmie Lee Sloas took home his fifth win for ACM Bass Player of the Year. Rob McNelley won his first ACM Electric Guitar Player of the Year award, bringing his ACM Award total to four. His previous three awards fell in the ACM Guitar Player of the Year category, which was split into standalone Electric and Acoustic categories in 2021.

Jim “Moose” Brown scored his third ACM Piano/Keys Player of the Year award. Audio engineer Jim Cooley, piano/keys player David Dorn and guitar player Charlie Worsham each received their second career ACM Award for Audio Engineer of the Year, Piano/Keys Player of the Year and Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, respectively. Lastly, Jerry Roe earned his first ACM Award with the Drummer of the Year title.

The ACM Industry Awards honors venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a predetermined number of country music concerts and helped to promote country music ticket sales. Nominees are selected by a professional panel of judges approved by the ACM Officers, with ACM members classified in the Artist/Musician/Producer/Engineer, Venue, Manager, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer/Promoter categories voting to determine the winners.

Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena, which are one block away from each other, were named ACM Theater of the Year and ACM Arena of the Year, respectively. This marks the Ryman Auditorium’s eighth win, and Bridgestone Arena’s sixth. Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut took home its eighth ACM Award as well in the Casino of the Year – Arena category.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado earned its third ACM Outdoor Venue of the Year title and fifth overall ACM Award. Joe’s Live in Rosemont, Illinois received its third ACM Award for Club of the Year, and the club’s owner Ed Warm notched his first win for ACM Talent Buyer of the Year, bringing his total personal trophy count to six.

Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida took home its third ACM Award for Festival of the Year, and Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma scored its third ACM Award with Casino of the Year – Theater. San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo won its second ACM Award for Fair/Rodeo of the Year, and AEG Presents’ Adam Weiser marked his first ACM Award for Promoter of the Year.

Jessi Alexander Continues To Climb MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Jessi Alexander

Jessi Alexander continues to move up the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, sitting at No. 7 this week. The songwriter’s entries for “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” and “Chevrolet” give her the spot.

Zach Bryan remains in the No. 1 spot this week with “Pink Skies,” “I Remember Everything” and “Nine Ball.” With “I Had Some Help,” “Cowgirls,” “Bulletproof,” “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” “Hell Or High Water” and “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” Ashley Gorley sits at No. 2 this week.

Josh Phillips (No. 3), Hunter Phelps (No. 4) and Chris Stapleton (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.

BREAKING: Scooter Braun Retires From Artist Management

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Scooter Braun. Photo: Bradford Rogne

After more than two decades, Scooter Braun is retiring from artist management. The industry veteran shared the news via social media this morning (June 17).

“23 years. That’s how long I have been a music manager. 23 years ago a 19-year-old kid started managing an artist named Cato in Atlanta, Georgia and my journey began,” he stated in an Instagram post. “Along the way I have had so many experiences I could never have dreamt of. I have been blessed to have had a ‘Forrest Gump-like’ life while witnessing and taking part in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen. I’m constantly pinching myself and asking ‘how did I get here?’ And after 23 years this chapter as a must manager has come to an end.”

Over the course of his career, Braun has helped to develop talent such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and J Balvin, among others.

Additionally, he sold Ithaca Holdings, the parent company of SB Projects and Big Machine Label Group, to South Korean entertainment conglomerate HYBE in 2021. As he enters this new chapter, Braun will continue to serve as CEO of HYBE America in addition to join the company’s Board.

“In this next chapter, I have been honored to join as a board member of Hybe and serve as the CEO of Hybe America. My brilliant partner these past three years, Chairman Bang, has a vision I truly believe in,” he added. “But even beyond that he has become a true friend who understands where I must be in my life these days. And that is a father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more.”

Caylee Hammack Readies Next Era With Vulnerable New Single [Interview]

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Caylee Hammack. Photo: Kirsten Balani

Capitol Records Nashville recording artist and ACM Award winner Caylee Hammack released her critically acclaimed debut album If It Wasn’t For You in 2o20. After years of touring, connecting with fans and being part of some incredible collaborations, she is ready to pull back the curtain on her new era of music, starting with the release of her new single “The Hill,” out today (June 14).

Hammack recently took some time to speak to MusicRow about her new music.

When she first moved to town in 2013, Hammack immediately got her boots on the ground and started playing in bars all up and down broadway. After two and half years of playing the bars and getting in as many writes as she could, she landed a publishing deal with UMPG Nashville.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck in Hammack’s life when she lost her home in electrical fire while at a writer’s retreat. Despite her hard times, the singer-songwriter found her support system here in town, and it showed her what she truly needed in her life.

While her personal life was down, she found that her professional life was going up through that support. At the time, Hammack was starting to hammer down on finding songs for her debut album. She enlisted friend and producer Mikey Reaves for song sampling, and a few of those demos are what you hear on the record today, such as “Family Tree.”

After signing her record deal in 2018, Hammack was off to the races on radio tours to begin introducing herself to industry gatekeepers. She released her debut album in August of 2020, and recalls how hard it was not being able to see fans reacting to songs out on the road, as being able to see music connect is vital to her.

“There’s just a tangible magic, connection and unity  that I have with complete strangers [at shows]. That is one of the most beautiful things that music does. It’s a conduit for people and it connects us all,” she says. 

“We have so many differing opinions, but for some reason, when that one song plays, people will drunkenly put their arms around each other’s shoulders and sing along together. For those three minutes, we agree on something and we’re happy together,” Hammack explains. “During that time, I realized in an ever deeper level what I already knew—that it is magic the way music is able to draw people in.” 

Since live shows have come back, Hammack has been sharing her music with the world non-stop, opening up for Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and more. She also embarked on a co-headline tour in the UK with Tenille Arts, and has played CMA Fest, The Long Road Festival, Watershed Festival and more.

“I truly cried after the first gig back [from COVID]. There’s something about when you look out into a crowd. Someone once told me every single show that you play is most likely one person’s first-ever show and one person’s last-ever show, so you better play it that way. That’s how I’ve always viewed it.”

That’s why heading into this new album, Hammack is excited to take on a whole new approach by seeing real-time reactions.

“I feel like I’m getting to do [the album cycle for the first time] all over again. I’m working on these songs and am on the road at the same time,” she says. “We’re releasing stuff, getting to tour, getting to do the TV shows and everything versus just spending eight or nine hours a day on Zoom doing interviews, Instagram lives and DM-ing people and then laying in bed going, ‘I hope they like it.'”

Gearing up for the project, Hammack zeroed in on her sound and artistry.

“This next record is much more organically influenced and infused with more acoustic energy like the music I was raised on. On the first album, we did a lot of sampling and such because we were working with demo budgets. That album came out exactly how it should, but I remember listening back and it felt poppy for me. It doesn’t sound the way my heart sounds when I sing these new songs.”

Hammack enlisted trusted producers Dann Huff and John Osborne to co-produce her next album with. By letting her creativity flow with no limits and learning from Huff and Osborne, she’s confident that it will truly show who she is as an artist.

“I was able to truly fall into the bells and whistles, the little pad parts, the ways of layering things and certain effects that I love dearly. I had so much more freedom. I got to step back and truly be the artist.”

YouTube video

Hammack is a co-writer on all but one of the album’s songs, but feels her first outside cut was truly made for her. Her friend and fellow songwriter Mia Mantia played her a track she was working on that was a spin off of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” This version was from the woman’s point of view, saying, “don’t let your babies grow up to love cowboys.”

The song struck a chord with Hammack, as it reminded her of a family member Matthew Rue, who had just passed away from complications with MS. Rue was a huge musical influence for Hammack, as he was her only musical family member.

“I heard it and thought of Matthew and the old country music that he loved. I got these goosebumps all over my body,” Hammack recalls. “I just felt like God was telling me that I needed to cut the song. It just was so serendipitous the way it happened and the way my body reacted.”

Lyrically, Hammack is sharing some of her favorite stories from her catalog, some tracks even dating back to 2018. She wants to share the vulnerable part of herself, hoping to cultivate connection to the fans.

“What I’ve learned is the songs that are the most vulnerable—the ones about the grittiest and saddest parts of my life—have been the ones that most people have connected to,” she shares. “When I realized that they connected to the vulnerable parts of me that I tried to hide, it gave me this new revival of hope.”

To start off the new era, Hammack released her new single “The Hill” today (June 14). Written with Tenille Townes and Logan Wall, the single kicks off the album’s vulnerability.

“‘The Hill’ is a white flag being waved by a broken arm in the middle of a battle. There is no point in fighting. If you win this argument, you might just lose the other person, so winning this argument is not worth it at all if you lose them.”

More of Hammack’s new music is on the way.

Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inducts Hillary Lindsey, More

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Pictured (L-R): Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey and Keith Urban attend the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala. Photo: L. Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame

The Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 53rd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner took place Thursday night (June 13) in New York City.

The evening honored 2024 inductees Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley (Timbaland), Dean Pitchford, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Walter Becker and Donald Fagan of Steely Dan. Each were saluted for the immeasurable impact of their songs.

Additionally, multi-award-winner Diane Warren received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, and four-time Grammy winner SZA was given the Hal David Starlight Award. The night also followed the posthumous induction of legendary country songwriter Cindy Walker to the SHOF in a special tribute held at a SHOF Master Session in Nashville.

Hillary Lindsey performs onstage during the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame

To honor Nashville-based hitmaker Hillary Lindsey, country superstar Carrie Underwood gave a powerful performance of the Lindsey-penned “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Underwood bestowed her with the title “the queen of modern Nashville songwriting,” and Keith Urban joined her on stage for the induction.

“Music has so much power. It can bring you to your knees and make you feel every single piece of your heart that is breaking. It can send an electric shock through you and make you feel more alive than you’ve ever felt,” Lindsey said in her speech. “It has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.”

The inductee performed a stripped-down medley of some of the songs she has written, with a rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons” turning into a duet with Urban on “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Other performers and presenters included Trey Anastasio, The Bacon Brothers, Cary Barlowe, Andra Day, El Debarge, Missy Elliott, Jason Isbell, Nile Rodgers, Irving Azoff, Deniece Williams and Paul Williams.