Hardy Dominates His Own Lane, Shines During Three-Night Nashville Run

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Hardy performs at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Photo: Ryan Smith

If you didn’t make it out to one of Hardy‘s shows during his three-night, sold-out stand at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium over the weekend, you missed out.

The Big Loud Records/Big Loud Rock heavy-hitter showed his dominance in the space, bringing out fans in droves who can’t get enough of his redneck-country, grunge-rock fusion. So many fans came out, in fact, that Hardy’s weekend of consecutive sell-outs made him the artist with the second-most ticket sales in a single run at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, right behind Elvis Presley. It also made Hardy the artist to play the most shows in a single weekend at the venue.

Opening for the country rocker was star Lainey Wilson and Sony Music Nashville newcomer Dylan Marlowe.

Hardy and Lainey Wilson perform at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Photo: Ryan Smith

Marlowe kicked things off with a fun set that included his successful singles “Record High,” “Dirt Road When I Die,” “You See Mine” and more. The Georgia native moved about the stage with confidence and charisma as he looked out into the big Nashville crowd. Once his job was done, he smiled out at everyone and thanked them for getting there early to see him play.

Fans roared when the next act, the explosive Wilson, made her way to the stage. Her 45-minute set was full of exhibitions of her white-hot star power.

When singing “Atta Girl” from her award-winning 2022 album Bell Bottom Country, she smiled down at young girls in their flared britches with stars in their eyes. At one point, Wilson spoke to one lucky fan in the front, sharing with her affirmations to tell herself every day as she grows up.

Next, Wilson welcomed to the stage a friend of hers with “a heart of gold,” Jelly Roll. The Municipal Auditorium shook with excitement as the two BBR label-mates traded verses of their collaborative single “Save Me.”

Wilson glided through her set with ease, rousing fans with “Hillbilly Hippie,” “Hold My Halo” and “Smell Like Smoke,” and bringing the audience in close with hits “Things a Man Oughta Know” and “Watermelon Moonshine.” Before closing her set, Wilson gave a hair-raising performance of her most recent No. 1 “Heart Like a Truck.”

Hardy performs at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Photo: Tanner Gallagher

With the audience primed for musical excellence, fans tore the roof off the building when Hardy’s 2023 album title track “The Mockingbird & The Crow” played. As with Hardy’s persona, the song—and album—is divided into country and rock stylings. For the song’s country opening verses, Hardy stayed out of sight. When the song got heavier, he appeared, causing every fan in the venue to hoop and holler.

He kept the energy high with standout rocking tracks “Kill Sh!t Till I Die” and “Jack,” before asking if the Thursday night (Oct. 26) crowd had to work in the morning. “I pray to God someone wakes up in their boots in the morning,” he said before playing his beloved “Boots.”

After thrilling OG Hardy fans with his 2018 “4X4,” he shared that when playing in Nashville, you’ve got to “do the Nashville thing,” and he invited Lauren Alain and Devin Dawson out to perform their No. 1 hit “One Beer.” Later on in the show, Hardy invited Marlowe back out to perform the hit song he co-penned for Jon Pardi, “Last Night Lonely,” in a writers’-round style moment.

Beyond the mastery he has of his own country-rock lane, Hardy’s star shines bright when he connects with his fans. Before playing “Screen,” a song with a double entendre about phone screens and door screens, he spoke about his battle with anxiety that caused him to cancel a few shows on “The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour.” While he shared that he was doing better, he let those in the crowd who may be living with mental health struggles know that he was right there with them.

Another special moment came with Hardy’s performance of “A Rock,” the title track to his 2020 album that zooms out on the meaning of life, with verses like “we’re all just living life on a rock.” While Hardy sang about growing up and meeting his wife, photos from his life flashed on the screens behind him. About the time he sang, “next thing you know you’re saving up for a rock,” a couple in the pit got engaged.

Hardy performs at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Photo: Tanner Gallagher

Hardy kept it on an emotional note for the next song, the beloved “Give Heaven Some Hell,” which brought hands to the hearts of concert-goers and arms around their loved ones’ shoulders. After he was done, he shared that the song died at No. 7 on the charts because some radio stations thought it was sacrilegious. “I’ve written 17 No. 1s. I think I know what a radio song is,” he said, before thrilling the crowd with his irreverent “Radio Song.”

One of the night’s most impactful moments came when Wilson reappeared on stage to sing the double-Platinum hit “Wait In The Truck,” which is nominated for Song, Single, Music Video and Musical Event of the Year at next week’s CMA Awards.

After the half-way mark, Hardy kept the crowd buzzing with beloved tunes like “Red,” “Unapologetically Country As Hell” and his Blake Shelton cut “God’s Country.” He left the stage for a bit only to be brought back out with the crowd’s relentless “Hardy! Hardy! Hardy!”

Before calling it a night, Hardy blitzed us with “Truck Bed,” “Rednecker” and the ultimate cheery on top, “Sold Out.”

“The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour” picks back up in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Nov. 30.

Lipscomb Hosts Dolly Parton Gala

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Dolly Parton and Lipscomb President Candice McQueen cut the ribbon to the Dolly Parton & The Makers: My Life In Rhinestones fashion exhibition. Photo: Kristi Jones

“It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world,” said Dolly Parton on Friday evening (Oct. 27) at Lipscomb University.

She was quoting a line from her 1984 chart-topping song “Tennessee Homesick Blues” as she pondered her love of sparkly, dress-up glamor. “I love to shine,” she added. “It makes me feel lighter and more exciting.”

The occasion was the gala VIP party celebrating the opening of “Dolly Parton and the Makers,” an exhibit of her glittering, iconic costumes. The evening was also the launch party of her new book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

Dolly Parton & The Makers: My Life In Rhinestones fashion exhibition. Photo: Kristi Jones

“Whew! That’s a lot of livin,’” she commented about the various outfits on display. “I’m amazed at how much I’ve done, I really am….Each of my dresses has a story…..We all have these pictures where we look at what we were wearing and say, ‘What was I thinking?’”

The superstar has been wearing custom-sewn creations since her earliest days on Music Row. When she signed with RCA Records in 1967, label boss Chet Atkins suggested that she stop wearing wigs and flashy outfits. Parton recalled him saying, “Dolly, you need to tone it down — you look a little trashy. Nobody’s going to take you seriously as a songwriter or a singer.” She replied, “They will if I’m good enough.”

Instead of toning it down, she became even more flamboyant. After she made it big, Atkins cracked, “Aren’t you glad you took my advice?”

“I think it’s important that people wear what they’re comfortable in,” she told the gala crowd. “Be yourself. That’s what I’ve done my whole life.”

Pink butterflies and pink landscape spotlights greeted attendees as they ascended the steps to the university’s library building. Next to the building’s exterior doors was an oversized neon “Dolly and the Makers” sign for selfies. Inside, the entrance to the exhibit was flanked by Dolly-inspired dresses created by Lipscomb’s Fashion Design majors.

Dolly Parton & The Makers: My Life In Rhinestones fashion exhibition. Photo: Kristi Jones

A blow-up of the book’s jacket contained holes on either side of Dolly’s portrait so that attendees can take snapshots of it with their heads surrounded by painted flower petals. This is located next to a 45-foot walkway featured a pink wall containing a timeline placing pictures of the various costumes in chronological order. The ceiling was festooned with golden butterfly decorations.

Inside the art gallery are 25 gowns in glass cases, a wardrobe-creation station with sample fabrics, a lighted makeup station (with a bottle of her Scent From Above perfume for spritzing), a video featuring the clothes’ various designers talking about their work and assorted displays of jewelry, wigs, hats and high-heeled shoes.

The exhibit is called “The Makers” because it spotlights “lots of creativity from a lot of people,” as Parton put it. Next to the displays are bios of more than a dozen designers who have created looks for her.

Places for photo ops are scattered throughout. One spot contains giant pink angel wings that attendees can pose with. Another is a mini stage with a life-sized cardboard likeness of Dolly to pose with. Still another is a wall of pink feathers topped by her logo in white neon, also designed for posing.

In attendance were Iisha Lemming, Riley Reed Hanratty, Christian Fletcher and the star’s archivist Rebecca Seaver, all members of the star’s creative team. Lemming is now serving as a visiting faculty member at Lipscomb, mentoring young designers.

“Dolly Parton and the Makers” particularly emphasizes the gowns designed by Steve Summers, her creative director. Like the star, he is an up-by-his-bootstraps success story whose visions for Parton and inventive flair rose him through the ranks of her organization. Summers said he estimates that his team creates 300 dresses a year for the superstar.

Her favorite outfit is the white gown she wore singing “He’s Alive” on the 1989 CMA Awards. The book contains a photo of her in it with arms outstretched, creating a “wing” effect because of its draped upper sleeves.

Seaver curated and preserved the hundreds of gowns pictured in color in the book, which Dolly wrote with award-winning author Holly George-Warren, also in attendance. Most of the exhibit copy came from the chapters in Behind the Seams.

Dolly Parton & The Makers: My Life In Rhinestones fashion exhibition. Photo: Kristi Jones

The event began with greetings from Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who talked about how his daughters learned to love reading via Dolly’s Imagination Library program. To date, it has distributed more than 200 million free books to children.

Lipscomb president Candace McQueen described Parton as “the most beloved figure in the entertainment industry.” McQueen added, “Her courageous fashion sense has left an indelible mark on the world of style.”

Following Parton’s remarks, Matthew Inman of Crown Ten Speed Press surprised the star by announcing that the book will debut at No. 4 on next week’s New York Times Book Review chart. Inman’s imprint is a division of Penguin Random House, which is Parton’s partner in her Imagination Library.

The Lipscomb University Chorale offered a lovely a cappella arrangement of Parton’s 1977 song “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Parton and McQueen took giant shears to cut the ribbon, officially opening “Dolly Parton and the Makers.” Joining McQueen at the gala were Lipscomb deans Beth Morrow and Mike Fernandez, among many other faculty members.

Dozens of Lipscomb Fashion students were also in attendance, all attired in elegant gowns and sporting new coiffures. Dolly Parton wore a steel-toned gown festooned with little metal spikes. The black-and-silver creation was accented by mesh sleeves. Nestled in her cascading wig was a small tiara also bristling with tiny spikes. It is one of her rock-themed outfits created for Rockstar, her next album.

“Dolly Parton and the Makers” will be on display at Lipscomb until Dec. 9. Tickets must be purchased in advance online and cost $25, which includes a guided, 45-minute tour. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones is available at bookstores everywhere and in the gallery’s gift shop. The coffee-table tome retails for $50.

Industry Ink: Elizabeth Matthews, Luke Laird, Tony Esterly, More

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ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews Honored With Sona Warrior Award

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Paul Williams, SONA’s Michelle Lewis and ASCAP’s Elizabeth
Matthews. Photo: Lester Cohen

Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP CEO and champion for the rights of music creators, was honored on Sunday (Oct. 29) at the annual Songwriters of North America (SONA) Warrior Awards Gala in West Hollywood, California.

The SONA Warrior Awards recognize the talent and hard work of individuals known for their high-profile accomplishments within the music industry, and honors their tireless efforts advocating for songwriters’ rights.

During the event, ASCAP Chairman of the Board & President Paul Williams and songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis lauded Matthews’ achievements, and hit songwriter MoZella performed “Wrecking Ball.” Video tributes to Matthews featured music industry giants Stephen Schwartz, Ne-Yo, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, John Platt and Ashley Gorley, among others.

“To be recognized by SONA means the world to me. I know that songwriters are the true musical warriors–unbelievably brave and remaining strong in the face of uncertainty every day as new technology challenges their livelihoods. Yet, songwriters are still able to remain vulnerable and go deep creatively, opening their hearts to write the music that we all love. I am constantly inspired by songwriters and it has been an honor of a lifetime to work for and alongside music creators,” stated Matthews.

Luke Laird Featured In CMHOF’s ‘Poets & Prophets’ Series

CMHOF’s Dave Paulson & Luke Laird. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum featured songwriter Luke Laird in its in-depth interview series “Poets and Prophets,” which focuses on songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music.

The program was hosted by Museum Writer-Editor Dave Paulson in the museum’s Ford Theater and included vintage photos, audio and film clips from Laird’s career. Laird has written more than 20 No. 1s since 2007. His hits include Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand,” Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Stronger,” Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins’ “Hillbilly Bone.”

As a producer, Laird has worked with Brett Eldredge, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and others as well as co-produced Kacey Musgraves’ albums Same Trailer Different Park , which won a Grammy for Best Country Album, and Pageant Material, contributing six songs that he co-wrote to each album. He also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Space Cowboy” on Musgraves’ third major-label album, Golden Hour. Laird’s other accolades include six CMA Triple Play Awards and the ACM’s Songwriter of the Year award.

The program was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s “Live at the Hall” digital program series, available to stream on the museum’s website.

Tony Esterly Inks With Prescription Songs

Tony Esterly

Tony Esterly has signed with Prescription Songs.

The songwriter, producer, mixer and multi-instrumentalist shares his time between L.A. and Nashville. He has worked with Sia, BTS, Mae Muller, Andra Day, Ashe, NCT 127, Kirby, Raekwon, Yo Gotti, Between Friends, Gavin Haley, Izzy Bizu and The Struts, among others.

Esterly is credited across genres with an emphasis on pop, hip-hop, R&B and alternative. In addition to his production and writing credits, his songs have had commercial placements with Allstate, Aleve, Apple, Audi, Columbia, GAP, Maybelline, McDonalds, Motorola, NordicTrack, Samsung, Tuft + Needle, Uber and Yuengling as well as countless film and TV placements. He is also a music publisher and his company Pray For My Haters currently publishes multiple emerging producer-songwriters.

SongwritingWith:Soldiers Receives NAMM Foundation Grant

SongwritingWith:Soldiers has been named a NAMM Foundation grant recipient.

The organization was selected as one of 24 music organizations to receive a grant to fund vital programs that provide access to music-making opportunities across a variety of different communities and demographics. As one of the recipients, SongwritingWith:Soldiers will utilize the resource to support the organization’s meaningful work with veterans. Since 1994, the annual grant program has donated more than $18 million to domestic and international music education programs, scientific research, advocacy and public service programs related to music-making.

“Programs supported by The NAMM Foundation, including a grant to SongwritingWith:Soldiers, advance music learning for people of all ages and abilities,” says Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director, The NAMM Foundation. “Together, we advance a more musical world based on a shared belief that music is a force for good and connections in our world.”

Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley, More To Play New Texas Festival

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Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley and Billy Strings have been tapped to headline the inaugural Big As Texas Festival outside of Houston at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds May 10-12, 2024.

Other major performers on tap for the new Lone Star festival include Warren Zeiders, Dwight Yoakam, Los Lobos, Tracy Byrd, Clay Walker, Maddie & Tae, Breland, Anne Wilson, Drake Milligan Morgan Wade, Midland, Jamestown Revival, Amanda Shires, Buffalo Nichols, Braxton Keith and more.

The Big As Texas Festival 2024 will host more than 50,000 attendees who will enjoy over 26 hours of live music from the 35 artists billed for this year’s three-day event, spread across more than 75 acres of rolling Texas plains. Three-day GA passes are on sale now at BigAsTexasFest.com.

“We are stepping out in grand fashion for our inaugural year, and I couldn’t be more excited about the stellar music lineup we have curated for next May. It’s ultimately meant to be representative of the many facets of country and Americana music because we like to think there is something for everyone at Big As Texas Fest,” says Big As Texas’s Co-Executive Producer and Talent Buyer, Steve Said.

The three-day festival will be hosted outdoors in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country—Montgomery County—which also happens to be facing an unprecedented epidemic with rapidly rising rates of suicides. Due to these alarming statistics, organizers have decided to donate 10% of net ticket proceeds from each individual ticket sold to nonprofit organizations that promote suicide death prevention both in Montgomery County and across Texas.

Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Reclaims Top Slot On Country Albums Chart

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: David Lehr

Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time reclaims the No. 1 slot on the country albums chart this week with 69K in total consumption (1.8K album only/86 million song streams), according to Luminate data.

Zach Bryan‘s self-titled album shifts down to No. 2 with 51K (4.9K album only/60 million song streams), while Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album stays at No. 3 with 36K (368 album only/46 million song streams). Taylor Swift‘s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) takes No. 4 again with 31K (7.2K album only/31 million song streams), and Bryan’s American Heartbreak holds No. 5 with 29K (1.4K album only/36 million song streams).

The top five on the country streaming songs chart is stationary this week.

Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” maintains its No. 1 status with 19 million streams, adding to 217 million ATD. Wallen’s “Last Night” continues at No. 2 with 14 million new streams, adding to 998 million ATD, with Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” following at No. 3 with 12 million streams, adding to a billion ATD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” rests at No. 4 with 11 million new streams, adding to 439 million ATD, and Luke Combs‘ cover of “Fast Car” sits at No. 5 with 9.4 million streams, adding to 481 million ATD.

Matt Jenkins Extends Global Deal With Warner Chappell Music & Madfun Entertainment

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Matt Jenkins. Photo: Courtesy of WCM

Matt Jenkins has extended his global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) and Madfun Entertainment. WCM is also acquiring Jenkins’ music catalog as part of the deal.

A native Texan, Jenkins has penned multiple hits, including the Platinum track “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), and the triple-Platinum single “Buy Dirt” (Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan), which took home Song of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards and Nashville Songwriter Awards.

In 2017, Jenkins received a CMA Triple Play Award for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period: “Confession” (Florida Georgia Line), “Setting The World on Fire” (Kenny Chesney ft. P!nk) and “Song For Another Time” (Old Dominion). His other chart-topping hits include “Do I Make You Wanna” (Billy Currington), “Where It’s At” (Dustin Lynch) and “Cop Car” (Keith Urban). His songs have also appeared on ABC’s Nashville, and he’s collaborated with artists including Sam Hunt, Cole Swindell, Brett Young and Eli Young Band, among others.

“Matt has proven to be a songwriter who knows how to fish in the deep waters,” says Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “He’s a respected songwriter across so many meaningful songs in country music. We’re excited to continue with him on his journey.”

“Working with Matt Jenkins is both fun and inspiring. He is such a great human and a lyrical poet. He knows how to craft the cool and commercial song, almost better than anyone I know,” adds Alicia Pruitt, Founder, Madfun Entertainment.

CMHOF To Offer Free Admission For Veterans & Their Families On Veterans Day

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is honoring active-duty and retired armed services members with free museum admission on Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

As an additional thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces, past and present, the museum will also extend free admission for up to three immediate family members. Timed admission tickets can be reserved by calling 615-416-2001, or obtained at the museum’s box office on Nov. 11. Valid military ID is required to claim tickets. Due to limited capacity, advanced reservations are highly recommended. Active duty and retired armed services members will also receive a 10 percent discount at the Museum Store and the Hatch Show Print retail store on Nov. 11. Tours of Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B are offered for a fee, based on availability.

Visitors to the museum’s website can also listen to a selection of songs written by veterans through the museum’s partnership with CreatiVets. As a result of the collaboration — which began in 2018 — more than 115 veterans have partnered with songwriters to craft songs through the museum’s Words & Music program.

Special programming throughout the day will include:

    • Thank a Soldier: Veterans Day Postcard – To share appreciation for our military members and their families, create postcards for active-duty troops. Through A Million Thanks, a nonprofit organization that provides support to military members, cards will be mailed to those serving overseas. All ages. (Taylor Swift Education Center; 11a.m.-1 p.m.)
    • Songwriter Round with CreatiVets – In partnership with CreatiVets, a nonprofit empowering wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music, the museum provides songwriting support that fosters self-expression and allows vets to transform their stories of trauma and struggle into songs to inspire and motivate continued healing. In this songwriter round, songwriters will perform songs written by CreatiVets participants and share the stories behind them. (Ford Theater; 12-12:45 p.m.)
    • Family Program: Musical Instrument Petting Zoo – Attendees can bow a fiddle, pluck a banjo and strum a ukulele at the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, which offers budding musicians a chance to try instruments. The program will begin with a demonstration of the instruments by a professional musician, then instructors will offer guidance as participants try their hand at all the instruments. All ages. (Taylor Swift Education Center; 2-3 p.m.)
    • Songwriter Round with Operation Song – Operation Song pairs songwriters with veterans, active-duty military members and their families to help them share their experiences through song. In this special songwriter round, professional writers will perform songs written with Operation Song participants and share the stories behind them. (Ford Theater; 2:30-3:15 p.m.)

Brian Kelley, Jason Aldean & Friends Open Papa Surf Burger Bar In Florida

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Papa Surf Burger Bar Partners Jason Aldean, Brittany Aldean, Brittney Kelley, Brian Kelley, Tom Glavine And Chris Glavine. Photo: Justin Mrusek

Brian and Brittney Kelley, Jason and Brittany Aldean and baseball Hall Of Famer Tom Glavine and his wife Chris have partnered to open a new restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, the Papa Surf Burger Bar.

The group hosted a private celebration on Sunday (Oct. 29) for the grand opening of the restaurant, which marks the second business owned by the Kelleys in the area, who also opened the brick-and-mortar location for their Tribe Kelley line, Tribe Kelley Surf Post, in 2018.

Welcoming family and close friends to an intimate menu sampling of made-to-order burgers like “The Beach Cowboy” and “Burnin’ It Down,” the 50 guests raised a toast with a signature house drink called “Papa’s Punch” and champagne. In addition, Brian treated the crowd to a full band show live from the Cortney Bishop-designed restaurant, performing songs including his new single “See You Next Summer” and “Dirt Cheap,” plus previewing some unreleased tracks from his upcoming debut album with Big Machine Records. Jason also joined Kelley for his hit “Burnin’ It Down,” which Brian co-wrote.

“My wife Brittney and I are just so fired up that the Papa Surf Burger Bar is officially open,” shares Brian. “There will be so many special moments and memories made there. The vibe is real, the energy is great, and the burgers are next level. We’re so thankful to our partners for dreaming this all up together, and our team for working so hard to bring our vision to life.”

Papa Surf Burger Bar is now open to the public.

Reservoir Inks New Deal With Multi-Platinum Writer-Producer Brent Maher [Exclusive]

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Brent Maher. Photo: Rod McGaha

Reservoir has signed a new publishing deal for the future works of seven-time Grammy Award-winning and multi-Platinum writer-producer Brent Maher. This deal builds on the company’s 2018 acquisition of rights to Maher’s full catalog.

Maher is best known for his work with The Judds, whom he discovered in 1983 and would go on to produce all 10 of their albums. He co-wrote and produced the duo’s “Why Not Me,” which topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and earned the ACM’s Song of the Year award. Maher has also worked on many of The Judds’ other hits such as “Girls Night Out,” “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain,” “I Know Where I’m Going,” “Let Me Tell You About Love” and “Born To Be Blue,” among others.

Maher was recently a part of The Judds’ 40th anniversary tribute album, collaborating on all tracks but one for the project. The album features stars from country music and beyond, including Wynonna Judd, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Reba McEntire and more.

Beyond his work with The Judds, Maher has also co-written several hits by Johnny Reid, including the CCMA Single of the Year “A Woman Like You” and Juno-nominated Single of the Year “Let’s Go Higher.” He is also an award-winning engineer, with notable credits including Ike & Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and The 5th Dimension’s “Age of Aquarius,” plus titles by Willie Nelson, Duke Ellington, Chuck Berry, Sammy Davis Jr. Gladys Knight, Sly and the Family Stone and more.

“Brent has worked on so many iconic country records and continues to produce, write, and engineer some of the genre’s best music. His work on A Tribute To The Judds and the star-studded features on the album showcase just how meaningful his influence is to artists in country music and beyond,” shares John Ozier, Reservoir Executive Vice President of Creative. “We are honored to be working with him and look forward to supporting the legacy of his music, old and new.”

Maher adds, “I’m very happy to be in business with John and the entire staff at Reservoir on my new endeavors and back catalog.”

CMA Presents Jeannie Seely With 2023 Joe Talbot Award

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Pictured (L-R): Dan Rogers (Vice President and Executive Producer, Grand Old Opry), Seely and Kella Farris (Partner, Farris, Self & Moore, LLC and CMA Board President). Photo: Chris Hollo Photography/Grand Ole Opry

During a Grand Ole Opry performance this weekend, country legend Jeannie Seely was surprised with the Country Music Association’s Joe Talbot Award. CMA Board President Kella Farris made the special presentation, which elicited a standing ovation from the Opry house crowd.

The CMA Joe Talbot Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of country music’s values and tradition. Since its creation in 2001, the award has been presented to 12 individuals, including Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, Janette Carter, Kitty Moon Emery, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Charlie Monk, Louise Scruggs, Marty Stuart and Talbot himself.

“How wonderful to be honored for doing what you love to do and love to share with others! My surprise was obvious since I am rarely at a loss for words, but this caught me totally speechless!,” said Seely. “While country music will always, and must always evolve, we must always remember the Grand Ole Opry is the cornerstone our industry was built on with music that represented the people. My sincere appreciation to CMA and the folks who recognized how much I care, and I’m proud to be in such great company! Thank you!”

As a long-time mentor for many female artists in the genre, Seely’s influence on the format has been undeniable. She took to the stage during the inaugural Fan Fair in 1972 and has remained a devoted supporter and advocate for country music. Seely was recognized last year for having the most performances in the Grand Ole Opry’s 98-year history with over 5,000 shows. Since 2018, she has hosted her own weekly program, Sunday with Seely, on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse channel. Seely continuously strives to positively represent country music and promote its traditions to generations of fans.