Lainey Wilson‘s style evolution and branding will be the subject of a new “Bell Bottom Country: Creating The Lainey Wilson Look” panel at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 6 featuring Wilson and two of her main creative collaborators, CeCe Dawson and Raina Gir.

The panel will explore an assortment of Wilson’s aesthetic, and costuming and staging choices, examining how they have aligned with her artistic vision. The panel will also take stock of creative shifts throughout Wilson’s career and look ahead to what’s next for the country star.

Museum writer-editor Jon Freeman will lead the discussion at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s CMA Theater. The interview is offered in support of the museum’s “Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails” exhibit, which runs until June 2026 and traces Wilson’s story from her upbringing on her family’s farm in Baskin, Louisiana to her rise to global fame.

The program is included with museum admission and free to museum members, but seating is limited and a program ticket is required. Reserve tickets can be found here.

Alan D. Valentine, President & CEO of the Nashville Symphony, has announced he’ll retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, ending his 28-year tenure with the organization.

Since joining the Symphony in 1998, Valentine has led the organization through an unprecedented era of artistic and institutional growth. His visionary leadership helped shape many of the Symphony’s most defining milestones, including the design, financing, and construction of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center; two capital and endowment campaigns totaling $145 million; and the appointment of key artistic leaders, including Leonard Slatkin as Music Advisor.

Under Valentine’s direction, the Symphony has earned 14 Grammys and 27 nominations, produced more than 40 recordings, commissioned and premiered dozens of innovative works including the opera The Jonah People: A Legacy of Struggle and Triumph and Violins of Hope, made its Carnegie Hall debut, and embarked on a sold-out East Coast tour. Valentine also launched the nationally recognized Accelerando program and significantly expanded the Symphony’s reach, engaging more than 550,000 Middle Tennesseans annually through concerts, education programs, and community initiatives. Valentine also guided the organization through some of its most challenging moments, including the 2010 flood that caused $40 million in damage to Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

“Alan’s leadership has had a profound impact on the Nashville Symphony and Nashville,” says Mary Cavarra, Chair of the Board of Directors. “His vision, dedication, and resilience have positioned the Symphony as a cultural cornerstone of our city and a leader in the orchestral world. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of service and leadership and look forward to celebrating his remarkable legacy in the months ahead.”

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the Nashville Symphony and this incredible community,” says Valentine. “Together, we have built something truly special: a world-class orchestra performing in a world-class hall that not only delivers extraordinary musical experiences but also enriches the lives of people across Middle Tennessee. I am deeply grateful to our musicians, staff, boards, volunteers, donors, audiences, and the arts community for their support and for sharing in this journey for the past 28 years.”

In September 2025, Slatkin, an internationally acclaimed conductor and longtime friend of the Nashville Symphony, will return to serve as Music Advisor, ensuring continuity in leadership during the transition period. To ensure a seamless transition and maintain the Symphony’s trajectory of artistic excellence, community impact, and financial sustainability, the Board of Directors has engaged Arts Consulting Group to lead a national search for the Nashville Symphony’s next President & CEO.

“We are committed to conducting a thorough and thoughtful search for our next President & CEO, ensuring we find a leader who will build on Alan’s extraordinary legacy while guiding the Symphony into its next chapter of artistic innovation, community connection, and financial sustainability,” says Teresa Sebastian, Chair of the Search Committee and Board Chair-Elect.

Lecrae will kick off his new headlining “Reconstruction World Tour” in Harare, Zimbabwe on Sept. 4. Special guests Miles Minnick, Gio, 1K Phew and Torey D’Shaun will join Lecrae on select dates throughout the tour.

The new 42-day international trek comes on the heels of the release date for Lecrae’s 10th studio album, Reconstruction, due Aug. 22, and will visit Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Auckland, Sydney and more, along with stateside dates in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Nashville among others. The tour will mark one-year since Lecrae’s last outing in 2024 for ‘The Final Church Clothes Tour!’ On the new tour, the fan favorite is slated to perform songs from his catalog, as well as music from his upcoming new album.

Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning today (July 30) with additional presales running throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning Aug. 1 at lecrae.com/tour.

“Reconstruction World Tour” Dates:
9/4 – Harare, Zimbabwe @ Borrowdale Community Church
9/5 – Lusaka, Zambia @ The Music Club
9/6 – Kigali, Rwanda @ Christian Life Assembly
9/7 – Nairobi, Kenya @ Venue To Be Announced
9/10 – Durban, South Africa @ One City Church
9/12 – Cape Town, South Africa @ Sunningdale Sports Complex
9/13 – Johannesburg, South Africa @ New Life Church
10/1 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection (Elevation Room)
10/2 – St. Louis, MO @ The Hawthorn
10/4 – Minneapolis, MN @ Uptown Theater
10/5 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
10/9 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
10/10 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre
10/11 – Columbus, OH @ Bluestone
10/12 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
10/16 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
10/17 – Omaha, NE @ The Admiral
10/18 – Springfield, MO @ The Regency Live
10/19 – Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
10/23 – Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
10/24 – Miami, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
10/29 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/30 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
11/1 – Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
11/2 – San Antonio, TX @ The Espee
11/10 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
11/11 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
11/13 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
11/14 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues San Diego
11/15 – Riverside, CA @ Riverside Municipal Auditorium
11/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
11/20 – Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal
11/21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
11/22 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
11/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
12/5 – Auckland, NZ @ Town Hall
12/6 – Wellington, NZ @ The Opera House
12/7 – Christchurch, NZ @ James Hay Theatre
12/9 – Launceston, AU @ Door of Hope Christian Church
12/11 – Melbourne, AU @ Max Watts
12/12 – Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre
12/13 – Brisbane, AU @ The Princess Theatre

Big Loud Rock & Parallel Vision Sign Common People

Big Loud Rock and Parallel Vision, the label founded by Daniel Oakley, Darren Potuck and Cage the Elephant co-founder/guitarist Brad Shultz, has signed Common People. The band, comprised of Nicky Winegardner [vocals, guitar], Sam Belzer [guitar], Asher Thomson [guitar], Konrad Ulich [bass, vocals] and Cormac Cadden [drums], have released their debut single in celebration of the signing.

“We’re so fired up about Common People. They bring a chemistry and a songwriting instinct that’s impossible to ignore. We’re excited to work with Parallel Vision to bring their vision to life,” shares Joey Moi, Big Loud Partner and Big Loud Rock President.

 

Red Light Management & United Talent Agency Host Inaugural Kickball Tournament

Red Light Management (RLM) and United Talent Agency (UTA) teamed up to host the first kickball match between the companies. Red Light Management defeated UTA 12–5 during the match, held at West Park near The Nations. Red Light client Grace Tyler kicked off the match with the national anthem. The organizations hope to make this a regular event celebrating camaraderie and community.

 

Sierra Hull Partners With Gibson To Release Custom Mandolin

Sierra Hull and Gibson have teamed up to release a custom mandolin, making Hull the first-ever female artist to have a signature Gibson mandolin. On Oct. 7, Gibson will debut the Sierra Hull F-5 Master Model and the Sierra Hull F-5G mandolins worldwide. Both mandolins will arrive in a Sierra Burst VOS Varnish finish.

“We spent about two years talking and dreaming about what this mandolin would become,” says Hull. “The exciting thing for me is that the mandolin that I have played exclusively since 2009 was signed by Master Luthier David Harvey. It’s become my voice after so many years of playing it. Being able to work on this project with David personally gave me the confidence that we’d be able to achieve something unique, while still honoring the legacy and history of those beloved Master Model mandolins. It’s exciting and full circle to see these new mandolins with my name on them and his signature inside. When I finally played the prototype for the first time, I knew these instruments would be something that I could be proud of. They are hand-built with the highest level of quality by the team at Gibson—many folks who have worked there for years. Mandolins can also be very expensive. They take a lot of time and care to build right. If I’m going to put my name on something with that kind of price tag, it needs to be a great instrument and something long-lasting. I truly believe these mandolins are, and I’m really proud of that.”

“Sierra Hull is one of the most gifted mandolin players and singer-songwriters of our time,” says Mat Koehler, Vice President of Product at Gibson. “She has redefined what’s possible on the mandolin and across the many genres she explores. Her signature models reflect her passion for the instrument and her uncompromising approach to tone and feel. Each one is built with pride, authenticity, and soul at the Gibson Custom Shop, and we’re honored to have worked with Sierra to bring them to life.”

 

Craig Campbell Hosts Kenny Campbell Foundation Benefit At The Ryman

Craig Campbell gathered backstage with radio friends at the inaugural Kenny Campbell Foundation Benefit Concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The Kenny Campbell Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Craig Campbell to honor his father who lost his battle with Colorectal Cancer at age 36. The organization specializes in raising money for research hospitals and doctors that focus on finding a cure and preventative measures for the disease.

 

Tony Cottrill Inducted Into Ohio Country Music Hall Of Fame

Tony Cottrill was inducted into the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame on Saturday (July 26), becoming the first audio engineer ever inducted into the Hall.

A Ross County native, Cottrill’s journey in music began as a drummer in local bands before launching a career in sound engineering and live production. Over the years, he has toured and worked with Ronnie Milsap, Exile, Juice Newton, Diamond Rio and Jamey Johnson, and taught courses at Belmont University, SAE Institute, The Recording Workshop and more. He is also the owner of Lonely Dog Productions at The DAWg Houze Nashville North. Cottrill currently serves as production manager and co-producer for the nationally syndicated television show Jimmy Bowen & Friends

“To be the first audio engineer inducted into the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame is incredibly humbling,” reflects Cottrill. “I’ve spent my life behind the scenes helping others sound their best, and to be recognized for that work—especially here in my home state—means more than I can say. This honor is not just for me, but for every technician, educator and road warrior who helps bring music to life night after night.”

 

Country Cruising Adds Angie K, Noah Thompson & Taylor Austin Dye To Lineup

Country Cruising has added Angie K, Noah Thompson and Taylor Austin Dye to this year’s lineup. The cruise travels from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas this fall.

These artists join a previously announced lineup of over 30 artists including Trace Adkins, Clay Walker, LOCASH, the Song Suffragettes and many more. More information on lineups, itineraries and booking is available here.