Still Playin’ Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones was awarded the Emmy for Special Event Coverage at the 39th annual Midsouth Emmy awards, which took place on Feb. 15.

Nancy Jones, Jones’ widow and the Executive Producer of the PBS special, was on hand to accept the award for the concert special, which featured Jelly Roll, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Jamey Johnson, Wynonna, Justin Moore, Joe Nichols, Randy Travis and more.

“I am so happy! This is the first award I have won and to receive it honoring George is just wonderful,” says Nancy Jones, Executive Producer of the television special. “The last time I was on an award show stage, I was at the CMA Awards and George ran to the bathroom just before his name was called as a CMA winner and I had to go up and accept the honor for him. Now, I get to accept this honor for myself and all the great artists that came out to honor George and his music. Whoa, did we just win an EMMY? I am so happy!”

Still Playin’ Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones was Executive Produced by Nancy Jones and Kirk West for No Show Productions, LLC, and was produced by Kirt Webster for Spinning Plates, Inc., Luke Pierce and Ben Haley for WORKS Entertainment, and Greg Hall for TH Entertainment. Associate Producers were Josh Bleidt, Austin Smith and Jeremy Westby.

Jordan Davis will hit the road on his new “Ain’t Enough Road Tour” this September.

The nationwide tour will kick off Sept. 11 and includes stops in Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, St. Louis, Albuquerque, Boston, Savannah and more before wrapping on Oct. 25. Mitchell Tenpenny and Vincent Mason will join Davis on the upcoming tour. Tickets will be available beginning April 2 with various pre-sales, before the general on-sale April 4 at JordanDavisOfficial.com.

Davis recently released the single, “Bar None,” from his upcoming new album expected later this year. Produced by Paul DiGiovanni and written by Hunter Phelps, Lydia Vaughn and Ben Johns, “Bar None” follows his latest No. 1, “I Ain’t Sayin,’” which spent eight weeks at No. 1 in the UK and was Davis’ first No. 1 off the new album in both the U.S. and UK.

Davis joined CBS Mornings this morning (March 31) to discuss the new single and tour, and will also appear on Watch What Happens Live on Bravo with host Andy Cohen on April 3.

Jordan Davis “Ain’t Enough Road Tour”:
Thu Sep 11 – Greater Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena
Fri Sep 12 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Thu Sep 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Fri Sep 19 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Sat Sep 20 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Wed Sep 24 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre^
Fri Sep 26 – Independence, MO – Cable Dahmer Arena
Sat Sep 27 – St. Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena
Thu Oct 02 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Fri Oct 03 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Thu Oct 09 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
Fri Oct 10 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
Sat Oct 11 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion
Thu Oct 16 – Dayton, OH – Wright State University Nutter Center
Fri Oct 17 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center
Thu Oct 23 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
Fri Oct 24 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
Sat Oct 25 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena*

*On sale April 18 at 10am local time
^Non-Live Nation date

Corey Kent Surprised By Sony With Billion Streams, Triple Platinum Plaques

Corey Kent was surprised by his label Sony Music Nashville this week with plaques to commemorate amassing one billion career streams as well as having his No. 1 song “Wild As Her” be certified three-times Platinum by the RIAA.

“I know it takes a lot of people to make all of this happen and it has completely changed my life,” said Kent at the event. “It has changed the way that I’m able to provide for my wife and kids and I don’t take it lightly so thank you.”

 

Chase Rice Honors Home State During TV Appearances

Chase Rice performed on ABC’s Good Morning America and GMA3: What You Need to Know on March 27, paying tribute to his home state’s enduring spirit in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. On Good Morning America, Rice performed “Carolina Can,” which paints a vivid picture of his time growing up in the Tar Heel State, as part of the network’s “Asheville Rising” broadcast highlighting Western North Carolina’s recovery six months after Hurricane Helene.

Rice also discussed his involvement in the “Concert for Carolina” benefit in October. On GMA3 he discussed his deep-rooted connection to the state before performing “Haw River,” a haunting ballad set along the North Carolina waterway from his recent independent album, Go Down Singin’.

 

New Student & Community Art Quilt Exhibit Opens In CMHOFM’s Taylor Swift Education Center

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently unveiled a new student and community art exhibit in the Taylor Swift Education Center titled “A Community of Artists.” The exhibit features quilts inspired by Gee’s Bend quilters, made by local high school students in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools and individuals from Smart Art + Craft Supplies — an organization that serves adults with intellectual disabilities.

In 2024, both groups were invited to the museum’s Haley Gallery to see an exhibition that included new works by Gee’s Bend quilters. During the MNPS schools’ visit, the students met several Gee’s Bend quilters, who discussed their creative processes and worked with students as they constructed their own quilt squares. Later, with teacher guidance at school, students assembled their squares into a larger community quilt to represent their local communities and the artistic influence of Gee’s Bend quilters.

 

ATC Management Adds Jay Saunders To Team

ATC Management has expanded its team with two new managers, including Nashville-based Jay Saunders.

Saunders previously worked under Marty Diamond (former President of Music at Paradigm Talent Agency) and more recently with Mark Williams (Co-President of Concord Records) where he contributed to artist development and A&R at Concord Records. Early in his career, he played a key role in discovering and managing band The Marías and now represents a roster that includes John Vincent III, Kacy Hill, Alex Amen and poet-songwriter Kara Jackson.

 

Gibson Gives Donates Pianos To Music City Chopin’s Metro Nashville Piano Program For Youth & Music Education

Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson Guitars, has generously expanded the Music City Chopin program by gifting three Baldwin Grand Pianos to Metro Nashville area schools. These instruments have now found new forever homes at Park Avenue Elementary, Margaret Allen Middle, and Antioch High School in Nashville.

“We are deeply grateful to Gibson Global Executive Director Erica Krusen for seeing the impact of our initiative and stepping in to amplify it,” says Graciella Kowalczyk, Artistic Director of Music City Chopin. “Our mission is to spark creativity and hope in our communities, and these pianos have the power to do just that.”

George Birge brought industry friends and colleagues out to Live Oak on Demonbreun earlier this week to celebrate his second No. 1 hit at country radio, “Cowboy Songs.” The sunny afternoon soiree was hosted by ASCAP, along with SESAC.

The tune, co-written by Birge with Lalo Guzman, Matt McGinn and Michael Tyler, and co-produced by Guzman and McGinn, marks Birge’s second chart-topper in a year, following his breakout hit “Mind On You.”

ASCAP’s Emilia James emceed the event, welcoming team members of the writers to speak, including SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, SMACKSongs’ Sam Sarno, Young Guns Publishing’s Laura Alexander and RECORDS Nashville’s Josh Easler.

Each presenter highlighted the talent of the songwriting team and Birge’s relentless commitment to his craft.

Sarno celebrated Guzman, as “Cowboy Songs” marks his first No. 1. “Lalo, you have some of the best instincts I’ve ever seen—not just musically, but with people,” she said. “You are a key to the culture of SMACK, you make the environment a place people want to be.”

Alexander spoke about Tyler’s talent and heart for his family. “Michael, we’re so proud of where you’ve been and where you’re headed.”

Easler highlighted the RECORDS Nashville team, Birge’s manager Brendan Rich and team, and Birge himself.

“The game has changed for us a lot over the last couple of years, but what hasn’t changed is how hard George is working for this,” Easler said. “This guy does it the right way. He works his ass off, he plays the shows, he calls his family, and he goes to bed to get up and do it again the next day.”

When it came time for the writers to speak, Tyler kicked it off by thanking God, his family, and his team. He spoke about his gratitude for Jason Turner, who introduced him to Young Guns and CTM Outlander.

“Y’all have 100% revived my motivation and desire to write songs, and gave my creativity a brand-new chance in this town,” Tyler said. “It has changed my life.”

McGinn acknowledged his time away from Nashville following his 2023 arrest and mental health struggles, thanking his co-writers for inviting him to celebrate the No. 1.

Guzman spoke about the grind of working towards a hit as a songwriter and thanked those who stood by him.

“I want to thank my friends who have been a part of this journey,” he said. “It’s so important to have good friends who, even when you’re not doing good or you’re broke, are there to keep you going. Without good friends, I wouldn’t be here.”

When Birge took the mic, he recognized the many people who’ve played a role in his career.

“This is what wildest dreams are made of,” he said. “There are so many people in this room that I wouldn’t be here without.

“I’m a little bit deranged because all I can think about is what’s next—how big can we make this and how far can we go,” he summed. “I’m surrounded by lunatics that think the exact way that I do, and we’ve built a family that doesn’t take no for an answer. We go out there and win and do things that people tell us we can’t. Damn, it feels good to be sitting here with another No. 1.”

Whiskey Jam and Family Alliance in Music (FAM) are joining forces for the first-ever Juice Box Jam, a family-friendly edition of the long-running concert series, set for April 6 at 2 p.m. on SkyDeck at 5th & Broadway.

The event will feature performances from Charlie Worsham, Thelma & James, Jaden Michaels, Mickey Guyton, Daniel Tashian, Runaway June, Ryan Griffin, Alex Hall and Lanco, while supporting the work FAM is doing to create a more family-inclusive music industry.

In addition to live music, Juice Box Jam will offer a variety of activities for kids and families, including the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, a face painting station, a photobooth and more.

FAM is dedicated to transforming the music industry into a space where professional ambition and family life can thrive together. The organization has made significant progress in providing resources, building awareness and fostering a supportive community for music professionals balancing career and family responsibilities.

This marks a new chapter for Whiskey Jam, bringing its signature energy to a family-friendly setting for the first time. With live performances, interactive activities and a mission-driven focus, Juice Box Jam offers a fresh take on the beloved concert series—creating an afternoon of music, community and fun for all ages.