The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open a new exhibit exploring the life and career of Clint Black, titled “Clint Black: The Hard Way On Purpose.” The new exhibit will showcase Black’s story from a working-class upstart to topping the charts and paving his own way to country music stardom. The exhibit will be open from April 22 through August 2027, and is included with museum admission.

“Black’s decades-long determination to write and perform his own songs, and to advocate for artists’ rights, marked him as a maverick and proved causes worth standing up for,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His voice, words and melodies have added immeasurably to country music’s rich history — etched on the hearts of millions.”

“When I was told the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum wanted to create an exhibit about my life and career, I truly was surprised and moved,” adds Black. “I wouldn’t have expected it, and I feel so fortunate to have such an incredible team of talented people working so hard to bring my story to life in this exhibit. I wanted to do everything I could to support their efforts and share anything I could with the fans from my journey in music, movies and life in general. I’m very excited to be a part of the greatest museum in the world.”

The exhibit will include stage wear, instruments, memorabilia, manuscripts, photographs, videos and more. Items to be displayed include:
– The second-place trophy Black won for selling newspaper subscriptions to the Houston Post —one of his first jobs in the paper’s annual Top Salesman contest in 1978.
– One of three Martin guitars that Black purchased after receiving his first substantial paycheck from RCA Records in 1990.
– Lyrics Black wrote on his summer 1991 tour itinerary when his musical hero Merle Haggard appeared as a special guest. Backstage one night, Black offered to help Haggard finish a song he was working on. “Untanglin’ My Mind” became a Top Five country hit for Black in 1994 and was recorded by Haggard two years later.
– The desert camouflage fatigues Black wore during his 1993 USO tour of Somalia where he performed for American troops at base camps and other locations in the war-torn east African nation.
– The playing cards Black used in his acting debut in a brief but memorable appearance as the “Sweet-faced Gambler” in the 1994 Hollywood film Maverick. Caught cheating at poker in a scene with the movie’s stars Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner, his character’s stunt double is thrown overboard from a riverboat.
– The director’s chair Black used while filming the video for his song “Summer’s Comin’,” a No. 1 hit in 1995.
– A draft of handwritten lyrics by Black for his chart-topping 1996 single, “Like the Rain.” Using the working title “I Never Liked the Rain,” this manuscript includes some different lyrics to the version he recorded and was co-written with his friend and long-time bandmate, guitarist Hayden Nicholas.
– A copy of the Larry Sanders Show script from the show’s final episode in 1998 — signed by the cast including Tom Petty. Comedian and actor Gary Shandling had invited his good friend Black to appear in the program and Black and Petty staged a fight scene in the episode, with Petty calling Black “Roy Rogers.”
– Lisa Hartman Black’s Brides International dress — with floral embroidery and tulle skirt and shawl — and Black’s Versace jacket that the married couple wore in the music video for “When I Said I Do.” The duet topped Billboard’s country singles chart in 1999 and was named the Top Vocal Event of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

Pictured (L-R): Ryan Beuschel (TNA), Jake Moore (TNA), Jacob Hackworth, Kos Weaver (Goat Island), Sam Shelton (Goat Island). Photo: Logan Domer

Jacob Hackworth has signed with The Neal Agency for booking.

The West Plains, Missouri native amassed more than a billion streams in 2025 as a songwriter. He has earned over 60 major label cuts, including Bailey Zimmerman’s six-week No.1 hit, “Rock and a Hard Place,” Corey Kent’s No. 1 hit “This Heart,” three songs from Jelly Roll’s GRAMMY-winning, chart-topping album Beautifully Broken, Morgan Wallen’s “Jack and Jill,” six songs from Tucker Wetmore’s debut album including“Wine Into Whiskey,” and more.

Hackworth began writing songs as a child and earned his first industry recognition with his releases, “When I Don’t,” “You Ain’t” and “Bad As I Do.” He relocated to Music City in 2019 and earned his first publishing deal with Goat Island Sound & Boom Music Group in 2022.

“I couldn’t be happier to have The Neal Agency as part of my team. I’ve watched them build an incredible reputation — not just for the success they’ve achieved, but for the way they genuinely champion their artists. Seeing what they’ve done for friends of mine who are already on the roster made the decision feel like a no-brainer,” says Hackworth. “From my very first meeting with Jake, we just clicked. He understood the vision, the long game and who I am as an artist. And honestly, my dad’s one of the best judges of character I know — he met Jake and immediately said, ‘That’s your guy.’ When your gut and your circle both say ‘yes,’ you listen.”

“We’re excited to add Jacob Hackworth to TNA’s roster,” shares TNA Agent Jake Moore. “He is a proven hit songwriter and we can’t wait for the world to see what an incredibly talented artist he is as well.”

CMA Women’s Leadership Academy. Photo: Jamie Schramm

CMA’s Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) applications are officially open now through March 31.

The program will begin in August with a welcome event, followed by 9 in-person sessions, and conclude in October with a celebratory event. Sessions topics may include, leadership branding, imposter syndrome, establishing boundaries, managing conflict and stress, communication, leveraging influence and more.

Women who are active CMA members with five years of experience working primarily in the country music space can apply here. More information, including full requirements for participation, can be found here.

Pictured (L-R): Ken Robold (President & COO, SMN), Taylor Lindsey (Chair & CEO, SMN), Bellah Mae, Alistar Goldsmith (Chosen Music), Lexi Stringer (Director, A&R, SMN). Photo: Matthew Berinato

Bellah Mae has inked with Sony Music Nashville.

“I couldn’t be happier to have joined the Sony Nashville family,” she shares. “With the devoted ethos of the entire team there, I knew instantly they were the perfect home for me and my music. I’m so excited to be on this journey together and for all we’re about to create.”

Growing up in the UK, Mae began writing songs at the age of eight, taking inspiration by her father teaching her how to play guitar and her grandfather, a rock and roll session musician. She spent 11 years training as a classical soprano and later started traveling to and from Nashville at age 18 through mentorship by Dolly Parton’s manager. Her catalog of songs has amassed over 100 million streams to date, and she has earned half a million followers across social platforms.

In celebration of the announcement, Mae has released her new single, “Love Me Less,” which she wrote Brigetta Truitt and Brett Truitt .

“‘Love Me Less’ is the most personal song I’ve written so far — I held no details back from specific insecurities to introspective tendencies,” Mae adds. “I think we all have parts of ourselves we’d rather not show immediately or sometimes ever, and the start of a new relationship is usually when you want to only show up with your best side. Nobody is 100% confident, 100% happy, or feeling their best 100% of the time … but revealing that feels so daunting when you think the best version of yourself is why someone loves you. You don’t want to burst the illusion you’ve created of yourself. After writing this song, I realized we’ve probably all had a version of this experience at some point and that I’d love to put it out into the world.”

Eric Church and Hardy are set to headline Boots On The Bend, a brand new festival in South Bend, Indiana set for August 14-15 at the St. Joseph’s County Fairgrounds.

The star-studded festival lineup also features Brandon Lake, Flatland Cavalry, Chase Rice, Ashley McBryde, Graham Barham, Maddie Font, The Jack Wharff Band, Emily Ann Roberts, Lakeview, Eddie & The Getaway, Will Moseley, McCoy Moore, Joe Stamm Band and more.

Fans who join the Boots On The Bend Insider List will receive early access to Early Bird pre-sale tickets at the guaranteed lowest price before the general public. The pre-sale runs March 11-12 followed by the general public on sale on March 13. Tickets, camping, and hotel packages are available at bootsonthebend.com

“We are so excited to work with Peachtree Entertainment to bring the country music festival, Boots On The Bend, to South Bend in August. With this inaugural event, South Bend will be a destination for thousands of music fans, and we look forward to creating this experience with the team at Peachtree Entertainment,” says Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Visit South Bend-Mishawaka.