Cody Johnson is set to release his new studio album, Banks Of The Trinity, on June 26 via COJO Music/Warner Records Nashville.

In celebration of the announcement, Johnson has released his new single, “I Want You,” written by Tom Douglas, Tony Lane, and Matt Rogers.

“On this album, I wanted to tell the story about my childhood,” Johnson shares. “When I heard the song ‘Banks Of The Trinity’ for the first time, it was like this portrait showed in my head of memories that I had honestly forgotten. It just took me back home to Sebastopol, Texas, where I grew up on the Trinity River. I had tears in my eyes when I heard it for the first time.”

The Trent Willmon produced project follows six previous albums, including Leather, which won the 2024 CMA Album of the Year. Johnson has amassed 10 billion global streams four RIAA Platinum No. 1 singles.

Johnson is set to make his headline debut this year at Stagecoach. He is nominated for four awards at the upcoming 61st ACM Awards and will continue his headline tour through the fall.

The lineup keeps growing for Alan Jackson’s Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale show June 27 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, with Little Big Town, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett joining the list of those paying tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame member at the summer all-star event.

The sold-out concert marking the end of Jackson’s over three decade touring career will feature an all-star lineup of artists including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, Lee Ann Womack, Adam Wright, Big City Brian Wright and Carlisle Wright, with still more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Jackson’s touring career has taken him from coast-to-coast countless times and even to such far-reaching places as Australia, Brazil, and Europe. Over the last four years, his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” played to sellout and capacity concerts. For each ticket sold for Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale, $1.00 is being donated to the CMT Research Foundation, an organization that funds research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and will be matched by $2.00 from a generous donor.

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. is currently accepting applications for the CRS 2027 Agenda Committee.

The Agenda Committee plays a vital role in shaping and developing the educational programming for next year’s Country Radio Seminar, set to take place March 17–19, 2027. The CRS 2027 Agenda Committee will be led by Brittani Johnson as Chair, alongside Krista Hayes (BMG/Broken Bow Records) and Kevin Callahan (Pamal Broadcasting) as Vice Chairs.

The committee is comprised of volunteers from across all sectors of the country radio, streaming and music industry. Members collaborate to develop compelling panels, discussions and workshops that reflect the evolving landscape of country music and radio.

To be considered, applicants must be available to attend the mandatory in-person planning sessions in Nashville, scheduled for August 3–5, 2026, and must also be available to attend CRS 2027. Committee members will receive complimentary registration for CRS 2027. All travel and lodging expenses remain the individual’s responsibility.

Applications must be submitted by May 1 and can be completed here.

Photo (L-R, back row): Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, Triple Tigers’ Kevin Herring and Annie Ortmeier, BMI’s Mason Hunter, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox, Concord’s Courtney Allen and Hang Your Hat’s Hillary Lindsey; (L-R, front row): Chase McGill, Josh Kerr, Russell Dickerson and Chris LaCorte; Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

BMI’s lobby was packed Tuesday afternoon (April 15) as the industry gathered to celebrate Russell Dickerson and the songwriters behind his sixth career No. 1, “Happen To Me.”

BMI’s Mason Hunter kicked off by highlighting Dickerson’s reach, noting that the track has already surpassed 340 million streams and recently earned a nomination for Best Country Song at the upcoming American Music Awards. “This kind of success doesn’t happen by accident,” Hunter said. “It happens when a lot of talent gets in a room and creates a great song.”

Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar and Concord’s Brad Kennard and Courtney Allen also stepped to the mic to offer congratulations. Studio Bank’s Ron Cox announced that in honor of the No. 1, Studio Bank made a donation to Cultivate, an organization that is, “doing very impactful work in our community by feeding the hungry not only physically but spiritually.”

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge, Chase McGill, Josh Kerr, Russell Dickerson, Chris LaCorte and MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson; Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Other industry leaders who spoke included Universal Music Publishing’s Cyndi Forman and Triple Tigers’ Kevin Herring, who noted the song’s global reach, including five weeks at No. 1 in Canada and four weeks in the UK.

Producer Josh Kerr was the first of the creators to speak, commenting on the energy in the room that day. “I’m a big believer that when someone listens to a song on the radio, they can feel the way that it was made, and I think that directly translated into how the listeners heard it,” said Kerr.

Chase McGill, who had a billion-stream year across his catalog, spoke next. “I was like, honestly, I want to be a small part of elevating that guy’s platform. Russell’s so easy to pull for,” McGill explained.

Co-writer and co-producer Chris LaCorte shared the song’s “origin story,” mentioning a guitar preset called “Spandex and Hairspray” that inspired the track’s 80’s sound. “The coolest thing is seeing the absolute just fun and joy we had writing that song come across and give that to the listener and seeing people just having the time of their lives,” LaCorte said.

Jessie Jo Dillon was unable to attend, but speakers made sure to tout her big year and multiple Songwriter of the Year honors.

Dickerson closed the afternoon by expressing his gratitude for the community that raised him and for the team that supports him. “I love this freaking life so much. I love being an artist. I love being exhausted. I love playing in front of people,” Dickerson said. “This song has absolutely changed my life. I get to do everything that I’ve dreamed of because of these guys and everybody in this room.”

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Commemorates 20 Millionth Visitor

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, Museum Board Member Sara Finley, Trisha Yearwood, Museum Board Member David Conrad and the Sagi Family (Assaf, Yuli, Liat and Tom). Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the nonprofit’s 20 millionth visitor since moving downtown in 2001 this week with a commemoration in the museum’s Mike Curb Conservatory. Trisha Yearwood and museum CEO Kyle Young were on hand to mark the milestone, greeting visitors including the Sagi family from Santa Clara, California.

One of Yearwood’s early jobs when she moved to Nashville in the 1980s included being a tour guide at the museum, and her employment application is currently on display in the museum galleries. Attendees to the celebration printed their own keepsake poster from Hatch Show Print, the nearly 150-year-old letterpress print shop owned and operated by the museum. The museum is among the most-visited history museums in the U.S., welcoming nearly 1.4 million visitors in 2025.  Next month will mark the museum’s 25th anniversary downtown.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Hosts Panel On Opry’s Comedy Tradition With Henry Cho & Gary Mule Deer

Gary Mule Deer, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Senior Director of Editorial Paul Kingsbury and Henry Cho at the museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer participated in a discussion April 15 about the Grand Ole Opry’s practice of blending humor with musical performances. The comedians shared their own career paths that led them to the world-famous country radio show during a panel at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the conversation was led by the museum’s Senior Director of Editorial Paul Kingsbury.

The Opry has a longstanding tradition of making comedy part of its entertainment mix, and Jerry Clower, Lonzo & Oscar, Mike Snider, Stringbean and Country Music Hall of Fame members Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield are just a few of the many comic talents who have been Opry cast members. In 2023, the Grand Ole Opry brought acclaimed comedians Cho and Mule Deer into the fold. The interview was offered in support of the museum’s Country’s Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100 exhibit.

Dierks Bentley’s ROW 94 Expands Nationwide With Broken Branches Release

Dierks Bentley‘s ROW 94 recently received a 94 rating from Wine Enthusiast magazine. The brand is expanding with the second release of its popular limited edition Broken Branches. Broken Branches, like all ROW 94 releases, is made in partnership with Lofted Custom Spirits at the Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky. Bottled at 100 proof and aged five years, the bourbon also underwent “Branch Aging,” where time-worn, fire-toasted Oak staves seasoned for up to 24 months rested in the barrels to deepen the whiskey’s complexity. In its second release, Broken Branches is expanding to Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas in the coming months.

Jamie MacDonald Makes National TV Debut On ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’

Jamie MacDonald made her national TV debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show this week, singing “Won’t Let Go” from her self-titled debut album, which was released earlier this year via Capitol CMG. McDonald is set to make her Grand Ole Opry debut on May 1.