Fancy Hagood & Friends Serve Up ‘Smothered, Covered & Fried’ EP

Singer-songwriter Fancy Hagood released his newest EP Smothered, Covered & Fried today (June 5).

The project finds Hagood and some friends singing some of his favorite songs. She Returns From War and Jamie Wyatt join Hagood on “Hell On Hells,” TJ Osborne lends his voice to “From This Moment On,” The Kentucky Gentlemen join in on “Better Man” and Brooke Eden sings on “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

Smothered, Covered & Fried is one of my favorite projects I’ve ever worked on,” says Hagood. “Getting to collaborate with other queer country artists to put our own spin on songs that everyone is familiar with feels really powerful. This EP is a collective of artists proudly saying that country music is for everyone!”

In addition to the collaborations, the EP includes Hagood’s version of the Stevie Nicks classic, “Landslide.”

I have loved this song as long as I can remember,” says Hagood. “I covered it on Instagram years ago and it brought love into my life for the very first time. That chapter of my life has come to an end, and I wanted to honor the beauty of being loved and loving someone else by putting my own spin on Stevie’s timeless song.

“The lyric ‘I’ve been afraid of changing, cause I built my life around you’ means so much more to me. The opportunity to sail through the changing tides as seasons end and new ones begin feels more and more like a gift. It was a gift to feel loved for the first time.”

Orville Peck Slates Sixth Annual Rodeo For August

Orville Peck has announced his Sixth Annual Rodeo, complete with performances from Peck, Tanya Tucker, Medium Build, Mickey Guyton, Reyna Roberts, The Nude Party and more.

The event will kick off with a party at The Basement East on Aug. 23, followed by performances at Ascend Amphitheater on Aug. 24, and a closing party at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on Aug. 25.

Hosted by John Waters and produced by Live Nation, the three-day event will see tickets go on presale Monday, June 10, with general sales beginning Wednesday, June 12. For more information, click here.

Additionally, Peck and Kylie Minogue debuted their new single “Midnight Ride” during the Out Loud Festival at WeHo Pride. The track is set for release this Friday (June 7), and serves as a teaser for Peck’s upcoming Stampede album. The artist is also currently traveling across North America on his “Stampede Tour.”

Nashville Live! Announces Programming For First Country Fan Fare Event

Nashville Live! has announced the programming lineup for its first Country Fan Fare at its 2nd Ave. N. location.

Sponsored by Dan Post Boot Company and CreatiVets, the multi-story venue complex will open at 9 a.m. June 6–9 with daily programming on three floors. A surprise pop-up with Shaboozey has also been announced.

“As a Tennessee-based company, we couldn’t think of a more exciting move than to partner with Nashville Live! during CMA Fest weekend,” says Amelia Pinson, Director of Marketing, Dan Post Boot Company. “We are thrilled to see the restoration of 2nd Ave. and excited to be a part of it in the future.”

On the first floor, DraftKings Sports & Social will feature new breakfast items, along with writers rounds programmed by CreatiVets from 2 p.m.–4 p.m.

On the second, PBR Cowboy Bar will host brand pop-ups from Dan Post, HillBetty, Kenz Kustomz and American Bonfire Sunglasses in addition to the HillBetty Hoedown, powered by Dan Post, and taught by western line-dancing influencer Emm Downs. PBR Cowboy Bar will also host multiple artist shows in partnership with CreatiVets during the day, and post-stadium afterparties June 6–8 at night.

For the third floor, the open-air venue will sell Premium Viewing Tickets for June 8–9 from 9 a.m.– 6 p.m., with All-Inclusive Drink Package Upgrades available.

For more information, click here.

Sturgill Simpson Returns With Fall Tour, New Johnny Blue Skies Project

Sturgill Simpson. Photo: Semi Song

Sturgill Simpson is back in action this year with an extensive fall tour, the “Why Not? Tour,” as well as a new album under a new name, Johnny Blue Skies.

After promising to release only five studio albums under his own name, Simpson will mark the beginning of a new era with Johnny Blue Skies and the release of Passage Du Desir on July 12 via his own independent label, High Top Mountain Records.

The album includes eight songs produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson, and was recorded at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville and Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

The “Why Not? Tour,” Simpson’s first full tour in over four years, features 28 dates including stops at L.A.’s The Greek Theatre, Washington State’s The Gorge Amphitheatre, Lexington’s Rupp Arena, Chicago’s Salt Shed (two nights), Queens’ Forest Hills Stadium and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Fans are being asked to register before tickets go on sale to help ensure tickets go directly to fans. Registration for the pre-sale is open now until Monday, June 10 and fans can sign up at sturgillsimpsonlive.com to receive exclusive early access to the artist pre-sale starting next Wednesday, June 12 at 10 a.m. local. A limited number of tickets will be available for the general on-sale on Friday, June 14.

Passage Du Desir Track List: 
1. Swamp of Sadness
2. If The Sun Never Rises Again
3. Scooter Blues
4. Jupiter’s Faerie
5. Who I Am
6. Right Kind of Dream
7. Mint Tea
8. One for the Road

Sturgill Simpson Tour Dates (not including festival appearances):
September 14 — Los Angeles, CA — The Greek Theatre*
September 15 — Santa Barbara, CA — Santa Barbara Bowl*
September 17 — West Valley City, UT — Maverik Center*
September 19 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater*
September 20 — George, WA — The Gorge Amphitheatre†
September 22 — Missoula, MT — KettleHouse Amphitheater*
September 24 — Moorhead, MN — Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater*
September 25 — Minneapolis, MN — Roy Wilkins Auditorium*
September 27 — Lexington, KY — Rupp Arena*
September 28 — Detroit, MI — Fox Theatre*
October 1 — Chicago, IL — Salt Shed*
October 2 — Chicago, IL — Salt Shed*
October 4 — Brandon, MS — The Brandon Amphitheater*
October 8 — Oklahoma City, OK — Criterion*
October 9 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP*
October 15 — St. Louis, MO — Fabulous Fox Theatre*
October 18 — Pittsburgh, PA — Petersen Events Center*
October 19 — Forest Hills, NY — Forest Hills Stadium
October 21 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena*
October 22 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre*
October 24 — Duluth, GA — Gas South Arena*
October 25 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena*
November 12 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met*
November 15 — Hampton, VA — Hampton Coliseum*
November 18 — Washington, DC — The Anthem*
November 20 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall*
November 21 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall*
November 23 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway*

*“An Evening with Sturgill Simpson”
†with very special guest Lord Huron

Gary LeVox To Release Five-Song EP This Friday

Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Records

Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox will release a new five-song EP, LeVox Live (Recorded Live On The Song), this Friday (June 7) via Big Machine Records.

Originally recorded live on Hard Rock’s The Song TV, the solo collection features hits “God Blessed The Broken Road” and “Life Is A Highway” as well as a duet of “What Hurts The Most” with co-writer Jeffrey Steele and two new tunes co-written by LeVox, “Make It Rhyme” and “She Stayed Anyway.”

“It was such a blast to do this project,” he shares. “There are a couple new songs that I co-wrote with some good friends and some different takes on some favorites. I hope everybody enjoys it as much as we did making it.”

LeVox Live (Recorded Live On The Song) Track Listing:
1. “Make It Rhyme”
2. “God Blessed The Broken Road”
3. “She Stayed Anyway”
4. “What Hurts The Most”
5. “Life Is A Highway”

CRS360 To Explore AI’s Place In Country Radio

Country Radio Seminar has announced the June edition of its CRS360 webinar series, titled “Tame the Tech, Unleash the Potential: How AI Can Be Your Ally in Country Radio.” The webinar, scheduled for June 12 at 1 p.m. CST, will explore the potential for artificial intelligence in country radio.

The webinar will look into how AI can fill operational gaps, assist in creativity, streamline workflows, personalize experiences and enhance audience engagement. Furthermore, the series will highlight important findings in CRS’s AI in Media Study and offer insights into leveraging AI to benefit the industry.

“AI continues to be a major topic for our industry, and CRS covered it comprehensively this year, with four different sessions during our three days together. This technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace in real-time, so CRS360 for June will partner with Futuri to continue the conversation and education,” says RJ Curtis, Executive Director of CRS.

The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required.

Dolly Parton, Cody Johnson & Lainey Wilson To Be Featured In TalkShopLive Livestreams

Social-selling network TalkShopLive is partnering with the Country Music Association to produce a series of shoppable livestreams during CMA Fest this week. The series will showcase interviews with Dolly Parton, Cody Johnson and Lainey Wilson as they take the CMA Close Up Stage at Fan Fair X in Music City Center.

The livestreams will broadcast across multiple destinations, including TalkShopLive and CMAFest.com as well as CMA’s and respective artists’ Facebook pages, and offer official CMA Fest merchandise, music and products from the talent as well as the opportunity to donate to the CMA Foundation.

“CMA Fest is the ultimate event for country music fans from around the world each year, and we are thrilled to partner with CMA to bring these superstar interviews to the masses through a series of shoppable livestreams,” says Bryan Moore, TalkShopLive Co-Founder & CEO. “So many country music artists already rely on TalkShopLive as their video commerce solution to sell their music, merchandise and more. This partnership is a reflection of our longstanding relationships and our commitment to being the best partner to the music industry.”

TalkShopLive’s CMA Close Up Stage Schedule:

Thursday, June 6
10:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m. CT
A special conversation with Dolly Parton

Friday, June 7
10:45 a.m–11:30 a.m. CT
CMA Fest Artist of the Day, Cody Johnson

Sunday, June 9
10:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m. CT
CMA Fest Artist of the Day, Lainey Wilson

Gulf Coast Jam Wraps Sold-Out 2024 Festival

Morgan Wallen headlining Gulf Coast Jam 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Gulf Coast Jam

Gulf Coast Jam, presented by Jim Beam, wrapped its sold-out 2024 festival this past weekend. Approximately 120,000 country music fans from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries gathered in Panama City Beach, Florida from Thursday (May 30)–Sunday (June 2) for the annual event.

Parker McCollum headlining Gulf Coast Jam 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Gulf Coast Jam

Headliner Parker McCollum got the party started on Thursday night, along with Flatland Cavalry, Corey Kent, Sadie Bass and 2023 Jim Beam Welcome Sessions winner Midnight South. On Friday, Russell Dickerson, Chase Matthew, Kidd G, Heartland and Shelby Darrall hit the stage.

Before Jelly Roll stepped up for his headlining set that night, Gulf Coast Jam hosted Major General Michael A. Valle, Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (CONR) and First Air Force (Air Forces Northern & Air Forces Space) from Tyndall Air Force Base, as he administered the oath of enlistment to 15 new Airmen and Guardians. Following the oath-taking, Valle introduced Technical Sergeant Melissa Lackore from the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base to sing the national anthem as the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base executed a flyover featuring F-16 and F-15 fighter jets.

After torrential downpours drenched the festival grounds on Saturday morning, headliner Cody Johnson brought the energy with his evening performance. Priscilla Block, Austin Snell and Billy Currington also took the stage. Before Currington’s show, Gulf Coast Jam Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady and COO Mark Shelton were joined by Jim Beam’s Eighth Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe for a celebratory toast. Unfortunately, Peyton Porter and Chandler Flint’s sets were cancelled due to the weather.

“This amazing team braves crazy Florida storms (just one, thankfully) and heat to put on this incredible event,” says Sheldon. “We are thankful to Jim Beam and all of our sponsors, VisitPamanaCityBeach.com and especially the city of Panama City Beach and our wonderful residents for supporting us year after year.”

Jelly Roll headlining Gulf Coast Jam 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Gulf Coast Jam

Nate Smith, Shane Smith & The Saints, John Morgan, Deana Carter and 2024 Jim Beam Welcome Sessions winner Gage Cowart helped to close out the event on Sunday. That night, the space was packed for Morgan Wallen‘s performance. After having to reschedule last year, he did not disappoint with his 90-minute show.

Each evening, 300 choreographed drones lit up the sky with messages celebrating country music and patriotism, including one that spelled out the first headliner for Gulf Coast Jam 2025.

“We are so thankful to the artists, their teams, our crews who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and especially our jammers for giving us a sold-out festival,” says Lovelady. “We had an incredible four days and nights of music, and we can’t wait to do it again next year!”

Four-day tickets for the 2025 festival are on sale now, with headliners and full lineup to be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, click here.

Cody Johnson headlining Gulf Coast Jam 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Gulf Coast Jam

Michael Ray Celebrates Summer With New Single, Headline Tour

Michael Ray will launch his new headlining “Drink With Our Friends Tour” this summer, named after his new single celebrating the spirit of community and the joy of a well-deserved break after a hard day’s work.

The coast-to-coast tour kicks off June 14 in Oklahoma and includes shows in Denver, Albuquerque, Grand Junction and more, with a Nashville show on July 23.

Ray and producer Michael Knox brewed up “Drink With Friends,” the high-energy anthem that encapsulates the spirit of small-town America and is a testament to those who work hard but always find a way to save a little something for the weekend.

“‘Drink with Our Friends’ is for all y’all hard-working people who put in the overtime all week so you can cut loose with your friends on the weekend,” says Ray. “I can’t wait to take it on the road and feel the energy of the crowds singing it back to us.”

Garnering over 1.5 billion global streams, more than 650,000 album equivalents and upwards of 150 million YouTube views, Ray has also performed at the Grand Ole Opry 73 times and achieved four No. 1 hits.

Carter Faith Signs With Universal Music Group Nashville

Pictured (L-R, front row): UMG Nashville’s Rob Femia and Cindy Mabe, Carter Faith and Range Music’s Cameron Lutz; (L-R, middle row): UMG Nashville’s Hannah Wilson, Range Music’s Jack Minihan and UMG Nashville’s Chelsea Blythe; (L-R, back row): UMG Nashville’s Lori Christian, Range Music’s Ash Wolk, Pound It Out Loud’s Margaret Valentine, Range Music’s Shawn McSpadden and UMG Nashville’s Mike Harris. Photo: Lily Nelson

Rising star Carter Faith has signed with Universal Music Group Nashville, marking her first major label record deal.

Faith has independently amassed over 110 million global streams, recently turning heads with releases “Late Bloomer,” “Strong Stuff” and “’Til I Can Make It On My Own,” a duet with UMG artist Sam Williams. The North Carolina native is currently working on new music that is expected to release later this year.

“Carter is not only a masterful storyteller, but her vocals are distinctive, delicate, feminine, and powerful. There’s such a clear fingerprint and country tone in her voice,” says UMGN Chair & CEO, Cindy Mabe. “Carter’s music can transport you through past decades of country music while it paints a picture of a strong woman who knows who she is. I’m so excited that Carter is joining the UMGN roster and the next era of country music.”

“It is a dream come true to sign my first record deal with UMG Nashville,” shares Faith. “Country music is a part of who I am, and I am grateful that my team at Universal is passionate about my writing and artistry. Cindy Mabe and everyone at UMG has made me feel seen and respected and I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter.”

Faith will play at CMA Fest at the UMG Nashville Takeover at Skydeck in Nashville. She will also serve as support for Jon Pardi in Des Moines, as well as appear at Kickoff Jam in Panama City Beach and GoldenSky Festival in Sacramento.