Tracy Lawrence Raises $175,000 At 16th Annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry & Benefit Concert

Tracy Lawrence recently held his 16th Annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert, raising a record $175,000 for Nashville Rescue Mission. Cumulatively, with last year’s turkey fry and this year’s annual golf tournament, $325,000 has been raised in a single calendar year.

Altogether, 500 turkeys were fried, providing approximately 5,000 meals to those in need. During the Turkey Fry, Lawrence was presented with the honorary title of Tennessee Colonel in recognition of his years of philanthropic service to Nashville and greater Tennessee.

“It is a rare privilege to stand alongside someone with such an earnest heart for service, and so I consider it an honor to present Tracy with the prestigious title of Tennessee Colonel,” said Senator Blackburn. “Last year alone, his work with the Nashville Rescue Mission fed thousands of people and raised more than $100,000 in donations for the homeless and hungry. This is what love looks like and I thank Tracy from the bottom of my heart for giving that love so freely to the people of Nashville.”

Lawrence and a few friends also took the stage at SkyDeck at Assembly Hall for the benefit concert later with David Tolliver opening the show. Lawrence was joined on-stage by country music artists Dustin Lynch, Michael Ray and Lainey Wilson who took turns playing acoustic versions of some of their hit songs.

 

Midland Returns To Ryman Auditorium, Receives RIAA 3x Platinum Certification

Country trio Midland returned to Nashville last week (Dec. 1-2) with back-to-back sold-out shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium on their “The Last Resort Tour.”

Before the second night, they celebrated the RIAA certification of their chart-topping debut “Drinkin’ Problem” going three-times Platinum. Midland co-wrote the song alongside Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, which previously earned a Grammy nomination.

Sharing crowd favorites such as “Mr. Lonely,” “Cheatin’ Songs,” “Burn Out”, and their newest single “Sunrise Tells The Story,” Midland brought in special guest John Osborne of Brothers Osborne on Wednesday night for a surprise performance of the unreleased “Paycheck to Paycheck” from their forthcoming album.

 

Jon Pardi’s ‘Write You A Song’ Earns Gold Certification

Jon Pardi‘s debut album, Write You A Song, has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

Featuring early hits such as “Missin’ You Crazy,” “Up All Night,” “What I Can’t Put Down,” and “When I’ve Been Drinkin’,” the 2014 project was co-produced by Bart Butler and engineered by Ryan Gore. The album, which put Pardi on the country music map, was followed by his 2016 breakout project California Sunrise, which spawned three No. 1s at country radio.

As a singer, songwriter, and producer of his 2020 Heartache Medication, Pardi debuted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and was named on Rolling Stone’s “Best Albums of the Year.”

 

Indie Pop Duo Sawyer Sign Publishing Deal With Sheltered Music, Cameron Jaymes

Nashville-based pop duo Sawyer, comprised of Emma Harvery and Kel Taylor, have signed a publishing deal with Sheltered Music Publishing and producer Cameron Jaymes. The partnership with Jaymes is focused on the development of artists with an emphasis on production and songwriting. Jaymes is known for producing acts like Rachel Platten, Daya, Spencer Southerland, and Nightly.

Sawyer’s catalog has garnered over 10.4 million streams. The duo, currently on tour, has grown their fanbase with recent singles like “Taste” and “The Way My Friends Feel About You.” While on the road, they’ve supported contemporary acts like The Aces, Nightly and Joan.

“Emma and Kel are two of the most unique creatives and they’re wonderful humans,” shares Jaymes. “They’re incredibly gifted songwriters and on a completely different wavelength as performers. I believe great artists first and foremost have an undeniable, unshakable sense of self, and Sawyer has that in spades.”

Sheltered Music’s SVP, Darrell Franklin comments: “There are very few times in my career that I have been taken back by someone’s performance in the way that these girls are capable of delivering. I’m excited to see the world react to what we all agree is so unique and compelling. They are first class songwriters and extraordinary performers.”

“This feels like a dream!” says Harvey. “I’ve never felt more empowered and believed in than by this team. Here’s to perpetually writing my new favorite songs we’ve ever written!”

Taylor adds: “Lots of love, respect and lightning bolt inspiration we feel with our team of Cameron, Darrell, Lance [Freed] and Jenny at Sheltered Music Publishing. I remember leaving our first write with Cam and thinking ‘If we’re not careful, we might win a Grammy with him.’ That kind of belief in self continues to grow as we work with him. It’s a dream come true.”

Multi-Platinum selling artist Lauren Alaina has announced her 2022 headlining “Top of the World Tour Presented by Maurices” will launch on Feb. 24 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Special guest Spencer Crandall will join Alaina. Tickets go on sale this Friday (Dec. 10).

The tour is named after her No. 1 album, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, which includes her current hit single “Getting Over Him” featuring Jon Pardi, as well as the RIAA Gold-certified “Getting Good” featuring her friend and mentor Trisha Yearwood.

“After two long years, I am so excited to get back on the road for my second headlining tour,” says Alaina. “My fans have continued to support me even when we weren’t able to be in the same room together. I’m on Top Of The World thinking about being back on stage, face to face, with the people who got me here.”

“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of Lauren Alaina’s tour, with Lauren styled in her favorite Maurices outfits,” adds David Kornberg, Maurices CEO. “Our customers love country music. Lauren’s tour locations and her mission align strongly with our core purpose of making a positive difference in the lives of women who are the heart of our hometowns.”

Alaina is also gearing up for the release of her new inspirational book, Getting Good At Being You, due out tomorrow (Dec. 7).

“Top Of The World Tour Presented by Maurices” Dates:
Feb 24 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Feb 25 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Feb 26 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Mar 2 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club – Music Hall
Mar 3 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony
Mar 4 – Bethlehem, PA – Steelstacks – Musikfest Café
Mar 10 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Mar 11 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
Mar 12 – Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live
Mar 17 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
Mar 18 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theater
Mar 19 – Council Bluffs, IA – Horseshoe Council Bluffs | Whiskey Roadhouse
Mar 24 – Hobart, IN – Art Theater
Mar 25 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
Mar 26 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon
April 7 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
April 8 – Cedar Park, TX – The Haute Spot
April 9 – Little Rock, AR – The Hall
April 13 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
April 14 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
April 15 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

Kenny Chesney‘s contemplative “Knowing You” has become his 34th single to make it to the top of the charts.

Penned by Adam James, Brett James and Kat Higgins, the yearning song was Higgins’ first cut and the very first American No. 1 for the CCMA nominated songwriter/artist, whose songs have also been recorded by Carrie Underwood and The Lone Bellow.

“Losing people you care about is always hard,” Chesney says. “There’s a hole where all that adventure used to be. But if you pause for a moment, remember all the crazy times; the discoveries, moments you shared while sad and laughing… If you take all that in, if you know the person who’s gone brought all that to you; how can you be anything but glad? When you’re sad, it’s so easy to forget… But I worry we lose all the love and beauty in sadness over what’s gone. My hope, throughout the life of this single, has been for people to take this idea and embrace it, embrace that person they loved who’s gone and celebrate every small thing that was part of their relationship.”

Chesney is gearing up for his “Here And Now 2022” tour, which is set to kick off April 23 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. The trek marks his return to the road after three years.

Red 11 Music has announced the signing of two new artists: rising Americana artist Caroline Spence and Austin-based singer-songwriter David Ramirez. They will be represented by Nashville agents Geoff Turner and Jon Folk, respectively.

Spence has won numerous songwriting awards from industry mainstays like the Kerrville Folk Festival. Her 2015 full-length debut Somehow featured guest appearances from Anderson East, Erin Rae and Andrew Combs. She followed that up with 2017’s Spades and Roses. Spence’s 2019 Rounder Records debut, Mint Condition, earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s Best Country and Americana Albums and featured Emmylou Harris as a guest vocalist on the title track.

Ramirez has released six full-length records, most recently 2020’s My Love is a Hurricane on Thirty Tigers. Ramirez has collaborated and toured with a variety of artists, including Noah Gundersen, Nathaniel Rateliff, Dylan LeBlanc, Lera Lynn and Matt Costa.

Red 11 Music has offices in Nashville and Austin and, in just over a decade, the boutique agency’s roster has grown to include Turnpike Troubadours, Shooter Jennings, Old 97’s, Jack Ingram and American Aquarium, among others.