Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Russ Harrington

Country icon Trisha Yearwood is set to receive the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.

The new award, inspired by Carter Cash, will recognize an artist, duo/group or industry veteran who demonstrates dedication to their community and fellow artists, embodying her spirit as a fierce advocate and initiator in paying it forward, helping others find their voice and using their platform to inspire and uplift others.

“We are thrilled to honor the incomparable Trisha Yearwood with the inaugural June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award at this year’s show. Trisha has a unique ability to rally a community, whether that may be families in need with Habitat for Humanity, or uplifting her fellow artists and entertainers trying to carve a path in the industry,” share the CMT Music Awards Executive Producers.

“She embodies the bold strength of June, who tirelessly devoted herself to service and community, and the namesake for this award,” they add. “Both multi-hyphenate trailblazers eloquently crafted a script for others to model, letting their hearts and authenticity guide their personal, professional and public lives.”

Yearwood’s philanthropic endeavors include two decades with Habitat For Humanity, establishing Dottie’s Yard and working with Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, American Cancer Society, Humane Society, Grammy Foundation MusiCares, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Susan B. Komen Foundation and more. Yearwood was recognized as a Habitat Humanitarian in 2016.

She also is a well known mentor and advocate for other female artists, and leads the Five Decades, One Voice initiative. Yearwood also works closely with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a guardian and trusted legacy keeper by protecting country music’s heritage.

Yearwood will be honored with the award during the live broadcast of the CMT Music Awards on April 7. She will also perform “Put It In A Song” off her upcoming album.

Jason Aldean Opens New Kitchen + Bar Location In Pittsburgh

Pictured (L-R): Lee Adams, VP of Promotion, Broken Bow Records; Jason Aldean; Chris Parr, Maverick

Jason Aldean opened the third location of his Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 21. To celebrate the opening, the country star stopped by the opening to give patrons a surprise performance.

Pittsburgh’s Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar joins additional locations in Gatlinburg and Nashville, Tennessee.

The Core Entertainment Presents Bailey Zimmerman With Celebratory Plaques

Bailey Zimmerman receiving his plaques. Photo: Isaac Mason

Prior to two sold out nights at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, rising star Bailey Zimmerman was presented with six new plaques by his management team, The Core Entertainment. His current single “Where It Ends” received Platinum-certification. “Fall In Love” is now four-times Platinum and “Rock and a Hard Place” is now five-times Platinum.

Chris Canterbury Inks With Park Ave West

Chris Canterbury and KT Mack (Founder, Park Ave West Songs). Photo: Brooke Stevens.

Chris Canterbury has signed a new publishing deal with Park Ave West Songs.

“This town is flooded with insanely talented songwriter/artists, but few silence a listening room the way he does,” shares KT Mack, Founder of Park Ave West Songs. “I am extremely honored to get to work with an authentic storyteller like Chris.”

“In November 2013 I came to Nashville with a pocket full of songs and just enough confidence to share them with the world,” says Canterbury. “In these last 10 years, this town has tested my determination and at times my will to stick around, but it also opened doors, roads, and built friendships that will stand any storm. This year I signed the publishing deal I was looking for 10 years ago. I’m glad to be a part of the team at Park Ave West Songs. It’s refreshing to know there’s still folks that’ll take a chance on simple honest storytelling.”

Canterbury will also be featured in Park Ave West Song’s new documentary, Ten Year Town. The film will focus on a special bond and friendship between a group of emerging Nashville singer-songwriters.

FAM members with Brett Young and his family at the celebration of his Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know”

Industry members and mothers Margaret Hart, Jackie Jones and Haley Montgomery have united to launch Family Alliance in Music (FAM), a community initiative that aims to provide community, education and support for parents, caretakers and those wanting to have a family while working in the music industry.

With over 50 years of combined experience in the entertainment world, the co-founders believe they’ve developed an understanding of the challenges and untapped opportunities that can exist when family and career struggle to flourish alongside each other. They’ve been encouraged not only by the personal outreach each has received, but also by the more than 30 kids that attended the celebration of Brett Young‘s Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know” at Nashville’s Adventure Science Center, which included the artist’s two daughters.

“I believe that visibility of caretaking is one of the key places that we can create change in our industry. We often take our mom hats off to come to work, and put them back on at the end of the day. The fact is that parenting and caretaking isn’t something you can step away from, and we have to recognize that first so that we can create an industry where parenting and career achievement can coexist,” says Hart, YouTube’s Head of Nashville Industry & Label Relations.

Jones, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)’s Senior Vice President, Artist & Industry Relations, notes, “It is vital to create environments where there are adequate benefits and support systems in place to ensure caregivers can thrive at work and at home. Keeping an open conversation about what is needed for those caring for loved ones in this business is key to the success and growth of many professionals. Our goal is to continue to encourage diversity in our workforce by making it more possible to be a part of it.”

“Comprehensive and clear family benefits are a vital recruitment and retention tool for employers. There are two key times that an employer might lose an employee at a valuable career stage-either when they decide to have or adopt a child, or when they face needing to care for a family member,” says Montgomery, ACM’s Senior Manager of Awards & Membership. “I personally faced a time when I thought that this industry would not be somewhere I could thrive and fulfill my dreams of a family, and our goal to make sure that no one feels that type of pressure. You can grow your career and care for a family, but employers initiating proper policies and flexible work practices are essential to that success.”

Over the course of 2023, FAM engaged in conversations and provided tools that resulted in improved benefits and company policies within multiple music organizations. FAM also formed a task force late last year to double down on impact in their core areas of focus. Other industry members involved include Wasserman Music’s Shannon Casey, WHY&HOW Management’s Halie Hampton-Mosley, CmdShft’s Morgan Mills, mtheory’s Tiffany Provenzano, Paramount’s Rachael Terrell, Prescription Songs’ Rachel Wein, maddjett’s Dan Wise and Triple Tigers’ Mackenzie Cooper.

The initiative is currently fiscally sponsored by Creative Visions, with the goal of a full 501c3 set up by 2025 that would allow for annual grants to music professionals. For more information, click here.

Pictured (L-R): Libby Tisler, Scott Frazier, Kanaan Brock and Chris Nilsson

Global artist management company 10th Street Entertainment has signed singer-songwriter Kanaan Brock.

After playing football at Western Carolina University, the Rutherfordton, North Carolina native made the move to Nashville to pursue music. Brock initially blew up on TikTok covering classic country and rock songs, which led him to make connections with other artists such as 10th Street client Lecade. When the two met in person at a Bailey Zimmerman concert, Lecade introduced Brock to 10th Street Sr. VP & GM Scott Frazier.

“At the show where we were introduced, Kanaan pulled me aside and shared some songs via his cell phone. The show was a little loud but I could hear his voice shine through. Enough so, that I asked Kanaan to call me so we could have a meeting. Once I had the chance to meet with him, hear his vision, his story and more songs, I was blown away and knew that we had to work together,” says Frazier. “We feel Kanaan is going to be the next rising star managed by our Nashville office.”

“From the minute I first heard Kannan’s voice, I knew he was a special talent,” adds Lecade. “He has something about him that just makes you wanna listen , and that’s what I always like to look for in an artist. We all know he’s gonna do great things really soon.”

“It’s an honor to say I have signed with 10th Street Entertainment. I think they are the best in the game,” shares Brock. “I would have never thought in a million years I would be where I am today and I thank God for allowing me to do what I do. I’m so pumped for the next chapter and see where we can take this!!!”

He released his debut single, “Sinner and Saint,” earlier this month.