Third Annual Nash To Naples Songwriter Fest Set For January

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The third annual Nash to Naples Songwriter Fest is set for Jan. 6 at Cambier Park in Naples, Florida.

This year’s lineup includes Wendell Mobley, Lee Thomas Miller, Cameron Bedell, Emily Falvey and Casey Brown.

The show will feature Nashville coming together in Naples to bring hope to the broken in Ecuador. The concert is free, but a suggested donation is recommended- $20 for General Admission, $50 for Premium Lawn and $750 for VIP. Donations will be collected throughout the event for the Hacienda of Hope, a foundation providing support and shelter for children in Ecuador. For more information, click here.

The Nash to Naples team recently took a trip to Ecuador to spend some time at the Hacienda of Hope. In previous visits, the team has brought a songwriter and artist to teach children creative skills. The Hacienda of Hope began in 2003 with the focus of providing for children who need a safe place to call home. Through the years, it has become a foundation that not only offers a home but also an education and spiritual formation for children who otherwise may have fallen through the cracks.

The Mavericks End Another Year At The Ryman & Announce New Album

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The Mavericks. Photo: David McClister

The Mavericks wrapped another 100-show year of touring this month by returning home to Nashville for their year-end tradition of a two-night grand finale at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The band then reconvened in Nashville’s Blackbird Studio to put the final touches on a new album, with initial singles expected in the first quarter of 2024, and a full album release set for late spring. The new project will mark The Mavericks first studio album since 2020’s chart-topping En Espanol project, and the band’s first full album of original English language compositions since 2017’s Brand New Day.

The Mavericks have already announced another extensive tour for the first half of the new year that includes a spring 14-show run in Europe.

Second ‘Opry At The Ryman’ Shows Added To January Dates

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The Grand Ole Opry has added second 9:30 p.m. shows to two in its run of three “Opry At The Ryman” shows next month due to audience demand.

A second show has been added for Jan. 12 featuring the Opry debut of Lucinda Williams in addition to Brothers Osborne, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Maggie Rose and more to be announced. Another show has also been added to the Opry’s second annual “Opry Goes Dolly” celebration on Jan. 19 featuring performances by Lauren Alaina, Terri Clark, Dailey & Vincent, Elle King, Ashley Monroe, Tigirlily Gold and more.

“Opry Goes Dolly” will celebrate Opry member Dolly Parton, and falls on her actual birthday, marking the second straight year the show has celebrated the icon’s birthday. While Parton will not appear in-person, the night will include artists performing their favorites of her hits, themed events, photo-ops and more. Five dollars from every ticket sold to the Jan. 19 show will be donated to the Opry Trust Fund in Parton’s honor. For more than 50 years, the fund has assisted members of the country music community in need.

The Opry’s Ryman run will allow time for placement of a new venetian curtain at the Grand Ole Opry House, the Opry’s permanent home. Tickets are on sale now for these and additional 2024 Opry shows at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com.

CeCe Winans Slates ‘The Goodness Tour’ For Spring 2024

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CeCe Winans is set to launch “The Goodness Tour” on Feb. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The new 20-date tour will visit New Orleans, Richmond, Detroit, Chicago, Austin, Miami and more through May 3. Winans will showcase tracks from her album Believe For It, including the chart-toppers “Goodness of God,” “Never Lost” and “Believe For It,” and will also debut brand new songs from her forthcoming album More Than This, featuring “Holy Forever,” “That’s My King” and more.

“Over the last year, my team and I have been thanking God for the blessings and opportunities that we’ve been given,” says Winans. “As we toured and listened to stories of healing and restoration, we started to think about what’s next? What more is there to say? During ‘The Goodness Tour,’ we’ll get to share new songs and worship where we don’t just believe for great things, but we acknowledge His goodness, while having no ability to perceive how much more God has in store for us. We are praying with expectation of what is coming, and we hope you’ll join us.”

Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.

Winans is also set to take the stage on the CBS Christmas special A Home for The Holidays, airing tomorrow (Dec. 22). Celebrating 25 years, the program is dedicated to shedding light on the imperative social issue of American children in foster care, inspiring thousands of adoptions.

“The Goodness Tour” Dates:
Feb. 28 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Feb. 29 – Mobile, AL – Cottage Hill Baptist Church
March 1 – New Orleans, LA – Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
March 6 – Fayetteville, NC – Crown Theater
March 7 – Greensboro, NC – Mt. Zion Church
March 8 – Hixson, TN (Chattanooga) – Abba’s House
March 13 – Greenville, SC – Redemption Church East
March 14 – Richmond, VA – Liberation Church
March 15 – Columbia, SC – First Baptist Church Columbia
March 20 – Liberty Township, OH (Cincinnati) – Princeton Pike Church of God
March 21 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theater
March 22 – Chicago, IL – House of Hope
April 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Peacock Theater
April 18 – Visalia, CA – Visalia First Assembly of God
April 19 – San Jose, CA – Redemption Church West
April 24 – Carrolton, TX (Dallas) – Bent Tree Bible Fellowship
April 25 – Austin, TX – Austin Ridge Bible Bee Cave
April 26 – Houston, TX – Fallbrook Church
May 2 – Miami, FL – James L. Knight Center
May 3 – Brandon, FL (Tampa) – Bell Shoals Church

Jelly Roll Among ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ Times Square Lineup

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The Times Square performance lineup has been unveiled for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024, airing live on ABC Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. CT.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest celebrates the year’s best in music with more than five hours of dynamic performances, fan-favorite personalities and a look at New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe. Seacrest will host the festivities alongside artist Rita Ora from New York’s Times Square.

The 2024 lineup includes Jelly Roll and Jessie Murph as well as Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyla.

Jelly Roll will perform a medley of his hits live from Times Square, and will be joined by Murph. The two recently released their single “Wild Ones,” and Jelly Roll recently wrapped his “Backroad Baptism Arena Tour.” He also celebrated three back-to-back No. 1s from his debut country album Whitsitt Chapel, including lastest smash “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson.

Additionally, this year will mark the first-ever live radio simulcast of the beloved annual event airing across 150 iHeartRadio stations nationwide including Z100 New York, KIIS-FM Los Angeles, KISS FM Chicago, Q102 Philly, 102.9 Dallas and more. The show will also be available on the iHeartRadio app.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2024 is produced by Dick Clark Productions with Seacrest, Michael Dempsey and Barry Adelman serving as executive producers.

Kenny Rogers’ ‘The Gambler’ Mixed In Dolby Atmos For 45th Anniversary

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Photo: Alexa King Stone

Kenny Rogers‘ The Gambler album has been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos from the original masters by engineer and producer David Leonard  to commemorate “The Gambler” hit and the 45th anniversary of the namesake record.

The new Dolby Atmos mix retains the feel of the classic album but offers a fresh perspective, putting listeners in the center of the music while revealing details with unique clarity and depth. The Gambler is available to stream in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal now.

“We are so excited that Kenny’s iconic album The Gambler is now available in Dolby Atmos and fans can experience these songs like never before,” says Wanda Rogers. “This was one of Kenny’s absolute favorite albums he ever made, and I know he would have been thrilled to be able to hear the music surround him just like it did when he recorded it in the studio with all the amazing musicians and the great Larry Butler producing.”

Forty-five years ago on Dec. 16, 1978, “The Gambler” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, giving Rogers’ his third No. 1 of the year. The song spent spend three consecutive weeks in the top spot and become a mainstream crossover hit, climbing to No. 16 on the pop chart.

Written by Don Schlitz, “The Gambler” would go on to win the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and spawn a television movie on CBS starring Rogers. The film eventually led to four additional films, making it the longest-running film series franchise on television. Meanwhile, The Gambler album, featuring the crossover smash “She Believes In Me” as well as “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” and “Tennessee Bottle,” became a chart-topper, won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards and was five-time Platinum-certified in the United States.

Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller To Release New Memoir In February

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Sawyer Brown‘s Mark Miller is commemorating 40 years in the business and pulling back the curtain on his longtime career with his new memoir The Boys And Me: My Life in the Country Music Supergroup Sawyer Brown, out Feb. 6 via Forefront Books.

In the new memoir, Miller takes readers on an intimate journey through the highs and lows of his time with the band, from the early days of honing their craft in small-town venues to winning the first-ever televised singing competition, Star Search, and becoming one of country’s most enduring acts.

The book features a foreword by Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and a backstage pass to the heart and soul of Sawyer Brown with never-before-told stories.

Accompanied by the band’s new documentary, Get Me To The Stage On Time, and a Blake Shelton-produced album, Desperado Troubadours, coming March 8, Miller’s memoir continues the celebration of Sawyer Brown’s 40th anniversary. The album’s first two singles “Under This Ole Hat” and “Get Me To The Stage On Time” are available now.

J.T. Harding Recognized As Angel In Adoption Honoree By Members Of Congress

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U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty with J.T. Harding

Hit songwriter J.T. Harding was recognized in Washington D.C. earlier this fall as an Angels In Adoption honoree by the 2023 Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption program.

J.T. Harding

Harding was nominated for the honor by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) for his work with adoption, including his “Write Like a Rockstar” contest, which offered fellow adoptees a chance to co-write their own song with him which he recorded.

“I was honored to nominate J.T. for the Angels in Adoption program,” said Senator Hagerty. “J.T. exemplifies the heart and soul of Tennesseans by caring for and advocating for our most vulnerable. I heartily congratulate J.T. on this outstanding achievement as he continues to make a positive difference in the Volunteer State through his hard work and dedication to bolstering foster care and adoption.”

“As a child, my parents encouraged my love for music. To think I met Senator Hagerty at one of my songwriter shows and then chosen as an Angel In Adoption is truly a full circle moment and I’m very honored,” says Harding about the honor.

The Detroit area native was adopted as a baby and in a twist years later found out his biological father was actor Jay Thomas. He detailed his unique life journey in his 2022 memoir/songwriting how-to book Party Like a Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter. Harding’s songs have been recorded by Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney and many others, and he’s achieved multiple No. 1 hits and over one billion streams on Spotify to date.

“Being adopted has given me an incredibly optimistic view of life. Whenever life throws me a curveball, a disappointment or a roadblock, I remind myself that I was adopted by the Hardings (the greatest parents ever), and that the universe has had my back since day one,” he says in the autobiography.

The Angels in Adoption Program allows Members of Congress and their staff to learn first-hand about adoption and foster care efforts taking place within their state and across the country. The Angel honorees have the opportunity to travel to D.C. to meet with congressional offices and other child welfare advocates to hone their advocacy skills, share their experience and expertise and leave feeling empowered to continue on their good work and inspire others to do so as well. The program also draws national and local media attention to raise public awareness about the positive difference adoption and fostering makes in the life of a child.

WME Elevates Multiple Music Team Members

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Pictured (L-R): Andrew Colvin, Travis Wolfe, Sloane Logue, Beth Hamilton, Mark Claassen and Austin Mullins

After booking over 45,000 shows worldwide this year, WME has elevated seven agents and 16 staff members in their Music Department, with 14 of the newly promoted individuals residing in the agency’s Nashville office.

Pictured (L-R, top row): Dan Kuklinski, Josh Green, Jeremy Upton and John Showfety; (L-R, bottom row): Laura Williams, Lindsey Hastings, Carlile Willett and Janelle Flint.

Agents Mark Claassen (Christian Music), Andrew Colvin (Contemporary), Beth Hamilton (Country), Sloane Logue (Country), Austin Mullins (Country) and Travis Wolfe (Country) have all been promoted to Partner.

Staff members Josh Green (American Roots), Lindsey Hastings (American Roots), Dan Kuklinski (American Roots), Jeremy Upton (American Roots), Janelle Flint (Country), John Showfety (Country), Carlile Willett (Country) and Laura Williams (Country) have all been upped to Agent.

WME provides full-service representation in the Nashville market, and through its acquisitions of Red 11 Music and True Grit Talent Agency, has expanded their presence in the American Roots music genre as well as in Austin, Texas.

Industry Ink: ‘Hope For The Holidays,’ Randy Rogers Band, Rachel Holt, More

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Louis York & Friends Provide ‘Hope For The Holidays’ At Nashville Benefit

Stars unite for “Hope For The Holidays: An Evening With Louis York & Friends.” Photo: John Partipilo

A star-studded lineup came together on Saturday night (Dec. 16) for the “Hope For The Holidays: An Evening With Louis York & Friends” benefit concert at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

The event featured performances from headlining act Louis York, R&B duo made up of Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, as well as Ari Afsar, Jay Allen, Charles Esten, Megan Linsey, Kylie Morgan, Cade Thompson, The Shindellas and Twinnie. Special appearances were also made by poet Steve Connell, music and media personality Kathie Lee Gifford and U.S. Olympian and philanthropist Scott Hamilton. The event benefited four local charities: Nashville Peacemakers, Alzheimer’s Association, The Onsite Foundation and Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation.

Randy Rogers Band Donates To Texas Youth Nonprofit

Pictured (L-R): RRB Golf Jam’s Drew Farr, Connections’ Pia Lomax, Megan Dupree, Chelsea Rogers, Randy Rogers, Connections’ Jacob Huereca, Matt Bonine, Amanda Anding and Caryn Benson. Photo: Reba Hall

Randy Rogers Band gave back to their home state recently, gifting $150K to Connections Individual and Family Services, a nonprofit organization in New Braunfels.

The organization is dedicated to empowering youth, connecting families and building futures one youth and family at a time. The proceeds were raised at the 14th annual RRB Golf Jam in late October at River Crossing Golf Club in Spring Branch, Texas, through a charity concert and a silent/live auction. Randy Rogers Band founded the annual RRB Golf Jam event in 2009, and donates the proceeds to a different charity in need every year. The group has given over $300K back to the community in the last two years.

Rachel Holt Inks With Baste Records

Rachel Holt signs with Baste Records

Baste Records has signed Rachel Holt.

The 18-year-old from Milan, Indiana will be working on her new project in 2024 alongside songwriter Chris Wallin. Wallin’s credits include “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney, “Something To Be Proud Of” by Montgomery Gentry, “Love Me If You Can” by Toby Keith, “I’m Tryin'” by Trace Adkins and “People Loving People” by Garth Brooks.

Billie Jo Jones Signs With Get Joe Entertainment

Billie Jo Jones

Country singer Billie Jo Jones has signed an exclusive recording and publishing contract with Get Joe Entertainment, LLC in Dallas.

Jones is working on a full-length album set for release in this spring. Her new EP, Right Now Kinda Girl, was released on Dec. 1 via Bob Frank Distribution (BFD) and The Orchard and is available on all DSPs. The title track is at radio now.

Red Camel Collective Signs With Pinecastle Records

Red Camel Collective. Photo: Angie Reed/Enchanted Land Photography

Pinecastle Records has signed bluegrass band Red Camel Collective to its roster.

Consisting of Heather Berry Mabe, Tony Mabe, Curt Love and Johnathan Dillon, the group will release their debut single, “Roll On Mississippi” in early 2024. Red Camel Collective is made up of skilled musicians and current members of the Junior Sisk Band. They are set to release new music while maintaining live shows with Junior Sisk. Their band name is a tribute to the popular Sisk hit “The Man in Red Camels,” a track that evokes feelings of simpler times.