The McCrary Sisters have announced the full lineup for “A McCrary Kind of Christmas,” their 14th annual holiday celebration and benefit concert.

The event will be held on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at Riverside Revival in Nashville and will feature performances by The McCrary Sisters, Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Buddy Miller, Kyla Jade, Etta and Bob Britt, Tammy and Steve Crawford, Travis Logan Unity Choir, BIZZ, Danny and Mabel Flowers, Gayle Mays, Dwight Ross, Wil, Will Barrow, Dave Pomeroy and more.

For over 14 years, The McCrary Sisters have given back to their community by hosting and organizing the annual Christmas concert that benefits the important work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and local families in need who have experienced tragedy, loss and need a helping hand.

Tickets are on sale now here and donations can be made here. The event will also be live streamed by Veeps, a streaming service that allows access to concerts around the world with artists at iconic venues.

“The program, the benefit, is a God-sent show that we’ve been doing for 14 years,” says Regina McCrary. “Around the holidays, people get depressed and lonely. Sometimes they feel like they are by themselves. This is The McCrary Sisters’ way of reassuring people that they’re never alone. We are about helping people and making sure that people know we care and this is our ministry. This is what God has called us to do.”

Ann McCrary continues, “St. Jude, to me, is one of the most spectacular hospitals in the world. Because if you have children, and they become ill, it is bad enough to be concerned about them and praying that they’re gonna be alright. But at St. Jude, you don’t have to worry about the bills. That’s what touches my heart, because the bills will kill you. Without worrying about the condition of your child, those bills will take you down. And not having to worry about a place to stay, or anything like that, that is just wonderful to me.”

“We never know a situation until it knocks at your home, knocks at your own door,” adds Freda McCrary. “It’s an honor to be able to help who we can at this time or any time during the year. We do almost four benefits each year, but this is the greatest of them all.”

Photo: Claire Schaper

Established hitmaker Nicolle Galyon has pulled music lovers in with her captivatingly clever and honest songwriting style for a while now. Galyon has an incredible way of uniquely specifying perspectives and situations centered around common musical concepts. With that talent, she’s helped others tell their stories, and her told part of her own with her debut EP Firstborn. Leading with truth and vulnerability, Galyon has now flipped to the next chapter in her artist-songwriter story with her sophomore project Second Wife.

The title itself entices you to take a seat and listen to the six-song EP primarily created by Galyon and her husband, fellow award-winning songsmith Rodney Clawson. The couple wrote all but one of tracks, “Under The Rainbow.,” included as an homage to Galyon’s hometown of Sterling, Kansas, where she and her family recently moved to.

Released on their 16th wedding anniversary (Oct. 13), Galyon and Clawson crafted the collection over a long weekend at their farm outside of Nashville and recorded it with co-producers Jimmy Robbins and King Henry at the Sonic Ranch in Texas. Following the EP’s unveiling, Galyon detailed the making and shared the story of Second Wife with MusicRow.

When composing this chapter, the truth of her journey and role as a second wife thus far was front-of-mind. Galyon recalls reflecting on her work and recognizing the feelings she voices within it that she hadn’t vocalized before.

“When I look back on the choices I’ve made or the ideas that have come to the surface, I can recognize that that was something inside of me that I never felt like I had the chance to say before,” she states. “My favorite thing about writing these projects is that I get to keep it as pure and specific to me and my story as possible, and I think every artist is entitled to that. I think an artist’s only job is to tell the truth and to create from a place of truth-telling. I also like reclaiming what a second wife is and rebranding how people make think about it.”

Galyon had a couple titles in her back pocket that she wanted to explore when they first started writing. She says that she often starts with a word and tries to get to the root of it with her collaborators during session. Galyon makes note of Clawson’s listening “superpower” and his ability to process things internally as a writer, while she is more of a curious, external processor.

The EP open with the prelude, “Jo.,” which honors Galyon’s mother-in-law and was born from her one-word writing method. The couple has many other influential “Jo’s” in their life, whether they be family or friends. It is also serves as their daughter’s middle name.

“I just thought ‘Gosh, there’s something to this name Jo and the essence of [it].’ As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to realize how my mother-in-law kind of paved the way for [my husband] to be a attracted to someone like me. She and I are so different in so many ways, but [over the years] I’ve developed this appreciation for her ‘I can do it myself mentality’.”

The upbeat tune “Prenup” comes next, which further draws the audience in before “The Grain.,” which was another word that spoke to Galyon. The word soon became a ballad that touches on how love stories vary while giving a nod to Kansas. The couple would sometimes write the first chorus and then take a break to pour a glass of wine or grill out. She discloses the creation of the fourth track “Rooms.” developed from a round of the card game We’re Not Really Strangers.

“Being married this long, I’ve learned that you never run out of things to know about a person. It was fun to go back but also rediscover each other now through the process.”

Second Wife proceeds with the lighthearted “Texas Hold ‘Em.” and concludes with “Under The Rainbow.” Kansas has served as the subtle backdrop of Galyon’s songs for years and feels that its residents are her built-in audience.

“I think it’s important to go be with the people that listen to the music that you’re making. I always ask myself ‘Will the girls in my hometown feel anything when they listen to this?’ I also you need to go to a place where you can be quiet and hear yourself, and that’s one of the greatest things Sterling has been for me.”

The couple has also shared videos accompanying the songs that depict raw recording footage. While the title of the project is bold and alluring, Galyon wants listeners to know the story behind it and find a little bit of themselves in it.

“I hope people can listen it and embrace their own relationships through it. not everything about Rodney and I’s relationship makes sense on paper, but I think that’s what makes us great and great for each other.”

Pictured: William Lee Golden, Simone Golden, Richard Sterban and Donna Sterban with the families of Lon “Deacon” Freeman and Wally Fowler at the Tennessee Music Pathways Oak Ridge Boys marker in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Photo: Jeremy Westby/2911 Media

The Oak Ridge Boys were honored with their own Tennessee Music Pathways marker from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development in Oak Ridge, Tennessee yesterday (Nov. 20).

William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban were in attendance to represent the Oaks at the unveiling along with Tennessee Representative John Reagan, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, and family members of former Oak Ridge Boys’ Wally Fowler and Lon “Deacon” Freeman, both original members of the Oak Ridge Quartet. Gooch also presented the group with a key to the city and a proclamation honoring their contributions.

“It was a very special day,” shares Golden. “Being part of this remarkable group is something I never take for granted. Our journey has been uniquely blessed and one that very few have had the opportunity to achieve. I am thankful to Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban for their contributions to the Oak Ridge Boys, along with our band and co-workers. A special thank you to Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms for helping make this day possible!”

“I can’t think of anywhere I would rather have been than at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with the kind folks at the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development who worked so hard to design this marker,” expresses Sterban. “The Oak Ridge Boys as a group goes back 80 years to the original members, Wally Fowler, Lon “Deacon” Freeman, Curly Kinsey and Johnny New, and we have never forgotten them or their contributions. It has been a privilege to build on that.”

The Oak Ridge Boys’ Allen (1966), Bonsall (1973), Golden (1965) and Sterban (1972) celebrated their 50th anniversary this year and recently announced their “American Made: Farewell Tour.”

Album Art: Courtesy of Big Machine Records. Photo: Tyler Conrad

Tim McGraw fans will have a little something extra to be thankful for this holiday as the star has dropped a surprise new six-song EP, Poet’s Resumé, via Big Machine Records. A new lyric video for the EP’s focus track “Runnin’ Outta Love” is out now as well.

Produced by Byron Gallimore, the new EP features songs penned by Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Steve Dorff, Lori McKenna, Jeffrey Steele and more. Poet’s Resumé is McGraw’s way of saying thank you to his fans for a big year, which included the release of his 17th studio album Standing Room Only in August, earning honors including the ACM Icon Award and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)’s President’s Keystone Award and notching his 47th No. 1 this week with his single “Standing Room Only.”

With this most recent No. 1, McGraw has now amassed 69 top 10 radio hits throughout his career. He extends his Mediabase record for the most weeks at No. 1 with all titles to 74 weeks. In the process, McGraw sets the record for the longest span from first to latest at 29 years and six months, surpassing George Strait.

Poet’s Resumé Tracklist:
“Runnin’ Outta Love” // (Matt McGinn, Lindsay Rimes, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
“Hurt People” // (Tom Douglas, Sara Beth Go, Brett Taylor)
“20 For 30” // (Lance Miller, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
“One Bad Habit” // (Marc Beeson, Aaron Eshuis, Tony Lane)
“Been Around A While” // (Steve Dorff, Anthony Smith, Jeffrey Steele)
“Poet’s Resumé” // (Lori McKenna, Josh Osborne, Scott Stepakoff)

Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, has revealed the lineup for the 11th annual ocean-side event, taking place April 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This year’s festival will be headlined by Lainey Wilson, Hardy and Jason Aldean. Other acts performing include Cooper Alan, Kassi Ashton, Black Opry, Priscilla Block, Boyz II Men, Jackson Dean, Dee Jay Silver, Russell Dickerson, DJ Rock, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Charles Wesley Godwin, Brian Kelley, Jon Langston, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Chase Matthew, Ashley McBryde, Bret Michaels, Old Dominion, Parmalee, Shwayze, Red Clay Strays, Teddy Swims, Tigirlily Gold, TLC, Turnpike Troubadours, Koe Wetzel, Wheeland Brothers, Warren Zeiders and Bailey Zimmerman.

The festival will also have a stage dedicated to emerging talent based out of Nashville on the Next From Nashville Stage featuring Sadie Bass, Annie Bosko, The Castellows, Kolby Cooper, Logan Crosby, Hannah Ellis, Dylan Gossett, HunterGirl, Greylan James, Meg McRee, Peytan Porter, Josh Ross, Austin Snell, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Anne Wilson.

Tortuga Music Festival also continues to be a trailblazer in supporting ocean conservation and sustainability since its inception in 2013. In October, the event received the 2023 Bronze Stevie Award for Sustainability Leadership in the U.S. and Canada at the 20th annual International Business Awards. Each year, the festival raises funds and educates the public about the critical environmental issues taking place within the oceans. Fans will be able to explore Rock the Ocean’s Conversation Village while on-site.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. CT. For more information, click here. Hotel packages and VIP experiences can be purchased via Vibee at Vibee.com.