Country singer-songwriter Tyler Braden has signed a new global publishing deal with BMG.

As an artist signed to Warner Music Nashville, Braden has garnered over 250 million streams to date with standout releases such as “Try Losing One,” “What Do They Know” and “Neon Grave.” As a songwriter, the Slapout, Alabama native has landed cuts with Dylan Marlowe, Adam Sanders and Breland.

Braden is also a former firefighter, and has continued his connection with the first responder community as he hosts the annual Tyler Braden’s Engine Co. 18 Golf Outing. This year’s event raised over $35,000 for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Hungry Heroes, marking the outing’s highest fundraising total yet.

“I’m so excited to start this next chapter with BMG,” says Braden. “The sincerity and spirit in their desire to work together and the ideas they have to aid in my future as a songwriter were just additives to a relationship that started strong from the first meetings. It’s going to be big!”

“BMG could not be more honored or excited to welcome Tyler Braden into the family,” says Kelsey Worley, BMG’s Senior Director, Creative. “There is something magical about Tyler’s artistry—from the way he crafts lyrics, to the raw emotion his voice evokes—he’s a master storyteller. We are thrilled for the opportunity to support him in this next chapter of his career.”

The Store, a free referral-based grocery store in the Nashville area co-founded by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, will debut their Toy Store this holiday season for the 400 children of the families they currently serve.

The donation drive launches today (Nov. 1) and contributions can be made through The Store’s Amazon Wish List and financial donations. Also, corporations may contribute financially or hold their own toy drive for donations. The four-week donation campaign will run through Dec. 1, and families will shop The Store to choose toys for their children ages 0-17 on Dec. 8-9.

In 2020, the Paisley’s partnered with Belmont University to spearhead The Store, allowing people to shop with dignity for their basic needs. Individuals and families can be referred by nonprofit and government agencies for a term of one year. There is no charge to those referred or to the people and agencies that send them. They may shop for food to supplement their income during times of crisis and as they work toward self-sufficiency.

The wraparound services at the Belmont Ministry Center next to The Store provide additional family support such as counseling, music therapy, financial literacy, medicine management and cooking classes. The Store believes in cooperation and collaboration between organizations to better serve the population.

“We’ve always wanted to see a toy store pop-up around the holidays that has the same framework and model as our grocery store, so that our customers can also shop for gifts for their families with dignity and choice,” shares the Paisleys. “We are really excited to see it come together this year, and credit our wonderful staff, amazing volunteers and energetic new CEO Collen Mayer for making it happen!”

“The Toy Store is going to be one of the most memorable and heart-warming events in our community this holiday season,” says Mayer. “Just as The Store allows families in poverty to shop for food with dignity 12 months out of the year, the Toy Store will enable these same mothers and fathers to find the perfect gifts for their [children]. For anyone who is looking to support a family during the holiday season, the Toy Store is a perfect option to spread some holiday cheer and kindness and to lift up families in need in a dignified way. To get involved, you can sign up to volunteer at the Toy Store, purchase gifts from our Amazon registry and share information about this event with your friends, families and workplaces.”

For more information, click here.

Country newcomer Austin Williams has signed with CAA for booking representation.

The 19-year-old Nashville native signed to industry veteran Missi Gallimore and Jim Wilkes’ T.R.U.T.H Management Projects/Promotion and independent label Truth or Dare Records earlier this year and shortly after, released “Wanna Be Saved,” followed by his debut EP of the same name.

Williams will release the full version of the country-90’s rap mashup, which went viral on TikTok earlier this year, on Nov. 17. On Dec. 8, he’ll share a new song called “Here We Go Again.” Additionally, Williams is performing at Nashville’s iconic Exit/In tonight (Nov. 1).

“I have always wanted to work with Rod Essig and the CAA family,” says Gallimore. “So excited to take this next step in Austin’s career. I know that we are in good hands for representation as we launch into the next phase of Austin’s career.”

“I take pride in having the hardest working team in town,” adds Williams. “I couldn’t be more blessed to add another puzzle piece to that team. Looking forward to the future.”

Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay and Morgan Wallen are among the second round of performers announced for the upcoming 57th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 8.

Other artists just announced to perform on the show include Kelsea Ballerini, Jordan Davis, Hardy, Alan Jackson, Cody Johnson, Post Malone, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, The War And Treaty and the Zac Brown Band. The new slate of artists will join previously-announced performers Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and more.

Female Vocalist and Album of the Year nominee Ballerini will perform “Leave Me Again” on the awards telecast, while reigning two-time Entertainer of the Year and four-time nominee this year Combs will take the stage to perform his new single “Where the Wild Things Are.”

This year’s Vocal Duo of the Year nominee Dan + Shay will share their current single, “Save Me The Trouble,” while three-time nominee Davis will perform “Next Thing You Know.” Male Vocalist of the Year nominee Johnson will perform his new love song, “The Painter,” and triple nominee McBryde will perform her warm single “Light On In the Kitchen.” The War And Treaty, who are first-time nominees this year for Vocal Duo of the Year, will perform their impassioned single “That’s How Love Is Made.”

Additional collaborations at this year’s show will include a tribute to recently passed songwriter, cultural force and CMA award winner Jimmy Buffett, featuring good friends Chesney and longtime Coral Reefer Band member McAnally, as well Jackson and 2023 Vocal Group of the Year nominee Zac Brown Band. Four-time nominee Hardy, three-time nominee this year Wallen and first-time CMA Awards performer Post Malone will deliver a medley of country classics, while Wallen will also take the stage with a surprise guest to perform a song from his Album of the Year-nominated project, One Thing At A Time.

Hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, the CMA Awards broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. on ABC and is available next day on Hulu.

“It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world,” said Dolly Parton on Friday evening (Oct. 27) at Lipscomb University.

She was quoting a line from her 1984 chart-topping song “Tennessee Homesick Blues” as she pondered her love of sparkly, dress-up glamor. “I love to shine,” she added. “It makes me feel lighter and more exciting.”

The occasion was the gala VIP party celebrating the opening of “Dolly Parton and the Makers,” an exhibit of her glittering, iconic costumes. The evening was also the launch party of her new book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.

“Whew! That’s a lot of livin,’” she commented about the various outfits on display. “I’m amazed at how much I’ve done, I really am….Each of my dresses has a story…..We all have these pictures where we look at what we were wearing and say, ‘What was I thinking?’”

The superstar has been wearing custom-sewn creations since her earliest days on Music Row. When she signed with RCA Records in 1967, label boss Chet Atkins suggested that she stop wearing wigs and flashy outfits. Parton recalled him saying, “Dolly, you need to tone it down — you look a little trashy. Nobody’s going to take you seriously as a songwriter or a singer.” She replied, “They will if I’m good enough.”

Instead of toning it down, she became even more flamboyant. After she made it big, Atkins cracked, “Aren’t you glad you took my advice?”

“I think it’s important that people wear what they’re comfortable in,” she told the gala crowd. “Be yourself. That’s what I’ve done my whole life.”

Pink butterflies and pink landscape spotlights greeted attendees as they ascended the steps to the university’s library building. Next to the building’s exterior doors was an oversized neon “Dolly and the Makers” sign for selfies. Inside, the entrance to the exhibit was flanked by Dolly-inspired dresses created by Lipscomb’s Fashion Design majors.

A blow-up of the book’s jacket contained holes on either side of Dolly’s portrait so that attendees can take snapshots of it with their heads surrounded by painted flower petals. This is located next to a 45-foot walkway featured a pink wall containing a timeline placing pictures of the various costumes in chronological order. The ceiling was festooned with golden butterfly decorations.

Inside the art gallery are 25 gowns in glass cases, a wardrobe-creation station with sample fabrics, a lighted makeup station (with a bottle of her Scent From Above perfume for spritzing), a video featuring the clothes’ various designers talking about their work and assorted displays of jewelry, wigs, hats and high-heeled shoes.

The exhibit is called “The Makers” because it spotlights “lots of creativity from a lot of people,” as Parton put it. Next to the displays are bios of more than a dozen designers who have created looks for her.

Places for photo ops are scattered throughout. One spot contains giant pink angel wings that attendees can pose with. Another is a mini stage with a life-sized cardboard likeness of Dolly to pose with. Still another is a wall of pink feathers topped by her logo in white neon, also designed for posing.

In attendance were Iisha Lemming, Riley Reed Hanratty, Christian Fletcher and the star’s archivist Rebecca Seaver, all members of the star’s creative team. Lemming is now serving as a visiting faculty member at Lipscomb, mentoring young designers.

“Dolly Parton and the Makers” particularly emphasizes the gowns designed by Steve Summers, her creative director. Like the star, he is an up-by-his-bootstraps success story whose visions for Parton and inventive flair rose him through the ranks of her organization. Summers said he estimates that his team creates 300 dresses a year for the superstar.

Her favorite outfit is the white gown she wore singing “He’s Alive” on the 1989 CMA Awards. The book contains a photo of her in it with arms outstretched, creating a “wing” effect because of its draped upper sleeves.

Seaver curated and preserved the hundreds of gowns pictured in color in the book, which Dolly wrote with award-winning author Holly George-Warren, also in attendance. Most of the exhibit copy came from the chapters in Behind the Seams.

The event began with greetings from Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who talked about how his daughters learned to love reading via Dolly’s Imagination Library program. To date, it has distributed more than 200 million free books to children.

Lipscomb president Candace McQueen described Parton as “the most beloved figure in the entertainment industry.” McQueen added, “Her courageous fashion sense has left an indelible mark on the world of style.”

Following Parton’s remarks, Matthew Inman of Crown Ten Speed Press surprised the star by announcing that the book will debut at No. 4 on next week’s New York Times Book Review chart. Inman’s imprint is a division of Penguin Random House, which is Parton’s partner in her Imagination Library.

The Lipscomb University Chorale offered a lovely a cappella arrangement of Parton’s 1977 song “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Parton and McQueen took giant shears to cut the ribbon, officially opening “Dolly Parton and the Makers.” Joining McQueen at the gala were Lipscomb deans Beth Morrow and Mike Fernandez, among many other faculty members.

Dozens of Lipscomb Fashion students were also in attendance, all attired in elegant gowns and sporting new coiffures. Dolly Parton wore a steel-toned gown festooned with little metal spikes. The black-and-silver creation was accented by mesh sleeves. Nestled in her cascading wig was a small tiara also bristling with tiny spikes. It is one of her rock-themed outfits created for Rockstar, her next album.

“Dolly Parton and the Makers” will be on display at Lipscomb until Dec. 9. Tickets must be purchased in advance online and cost $25, which includes a guided, 45-minute tour. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones is available at bookstores everywhere and in the gallery’s gift shop. The coffee-table tome retails for $50.