Carrie Underwood Wraps Guns N’ Roses Stadium Dates With Nashville Show

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Carrie Underwood during the “Guns N’ Roses World Tour 2023” show at Nashville’s GEODIS Park. Photo: Jeff Johnson

Carrie Underwood wrapped the last of her three stadium dates as a special guest on the “Guns N’ Roses World Tour 2023″ at Nashville’s GEODIS Park on Saturday night (Aug. 26). The country superstar also joined the legendary rock group earlier this summer at Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick and at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Carrie Underwood with Guns N’ Roses during the “Guns N’ Roses World Tour 2023” show at Nashville’s GEODIS Park. Photo: Jeff Johnson

The park was packed with anticipation for Underwood’s Music City performance, which included a variety of hits spanning her over 15-year career, songs from her current Denim & Rhinestones album, as well as rock classics such as Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll,” Heart’s “Alone” and Motörhead‘s “Ace Of Spades” and more. She once again performed alongside rock legends Guns N’ Roses during their rain-filled set, joining them for their smash hits “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.”

Next month, Underwood will continue her ongoing “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” at Resorts World Las Vegas in addition to starring in her 11th consecutive show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. She is also set to release her Denim & Rhinestones (Deluxe Edition) on Sept. 22.

Phyllis Stark To Join ‘Country Aircheck’

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Phyllis Stark

Veteran journalist Phyllis Stark will join Country Aircheck in a newly created role of Executive Radio Editor on Sept. 5. Stark is the former Nashville Bureau Chief for All Access, which closed its doors on Aug. 15.

Stark has been covering the radio and country music industries for more than three decades. In addition to her time at All Access, Stark served as the Nashville Bureau Chief and Sr. Radio Editor at Billboard; Managing Editor of Billboard’s radio publication, Airplay Monitor; Sr. Content Editor at Cox Media Group’s Rare Country; Executive Producer/National Content for the E.W. Scripps Company/Journal Broadcast Group; and Contributing Editor for the CMA’s Close Up magazine.

She has also worked as Executive Editor/Country Music at Radio-Info.com; VP/A&R for independent record label Robbins Nashville; and Nashville Music Correspondent and feature writer for Microsoft’s MSN.com.

“Having competed with Phyllis in various iterations over the years, I know exactly how formidable she is as a writer and thinker in the radio and music business trade coverage space,” says Country Aircheck Publisher/CEO Lon Helton. “Adding her to our already stellar team will immeasurably strengthen Country Aircheck’s ability to tell the stories of this business and its people.”

Stark can be reached at phyllis@countryaircheck.com.

Drake White Hosts Inaugural ‘Benefit For The Brain’ Concert

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Drake White performs during his “Benefit for the Brain” concert. Photo: Zack Knudsen

Drake White hosted his first-ever, sold-out charity “Benefit for the Brain” concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Monday night (Aug. 28), just four years after recovering from a stroke he suffered on stage.

Colbie Caillat performs with Drake White during his “Benefit for the Brain” concert. Photo: Zack Knudsen

White and friends including Riley Green, Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson performed during the special evening, along with Colbie Caillat, who made a surprise appearance. The benefit was emceed by Miles Adcox, Founder of Onsite, a wellness organization focused on life-changing therapeutic framework.

White kicked off the night with a medley of tunes including “The Coast Is Clear,” the song he was unable to finish performing four years ago on stage in Virginia due to his stroke. He told his inspiring account of the story to the crowd before singing and finished by stating he would make it through the song tonight.

Other highlights of the evening included Jamey Johnson inviting Riley Green on stage to sing Johnson’s 2008 award-winning hit, “In Color.” White’s good friend Caillat surprised the audience for a special duet of White’s compelling “Power of a Woman,” and White delivered a stripped down, acoustic version of “The Optimystic” to a captivated audience, resulting in a standing ovation.

Jamey Johnson performing with Riley Green at Drake White’s “Benefit for the Brain” concert. Photo: Zack Knudsen

“After my stroke all I wanted to do was get back to the stage,” said White to the crowd. “This is what I was born to do, and this is what God put me on earth to do. To stand on this Ryman stage and host this charity concert.”

“Benefit for the Brain” raised over $253,000 during the night, with proceeds benefitting organizations CreatiVets, Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee and the Miracle Hope Foundation. These organizations were hand-picked to reflect the three specific pillars White was focused on benefiting: military personnel and their families with a focus on PTSD and other related issues; child and adolescent brain health; and progressive research into alternative brain and stroke treatments.

On The Row: Trey Lewis Proves Depth With Latest Releases

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Trey Lewis

River House Artists’ Trey Lewis first garnered industry attention when his risqué yet hilarious tune, “Dicked Down In Dallas,” went viral on social media.

Though Lewis was receiving a massive amount of engagement on the internet, which was translating to streams, some country music fans and industry members seemed a bit hesitant to accept the rowdy newcomer with a very non-traditional breakout hit.

While some scoffed, others saw the artist behind “Dicked Down In Dallas” and jumped on board. Shortly after releasing his first EP, Shut the Door, Sony Music Publishing announced they had signed Lewis to a publishing deal. Then came the news that River House Artists had inked a record deal with him.

Despite the playfulness in”Dicked Down In Dallas,” Lewis is a tender-hearted, deep artist with a miraculous story that he shared with MusicRow during a recent visit.

Pictured (L-R): River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline; MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell and Liza Anderson; Trey Lewis; MusicRow‘s Caela Griffin, Sherod Robertson and Steve Boero

As a teenager in Birmingham, Alabama, Lewis fell into drugs and alcohol. After some jail visits, he went to rehab and participated in a sober living program. Once he conquered his addiction, he knew he had to make a change in his life to keep him on track, which ended up being music. He now has 16 years of sobriety to be proud of.

As part of his sobriety journey, he had to sponsor someone else who was trying to get sober. The person Lewis ended up sponsoring was a musician who would make trips to Nashville.

“He asked me to come to Nashville one weekend to be his sober companion. We came up here and his producer asked me to play some songs. They told me I had a great voice, and that’s what started everything. That’s where I caught the bug,” Lewis shares.

While coming back and forth to Nashville, Lewis met a girl and got married. When their marriage ended in 2017, the disappointment eventually led Lewis to change the course of his life and move to Music City.

After meeting collaborators who turned into friends, Lewis found himself amongst a hard-working class of rising singer-songwriters, constantly hustling by playing in bars and writers’ rounds, writing with each other and holding down jobs to pay the bills. He moved in with one of closest friends, now Sony Music Nashville-signed recording artist Ella Langley. The two still live together, though music keeps them on the road most of the time.

Right as “Dicked Down In Dallas” started to take off online, Lewis remembers playing a round with some friends at Live Oak in Nashville. That night proved to be magical, with industry executives and other prominent artists filling the crowd, drawn from the new buzzing hit.

“We had all this buzz around this song and that night, all these people [in my life] like Alex Maxwell, Joybeth Taylor, Ella Langley and Matt McKinney were there. They’re all signed writers now and have songs coming out every Friday on big artists,” Lewis says. “I know some people look at that song and think, ‘That’s raunchy,’ and some know it was just a joke, but what it did for my friend group was it shined a light on the work we were doing.”

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Lewis notes that his attorney, Scott Safford, made sure he knew all of his options when labels started calling. He decided he wanted to hold on to ownership of the hit song, and was rewarded financially. He was able to give his band a much-deserved raise and pay off his mom’s debt.

“That was amazing. With all of the things that I’ve been through—some self-inflicted—and the things I put my mom through… the fact that I was able to do that was amazing,” Lewis emotionally shares.

When Lynn Oliver-Cline and River House came aboard, they weren’t interested in acquiring Lewis’ cash cow. They just wanted in on the genius to come.

“We didn’t take ‘Dicked Down In Dallas’ because he makes great money from it and is able to take care of his band, crew and family,” Oliver-Cline says. “When we came aboard, I said, ‘We will work on what’s moving forward. We don’t want to take what you’ve worked so hard on. Let’s look at the future.'”

She adds, “That’s why we’re here. He’s made this incredible record coming out in January called Trouble Maker.”

Lewis is currently working a new single, “Always You,” which highlights his depth and promise for more great music to come.

Beau Bailey Joins Tape Room Music In Partnership With Red Light Management

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Pictured (L-R): Tape Room’s Caroline Hodson, Ashley Gorley, Blain Rhodes, Beau Bailey and Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton. Photo: Courtesy of @musiccitymom

Artist-songwriter Beau Bailey has signed with Ashley Gorley‘s Tape Room Music in partnership with Red Light Management.

Bailey’s signing follows the announcement of Tape Room’s strategic partnership with Red Light Ventures and Firebird Music. This joint venture combines Tape Room’s award-winning songwriting skills with Red Light and Firebird’s proven track records of success in developing artists.

The Monroe, Louisiana native grew up hunting and fishing, which helped to set the tone of the stories he tells through song. Bailey started writing and playing guitar at age 15. In January of 2020, he made his way to Music City with his pop-rock band, The Revelries, and secured a record deal with UMG Nashville.

After the group disbanded over health-related challenges, Bailey narrowed his focus on strengthening his songwriting skills. Over the past year, his independent efforts have led to country and pop cuts with Graham Barham, Kasey Tyndall, Mary Jo Young, Eddie And The Getaway, Lecade and more.

“Beau’s tenacity, creative instincts and passion make him a perfect addition to the Tape Room roster,” says Kelly Bolton, Tape Room Music Senior Vice President, A&R. “We couldn’t be more excited to have him on our team and we are ready to get to work!”

“Being a part of the Tape Room family is such an honor and I find myself having to pinch my arm to make sure this is reality,” shares Bailey. “Ashley is my songwriting hero, and he’s written the soundtrack to my life, so to have the opportunity to work beside him and learn from him is nothing short of amazing. Kelly, Blain [Rhodes] and Caroline [Hodson] are the best in the business and immediately made me feel like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I’m beyond blessed to have such great people in my corner and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Ben Goldsmith To Drop Debut Album In September

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Singer-songwriter Ben Goldsmith is set to release his debut album, The World Between My Ears, on Sept. 22. The track “Blown Away,” written by Goldsmith and Bobby Bare Jr., is available now.

The 17-year-old pop artist co-wrote each of the 15 songs on his debut project, which includes several other tracks released earlier this year: “Flowers In Your Hair,” “It’ll All Be Alright” and “Wolves.” The World Between My Ears is the product of the singer traveling back and forth to Nashville during the pandemic to write songs, create his own sound and woodshed in the studio with Brad Jones, who co-produced the project with him.

Goldsmith has had a busy year so far. In June, not only did he graduate high school a year early, but he also signed to Sony Music, UTA and UMPG Nashville. A week later, he took the stage at Bonnaroo to perform, and was also later named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Emerging Artists 18 and Under” list.

Goldsmith is set to open to Jack Bott’s “Sucker for Sunsets North American Tour” this fall.

TuneIn & Garth Brooks Launch Sports Station, Tailgate Radio

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Garth Brooks. Photo: Blue Rose, Inc

TuneIn and Garth Brooks are joining forces to launch Tailgate Radio from Brooks’ SEVENS Radio Network to bring all genres of music to sports fans’ next tailgate party.

Exclusively available on TuneIn, Tailgate Radio complements TuneIn’s extensive global sports coverage, including complete coverage of the 2023 college football season, to help fans get the party started before every game and keep it going even after the game is over.

Hosted by Maria Taylor, the station weaves her vast sports knowledge and insight with a music playlist that will keep listeners’ energy high whether they are tailgating or throwing a party at home.

“Working closely with Garth and his foundation as we created the PowHER program, which mentors middle school girls, has been nothing short of amazing,” says Taylor. “ And now, we are embarking on Garth’s extraordinary vision to connect sports and music fans with Tailgate. It’s such an honor to be chosen by greatness to be a partner in the radio space.”

From the start, Tailgate Radio will feature a roster of shows, including:

  • Tailgate Top 20 with Maria: Maria Taylor will DJ this weekly countdown highlighting the 20 biggest songs across genres from a specific year while running through some of the biggest sports stories from that year.
  • Block Party: Saturday Night 4-hour Mixshow featuring everything from Luke Combs to Beyonce to Eminem. This will be the music you need to fuel your party into the wee hours.
  • Tailgate Takeover: Starting with Garth Brooks, celebs & athletes will take turns as guest host of the program, giving listeners a window into the music and playlists that set the vibe for their favorite stars.

“This is one of those ideas someone says, ‘Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?’” says Brooks, “This combines everyone’s passion for sports and music. It also allows you to enjoy your tailgate, barbeque or poolside party without doing the work. There’s so much music on this channel, Tailgate Radio will be everyone’s favorite.”

Set to launch just in time for college football season kickoff, fans can pair Tailgate Radio with TuneIn’s extensive global coverage of nearly every sport through a new integration created exclusively for the station. TuneIn Switch allows listeners to easily jump between the music driving their pre- and post-game celebrations and the games themselves.

Tailgate Radio is the second channel from the SEVENS Radio Network exclusively available on TuneIn. The network’s first station, The BIG 615, launched on TuneIn in June with Host Storme Warren, and has quickly climbed the ranks as one of the highest-performing stations on the platform drawing in a global audience.

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Reveals Full Lineup Schedule

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The Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has released its full lineup for the Sept. 23-24 event in Franklin, Tennessee.

The two-day, talent-packed festival will feature performances from Saturday headliners The Lumineers and The Black Crowes, while Zach Bryan and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats headline on Sunday night. Other artists on the bill include Charlie Worsham, Ashley McBryde, The War & Treaty, Ian Munsick, Tommy Prine and more.

The schedule release follows the recent announcement of Pilgrimage festival’s new kids’ area, Franklin Fun Farm, as well as the versatile food and beverage vendor lineup. Tickets and parking passes are currently on sale at PilgrimageFestival.com, including two-day GA, two-day VIP, and single-day GA, with single-day VIP tickets already sold out.

2023 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival Performance Schedule:

Sept. 23:

Midnight Sun Stage
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Tash Neal
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Hailey Whitters
3:50 p.m. – 5:05 p.m. – Better Than Ezra
5:50 p.m. – 7:05 p.m. – The Head And The Heart
8:15 p.m. – 9:55 p.m. – The Lumineers

Gold Record Road Stage
12:30 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. – Peter One
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Boy Named Banjo
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – James Bay
4:50 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. – Yola
6:55 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. – The Black Crowes

Americana Music Triangle Experience
12:05 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Michael Rix
1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. – Hippies and Cowboys
1:55 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. – People on the Porch
3:10 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – The Watson Twins
4:30 p.m. – 5:35 p.m. – Bones Owens
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Mike Farris

Franklin Fun Farm Performance Tent
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Bach 2 Rock Youth Bands + DJs
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. – Story Time w/ Williamson County Library
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Bubble Party!
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Beyond Wings Aerialists & Hula Hoop Dancers
6:00 p.m. – 6:10 p.m. – Story Time w/ Williamson County Library

Sept. 24:

Midnight Sun Stage
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Madeline Edwards
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – The War and Treaty
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Luke Grimes
5:00 p.m. – Tommy Jackson’s Rocky Top Revue
5:40 p.m. – 6:55 p.m. – Ashley McBryde
8:00 p.m. – 9:55 p.m. – Zach Bryan

Gold Record Road Stage 
12:30 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. – Tigirlily Gold
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Patrick Droney
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Ian Munsick
4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – Margo Price
6:30 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Americana Music Triangle Experience
12:10 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. – Shain Shapiro
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Down Home Church
2:05 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Troubadour Blue
3:10 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. – Owensboro Bluegrass Band
4:35 p.m. – 5:35 p.m. – Tommy Prine
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Charlie Worsham

Franklin Fun Farm Performance Tent
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Bach 2 Rock Youth Bands + DJs
2:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. – Story Time w/ Williamson County Library
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m – Colorful Hats Juggling & Balancing Act
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Magic Show!
5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. – Story Time w/ Williamson County Library

Sheltered Music & Dann Huff Sign Ben Daniel

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Pictured (L-R): Sheltered Music’s Freeman Wizer, Dann Huff, Ben Daniel and Sheltered Music’s Darrell Franklin

Sheltered Music has signed songwriter Ben Daniel to a publishing deal through a joint venture with producer Dann Huff.

Daniel got his start in songwriting learning from mentor Jeff Carlton, whose expertise steered multiple companies to chart-topping success. He then signed his first publishing deal with producer Byron Gallimore.

He draws from his small-town roots of back pews and back roads, and mixes them with his musical skills. That mixture has led to cuts with country talent including Jake Owen, Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Josh Turner, Parmalee and more.

“When I first met Ben, he was performing solo guitar and I was immediately struck by his incredible musicality,” Huff shares. “After we got talking, I asked to hear some of his music. He gave me a few CDs and I immediately fell in love with his writing! I’m so excited that he wants to work with us. He is a big talent and a soulful person.”

“In my 20-plus years of working with Dann Huff, he’s only raised his hand to say he has a writer he wanted me to sign twice. Ben Daniel is that second writer. It was obvious when I heard the music why we needed to make this happen,” says Sheltered Music Senior Vice President of Creative Darrell Franklin.

“I’m blessed to get to work with such a great team!” Daniel exclaims. “Thanks to Dann Huff for believing in me and sharing my music with the team at Sheltered [Music]. I know this is gonna be a killer ride. Sheltered has a great roster and I’m so honored to be a part of it!”

Zach Bryan Plots 50-Plus Date ‘Quittin Time Tour’ For 2024

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Zach Bryan has announced he’ll hit the road next spring on a massive 50-plus date North American tour, “The Quittin Time Tour 24.” Openers on the new run will include Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Turnpike Troubadours, Sheryl Crow, The Middle East, Sierra Ferrell, Matt Maeson and Levi Turner.

Kicking off in Chicago with two shows at the United Center on March 6-7, Bryan will tour coast to coast with stops at football stadiums in Denver, Foxborough, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tampa, Arlington and Minneapolis. The tour will wrap in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma with two shows at the BOK Center on Dec. 13-14.

News of the tour comes just days after the singer-songwriter released his self-titled fourth full-length studio album. Written and produced entirely by Bryan himself, the new album features raw and unfiltered stories that speak from the heart and includes collabs with Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves, The Lumineers and The War And Treaty.

Bryan will wrap his “Burn, Burn, Burn Tour” in Kansas City at the end of the month. All shows sold out instantly several months in advance, and he set new attendance records at several venues along the tour.