The upcoming 16th Annual ACM Honors on Aug. 23 at the Ryman in Nashville is set to air on the FOX network for a second year on Sept. 18.

The all-star event will recognize several special honorees, including ACM Triple Crown Award recipient Chris Stapleton, ACM Poet’s Award recipients Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter and K.T. Oslin, ACM international Award recipient Kane Brown, and ACM Icon Award recipient Tim McGraw.

Carly Pearce will return for a third year to host the ceremony and perform during the star-studded evening of live music and tributes, which will also feature performances from Breland, Chris Janson, Lady A, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Brandy Clark, Jordan Davis, The War And Treaty, Bailey Zimmerman, Emily Shackelton, Anne Wilson and more. The full line-up of artists included in the FOX primetime special will be released in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to be working with FOX for a second year to bring one of our industry’s favorite nights, filled with emotional tributes and unforgettable performances, to primetime television,” says Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside. “The exceptional honorees and performers at the Academy of Country Music Honors show will provide an extraordinary night of non-stop entertainment for music fans all across the country and an undeniable highlight for our country music community this fall.”

“Bringing back this annual celebration of country music icons and all-stars promises to once again captivate FOX audiences with its exceptional performances and moving tributes,” says Allison Wallach, FOX Entertainment’s President of Unscripted Programming. “The Academy of Country Music’s talented team has outdone themselves in assembling an incredible line-up of artists to entertain and inspire country fans during what is sure to be an incredible, memorable night.”

The full list of recipients of the Special Awards the 16th Academy of Country Music Honors includes Black, Breland, Brown, Carpenter, Charlie Cook, Charlie Daniels, Mike Dungan, Ashley Gorley, Hardy, Bill Mayne, McGraw, Oslin, Stapleton and Troy Vollhoffer.

AmericanaFest has announced the keynote speakers for the upcoming conference at The Westin Nashville Sept. 20-22.

Panelists including Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, Bettye LaVette & Steve Jordan, Lyle Lovett, Marty Stuart, Rufus Wainwright & Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams.

Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal: The Wheel 30-Year Anniversary
Tuesday — 3 p.m. at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater

On the heels of launching their co-founded new record label, RumbleStrip Records, Cash and Leventhal will discuss their extensive history together as artist and producer. The duo will highlight the 30th anniversary reissue of Cash’s 1993 album, The Wheel (the couple’s first collaborative effort), as well as Leventhal’s upcoming solo debut. Cash is a recipient of the Americana Music Association’s Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award and has won the organization’s Song of the Year and Album of the Year honors. Leventhal was also named the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year in 2015.

The World of Marty Stuart
Wednesday — 12 p.m.

Following the release of his new album, Altitude, Stuart explores a cosmic country landscape of dreamers and drifters, misfits and angels, honky-tonk heroes and lonesome lovers. The Country Music Hall of Famer, five-time Grammy winner and Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement honoree will sit with music journalist and broadcaster David Fricke to discuss his fifty-year career spanning music, photography, history, artifact collection and his latest museum project to revitalize his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Becoming Lyle Lovett: A Keynote Conversation
Thursday — 10 a.m.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Lovett will provide a reflection on his songs, recordings and international tours. He will offer insight into moments throughout his career when he had to dig deep to find the next version of himself. The careful balance of continuity and change is at the heart of any long career, and Lovett stands as a master of taking it forward without losing sight of home.

Reunited in Music: Bettye LaVette & Steve Jordan  
Thursday — 1 p.m.

LaVette and Jordan will come together again to discuss their latest collaboration for her album LaVette! The two will discuss their accomplished careers and creative processes as well as what led to recording an album of songs by Randall Bramblett. LaVette! arrived in June on Jay-Vee Records, the label co-founded by Jordan and Meegan Voss.

Telling Secrets: A Conversation with Lucinda Williams
Thursday — 3 p.m.

Grammy-winning artist Williams will sit down with music journalist and author Holly George-Warren to participate in an engaging discussion about her illustrious life and career. After several years of playing hardscrabble clubs, Williams gained solid footing to record a self-titled album that would become a touchstone for the embryonic Americana movement – helping launch a thousand musical ships.

Friends of Folk: A Conversation with Rufus Wainwright & Emmylou Harris
Friday — 2 p.m.

Wainwright’s new album, Folkocracy, pays tribute to his Canadian and American folk roots through an array of cover songs. Harris will join him to discuss their approach to music and storytelling, drawing from their decades of experience in the industry. Together, they will talk candidly about their musical heritage, personal growth and lessons learned.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time during the eligibility period of June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 18 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Trannie Anderson scored her first No. 1 hit this year with Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck,” which she co-wrote with the country star and Dallas Wilson. Anderson has also written songs recorded by Tenille Arts, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Hannah Dasher, Pentatonix, Nate Smith, Noah Thompson and Meghan Trainor.

Rian Ball hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Jimmie Allen, Cameron Bedell and Tate Howell, and Allen recorded. Ball has also had songs cut by Chris Young, Michael Ray, Filmore and more artists in other genres.

Cameron Bedell earned his first No. 1 with Jimmie Allen’s “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Allen, Rian Ball and Tate Howell. Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Lauren Alaina, Seaforth and more have cut Bedell’s songs, and he produces Tiera Kennedy.

Jimi Bell scored his first No. 1 hit with Jon Pardi’s “Last Night Lonely.” He co-wrote the tune with Joe Fox and Dylan Marlowe. Bell’s songs have also been recorded by Brantley Gilbert, Bailey Zimmerman, Kip Moore and more.

Rocky Block notched his first top 10 with Morgan Wallen’s “Man Made A Bar,” featuring Eric Church. He co-wrote the song with Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet and Brett Tyler, which is one of four of his credits on Wallen’s third album. Block has also had songs recorded by Breland, Jake Owen, Nelly, Jordan Davis, Chris Lane and more.

Will Bundy hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Half Of Me,” recorded by Thomas Rhett featuring Riley Green. He co-wrote the song with Rhett, Josh Thompson and Rhett Akins. Bundy has also written songs recorded by Keith Urban, Jordan Davis, Parker McCollum, Jon Pardi, Jason Aldean and more.

John Byron had a big hit with Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” which he co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Ryan Vojtesak. It is one of nine songs Byron co-wrote for Wallen’s third album. He’s also had songs cut by Chris Lane and Sean Stemaly.

Jamie Davis hit the top of the charts for the first time with Luke Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make,” which he cowrote with Combs, Dan Isbell and Reid Isbell. Davis has also had songs recorded by Lily Rose, Jenna Paulette, Leith Loftin and others, and is also a member of Combs’ touring band.

Jordan Dozzi co-wrote the Top 10 hit, “Man Made A Bar,” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Eric Chruch. Dozzi co-wrote the tune with Rocky Block, Larry Fleet and Brett Tyler. He has also had cuts with Nelly, Jake Owen, Seaforth, Chase Matthew and more.

David Fanning has had lots of success as a producer and manager to Parmalee. He added “hit songwriter” to his resume with “Take My Name,” recorded by Parmalee and co-written with Matt Thomas, Ashley Gorley and Ben Johnson, and “Tennessee Orange,” co-written and recorded by Megan Moroney along with Ben Williams and Paul Jenkins.

Joe Fox topped the charts with the Jon Pardi-recorded “Last Night Loney,” which he co-wrote with Jimi Bell and Dylan Marlowe, whom he produces. Fox has had songs recorded by Blake Shelton and Matt Stell as well.

Jaxson Free celebrated his first No. 1 with “Thank God,” recorded by Kane and Katelyn Brown. He wrote the duet with Christian Davis, Kyle Fishman, Josh Hoge and Jared Mullins. Free also has cuts with Chase Rice, Dalton Dover, Zach Seabaugh and others.

Jacob Hackworth scored a big hit with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jet Harvey and Heath Warren. Hackworth has also had songs recorded by Chase Matthew and Logan Crosby.

Jet Harvey hit the top of the charts with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jacob Hackworth and Heath Warren. The song was Harvey’s first cut.

Styles Haury earned his first hit with Luke Bryan’s “Country On.” He co-wrote the tune with Mark Nesler, Mitch Oglesby and David Frasier. Haury has also written songs recorded by Craig Morgan and Craig Campbell.

Tate Howell earned his first No. 1 with Jimmie Allen’s “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Allen, Rian Ball and Cameron Bedell. He has also had songs recorded by Nate Smith and LANCO.

Reid Isbell hit the top of the charts with Luke Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make.” He co-wrote the tune with Combs, Dan Isbell and Jamie Davis. Isbell has also had cuts with Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Kameron Marlowe, King Calaway and more.

Gavin Lucas celebrated his first No. 1 with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love,” which he wrote with Zimmerman and Austin Shawn. Zimmerman has cut many of Lucas’ songs.

Austin Shawn hit the top of the charts with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love,” which he wrote with Zimmerman and Gavin Lucas. Lucas has also produced Zimmerman’s hits, as well as some work with Chase Matthew.

Christian Stalnecker earned his first No. 1 with “Thank God,” recorded by Kane and Katelyn Brown. He wrote the duet with Jaxson Free, Kyle Fishman, Josh Hoge and Jared Mullins. Stalnecker has also worked with Blake Shelton, Chris Young, T-Pain, Rick Ross and more.

David Ray Stevens celebrated his first rock No. 1 with Jelly Roll’s “Dead Man Walking” and his first country No. 1 with his “Son Of A Sinner,” which he wrote with Jelly Roll and Ernest.

Heath Warren scored a big hit with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jet Harvey and Jacob Hackworth. Warren has also had songs recorded by Waterloo Revival, Colbie Caillat, Josh Ross and more.

Ben Williams earned his first No. 1 with “Tennessee Orange,” recorded and co-written with Megan Moroney as well as David Fanning and Paul Jenkins. He co-wrote seven of the 13 songs on Moroney’s debut album.

Neon Union

Red Street Records’ rising country duo Neon Union, made up of Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps, has signed with CAA.

Brooks is a Grammy-winner who spent over a decade as the bass player and Musical Director for multi-Platinum artist Pitbull, and has collaborated with Lauren Hill,  Rick Ross and more. When Brooks and his musical talent united with Millsaps and his distinct vocals and evolving writing style, the duo found success as country newcomers. With more than 50 dates under their belt this year alone, they recently released their debut EP Double Wide Castle Sessions.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that Neon Union is now represented by the wonderful team at CAA,” says Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus. “It’s another vital piece that’s now in place for these boys that are poised to take the next big step in their careers.”