Hill Country Reserve has announced the initial artist lineup and details for its inaugural event March 24–26 in Fredericksburg, Texas in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Designed for an audience of 300, the week unfolds across Fredericksburg’s historic downtown, scenic Hill Country settings and one of Texas’ most iconic music towns, offering a slower, more intentional way to connect with artists and the region. The event features songwriter-driven performances in intimate settings from Wade Bowen, The Band of Heathens, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Weathers,The Wilder Blue, John Fullbright, Seth James, Stewart and Garrett Mann, Julianna Rankin, Hayden Redwine, Shelby Stone and Angel White.

A special duo performance from Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, celebrated for the GRAMMY-nominated The Marfa Tapes, brings together two talents deeply rooted in the Texas songwriting tradition. Guests will divide into smaller groups and enjoy tableside dinner performances from a variety of artists including Bri Bagwell, Paul Eason and Zane Williams. More artists are set to be announced soon.

The gathering begins with a welcome event at Junebug’s at The Albert Hotel, Fredericksburg’s newest landmark property, built on the site of the historic Albert Dance Hall. Guests will unwind with unforgettable vineyard views, chef-crafted dinner, and intimate performances beneath the Texas sky. The second day expands into the surrounding Hill Country, where additional performances unfold against sweeping landscapes, allowing guests to move between music, conversation and the natural beauty that defines the region. The experience culminates on the third day with a private visit to Luckenbach, offering guests rare access to one of Texas’ most storied music outposts. The closing performances will be captured during a live taping of Texas Music Scene.

Your Roots Are Showing, Ireland’s folk and roots music conference, has wrapped its fourth annual event.

Across six days more than 1,500 delegates including artists, industry leaders, broadcasters, journalists, academics and cultural organizers from across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Canada, and the United States passed through ICC Belfast. The event featured multiple stages, panels, late-night sessions and 105 showcases.

A standout moment included the landmark Opry 100: A Century of the Grand Ole Opry panel, attended by Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly. The session highlighted Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music and its cultural ties with Nashville, with the two cities officially recognised as sister cities through their shared heritage of songwriting, storytelling and live music.

The program featured a large lineup of showcase artists spanning folk, roots, traditional and Americana, including Wallis Bird, Amy Grant, Rissi Palmer, Ron Block, David Keenan, Clare Sands, Wyatt Ellis, Jim Lauderdale, Jessica Willis Fisher, Moxie, Ollee Owens, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Kenny Sharp, among others.

“What happened in Belfast this week was genuinely special,” shares, Charlene Sloan, YRAS co-founder with Brendan McCreanor. “Having over a thousand delegates move through ICC Belfast is one thing, but the quality of the conversations, the generosity of spirit and the love for the music is what really defines this conference. We were incredibly supported by BBC, RTÉ, Downtown Radio and Cool FM, who supported the artists and the industry. On the U.S. side, seeing engagement and on-site presence from top tier media outlets from the U.S., the UK, Ireland and beyond, speaks volumes about Belfast’s growing international standing. This week reminded us that folk and roots music is not niche. It is a living, global culture, and Belfast continues to prove it belongs at the heart of that conversation.”

Dates, registration and sponsorship information for Your Roots Are Showing 2027 will be announced at a later date.

“Heart of America,” a new song by Willie Nelson from The Gray House [Original Soundtrack From The Amazon Series] is out today, ahead of the arrival of the new soundtrack album Feb. 26.

The Gray House [Original Soundtrack From The Amazon Series] album release will coincide with the premiere of the limited Prime Video series The Gray House, and “Heart of America” captures the emotional core of the series, reflecting the themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring struggle for freedom at the very heart of it. Nelson’s contribution serves as a thematic anchor for the project, lending his unmistakable voice and legacy to a soundtrack rooted in the American experience.

“What a lucky day for us that Willie would take on performing a song for The Gray House,” says executive producer Kevin Costner. “I’m not sure what Willie’s process is, but it’s clear that Willie was ready and willing to go deep when thinking about that terrible moment in American history where our country was divided and at war with itself, a moment in time that I believe we still have not fully recovered from. Willie’s talent, while always on display, found a new depth at least for me. God Bless our country and bless this man!”

“Some songs don’t belong to one project… they belong to a people. ‘The Heart of America’ that Willie sings for The Gray House, feels like a new kind of anthem, one meant for every American,” adds executive producers Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary.

Arriving as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, The Gray House soundtrack also features artists including The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson, Yolanda Adams, Shania Twain and more, and offers a timely reflection on the ideals, contradictions, and resilience that have shaped the nation since its founding. Through music rooted in history yet resonant today, the project underscores how stories of courage, resistance, and unity continue to define the American experience.

The Gray House series reveals the extraordinary true story of the unsung women who helped turn the tide of the American Civil War in favor of the Union. At its center are a Virginia socialite, her indomitable mother, a formerly enslaved ally, and Richmond’s most infamous courtesan – four women operating at the heart of Confederate power. Together, they evolve their Underground Railroad operation into a daring and highly effective espionage network, risking their lives and freedom to help preserve the nation’s future and safeguard American Democracy.

The eight-episode limited series will debut on Prime Video on Feb. 26 and features an ensemble cast led by Emmy winner Mary-Louise Parker, Daisy Head, Amethyst Davis, and Emmy nominee Ben Vereen, with original music from Lainey Wilson, Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Killer Mike, Yolanda Adams, Jon Bon Jovi, and more. It is written by Leslie Greif, Darrell Fetty, and John Sayles, with all eight episodes helmed by director Roland Joffé.

The Gray House [Original Soundtrack From the Amazon Series] Track List:
1. The War And Treaty – “Blood In the River” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey)
2. Adrienne Warren – “Unholy Water” (Jon Bon Jovi, Butch Walker, Desmond Child)
3. Yolanda Adams – “Love Will Rescue Me” (Anthony Evans, Nick Pothoven)
4. The War And Treaty – “If This Day” (Diane Warren)
5. Scott Stapp – “Red, White, & Blue” (Scott Stapp, Marti Frederiksen, Desmond Child)
6. Lainey Wilson – “Dead End Red Dirt Road” (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Paul Thomas Sikes)
7. Larkin Poe – “The Devil’s Boat” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey, Michael Trotter Jr., Tanya Trotter)
8. Killer Mike Featuring Lena Byrd Miles – “Smiling Eyes (Smiling Faces)” (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Vidal Garcia, Cosmo Hickox, Robert Mandell, Max Perry, Michael Render)
9. Shainia Twain and Drake Milligan – “I’ll Be Here With You” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey, Drake Milligan)
10. Willie Nelson – “Heart Of America” (Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown, Jeff Fahey)

Chase Rice and Dustin Lynch will co-headline Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater on April 22. Presented by Coors Banquet, a percentage of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF).

Tickets are on sale now.

“Red Rocks is such a legendary venue, I couldn’t be more pumped to be back – especially with my buddy Chase Rice joining me this time around,” shares Lynch. “I’m excited to partner with my friends over at Coors Banquet and help in their mission to support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. This one’s going to be special, see y’all out there!”

With 10 No. 1 singles at country radio, Lynch’s latest track “Easy To Love,” is currently climbing the charts. Recently, the Grand Ole Opry star wrapped 2025 with an appearance on CBS’ The Road.

Rice’s most recent album, the independent release ELDORA, arrived in late 2025. Aside from a few previously scheduled appearances, Rice is currently taking a break from the road.