Kenny Rogers‘ The Gambler album has been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos from the original masters by engineer and producer David Leonard  to commemorate “The Gambler” hit and the 45th anniversary of the namesake record.

The new Dolby Atmos mix retains the feel of the classic album but offers a fresh perspective, putting listeners in the center of the music while revealing details with unique clarity and depth. The Gambler is available to stream in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal now.

“We are so excited that Kenny’s iconic album The Gambler is now available in Dolby Atmos and fans can experience these songs like never before,” says Wanda Rogers. “This was one of Kenny’s absolute favorite albums he ever made, and I know he would have been thrilled to be able to hear the music surround him just like it did when he recorded it in the studio with all the amazing musicians and the great Larry Butler producing.”

Forty-five years ago on Dec. 16, 1978, “The Gambler” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, giving Rogers’ his third No. 1 of the year. The song spent spend three consecutive weeks in the top spot and become a mainstream crossover hit, climbing to No. 16 on the pop chart.

Written by Don Schlitz, “The Gambler” would go on to win the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and spawn a television movie on CBS starring Rogers. The film eventually led to four additional films, making it the longest-running film series franchise on television. Meanwhile, The Gambler album, featuring the crossover smash “She Believes In Me” as well as “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” and “Tennessee Bottle,” became a chart-topper, won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards and was five-time Platinum-certified in the United States.

Hit songwriter J.T. Harding was recognized in Washington D.C. earlier this fall as an Angels In Adoption honoree by the 2023 Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption program.

Harding was nominated for the honor by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) for his work with adoption, including his “Write Like a Rockstar” contest, which offered fellow adoptees a chance to co-write their own song with him which he recorded.

“I was honored to nominate J.T. for the Angels in Adoption program,” said Senator Hagerty. “J.T. exemplifies the heart and soul of Tennesseans by caring for and advocating for our most vulnerable. I heartily congratulate J.T. on this outstanding achievement as he continues to make a positive difference in the Volunteer State through his hard work and dedication to bolstering foster care and adoption.”

“As a child, my parents encouraged my love for music. To think I met Senator Hagerty at one of my songwriter shows and then chosen as an Angel In Adoption is truly a full circle moment and I’m very honored,” says Harding about the honor.

The Detroit area native was adopted as a baby and in a twist years later found out his biological father was actor Jay Thomas. He detailed his unique life journey in his 2022 memoir/songwriting how-to book Party Like a Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter. Harding’s songs have been recorded by Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney and many others, and he’s achieved multiple No. 1 hits and over one billion streams on Spotify to date.

“Being adopted has given me an incredibly optimistic view of life. Whenever life throws me a curveball, a disappointment or a roadblock, I remind myself that I was adopted by the Hardings (the greatest parents ever), and that the universe has had my back since day one,” he says in the autobiography.

The Angels in Adoption Program allows Members of Congress and their staff to learn first-hand about adoption and foster care efforts taking place within their state and across the country. The Angel honorees have the opportunity to travel to D.C. to meet with congressional offices and other child welfare advocates to hone their advocacy skills, share their experience and expertise and leave feeling empowered to continue on their good work and inspire others to do so as well. The program also draws national and local media attention to raise public awareness about the positive difference adoption and fostering makes in the life of a child.

Louis York & Friends Provide ‘Hope For The Holidays’ At Nashville Benefit

A star-studded lineup came together on Saturday night (Dec. 16) for the “Hope For The Holidays: An Evening With Louis York & Friends” benefit concert at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

The event featured performances from headlining act Louis York, R&B duo made up of Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, as well as Ari Afsar, Jay Allen, Charles Esten, Megan Linsey, Kylie Morgan, Cade Thompson, The Shindellas and Twinnie. Special appearances were also made by poet Steve Connell, music and media personality Kathie Lee Gifford and U.S. Olympian and philanthropist Scott Hamilton. The event benefited four local charities: Nashville Peacemakers, Alzheimer’s Association, The Onsite Foundation and Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation.

Randy Rogers Band Donates To Texas Youth Nonprofit

Randy Rogers Band gave back to their home state recently, gifting $150K to Connections Individual and Family Services, a nonprofit organization in New Braunfels.

The organization is dedicated to empowering youth, connecting families and building futures one youth and family at a time. The proceeds were raised at the 14th annual RRB Golf Jam in late October at River Crossing Golf Club in Spring Branch, Texas, through a charity concert and a silent/live auction. Randy Rogers Band founded the annual RRB Golf Jam event in 2009, and donates the proceeds to a different charity in need every year. The group has given over $300K back to the community in the last two years.

Rachel Holt Inks With Baste Records

Baste Records has signed Rachel Holt.

The 18-year-old from Milan, Indiana will be working on her new project in 2024 alongside songwriter Chris Wallin. Wallin’s credits include “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney, “Something To Be Proud Of” by Montgomery Gentry, “Love Me If You Can” by Toby Keith, “I’m Tryin'” by Trace Adkins and “People Loving People” by Garth Brooks.

Billie Jo Jones Signs With Get Joe Entertainment

Country singer Billie Jo Jones has signed an exclusive recording and publishing contract with Get Joe Entertainment, LLC in Dallas.

Jones is working on a full-length album set for release in this spring. Her new EP, Right Now Kinda Girl, was released on Dec. 1 via Bob Frank Distribution (BFD) and The Orchard and is available on all DSPs. The title track is at radio now.

Red Camel Collective Signs With Pinecastle Records

Pinecastle Records has signed bluegrass band Red Camel Collective to its roster.

Consisting of Heather Berry Mabe, Tony Mabe, Curt Love and Johnathan Dillon, the group will release their debut single, “Roll On Mississippi” in early 2024. Red Camel Collective is made up of skilled musicians and current members of the Junior Sisk Band. They are set to release new music while maintaining live shows with Junior Sisk. Their band name is a tribute to the popular Sisk hit “The Man in Red Camels,” a track that evokes feelings of simpler times. 

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, entertainer and entrepreneur Toby Keith ended a three-show run at the world-famous Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas by being named a Pandora Billionaire. This accreditation comes with Keith’s music being streamed 3 billion times on Pandora.

Keith was presented with his Triple Billionaires plaque backstage along with the President/Owner of TKO Artist Management TK Kimbrell, and Chair & CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville Cindy Mabe.

During his three-show run, Keith played for a total of two hours each night. His set included No. 1 hits, top 10 singles and an acoustic set of six songs that he deemed “should have been singles.” The acoustic set was a highlight for audience members, as Keith sat centerstage to perform these. To date, he has gained over 100 million BMI performances and more than 10 billion streams across all streaming platforms.

Keith recently released his album 100% Songwriter, which highlights his most iconic 13 solo-written songs. Also showcasing his talent is his latest hit single “Don’t Let The Old Man In.” Written in 2018, this song was inspired by a conversation between Keith and Clint Eastwood, and eventually landed in Eastwood’s movie, The Mule. After giving a powerful performance of the song at this past year’s People’s Choice Country Awards, the song went to No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart and hit the Top 3 all-genre chart.

Hit songwriter/producer Ira Dean is releasing a new album I Got Roads in 2024 via 8 Track Entertainment. The project will be his first solo album since 2015.

Dean’s musical talent became widely recognized when he joined the dynamic country music trio Trick Pony in the late 1990s. Serving as the bassist and contributing vocalist for the group, Dean played a pivotal role in shaping Trick Pony’s signature sound, including co-writing some of their most successful songs such as “Pour Me,” “On a Mission” and “Just What I Do.” Following his Trick Pony era, Dean embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut solo album in 2015.

Dean has also established himself as a prolific songwriter, with songs recorded by artists such as Ronnie Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Joe Nichols, Chris Young, Trace Adkins, Colt Ford, Heidi Newfield, Jake Owen, Gary Allan and more. He has had seven songs cut by Montgomery Gentry, including their hit single “One In Every Crowd” and “I’ll Keep The Kids, and co-wrote Aaron Lewis’ hit “Am I The Only One.”

Featuring Vince Gill, Ronnie Dunn, Gretchen Wilson and more, Dean’s new album I Got Roads is tale of redemption, growth and finding happiness.

“This whole thing started when my friend Noah Gordon (Head of 8 Track) and I were talking and, he planted the seed and said, ‘Ya know what I’m thinkin? I  think it’s time you made a record,'” recalls Dean to MusicRow. “I had just got done co-producing Aaron Lewis’ album Frayed At Both Ends and the single that I co-wrote ‘Am I The Only One’ had just debuted in Billboard at No. 1. I was writing with Ronnie Dunn later that afternoon and mentioned it to him and he said, ‘Well it’s time, you need to do it,’ so I went from writing for everyone else to buckling down and writing songs for me. We went down to Muscle Shoals to the world famous Fame Studio and cut the first six songs.”

The project includes Dunn, Allan, Jeffrey Steele, Uncle Kracker, David Lee Murphy and more, and was a labor of love for Dean.

“Making a record with all my friends and cats that I have always wanted to sing and play with, is a bonus. I’ve never had more fun or felt so blessed. The turnout and support of everyone making this record has been a real eye-opening and heart-warming experience. I really hope this record hits [listeners] as hard as it has hit me making it. I am an open book when it comes to my life so why stop that when writing songs? I hope they feel like they were on a train ride, like they boarded the train and don’t want to get off ‘til the last song ends.

“They will hear the crazy times, the wild times of the tempo songs I wrote about my party days,” he continues. “They will hear songs about me losing my mom, my dad and my musical friends along the way, and how I miss how it used to be. There’s even a love song I wrote for my fiancé that I recorded with Gretchen Wilson. This album is my life, the good the bad and the ugly, but hopefully they feel the hope and redemption that I’ve found by the last song.”

I Got Roads Track Listing:
1. “Tele-Man” feat. Ronnie Dunn, John Osborne & Vince Gill (Jeffrey Steele/Tony Mullins)
2. “I Got Roads” feat. Gary Allan & Jeffrey Steele (Ira Dean/Gary Allan/Jeffrey Steele)
3. “Everything” feat. Gretchen Wilson (Ira Dean/Dave Turnball )
4. “I Get High” feat. Shelly Fairchild (Ira Dean/Gary Allan/Dave Turnball)
5. “1 to Hank” feat. Uncle Kracker (Ira Dean/Chris Wallin)
6. “What Would Charlie Daniels Say” feat. Ted Nugent (Ira Dean/Jeffrey Steele)
7. “I Like It Like That” feat. David Lee Murphy (Ira Dean/David Lee Murphy)
8. “Amen To That” (David Lee Murphy/Jessi Alexander/Jimmy Yeary)
9. “Missing How It Used To Be” (Ira Dean/Dave Turnball)
10. “Redneck Girl Like Mine” (Ira Dean/David Lee Murphy/Justin Weaver)
11. “Raised On It” (Ira Dean/David Lee Murphy/Justin Weaver)
12. “Wreck Me” (Ira Dean/David Lee Murphy/Justin Weaver)