Dan Tyminski is set to release God Fearing Heathen, his first true bluegrass album in 15 years, on June 23 via 8 Track Entertainment.

The album marks a series of firsts for the celebrated musician, now three decades into a career that includes time as a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station as well as his own solo work. The project marks his first time taking the reins as producer on the album’s 10 new tracks.

The fresh collection of songs explores the timeless tenants of bluegrass while lyrically delving into modern themes, with tracks dedicated to self-reflection, human brotherhood and even PTSD. Each one is imbued with the youthful energy of Tyminski’s brand new band. Tracks include “Silence In The Brandy” detailing the struggle of a lone soldier, “Never Comin’ Home,” which laments a love that’s gone for good, “Never Met a Stranger” that embraces friends we’ve yet to meet and “Ode to Jimmy,” a tribute to bluegrass icon Jimmy Martin.

The album also features “Keep Your Eye on Kentucky,” where Tyminski name checks the state’s barrel-aged exporters and vows to hold its beauty in his heart, no matter where he goes, and a fresh take on the career-changing “Hey Brother,” in the way he first heard it in his head. Those pre-saving/pre-ordering God Fearing Heathen today will instantly have access to the track “G.O.A.T.,” a salute to the back-porch heroes of American Roots music.

Produced by Tyminski and executive produced by Grammy-winning engineer Noah Gordon, the album represents the follow up to a series of successful creative detours, including his 2013 global EDM smash with DJ Avicii, “Hey Brother,” which has now been streamed over one billion times, and the 2017 experimental-roots album, Southern Gothic.

This summer, Tyminski and his band will also return to the road, embarking on a series of festival and headlining dates across the nation.

God Fearing Heathen Track Listing:
1. “Never Comin’ Home” (Dan Tyminski/Ira Dean)
2. “Hey Brother” (Ash Pournouri/Salem Al Fakir/Tim Bergling/Veronica Maggio/Vincent Pontare)
3. “Keep Your Eye on Kentucky” (Dan Tyminski/Monty Criswell)
4. “Never Met a Stranger” (Dan Tyminski/Luke Dick/Jaida Dreyer)
5. “Silence in the Brandy” (Dan Tyminski/ Megan Mullins)
6. “God Fearing Heathen” (Dan Tyminski/Ira Dean)
7. “G.O.A.T.” (Dan Tyminski/Monty Criswell)
8. “No Song to Sing” (Dan Tyminski/Monty Criswell)
9. “Occam’s Razor” (Dan Tyminski/Monty Criswell)
10. “Ode to Jimmy Martin” (Dan Tyminski/Phillip Lammonds)

Chapter 669

We have been adding pavements to downtown’s Walk of Fame for 17 years, and a milestone was reached on Thursday afternoon (May 4).

Under balmy, sunny, springtime skies, the 25th induction ceremony honored Eric Church, Joe & Linda Chambers and Butch Spyridon, which brings the Music City Walk of Fame to its 100th star. The pavement stars are at Walk of Fame park, between the Hilton Hotel and the Country Music Hall of Fame on Demonbreun.

“Music City is not a slogan — it’s a title that has been earned over hundreds of years of singers, songwriters, producers, musicians, publishers and music executives….the creative people who have made a lasting mark,” observed event host Bill Cody. The Walk of Fame was established to honor these people, regardless of music genre.

Inductee Joe Chambers was mentored by the legendary Billy Sherrill at CBS. His songs were recorded by Conway Twitty, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Joe Diffie, B.J. Thomas and more. He founded Chambers Guitars with locations in Nashville, Franklin, Smyrna, Murfreesboro and Bowling Green. He and his wife Linda Chambers established the Musicians Hall of Fame, which also houses the Grammy Museum gallery and the SOURCE Hall of Fame honorees.

Joe passed away last fall, but Linda was on hand to accept their joint Walk of Fame induction. Garth Brooks did the honors.

“This whole street is paved with stars honoring people who came with a dream,” Garth said. “Someone’s gonna salute the players on those [hit] records. As an artist, I can’t imagine having a career without them. These are the true heroes of music, and it was Joe and Linda Chambers who decided to honor them.”

“Garth, you and Joe shared the same love and appreciation for musicians,” Linda responded. “We are blessed and honored to be able to call you ‘friend.’” She shared, “Joe’s biggest joy in life was to give credit, to lift up someone else.” Joe & Linda Chambers as a couple are Walk of Fame star #98.

Star #99 was installed for Eric Church. “He has made an indelible impact on Music City,” observed Cody. He cited the facts that Church was the inaugural artist at Ascend Amphitheater, set an attendance record at Nissan Stadium and was the first to financially support the restoration of the historic Club Baron on Jefferson Street. Next year, Eric will open Chief’s, a six-story entertainment venue on Lower Broadway.

Inducting Church was ESPN broadcaster Marty Smith. “Nashville, Tennessee is a magical place,” Marty said. “It’s built on a song….Songwriters save lives — their work is a sanctuary, and my sanctuary was Church.” When Marty’s father died, he was emotionally crippled, and Eric’s songs gave him something to cling to.

“I came to town in a 1987 two-tone Chevy Blazer in 2000,” Eric recalled. “I knew no one. I had a guitar and big, big dreams. I thought I had big dreams, and this is beyond what I ever dreamed….The ‘honor’ is that [Nashville] is Home. I am very grateful.”

The 100th Walk of Fame star was given to Butch Spyridon, who founded the attraction. Butch retires from his 32-year gig as head of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau next month. During his tenure, Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium, the Music City Center with its Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the July 4th and New Year’s Eve celebrations, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) and the spectacularly successful 2019 NFL Draft event all came into being. Under his leadership, Nashville became a global tourism destination, which generates $8.8 billion in visitor spending annually.

“When you’re wandering around down here thinking, ‘Who thinks of this stuff?’ — think of Butch Spyridon,” said Garth.

“This is not my star, it’s the city’s star,” responded Butch, referring to the community that he promoted to being, “one of the hottest destinations in the world.” He recalled the Walk of Fame inductions of Little Richard, Dolly Parton and Kings of Leon as favorite memories. He also insisted that the Fisk Jubilee Singers become the first star installed. He added, “It has been a marvelous journey. I am beyond humbled….Fans, thank you for loving Nashville.”

There were fans a-plenty, gathered to take snaps and gaze at Eric, Garth, Steve Wariner, Jay McDowell, Terry Bulger, NMAAM’s Henry Hicks, Ken Levitan, Kevin Lavender, John Peets, Kay Smith, Jackie Marushka and WKRN News 2’s Stephanie Langston. Guitarist extraordinaire David Anderson provided the event’s lovely soundtrack.

Chris Janson has revealed the title and cover of his BMLG debut album, The Outlaw Side of Me. The lead single from the new record, “All I Need Is You,” is climbing the charts now.

Produced by Janson and Grammy-winning producer Julian Raymond, The Outlaw Side of Me is a full-spectrum look at Janson’s many sides, from the outlaw, to the rowdy rocker, the romantic and the full-throttle performer. Writers contributing to the project include Chris DeStefano, Brad Clawson, Brad and Brett Warren, Tom Douglas, David Lee Murphy and more.

“From the minute I started this album ’til the minute we finished, I enjoyed every second,” Janson explains. “This record encompasses all sides of me: the lover, the party guy, the conservationist, the family man… I love these songs, and I had such a good time making the music. The Outlaw Side of Me is my favorite album to date.”

Ahead of the album’s June 16 release, Janson has dropped a new focus track: “21 Forever,” featuring musical titans Dolly Parton and Slash. Other guests on The Outlaw Side of Me include Brantley Gilbert and Darius Rucker.

“I’m so thrilled to announce that two global icons have joined me for my absolute biggest collaboration to date,” Janson says about “21 Forever”. “Dolly and Slash– it doesn’t get any bigger than that! I’m incredibly humbled and grateful for these two. I hope you all enjoy ‘21 Forever.'”

Janson also recently earned four Platinum certifications for his singles “Buy Me A Boat” (four-time Platinum), “Good Vibes,” “Drunk Girl” and “Fix A Drink.”

The Outlaw Side of Me Track Listing:
1. “Rowdy Gentle Man” | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil
2. “Honkytonk Minute” | Chris Janson, Matt Rogers, Ben Stennis
3. “Outlaw Side of Me” | Chris Janson, Chris DeStefano, Lee Miller
4. “All I Need Is You” | Chris Janson, Brad Clawson, Ashley Gorley, Mitch Oglesby
5. “Hank The Hell Out of The Honkytonk” (featuring Brantley Gilbert) | Chris Janson, Brinley Addington, Tommy Cecil, Mitch Oglesby
6. “Dirt In My Life” | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil, Dallas Davidson
7. “Tap That” | Chris Janson, Preston Brust, Brandon Kinney, Chris Lucas
8. “Good Folks Goin’ To Work” | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil, Tom Douglas
9. “GOAT” | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil
10. “Get It Right” | Chris Janson, Brandon Kinney, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
11. “Every Day of the Week” (featuring Darius Rucker) | Chris Janson, Bob DiPiero, David Lee Murphy
12. “21 Forever” (featuring Dolly Parton and Slash) | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil, Tom Douglas
13. “Days in the Field” | Chris Janson
14. “21 Forever” (Original Version featuring Slash) | Chris Janson, Tommy Cecil, Tom Douglas

Colby Acuff has signed with Sony Music Nashville. Acuff will release his debut album Western White Pines June 9, and a first glimpse of the album, “Playing God Again,” is out now.

A fourth generation Idaho native with a rugged spirit, Acuff’s untamed pure brand of country stands apart in today’s format. From two-stepping honky tonk anthems with a frontier philosopher’s eye, to campfire confessions filled with road-weary wisdom, every track on Acuff’s first three independently released albums was written entirely solo. Working with producer/engineer Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Cody Jinks) Western White Pines features another batch of gritty, solo-written songs, plus some first ever co-writes.

“When I started playing music, I never thought that I’d get a record deal. I’ve always had the mentality that we’d have to go out and do it all on our own. What I realize now is that there are some amazing people in the business who truly understand me,” says Acuff. “Western White Pines is a project full of some of my favorite songs. The record is unique in all aspects of the word. You will never hear the same song twice, but you will know that it’s a Colby Acuff record.”

Acuff has earned nearly 60 million on-demand streams on his three independent albums. He has toured with Lainey Wilson, 49 Winchester, Flatland Calvary and more, and is appearing on select Whiskey Jam Tailgate shows ahead of Luke Combs’ summer stadium dates.

He is represented by Make Wake Artists and WME.

Miranda Lambert‘s new cookbook, Y’all Eat Yet? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen, has landed on the New York Times Best Seller list.

The memoir/lifestyle book chock full of family tales and recipes reached No. 3 on the paper’s eclectic How To, Advice & Miscellaneous Books list, marking the latest achievement Lambert can add to her ever-growing list. Written with veteran music critic Holly Gleason, Y’All Eat Yet? celebrates multi-generational female friendship and the way those relationships empower people, especially women, to savor the good times, survive the struggle and laugh when the going gets tough.

Tracing her journey from childhood to superstardom, Lambert marks the moments with tried-and-true recipes that include Whiskey Cupcakes, French Toast Casserole, Heidi’s Spiced Hot Crackers, Bev’s Chicken Salad, Nonny’s Banana Pudding and “the one thing that’ll get the ring,” The Loaf.

“OMG y’all! I just got a call from my publishers that Y’All Eat Yet? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen is No. 3 on the New York Times Best Selling list,” Lambert shared. “I can’t actually believe that. I’m so grateful and just—I can’t believe it. It’s for my Nonny in Heaven. She’s partying tonight; I know it. And I’m just beside myself that people would want to hear our stories and join our sisterhood. This is crazy. So, thanks to everybody who bought it and who is reading it. I love y’all—welcome to the tribe!”

Lambert heads to the Pink Pistol in her hometown of Lindale, Texas for her final book signing on May 9. While home, she’ll also appear on Good Morning America alongside the woman behind the famous Loaf—her mom, Bev—as part of their Mother’s Day walk up coverage on May 11 ahead of the Academy of Country Music Awards.