Caitlyn Smith’s Third Full-Length Album, ‘High & Low,’ To Arrive In April

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Caitlyn Smith. Photo: Rob Morgan

Monument Records’ Caitlyn Smith has unveiled the second half of her self-produced High & Low project will arrive on April 14. Following the release of High in March 2022, Smith will add six new songs–the Low portion–to create her third full-length record.

The five additional new tracks help to further capture the full picture of who Smith is as an artist and creator. The first taste of what’s to come from the full album, “Lately,” is available everywhere now. Written alongside Gordie Sampson and Troy Verges, Smith details the attempt to overcome loss using a series of distractions.

Looking back at the making of High & Low, the award-winning songwriter realized she had celebrated the “highs” of life publicly while navigating the “lows” in private. Over the course of writing and producing the project, she learned to embrace all aspects of her life, including the “lows.”

“Nobody can have the highs without the lows,” Smith reflects. “When I decided to produce this album, I knew it was going to be a challenge–and musically it was a beautifully stretching and exciting experience. But it brought me into this unexpected season of life where I started facing all these roadblocks that were holding me back. Fear. Doubt. Denial. And I was really forced to finally bring these issues into the light. I went from hiding behind my songs to being able to say it out loud in the room–and that’s something I’m really proud of.

In 2022, the Minnesota native earned her first ACM Awards nomination for New Female Artist of the Year. With two upcoming performances set for “Opry at the Ryman” on Jan. 21, she plans to announce her 2023 shows in the coming months.

High & Low Track List: 
*Denotes new song
1 High – Intro
2 High
3 Dreamin’s Free
4 Lately*
5 Mississippi*
6 Good As Us
7 Alaska*
8 Maybe In Another Life
9 I Think Of You*
10 Nothing Against You
11 Downtown Baby
12 Writing Songs and Raising Babies*
13 I Don’t Like The World Without You
14 The Great Pretender*

UMG Nashville’s Dottie Chamberlain To Exit Label

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Dottie Chamberlain

Dottie Chamberlain will exit her position as Executive Assistant to outgoing UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan after supporting the executive for over 25 years.

The news comes on the heels of Dungan’s retirement announcement last week. The two will exit in March, with Cindy Mabe taking over Dungan’s role.

Chamberlain began assisting Dungan at Arista Nashville in 1995, moving with him to Capitol Records/UMG in 2000. Throughout her career Chamberlain has worked alongside some of country music’s most iconic entertainers and biggest breakthrough artists, including Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, George Strait, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne and Reba.

Prior to working as Dungan’s Executive Assistant, Chamberlain served as Publicity Coordinator for Arista Nashville, where she was instrumental in the careers of Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Diamond Rio and Brad Paisley.

With decades of experience and a multitude of skills and contacts in the industry, Chamberlain is excited to begin the next exciting chapter of her career and is exploring all opportunities at this time.

Reach her at dchambe@aol.com.

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Belmont Celebrates Minnie Pearl Film

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Pictured (L-R): Mary Ellen Pethel, filmmaker Barbara J. Hall, Don Cusic, Joann Berry and Kathy Mattea speak onstage at the Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl NPT documentary preview event at Belmont University. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Chapter 665

Belmont University exhibited its party-throwing abilities on Thursday evening (Jan. 19) with a three-hour gala to salute NPT’s new documentary about the legendary Minnie Pearl.

The event featured the screening of excerpts from Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl, the first film to explore the life and legacy of the Country Music Hall of Fame comedian. Staged at the school’s awesome new Fisher Center performance hall, the bash also included Minnie-inspired art, cuisine, music and reminiscences.

Photo: Sam Simpkins

The Fisher Center’s marble lobby held displays of 35 colorfully elaborate, sculptural and floral hats designed by the university’s fashion students. These were inspired by the star’s trademark straw hat topped with fake flowers and a $1.98 price tag.

Guests sampled from a buffet that featured several dishes that can be found in Minnie Pearl’s popular cookbooks — chicken-salad tea sandwiches, deviled eggs, coleslaw, beef skewers, pork sliders, melon & berries, truffled mac & cheese bites, loaded fingerling potatoes, apple-crumb tortlettes, pecan tassies and chocolate torts.

Working the room were Dan Rogers, Demetria Kalodimos, Dave Pomeroy, Sarah Cates, Amy Smartt, Doug Howard, Brenda Colladay, Erin Morris, Kent Oliver, Ellen Pryor, Mike Martinovich, David Ewing, Greg Hall, Jules Wortman, Glenda Harper, Lisa Harless and Metro’s First Lady Laura Cooper. Belmont president Greg Jones greeted the throng, saying, “Tonight’s event celebrates the legacy of Sarah Colley Cannon, an alumnus of Ward-Belmont. She had a spirit [as Minnie Pearl] we want our students to emulate.”

He encouraged us to enter the fabulous concert hall, where we were serenaded by the school’s fine bluegrass ensemble — Billy Ayers, Justin Blanner, Ky Brandes, Marissa Colter and Jonathan Horne, plus its female-trio vocalists Elizabeth Dewey, Sydney Lee and Michelle Raybourne. They performed next to a mini “Grinder’s Switch” set designed by their fellow student, Susie Konstans.

Sylvia Harney, a Minnie Pearl character actor, performs. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Sylvia Harney, also a Belmont alumnus, came onstage in full Minnie Pearl regalia to do a short stand-up set of the legend’s jokes. Nashville’s Deputy mayor of Community Engagement Brenda Haywood brought greetings from Mayor John Cooper and offered a brief bio of the country superstar.

“She was a trail-blazing woman who changed comedy,” said Haywood. “She became a uniter here in the Athens of the South.”

NPT president Becky Magura presided. “What a tremendous night,” she exclaimed. “Thank you Belmont; you sure know how to throw a party.” She brought on the film’s producer/director, Barb Hall.

“I just hope I have done justice,” said Hall. “I hope you enjoy it.” She screened a brief segment of the 90-minute documentary.

Rodney Crowell, Kathy Mattea and John Jorgenson performed Crowell’s song “It’s Time to Go Inward,” which was inspired by Minnie’s wisdom. Mattea remained on stage to take part in panel discussion with filmmaker Hall, Joanne Berry and Don Cusic.

Pam Tillis shared a story of how Minnie had mentored her Hall of Fame dad, Mel Tillis. Minnie encouraged him to talk and be funny, assuring him that audiences would laugh with him, not at him, when he stuttered. Pam then performed her superbly written “Two Dollar Hat,” a song in the legendary lady’s honor.

Amy Grant speaks. Photo: Sam Simpkins

Amy Grant shared stories from her girlhood growing up in Music City that involved her interactions with Sarah Cannon (Minnie Pearl). “I don’t remember one thing she said, but I remember how she made me feel,” said Grant, adding that one of her daughters is named in the star’s honor.

“Hasn’t this been a wonderful night?” asked Brenda Lee. “I began touring with Minnie when I was 10 years old. I learned so much from her. Not as an entertainer, but as a good person.

“Miss Minnie, I wish you could be here tonight. Because you can still fill up a room.”

A second segment of Facing the Laughter was screened, spotlighting Minnie Pearl’s tenure on Hee Haw. Then Sarah Cannon Cancer Center leader Jonathan Tinker told of the her philanthropy, stating that 2/3 of the recently approved cancer-treating drugs were in clinical trials there. Sarah/Minnie’s largess also extended to Belmont, which was the recipient of some of her estate. Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon received an honorary doctorate from Belmont in 1989.

Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl officially premieres on Feb. 6 in area theaters. This is NPT’s first theatrical film.

 

When Two Worlds Collide: A Look Inside Hardy’s Genre-Defying ‘The Mockingbird & The Crow’ [Interview]

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Hardy. Photo: Tanner Gallagher

Music City—the beloved nickname of Nashville, Tennessee—has never felt like a more appropriate moniker for the bustling musical metropolis than it has become in recent years.

Though primarily famous for its outpouring of country and folk music, fit with the acoustic guitars, fiddles, mandolins and more to match, the rapidly expanding city has also served as home to a variety of other genres and sounds over the last century, including jazz, blues, reggae, R&B, rap and even some more recent experiments with K-pop.

Over the last couple of years, though, Music Row has doubled down on fostering Nashville’s growing rock community as labels like Big Machine and Big Loud have opened up rock-specific imprints. As Music City continues to evolve and expand, artists from all over have begun blending the lines between the plethora of sounds found around town, creating and embracing a genre of music all their own.

Hardy. Photo: Ryan Smith

Enter: Michael Hardy.

Better known by simply his last name, Hardy has been paving his own lane since first entering the scene in 2018 when he signed with Big Loud Records. In addition to establishing himself as one of country’s most in-demand songwriters, the Mississippi native has also made waves with his own music.

Since releasing his 2020 debut album, A Rock, Hardy has undoubtedly displayed a unique sound that pushes the boundaries of country music and borders on the fringes of alternative rock. Over the last two years, the reigning ACM Songwriter of the Year has also dropped a couple of rock-leaning songs, including 2022’s “Sold Out,” as well as a stirring cover of rock band Puddle Of Mudd‘s “Blurry.”

As Hardy was busy indulging the rock influences of his adolescence, he was unintentionally prepping for what would become his newest project, The Mockingbird & The Crow.

Marking his sophomore effort, this dichotomous, 17-track record is split neatly down the middle, encompassing eight songs of organic, modern country—The Mockingbird—and another eight of staunchly electric rock tracks—The Crow. The two styles stunningly collide at the record’s midpoint with the biographical title track.

But Hardy didn’t originally set out to make his second album with this unique concept in mind. On the other hand, it was quite serendipitous.

“It was a very gradual process, and it was unintentional,” Hardy shares with MusicRow. “Once my management and label told me to start thinking about record two, I definitely didn’t sit down and say, ‘I want to do a half country, half rock record.’

“I wrote ‘Jack’ and turned it in thinking it would be cool for the next project. Then I wrote ‘I In Country’ and turned that in, then I wrote ‘Kill Sh!t Till I Die,’ then ‘Screen.’ It just kept going back and forth until I had 10 songs on hold, and half of them were rock and half were country.” He recalls, “We all looked at each other and said, ‘Maybe we should do this half and half thing.’ It was really organic and I think that took the pressure off of writing songs… It made it a lot more fun.”

A decorated songwriter who has celebrated an impressive 12 No. 1 singles since 2018, Hardy is unsurprisingly credited on each of the album’s 17 tracks, as well as 23 co-writers, who he explains make up his “core group of collaborators.”

Within The Mockingbird & The Crow, the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year is joined by some of Music City’s writing royalty, such as Ashley Gorley, Rhett Akins, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey and more, as well as some of Nashville’s newer hitmakers, including Hunter Phelps, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jordan Schmidt, Ben Johnson, Renee Blair, Matt Dragstrem, Brett Tyler, Will Weatherly and others.

Hardy. Photo: Ryan Smith

“Everybody that I love collaborating with the most has a song on the record,” the 2x AIMP Songwriter of the Year notes. “There’s a few of those people that I truly love writing with and I have hits outside of myself with those people, too. They’re people that I write well with.” He continues, “They bring out the best in me and they throw out stuff that my brain would have never thought of. They make me a better writer in general and they inspire me every day.”

Though there are nearly two dozen writers throughout the record, there is one song that sees Hardy put pen to paper on his own.

Found on the project’s country side, “Happy” personifies the idea of happiness in a rather rudimentary way. Giving happiness character and boiling it down, the track slightly touches on mental illness while also pumping some hard-learned optimism into the lyrics. The track marks Hardy’s first solo country write in a decade.

“‘Happy’ is really special to me,” he admits. “I hadn’t written a country song by myself since 2013 when I wrote a song called ‘Dog Years.’ That was a song that essentially got me my first publishing deal, so [‘Happy’] is really special in a lot of ways.” He adds, “I’m also just really proud of the song and the message that it has. I’m stoked to have a song I wrote by myself on this record, and hopefully it will inspire me to do more of that. It’s good to challenge yourself and see if you can try to get something great with just your own brain.”

Hardy performs onstage during Morgan Wallen’s “The Dangerous Tour” at Madison Square Garden. Photo: John Shearer

Elsewhere on the album’s first half, the CMA award-nominated entertainer offers up some classic country concepts. Whether it’s the love letter of sorts written from the perspective of beer on the opening track, the thought-provoking “Here Lies Country Music” taking on the form of a eulogy, his take on a traditional story-song alongside Lainey Wilson on “Wait In The Truck,” or his deliverance of some of country music’s signature patriotism on the hit-bound “Red” with labelmate Morgan Wallen, Hardy brings out all the bells and whistles that Nashville and country music are synonymous with.

One of the core standouts on The Mockingbird is undeniably “Screen.” Cleverly written alongside Dillon, Dragstrem and Phelps, Hardy makes a familiar statement with a simple but powerful acoustic backdrop. Opening with depictions of some of the sobering images that have become commonplace in our culture these days, “Screen” brings a much needed breath of fresh air as it reminds us of the beauty at work all around us if we just look up.

“A lot of these songs have a deep message and speak on humanity and where we are in the world, and there’s a lot to unpack with ‘Screen,’” he explains. “I don’t want it to ever come off judgy because I’m just as guilty as anybody else, but I would love for people to take a second and say, ‘Damn, I look at my phone a lot when there’s a lot of beautiful world going on out there.’ Hopefully, that song really conveys that message to everybody.”

Hardy. Photo: Tanner Gallagher

Conversely, on the record’s second half, Hardy breaks out some of the heavy-hitting production and edgy vocals often associated with the alternative rock space. On The Crow, you’ll find the intentionally chaotic “Jack,” which touches on the weight and isolation associated with addiction and alcoholism; “.30-06,” which could be sonically reminiscent of iconic band Blink-182; the quintessential modern rock song in “I Ain’t In The Country No More;” and the arena-ready anthem of “The Redneck Song,” which is just begging to be played as an encore.

The Crow also sees Jeremy McKinnon, lead singer of veteran band A Day To Remember, lend his vocals on a track called “Radio Song” that once again sees the convergence of the album’s two genres. Serving as one of the most gleefully confusing songs in recent memory, McKinnon delivers some spoken word verses behind rock production while Hardy provides a definitively country chorus.

With the project now circling out into the stratosphere and beyond, Hardy hopes that the heart behind the groundbreaking record doesn’t get lost. Though it isn’t an inherently country album through and through, The Mockingbird & The Crow truly captures the multi-faceted and nuanced nature of the rising singer-songwriter.

“I’m obviously trying to push my own boundaries and I guess ‘crossover’ a little bit into rock ‘n’ roll, if you will, but I also want people to know that I’m not leaving country music by any means,” Hardy sums. “The record is not an announcement that I’m exiting country music, but I think it really describes who I am as a person. Every song goes through what’s going on inside my brain—the thoughts that I have, the way that I grew up, the music I listen to, and my values. It’s just an all-encompassing encapsulation of who I am as a person.”

Among his biggest hopes for this album, Hardy shares, is to spawn a No. 1 on both country radio and rock radio. With “Jack” currently sitting in the top 15 at rock radio and its country counterpart “Wait In The Truck” residing in the top 10, the Mississippi boy’s dream may just become a reality.

Hardy performs onstage during Morgan Wallen’s “The Dangerous Tour” at Madison Square Garden. Photo: John Shearer

“A big goal of mine is to have a hit in both genres.” He adds, “That would be really cool, especially on rock radio. That, to me, is a full seal of approval from the rock ‘n’ roll community. The fact that I have been so accepted in that means a lot, and to have a hit at rock radio would be a huge milestone for me as an artist.”

As he begins this new chapter of his artistry, Hardy will ring in his album release with a special, double-header concert event on Jan. 23 in LA as he plays each of the record’s halves at two iconic venues—The Mockingbird at the Troubadour and The Crow at The Roxy.

He will later embark on his sold-out “The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour” on Feb. 16 in Indianapolis. Spanning across 16 dates, the trek’s support will also reflect the nature of the album as country singer-songwriter Jameson Rodgers and rock risers Blame My Youth come along for the ride.

Hardy’s one part country and one part rock concoction is available everywhere now.

Blake Shelton Helps Break Ground On New Ole Red Las Vegas Location

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Pictured (L-R): Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed, Blake Shelton, Ryman Hospitality Properties President & CEO Mark Fioravanti. Photo: Denise Truscello

Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties provided a sneak peek of the upcoming Ole Red Las Vegas location at Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Las Vegas on Thursday (Jan. 19). The location is currently planned for a late 2023 grand opening

The preview event included a moderated Q&A between Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed, as well as live performances by past contestants from The Voice, Wendy Moten and The Swon Brothers.

Pictured (L-R): Blake Shelton, Colton Swon and Zach Swon of The Swon Brothers, and Wendy Moten. Photo: Denise Truscello

“If you are going to do something here, you’ve got to do it big,” shares Shelton. “Every time I’m in Vegas, I want some country music and Ole Red is the remedy for that.”

Ole Red Las Vegas has broken ground in front of Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Las Vegas at the Grand Bazaar Shops, on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. At approximately 27,000 square feet with a planned 686 seats, Ole Red Las Vegas is slated to be the brand’s largest location to date and the first in the western United States.

Additional details of the four-story venue include:

  • First & Second Floors: Visitors can dig into scratch-made dishes in a laid-back dining area and experience concert-caliber country music from their seats. When the sun goes down, the space transforms into a full-blown honky-tonk with dance floors and designated VIP areas for a Vegas-style Ole Red experience.
  • Third Floor: Decked out with sophisticated lounge seating, advanced audio and visual technology, and high-end decor, the third floor serves as an overflow area for the restaurant, higher end VIP experiences, and a private event space for groups. Bottle service is available and the third-floor menu includes elevated offerings on top of Ole Red favorites.
  • Rooftop: The rooftop offers a casual restaurant environment during the day and a rooftop lounge at night. With premium cocktail flights, live music and DJ sets, and an unbeatable view of the Las Vegas strip, this is a space for private events and VIP guests. The rooftop menu includes Ole Red classics during the day and shareable items in the evening.

Aaron Lewis To Kick Off His ‘American Patriot Acoustic Tour’ Tonight

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Aaron Lewis. Photo: Jim Wright

Aaron Lewis is kicking off his 2023 “American Patriot Acoustic Tour” tonight (Jan. 20) at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Lewis will make stops on the upcoming 50-show trek in Albuquerque, Tulsa, Cincinnati, Tampa, Denver, Charleston and more through July 23. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks via aaronlewismusic.com.

Following the release of his latest album, Frayed at Both Ends, Lewis is back in the studio working on a new acoustic solo album, as well as new material from Staind.

“American Patriot Acoustic Tour” Dates:
Jan 20 – Las Vegas, NV – Orleans Hotel & Casino
Jan 21 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort
Jan 26 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium at the Albuquerque Convention Center
Jan 27 – Midland, TX – Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
Jan 28 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center Selena Auditorium
Feb 2 – Tulsa, OK – River Spirit Casino Resort
Feb 3 – Newkirk, OK – 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel
Feb 4 – Beaumont, TX – Jefferson Theatre
Feb 9 – Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Feb 10 – Bettenborf, IA – Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center
Feb 11 – Quapaw, OK – The Pavilion at Downstream
Feb 16 – Muncie – Ball State University – Emens Auditorium
Feb 17 – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
Feb 18 – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
Feb 19 – Peori, IL – Peoria Civic Center
Feb 22 – Holland, MI – Holland Civic Center
Feb 23 – Saginaw, MI – DOW Event Center
Feb 24 – Mt. Vernon, KY – New Barn Theatre – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
Feb 25 – Huntington, WV – Mountain Health Arena
Feb 28 – Tiffin, OH – The Ritz Theatre
March 1 – Tiffin, OH – The Ritz Theatre
March 2 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
March 3 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
March 4 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theatre
March 8 – Lafayette, LA – Cajundome
March 10 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
March 11 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
March 12 – Albany, GA – Albany Municipal Auditorium
March 16 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
March 18 – Norfolk, VA – Chartway Arena
March 20 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
March 22 – Coconut Creek, FL – The Stage at Coco, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
March 23 – Coconut Creek, FL – The Stage at Coco, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
March 24 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
April 6 – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
April 7 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Memorial Auditorium
April 8 – Waterloo, NY – Del Lago Casino
April 19 – Bethlehem, PA – Vision Nightclub at Wind Creek Event Center
April 20 – Bethlehem, PA – Vision Nightclub at Wind Creek Event Center
April 21 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Resort Casino
April 22 – Mashantucket, CT – The Premier Theater – Foxwoods Resort Casino
May 5 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
May 10 – Idaho Falls, ID – Hero Arena at Mountain America Center
May 11 – Sacramento, CA – Hard Rock Live Sacramento
May 12 – Minden, NV – TJ’s Corral at Carson Valley Inn
May 13 – Minden, NV – TJ’s Corral at Carson Valley Inn
May 14 – Las Vegas, NV – Sandbar at Red Rock Resort
May 17 – Visalia, CA – Visalia Fox Theatre
May 20 – Laughlin, NV – Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater at Harrah’s Laughlin
July 21 – Danbury, WI – St. Croix Casino Danbury
July 23 – Erie, PA – Warner Theater

Beyond The Row: MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro

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MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson stands in front of Mount Kilimanjaro as he begins his hike to the summit. Photo: Sherod Robertson

In early January, MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, reaching the summit, the highest point on the dormant volcano.

Embarking on a 7-day hike on the Lemosho route, Robertson reached Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 8:34 a.m. East Africa Time.

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, reaching a peak of 19,341 feet above sea level. Uhuru Peak is the tallest summit on Kibo’s crater rim, the highest of the three dormant volcanic cones that make up Kilimanjaro.

Made up of ash, lava, and rock, Kilimanjaro is one of “The Seven Summits,” which also include Mt. Everest in Asia, Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Mt. Elbrus in Europe, Puncak Jaya/Mt. Carstensz in Australia, and Mt. Vinson in Antarctica.

 

Why did you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was never on my bucket list. However, when I was approached by a friend as something to consider, I honestly couldn’t find a reason not to do it. I guess you could say the mountain summoned me and I had to oblige.

I also saw it as an opportunity to help define how I age. While I can’t stop the aging process, I do have control on how I define aging and how I evolve as I get older. As it turns out, our first day on the mountain was January 1, 2023 and this year is a big milestone birthday for me. So it all seems a little poetic on how the timing of this adventure turned out.

Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Sherod Robertson

What did your training involve? How did you prepare for such a challenge?
I hiked around 100 miles here in Middle Tennessee in the months leading up to the expedition in Tanzania. I thought I was ready. In hindsight, I probably should have incorporated more strength and endurance training. Lifting weights to increase muscle strength and jumping rope to build endurance would have really helped. Those are key when you are tackling something as difficult as Mount Kilimanjaro. But it all worked out in the end and I’m really pleased with how my body responded under those conditions.

What was the most unexpected aspect of your adventure?
The first surprise was before I even got to the mountain. This was the first time I had ever been to Africa, and although I was visiting a strange land, it seemed very familiar on a deep and spiritual level, almost like I was home. Strange, isn’t it? I sure didn’t expect that. However, I have learned that many scientists believe humans originated from a single point in Africa and then migrated across the world. So perhaps on some level, I was home after all.

As for Mount Kilimanjaro, the danger of this trek had completely escaped me. I knew it would be difficult and I mentally planned for that. I knew there were people like former tennis star Martina Navratilova who was hospitalized in 2010 after her publicized attempt to climb Kilimanjaro was cut short when she experienced high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). This is something every climber is aware of since it’s a potentially fatal form of altitude sickness. She only made it to 14,800 feet, so I knew this was not going to be an easy hike up a mountain. I also knew the success rate reported across all climbers is around 65%, so I was mentally prepared for the challenge and knew my success was something I was going to have to earn.

However, any danger had fallen off my radar. Despite all of the planning, research, and training, it never crossed my mind that this was dangerous, but I became very aware of it once I was on the mountain.

The sun rises above the cloud line while standing on Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Sherod Robertson

How so? Did you really feel you were in danger during the climb?
In a word, yes. Now granted, the death rate of those climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is extremely small. Out of some estimated 30,000 people attempting to climb the mountain each year, the average reported deaths are somewhere around 10. Those are pretty good odds.

But on the fourth day when the trek included climbing Barranco Wall, I became very aware of the danger. The Barranco Wall is 843 feet high and located on the side of Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbers refer to it as a scramble, meaning it does not require mountain climbing skills; however, you do have to use your hands and upper and lower body strength to traverse the boulders. Perhaps it was my age, my physical fitness, or my fear of heights, but this was a real challenge for me. Many consider this challenge their favorite day; however, I couldn’t escape knowing that if you fall, you don’t simply break a bone or fall on your ass. You are very high on the mountain and there’s nothing to catch you if you slip and fall. There are no safety nets, no cables to hold onto. It really got in my head. And it was raining that day which added another element. I knew one slip of a misplaced hand or foot could be tragic and I just couldn’t mentally get past it. But I did what I had to do. I faced those fears, I showed up, and I did the work. I actually ended up doing really well that day, but I found that day particularly stressful.

As I reflect, I think the real danger is what occurs in your head and how you process and manage it. It’s a fascinating experience to see how your body and mind react to being pushed to their limits. I found that process really interesting.

(L-R): Longtime friends Jay Krenson, Sherod Robertson, and Rachel Fontenot pause for photo at Lava Tower on Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Sherod Robertson

Who all were you hiking with? What was camping like each night?
This adventure included two of my very best friends in the world, Rachel Fontenot and Jay Krenson. We have known each other for many years and were very supportive of each other throughout the climb. That goes a long way. Although we were hiking together, we all had very different experiences. That’s what makes this journey so incredible. We successfully climbed the mountain together and supported one another, but the experience became very personal on many levels.

Each day, we stayed in a new area on the mountain as we slowly made our way to the top. The three of us had a team of 32 people which included guides, porters, a chef, a camp manager, and many others who helped us on our journey. They are the real heroes. Without them, there is no summit. They would break down our tents each morning and move them to the next camp each day, bypassing us along the way. They cooked our meals, carried our supplies, and performed daily medical assessments. They were our biggest cheerleaders and by the end of the adventure, we all had formed very strong bonds. They taught me so much about their land and culture. I will always remember them fondly.

Did you ever feel like quitting and stopping the climb?
No, never. I would have died on that mountain before I retreated. I’m not sure why, but I had never been more committed and determined to do something in my life. Even as my body felt like it was shutting down, it never occurred to me that stopping was an option. I was aware the guides had the power to call off the climb if my health deteriorated too much or if I required oxygen. Their goal was to get me to the top in a safe manner. My goal was to keep climbing. Fortunately, our goals aligned and I made it to the top.

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson reflects at Mount Kilimanjaro’s Stella Point. Photo: Sherod Robertson

About two hours before reaching the summit, it felt like my body was shutting down. I wasn’t gasping for air and my breathing wasn’t particularly labored, but we had been hiking for many hours up a very steep ascend and I was exhausted. If I’m being perfectly honest, I thought that might be the end. I remember looking down at the ground and wondered if this is how I was leaving this world. It may sound dramatic, but during those moments, I felt very disconnected from life. I had never pushed my body to those extremes before so this was new territory. With the high altitude and exhaustion, my body was at its limit. All I could do is focus on that next single small step, nothing more. And that is what gave me the ultimate victory. Such a metaphor for life, isn’t it? One step at a time.

What are some of the lessons you learned on this adventure?
Wow, there’s so many. And the most profound lessons are deeply personal and probably things I’ll keep to myself. You’ll find that people who reach the summit often describe their experience as transformative and life changing. I am no exception. I will still be learning from this experience in the months and years to come. When you are young, you feel invincible. Then you grow up and know better. I feel like I’ve tapped back into that innocent state of feeling invincible and it’s a great feeling to revisit at this age.

I also now have a deeper understanding and respect of how my story ends. An adventure like this really makes you reflect and take stock of your life and purpose. Hopefully, there are still some empty pages in my life’s book to be completed, but if I skip to the end of the book and take a peak, I know what happens to me. I don’t make it. I die in the end. I realize that’s an obvious observation, but once you really understand that, in a deep and profound way, it becomes both grounding and liberating. It has taught me to swing big. After all, I have nothing to lose.

How did it feel once you finally reached the summit? What were your first thoughts?
For me, it was very emotional. As I approached the summit, I wasn’t in the best shape physically or mentally on that particular day. I wasn’t really speaking to anyone at that point. And with any break offered, I would immediately sit down and retreat inside my head. I was aware of my surroundings but I had such little energy, I wasn’t interacting with the others. It wasn’t by choice, I just couldn’t. I was in survival mode.

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson and porter Athumani Ally celebrate reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Sherod Robertson

Before you reach the summit, you first arrive at Stella Point. It has an altitude of 18,885 feet and is one of three official summit points on Mount Kilimanjaro. The views are breathtaking. All climbers who reach this level receive the official Kilimanjaro climbing certificate. When I reached Stella Point, I was at one of my lowest points. It’s about an hour from the summit. We stopped there to take photos, take a break, and drink hot tea. I remember being so exhausted I could barely communicate with the guides because it was a challenge for me to speak. I recall being encouraged to drink tea. The guides ran over and poured glucose powder in the tea and encouraged me to drink it quickly. I did as I was told. While others were taking photos, I knew I didn’t have the strength to get my phone out so I just sat on a rock with my head down. Fortunately my personal porter, Athumani Ally, came over and unzipped the pocket on my pants and took out my phone. I was able to put my finger on the phone to unlock it and he started taking video so I would have some documentation of reaching this point. That’s the level of attention Athumani gave me throughout this expedition. He was by my side every step of the way and was an integral part of my success, along with the other guides and porters. My gratitude for them is enormous.

After the break, I continued onward and I’ll never forget how I felt as I finally reached the summit at Uhuru Peak. It’s very difficult to describe in words. I felt depleted but a wave of renewed energy flowed over and through me. I spoke very little but there was a crystal clear clarity that I had never felt before in my life. Through the tears, I realized I had been successful at the single hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s such a surreal and overwhelming feeling. I will cherish that feeling forever. The much needed adrenaline brought some life back into me and I was able to slowly walk around, take photos and be fully present in this transformational moment in my life.

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson walks by shrinking glaciers and ice fields on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro which are projected to disappear between 2025 and 2035. Photo: Sherod Robertson

After reaching the summit, you still had to come back down the mountain? How was that process for you?
We couldn’t stay at the summit very long because the oxygen is so low at that altitude. So after twenty minutes, we started our descent. You would think if I was barely hanging on physically and mentally to reach the summit, I wouldn’t have any energy to descend. But it’s actually the exact opposite. With each step down the mountain, there is more oxygen and your body reacts very positively to it and becomes more energetic. Two of the guides, one on each side, decided to show me how they go down the mountain by taking enormous strides and alternately landing on the heel of each foot and sliding until you naturally stop. After an hour or so, they suggested I was doing well enough to descend on my own and unassisted. It was the most liberating feeling I’ve ever experienced. What had been a tortuous path slowly ascending to the top, turned into an energy-filled, fast-trek trollop down the mountain. The juxtaposition of the two was quite an experience.

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson looks down on the clouds from Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit. Photo: Sherod Robertson

Would you recommend others climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Would you ever do it again?
The experience I received is priceless and my life will never be the same. It is without a doubt the greatest gift I have ever given myself. If you are called to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you should do it. The company I used was Altezza Travel and I would use them again. They were amazing to work with. However, I have to point out that this is not an expedition you take lightly or treat as a vacation or casual adventure. It takes a high level of mental and physical fortitude to do something like climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Would I ever do it again? I can’t say it’s completely off the table. It would be interesting to see how I could improve my mental and physical experience. Maybe a second trip for another milestone birthday? Who knows? But if a compelling reason for me to climb Mount Kilimanjaro appears, I may indeed find myself on that mountain again.

If you had to sum up your experience in just one statement, what lasting life lesson did this experience give you?
The level of strength and determination that I had to tap into not to just reach the top of the mountain, but to simply survive and keep moving forward, were elements that I didn’t know I possessed. It’s an amazing discovery that I never knew existed. It took me traveling across the globe to discover what I always had right here inside of me. Life can be funny like that.

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson reached Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 8:34 a.m. East Africa Time. Photo: Sherod Robertson

The rain forest on Mount Kilimanjaro. Photo: Sherod Robertson

Zach Bryan To Launch ‘Burn, Burn, Burn Tour’ This Summer

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Zach Bryan. Photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

Zach Bryan is returning to the road in 2023 for his new “Burn, Burn, Burn North American Tour,” this summer.

Through Aug. 30, Bryan will headline arenas and amphitheaters coast-to-coast along with some festival appearances. The extensive run kicks off on May 10 at in Charlottesville, Virginia, and will visit Houston, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Denver, Tulsa, Bakersfield, and more.

Fans can register to purchase tickets for the date via Fair AXS at axs.com/zachbryan. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and an invitation email for the chance to purchase tickets does not guarantee tickets will be available.

Last year, each date on Bryan’s “American Heartbreak Tour” sold out in minutes. His chart-topping triple album, American Heartbreak, emerged as the No. 1 Country Album on Spotify for 2022. To date, the album has accrued over 3 billion streams and has been certified Gold in the U.S. and Canada, along with Gold single “From Austin,” Platinum single “Heading South,” and the now double-Platinum single “Something in the Orange,” which is currently on the Billboard Top 10 Hot 100 chart.

Zach Bryan 2023 Tour:
Apr 15 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn Festival*
May 10 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
May 12 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center
May 13 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
May 15 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
May 19 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
May 20 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
May 23 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
May 24 – N Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
May 26 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
May 28 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
May 31 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
June 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
June 03 – Lexington, KY – Railbird Festival*
June 23 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
June 26 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 27 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 07 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest*
July 13 – Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout*
July 14-16 – Whitefish, MT – Under The Big Sky Festival*
July 20-July 22 – Cullman, AL – Rock The South*
Aug 05 – St. Charles, IA – Hinterland Music Festival*
Aug 07 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
Aug 09 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Aug 11 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Aug 14 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Aug 17 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center
Aug 19 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Aug 20 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena
Aug 21 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Aug 23 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Aug 25 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
Aug 27 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Aug 29 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
Aug 30 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
* Indicates Festival Dates – on sale now

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp CEO Butch Spyridon To Retire After 32 Years

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Butch Spyridon. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Long-time leader of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) Butch Spyridon will retire from the organization on June 30 after 32 years as its top executive. Deana Ivey, who currently holds the title of President, will be promoted to President and CEO on July 1.

Spyridon has led the organization since 1991 and has held the dual title of President and CEO since 2003. The 22-member NCVC Board of Directors developed a long-term strategic succession plan several years ago to prepare for Spyridon’s retirement, including Ivey’s transition into the CEO role.

Ivey, who has been with the NCVC for 25 years, was promoted to President in January of 2022 and previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

“It is hard to imagine anyone else who has shaped Nashville’s growth and success as much as Butch, from branding it as Music City to making it attractive to professional sports teams and corporate relocations to elevating the quality of life by drawing world-class events, restaurants, retail and hotels,” says Kevin P. Lavender, Head of Commercial Banking at Fifth Third Bank, who serves as chairman of the NCVC Board of Directors. “I particularly appreciate how Butch has intentionally supported Nashville’s diversity throughout his tenure, both marketing our cultural assets to visitors and in voluntarily assisting community groups and projects.”

He continues, “Two prime examples are Butch serving as a founding board member of the National Museum of African American Music and continuing more than 20 years in the role until completion and also ensuring that the Fisk Jubilee Singers were presented as the foundation of the Music City story. Butch has nurtured the city’s creative culture, preserved the authenticity of our music brand and worked every day to make Nashville a better version of itself. We should all be eternally grateful to the legacy he will leave behind.

Deana Ivey. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

“We are proud of the succession plan that will allow for a seamless transition in leadership so that the NCVC staff can continue their great work bringing visitors to Nashville and our city’s hospitality industry continues its upward momentum,” Lavender adds.

On July 1, Spyridon will transition into a role as a strategic consultant to the NCVC under a two-year consulting contract, including efforts to recruit major global events, including a Rugby World Cup, and additional nonstop international flights to Nashville International Airport. If an enclosed stadium is approved, his work would also include bidding on a Super Bowl and other premier events, such as bringing WrestleMania to Nissan Stadium.

“I cannot be more grateful to Nashville for the honor of being part of this community that has given me so much, from my college degree at Vanderbilt to meeting my wife to leading this extraordinary organization,” Spyridon shares. “As I begin to reflect on my tenure, without question, my greatest professional accomplishment is the team we have assembled at the NCVC. They are second to none. I will treasure every moment as we work together these next six months. And anyone who knows me knows I won’t be slowing down.”

Under Spyridon’s leadership, and with Ivey as his right hand for 25 years, Nashville’s tourism industry has grown into an $8.8 billion juggernaut, and Davidson County typically represents 30 percent of all visitor spending in Tennessee. The city has been named a top destination in the world by major travel outlets for the past 12 years. Spyridon has served alongside the past six Nashville mayors on nearly every major economic development project the city has seen.

“I am honored and humbled that I will be stepping into this new role this summer,” Ivey notes. “Everyone knows Butch has big shoes to fill, and I appreciate the faith the Board and Butch have placed in me. I look forward to continuing the work of the NCVC and the hospitality industry as we sell and market the best destination in the world.”

Spyridon has led the city’s hospitality industry through the closure of a theme park, a major flood, a recession, tornadoes and the COVID pandemic. As a testament to his leadership and the resilience of the industry he oversees, the hospitality industry continues to shatter tourism records and generate record levels of economic activity for the city with the most hotel room nights ever sold in a single year at 9.5 million room nights in 2022.

During Spyridon’s tenure, the NCVC developed Nashville as both a leisure and convention destination, with the city ranked as the top sixth meetings destination in the United States. Spyridon spearheaded development of the Music City Center as a demand generator and created a major events strategy to bring visitors to the city.

Spyridon was instrumental in recruiting the city’s professional sports teams and construction of Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium and GEODIS Park. He was the city’s point person in recruiting and hosting the 2019 NFL Draft–the most successful Draft in NFL history and the most successful one-day event in Nashville history. He also was the mastermind behind Nashville making the short list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and in bringing the British Airways nonstop London flight to Nashville in 2018, just as he did in 1994 when American Airlines launched the same route.

Recently, he led renovation and preservation efforts of Elks Lodge. No. 1102, the former home of the storied Club Baron on historic Jefferson Street.

Industry Celebrates Jelly Roll’s ‘Son Of A Sinner’ With No. 1 Party

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Pictured (L-R, back row): BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Big Loud’s Michael Giangreco, Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson and BBRMG’s Jon Loba. (L-R, front row): David Ray Stevens, Ilya Toshinskiy, Jelly Roll and Ernest Keith Smith. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Music Row gathered at BMI Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 18) to celebrate Jelly Roll‘s No. 1 hit “Son Of A Sinner,” written by the Stoney Creek artist himself alongside David Ray Stevens and Ernest Keith Smith, who also served as a producer on the track along with Ilya Toshinskiy.

The celebratory tone was clearly set and immediately felt once one entered the BMI lobby. No. 1 parties often seem to create a comforting, upbeat communal atmosphere, and this event was no exception. The bar brimmed with smiling faces, and guests waited in line or huddled to watch as Jelly Roll’s cousin, tattoo artist Colby Hunter, permanently inked desiring attendees.

With each person came a blissful pump of energy, and the good vibes only seemed to grow as the sun went down.

BMI’s Clay Bradley called the crowd’s attention to the stage.

“I’d like to kick off this No. 1 celebration by saying how much I appreciate Jelly Roll and his team, Jon Loba and his team, Ernest, David Ray, Kimberly Gleason, the Big Loud family, Chris Oglesby, Troy Tomlinson and everyone here at BMI who makes this happen. We all came together two weeks ago as this song was reaching No. 1, and here we are today as a community coming together to capture this historic moment,” stated Bradley. “Thank for coming and celebrating this awesome song.”

He handed the mic over to BMI’s Shannon Sanders, who amped up the room, leading all of us in cheers as he transitioned to thanking everyone involved in “Son Of A Sinner.”

“I’m from Nashville, just like Jelly Roll, this means something to me,” shared Sanders. “You can go get your tomatoes from Kroger, you can go to Whole Foods, you can go anywhere, but there’s something about going to the farmer’s market. There’s something about getting them homegrown that just hits a little different.

“There’s something about this [song] that’s hitting a little different,” he continued. “I couldn’t be prouder of my brother Jelly Roll, who I’ve known for at least half of his life.”

He then welcomed Jelly Roll, Smith, Stevens and Toshinskiy onto the stage. In honor of their first country No. 1, Sanders presented Jelly Roll and Stevens with Taylor guitars on behalf of BMI.

Smith recalled first seeing Jelly Roll when a friend of his sold her car to him in high school. He notes that they hung out a year later and bonded over their love of rap music.

“Rap got me in the door for all of this. I’ve always loved rap, so I was looking up to Jelly Roll for freestyle rapping. You wouldn’t have been able to tell me that day that we would have a song at country radio, much less one that rang the bell at No. 1,” he confessed.”Our journeys have been so different but they both started within a 10 mile radius of each other.”

Smith proceeded by shouting out his fellow producer Toshinskiy and the path that led him to this moment. “You can walk into a room with nothing and leave that day with a piece of property that’s going to change a lot of lives, affect a lot of lives, and impact a lot of lives.”

Toshinskiy followed by returning the shoutout to Smith, who brought him in on the project. He told us he was instantly hooked by the emotion elicited by “Son Of A Sinner” when he first heard the demo.

Stevens was up next, and wasted no time sharing what this milestone meant to him.

“I walked into this building for the first time as a young father looking for a job. To walk through these doors today as a co-writer on a No. 1 song at country radio is a lifelong dream come true. I’ve known and made music with Jelly for over two decades, no one is more deserving of this. His heart is pure, his determination is unmatched,” he shared.

Turning to the genre-blender Stevens added: “With no doubts, I believe God has you right where you’re supposed to be. I’ve watched you grow as an artist, father, husband, businessman, and a friend. I couldn’t be prouder.”

He finished by thanking all of project’s contributors as well as his family for their support.

Big Loud’s Michael Giangreco and Universal Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson then took the stage to honor the crew.

Giangreco congratulated the celebrated industry members and the work that went into the hit. He also took time to sing Smith’s praises, noting that “Son Of A Sinner” marked his eighth No. 1, and he ended the year as No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songwriters chart as well as No. 20 on the Hot 100 All Genre chart, two spots above Drake.

Tomlinson took over and discussed how the song “oozes with truth.” He went on to recognize the four guys individually, sharing snippets of his relationship with each of them. He informed the honorees that, in addition to their plaques, Universal Music Publishing would make a donation to MusiCares in honor of the hit.

Next, Sanders introduced Country Aircheck‘s Chuck Aly, who explained the conversation and debates that seek to define the country format.

“When it comes to ‘Son Of A Sinner’ and Jelly Roll, the conversation is over, it’s settled science. This is country music,” Aly declared.

BBR’s Jon Loba stepped up and gave a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to the men on stage, his collaborators, partners and staff, as well as Jelly Roll’s team and family, the Grand Ole Opry and the press. He reminisced on first meeting Jelly Roll through BBR’s Adrian Michaels, and how they almost didn’t work together.

“I called Jelly and I said, ‘I’ve never been depressed about not working with somebody and if it doesn’t happen, I want you to know, business or not, we’re going to talk about you. We’re going to fight for you. We’re going to tell your story because it needs to be told, whether we’re involved personally or not.'”

Loba concluded by saying: “Jelly, thank you for putting your trust in us, brother. Our [relationship] is one of the greatest I’ve ever had in my life. I got into music because I wanted to make a difference, and you’re helping all of us do that. Thank you for you trust, your vulnerability and your honesty. Every night you’re saving lives and changing lives. That vulnerability that you’re so willing to share with everybody is so important and makes you who you are.”

He closed with, “[Jelly Roll] will be making music and connecting in arenas and stadiums for decades to come.”

Before introducing the man of the hour, Sanders made a point to recognize that Jelly Roll had not only sold out Bridgestone Arena, but the Antioch native had turned around and donated the proceeds to Nashville’s Juvenile Justice System.

Finally, Jelly Roll took the floor and acknowledged each of the guys sitting next to him.

“Like Shannon said earlier, I’ve known Shannon and David half of my life. I’ve got friends in the music business [that I started this with]. We were kids dreaming this together. [Stevens] is an incredible writer and I’ve always known it. I’ve always been in rooms with him and here he is, celebrating his first No. 1.” He added, “It’s special for me to have Ilya here, because we were brought together for music only. Ilya was Ernest’s go-to guy. [He] came in and I loved everything he did.”

Jelly Roll then addressed Smith. “Ernest has always had it, man. He came on my radar because he was the best rapper at his high school. He’s always had it, and he’s been a friend,” he said. “For the man that wrote ‘Flower Shops’, he deserves a flower shop and I want to give it to him.”

He continued by thanking Michaels and recounted their first interaction and how it led him to meeting Loba.

“We fell in love, it was an instant thing. There was no hesitation, we both got it and spoke the language.”

The artist moved on to thank the BBR radio team, sharing funny stories of their radio tour travels, and shouted out the publicity team as well as the rest of the label. He announced to the audience that this was just the start of his country music journey.

“This was about me getting into country music. We’re finishing a country music album. We’re going to release it at the end of May, I hope, I’m screaming for it, and we’re here to stay. This is way bigger than just a song, y’all. This is the beginning of a career. The hometown boys brought it home.”