Western Edge Exhibit At CMHOF Opens With All-Star Country-Rock Concert

Pictured (L-R, back row): CMHOFM’s Michael Gray, Alison brown, Jimmie Fadden, Vince Gill, Jeff Hanna, Randy Lewis, Sean Watkins, Rob Ickes, James Intveld, Mark Fain, Jesse Furay Lynch, Al Perkins, Kai Clark, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, CMHOFM’s Abi Tapia; (L-R, front row): Sara Watkins, Rosie Flores, Denny Sarokin, Steve Duncan, JayDee Maness, Rodney Dillard, John McEuen, Richie Furay, Wendy Moten, John Jorgenson. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the opening of its newest exhibit, Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, presented by City National Bank, with a special concert.

An all-star lineup performed in the museum’s CMA Theater, including torchbearers who have been influenced by the sounds and artists from the L.A. music scene, including Alison Brown, Jimmie Fadden, Rosie Flores, Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, Jeff Hanna, Chris Hillman, John McEuen, Wendy Moten, Herb Pedersen, Al Perkins, and more.

The Western Edge exhibit, which is now open for a nearly three-year run, traces the L.A.-based communities of visionary singers, songwriters and musicians who, between the 1960s-1980s frequented local nightclubs, embraced country music, and created and shaped the musical fusion of “country-rock.”

CMA Hosts First-Ever Industry Event In New Zealand With Kane Brown

Pictured (L-R): Garrett Nichols (Restless Road), Colton Pack (Restless Road), Kane Brown, Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development), Zach Beeken (Restless Road), and manager Martha Earls (Owner, Neon Coast). Photo: Oli Spencer

CMA hosted its first-ever industry event in New Zealand with Kane Brown for label executives, media, local artists and influencers. CMA partnered with Sony Music New Zealand and Frontier Touring for a pre-show reception leading into his show at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sept. 25.

Brown’s international tour included sold-out headlining dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and CMC. While in Australia, Brown was recognized by Sony Australia for over 285 million streams in the country, as well his 6x Platinum single “One Thing Right,” 3x Platinum single “Heaven,” and 2x Platinum singles “What Ifs” and “Be Like That.”

“At CMA, our mission is to expand the country music genre globally, and this opportunity was the first step in building and fostering a country music industry community in New Zealand,” says Milly Olykan, Vice President, International Relations and Development. “Kane is the first country artist to perform an arena show in New Zealand Aotearoa in six years, so we wanted to capitalize on that moment to begin developing the relationships that will help us build the genre. Kane Brown and Restless Road were incredibly well received, and it was exciting to see the potential of the market.”

Drew Baldridge Celebrates Country Born Project At Sony Music Publishing Event

Pictured (L-R): Mason Hunter (BMI), Rusty Gaston (Sony Music Publishing), Drew Baldridge, Jennifer Johnson (Riser House), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Laurel Kittleson-Cobb (Rainier Entertainment)

Drew Baldridge celebrated the release of his sophomore album Country Born on Friday (Sept. 30) at a gathering with industry, friends, and family at Sony Music Publishing. The project was released via Patoka Records in partnership with Riser House.

Justin Champagne & Snoop Dogg Team For ‘If She Ain’t Country’ Remix

Justin Champagne has released a new remix for “If She Ain’t Country” featuring Snoop Dogg. Snoop is also featured in the music video, which was directed by Ed Pryor and shot at Snoop’s compound in California.

“I’m amped to have this song out with Snoop Dogg,” exclaims Champagne. “He’s such a cultural icon and it’s such an honor to have him remix one of my songs.”

Hardy. Photo: Ryan Smith

Over the weekend, decorated singer-songwriter Hardy and some of his road crew were involved in a bus accident. The accident followed the Big Loud recording artist’s performance at Country Thunder Music Festival in Bristol, Tennessee.

Hardy, along with three others, were all treated for “significant injuries,” as shared on the entertainer’s social media channels. As of Sunday (Oct. 2), his bus driver was still in the hospital being treated for what can be inferred as more critical injuries. The 2022 ACM Songwriter of the Year called for his fans prayers as he explained that the driver’s family was with him at the hospital.

“I’ve been released from the hospital, but ordered by doctors to recover for the next few weeks which may cost us at a couple of shows. My team and I will keep the fans updated on that as I rest in the coming days,” Hardy shared.

“Please keep our road family in your prayers and I promise to keep you updated in the days to follow. God bless our medics and local and state officials for their quick response and incredible service,” he added.

pic.twitter.com/3HuX6bjDbW

— HARDY (@HardyMusic) October 2, 2022

No official statement has been made regarding Hardy’s upcoming show in Arlington, Texas on Oct. 8 as support on Morgan Wallen‘s “The Dangerous Tour.”

The accident comes after the release of Hardy’s Big Loud Rock single, “Jack.” Written by Hardy, David Garcia and Hillary Lindsey and produced by Joey Moi with co-production by Derek Wells, Hardy and Garcia, the song marks his first true rock release. Hardy also recently unveiled “Wait In The Truck” featuring Lainey Wilson, which currently sits just outside the top 30 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts.

Kat & Alex. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Country-Latin duo Kat & Alex have released an entirely Spanish version of their recently released self-titled EP, Side A. The new collection, Lado B, arrives just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Since signing with Sony Music Nashville, the husband-and-wife pair have made it their mission to share music that celebrates a diverse and expansive audience, including Spanish speakers like themselves.

Translated to Side B, the new project features all six of the pair’s recently released track, including the dance-inducing “Marry You,” the enticing “Let’s Find A Bar,” and some of their already popular fan favorites such as “I Want It All” and “We Bought A House.”

“Sonically, the project is a melting pot…introducing two different worlds,” the duo share. “You’ll hear country, which is the root of it, as well as some rock, soul and pop. The common theme of the music though is love, which is purposeful because our relationship is full of love and it’s the core of everything we do.” The pair continues, “Our mission is to show that there’s an audience of Spanish speakers that love country music. It’s not just for one group of people, it can be shared and created by anyone. If you love it, you can make it.”

Kat & Alex were recently named an Emerging Latin Artist to Discover by Billboard and named a CMT Listen Up artist for 2022.

Lado B Track List:
1. Tomemos Un Trago (Let’s Find A Bar – Spanish Version) (Kat Georgia/Alex Georgia/Jared Keim/Jared Scott/Ivan Ayala)
2. Como Las Cinco Un Viernes (5 on a Friday – Spanish Version) (Kat Georgia/Alex Georgia/Chris Loocke/Austin Taylor Smith/Luis Figueroa)
3. Cásate Conmigo (Marry You – Spanish Version) (busbee/Maren Morris/Alex Georgia/Erika Ender)
4. Yo Quiero Amarte (I Want It All – Spanish Version) (Kat Georgia/Alex Georgia/AJ Pruis)
5. Mi Casa (We Bought a House – Spanish Version) (Kat Georgia/Alex Georgia/Josh Osborne/Lindsay Rimes/Erika Ender)
6. Tu Sigues (Still In It – Spanish Version) (Kat Georgia/Alex Georgia/Jason Massey/Austin Taylor Smith/Luis Figueroa)

Pictured (L-R): Ashland Craft, Renee Blair, Chapel Hart’s Trea Swindle, Danica Hart and Devynn Hart, Rissi Palmer, Morgan Wade, Brittney Spencer, Harper Grae and Madeline Edwards.. Photo: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for CMT

CMT held the second installment of its Next Women of Country: Celebrating the Classes of 2020-2022 showcase on Wednesday night (Sept. 28) at City Winery Nashville, presented by CMT Night Out Nashville and Change The Conversation.

Hosted by CMT’s Leslie Fram and Rissi Palmer, the event featured an in-the-round show with Ashland Craft, Brittney Spencer, Chapel Hart, Harper Grae, Madeline Edwards, Morgan Wade, Renee Blair and Palmer, who all performed in front of a sold-out crowd.

Newly-crowned Americana Honors & Awards Duo/Group of the Year winners The War And Treaty also made a surprise appearance after Fram and Palmer coaxed them to the stage, garnering a standing ovation as the duo gave an impromptu performance of  their song “Blank Page.”

Fram also introduced mtheory’s Tiffany Provenzano, a member of the CMT-supported diversity effort Equal Access, who described the equity initiative’s mission of fostering all marginalized communities that are underrepresented in the country genre.

The first installment of CMT’s Next Women of Country showcase took place at City Winery on Aug. 31 with NWOC mentor Jessie James Decker joining Fram as co-host. The lineup featured performances by Callista Clark, Camille Parker, Hannah Dasher, Jenna Paulette, Julia Cole, Laci Kaye Booth, Lily Rose, Reyna Roberts, Tenille Arts and Decker.

The lineup for CMT’s third NWOC showcase in November will be announced soon.