Country Music Hall Of Famer Charlie McCoy Inducted Into Grand Ole Opry

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Larry Gatlin presenting Charlie McCoy with Opry member award. Photo: Chris Hollo

Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy was welcomed as an official Grand Ole Opry member on Wednesday night (July 13) by Opry member Larry Gatlin, one of several Opry members on whose recordings McCoy has appeared.

“The musicians on this stage are some of the best to have ever made their way to Nashville. You have their love and their utmost respect,” Gatlin shared as the Opry band surprised McCoy with a medley of some of the country classics on which he played in the studio, including favorites by Lynn Anderson, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Barbara Mandrell, and Tanya Tucker.

Charlie backstage hanging his Opry member plaque. Photo: Chris Hollo

“We are welcoming you into our home,” Gatlin continued. “I am humbled and honored to welcome into our family a friend of 50 years who I think is the greatest musician in the world and the Dean of the Nashville Cats, Charlie McCoy.”

Before concluding his set with his signature tune “Orange Blossom Special,” McCoy said, “I’ve been so blessed in my career, and this is icing on the cake… And by the way, I ain’t through playin’ yet!”

McCoy has been a mainstay in recording studios in Nashville for nearly 50 years as one of Music City’s most in-demand musicians. Predominately known as a harmonica player, he also plays guitar, bass, mallet percussions, keyboards and more.

Over the years, he’s played on dozens of hits for Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Simon and Garfunkel, and more. Among the monumental recordings McCoy has played on are “The Boxer,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Orange Blossom Special,” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” McCoy was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

McCoy’s Opry invitation was delivered by Vince Gill last month on the same night Gill invited Hall of Fame songwriter Don Schlitz to become an Opry member. Schlitz will be officially inducted later this year.

Key Dates & Deadlines Announced For 65th Annual Grammy Awards

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The key dates and deadlines for the upcoming 65th Annual Grammy Awards have been announced by the Recording Academy.

Nominees for the 2023 Grammy awards will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Returning to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, the 65th edition of the awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. The show will be broadcasted live on CBS, and will stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Details regarding specific Grammy Week events will be announced in the coming months. For more information regarding the upcoming awards season, click here.

65th Annual Grammy Awards Key Dates & Deadlines:
Oct. 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2022
Product Eligibility Period

Mon, July 18, 2022 – Wed, Aug. 31, 2022
Online Entry Period

Thurs, Oct. 13, 2022 – Sun, Oct. 23, 2022
First Round Voting

Tues, Nov. 15, 2022
Nominees Announced for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards

Wed, Dec. 14, 2022 – Wed, Jan. 4, 2023
Final Round Voting

Sun, Feb. 5, 2023
65th Annual Grammy Awards

Carly Pearce Signs With Starstruck Management

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Carly Pearce. Photo: Allister Ann

Country superstar Carly Pearce has signed with Narvel Blackstock‘s Starstruck Management, it was announced on Wednesday (July 13). With this transition, the reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year joins a roster that boasts clients such as Blake Shelton, Maggie Rose, and more.

“I have always admired the way that Narvel approaches a career from all sides. It is no secret that he knows how to make artists superstars,” Pearce tells Billboard. “I’m so looking forward to working with someone who will challenge, push and help take me to the next level.”

“I have been following Carly’s career from the very beginning. She has shown that she has the talent, desire and work ethic to be a superstar. I look forward to helping make that dream come true,” Blackstock tells Billboard.

A newly added Grand Ole Opry member, the Big Machine recording artist topped the charts in May with her smash duet “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” featuring Ashley McBryde. The collaboration took home the award for ACM Music Event of the Year. Upon hitting the peak at country radio, Pearce caught up with MusicRow to talk about the historic No. 1.

Following her own headlining theater tour this past spring, Pearce is currently opening for Kenny Chesney this summer on his “Here And Now 2022” tour. She will also be taking over Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for two back-to-back nights, marking her first headlining dates at the Mother Church of Country Music.

Pearce, who will host the ACM Honors in August, will also be headlining the Grand Ole Prix show at the upcoming Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on Aug. 7 alongside Brantley Gilbert, Midland, and Callista Clark.

Pearce was formerly managed by Clint Higham and Kyle Quigley at Morris Higham since 2019.

Maddie & Tae’s ‘Through the Madness Vol. 2’ Set For September Release

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Maddie & Tae. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Maddie & Tae will release their new collection of songs, Through The Madness Vol. 2, on Sept. 23 through Mercury Nashville.

The project features eight new tracks, including their recent release, “Every Night Every Morning,” each penned by the duo’s Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr alongside songwriters Ryan Hurd, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Thompson, Jessie Jo Dillon and more.

Through The Madness Vol. 2 is the follow up to Maddie & Tae’s acclaimed Through The Madness Vol. 1, released earlier this year, that included fan-favorite “Woman You Got” which scored Maddie & Tae Group/Duo Video of the Year at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.

The 2022 CMT Group/Duo Video of the Year winners will crisscross the country this fall, headlining the “CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour” which kicks off Sept. 15.

Through The Madness Vol. 2 Track List:
1.  “Well In Your World” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Ryan Hurd, Jimmy Robbins)^
2.  “Every Night Every Morning” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Jonathan Singleton, Brock Berryhill)^
3.  “Drinking To Remember” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Benjy Davis, Daniel Ross)^
4.  “Girl After My Own Heart” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson)^
5.  “Watching Love Leave” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Benjy Davis, Daniel Ross)^
6.  “More Than Maybe” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins)^
7.  “These Tears” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Laura Veltz, Jon Green)*
8.  “Spring Cleaning” (Maddie Font, Taylor Kerr, Josh Kerr, Tayla Parx)*
^ Produced by Derek Wells & Jimmy Robbins
* Produced by Derek Wells & Josh Kerr

Tyler Rich Plots ‘Thinkin’ We’re in Love Tour’ For Fall

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Tyler Rich. Photo: Ryan McAleenan

Tyler Rich is heading out this fall on his “Thinkin’ We’re In Love Tour” beginning Sept. 22 in San Diego and running through Oct. 29. Special guest Kylie Morgan will join him on the dates.

The tour will visit San Jose, Reno, Portland, Seattle, Colorado Springs, Tucson and more, with tickets for the headlining run going on sale this Friday (July 15) at tylerrich.com.

“There’s nothing quite like bringing your own songs to a crowd that knows every word! I’m ecstatic for my second headline tour this September as we kick it off on the West Coast again,” says Tyler. “On the ‘Thinkin’ We’re In Love Tour,’ we’ll be playing a bunch of fresh songs for the first time so even if you joined us last year, come hang again for a whole new show. I’ve been such a fan of Kylie Morgan and am so pumped to introduce our fans to her music.”

The Valory Music Co. artist has already achieved chart success with three No. 1s on SiriusXM’s The Highway, and has amassed over 394 million global streams with his Gold-certified single “The Difference,” TikTok smash “Better Than You’re Used To” and The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston-produced “A Little Bit of You.”

Thomas Rhett, Hardy, Walker Hayes, More To Perform At NSAI’s Nashville Songwriter Awards

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has revealed the first round of performers for the 5th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, presented by City National Bank. The awards are slated for Sept. 20 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

Among those set to take the stage are Thomas Rhett, Hardy, Walker Hayes, Pat Alger, Tony Arata, Babyface, Kent Blazy, Jacob Davis, Gayle, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Matt McGinn, Matt Rogers, Jenn Schott, Nathan Spicer, and Matthew West. Additional appearances will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the 5th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards presented by City National Bank will go on sale this Friday (July 15) at 10:00 a.m. CT.

“You don’t want to miss NSAI’s upcoming 5th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards,” NSAI Board President Steve Bogard notes. “We’ll be celebrating the ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’ awards, a category voted on exclusively by our pro members, as well as several other achievements and those writers and artists will fill the stage! There’s a lot to celebrate this year and our great songs and songwriters are at the top of the list.”

The evening will also include segments honoring previously announced award recipients. Garth Brooks will receive the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, while Jon Platt (Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Publishing) will receive the NSAI President’s Keystone Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the betterment of songwriters.

“City National Bank has long supported the music industry and we are honored to help present the 5th Annual Nashville Songwriters Awards,” says Diane Pearson and Lori Badgett, Co-Heads of City National Bank Entertainment Division, Nashville. “We look forward to this fantastic lineup of performers and offer a special congratulations to Garth Brooks and Jon Platt for their invaluable contributions to the music industry.”

‘CMA Fest’ With Dierks Bentley & Elle King To Premiere August 3

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CMA Fest, the TV special, is returning this summer on Aug. 3 on ABC with three full hours of can’t-miss collaborations and performances. This year’s primetime special is hosted by Dierks Bentley and Elle King.

Filmed from Nissan Stadium in Nashville during the 49th CMA Fest, the special features 30 performances from country’s hottest stars as they take the stage during the four-day festival. Collaborations include Bentley and Billy Ray Cyrus, Wynonna Judd and Carly Pearce, Dustin Lynch featuring MacKenzie Porter, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, King and Ashley McBryde, Lady A featuring Breland, and Zac Brown Band with Darius Rucker.

Additional performers include Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Parker McCollum, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood.

“I think Elle brings so much to the table,” Bentley shares. “Onstage she’s just a riot and also super talented–a great combination of talent with comedic humor. A lot of spontaneous moments between the two of us and just a lot of laughs.”

“I am co-hosting this whole shebang,” laughs King. “Not only do I get to do it with my buddy Dierks, I also get to see all these incredible performances and be a part of a big party!”

“When Dierks and Elle first performed together at CMA Fest in 2016, I knew they had something special,” adds CMA Fest Executive Producer Robert Deaton. “The festival itself may be over, but thanks to these two, along with a solid slate of performances and special collaborations, the party continues in homes across America. It was a fun challenge to think differently with our setup these last two years, but it felt great to be back with a full house at the stadium.”

Tennessee Tourism Celebrates 95 Years Since The Bristol Sessions In New Docudrama

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Tennessee Tourism is partnering with Circle Network and DittyTV for Born in Bristol, a one-hour docudrama to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the “Big Bang” of country music. The upcoming special is set to premiere on Saturday, July 30 at 9 p.m. CT on Circle Network with repeats throughout August. It will also debut on connected devices on Ditty TV on Saturday, July 30 at 7 p.m. CT.

Born in Bristol relives the 12 days in 1927 when musicians descended upon the Tennessee-Virginia state line. Musical pioneer Ralph Peer brought “hillbilly music” to life in a warehouse in the town, recording such artists as the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. The special takes viewers into the modern-day studio and all the way back to the warehouse as it may have looked nearly 100 years ago when Peer convinced 19 acts to let him record their music.

“If you’re a country music fan, we’re offering you a glimpse into the genesis of the genre as told by some of country’s most iconic artists,” says Circle Network’s Senior Vice President of Content, Evan Haiman.

YouTube video

The docudrama also features cinematic reenactments and new interviews with artists, including Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church, Marty Stuart, Shannon Campbell, Ashley Campbell, Ashley Monroe, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle and Vince Gill, as well as Grammy-winning producer Carl Jackson.

“Those were songs that I grew up with and knowing and it influenced the way I write,” shares Parton. “But they’re really simple songs—ordinary songs about ordinary people. But they’re told in such a sweet, extraordinary way.”

“It was the first time [country music] was recorded, it was documented, and it was the bible of country music,” Church adds. “It is still the bible for country music.”

In 2014, Tennessee Tourism and Virginia Tourism Corporation, in partnership with the Birthplace of Country Music museum in Bristol, recreated the Bristol Sessions with the release of Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited, featuring new recordings of the original songs by modern-day stars including Country Music Hall of Famers Gill, Harris, Parton and Stuart.

Dailey & Vincent Sign With Conway Entertainment Group

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Dailey & Vincent. Photo: Josh Daubin

Grammy-nominated duo Dailey & Vincent have signed with Conway Entertainment Group for touring representation.

“Our goal, and mine personally, is to work with and represent the most outstanding, the most professional, and the most entertaining musicians, songwriters and vocalists that exist,” notes Tony Conway, President of CEG. “We are so excited to be able to work with Dailey & Vincent who are certified A+ in all of those areas. We are honored to oversee their touring worldwide.”

“We are proud to be the new kids represented by the team at Tony Conway’s CEG,” says Darrin Vincent. “With a deep history as an agency and management company, we’re looking forward to a bright and prosperous future together.”

“In a fast-changing, interdependent world, it’s imperative we surround ourselves and our business with experienced and bona fide professionals who understand the importance of relationships and the continued planning for the challenges the future holds,” adds Jamie Dailey. “Conway Entertainment Group not only has the knowledge, but they have the heart and soul for music. That’s one of the many reasons we’re thrilled to sign on with Tony Conway and his impeccable team!”

The pair recently announced their upcoming country release Let’s Sing Some Country! due out Sept. 16 through their new partnership with BMG. Produced by Paul Worley the project unleashes another side to the award-winning duo fans don’t often hear. Since their first Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for their rendition of “Elizabeth” alongside Lady A, Little Big Town, The SteelDrivers and Zac Brown Band, the guys have been eyeing a country project.

Charley Crockett’s New Album ‘The Man From Waco’ Slated For September

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Charley Crockett. Photo: Bobby Cochran

Charley Crockett will release his latest album, The Man From Waco, on Sept. 9 via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers. The lead single from the project, “I’m Just A Clown,” is out now.

Crockett wrote or co-wrote all 14 tracks on the album, which started out as a demo session with producer Bruce Robison at Robison’s studio outside of Austin and turned into Crockett’s first album made with his band, The Blue Drifters, backing him. Mostly first takes with only a handful of overdubs, The Man From Waco finds Crockett refining his “Gulf & Western” sound, which continues to draw an ever-growing legion of fans.

“I just wanted an honest partnership: do it at your place, live to tape, everybody in the room,” Crockett says of the recording experience. “The magic is in the performances on that tape. That’s what Bruce wanted to do, that’s what I wanted to do. When we were done, I said ‘these are masters, not demos.’”

Crockett is currently on the road across the U.S., mixing headlining shows with a slot on Willie Nelson’s roving Outlaw Music Festival and other festival appearances. He will also head to Europe and the UK for a headlining tour at the end of October.

The Man From Waco Track List:
The Man From Waco Theme (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
Cowboy Candy (Charley Crockett)
Time Of The Cottonwood Trees (Charley Crockett)
Just Like Honey (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
I’m Just A Clown (Charley Crockett)
Black Sedan (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
The Man From Waco (Charley Crockett, Bruce Robison, Kullen Fox, Taylor Grace)
Trinity River (Charley Crockett)
Tom Turkey (Charley Crockett, Bob Dylan) *
Odessa (Charley Crockett, Nathan Fleming)
All The Way From Atlanta (Charley Crockett)
Horse Thief Mesa (Charley Crockett)
July Jackson (Charley Crockett, Taylor Grace)
The Man From Waco Theme (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
*contains interpolations from Billy 4