CMA Fest Unveils Additional Performers, New Nissan Stadium Platform Stage

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The Country Music Association has announced additional performers hitting the stage during the 49th edition of CMA Fest, taking place in downtown Nashville from June 9-12.

Alan Jackson will no longer be performing at this year’s festival. However, Brothers Osborne and Old Dominion will take the Nissan Stadium main stage with opening acts Deana Carter, Sara Evans, Everette, Randy Houser, Angie K, Kylie Morgan and Shenandoah.

New to this year’s lineup, CMA Fest will host performances from the special Platform Stage in the center of Nissan Stadium. Featured performers on the inaugural stage will include Priscilla Block, Madeline Edwards, Kat & Alex, Maddie & Tae, Frank Ray, Lily Rose, and Dylan Scott. Additionally, Brittney Spencer will welcome the Nissan Stadium crowd on Thursday night as she performs the National Anthem.

Russell Dickerson will kick off the CMA Close Up Stage on Thursday as the Artist of the Day at Fan Fair X. Additional acts that have been added to the CMA Fest lineup include Ryan Charles, Brooke Eden, Mae Estes and Ella Langley. Eden will also kick off the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday morning performing the National Anthem.

While four-day passes and single night tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium are nearly sold out, fans can still purchase tickets to the Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater, the new Riverside Retreat premium destination along the Cumberland River, and Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.

Morgan Wallen To Headline 2023 Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer

After kicking off the tenth annual Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam on Thursday night (June 2) at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, festival organizers shared that Morgan Wallen will headline next year’s lineup on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

“Morgan Wallen is by far the most requested headliner we have ever had in the history of Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam as the fans hear their lives in his music,” shares festival Executive Producer, Rendy Lovelady. “Judging by the passionate crowd response tonight, we are all excited to welcome him to Panama City Beach!”

The 11th edition of the event will take place June 1-4, 2023. Additional headliners and the full lineup will be released in the coming weeks. Tickets for next year’s festival are available for purchase now at GulfCoastJam.com.

“Morgan’s lyrics are about living in small towns, the way you can get pulled away by your dreams and the things or loves you leave behind,” adds Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam COO Mark Sheldon. “That’s real life… and his fans and our jammers see and live that stuff every day. The way his music is connecting makes him the perfect headliner for us.”

This year’s event kicked off with a headlining performance from Brett Young. Entertainment for today (June 3) includes sets from Old Dominion, Gary Allan, Jordan Davis, Randy Rogers Band, Tyler Rich, Ryan Griffin, Tigirlily, and Presley & Taylor.

Florida Georgia Line will make one of their last headline appearances Saturday night (June 4) after Chris Janson, Maddie & Tae, Frankie Ballard, Darryl Worley, Steve Moakler, Nate Barnes, and Chandler Flint take the stage. Sunday will wrap with headliners Brooks & Dunn, Scotty McCreery, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tracy Lawrence, Corey Smith, Elvie Shane, Confederate Railroad, and Pepsi Southern Original winner Jonboy Storey.

Alexander Ludwig Reminisces About ‘Highway 99’ On Upcoming Album

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Alexander Ludwig. Photo: Daniel Delgado Jr.

Alexander Ludwig will drop his new full-length debut album, Highway 99, on Aug. 26 via BBR Music Group/BMG. To celebrate the album announcement, Ludwig has released the summer-ready first single from the LP, “Faded On Me,” today (June 3).

Packed with 16 tracks of universal stories about small towns, wild nights, broken hearts, and big dreams, the album is the follow-up to his 2021 self-titled EP and career-launching 2020 single “Let Me Be Your Whiskey.” The project was produced by Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy, longtime members of Jason Aldean‘s band. Other album collaborators include David Lee Murphy and Michael Dulaney.

A songwriter since the age of 12, Ludwig grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Every weekend, he’d venture into the Canadian backcountry with his family, making the trip up Highway 99 to his family’s cabin on Whistler Mountain.

“If my album could be summed up in a song it would be ‘Faded On Me,’” Ludwig explains. “The song spoke to me so much. As a kid, my parents taught me to roll with the punches, and this song is all about that. Taking whatever life throws your way and throwing it right back.”

In addition to working on new music, the well-rounded entertainer stars in the STARZ TV series  Heels, which is currently in production on its second season. Most recently, Ludwig can be seen in STX’s college sports drama National Champions, as well as the drama film Heart of Champions. He’s also set to star in Guy Ritchie’s The Interpreter for MGM and Amazon.

Date Set For 35th Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament

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The 35th annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT) will be held on Monday, Aug. 15 at the Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville. The tournament’s proceeds will once again benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCPMidTN).

The beloved fundraiser is one of Music Row’s longest-running charity events.

“The MRLGT is unlike any other golf tournament, in that you don’t have to know how to play to enter! It brings the women of Music Row together in a unique and fun setting, all while raising money for United Cerebral Palsy,” says former ASCAP executive Suzanne Lee, who has long been part of the MRLGT. “ASCAP has been a sponsor since the beginning. Connie Bradley heard about it, thought a tournament featuring only music industry women to support such a wonderful cause was a great idea, and wanted to become a founding sponsor of the event.”

The MRLGT is UCPMidTN’s single biggest annual fundraiser and the money raised is vital to the success of the organization’s mission. In 2021, the tournament raised over $100,000 for a grand total of $2.4 million raised in the tournament’s 35 year history.

Herky Williams, a MRLGT founder, shares, “What I am most proud of is the monies from our event going directly to people in need. We built 179 wheelchair ramps, supplied over 2,400 pieces of medical equipment to needy patients, and served 248 families just last year. We used to serve just Middle Tennessee, and now we serve the whole state of Tennessee. This makes me the proudest of anything I have ever been involved in.”

Golfers in their costumes at the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament. Photo: Courtesy MRLGT

A tradition of the MRLGT is teams collaborating on themed costumes.

“The theme dressing of the foursomes every year continues to be a highlight of mine,” Williams says. “Each year, teams dress up according to the popular topics of the day. And the male caddies who participate help create a fun atmosphere to start the day, I remember Keith Urban in a skirt and wig one year. It was hilarious!”

Lee agrees, saying, “I always look forward to seeing the team costumes and believe me, there have been some seriously creative outfits through the years! In the early days of the tournament, we’d have a parade to show off the costumes, which was great fun. However, watching each year’s tournament make a difference in the services UCP provides is the best memory of all.”

Those interested in participating this year, please visit mrlgt.com. Registration for the tournament will open in late June, with more details to be announced soon.

For more information, or to become a sponsor or contributor, email MRLGTnash@gmail.com.

‘Elvis’ Biopic Premiere Screening Coming To Franklin Theatre

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Courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures

The Franklin Theatre is partnering with Shannon Sanders and Cromwell Media to host the screening of the Middle Tennessee premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s new Elvis biopic on June 22.

The one-night-only premiere will include introductory remarks and a panel discussion before the screening, and will serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit theater. The event will also include a reception immediately following the screening with a limited number of passes will be available to first time and legacy donors to the Franklin Theatre.

The movie explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler), seen through his complicated relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). The story delves into the intricate dynamic between Presley and Parker, spanning over 20 years from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape in America.

The film also features Nashville residents and artists with Nashville ties, including Sanders, a 3x Grammy winner & Executive Director, Creative BMI; Yola; Gary Clark Jr.; a gospel choir comprised of numerous local singers; and more.

“We’re incredibly proud to be chosen by Warner Bros. Pictures to present this historic film at our theatre two nights before the national release. Having hosted record releases and Hollywood premieres, like 2004’s Friday Night Lights and 2005’s Elizabethtown, The Franklin Theatre provides the perfect backdrop to this film exploring the life of Elvis Presley,” shares Eric Dilts, Managing Director of The Franklin Theatre. “We’ll be using this event as a fundraiser to support our nonprofit Theatre’s operations so that it continues to shine and be the jewel of not just Franklin but for all of Middle Tennessee. The premiere will be a special event for our supporters, many of which are artists living in the local area.”

Sanders adds, “I am honored to have played a role in the film, and grateful to Baz and all who worked on the film for their vision. Elvis made so much of his career in Nashville, and there’s no better way to celebrate his legacy and this film than bringing Hollywood to Middle Tennessee.”

To learn more or to become a donor, click here.

Dylan Scott Nabs First MusicRow No. 1

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Dylan Scott earns his first MusicRow CountryBreakout No. 1 with “New Truck.” The single is penned by hitmakers Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, and Ashley Gorley. Gorley has achieved more than 40 No. 1s on the MusicRow Radio Chart. 

“The first time I heard ‘New Truck,’ it sounded different than anything else I was listening to,” Scott shares. “We’ve all been in a situation where you and your significant other have broken up, and it’s tough. Every time you get back in your truck, you go back to certain memories of them in there as well. So this song is saying, ‘Man, I need a new truck to quit thinking about her.’”

Scott will release his latest project, Livin’ My Best Life, in August of this year. 

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Ernest, Breland, Elvie Shane Among BMI’s 2022 Rooftop On The Row Lineup

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BMI’s Music Row summer concert series, “Rooftop on the Row Presented by George Dickel,” is returning for another season on June 21 with five special shows on the rooftop of BMI’s Nashville’s offices.

This year’s fourth season lineup will offer shows throughout the summer from artists including Ernest, Jake Worthington, Alana Springsteen, Breland, Ashland Craft, Ray Fulcher, Elvie Shane, Tenille Arts, Tiera Kennedy, Callista Clark, and Reyna Roberts.

Big Loud recording artist Ernest will headline the kick-off show on June 21 with fellow newcomer Jake Worthington. Ernest’s debut single, “Flower Shops (feat. Morgan Wallen),” charted No. 1 at Apple Music Country, Spotify Country, and iTunes upon its release. He has become one of the most in-demand songwriters in Nashville and has penned five No. 1 hits–“I Love My Country” (Florida Georgia Line), “More Than My Hometown” (Morgan Wallen), “Big, Big Plans” (Chris Lane), “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s” (Sam Hunt), and “One Mississippi” (Kane Brown).

Worthington was the 2014 runner-up from The Voice who recently collaborated with country legend Ronnie Dunn for the classic honky tonk single “Honky Tonk Town.”

2022 “Rooftop on the Row” Lineup:
June 21
Ernest
Jake Worthington

July 19
Alana Springsteen
Breland

August 16
Ashland Craft
Ray Fulcher

September 27
Elvie Shane
Tenille Arts

October 18
Reyna Roberts
Tiera Kennedy
Callista Clark

22nd Annual Truist Hot Dog Day To Take Over Music Row On June 9

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The 22nd Annual Truist Hot Dog Day will be held Thursday, June 9, from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Truist Bank on Music Row.

The afternoon will be co-hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum with entertainment provide by Warner Chappell Music. The beloved event will kick off with a writer round featuring Nick Walsh, Austin Taylor Smith and Tyler Chambers, followed by a showcase of two new Warner Chappell acts—Voth and Homegrown.

Truist will provide hot dogs, chips, cold drinks, and ice cream to all attendees.

Amazon Music Announces Carrie Underwood Livestream Special

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Carrie Underwood and Amazon Music are celebrating the release of Underwood’s new album, Denim & Rhinestones, with a special live performance June 9 from The Historic Bell Tower in Downtown Nashville.

Fans will be able to tune in to view “Carrie Underwood: LIVE” at 8 p.m. CT on June 9 via the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, the Amazon Music mobile app, and on Prime Video globally.

“I’m so excited to celebrate the launch of my new album, Denim & Rhinestones, with this special live event,” says Underwood.  “This album is so much fun and I’ve been looking forward to playing these songs live and I love that we’ll get to do it with a global audience from such a cool setting.”

Denim & Rhinestones, co-produced by Underwood and David Garcia, can be downloaded and streamed on Amazon Music beginning June 10.

Underwood recently announced her new tour, “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour,” for fall 2022 and spring 2023.  Her ongoing “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” at the Resorts World Theatre, will resume in 2023 following the new tour.

Chris LaCorte Celebrates Back-To-Back No. 1s With Special Celebration

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Pictured (L-R): Brad Kennard (Concord Music Publishing), Jake Gear (Hang Your Hat Music), Chris LaCorte, Lydia Schultz Cahill (SESAC). Photo: Steve Lowry

SESAC and Concord Music Publishing came together alongside Hang Your Hat Music, Concord’s joint venture founded by Hillary Lindsey, on Wednesday (June 1) to celebrate Chris LaCorte‘s back-to-back No. 1 hits, “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s” and “23,” both recorded by Sam Hunt.

Chris LaCorte with his MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins. Photo: Steve Lowry

LaCorte’s first ever No. 1 single, “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s,” reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart on May 22, 2021, and was co-written with Hunt, Josh Osborne, Ernest K. Smith, and Zach Crowell, who also served as a producer on the song.

LaCorte also served as sole producer and mixer on the follow-up single, “23,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart on April 9, 2022. He co-wrote the song alongside Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Osborne. The track marked LaCorte’s first solo production credit with Hunt, solidifying him as both a songwriter and producer on the country charts.