Photo Credit: Connor Dwyer

Dustin Lynch is giving fans a glimpse into how he grew up on his upcoming fourth album, Tullahoma, set for release Jan. 17.

Named after his Tennessee hometown, the musical self-portrait comes after eight years of success including six No. 1 singles, six Gold and Platinum certifications, and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry, yet finds Lynch taking stock of himself like never before.

“It’s all about me and growing up in my hometown,” he explains. “Every song on this album points to something that happened to me or my close friends and family, and that’s really cool. I’m very proud of where I’m from, and proud of this record because it will hopefully make my hometown a little more famous than it already is.”

The project features the three songs on Lynch’s Ridin’ Roads EP, including his current single of the same name, as well as his most recent No.1 “Good Girl,” and was produced by Lynch and Zach Crowell. The longtime friends spearheaded the project from start to finish – the first time Lynch has used a single producer for a whole album.

“It’s figuring out what I enjoy about life the most – outside of music,” said Lynch. “The kind of stuff my mom and dad, my family and my friends back home did growing up. Outdoors stuff like hunting and fishing, hanging out in the backyard around a bonfire, just connecting. I long to be that kid again, and I think we all do. You get to a certain point in life and start reflecting on why you’re where you’re at … and I’ve just figured out that’s what makes me tick. That’s why I work hard.”

In addition to the album, Lynch will also launch his next headlining run, the Stay Country Tour on Jan. 30. The trek will crisscross the entire U.S. with opener Travis Denning. Tickets for select dates of the tour go on sale Friday, Nov. 15, and a portion of each sale will benefit The Cowboys and Angels Fund, which supports various philanthropic causes including an intentional focus on children’s charities.

Country music festival WE Fest has been postponed until August 2021, festival organizers have announced.

Live Nation acquired the festival from Townsquare Media in August; WE Fest has been held at Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for the past 37 years. The 2019 edition of the festival featured headliners Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn.

In an interview with Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell stated that the festival will remain at the same location.

“All of the rumors that are flying around that we’re going to move the festival and all that kind of stuff are not true,” O’Connell told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “We want to take the time to get to know the 37-year tradition of WE Fest and talk to as many people as we can who have been involved with it. There is a lot of history that we need to be respectful of, and a lot of people who are very invested in this festival.”

O’Connell noted Live Nation’s acquisition of WE Fest happened very close to the 2019 festival, noting that he and his team “didn’t feel like we had a good enough handle on things” to begin booking acts for 2020 and announcing headliners for next year during the 2019 event, which was the tradition under the festival’s previous owners.

“Instead of just booking a band and throwing tickets up on sale and figuring the rest of it out later, we hit the brakes,” he said.

WE Fest also issued a statement via social media:

“We are so excited to embark on this new journey with WE Fest. With 37 years under its belt, we know this festival is an important part of the Detroit Lakes community and so, our goal is to continue to honor and build upon this special event. In order to do the best possible job we can, we will be using 2020 as a planning year. We are excited to continue the tradition and bring an even bigger and better festival to country music fans in the summer of 2021. We look forward to seeing you then!” read a statement issued from WE Fest organizers.

Carly Pearce will release her eponymous sophomore album for Big Machine Records on Feb. 14, 2020.

“So much has happened to me in the last few years. My fans have changed my life and given my music a home in this world. I grew up, let go of things that needed to go, fell in love, fell on my face, went through some hell and found ‘Carly’ fully for the first time EVER. I’m so excited to announce my sophomore, self-titled album will be released on VALENTINE’S DAY!!! This record is dedicated to my late producer busbee. It’s the last full record he made and one that I am so very proud of – Thank you for bringing these songs to life. I can’t wait to honor you and hear/see how people connect to what we created.” she said in a statement.

busbee, who passed away in September at age 43 following a battle with glioblastoma, is also the producer behind Pearce’s debut album Every Little Thing, and a co-writer on Pearce’s No. 1 debut single by the same name.

The upcoming album will feature tracks “Closer To You,” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” a duet with Lee Brice. She is also a New Artist of the Year nominee at the upcoming CMA Awards on Nov. 13, and recently wed fellow country singer Michael Ray in October.

Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Photo Credit: Mary Ellen Mark/courtesy of CMA

Kris Kristofferson will be the latest recipient of the 2019 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming CMA Awards Nov. 13.

A special tribute to the legend is planned during The 53rd Annual CMA Awards featuring a not-to-be-missed performance of Kristofferson’s classic “Me and Bobby McGee” by Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne. The 53rd Annual CMA Awards broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC.

“Kris is a living legend whose impact on our genre has been monumental,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “He is the definition of an icon and someone our community holds with such high regard. I’m thrilled our Board selected Kris this year for one of CMA’s highest accolades. Though he won’t be joining us at the CMA Awards, I hope our tribute performance brings a big smile to his face.”

Kristofferson, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, is an eight-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving his most recent nod in 2012 for CMA Musical Event of the Year with “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” collaborating with Nelson, Snoop Dogg and Jamey Johnson. He won CMA Song of the Year in 1970 for the chart-topping “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” first recorded by Ray Stevens in 1969, then by Johnny Cash in 1970. The Texas native achieved meteoric success as a songwriter starting in the 1970s, and his songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “For the Good Times,” helped redefine country songwriting. By 1987, over 450 artists had recorded his compositions, and his renown as a songwriter turned heads in Hollywood, leading to a flourishing career as a film actor. He won the 1977 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy in A Star Is Born and has landed spots in more than 70 films. Kristofferson is a three-time Grammy winner with 30 recorded albums to his credit and three decades worth of international touring. He received country’s highest honor in 2004 with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other accolades include the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriter Hall of Fame, CMT’s Johnny Cash Visionary Award, BMI’s Icon Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.

The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in country music. The Award was established to recognize an artist who has achieved both national and international prominence through performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and public representation at the highest level. Previous recipients of the award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), and Dolly Parton (2016).

Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, perform “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” as part of the Johnny Cash Tribute during “The 37th Annual CMA Awards,”on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Photo credit: Bev Moser

This year’s second annual Andrew Marshall Dorff Memorial Benefit Concert raised $25,000 for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and featured performances by many of the late songwriter’s friends and co-writers.

Held at Nashville’s City Winery, the show was emceed by Sirius XM’s Storme Warren and opera singer Daniel O’Callaghan opened the evening with an acoustic rendition of “Danny Boy.” The evening included acoustic performances of Dorff’s songs by Josh Osborne (“My Eyes”), Josh Osborne and Barry Dean (“The Man Upstairs”), Lori McKenna (“Fat Kid”), Lori McKenna and Barry Dean (“That’s How You Know”), Jeffrey Steele (“What Hurts The Most”), Rachel Wammack (“Shipwrecked”), Angela Kaset (“Alone Time”), Frank Ray (“Just For A Minute”), Marcus and Levi Hummon (“Make It Love”), Mark Irwin (“Neon Light”), and Sam Bailey (“Bleed Red”). Chris Janson and Devin Dawson shared heartwarming videos about Andrew and Hunter Hayes closed the evening out with two songs he wrote with Dorff, an unreleased song and No. 1 hit “Somebody’s Heartbreak.”

“We honored Andrew’s talent and spirit while raising money for a cause that was important to him. My family and I can’t thank his friends and the music community enough for coming together for a beautiful night of music and generosity,” said Dorff’s father, songwriter Steve Dorff.

All proceeds went to pediatric oncology initiatives at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Dorff was an acclaimed songwriter with five No. 1s to his credit and over 70 songs recorded by Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride, Hunter Hayes, Old Dominion, and more.

Jeffrey Steele. Photo: Bev Moser

Photo credit: Bev Moser

Rachel Wammack. Photo: Bev Moser

Lori McKenna. Photo: Bev Moser