Chase McDaniel. Photo: Robby Stevens
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and Chase McDaniel’s debut album Lost Ones (out Sept. 19 via Big Machine Records) feels especially timely. Blending country storytelling with a rock-and-roll edge, the 12-track project leans into themes of survival, hope and connection—all grounded in a life story McDaniel has to tell.
Raised in the small town of Greensburg, Kentucky, McDaniel grew up surrounded by gospel music, bluegrass harmonies and the unwavering support of his grandparents, who took him in when his parents were struggling. “My papaw sang bass in a gospel quartet,” he says. “I fell in love with the low male voice. He was my hero.” Music and family became constants in a childhood marked by hardship, including the eventual loss of his father to addiction.
But when McDaniel began struggling with mental health as a teenager, he found little understanding in the world around him.
“I started remembering having obsessive thoughts, compulsions… I’d have these horrible intrusive thoughts, and I’d go to a closet and pray 300 times a day,” he says. “I grew up in a place where you don’t talk about that kind of stuff. I didn’t know what depression was or any kind of mental illness. I thought that only happened to crazy people. So if it was me, I must be crazy.”
Sports provided a temporary escape until an accident ended his weightlifting career in college. Around the same time, his father overdosed, grief overtook his family and McDaniel found himself spiraling into depression and anxiety with no language for what he was experiencing. “It was a mixed bag of absolute hell,” he says. “Wake up in hell, spend all day in hell, go to sleep in hell. And I did that for years without telling anybody.”
The breaking point came late one night on a bridge in Louisville. “I felt these two long arms scoop me up from under both of my shoulders and pull me horizontally back over the concrete ledge,” he recalls. “That told me that I had to keep fighting. It didn’t stop after the bridge moment. I had to sign up for living, and whatever that meant.”
That experience, and the long road that followed, slowly led McDaniel toward writing the kind of music he once needed. Therapy helped, as did his growing determination to put his story into words when so few people around him seemed to understand.
“I was literally blazing a trail for myself,” he says. “I got tired of blank stares. I got tired of telling somebody and them feeling like I was a threat to myself. My obsession with understanding it led to my comfortability in talking about it.”
When he moved to Nashville at 21, McDaniel chased the same commercial dream most young artists do. At first, he wrote the radio-ready songs he thought people expected of him. But something felt false. “Do I want to go on stage every night pretending to be somebody else when I’m 40? When I’m 50?” he asks. “I had to figure out who I was and what I wanted my art to say.”
With Lost Ones, produced by Lindsay Rimes, he found the sound and the story he had been looking for: a mix of country roots and the rock music his dad loved during his sober summers. He smiles, cheekily, when describing the sonic fusion of the album as “between Randy Travis and Creed.”
Every track on Lost Ones was co-written by McDaniel, weaving together the personal and the universal. Songs like “What I Didn’t Have,” written as a tribute to the grandparents who raised him, bring warmth and gratitude to a project often circling loss and perseverance.
The title track anchors the record both musically and thematically, with its waltz-like tempo and haunting steel guitar capturing the loneliness—and hope—behind the Lost Ones name. “I think my taking a step forward lets other people feel safe enough to be vulnerable about some things they don’t talk about,” McDaniel says.
That connection has already shown up in real time. Earlier releases like “Your Daughter,” written about his sister and their father’s addiction, and “Somebody Like Me,” about struggling with mental health in a small town, have drawn powerful responses from fans. “The response was overwhelming,” he says. “It showed me there are people out there who need music that tells the truth.”
The album’s first single, “Burned Down Heaven,” is now climbing at country radio, while “Risk It All” and “Made It This Far” have found early streaming audiences. For McDaniel, those moments prove the music can stand on its own even as it carries deeply personal weight.
“I always just led message first,” he says. “There will be songs about heartbreak, about love, but if I don’t tell my own story, how are you gonna connect with me?”
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 or use the chat via 988lifeline.org.
Nashville Film Festival Announces New ‘Widelitz Music In Film Award’
/by Lorie HollabaughStacy Widelitz
The Nashville Film Festival has announced the addition of the new “Widelitz Music In Film Award” in honor of longtime NashFilm supporter and former board member Stacy Widelitz.
NashFilm’s inaugural Widelitz Music In Film Award at the 56th Nashville Film Festival celebrates the power of music in film in honor of songwriter and composer Widelitz. The award recognizes outstanding music in film that elevates storytelling through unforgettable sounds, melodies and emotion, and spotlights the artists whose original music brings heart, soul and resonance to the big screen.
Over the course of his career, Widelitz composed music for feature films and more than 20 made-for-TV movies, and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on ABC’s World of Discovery. His song, “She’s Like the Wind,” co-written with his friend Patrick Swayze for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1988, driving the success of the film’s soundtrack. Widelitz passed away on June 17, 2025.
The Widelitz Music In Film Award has been added to the competitive jury-determined categories for the 56th Nashville Film Festival and the winner will be announced at the official awards ceremony, taking place Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Nashville Hilton Green Hills.
CMHOFM To Open ‘Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising’ Exhibit In November
/by Lauryn SinkThe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open its newest exhibit, “Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising,” on Nov. 14 for a nearly three-year run. The more than 5,000-square-foot exhibit will survey the emergence of Muscle Shoals as a recording epicenter in the 1960s and 1970s and spotlight its enduring cultural impact.
“In Muscle Shoals, American music crossed lines that weren’t supposed to be breached,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “The Tennessee River flowed through this place, and instead of drawing a boundary, somehow forces came together. Black and white sounds, R&B, blues, soul and country met between the banks. A new rhythm rose and recording studios sprouted to nourish that rhythm. This exhibit takes an expansive look at the sound that forever changed popular music and continues to nurture a rich musical scene in northwest Alabama.”
A selection of artifacts featured in the Muscle Shoals exhibit will include an Aretha Franklin piano, Duane Allman electric guitar, Wilson Picket stage wear, Mac Davis song manuscript, Pops Staples electric guitar, Dan Penn jacket, Mac McAnally acoustic guitar, Candi Staton outfit, Roger Hawkins drum, Rick Hall fiddle, Patterson Hood acoustic guitar and more.
An illustrated and in-depth exhibition catalog will supplement the gallery presentation, with a foreword by Jason Isbell and main essays by exhibit co-curator RJ Smith. The catalog, available on Nov. 14, will feature historical photographs and artifacts from the exhibit, as well as supporting essays by Ericka Blount, Rob Bowman, Warren Denney, Stephen Deusner, Michael Gonzales, Marlin Greene, Patterson Hood and Francesca Royster. In support of the exhibit’s debut, the museum will host a concert celebration and variety of public programs during opening weekend.
Schmitty Signs With The Neal Agency
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Ryan Beuschel (TNA), Jessi Stevenson (Warner Chappell), Schmitty, Jake Moore (TNA) and Dylan McGraw (Fusion Music). Photo: Kelly Littlefield
Warner Chappell Music singer-songwriter Schmitty has signed with The Neal Agency (TNA) for booking. The news comes ahead of the release of his debut six-song EP, Office With A View, available on Friday (Sept. 12).
“I couldn’t think of a better home for my booking than The Neal Agency. Jake [Moore], Ryan [Beuschel], and the team feel like family and share the same values I grew up with back home in the Midwest,” shares Schmitty. “With a roster that looks like my playlist and a winning culture all around, it’s a dream come true. Let’s get to work!”
TNA agent Jake Moore adds, “We are thrilled to welcome Schmitty to our roster. His mix of raw talent and storytelling instantly stood out.”
Office With A View finds Schmitty blending his wild child spirit and the down-home morals that shaped him during his years growing up and working on his family farm in Washburn, North Dakota. Inspired early on by stories of his paternal grandpa’s Hall of Fame barbershop quartet, The Schmitt Brothers, he was taught his first guitar chords at 13 by a bluegrass-picking neighbor.
Now, as a music-maker in Nashville, Schmitty’s heartfelt lyrics and candid honesty have elevated his social media presence, leading to his discovery. He has begun to build a fanbase with previously-released songs like “Cadillac,” “This Side of the Porchlight” and debut album title track “Office With A View.”
Schmitty is represented by Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson for publishing and Fusion Music’s Dylan McGraw and Daniel Miller for management. Office With A View will be distributed by Cmd Shft.
Chase McDaniel Finds His Voice On ‘Lost Ones’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellChase McDaniel. Photo: Robby Stevens
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, and Chase McDaniel’s debut album Lost Ones (out Sept. 19 via Big Machine Records) feels especially timely. Blending country storytelling with a rock-and-roll edge, the 12-track project leans into themes of survival, hope and connection—all grounded in a life story McDaniel has to tell.
Raised in the small town of Greensburg, Kentucky, McDaniel grew up surrounded by gospel music, bluegrass harmonies and the unwavering support of his grandparents, who took him in when his parents were struggling. “My papaw sang bass in a gospel quartet,” he says. “I fell in love with the low male voice. He was my hero.” Music and family became constants in a childhood marked by hardship, including the eventual loss of his father to addiction.
But when McDaniel began struggling with mental health as a teenager, he found little understanding in the world around him.
“I started remembering having obsessive thoughts, compulsions… I’d have these horrible intrusive thoughts, and I’d go to a closet and pray 300 times a day,” he says. “I grew up in a place where you don’t talk about that kind of stuff. I didn’t know what depression was or any kind of mental illness. I thought that only happened to crazy people. So if it was me, I must be crazy.”
Sports provided a temporary escape until an accident ended his weightlifting career in college. Around the same time, his father overdosed, grief overtook his family and McDaniel found himself spiraling into depression and anxiety with no language for what he was experiencing. “It was a mixed bag of absolute hell,” he says. “Wake up in hell, spend all day in hell, go to sleep in hell. And I did that for years without telling anybody.”
The breaking point came late one night on a bridge in Louisville. “I felt these two long arms scoop me up from under both of my shoulders and pull me horizontally back over the concrete ledge,” he recalls. “That told me that I had to keep fighting. It didn’t stop after the bridge moment. I had to sign up for living, and whatever that meant.”
That experience, and the long road that followed, slowly led McDaniel toward writing the kind of music he once needed. Therapy helped, as did his growing determination to put his story into words when so few people around him seemed to understand.
“I was literally blazing a trail for myself,” he says. “I got tired of blank stares. I got tired of telling somebody and them feeling like I was a threat to myself. My obsession with understanding it led to my comfortability in talking about it.”
When he moved to Nashville at 21, McDaniel chased the same commercial dream most young artists do. At first, he wrote the radio-ready songs he thought people expected of him. But something felt false. “Do I want to go on stage every night pretending to be somebody else when I’m 40? When I’m 50?” he asks. “I had to figure out who I was and what I wanted my art to say.”
With Lost Ones, produced by Lindsay Rimes, he found the sound and the story he had been looking for: a mix of country roots and the rock music his dad loved during his sober summers. He smiles, cheekily, when describing the sonic fusion of the album as “between Randy Travis and Creed.”
Every track on Lost Ones was co-written by McDaniel, weaving together the personal and the universal. Songs like “What I Didn’t Have,” written as a tribute to the grandparents who raised him, bring warmth and gratitude to a project often circling loss and perseverance.
The title track anchors the record both musically and thematically, with its waltz-like tempo and haunting steel guitar capturing the loneliness—and hope—behind the Lost Ones name. “I think my taking a step forward lets other people feel safe enough to be vulnerable about some things they don’t talk about,” McDaniel says.
That connection has already shown up in real time. Earlier releases like “Your Daughter,” written about his sister and their father’s addiction, and “Somebody Like Me,” about struggling with mental health in a small town, have drawn powerful responses from fans. “The response was overwhelming,” he says. “It showed me there are people out there who need music that tells the truth.”
The album’s first single, “Burned Down Heaven,” is now climbing at country radio, while “Risk It All” and “Made It This Far” have found early streaming audiences. For McDaniel, those moments prove the music can stand on its own even as it carries deeply personal weight.
“I always just led message first,” he says. “There will be songs about heartbreak, about love, but if I don’t tell my own story, how are you gonna connect with me?”
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 or use the chat via 988lifeline.org.
The Turtles Co-Founder Mark Volman Passes At 78
/by Lorie HollabaughMark Volman, a founding member of the 1960’s pop group The Turtles, passed away in Nashville on Friday (Sept. 5) after a brief illness. He was 78.
Best known for their chart-topping evergreen smash “Happy Together,” the Turtles also released songs like “She’d Rather Be with Me,” “You Know What I Mean,” “She’s My Girl” and “Elenore” throughout their career. The group disbanded in 1970 but Volman and friend/co-founder Howard Kaylan continued to tour and record as the comedic duo Flo & Eddie. The duo toured with Alice Cooper, offered vocals on T. Rex’s album Electric Warrior, and were recruited to sing on Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart,” according to the L.A. Times.
Mark Volman (middle) is recognized at Belmont University in 2019
In his 40’s Volman graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a masters in screenwriting and in 2018 was on the faculty of Belmont University’s music business department, but two years later learned he had Lewy body dementia, according to People. He nevertheless went on to release his memoir Happy Forever: My Musical Adventures with the Turtles, Frank Zappa, T. Rex, Flo & Eddie, and More” in 2023, and returned to the road on a music festival tour that same year.
He is survived by his daughters Sarina Marie and Hallie Rae Volman and his brother, Phil Volman.
Shaboozey Launches American Dogwood Record Label
/by Madison HahnenShaboozey. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
Shaboozey has established his own record label, American Dogwood, in collaboration with his label home EMPIRE. American Dogwood will spotlight genre-bending and boundary-pushing artists similar to Shaboozey himself.
Shaboozey, Jared Cotter and Abas Pauti. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
Shaboozey will lead the label by discovering and mentoring artists alongside longtime collaborators Jared Cotter and Abas Pauti. EMPIRE will support the label’s global infrastructure.
“American Dogwood is a tribute to where we come from, and to the artists, storytellers, and creators who make this life remarkable,” shares Shaboozey. “Our mission is to nurture the next generation of voices and to give them a place to grow, connect, and create. This is the beginning of a new chapter – one I hope always feels like home.”
The first act signed to the label is Kevin Powers, a Nashville based artist originally hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. He first made his mark in Music City with viral co-penned hits “Walked In” and “How You Been?” He also c0-wrote the Shaboozey & Jelly Roll collaboration “Amen.” Powers sound is often described as “Southern Pop,” blending pop, country and hip-hop.
The first single off the new label will be a collaboration between Shaboozey and Powers titled “Move On,” dropping Sept. 19.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the American Dogwood family,” adds Powers. “My first release, “Move On” featuring Shaboozey, is about what happens when a relationship ends – how some people can let go, while others hold on longer than they should. It’s a story I think a lot of people will connect with, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to begin this journey than sharing it with Shaboozey by my side.”
‘Grand Ole Opry: Live In London’ To Broadcast On BBC
/by Lauryn SinkThe Grand Ole Opry is set to headline its first-ever live international broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall on Sept. 26 as part of its 100th year celebration. For U.K fans, the show will be broadcast exclusively on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2 on Oct. 2 from 7 p.m. The radio and TV programs will be available on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer respectively for 30 days after broadcast. In the United States, fans will be able to experience the show live on its flagship home, WSM Radio, which will broadcast the Sept. 26 performance in its entirety.
Special UK guest artists Mumford & Sons and Breabach are slated to appear alongside Opry members Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart. The show will be co-hosted by BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay and WSM Radio host Kelly Sutton.
“This landmark year for the Opry comes at an ideal moment, as country music experiences an extraordinary surge in global popularity, particularly in the United Kingdom,” shares Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Opry Entertainment Group parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties. “With the support of beloved Opry members and these incredible UK artists, we aim to give fans a glimpse of the magic that happens each week in Nashville. We look forward to bringing this show to people across the UK and are pleased to partner with the BBC to share this historic moment through their trusted lens.”
“The Opry is so much more than a show; it’s a community formed by artists and fans who are deeply connected through music,” adds Dan Rogers, SVP and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry. “True to one of the Opry’s most time-honored traditions, the mix of Opry members and special guests promises to offer exclusive collaborations never heard before that will pay tribute to the genre’s past and future.”
Scooter Carusoe Inks With Endurance Music Group & Carnival Music
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Carnival Music’s Emily McMannis and Frank Liddell, Scooter Carusoe, EMG’s Lauren Funk and Michael Martin, and Carnival Music’s Brittany Hamlin
Songwriter Scooter Carusoe has signed a worldwide joint co-publishing agreement with Endurance Music Group and Carnival Music.
Throughout his decades-long career, Carusoe has penned cuts for a variety of artists including “Better as a Memory” and “Anything but Mine” for Kenny Chesney, “Wanna Be That Song” and “Mean to Me” for Brett Eldredge, “For the First Time” by Darius Rucker and “You All Over Me” by Taylor Swift, among others. His songs have earned awards from NSAI, ASCAP and SESAC, and have been recorded by Gary Allan, Lee Brice, Kane Brown, Jordan Davis, Eli Young Band, Lady A, David Nail, Rascal Flatts, Chase Rice, Sugarland, Uncle Kracker and more.
Carusoe’s recent cuts include Eric Church’s “Hands of Time,” which reached the top 15 and is currently climbing the Billboard Country Airplay chart, as well as Dierks Bentley’s “Never You” featuring Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum’s “My Blue,” Ty Myers’ “Morning Comes” and Charles Wesley Godwin’s “Better That Way.”
“Honestly, I can’t believe we have the opportunity to join forces with Frank Liddell and Carnival Music for this next creative season with Scooter and Endurance,” says Michael Martin, EMG President and Chief Creative Officer. “The history they have together has made a significant impact on Music Row, and it’s pretty special to have it all come full circle with EMG.”
Emily McMannis, Chief of Creative at Carnival Music, adds, “I spent my childhood trying to figure out who Scooter Carusoe, the guy in my favorite CD liner notes, was, and now it’s my job to really figure out who he is. He’s an artist who evolves and creates and should never be told how or why – just given the space to do. His songs are a big reason why I love country music, and to know that he’s back at Carnival – the company he started with Frank – is beyond amazing. Scooter has what this town needs: great songs. I’m really lucky to work with him.”
“Some relationships transcend the hits, holds, and heartbreaks of this business,” says Carusoe. “That’s what this team represents to me. They are as much family as they are publishing.”
Frank Liddell, Producer and Co-Founder of Carnival Music, simply states, “Welcome home, Scooter.”
Trisha Yearwood Unveils New Holiday Album & Tour
/by LB CantrellTrisha Yearwood will embrace the magic of the holidays this season with a new album, Christmastime, arriving Nov. 7 via Virgin Music Group and Gwendolyn Records. The project follows her recently-released The Mirror which marked the first album fully co-written and co-produced by the Grammy winner.
Produced by Grammy Award winner Don Was and featuring lush arrangements composed by the legendary David Campbell, Christmastime showcases Yearwood’s powerhouse vocals across a collection that blends beloved classics, reimagined hits and some brand new originals.
Included on the album is an orchestral update of “Christmastime Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas, a soulful new take on Elvis Presley’s classic “Blue Christmas” and a cinematic reimagining of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as well as “My Favorite Things,” “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Simple Gifts,” “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve,” “Cool Yule,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Years” and “Candy Cane Lane.”
The album also features “Merry Christmas, Valentine,” a heartfelt original co-written and performed with Garth Brooks.
To celebrate the release, Yearwood will embark on the “Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of Christmas Tour,” performing alongside local symphonies across the country. The limited run begins Dec. 2 in Nashville and will visit major cities including Newark, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Detroit before wrapping Dec. 20, in Louisville, Kentucky. Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 12.
“Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of year, and these songs mean so much to me,” said Yearwood. “To be able to perform them with a full symphony brings the magic to another level. I can’t wait to share this music and celebrate the season with fans on tour.”
“Christmastime with Trisha Yearwood: 12 Days of Christmas Tour” Dates:
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Friday, December 5, 2025 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Springfield, MA – MGM Symphony Hall
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
Thursday, December 11, 2025 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckard Hall
Friday, December 12, 2025 – Naples, FL – Hayes Hall
Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – Grand Rapids, MI – DeVos Performance Hall
Thursday, December 18, 2025 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Hall
Friday, December 19, 2025 – Detroit, MI – Orchestra Hall
Saturday, December 20, 2025 – Louisville, KY – Palace Theater
Christmastime Track Listing:
1. “Christmastime is Here”
2. “Blue Christmas”
3. “Cool Yule”
4. “My Favorite Things”
5. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
6. “Years”
7. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
8. “Merry Christmas, Valentine”
9. “Candy Cane Lane”
10. “Pure Imagination”
11. “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve”
12. “Simple Gifts”
RCA Records & Bourne Creatives Launch Joint Venture
/by Lauryn SinkDylan Bourne. Photo: Luis Garcia-Cano
RCA Records has teamed up with Bourne Creatives to sign and develop new artists across all genres.
Dylan Bourne, who formed Bourne Creatives in 2020, will helm the venture. With roots in both Los Angeles and Nashville, his background includes management, label and publishing experience.
This partnership will expand upon RCA’s A&R reach and focus on helping artists build a creative and strategic foundation from the ground up. Independent of this joint venture, Bourne Creatives will continue working with its existing management roster of artists.
“Our ability to identify and cultivate talent in their early stages, paired with the proven artist development team at RCA Records, will provide the tools to build sustainable careers with both cultural and commercial impact,” shares Bourne.
“Dylan and his team have a keen eye for talent discovery and an expertise in grassroots artist development that will enhance our capabilities across multiple genres,” adds John Fleckenstein, COO, RCA Records.