CMA EDU class of 2025-2026. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA

The Country Music Association’s industry development program, CMA EDU, held its 12th annual Leadership Summit this week.

The latest CMA EDU membership class participated three days of in professional development training, industry education and community building at the CMA headquarters in Nashville. This year’s class is made up of 37 students from 24 universities across the country.

Summit kicked off on Monday (July 21) with a session led by Red Frogs, an organization dedicated to promoting safe and supportive environments at live events, to learn about bar safety and event responsibility. Later in the day, students headed to Warner Chappell Music for an exclusive writers round featuring performances and stories from songwriters Erik Dylan, Jack Rauton and Schmitty.

Carter Faith and Team with CMA EDU Class of 26-26. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA

On Tuesday (July 22), students heard from Sarah Trahern (CMA CEO) before Brittany Schaffer (Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University) moderated a conversation with country artist Carter Faith and her team, including Cameron Lutz (Manager, Range Music), Ash Wolk (Manager, Range Music), Meredith Jones (Music Agent, CAA) and Katie McCartney (Executive Vice President & General Manager, Music Corporation of America) focused on how their individual roles contribute to an artist’s success.

The afternoon kicked off with a publishing panel led by Prescription Songs, featuring Hannah Bay-Schuck (A&R Executive, 7 Hills Music) and Jillian Rutstein (Senior Director, Digital Marketing & Creative Synch, Prescription Songs and Amigo Records). The focus then shifted to artist development with a session hosted by Sony Music Nashville, spotlighting insights from CMA EDU alum, Oakley Holmes (Senior Coordinator, Digital Marketing & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville), Meghan Reich (Manager, Digital Marketing & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville) and Fred Rubenstein (Vice President, Digital Marketing, Sony Music Nashville). The day concluded with a special two-hour session hosted by Black River Entertainment, where country artist Chris Young and his producer Andy Sheridan walked students through the creative process behind Young’s new album.

Chris Young discusses new album with CMA EDU Class of 25-26. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA

To close out the event, students took part in a panel highlighting the work of The Neal Agency. Panelists Kelly Littlefield (Director, HR & Operations, The Neal Agency), Adi Sharma (Co-Head and Agent, The Neal Agency), Michelle Bower (President, Strategic Partnerships, The Neal Agency) and Marisa Mineo (Head of Tour Marketing, The Neal Agency) offered insights into the agency’s approach to management, strategy, and artist development. Following the panel, keynote speaker and CMA Board member, Mary Hilliard Harrington (Artist Manager, Wild Heart/Red Light Management), whose visionary leadership continues to shape the future of the music business, spoke about her career path. The Summit concluded with a special “Live at CMA” performance from rising artist Hudson Westbrook.

Hudson Westbrook performs for Live at CMA. Photo: Jamie Schramm/CMA

“Welcoming each new class of CMA EDU students is always a highlight, and this year is no exception,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Senior Vice President, Industry Relations & Philanthropy. “This class is full of passionate, driven students who are already on track to becoming the next generation of leaders in our industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them soak up every opportunity offered through the CMA EDU program, and walk away with insight, meaningful connections, and a stronger sense of where they can make an impact in our business. I am so proud of what this program continues to offer, and even more excited to see how these students carry it forward.”

The Countrypolitan Hotel and Carter Vintage Guitars have teamed to launch “Songs from the Countrypolitan,” a songwriting competition for aspiring artists.

The competition will help tell a story inspired by the unique history of the building that houses the Countrypolitan. Located at the corner of Printer’s Alley and Union Street, The Countrypolitan recently completed a $10 million renovation, and the hotel design is inspired by the “Nashville Sound” and “Countrypolitan” eras of the 1960s and 70s in country. Rooted in Nashville’s deep history of music, the building has stories in its walls, and applicants are asked to take inspiration from the history and spirit of the hotel while penning their songs, with the connection to the theme being considered in the judging round.

Judges for the competition will be musicians Nikki Lane and Jonathan Terrell, and the winner will be announced on Aug. 30. The winner will have the opportunity to professionally record their song in a demo session at Carter Vintage Guitars, and will also be invited to perform their song live at the Countrypolitan’s Armadillo Wednesdays Showcase during AmericanaFest, among a few other perks.

“Our building is rooted in the Nashville spirit, full of history and stories,” says Bill Bacelieri, General Manager of The Countrypolitan. “The energy that defines the Countrypolitan has inspired artists and travelers alike, and we can’t wait to see who it inspires next through this contest. The Countrypolitan isn’t just a hotel–it creates a connection to a place that represents the unconventional spirit of Nashville, a city built on stories, songs and a little bit of outlaw charm.”

“At Carter Vintage Guitars, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of musicians. Partnering with The Countrypolitan gives us a powerful opportunity to help emerging artists record and share their music,” says Ben Montague, Founder and CEO of TNAG Global, which acquired Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022. “All of our iconic demos and artist sessions are filmed and recorded in our High-End Acoustic Room—home to some of the rarest and most historic instruments in the world. The winner will have the chance to perform in the very same space where some of the most prolific players on the planet have played. With its striking, recognizable backdrop and unparalleled vibe, it’s a truly inspiring environment where artists can bring their vision to life.”

“Songs from the Countrypolitan” is open to songwriters 18 and older, and submissions must be entirely original compositions, with all artists credited, and are currently being accepted here. Submissions are now open, and artists have until Aug. 15 to submit their song. 

Grammy-winning singer-songwriters Mike Reid and Joe Henry have collaborated on a new album, Life & Time, set for release Sept. 5 on Work Song Inc via Thirty Tigers.

Life & Time sees the two hit songwriters turning a new page: Reid was an NFL All Pro before turning to a career in music which yielded 12 No. 1s and an induction to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and Henry penned 16 albums as a solo artist and has blazed a path as a Grammy-winning producer for Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, Julian Lage, and Bonnie Raitt.

The duo’s new album includes 12 songs rooted in piano ballads and feature upright bass, pedal steel and more. The idea for the collab was born when Reid and Henry first met sharing a table in the dining hall at Rodney Crowell’s Nashville songwriting camp. They exchanged shared influences, people that have contributed to their evolution as thinkers, readers and writers.

“I just heard a couplet in my head and stopped what I was doing and reached out to Mike, reminded him who I was, and asked if he might want to try writing something together,” Henry recalls. “And he uttered a phrase that we’ve repeated to each other since: “Let’s push off the dock and into the fog and we’ll see what we find.”’

Through dozens of songs written as a pair, with no agenda, Reid and Henry came to the realization that there was an album made along the way.

“There’s something very mysterious that happens to me emotionally, whatever that is… physically… when I sing Joe’s words, I just… believe them, and more than my mind, my body believes them,” adds Reid. “I feel physically a belief in this stuff. More than my mind, my body knows… feels these words, and I like that because ultimately, when I do something that isn’t working, I feel it physically in my body. I think, often, whether creating or not, or planting a rose or making a good lasagna, that part of you is always attempting to recognize itself. And the delight for me in this whole time with Joe is I got to recognize something in me that I only suspected was there. Granted, I did suspect it, but I got to recognize it before I moved on from here.”

In support of the project, the pair will embark on a U.S. tour in September, performing tracks from the album and featuring each as solo artists on selections from their separate catalogues, all with a shared backing band. The tour includes stops at New York’s City Winery Loft, Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, Philadelphia’s City Winery, and more with West coast dates planned for early 2026.

Life & Time Track List:
1. “Sleeper Car”
2. “The Bridge”
3. “Room”
4. “Stray Bird”
5. “Life And Time”
6. “Martins Ferry”
7. “Weather Rose”
8. “Whoever We Are”
9. “City Of Light”
10. “Leaning House”
11. “History”
12. “So We May”

A deluxe edition of John Prine’s beloved Grammy-nominated album, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, is being released via Oh Boy Records on Sept. 12 in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

The digital deluxe edition features five previously unreleased demos and alternate takes, along with the never-before-heard track “Hey Ah Nothin’,” out now with an accompanying video. Cherished for its warmth, wit, and depth, the new edition of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings provides an even closer look at one of the most joyful and creatively fertile periods in Prine’s storied career.

Originally released in 1995, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings was produced by Howie Epstein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and captured Prine at a personal and artistic high, filled with the joy of new love, fatherhood, and unshakable creative chemistry. Backed by an all-star ensemble including Heartbreakers pianist Benmont Tench and guest vocals from Carlene Carter and Marianne Faithfull, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings flows effortlessly from the wry contentment of “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” to the epic storytelling of “Lake Marie,” a song Bob Dylan once cited as one of his favorites.

With its blend of heartfelt ballads, surreal narratives, and playful humor, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings remains one of Prine’s most expansive works at 14 tracks and nearly an hour in length, and captures the richness of the midlife experience. The album will also be released on vinyl for the first time ever, newly remastered from the original tapes.

The Prine family will host the fourth annual “You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine” in Nashville from Oct. 9-12. This will be the final year for this event and will feature performances at the Ryman Auditorium (October 10, John Prine’s birthday), The Basement East (Oct. 9), The Bluebird Cafe (Oct. 9), and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater (Oct. 11).