Eric Church. Photo: Robby Klein

Eric Church and his nonprofit Chief Cares are expanding their relief efforts one year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, Church’s home state. After breaking ground earlier this year on their first housing community, Blue Haven, the organization is expanding homeownership opportunities to those whose homes were directly impacted by the storm as well as people who serve in essential positions to the community including educators, healthcare workers, first responders and more.

“Keeping the community intact has been my goal all along,” says Church. “And what we’ve learned these past several months is that offering long-term housing to the people who hold our communities together—from those whose homes were impacted, to those who are critical to rebuilding—will bring the greatest impact. We’re responding in real time to the evolving needs of Western North Carolina. Chief Cares is here for the long haul.”

All recipients of a Blue Haven home will live rent-free for ten years. At the end of the ten-year term, the deed will be transferred, making the home fully theirs to own.

The initiative is bolstered by a recent $6 million investment from AmeriHealth and the AMY Wellness Foundation, which will fund key infrastructure, wraparound services and expanded housing capacity across Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties.

With the first families slated to move into Blue Haven by Thanksgiving, and additional properties under contract in surrounding counties, Chief Cares is on pace to deliver roughly 200 homes across the region.

“We’re not just building homes—we’re investing in the people that will carry this community forward for generations,” Church adds. “This isn’t about short-term solutions. It’s about long-term hope.”

More information on ways to help and the housing application process is available here.

Spotify Founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek will transition to the role of Executive Chairman. Gustav Söderström, Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, Co-President and Chief Business Officer, will serve as Spotify’s Co-Chief Executive Officers. They will report to Ek and will also serve on the company’s Board of Directors subject to shareholder approval. These changes are effective Jan. 1, 2026.

As Executive Chairman, Ek will determine capital allocation, map the long term future of Spotify and continue to provide support and guidance to its senior team.

“I always believed that Spotify could play an important role in revolutionizing listening around the world, and with more than 700 million users, we’ve truly charted a new course bringing creativity to every corner of the globe,” shares Ek. “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav–who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase. This change simply matches titles to how we already operate. In my role as Executive Chairman, I will focus on the long arc of the company and keep the Board and our co-CEOs deeply connected through my engagement.”

“We’ve worked together a very long time and have seen Spotify through many different chapters,” add Söderström and Norström. “Nearly three years ago, when we stepped into our role as co-Presidents, we charged our teams with relentlessly focusing on building the best and most valuable experience available anywhere and that ambition hasn’t changed. While we bring different experiences and perspectives to the CEO role, we both have a strong bias to action and can’t wait to get started knowing that we will have Daniel’s full partnership and ongoing support.”

“The Board has been working closely with Daniel on the evolution of Spotify’s leadership structure for several years,” says Woody Marshall, Lead Independent Director of Spotify’s Board. “We have tremendous confidence in Alex and Gustav as they step into these roles. They each have more than fifteen years with the company and have been instrumental in driving our success and enabling Spotify to lead our industry. We are also thrilled that Daniel will be actively involved, giving Spotify both founder-led strategic stewardship and mentorship to the Co-CEOs as the company continues to innovate and scale.”

Pictured (L-R): MWF executive director Kathleen Flaherty, UT baseball coach Tony Vitello, MWF Program Director Lesli Wallen and Gibbs Youth Sports President Nate Stachey. Photo: David Lehr

The Morgan Wallen Foundation, University of Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello, and the UT baseball team gathered on Sept. 28 at Gibbs High School’s Ruritan Park in Corryton, TN to host 300 kids for a baseball camp and celebrate recent upgrades made to the fields.

MWF’s Leslie Wallen and Kathleen Flaherty. Photo: David Lehr

The improvements were made thanks to last year’s $140k donation following Wallen’s historic shows at Neyland Stadium. The two fields were dedicated in name to honor both of Wallen’s parents, “Lesli Wilder Field” (a nod to her maiden name), and “Tommy Wayne Field.” Following the camp, MWF surprised Nate Stachey, President of Gibbs Youth Sports, with an additional $50k donation.

“The Morgan Wallen Foundation has refurbished several baseball fields over the years, but working with Gibbs Youth Sports at Ruritan Park is extra special because it’s the Wallen family’s hometown. It’s a full circle moment and a blessing that we can help out,” shares Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director, MWF. “We can’t thank The UT Vols baseball team and especially Coach Tony Vitello enough for participating on Sunday. The kids went wild over them and the line for photos and autographs was endless. Tony is a great friend to MWF. He and the team show up when we are in need and we deeply appreciate it.”

“I am honored and humbled that Morgan has named these two fields after my husband and me, and I’m so proud of my son’s dedication to improving the community that helped shape him,” says Lesli Wallen.

Scotty McCreery has scored his seventh No. 1 hit this week with “Bottle Rockets,” his collaboration with Hootie & The Blowfish. The tune sits at the top spot on both the Billboard and Mediabase Country Airplay Charts. Since release, the song has averaged six million weekly streams.

“Any time your song hits No. 1, it feels great,” says McCreery. “To be able to hit No.1 with a song featuring a band you have loved your whole life is beyond amazing! Thanks to Hootie & The Blowfish for joining me on this song, thanks to Triple Tigers Records and Triple 8 Management for all their hard work, thanks to country radio and the streaming services, and thanks to the fans who have supported me from day one.”

The song was penned by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers, Bobby Hamrick, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim Sonefeld, with production by Rogers.

“We’re blessed that ‘Hold My Hand’ has lived a rather long life, and Scotty’s ‘Bottle Rockets’ has certainly given it a new one,” shares Sonefeld. “Thrilled to be part of this special rebirth!”

“All we had to do was light the fuse! Country radio took ‘Bottle Rockets’ and permanently imprinted it on the summer of 2025,” adds Kevin Herring, Co-President, Triple Tigers Records.

Zach Bryan. Photo: Clay Gibson

Zach Bryan performed the first-ever show at Michigan Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 27) for an audience of 112,408. The event marked the largest ever ticketed show in U.S history, and also set the merchandise sales record with $5 million. The show featured special guest John Mayer and support from Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen and Joshua Slone.

Bryan kicked off the show with “Overtime” and mixed many fan favorites into the 26 song set list including “Something in the Orange,” “Dawns,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow” and “Pink Skies,” among others. Mayer joined him for a cover of “Friend of the Devil” and a duet of “Better Days.” Bryan brought out The War and Treaty for “Hey Driver.” He ended the night with a nearly 30 minute performance of “Revival” during the encore.

Photo: Michigan Photography