Farm Aid is heading to Virginia Beach for the first time on Sept. 26 at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater.

Farm Aid 2026 will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (& The Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (& Tim Reynolds), Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Jesse Welles, Sierra Ferrell, Mon Rovîa, I’m With Her, Amythyst Kiah, Lily Meola and Chris Pierce.

The festival highlights the vital role that family farmers play in their communities – growing food, strengthening local economies and helping sustain land. Family farmers are currently facing the most serious threats to their livelihoods since the 1980s Farm Crisis, navigating economic volatility, policy uncertainty and corporate consolidation. In Hampton Roads, direct markets and local food systems are growing even as the region faces challenges, from inflation and farm policy choices to volatile weather, sea level rise, and land use pressures from development and data centers.

“Family farmers grow our food and strengthen our communities. And when farmers struggle like they are now, communities feel it too,” says Farm Aid Founder Nelson. “The challenges farmers face threaten their livelihoods and put all of us at risk. We’re bringing Farm Aid to Virginia to stand with the farmers and fishers who feed Hampton Roads and beyond – and to grow a food system that works for everyone.”

Farm Aid festival attendees will experience farmers’ contributions firsthand with HOMEGROWN Concessions, which offers a delicious and fresh menu with ingredients that are grown or raised by farmers who use ecological practices. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village features hands-on activities engaging festivalgoers with exhibits about soil, water, energy, food and farming.

Farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, advocates and movement leaders from across the country will convene at Farm Aid for pre-festival programs that explore the challenges family farmers face while advancing a shared vision for the future of agriculture, land, food and rural America and building collective power. The week will culminate in a Friday evening celebration, with additional details announced soon.

Tickets for Farm Aid 2026 go on sale to the public on tomorrow (June 12).

Redferrin will release his debut album, Been There Done That, tomorrow (June 12) via Warner Records Nashville.

“I spent over a year writing this project. We wrote about 60 songs and narrowed it down to the cream of of the crop,” says Redferrin. “I definitely took it back to my roots on Been There Done That. We wrote every song on acoustic guitar, then produced them out later. We made sure to keep the trademark Redferrin sound, but made it more traditional and I couldn’t be more proud of how this album turned out.”

Co-produced by Redferrin, the album is a culmination of his journey from a professional motocross racer to a chart-topping songwriter and artist, who has amassed 800 million global streams and sold out nearly 30 headlining dates last year. He wrote the project alongside Brinley Addington, Scott Stepakoff, Kyle Sturrock, Johnny Clawson, Jake Saghi and many others.

Redferrin has upcoming tour dates in Colorado, Utah, Washington and more.

Been There Done That Track List: 
1. “If I Was California” (Redferrin, Pete Good, Brinley Addington, Scott Stepakoff, Jake Saghi)
2. “Have You Now” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Kyle Sturrock, Dan Farber)
3. “Crazy” (Jordan Dozzi, Mark Trussell, Travis Wood)
4. “Happens Every Time” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Billy Currington)
5. “Heart A Break” (Redferrin, Jaxson Free, Jordan Schmidt)
6. “3 Day Bender” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Jacob Hackworth)
7. “Whiskey Money” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock)
8. “Lovin’ Me A Little” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi)
9. “Palm Trees (feat. Wiz Khalifa)” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Cameron Thomas, p/k/a Wiz Khalifa, Jeremy Kulosek p/k/a Big Jerm, Sammy Haig, Roger Jia)
10. “Betcha Won’t” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi)
11. “Address” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Brinley Addington, Johnny Clawson)
12. “Straight To The Chapel” (Redferrin, Brinley Addington, Johnny Clawson, Nate Miles)
13. “Been There Done That” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Brinley Addington)

Dolly Parton. Photo: Courtesy of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has partnered with Community Coffee to launch a new signature coffee brand, Cup of Ambition, inspired by her beloved anthem “9 to 5.”

Available in Light, Medium, and Dark roasts, Dolly worked with the Saurage family, Community Coffee’s founding family now in its sixth generation, to curate the initial offerings. Dolly’s Cup of Ambition will make its public debut at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, which opens June 24 off Exit 22 on I-65 south of Nashville. Guests can be among the first to taste the new blends at the coffee shop and throughout the stop. Later this year, Cup of Ambition will also be available nationwide in ground and K-Cup offerings, in partnership with Community Coffee.

“I’ve spent a lifetime workin’ 9 to 5, 5 to 9, and every hour in between! It takes a lot of energy to pursue your passion and navigate each day,” says Dolly. “That’s why I wanted to make a coffee that works just as hard. You know, I begin each morning with a head full of dreams, a notepad full of ideas, and a cup or two of coffee. Whether you’re chasing dreams, tackling that to-do list, or just enjoying a quiet morning at home, I hope it brings a smile with every sip.”

“Dolly embodies the same values Community Coffee was built on: hard work, warmth, and genuine connection. This partnership felt right from the very first conversation, and Cup of Ambition is something our family is truly proud and honored to put our name behind,” adds Donna Saurage, third generation owner of Community Coffee.

To support the launch and national expansion of the brand, Chip Johnson has been appointed as Sales Director for Dolly’s Cup of Ambition. A seasoned sales executive with more than 30 years of experience across grocery, mass market, and alternate retail channels, Johnson has worked with brands including The Campbell’s Company, Ty Inc., Keurig, among many others. He’ll lead efforts to launch Dolly’s Cup of Ambition into retail travel stops, grocery and mass market stores, and coffee shops nationwide.

Cassie Petty.

Cassie Petty has been elevated to Vice President of TKO Artist Management.

“In an industry where loyalty can be fleeting, Cassie Petty has been an integral part of this operation for over 20 years. Artists trust her; she leads the team with poise and dignity, and she always gets the job done. We are lucky to have her,” shares TK Kimbrell, Founder and President of TKO Artist Management.

Petty joined TKO in 2002, working with clients including Toby Keith, Clay Walker, The Bacon Brothers, Jamey Johnson, Jackson Dean and more. A graduate of Belmont University with a degree in music business, she began her career with the artist management firm straight out of college as a receptionist, eventually becoming an executive assistant to TK Kimbrell. In 2010, Petty was elevated to general manager.

Petty is a member of The Recording Academy, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music and SOURCE Nashville. She is an alumna of the Women’s Music Business Association and SOLID Nashville, a GRAMMY U mentor and has served on the Associate Board with the Nashville Symphony.

Danny Bess, Rachel Brown & Troy Scott

HEY NOW Records has added three new team members.

Danny Bess has joined as SVP Finance & Operations. Bess joins the label from his firm, DFB Consulting, where he advised several companies. He brings extensive music industry experience, having served as CFO of Warner Music Nashville for seven years and Vice President of Finance at Universal Music Group Nashville for 25 years. A graduate of Vanderbilt University with an MBA from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business, Bess began his career at RCA Records/BMG.

Rachel Brown has joined as Manager of Operations. Brown brings experience in project management, marketing and merchandising. She previously worked at Aroluxe Marketing, where she led cross-functional campaigns for a range of clients. Brown earned her MBA from Pepperdine University and developed her expertise in the fashion industry, supporting product strategy and merchandising efforts for Kendra Scott. She will use her background in business strategy and brand development to help drive the label’s growth.

Troy Scott joins as Vice President of Commerce & Consumer Products. Scott brings more than 25 years of experience across record labels, radio and digital media. He began his career managing operations and marketing campaigns for BMG artists in the Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Boston markets before joining Universal Music Group in New York as Sales Account Director, where he led major brand partnerships for a range of artists. He later moved into radio as Sales Manager at Alpha Media in Richmond, Virginia, overseeing more than 300 local and national accounts. In 2014, Scott joined Universal Music Group Nashville as Director of Commercial Development and eventually advanced to Senior Director of E-Commerce & Retail. In that role, he led direct-to-consumer strategies and campaigns that drove significant growth in fan engagement for many of country music’s top artists including Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt, Reba, Luke Bryan and Little Big Town.

“As the label expands its reach, it’s critical to have systems in place to support the work being done by the various teams,” says President and Co-Founder Kris Lamb. “To be able to engage executive talent that includes Danny Bess and Rachel Brown on the business side, and Troy Scott for commerce and consumer products, we’re going to be able to move twice as fast, knowing our needs will be supported by a strong foundation.”