Everyone has those songs—the ones that transport you back to a specific moment in time, the ones that fill you with nostalgia for an era filled with fond memories and simplicity. For Ashley Till, that isn’t just a fleeting experience; it’s the heartbeat of her daily life. As the host of SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry, Till has the opportunity to bring that feeling to life and invite listeners back to experience the familiar, hometown sounds of the early 2000s.

Through her natural, engaging presence on-air and her undeniable passion for Y2K-era country, Till’s career has flourished in ways that have made her a recognizable name in the world of satellite radio. Recently, MusicRow had the opportunity to sit down with her as she explored her early influences, her love for the Y2Kountry format and her experiences as a dynamic presence in country music radio and beyond.

To understand how Till found herself riding shotgun from your morning drive to your afternoon grocery stop, you have to look back to where her passion began—high school. “We actually had a station at my school in Indianapolis, Indiana, where we played the Top 40. During my junior and senior years, I became really interested in it, not realizing where it would eventually lead.”

When she reached graduation, full of confidence and a newfound calling, she recorded an aircheck, essentially a radio demo, and decided to go straight to the number one radio station in Indianapolis. As one might imagine, they did not immediately put her behind the mic. “They told me, ‘We can’t put you on air right away, but we could offer you a part-time job driving the station vehicle.’ So I took the opportunity, worked my way up, and eventually, I landed a weekend on-air position when I was 19. It was a Top 40 station in Indianapolis.”

This station was Till’s first real, professional experience in radio—and she instantly fell in love. Shortly thereafter, she made the bold decision to unenroll from college and go all in on the radio thing, lamenting, “I always feel bad saying that because I know parents don’t like to hear it!”

From there, Till jumped around Indiana, taking small roles at Top 40 stations all over the state before landing at a position in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as a midday country music host. But, there was a catch.

“You see, I grew up listening to country music and hearing my mom listen to [artists like] Billy Ray Cyrus. However, that meant that I did not want to do country because that’s what my parents liked. So the radio station in Fort Wayne was like, ‘We don’t have any Top 40 positions open, but we do have the middays at our country station.’ And I will never forget, I cried the day I accepted that job because I didn’t want to switch. It seems so dumb now because it was such a blessing. It was truly meant to be.”

Eventually, Till found herself traveling again, this time to Orlando, Florida, where she landed her biggest opportunity yet, a No. 1 morning show. However, she had one more objective that she had to get out of her system—moving to Music City. After two years at one of the biggest stations in Orlando, Till packed her bags, with only a chocolate lab and a couple thousand dollars to her name, and headed for Nashville.

“I’ve always been that person that just jumps all in. I don’t put my toe in the water, I go right in with a cannonball. I knew that the heart of country music was in Music City, it is the center, the mecca for everything country music, so I decided that is where I needed to be.”

However, leaving a top position in a huge market like Orlando did not ensure a top spot in Nashville. Till, once again, started at the bottom rung as a radio phone screener and then worked her way up to producer and, finally, to a position with SiriusXM in 2016.

Since then, she has called SiriusXM home. Previously a midday host on SiriusXM’s country station The Highway, she now hosts five days a week on Y2Kountry and the christian music station, The Message and weekends on the contemporary pop/throwback station, The Pulse.

Till’s winding journey through radio has shaped not just her career, but the distinct on-air persona that listeners have come to recognize and love—no matter what station she is on.“As far as my persona across channels, the only thing that changes is the music. I like to think people see me as a relatable, hot mess…the girl next door. I am the girl that is shopping at Walmart and Target running late to drop my kids off at school. I have a five and seven year old, so I feel like there are a lot of people who can relate to that. I like to tell stories and engage with the audience in that way as well.”

Her stories, while not always ‘relatable’ on a one-to-one scale, shine a light on the small, idiosyncrasies of life that make you shake your head and laugh. One fan-favorite story involves her son’s late pet lizard named Spot who currently resides in the family’s deep freezer as they search for a time and place to bury it. “There are listeners who will check in, asking, ‘Have you buried Spot yet?’ and I have literally forgotten that Spot is dead in my freezer.”

Overall, she hopes her audience views her as a family-friendly, positive voice on the radio, “I like to think of myself as a friend riding in the car with my listeners. Hopefully, a friend they don’t want to throw out of the car,” laughs Till. “I don’t have a super polarizing personality, and I am like that in real life. I want to be friends with everyone so that is the person you get on air.”

For Till, radio means more than just spinning tracks. It is about crafting an atmosphere — one that celebrates not only the music but the people behind it. “I like to talk to the people outside of the artist to get to know the artist more, and I’ve done that a lot this year. I’ve talked to people like Rhett Akins, Thomas Rhett’s dad, about Thomas growing up as well as Shay Mooney’s wife, Hannah, about how it is when he’s on the road, and she will talk about how tough it is. I want to show perspective and realness—I want to show that these people are just as real as you and I and their stories always show that.”

Looking ahead, Till’s future in radio is one of growth and new opportunities. With a clear ambition to expand beyond her role as an on-air host, she aims to delve into programming, curating playlists, and managing SiriusXM channels, particularly with the added potential of Pandora’s reach. Her focus on being a relatable, positive voice for her audience will continue to drive her work, whether she’s discovering new talent or sharing personal stories that resonate deeply with listeners. As she navigates these next steps in her career, her versatility and passion will undoubtedly shape the future of country music and radio.

Russell Dickerson Brings His Love Story To Life in New Belmont Video

Russell Dickerson has released a video for “Bones (The Wedding Version),” created with the help of Belmont University students at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Dickerson and his wife first met at Belmont, adding even greater significance to this love story captured in the song. From the production team and students to Dickerson’s management, band and crew, many of the professionals involved in the release of “Bones (The Wedding Version)” share a Belmont connection—making it a love story coming full circle.

 

Randy Houser Surprised With Gold At Bridgestone Show

During his performance at a sold-out Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 14 opening for Cody Johnson, Randy Houser was surprised mid-set by his son Huck and actor Johnny Galecki, who presented him with a Gold plaque for his hit song “Note to Self,” marking Houser’s first Gold record with Magnolia Music Group.

 

My Furry Valentine Benefit Supports Nashville’s Pet Community Center

My Furry Valentine “Love Songs Saving Lives” featuring performances from Bryan White, Jamie O’Neal, Wade Hayes, Anita Cochran and Mandy Barnett, was held Feb. 11 at The Troubadour Nashville. 100% of the ticket proceeds provides care for deserving dogs and cats in our community via the Pet Community Center.

PCC, which has been serving Nashville since 2011, protects the health of pets, prevents pet overpopulation and provides for pets in need, and ensures that financial hardship does not prevent pets from receiving the care they deserve.

 

Lanco Offers Banner Support To Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital

At their album release show at Whiskey Jam in January, Lanco brought in a banner titled “We’re Gonna Make It” (after the album title) and had fans sign encouraging words and inspiration to donate it to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. On Feb. 12, they performed at the hospital and Seacrest Studios for the patients and officially donated the banner with a dedication plaque for the children and families of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

 

Heads Carolina Tails California Benefit To Aid North Carolina, California Disaster Victims

A Heads Carolina Tails California free live concert benefit featuring Jim Lauderdale, Noah Thompson and many more is set for Wednesday (Feb. 19) at Category 10 in Nashville. Presented by Go Big Transportation, the concert will directly benefit the families in North Carolina and California that have been impacted by the recent natural disasters via 501c3 musicpreneur Storehouse. Those wanting to donate who can’t attend the show can do so at musicstorehouse.org.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted five of its staff members across key departments.

Tess Pardee has been elevated to Associate Director of Creative Project Management, while Marshell Ruffier now serves as Associate Director of Food and Beverage Operations. Alex Krompic has stepped into the role of Director of Production and Technical Services, and Emily Zirkle has been named Associate Director of Events Administration and Entertainment. Additionally, John Sloboda has been promoted to Executive Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Services.

In her new role, Pardee assists in overseeing the project management team and leads the execution of a variety of creative projects, as well as streamlines processes and helps to manage resources for the museum’s creative department. Since joining the museum in 2023, she has managed creative development for the museum’s general marketing materials, exhibitions and special projects, including the museum’s annual Medallion Ceremony, ongoing core exhibition updates and more. Prior to joining the museum, Pardee worked in entertainment and advertising industries for nearly a decade in Los Angeles, New York City and Austin, Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in film, television and digital media from Texas Christian University.

Ruffier will oversee the banquet team as well as the museum’s café, Red Onion. With more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant and banquets industry, she works with the service managers and the kitchen team closely to ensure high quality hospitality for more than 1,400 third-party and private events held annually at the museum. Ruffier’s responsibilities include managing servers and bartenders and ordering equipment for private and internal events. She also works with the operations team on the museum’s sustainability initiatives, including composting and recycling efforts. Since joining the museum in 2009 as banquet manager, Ruffier now manages more than 80 staff members between banquets and Red Onion.

In his new role, Krompic oversees the events teams for production audio, video and lighting. These teams manage and execute more than 1,400 third-party and private events annually at the museum. Since joining the museum as a contractor in 2007 and a staff member in 2015, Krompic’s most recent role was manager of production and technical services. For more than 28 years, Krompic has worked in lighting, audio and rigging fields all over the world. Prior to joining the museum, he worked in live concerts, touring with many country, pop and rock artists.

Zirkle tracks and manages revenue and expenses for more than 1,400 third-party and private events annually, which support the museum’s nonprofit mission. In addition to her administrative duties, Zirkle is responsible for the execution of all publicly ticketed events in the museum’s CMA Theater, including the museum’s artist-in-residence shows, as well as engagement and experience events for museum staff. She joined the museum in 2017 as an events intern and has since served in multiple roles in the events and culinary department — most recently as senior events administration manager. Zirkle also oversees the events department interns and has managed and mentored more than 15 interns during her tenure, leading to several full-time hires within the department. She holds a bachelor’s degree in entertainment management from Missouri State University.

Sloboda oversees the exhibits, curatorial and registration teams, including guiding all phases of the museum’s gallery exhibitions — from conception and design through fabrication and installation. He leads the exhibits team in collaboration with curatorial, creative, education and editorial staff to create approximately 12 temporary exhibits each year that draw from the museum’s unparalleled collections and interpret the history of country music. Sloboda also manages updates to the museum’s permanent exhibitions, helps guide collecting initiatives, and works to increase the museum’s conservation efforts. He previously served as director of exhibitions. Prior to joining the museum in 2022, Sloboda worked in the exhibitions department at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for nearly 13 years, ultimately serving as the director of museum design and exhibitions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration and graphic design from the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Dierks Bentley will kick the summer off with his 2025 “Broken Branches Tour” in Austin on May 29.

The tour will visit over 30 cities nationwide, with rising star Zach Top and new Warner Music duo The Band Loula joining him this summer. Tickets will go on sale this Friday (Feb. 21) at dierks.com. Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning tomorrow (Feb. 18) until Thursday (Feb 20) through the Citi Entertainment program.

“I’m 20(ish) years into doing this, and I’ve seriously never been more excited about a tour,” says Bentley. “We had Zach out for a few shows last summer, and I knew right away that we had to do more together. He loves the same kind of country music I do, and he’s got the bluegrass chops to hang with the best of ‘em in a jam. I’ve got a million ideas for the set list rolling around in my head. It’ll be fun to figure out how to make it all come to life with a new album and new production.”

Bentley recently teased a new upcoming album with the release of the leadoff single “She Hates Me,” which features the tongue-twisting story of a girl who is no longer falling for his country-boy charm.

“Broken Branches Tour” 2025 Dates:
5/29 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ^
5/30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavillion ^
5/31 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center *
6/5 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *
6/6 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
6/7 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre #
6/12 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *
6/14 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre *
6/19 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre *
6/20 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre *
6/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater *
6/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome ^
6/27 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre *
6/28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre *
7/10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater *
7/11 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live *
7/12 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center ^
7/18 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *
7/19 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
7/31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre *
8/1 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater *
8/7 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion ^
8/8 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *
8/9 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion *
8/14 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater ^
8/15 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center *
8/16 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts *
8/21 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena *
8/22 – Birmingham, AL – Coca Cola Amphitheatre *
8/23 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum *
8/28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden *
8/29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake ^
8/30 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre ^

* On-Sale This Friday, February 21
^ On-Sale Next Friday, February 28
# On-Sale Friday, March 7