Koe Wetzel & Parker McCollum Reunite For ‘Naughty Or Nice Tour’ This December

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Koe Wetzel & Parker McCollum

Koe Wetzel and Parker McCollum are reuniting this year for some Christmas music and mischief on the “Naughty or Nice Tour,” a co-headlining tour across Texas this December.

The first iteration of the holiday tour in seven years, the outing kicks off Dec. 2 at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas, with stops through Houston, Corpus Christi and Round Rock before wrapping Dec. 10 at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. Jackson Wendell and Logan Jahnke will support on the new shows.

Fans can access the artist pre-sale beginning today, (Oct. 7) through Oct. 8 using the password NAUGHTY. Promoter and local pre-sales begin tomorrow (Oct. 8,) and general on-sale begins Friday (Oct. 9).

“Koe and I did this tour for the first time way back in 2017 when we were still just some kids with a dream,” says McCollum. “Proud to say we’ve both come a long way since then, and getting to bring this back after some years off is really special. Looking forward to us both being back in Texas again, and I’ll do my best to keep Koe from gettin’ too rowdy.”

“It’s been a long time coming for us to run it back with this tour,” adds Wetzel. “It felt right to end the year in Texas and make it a party.”

The “Naughty or Nice Tour” is also partnering with Fandiem to give fans an opportunity to support causes championed by Wetzel and McCollum. Fans who donate to Koe’s Kids and/or The Ruger Fund will be entered for a chance to win a grand prize flyaway package to the Dec. 10 show at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.

“Naughty or Nice Tour” Dates:
December 2 — Helotes, TX — Floore’s Country Store
December 3 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
December 4 — Corpus Christi, TX — Concrete Street Amphitheater
December 5 — Round Rock, TX — Round Rock Amp
December 10 — Fort Worth, TX — Billy Bob’s Texas

Garth Brooks To Visit Kansas City On ‘Blame It All On My Roots Tour’

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Garth Brooks has revealed his next stop on the “Blame It All On My Roots Tour” will be Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on Nov. 6 and 7. Brooks has sold-out the arena 16 times in his career.

“To get to play K.C. on any day is an event, but to get to play K.C. on a Chiefs’ home game weekend makes this a PARTY,” says Brooks.

General sale will begin on Oct. 16 at 12 p.m. CT. With both end-stage and in-the-round seating, all tickets are priced at $155.

Additional upcoming dates on the “Blame It All On My Roots Tour” include Salt Lake City and Tulsa this month. Brooks was also recently announced as a headliner for Stagecoach 2027.

IEBA Honors 2026 Industry Award Winners & Hall of Fame Inductees

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Gil Cunningham. Photo: Ed Rode

IEBA celebrated its honorees Tuesday night (Oct. 6) during its 2026 Honors & Awards at The Pinnacle Nashville, closing out the organization’s sold-out 56th Annual Conference.

Hosted by comedian Derrick Stroup, the evening recognized excellence across the live entertainment industry, honored Gene Simmons with IEBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for a touring career spanning more than five decades and his enduring impact on live entertainment, and welcomed Chubby Checker and legendary promoter Gil Cunningham into the IEBA Hall of Fame.

The program also celebrated the professionals working behind the scenes at IEBA’s annual Industry Awards, voted on by the association’s membership, recognizing outstanding achievement among venues, talent buyers, agents, promoters, festivals, fairs and other leaders throughout the business.

Photo: Ed Rode

The ceremony introduced the Barbara “Mother” Hubbard Mentorship Award as well, named in honor of longtime industry leader and IEBA Hall of Fame member Barbara Hubbard. The award recognizes the essential role mentorship plays in developing future generations of live entertainment professionals and honors Hubbard’s extraordinary legacy of opening doors, sharing knowledge and helping young people build careers in the industry.

“Tonight represents what IEBA is all about—the people who make live entertainment happen,” says Brian Wagner, Executive Director of IEBA. “From legendary artists and industry pioneers whose careers have helped shape our business to the professionals doing exceptional work in venues, agencies, festivals, fairs and markets around the world today, this year’s honorees represent both the history and the future of live entertainment. It was especially meaningful to celebrate them together here in Nashville as we closed an incredible 56th Annual Conference.”

IEBA also officially unveiled its new Hall of Fame exhibit Sunday during the organization’s 56th Annual Conference at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, bringing together six decades of IEBA history and the people who helped build and shape the modern live entertainment industry. IEBA members, Hall of Fame inductees, past presidents, board members and industry leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Grand Foyer to formally open the exhibit. The new installation begins with IEBA’s founding in 1970, and traces the evolution of the live entertainment business decade by decade, from the independent promoters, agents and talent buyers who built regional touring circuits, to the rise of national touring, the concert boom, an increasingly global business, the emergence of the experience economy, and today’s interconnected live entertainment marketplace.

Photo: Ed Rode

The exhibit highlights generations of IEBA Hall of Fame members whose influence can be seen across every corner of the business. Early industry pioneers including Bette Kaye, Buddy Lee, Dave Douds, Dick Blake, Harry “Hap” Peebles, Don Romeo and Henry Ade helped establish the relationships and business practices upon which the touring industry grew. Later generations represented in the exhibit include influential agents, promoters, talent buyers and execs including George Moffett, Tony Conway, Billy Deaton, Ron Baird, Jack McFadden, Barbara “Mother” Hubbard, Bonnie Brosious, Chuck Morris, Alex Hodges, Louis Messina, Rod Essig, Erv Woolsey, Mike Smardak and Paul Moore, among others.

IEBA Industry Award Winners:
Club of the Year: The Pinnacle Nashville
Casino of the Year: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Theater of the Year: ACL Live
Arena of the Year: Madison Square Garden
Amphitheater of the Year: The Gorge Amphitheatre
Fair/Expo of the Year: Minnesota State Fair
Festival of the Year: Bourbon & Beyond
Club Buyer of the Year: Sonia Grover, First Avenue
Casino Buyer of the Year: Drew Dixon, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Corporate Buyer of the Year: EastCoast Entertainment
International Buyer of the Year: Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment
Fair/Expo Buyer of the Year: Lisa Sexton, OC Fair
Festival Buyer of the Year: Tom Hoppa, Danny Wimmer Presents
Venue Executive of the Year: David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Young Professional of the Year: Spencer Zubrow, Pinnacle Entertainment
Music & Entertainment Industry Educator of the Year: Ed Traversari, Point Park University
Boutique Agency Agent of the Year: Heath Baumhor, Reliant Talent
Major Agency Agent of the Year: Becky Gardenhire, WME
Promoter of the Year: Rich Schaefer, AEG Presents

Gene Simmons. Photo: Ed Rode

Photo: Ed Rode

David Kells. Photo: Ed Rode

Heath Baumhor. Photo: Ed Rode

Becky Gardenhire. Photo: Ed Rode

Chubby Checker. Photo: Ed Rode

BMI To Honor Jeffrey Steele With BMI Icon Award

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Jeffrey Steele. Photo: Anthony Scarlati/Courtesy of BMI

BMI will honor Jeffrey Steele by naming him a BMI Icon during the upcoming 74th annual BMI Country Awards.

“Jeffrey Steele is a titan of modern storytelling whose catalog has shaped the sound of country music over the last three decades,” shares BMI’s Nashville VP of Creative, Clay Bradley. “When you hear one of his anthems that has become the soundtrack to millions of lives, you can feel the emotion behind every lyric. As a two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and an intentional mentor to the next generation of creators, Steele has earned a permanent place among the greats.”

Since Steele’s affiliation with BMI in 1981, the multi-Platinum songwriter, singer and producer has earned more than 60 chart-topping hits and received more than 34 BMI Country and Pop Awards for his extensive catalog that includes iconic songs like Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy in Me” along with Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most,” “My Wish,” and “These Days” as well as Keith Urban’s “Raise ‘Em Up” featuring Eric Church, Zac Brown Band’s “Knee Deep,” Van Zant’s “Help Somebody,” Montgomery Gentry’s “Something to Be Proud Of” and “My Town.” The seven-time Grammy nominee has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame as a “Poet and Prophet.”

During the invitation-only event in November, BMI will also reveal the Country Songwriter of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Country Publisher of the Year, while celebrating the top songwriters and music publishers behind this past year’s 50 most-performed songs in country music.

Activist Artists Management Adds Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero

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Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero. Photo: Courtesy of Activist Artists Management

Activist Artists Management has added Mak Symmonds and Chelsea Fodero as Artist Managers.

Symmonds brings nearly a decade of experience across artist management, marketing and career development. Most recently, she served as Director of Marketing at SMACK, leading strategy across the company’s management, label and publishing divisions. Before that, Symmonds served as Day-to-Day Manager for Chris Tomlin, Patrick Droney and Redferrin.

“Mak is the kind of person who instantly puts people at ease,” shares Matt Maher, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She brings experience, curiosity, a deep love of music, and a collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach that’s exactly how we like to work at Activist. She understands how to build meaningful, long-term careers for artists, and we’re excited to have her bring that perspective to our team.”

“I’ve always believed some of the best careers are built on real relationships with artists, with fans and with the communities they serve,” says Symmonds. “Over the years, the moments I’m proudest of are the ones where an artist creates something that lasts, on stage and off, and that’s exactly the work I’m excited to keep doing. Activist builds for the long haul, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join a team that cares this deeply about artists.”

Fodero joins Activist with more than 15 years of experience in artist management, touring and day-to-day operations. Most recently, she served as Day-to-Day Manager for USHER, helping oversee his sold-out Past Present Future World Tour, as well as creative, styling, merchandising and brand partnerships, including collaborations with Ralph Lauren, Baccarat, MLB, the Atlanta Braves and Selfridges. She previously worked with GRAMMY Award-winning Producer of the Year Andrew Watt, Alicia Keys and Mac Miller.

“Chelsea has worked at the highest levels of the business and knows firsthand what it takes to manage the day-to-day of a global artist career,” says Bernie Cahill, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She’s thoughtful, relentless about the details, and deeply committed to the artists she works with. We’re thrilled to have her join Activist and excited for what she’ll bring to the team.”

“I’ve spent my career in not only the day-to-day logistics but also the large scale operations of every aspect of an artist’s career, and I’ve learned that the biggest moments, whether it’s a sold-out tour, a GRAMMY stage or a global campaign, are built on hundreds of small decisions made well,” adds Fodero. “Activist has a reputation for putting artists first and thinking long-term, and that’s the kind of management I believe in. I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned to this team and help artists build careers that are as sustainable as they are ambitious.”

Fodero is based in New York, while Symmonds is based in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Greylan James Slates Debut Album For November

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Greylan James will release his self-titled debut album on Nov. 13 via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment.

The project includes 13 original songs, all co-written by James, with 11 produced or co-produced by him, along with a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Throughout the album, James draws from his own experiences, pairing personal lyrics with honest storytelling. The cover features his dog, Knox.

“I’ve spent the past 10 years in town writing songs for other artists while trying to navigate becoming the artist I always dreamed of being,” shares James. “After the past year, I feel like I’ve found my footing, and it’s now the perfect time to share my story through my self-titled debut album. This is the first time I’ve truly let people see all of me, from the good, the bad, the mistakes, the memories and everything in between. I’m so excited to finally be releasing my debut project for the fans and everyone who has been on this journey with me.”

Across the 13 tracks, James co-wrote with Chase McGill, Emily Weisband, Rocky Block, Sam Ellis and more. Co-production on the project includes James, Jason Massey, Brock Berryhill, Julian Raymond and Dann Huff.

Along with the album announcement, James has released “Water At A Wedding (her side)” featuring Gabriella Rose. The new version came from fans creating their own perspectives of the song, prompting James to bring in Rose to officially tell the story from the woman’s point of view. The original “Water At A Wedding” has become a career milestone for James and is currently climbing inside the Top 20 at country radio.

The Knoxville native will embark on his first headline tour, “Wedding Season: The Tour,” next month in West Virginia. He will also join Kenny Chesney as an opening act for all dates of the “Original Vibe Room Tour.” In the past year, James’ songs have been recorded by Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Cole Swindell, Blake Shelton and others, building on previous credits with Chesney, Chris Young, Bailey Zimmerman and more.

Greylan James Tracklist:
1. “Who Broke Up With You” * + ~ (Greylan James, Brad Clawson, Ashley Gorley)
2. “Things That I Can’t Change (featuring Cole Swindell)” * + ~ (Greylan James, Brock Berryhill, Rocky Block, Jared Mullins)
3. “Water At A Wedding” * + (Greylan James, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill)
4. “Tennessee You Again” * + (Greylan James, Josh Miller, Matt Roy)
5. “Sunrise” * + ^ (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Rodney Clawson)
6. “Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You” * (Greylan James, Brock Berryhill, Rocky Block)
7. “Night In Shining Armor” * + (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Geoff Warburton, and Summer Overstreet)
8. “Pullin’ From A Bottle” * + (Greylan James)
9. “Truck Stop” # (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Sam Ellis)
10. “Good Run” # (Greylan James, Josh Miller, Jacob Davis)
11. “Give Me A Second (the before)” * ! (Greylan James)
12. “Water At A Wedding (her side) (with Gabriella Rose)” * + (Greylan James, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill, Gabriella Rose, Emily Weisband)
13. “Hold It Down (the after demo)” * + (Greylan James, Blake Pendergrass)
14. “I Will Always Love You ​(goodbye)” * + (Dolly Parton)

* produced by Greylan James
+ produced by Jason Massey
~ produced by Brock Berryhill
^ produced by Julian Raymond
# produced by Dann Huff

LOCASH’s Latest Collection ‘Chris & Preston’ Slated For Release Oct. 23

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LOCASH will release their new album, Chris & Preston, on Oct. 23 via Galaxy Label Group.

Members Preston Brust and Chris Lucas are turning the spotlight toward the friendship, shared history, and real-life experiences that have shaped their music through the years on the new project, which features the new track “Where My Stars Line Up” (an ode to the kind of love that makes the whole world feel like home), and current country single “Talkin Bout.”

The album serves up a rich collection of love songs, and the two also turn their attention to the touchstones that matter most to them on it, including family, hometown roots, and their passion for country music – all brought to life in “Let The Country Music Play,” their new collaboration with Parmalee.

“LOCASH is what we built together, but Chris & Preston is who we are,” says Brust. “This album is two brothers, two friends, two voices, and a lot of life lived. After all these years, it felt right to put our names on it.”

As they gear up for the release of Chris & Preston, LOCASH continue their recently launched “Let The Country Music Play Tour,” their North American headline tour currently running through Dec. 12.

Chris & Preston Track List:
1. “Talkin Bout” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Blake Bollinger, Nate Kenyon)
2. “These Days” (Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Preston Brust, Chris Lucas)
3. “I Aint Goin Nowhere” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Maya Kurchner, John Byron)
4. “Where My Stars Line Up” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Jeffrey East, Taylor Phillips)
5. “Let The Country Music Play” with Parmalee (Rupert Holmes, Brinley Addington, Tommy Cecil, Matt Thomas)
6. “Love Always Wins” (Chris Lucas, Blake Bollinger, Preston Brust)
7. “YES” (Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, John Byron)
8. “Case of Missin You” (Jeffrey East, Chris Lucas, Preston Brust)
9. “Rockstar” (Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Blake Bollinger, Nate Kenyon)
10. “Make It About You” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Josh Kear, Chris DeStefano)
11. “Fish Her Off My Mind” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Blake Bollinger, Harley Schrock)
12. “Life On Music Row” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Nate Kenyon, Blake Bollinger)

Emily Yahr Releases Book About Taylor Swift’s Country Music Years

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Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr has released TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS, a detailed look at Swift’s first 10 years in Nashville and the experiences that shaped her career and rise in the music industry.

Swift’s path to becoming a global pop star began in Nashville. She moved to the city at 13, where she wrote songs, built relationships with early collaborators and began developing the career that would change the music industry. Drawing on original, never-before-published interviews with more than 100 people, including those who worked with Swift and those who passed on her, Yahr explores the early decisions, risks and relationships that helped shape her rise.

Many of the stories about Swift’s Nashville beginnings are already familiar, from taking her demo CD door to door to performing at the Bluebird Cafe. The book goes beyond those moments, uncovering new details about the opportunities she pursued, the setbacks she faced and the risks she took along the way. Her story included turning down a deal with major label RCA to join a new, unproven label and following her own instincts even when others were unsure of her potential.

While writing songs with established Nashville industry figures after school, Swift quickly stood out as a songwriter. Some industry executives questioned whether a young artist could bring a new generation of listeners to country music, but interviews with those around her highlight her clear vision, strong work ethic and determination to make that vision a reality.

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS also offers a look at Nashville’s music industry in the early 2000s. Yahr explores the world of Music Row, the Grand Ole Opry, songwriting rooms and record-label offices, along with the importance of country radio and the demanding promotional tours that helped artists connect with radio programmers across the country.

Swift’s years in Nashville continued to influence her music long after she moved beyond country. Published around the 20th anniversary of her debut album, TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS examines the early years of a career that reshaped popular music while offering a closer look at the Nashville industry that helped launch it.

Jennifer Nettles, Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, More To Be Featured On ‘Heartland’ Soundtrack

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Netflix will release the soundtrack to its new original movie, Heartland on Nov. 13 via Netflix Music. The project’s title track, originally written and recorded by Hailey Whitters, is out today performed by Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Nettles.

The album features songs performed by Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, Margo Price, Trannie Anderson and more. Production credits include Tofer Brown, Kristian Bush, David Ferguson, Stewart Lerman, Frank Lidell and Eric Masse. The album’s 15 tracks were written by Jessi Alexander, Anderson, Charles Wesley Godwin, George Jones, Hillary Lindsey, Roger Miller, Don Schlitz, Alysa Vanderheym and more.

Directed by Shana Feste, Heartland follows the story of former country legend, Misty Jones, played by Chastain, who comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her missing niece, played by Faith. It will be released exclusively on Netflix on Nov. 13.

Heartland Track List:
1. “Heartland” performed by Jessica Chastain feat. Jennifer Nettles
2. “Heartbreak Country” performed by Ross Lynch
3. “Still the Sparrow Sings” performed by Carter Faith
4. “You’re Gonna Burn For That” performed by Jennifer Nettles
5. “Family Ties” performed by Jessica Chastain
6. “Ready & Waiting” performed by Carly Pearce
7. “Tall Tall Trees” performed by Channing Wilson
8. “The Night We Met” performed by Jace Jacobs and Charlie Heart
9. “Too Late For Coffee, Too Early for Beer” performed by John Hawkes and Margo Price
10. “A-11” performed by Eddy Dunlap
11. “Die With A Secret” performed by Charlie Heart
12. “Shut Up & Ride” performed by Heart Sisters
13. “Honeycomb” performed by Carter Faith feat. Trannie Anderson
14. “Texas Land” performed by David “Fergie” Ferguson
15. “Shouldn’t Have Called” performed by Jessica Chastain and John Hawkes

Stella Lefty Celebrates ‘Boston’ With Nashville No. 1 Party

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Pictured (Seated, L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger and Joe Reeves. (Standing, L-R): Livelihood Music’s Jaime Hindlin, Atlantic Outpost’s Stephanie Hagerty, Kobalt’s Rani Hancock, ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton, BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Livelihood Music’s Carolyn Moore and ASCAP’s Emilia James. Photo: Ed Rode

Stella Lefty gathered friends and industry members to celebrate her first No. 1 song, “Boston,” on Friday (Oct. 2) with a No. 1 party at the CAA office. The track was written by Grace Enger, Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Noah Kahan and Joe Reeves.

To kick off the celebration, Lefty performed the hit track alongside Reeves. Emceed by ASCAP’s Emilia James, ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton, BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Livelihood Music’s Jaime Hindlin and Carolyn Moore, Kobalt’s Rani Hancock and Atlantic Outpost’s Stephanie Hagerty each took the microphone to honor the songwriters and the team behind the track.

Pictured (L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger, MusicRow’s Lauryn Sink and Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rode

Sanders was on deck to speak about Enger. “What I love most about this moment is that ‘Boston’ didn’t happen in isolation. You and Stella have developed a real creative friendship. You’ve written together, sung together and helped shape so much of the music that has introduced Stella to the world. Great songwriters have a way of taking something incredibly personal and making everybody listening feel like it belongs to them, and Grace, you have that gift.”

He also took a moment to honor Reeves. “You didn’t just help write ‘Boston.’ You produced it, engineered it, programmed it and helped create a song that the world fell in love with. You’ve become an important part of Stella finding her sound and have continued to build that body of work alongside her. You once described making this record as capturing lightning in a bottle. Well, you caught it.”

George-Middleton spoke about Hindlin, noting that this is his eighth country chart-topper. She also recognized Kahan, who was unable to attend the party due to scheduling conflicts, for his first No. 1 on country radio.

Pictured (L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger and Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rode

Hindlin and Moore spoke about their time working with Lefty. “Stella, I’m so proud of you,” Moore shared. “It’s been incredible to be on this ride with you. You are the most hardworking person I know. You are a brilliant songwriter and artist, but you’ve remained so grounded, kind and open-hearted through this whole process. I’m just so grateful to be part of the ride.”

Hancock and Hagerty echoed similar sentiments, thanking everyone involved for their work to get the song to the top of the charts.

Billboard and Country Aircheck presented Lefty with plaques commemorating the song’s chart-dominating success.

Reeves was the first of the creators to take the microphone, stating, “Stella drills it in to me every time we work that it needs to be about having fun and just making good music. That’s what we went into this to do. I just never could have imagined this.”

“Stella is one of the best songwriters I’ve ever met,” Enger shared. “I think the thing I’ve learned the most from you is just to have fun and how all the good things come when you’re just having fun with good people. Thank you to everyone on her teams who have helped this little song become a big song.”

Stella Lefty performs “Boston” with Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rhode

“Everyone on these stools is really good at what they do. It is hard to get a No. 1. What a lot of people don’t account for is luck, and I just consider myself lucky,” Hindlin added. “The thing about my career is I’ve just been so lucky to be around the best people.”

Lefty closed the afternoon thanking each member of her team and country radio for embracing her. “To country radio, I’ve loved you guys my whole entire life. You raised me, so thank you for playing my song, because I just could have never imagined that any of this would happen,” shared Lefty. “To have a No. 1 song is a very crazy feeling. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life, and I love country music more than anything in the whole world. To be part of this community, I feel so grateful and so honored.”