Marty Stuart has released the lineup for his special 10th Anniversary Late Night Jam on June 8. Joining Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives for performances this year will be country icons Dolly Parton, Mel Tillis and Connie Smith, as well as The Quebe Sisters Band, Doug Kershaw and a few unnamed surprise guests.
The event starts at 10 pm at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and has become the unofficial start to CMA Music Festival weekend. Tickets are reportedly selling quickly and, as always, proceeds will benefit MusiCares with a portion also going to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
“It’s hard to believe that the Late Night Jam is ten years old,” says Stuart. “I can’t help but think back on the first one. I was nervous; pacing and hoping that we’d have enough people show up. The show ended up being a sell-out and we’ve been going strong ever since. That first show was over 25,000 people ago, and it was also many good deeds ago from MusiCares, and a lot of really magical performances ago from some of my dearest musical friends. Every year I say, ‘How can I top that show?’ Somehow it happens and good things result from it. This year will be no different.”
Over the past 10 years, guest performers at this one-of-a-kind event have included Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Neko Case, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Lee Lewis and more.

Digital Music News and the Los Angeles Times report that Warner Music Group has agreed to be purchased by Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries for approximately $3.3 billion. Included in the “merger agreement” are both recording and publishing divisions plus Access Industries will assume WMG debt of approximately $2 billion.
The purchase price calculates to about $8.25 per share, slightly higher than yesterday’s closing price of $7.90. The deal still must be approved by WMG shareholders which is expected to take place. Analysts expect the deal might close sometime during the 3rd quarter.
“We believe this transaction is an exceptional value-maximizing opportunity that serves the best interests of stockholders as well as the best interests of music fans, our recording artists and songwriters, and the wonderful people of this company,” said WMG chairman and CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. “We are delighted that Access will be the new steward of this outstanding business.”
Unlike some of the larger music companies that bid for Warners, Blavatnik’s offer had the bonus of being able to steer clear of any regulatory hurdles. With the WMG deal done, the possibility exists that Access Industries will now go after EMI’s music and publishing assets.

Taylor Swift will be opening the last dress rehearsal for her Speak Now Tour to fans as a fundraiser to benefit victims in the recent deadly tornadoes in the Southeast. 13,000 fans will get a first look at Swift’s new show almost a week early at  Speak Now…..Help Now!, her final tour rehearsal, on May 21 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The North American portion of her Speak Now World Tour 2011 kicks off on May 27 in Omaha, Nebraska. Ticketing information and Speak Now….Help Now! event details will be available and updated beginning Monday, May 9 on www.TaylorSwift.com. 100% of ticket sales will go directly to help tornado victims.

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Tracy Lawrence and his friends in music, entertainment, sports and the arts raised nearly $15,000 for the Susan G. Komen Center–Greater Nashville at the inaugural Golf For A Cure Charity Golf Classic on Monday, May 2. Artists, celebrities, sponsors and VIPs took to the greens, despite the threatening, inclement weather, at Five Oaks Golf & Country Club in Lebanon. In a parade of 50 carts, teeing off along with paying patrons and event sponsors were Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Ira Dean (former Trick Pony member), Bryan White, Davis Daniel, Matt Gary, Ty Brown (of The Bachelorette fame), American Idol alum Lacey Brown, Cory Hildreath (One Night Rodeo), Elbert West, Lucas Hoge, Racing Country radio show host Cathy Martindale and Rockie “Rockstar” Shipes. After the 18-hole game, the Golf For A Cure outing concluded with a night-time reception where guests enjoyed up-close, acoustic performances by Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, Ira Dean, Tiffany, Ty Brown, Lacey Brown, Brooke Burrows, One Night Rodeo accompanied by rolling thunder and bolts of lightning.

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The  2011 JDRF Golf Classic, benefiting the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is set for May 9 at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. Slated to participate are WKRN News 2 sports anchor Joe Dubin, American Idol season nine Top 12 finalist Lacey Brown, hit songwriter Rivers Rutherford, up-and-coming country singer Eric Lee Beddingfield, members of the Adam Craig Band and surprise guests. Shotgun starts are at 8:00 am and 1:30 pm. A limited number of slots are still available. Click here for details.
 
 

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz will be featured at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s quarterly programming series Poets and Prophets: Legendary Country Songwriters on June 4. Schlitz is the writer of some of country music’s most iconic hits, including “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing at All” and “On the Other Hand.”
The 1:30 p.m. in-depth interview and performance, held in the Museum’s Ford Theater, is included with Museum admission and free to Museum members. The 90-minute program, hosted by Museum Editor Michael Gray, will include recordings, photos and film clips from the Museum’s collection and some unique items on long-term loan to the Museum courtesy of Schlitz. Immediately following, Schlitz will sign autographs in the Museum Store. The program will be streamed live at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.
Schlitz has received numerous industry awards and honors. He has written over 50 Billboard Top Ten singles, including 16 No. 1s. He was the first songwriter to win ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years (1988-1991). In 2010, he received the Academy of Country Music’s Poet’s Award for lifetime achievement in songwriting and he released two albums—Allergic to Crazy, his first studio album in 30 years, and Greatest Hits. He still performs regularly, including monthly shows at the Bluebird Café in Nashville.