Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame To Induct Pat Alger, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis and Stephen Foster

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) has announced this year’s inductees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: From the Songwriter category, hit writers Pat Alger and Steve Cropper; From the Songwriter/Artist category, the late Pop/Country star Paul Davis; and by special induction, America’s first professional songwriter Stephen Foster.

The four new inductees will be welcomed into the elite songwriting fraternity by their peers at the 40^th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, presented by AT&T, on Sunday, October 17, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

“Pat, Steve, Paul and certainly Mr. Foster have all written remarkable songs that we’ve lived our lives by through the years, and all of them are so deserving as Hall of Fame inductees,” said Roger Murrah, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “Stephen Foster was writing songs before we even had genres.”

Alger’s songwriter credits include hits such as “Goin’ Gone” (Kathy Mattea) and “The Thunder Rolls” (Garth Brooks). Cropper’s resume is known for Pop/R&B classics such as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” (Otis Redding) and “In The Midnight Hour” (Wilson Pickett). Davis popularized many of his own compositions, “I Go Crazy” and “Sweet Life.” Foster, regarded as America’s first professional songwriter, is remembered for Civil-War-era compositions such as “Camptown Races” and “Oh! Susanna.”

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony features tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. NaSHOF’s sister organization, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), also presents its annual awards for the year’s best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.

Tickets for the event are $200 each. A limited number of seats are available to the public this year and may be purchased by contacting event director Mark Ford at hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com.

For more information visit http://www.nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com

The action will extend across multiple screens during the Sept. 1 airing (ABC, 8-11p.m. ET) of the CMA’s broadcast special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock. Fans will be able to visit ABC.com to view twitter feeds from a variety of artists including Julianne Hough(@JulianneHough), Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum), Reba McEntire (@Reba), Tim McGraw (@TimMcGrawArtist), Blake Shelton (@BlakeShelton), Keith Urban (@KeithUrban), and Zac Brown Band (@ZacBrownBand).

On CMAfest.com fans will also will able to read artist’s observations about the three hour special plus behind the scenes insight, anecdotes and memories using their Facebook account.

“As an event, CMA Music Festival is about these unique interaction opportunities between the artist community and the fans,” said Ben Bennett, CMA Digital Marketing Manager. “The Tweet ‘N’ Greet is a fun, inventive way of translating that artist/fan connection to the ABC broadcast. The artists and fans get to communicate while they share the common experience of watching the television show.”

The “Tweet ‘N’ Greet” will create an interactive feed between the fans and artists. Fans will have a direct connection to some of their favorite performers, not only allowing them the opportunity to ask questions, but also providing them with behind-the-scenes access. The official hashtag for the event is #cmatv. Fans using the hashtag will be entered to win prizes during the show.

CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock is hosted by McGraw and features Taylor Swift in the first network television performance of her new single “Mine.” Also performing are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, McEntire, McGraw, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Shelton, Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood, Urban, and Zac Brown Band.

The ACM recently welcomed Joanna Smith at the organization’s Los Angeles offices. Smith became a professional member and sang “Gettin’ Married” in an impromptu performance for the ACM staffers. Photo: Michel Bourquard

Warner Music Nashville, together with Aramark, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Frugal MacDoogal, GiGi’s Cupcakes, Jubilee Beer, Skylar Wilson Productions, Sunrise of Nashville and Whiskey Kitchen hosted its latest edition of Pickin’ On The Patio (8/26). Over 200 attendees enjoyed appetizers, beers and rocked out to stellar performances by both Reprise Records recording artist/guitar slayer Frankie Ballard and Warner Bros. Records new group The Dirt Drifters.

Blake Shelton’s first television concert special will premiere Wed., Sept. 8 on GAC. Shot at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana, Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight includes 90 minutes of hits and new music from the Reprise Records artist. Concert footage is interspersed with candid conversations with the star.

The special was produced by Jon Small, the creative mind behind several Emmy-nominated projects including Garth Brooks’ Central Park HBO special.

During the sold-out concert, Shelton offers hits “Austin,” “All About Tonight,” “The More I Drink,” “Kiss My Country Ass,” “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” “Some Beach,” “Ol’ Red,” and “Hillbilly Bone.” Fans will also hear his new song, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” and see a duet of “Home,” with special guest and fiancé, Miranda Lambert.