The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host a panel discussion with comedians Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer surrounding the Grand Ole Opry’s tradition of blending humor with musical performances on April 15 in the museum’s Ford Theater.

The comedians will share their own career paths that led them to the world-famous country radio show during the panel discussion, which will be led by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Senior Director of Editorial Paul Kingsbury. 

In 2023, the Grand Ole Opry inducted acclaimed comedians Cho and Mule Deer into the fold. Hailing from Knoxville, Cho made his Opry debut in 2011 and performed more than 100 times before being asked to join the cast. Mule Deer, who comes from South Dakota, performed more than 160 times on the show before his induction.

The program will include video clips from past Opry routines. The event is included with museum admission and free to museum members, but a program ticket is required. Tickets can be reserved in advance here.

The panel is offered in support of the museum’s exhibit “Country’s Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100“ which runs until March 2027 and examines notable performers and key moments in the history of the show that has entertained millions.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Kennedy Murphy (Spirit Music Group), Jamie Moore, Mike Fiorentino (Spirit Music Group) and AJ Burton (Spirit Music Group/Fluid Music Revolution). (L-R, back row): Spirit Music Group’s Jane Wahlfeldt, Ryan Johnson, Brian Bradford, Will Cooper, Jake Pieklik, Frank Rogers and Andy Hodges. Photo: Courtesy Spirit Music Group

Jamie Moore has signed with Spirit Music Group.

Hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Moore has earned cuts with Carrie Underwood, Mackenzie Carpenter, Toby Mac, Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw. The four-time Grammy nominee was honored for “Chasin You,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, as one of NSAI’s 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written.

“I love writing songs and being a part of the Nashville songwriter community; what I truly believe is the greatest songwriting community in the world,” shares Moore. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Spirit family and look forward to celebrating many successes together.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jamie to the Spirit family,” adds Spirit Music Group Creative Director Kennedy Murphy. “I have had the privilege of getting to know Jamie as the incredible human and friend he is and am now looking forwarding to championing him as a creative. We’re grateful for his trust and partnership in this next chapter of his songwriting career.”

Moore joins a roster that includes HARDY, The Black Crowes, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, David Garcia, Ryan Beaver, Monty Criswell and more.

Kacey Musgraves will release her sixth studio album, Middle Of Nowhere, on May 1 via Lost Highway. The first single off the project, “Dry Spell,” was released today (March 11).

Middle of Nowhere was produced by Musgraves alongside Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. Musgraves co-penned all 13 tracks on the album. The record also features collaborations with Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Billy Strings, and Gregory Alan Isakov.

The album was inspired by the sounds, stories, and sensibilities of her Texas upbringing. Its title comes from a real sign in her tiny hometown of Golden, Texas, with a population under 300, that reads, “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.”

The project was made during a period of reflection following a breakup, with pedal steel, accordion, and Texas dancehall rhythms backing the sound, and draws in touches of bluegrass, pop, Norteño, and Zydeco.

“The bulk of this record was made during the longest single period of my life,” says Musgraves. “And I found that for the first time, it actually felt incredible being alone and existing in a space not defined by anyone else. I became fascinated with the concept of liminal space, both geographical and emotional. We don’t linger in these transitional, empty spaces long enough and rush to define where or whatever is next. I became so at ease with being in the ‘middle of nowhere’ in many senses and sitting in the un-comfort of the undefined. I had a lot of time for creative ambling and leaning into myself in different ways; horses, humor, writing with my early collaborators again, and living out my very simple, inspired life between Texas, Tennessee, and Mexico.”

Middle of Nowhere Track List:
1. “Middle of Nowhere” (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk)
2. “Dry Spell” (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
3. “Back on the Wagon” (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk)
4. “I Believe in Ghosts” (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
5. “Abilene” (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
6. “Coyote” (feat. Gregory Alan Isakov) (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Rick Nowels)
7. “Loneliest Girl” (Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
8. “Everybody Wants To Be a Cowboy” (feat. Billy Strings) (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk)
9. “Horses and Divorces” (feat. Miranda Lambert) (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Miranda Lambert)
10. “Uncertain, Texas” (feat. Willie Nelson) (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian)
11. “Rhinestoned” (Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, Scotty Emerick)
12. “Mexico Honey” (Kacey Musgraves, Steph Jones, Luke Laird)
13. “Hell on Me” (Kacey Musgraves, Steph Jones, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)

Symphonic, the music technology and services company for independent labels, managers, and artists, has launched its Fifth Annual Women Empowered+ Mentorship Program and is now accepting applications.

Mentees can apply today through March 23 to be paired up with established professionals in their area of focus. Those who are interested in applying as mentors or mentees can read more about the program requirements and submit their application here.

Mentors participating in this year’s program include Kassandra Robinson, Associate Manager, Label Partnerships, Spotify, Sarah Davis, Director, Global Client Services & In-House Forensic Musicologist, Downtown Music Publishing, Mayra Vargas, VP, Publishing Sync, Concord Music Publishing, Bianca Alarcon, VP of Content Development, Spanish Broadcasting System, Juliette Leparrée, Business Development Manager, Music Story, Bilarys Ramirez, Comptroller (Accounting), Rimas Publishing, Ellen Truley, Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer, The MLC, Isabel Echeverri, Strategic Partner Manager, Music Label Partnerships, Meta and Laurie Jakobsen, Founder & President, Jaybird Communications. Additional mentors will also participate from companies including Audiomack, Chartmetric, Cinq Music, FUGA, M for Montreal, Sony, We Make Noise, and more. Mentors and mentees will be selected in April.

“Five years into running this mentorship program, I am incredibly proud of the meaningful connections we’ve been able to facilitate across the music industry,” says Janette Berrios, VP of Corporate Marketing at Symphonic. “What started as an idea that Ana Maria Gamboa and I launched together has grown into a global community of women supporting one another through mentorship, guidance, and shared experience. The feedback we receive each year reinforces how important it is to continue expanding the program and advocating for female empowerment.”

The Women Empowered+ mentorship program has welcomed 1,011 total participants, connecting 306 mentors from companies across the music industry with 705 mentees spanning 181 cities and 46 countries across the U.S., Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, Canada, Asia and Africa.