Halie Hampton Mosley Joins Breit Group [Exclusive]

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Halie Hampton Mosley

Halie Hampton Mosley has joined Breit Group as Chief Operating Officer, effective this week.

In her new role, Mosley will oversee daily operations and help guide the continued growth of Breit Group, its teams and artist roster. She will remain based in Nashville, where she will also help expand the company’s presence.

Mosley joins Breit Group after five years at WHY&HOW, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer. There, she helped manage the company’s operations and industry relationships while working closely with its artists and staff.

“I’m honored and excited to be a part of this next chapter of Breit Group and to serve its artists, teams and mission as we grow together,” shares Mosley. “I’m deeply grateful to Bruce Kalmick and Eddie Kloesel for five incredible years at WHY&HOW alongside a remarkable roster and am proud of what we were able to build there.”

Before joining WHY&HOW, Mosley managed day-to-day operations for Florida Georgia Line alongside Irving and Jeffrey Azoff. She previously spent more than seven years at Maverick Nashville working under Clarence Spalding, gaining experience in artist management and other areas of the music industry.

Breit Group’s roster includes Phil Wickham and Pat Barrett, as well as Brandon Lake who boasts 8 Dove Award nominations and will perform at the award show tonight alongside Lainey Wilson.

Mosley can be reached here.

Artist Action: Zach Bryan, Kashus Culpepper, Waylon Jennings, Heather Russell

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Zach Bryan Sets Gillette Stadium Attendance Record

Zach Bryan broke the Gillette Stadium attendance record on Oct. 3, performing for 73,538 fans during his “With Heaven On Tour,” which was the largest crowd for any event in the venue’s history. The show was the second of two nights at the stadium, and the Foxborough shows are part of Bryan’s biggest tour yet, spanning more than 40 dates across North America and Europe beginning in March 2026.

The milestone adds to a record-setting year for Bryan. On September 27, 2025, he became the first artist ever to play Michigan Stadium, drawing 112,408 fans, the largest ticketed concert audience in U.S. history. That show surpassed the previous mark of 110,905, set by George Strait in Texas in 2024, and also set a single-night merchandise sales record of $5 million.

 

Kashus Culpepper Performs On ‘Today With Jenna & Sheinelle’

Kashus Culpepper performs on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle. Photo: Zane Heinlein

Kashus Culpepper performed “Better Weather” and “Man Of His Word” from his album on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on Oct. 1. To bookend the week, he joined Shaboozey for his “Outlaws Never Die Tour” at Radio City Music Hall, marking Culpepper’s first appearance at the iconic venue.

 

Corky’s Coffee & Waylon Jennings Brew Up New Coffee & Merch Collection

The estate of country icon Waylon Jennings has announced a new collaboration with Detroit-roasted coffee brand Corky’s Coffee. The partnership celebrates one of country music’s most enduring artists through a limited-edition collection created for coffee lovers, music fans and collectors alike. The collab includes two exclusive coffee products, and also includes a Waylon Jennings retro drinkware collection, giving fans a way to bring the collaboration into their everyday coffee ritual, as well as an exclusive vinyl variant of Diamonds, a forthcoming album of previously unreleased Waylon Jennings recordings due out Nov. 13.

Heather Russell Signs With Prescription Songs

Heather Russell

Toronto-born singer-songwriter Heather Russell has signed with Prescription Songs. Russell has had success with her initial singles supported by Prescription, including “Don’t Know What You Had,” “Killing Spree,” “Adam Sandler,” and the most recent “Bullets.” The partnership continues with the company as she moves into her next album cycle. The former American Idol contestant and child YouTube star just released a new project, Tears From The Dive Bar, on Oct. 2, via Prescription Songs’ independent label counterpart Amigo Records.

Greylan James To Launch Headlining ‘Wedding Season: The Tour’ In November

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Greylan James. Photo: Dustin Haney

Greylan James is kicking off his headlining “Wedding Season: The Tour” in West Virginia on Nov. 6 with special guest Carson Wallace.

The 12-city tour was inspired by his viral Top 20 single, “Water At A Wedding,” and will feature stops in Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Louisville, Chicago and more through Dec. 19.

Pre-sale begins tomorrow (Oct. 7), with general on-sale beginning Oct. 9. Fans can text +1 (914) 499-0771 to receive the pre-sale code.

“A crazy year gets even crazier,” says James. “So many things I’ve dreamed about for a long time have happened this year, and it just felt right to close out 2026 celebrating the song that really kicked all of this off. Y’all have loved the hell outta ‘Water At A Wedding,’ and getting to hear y’all sing it back never gets old. So we figured… why not finish the year out with the ‘Wedding Season Tour’? Let’s do it.”

“Water At A Wedding” launched James to a new level in his career as the single nears Top 15 at country radio. Tomorrow (Oct. 7), James will release “Water At A Wedding (her side),” providing a new perspective to the wedding day’s story.

Following his headlining tour, James will open the entirety of Kenny Chesney’s 2027 stadium “Original Vibe Room Tour.” The tour serves as a full-circle moment for James, who grew up in the same hometown as Chesney, and even got haircuts from Chesney’s mom as a kid. Inspired by the superstar from an early age, James would go on to earn several songwriting cuts from Chesney, including Top 5 single “Happy Does.” Chesney recently brought James onstage to perform another song, “Born,” together in Nashville at The Pinnacle.

“Wedding Season: The Tour” Dates:
Nov. 6, 2026 in Huntington, W.Va. at Jerk’s
Nov. 20, 2026 in Birmingham, Ala. at Workplay Soundstage
Nov. 21, 2026 in Decatur, Ga. at Eddie’s Attic
Dec. 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. at Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall
Dec. 4, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Dec. 5, 2026 in Plain City, Ohio at The Grainery
Dec. 10, 2026 in Knoxville, Tenn. at Open Chord
Dec. 11, 2026 in Louisville, Ky. at Headliners Music Hall
Dec. 12, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at Barrelhouse Ballroom
Dec. 17, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Carol’s Pub
Dec. 18, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. at El Club
Dec. 19, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Mich. at The Stache

Warren Zeiders Accelerates Into Spring On ‘The No Brakes Tour’

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Warren Zeiders

Warren Zeiders will kick off his 2027 “The No Brakes Tour,” in support of his recently-released album No Brakes, in March.

The 16-city tour will include shows in Kansas City, Louisville, Chicago, Atlanta, Tulsa and more through May 1. Ticket pre-sales are currently ongoing, with general on-sale beginning Oct. 9. The tour will spotlight tracks from Zeiders’ new album No Brakes, a 12-track collection detailing Zeiders’ approach to both love and heartbreak.

Next week, Zeiders sets out on the last leg of his first-ever world tour in the UK, and he recently performed on the Video Music Awards and America’s Got Talent. In four years in the industry, the breakout star has amassed more than 4.2 billion global career streams, 2 billion TikTok views, 6.4M million monthly listeners on Spotify, and earned Double Platinum, Platinum and No. 1 singles.

“The No Brakes Tour” Dates:
March 25 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL
March 26 – Seminole Hard Rock Live– Hollywood, FL
April 1 – Midland Theatre – Kansas City, MO
April 2 – Vibrant Music Hall – Waukee, IA
April 8 – Hard Rock Live – Tulsa, OK
April 9 – Billy Bob’s Texas– Ft. Worth, TX
April 10 – John T. Floore Country Store – Helotes, TX
April 15 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
April 16 – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall – Louisville, KY
April 17 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL
April 22 – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark – Philadelphia, PA
April 23 – Citizens Live at The Wylie – Pittsburgh, PA
April 24 – Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
April 29 – Township Auditorium – Columbia, SC
April 30 – Cola-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA
May 1 – Coyote’s Joe’s – Charlotte, NC

Industry Ink: Pat McLaughlin, Toby Keith, Music Community Foundation, CMHOFM

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Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Features Pat McLaughlin In Poets and Prophets Program

Pictured (L-R): Allison Moorer, Pat McLaughlin and Kyle Young. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Last weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a program with Pat McLaughlin for its in-depth interview series Poets and Prophets. The series highlights songwriters who made significant contributions to country music in a conversation moderated by museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer.

McLaughlin arrived in Nashville in 1977 and earned his first chart-topper with Steve Wariner’s “Lynda.” He has earned additional notable cuts with Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton’s “Tell Me About It,” Josh Turner’s “Firecracker,” Gary Allan’s “Songs About Rain” and John Anderson’s “Years,” among others.

 

OU Student-Athlete Center To Be Named In Toby Keith’s Honor


A new student-athlete center at Oklahoma University will be named the Toby Keith Family Performance Center following a significant philanthropic commitment. Construction is set to begin in the coming months and completion is expected in 2028.

“Naming this performance center in [Keith’s] honor is something that truly reflects his impact, and his legacy will continue to live on,” says OU Head Baseball Coach Skip Johnson. “Toby changed so many lives, and this player development facility will further change the lives of future student-athletes that step foot into the building.”

“We’re proud to support Skip, this program and these student-athletes, and to carry forward something Toby cared so deeply about,” says Keith’s widow, Tricia Covel on behalf of the family. “I know he would have loved being a part of it. We’re honored to help shape this next chapter and excited to see what the future holds for Oklahoma Baseball.”

 

Music Community Foundation Celebrates Official Launch

Photo: Courtesy of Music Community Foundation

Last week, industry members gathered to celebrate the launch of Music Community Foundation, an organization designed to help artist-led philanthropy initiatives.

“This night has been a long time coming, and there was something incredibly special about having so much of the MCF family together in one room to celebrate,” shares Rondal Richardson, Executive Director of Music Community Foundation. “We’ve seen firsthand the collective impact that happens when artists lead with their hearts and trust us to be a partner in their giving journey. Last week was a celebration of everything this community has already accomplished together, but even more importantly, of what we can build together in the years ahead.”

MCF builds on three decades of philanthropic work through CFMT, providing artists, managers and industry partners with the infrastructure, expertise and tools to create and sustain charitable initiatives. Since its beginnings, the program has generated more than $300 million in charitable impact, including $213 million in new gifts since 2018. Artist-led initiatives have also generated more than $90 million in philanthropic support to nonprofits, with impact reaching communities in all 50 states and beyond.

 

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Hosted ‘The Endless Road’ Film Screening

Jon Freeman, Jeremy Dylan, Tommy Emmanuel and Brian Penix. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Last week, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a film screening of the new documentary, The Endless Road, which tells the story of guitar ace Tommy Emmanuel. Following the screening, Museum Writer-Editor Jon Freeman led a discussion with Emmanuel, director Jeremy Dylan, and producer Brian Penix about the making of the documentary.

The documentary follows Emmanuel’s family struggles and battle overcoming addiction while developing into one of the most admired guitar players in the world. Additionally, it highlights Emmanuel’s relationship Chet Atkins, who bestowed upon Emmanuel the title of Certified Guitar Player, or CGP.

Save The Music’s 7th Annual ‘Hometown To Hometown’ Event Set For November In Nashville

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Save The Music will host its 7th annual “Hometown to Hometown” event on Nov. 10 at City Winery in Nashville.

This year’s celebration will honor artists Amy Grant and Chris Isaak and industry execs Cesar Gueikian (Gibson Guitars) and Nat Zilkha (Firebird Music) for their outstanding contributions to the music industry and their support of music education. Hosted by Leslie Fram and Caylee Hammack, the annual fundraising event will also feature special acoustic performances from Grant, Isaak, and Amanda Shires.

“We are incredibly grateful to this year’s Hometown to Hometown sponsors, Firebird Music, Gibson Gives, SiriusXM, and Sweetwater, and to our extraordinary honorees, music legends Amy Grant and Chris Isaak and industry leaders Cesar Gueikian and Nat Zilkha, for rallying behind the power of music education,” says Danielle Zalaznick, Chief Development Officer and Deputy Executive Director at Save The Music. “Alongside our hosts, Leslie Fram and Caylee Hammack, they represent what makes Nashville’s music community so special: artists, executives, and industry partners coming together to invest in the next generation of music makers.”

“Every musician we serve started somewhere, and for a lot of our friends that somewhere was a music room in a public school,” says Mike Clem, CEO of Sweetwater. “Save The Music makes sure those rooms exist and are inspiring. Supporting Hometown to Hometown is one of the most direct ways we can put instruments in the hands of students who might not otherwise get the chance.”

All funds raised from this year’s “Hometown to Hometown” event will support music education programs in under-resourced public high schools in Nashville, New York City, and across California – impacting the lives of thousands of students. Tickets are available now through Nov. 8.

Since 2019, “Hometown to Hometown” has raised more than $1 million to support music education, funding 15 music programs in honorees’ hometowns and reaching thousands of students across the country.

Shaboozey Appears In New Amazon Music ‘Songline’ Album & Film

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Shaboozey

Shaboozey is appearing in a new episode of Amazon Music’s docu-performance series Songline, and has released a new Songline companion album available now exclusively on Amazon Music.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter reimagines his hits in an intimate Songline performance filmed at Rancho Deluxe, with the full video episode debuting Oct. 23. Amazon’s Songline series invites artists to reimagine their music in a stripped-down, intimate setting, and each performance is intercut with in-depth interviews with the artist, giving songwriters the opportunity to demystify the writing process and share their personal and creative journeys with fans.

In addition to his Songline episode, Shaboozey’s recent Amazon Music Original, “Let ’Em Know,” serves as the official anthem and opening theme for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts.

Over the summer, Shaboozey released his concept album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, via American Dogwood in partnership with his label home EMPIRE. He is currently bringing the project to life across America with his sprawling “Outlaws Never Die Tour,” which builds on the cinematic nature of the album and features pre-shot visuals throughout the performance, complementing the songs and inviting audiences into Cherie Lee’s world.

Shaboozey Songline Tracklist:
1. “Till Sunday”
2. “Sweet Revenge”
3. “Amen”
4. “Born To Die”
5. “If I Was An Outlaw”
6. “Cowgirl”
7. “Coyotes Point”
8. “Tipsy”

CMA Promotes Five

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Michelle Kirk, Sydnie Hickey and Reuben Schwartz. (L-R, bottom row): Ansley Carlson and Katie Karl

The Country Music Association has revealed several promotions across its teams and departments.

Michelle Kirk has been promoted to Executive Director of the CMA Foundation, moving up from her previous role as Senior Director. Kirk now oversees the CMA Foundation and its team, leading its work in music education, fundraising, partnerships and community programs. She also works with educators, community organizations and members of the country music industry to expand access to music education.

Kirk joined CMA in 2012 as Strategic Partnerships Coordinator and later became Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships. She left the organization in 2015 to become a Brand Partnerships Agent at WME before returning to CMA in 2019 as Director of Integrated Marketing. She later served as Senior Director of Integrated Marketing before joining the CMA Foundation as Senior Director. She can be reached here.

“Michelle has spent her career building relationships that move this industry, and she brings that same instinct to the CMA Foundation every day,” says Brittany Schaffer, CMA Incoming Chief Executive Officer. “Her work with the music education community and the Country Music industry has strengthened the CMA Foundation’s impact for students, teachers and education partners across the country. Michelle leads with heart and a clear strategic vision, and I’m thrilled to see her step into this role.”

Sydnie Hickey has been elevated to Director of Lifecycle Marketing, moving up from her previous role as Senior Manager of Email Marketing. In her new position, Hickey will oversee CMA’s email and SMS marketing efforts, using audience data and personalized strategies to strengthen fan engagement. She will lead strategy, design and copy direction while supporting major initiatives including the CMA Awards, CMA Fest, CMA membership and the CMA Foundation. Her work will focus on growing and retaining CMA’s audience, while also supporting ticket marketing, fan engagement and first-party data efforts.

Hickey joined CMA in 2022 after serving as Marketing Growth Manager at Grace Management Group. She previously worked in venue marketing at Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the University of Rhode Island. She can be reached here.

“Sydnie has played an integral role in evolving how CMA connects with our audiences,” shares Catherine Frizzell, CMA Vice President, Marketing. “From expanding our lifecycle marketing efforts across email, SMS, ticketing and fan engagement to helping us make smarter use of audience data to drive meaningful results. She has a unique ability to identify opportunities, build solutions collaboratively, and connect the work back to our broader business goals. I’m incredibly proud of Sydnie’s growth and excited to see her continue to expand her leadership and impact in this new role.”

Reuben Schwartz has been upped to Director of Business Intelligence, moving up from his previous role as Senior Manager of Business Intelligence. In his new position, Schwartz will continue overseeing CMA’s data warehouse, CRM and dashboards while helping guide the organization’s data systems and processes. He will also lead the cross-departmental Data Architecture group, supporting data-driven decision-making across CMA.

Schwartz joined CMA in 2023 after working as Manager of Business Strategy and Intelligence for the Nashville Predators. He previously held analyst roles with Finch Brands and MarketCast. He can be reached here.

“Reuben has become instrumental in how CMA collects, manages, and activates data across the organization,” adds Michael Farris, CMA Vice President, Business Strategy and Insights. “In his first two and a half years at CMA, he’s evolved our entire data tech stack and championed how every department distills value from our data ecosystem. His ability to build trusted partnerships across every team, manage key vendor relationships, and develop the people around him has made him an indispensable leader.”

Additionally, Ansley Carlson has been promoted to Account Executive, Brand Partnerships and Katie Karl has been elevated to Senior Manager, Ticketing. Carlson can be reached here and Karl here.

Blue Highway Records & Thomas Rhett Launch Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records

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Blue Highway Records CEO Jake Basden, Thomas Rhett and G Major Mgmt’s Virginia Bunetta. Photo: Courtesy of Blue Highway Records

Thomas Rhett and Blue Highway Records have launched Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records. Through its partnership with Blue Highway Records, the label will release Rhett’s music while supporting the next stage of his career as both an artist and entrepreneur.

“When we started talking about what the next chapter could look like, I knew I didn’t simply want to make another deal. I wanted to build something that reflected the legacy and shaped the future of my music,” says Rhett. “From my initial conversations with Jake [Basden] and the leadership team at Blue Highway, it was clear they, too, were thinking differently about what a record company can be for an artist today. This allows me the opportunity to own the body of work I’ve spent my entire career creating, while still having an ambitious team and global infrastructure around me for my future recordings. I am incredibly excited about building this next chapter together.”

“Thomas Rhett has always been an artist, a songwriter, a performer who brings the best of what being a progressive country artist is today: someone who is willing to explore how other genres merge with Nashville without losing his roots, without sounding calculated or forced,” adds Blue Highway Records CEO Basden. “His musical fluidity is matched by his sense of lyrics, songs, and what people feel, creating an honest kind of country that finds its way into people’s lives, wherever they are. Having watched Thomas Rhett come into his own and then achieve major success, I am honored to be his partner going forward.”

Over his career, Rhett has amassed 25 No. 1 singles, more than 16 billion streams, eight ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, five CMA Triple Play Awards, five Grammy nominations and additional trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards. Rhett is currently on the “Soundtrack to Life Tour” through the end of the month.

Reba McEntire To Host Benefit Auction With Julien’s Auctions

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Julien’s Auctions will host “The Reba Collection,” a special benefit sale taking place in person at Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Oct. 23.

Curated highlights from the sale include fine jewelry, screen- and stage-worn gowns, her signature boots and belt buckles, awards and other memorable keepsakes all from Reba McEntire‘s personal collection. The full auction catalog and registration information can be found here.

The sale will benefit The Reba McEntire Fund, to support various local and national non-profit initiatives.

“We have all these clothes, and my team has taken such great care of them. So now it’s time for them to move on to someplace else and find a new home,” says McEntire. “They’ll have the story, they’ll have the outfit, and they’ll know I did wear ’em.”

“We are honored to bring Reba McEntire’s extraordinary personal collection to auction in Nashville. For more than five decades, Reba has shared her incredible talent, passion, and heart with audiences around the world, creating a legacy that reaches far beyond music and entertainment. Each of these pieces holds a special place in that journey, offering a deeply personal connection to the moments, memories, and milestones that have shaped her remarkable career,” says Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Julien’s Auctions. “What makes this auction especially meaningful for all of us is being able to share these treasures with the people who have loved and supported Reba throughout the years while supporting The Reba McEntire Fund.”

2001 “One Night at McCool’s Screen-Worn Ensemble. Photo: Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions

2009 Academy of Country Music Awards Stage-Worn Green Evening Gown with Signed Photo. Photo: Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions

1987 “Greatest Hits” Ampex Golden Reel Award. Photo: Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions

“Reba” Bronze Belt Buckle with Signed Box. Photo: Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions