Tenille Townes will release her latest album The Acrobat, on April 10. Ahead of the new project, Townes has released the title track featuring singer-songwriter Lori McKenna.

“The Acrobat is about the slow erosion that comes from trying to become what someone else needs, constantly balancing, bending, and reshaping yourself,” explains Townes. “The quiet whisper to the character in this song that I hope people hear, is that you don’t have to contort yourself to be worthy of love. That’s what I needed to hear in my struggles with self abandonment and writing this with Lori from a channeled observer perspective helped me get back to that belief. Lori’s songwriting has deeply shaped the way I hear music and tell the truth. She is a true hero of mine and has been a compass influence since I first moved to Nashville. Writing this song with her, and feeling her presence on it as a vocalist, makes this release an incredibly meaningful, full-circle moment for me.

The Acrobat was completely recorded, produced and mixed by Townes, who also played every instrument on the record. The album includes a track with I’m With Her on “grey like Emmylou.” Townes wrote every track on the record alongside Amy Wadge, Daniel Tashian, Alex Stacey and more. Her previous single “Enabling,” has been featured on SiriusXM On The Horizon as well as Bobby Bones Top 30 Weekend Countdown.

Townes will head out soon on “The Living Room Tour,” an intimate acoustic tour that kicks off in March, and will include an album release show in Nashville on April 9 as well as dates in San Antonio, Seattle, Cleveland and more.

The Acrobat Track List:
1. “ordinary love song” (Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes)
2. “the acrobat (feat. Lori McKenna)” (Lori McKenna, Tenille Townes)
3. “enabling” (Tenille Townes)
4. “we could use a little more” (Tenille Townes)
5. “lonely talking” (Andy Skib, Tenille Townes)
6. “she plays the piano” (Lori McKenna, Alex Stacey, Amy Wadge, Tenille Townes)
7. “grey like Emmylou (feat. I’m With Her)” (Jordyn Shelhart, Kat Higgins, Tenille Townes)
8. “what’s meant for you” (Keelan Donovan, Tenille Townes)
9. “in love with the sky” (Lori McKenna, Tenille Townes)
10. “if you’re hearing this” (Tenille Townes)

Rhett Akins Performs At CMHOFM Annual Kickoff Party For Troubadour Members

Rhett Akins performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s annual kickoff party for the museum’s Troubadour members this week, sharing a selection of his songs including “That Ain’t My Truck” and “Dirt on My Boots.” The singer-songwriter has topped the Billboard charts as both an artist and songwriter, penning songs for Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton and more. He was named ACM’s Songwriter of the Decade, and has also received the Country Music Association Triple Play Award eight times. The Troubadour membership program engages young professionals in supporting its mission and the museum hosts quarterly networking events for Troubadour members, ranging from concerts to exhibit previews.

 

Carter Faith Makes Late Night Debut On ‘Jimmy Fallon’

Carter Faith recently made her late-night TV debut, performing her new single, “If I Had Never Lost My Mind,” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The performance continues a breakout year for Carter, who was recently unveiled as a member of Opry NextStage’s Class of 2026, and continues her first-ever headline tour, “The Cherry Valley Tour.” Following her headline dates, Carter will join Post Malone on his upcoming U.S. “Big Ass Stadium Tour” and will perform select dates with George Strait and Chris Stapleton.

 

Belles & Dolly Team For New ‘Son Of Jolene’ Collab

Belles and Dolly Parton have collaborated on a new song “Son of Jolene,” due out April 17. Belles penned “Son of Jolene” as a clever, character-driven continuation of the classic story, imagining a chance encounter years later with Jolene’s son. PEOPLE debuted an exclusive feature on the song offering an inside look at the story and inspiration behind the new track, and Belles is kicking off promotion for “Son of Jolene” at Country Radio Seminar, hosting exclusive meet-and-greets alongside East Music Row Records for radio and industry executives.

 

Nashville Creatives Gather For Branding Panel At Ampersand Studios

Industry leaders and creatives recently gathered at Ampersand Studios on Music Row for From Idea To Identity, a thought-provoking panel centered on transforming ideas into clear, compelling brands. The panel featured Trevor Perkins, Founder of PERK PR + Creative Agency; CJ Roberts and Hayley Stonehouse, Founders of Cowboy Cannolis; and Matthew Simmons, Photographer & Videographer. The event welcomed founders, entrepreneurs, marketers, and artists for an in-depth conversation about the art and strategy behind building authentic, lasting identities in today’s crowded marketplace.

 

Lily Hooten, Wade Wenrick Sign With Anotherland

Lily Hooten has signed an exclusive recording and publishing deal with Anotherland. A Knoxville native, Hooten writes worshipful music with an Americana twist. Writer-producer Wade Wenrick has also signed an exclusive publishing deal with Anotherland. Finding success writing in the CCM and Christian alternative space, Wenrick most recently found success in the creative development and partnership of artist Allison Eide.

Tin Pan South has unveiled the lineup for its 34th annual event, set for March 24-28 across 10 Nashville venues.

Participating venues include 3rd and Lindsley Nashville, 1865 Club, Anzie Blue, Analog at Hutton Hotel, The Bluebird Cafe, The Commodore Grille, The Cowan at Topgolf, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Love and Exile, and Station Inn.

The opening day (March 24) will feature performances from Ashley Cooke, Blake Pendergrass, Luke Laird, Kelly Archer, Tiera Kennedy, Allison Veltz-Cruz, Callie Prince and Matt Stell, among others.

Wednesday (March 25) and Thursday (March 26) will feature Caylee Hammack, Mark Irwin, Ricky Manning, Jackson Nance, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, Nell Maynard, Olivia DaPonte, Josh Kerr, Lori McKenna, Abbie Callahan, Sarah Buxton, Moriah, Abby Anderson and more.

Friday (March 27) includes performances from Mae Estes, Alex Hall, Angie K, Andrea Vasquez, Benjy Davis, Meg McRee, Delaney Ramsdell, Morgan Johnston, Mattie Pruitt, Doug Johnson, Kaylee Rose and more.

Saturday (March 28) will close out the event with performances from Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling, McCall Chapin, Kyle Clark, Billy Dawson, Faith Hopkins, Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock, Regan Rousseau, Emma Klein, Fran Litterski, HunterGirl, Matraca Berg and Gloria Anderson, among many others.

The full schedule of shows can be found here. Ticket details for each show can be found here.