The Naomi Judd Estate is debuting a series of virtual exhibits of rare and never-before-seen artifacts from the life of the late artist, activist and philanthropist in collaboration with Definitive Authentic and Mercy Community Healthcare.

The first collection entitled “Artist” will be publicly available on May 1—the two-year anniversary of The Judds‘ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. “Artist” is the first installment of five archival collections to be rolled out throughout 2024, with each forthcoming collection highlighting a different area of Judd’s incredible life and work.

The Estate has curated a virtual exhibit of rare items that spotlight the impact of Judd’s creative work on country music and American culture at large. Featuring behind-the-scenes photos, awards, a personal stage map with handwritten notes, a shooting script for the “Grandpa” music video, countless well-wishes from country music luminaries and more, the “Artist” artifact collection frames the icon as not only a beloved musician, but a figure whose vision went well beyond the recording studio, as evidenced by her lifelong support of numerous philanthropic causes.

In tribute to that philanthropic spirit, a portion of the proceeds from the exhibits will be donated to The Naomi Judd Mental Health Clinic: A Bridge to Hope—a brand new mental health wing at Mercy Community Healthcare in Franklin, Tennessee. The facility includes a larger mental health area with counseling/psychiatric rooms, a parent-child interactive therapy room, group rooms, a waiting room and a prayer area.

“It is such a blessing for me to honor my wife’s life by giving the fans a look into the detailed archives that Naomi kept all of these years,” says Judd’s husband Larry Strickland. “I’d often walk through the barn and wonder why she insisted on keeping all of these objects that at the time seemed to be collecting dust; however, I now see that these were more than just things. These were her memories… our memories. These releases are our family’s gift to you, her public, for being there for all of us for the past 40 years. I hope they bring you a sense of peace and hope in regards to her memory and the legacy that is Naomi Judd.”

“Naomi kept meticulous records of photographs and artifacts,” says Director of Hill Entertainment Group and Naomi Judd Estate Archivist Kodi Chandler. “Through these we are able to explore how she viewed herself. It is our honor to help the family curate these collections for release. This first collection, simply titled ‘Artist’ is how she documented her time as she was best known, as one half of The Judds. The subsequent collections introduce and revisit other facets of Naomi that we can’t wait to share with those who meant the most to her, the fans.”

Country artist Timothy Wayne has signed with UMG Nashville, and is set to release new music next month.

The Franklin, Tennessee native is a sophomore at Louisiana State University (LSU) who spends his free time in the recording studio and playing live around the Southeast. He is slated to perform at this year’s CMA Fest, and is currently serving as support on Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only Tour.”

“Timothy Wayne has been honing his craft, his songs and his sound around the students and college scene of LSU,” says Cindy Mabe, Chair & CEO, UMG Nashville. “He’s bringing a new generation of core country music fans to his experiences of growing up around Nashville and country music as well as the country boy lifestyle he is living. He’s such a charismatic, outgoing, genuine artist, and it’s exciting to watch Timothy build his era of country music and bring in a rabid fan base of youth culture into country music.”

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to make and record music with UMG Nashville,” says Wayne. “This has been a dream of mine, and I am working hard on music that I can’t wait to share with everyone.”

Singer-songwriter Tim Montana has renewed his publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville.

Montana recently scored his first top five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with his single “Devil You Know,” and his debut rock album, Savage, will be released July 12 from Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

Montana taught himself to play guitar in an off-the-grid trailer where he lived with his family in Butte, Montana. After a stint at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, and his return to Montana, he got his first break in 2007 when David Letterman was at a show and invited him to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman. At 21, he settled in Music City and formed his band the Shrednecks.

At a studio session in 2013, Montana was introduced to ZZ Top founder Billy F. Gibbons, and during an impromptu songwriting collaboration, they co-wrote and recorded the single “This Beard Came Here to Party.” The song became an anthem for the Boston Red Sox, as well as for the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montana and Gibbons also shared credits on the songs “Fifty Fifty,” “Weed and Whiskey” and “Rust and Red,” and Gibbons invited Montana to open for ZZ Top on tour. Montana later released the album Tim Montana and the Shrednecks, featuring Gibbons on four tracks.

Montana also collaborated on tracks with Kid Rock including “Tennessee Mountain Top” and “Greatest Show On Earth” for 2017’s Sweet Southern Sugar, which bowed in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. In 2020, Montana signed a record deal with producer Michael Knox and Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group.

In addition to his music career, Montana has his own show Tim Montana’s Wild Side on Velocity Outdoor Channel. He is an avid supporter of U.S. military veterans and, for the past three years, has headed up the “Tim Montana & Friends American Thread Sporting Clays Shoot” in Nashville.

“Tim Montana is truly a one-of-a-kind human being and artist,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Office, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “We are excited to keep the party going with the Ol’ Boy!  Y’all get ready for what’s next—it’s going to melt your face off!”

“These guys should have dropped me a dozen times but they rolled with me through it all and in the bottom of the ninth (year) we hit one out of the park,” says Montana. “Stoked to keep rocking with the Spirit team and now we get to shake up the rock world! A marriage with a publisher that long can be tough for artists, but when the noises in the studio are getting louder that’s a good sign of things to come.”

Chris DuBois, CEO of Sea Gayle Music, has established a new management firm, 1221 Artist Management, in partnership with JD Groover, Senior Creative Director/A&R of Sea Gayle Music, and Geoff Ogunlesi of The Ogunlesi Group.

While rising through the ranks at Sea Gayle for the past six years, Groover has simultaneously worked as a tour manager for a major label recording artist. This experience has prepared him to take on the role of VP of Management for 1221, while continuing in his current position at Sea Gayle Music. Ogunlesi and DuBois will oversee 1221 Management while maintaining their respective operations within The Ogunelsi Group and Sea Gayle Music.

“In today’s publishing world, having turnkey management services is a natural way to grow and support an artist’s career. To have folks who know how to establish an artist’s foundation rooted in publishing is key, and we’re elated to see JD naturally step into this role,” shares DuBois of Groover. “We are thrilled to create a path for JD’s expansion into management while continuing his role at Sea Gayle.”

The Ogunlesi Group is an entertainment and music management company based in Hollywood. Founded by Ogunlesi, the firm’s roster spans genres, including Young Thug, charlieonnafriday, Reyna Roberts, Gashi and more.

“In one of my early first trips to Nashville, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Chris, JD and the broader Sea Gayle team. I was blown away by not only their abilities and their prowess, but also their value systems,” Ogunlesi shares. “Their sense of community and camaraderie is in line with my own values within my company. As our company has thought about expanding into the country space and into Nashville, we wanted to do so with integrity as I have the utmost respect for the culture and the people involved. The creativity within the parties in this partnership is unmatched, and we are grateful to be a part of this venture together.”

“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity presented by Geoff and Chris,” Groover adds. “Chris and Sea Gayle Music helped me get my foot in the door years ago, enabling me to learn the publishing side of the business, and that, coupled with my time on the road touring, have felt like the most incredible way to see the impact a song can truly have. My passion for songs, songwriters, the development of artists and this community could not be stronger, and I am honored to represent 1221 and Sea Gayle in this new capacity.”

Read DuBois at cdubois@seagayle.com, Groover at jdgroover@seagayle.com and Ogunlesi at geoff@theogunlesigroup.com.

Nate Smith will embark on his 14-city “Through The Smoke Tour” this fall.

The new headlining trek will kick off Sept. 19 in Portland and visit Chattanooga, Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee and more through Nov. 23. John Morgan and Karley Scott Collins will join Smith as special guests.

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 19), and Smith’s fan club will have early access to tickets and VIP packages starting today (April 16). For more information, click here.

Additionally, the ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee’s current single “Bulletproof” has landed among the top 25 at country radio. He is also currently supporting Morgan Wallen on his “One Night At A Time 2024 Tour.”