Eric Church‘s life and career is the focus of a brand new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit, “Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul,” presented by Gibson and opening in July.

The exhibit will chronicle Church’s unique path to stardom, from his early years playing in bars and writing songs in Nashville to his current prominence as one of country’s most authentic voices and revered rule-breakers. The exhibit, which opens July 13 and runs through June 2024, is included with museum admission.

Items displayed in the exhibit include the Harmony H-303 three-quarter-size acoustic guitar that belonged to Church as a child; his Ray-Ban Aviator Mirror sunglasses; the Von Dutch trucker hat Church bought at a Mississippi truck stop in the late 2000s and began wearing onstage; a Gibson Eric Church Hummingbird Dark guitar used on his “Double Down Tour” (2019), and more.

In support of the exhibit’s opening, the museum will host a public program, “Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church” featuring Luke Laird, Jeremy Spillman and others, on July 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The writers will perform and share the stories behind the songs they have crafted with Church. To reserve tickets to the program or learn more about the exhibit, visit the museum’s website.

Having long eschewed industry norms with a sound and approach uniquely his own, Church has held tight to his artistic identity throughout his more than two decades in Nashville, earning a devoted audience and amassing a list of accolades including 10 Billboard No. 1s and over 50 million units sold across multiple Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum-certified albums. Church has also written or co-written almost all of the songs he has recorded and released, and continues to fill sold-out venues with his live show and challenge his own musical approach with every new level of success he achieves.

“Eric Church has done it his way completely,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His steadfast artistic vision and authenticity resonate deeply with audiences, and he continues to serve as an important collaborator and renegade role model for generations of country music artists.”

The exhibit’s announcement comes ahead of Church’s CMA Fest performance at Nissan Stadium this Saturday, June 10 and the kick off of The Outsiders Revival Tour on June 22.

Zac Brown Band performed a post-game benefit concert for the Hop On A Cure Foundation at the Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers game on June 2.

The game and show set a Great American Ball Park regular-season attendance record of 44,073. The previous record of 44,063 was set at this year’s Opening Day game on March 30.

A portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold benefited the Hop On A Cure Foundation, which supports research helping to prevent, reverse and cure ALS. The foundation was started by band member John Driskell “Hop” Hopkins after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. During post-game ceremonies, the Reds presented a check to Hop On A Cure for $125,000. Fans interested in learning more about Hop On A Cure can visit hoponacure.org.

The special evening was MLB’s third annual Lou Gehrig Day, honoring the Hall of Famer’s legacy, raising awareness and funds for research of ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), and celebrating the groups and individuals who are leading the pursuit for cures. During pregame ceremonies, the Reds recognized the Lou Gehrig Day Committee, the Central & Southern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and I Am ALS.

Multi-Platinum Curb Records artist Rodney Atkins has partnered with Curb | Word Music Publishing on a new joint venture. The first songwriter to join Atkins’ roster is Daniel Ethridge, a member of the trio Troubadour Blue.

Ethridge began playing guitar at 11, and after high school, attended Belmont and began pursuing songwriting. After winning the 2018 Texas Songwriter U program, judged by Jack Ingram and Liz Rose, Ethridge spent years post-graduation on the road playing for other artists while continuing to write for himself and others. In 2020, Ethridge reconnected with old friends and mentors from his college days to co-found Troubadour Blue. Atkins first met Ethridge through songwriter and Rod + Rose member Rose Falcon, who was writing with Ethridge.

“I am thrilled to see Curb | Word Music Publishing and Rodney Atkins come together in this exciting partnership,” shares Curb|Word Chairman Mike Curb. “Daniel Ethridge is a wonderful addition to our roster and we look forward to great things from him.”

“I’m excited to see what the future has in store for Daniel,” shares Atkins. “I’m so proud to have him as my first signed writer in my partnership with Curb | Word Music Publishing.”

Ethridge adds, “I feel incredibly fortunate to be one of the few who get to refer to themselves as a professional songwriter. Joining the talented team at Curb | Word Music Publishing while also being signed as part of this partnership with Rodney is nothing short of a dream come true.”

Fans can catch Ethridge playing with Troubadour Blue at CMA Fest this Saturday, June 10 at 3:35 p.m. CT at the Hard Rock Café stage.

UMG Nashville To Hold ‘Music Is Universal’ Event

 

UMG Nashville’s ‘Music Is Universal’ series at CMA Fest (June 8-11) will feature some of country’s biggest artists and rising stars for live performances, fan club parties, listening events and more at Skydeck on Broadway.

Spanning the rosters of UMG Nashville, UMPG and UMe, performers include Kassi Ashton, Priscilla Block, Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, Dalton Dover, Luke Grimes, Caylee Hammack, Dillon James, Jon Langston, Kylie Morgan, Catie Offerman, Josh Ross, Tanya Tucker, Sam Williams, Mark Wills, Anne Wilson, Boy Named Banjo, Brothers Osborne, Maddie & Tae, plus guest artists DJ Cassidy, David Morris, and VAVO, comedian Danae Hays, and songwriters Allison Veltz Cruz, Adam James, and more to come.

View the full schedule and event policies for ‘Music Is Universal,’ and RSVP to avoid lines here.

 

Warner Music Nashville Presents The ‘Summer Sounds Stage’

Warner Music Nashville is returning with its ‘Summer Sounds Stage’ for the second year with a stacked lineup of eight artists for a daytime concert on June 10 at 6th & Peabody.

Artists due to perform include Morgan Evans, Avery Anna, Jordyn Shellhart, Tyler Braden, Charlie Worsham, Drew Parker, Patrick Murphy and Michael Ray. The event is free for the public, with doors opening at 11:00 a.m. CT and performances running through 7:00 p.m. CT.

Warner Music Nashville artists will appear across CMA Fest stages next week from the Maui Jim Reverb Stage to the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Chevy Riverfront Stage and Nissan Stadium. Ashley McBryde, Ian Munsick, Michael Ray and Charlie Worsham will also host fan parties throughout the week.

 

WME Joins Forces With Whiskey Jam For Outdoor Concert Series

WME has joined forces with Nashville’s Whiskey Jam and Losers Bar & Grill for their free outdoor concert series. WME will curate multiple nights of agency-exclusive lineups throughout the 2023 season.

The series will kick off with three consecutive shows during the week of CMA Fest beginning June 5. Each night will feature a star-studded lineup of various WME clients including Nate Smith, Dylan Scott, Hot Country Knights, and more, along with surprise guest performances. 

The season’s first WME takeover will take place in the Losers Bar & Grill Midtown parking lot, with client performances continuing through Tuesday and Wednesday night that week. Doors will open at 5:00 PM CT nightly.

 

Grand Ole Opry Celebrates CMA Fest with Opry Plaza Summer Concert Series 

The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating the milestone 50th CMA Fest with a stellar week of shows with performances by members including Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Pam Tillis, and Josh Turner as well as Opry NextStage alum Lainey Wilson plus Sam Hunt, Chapel Hart, Brett Young and more.

“Opry Celebrates 50th CMA Fest” week kicks off with two shows on Tuesday, June 6 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m and continues with shows nightly through Saturday, June 10 at the Grand Ole Opry House and a special Saturday, June 10 matinee performance of “CMA Fest Opry Country Classics” at the Ryman Auditorium.

The Grand Ole Opry and Nashville’s ongoing popular concert series, Whiskey Jam, have partnered for the Opry Plaza summer concert series which continues with performances Tuesday, June 6 featuring Julia Cole, June 9 with Martin McDaniel and June 10 with Shaylen at the Opry House.

 

Cumulus Media Stations Partner for ‘Country Kick-Off’ Broadcast

Cumulus Media announces that its Nashville country radio stations 103.3 Country/WKDF-FM and 95.5 NASH Icon/WSM-FM have joined efforts again with AEG Presents to bring a stacked lineup of hitmakers for the annual “Country Kick-Off” live concert for CMA Fest in Nashville.

The live concert event will be held on Tuesday June 6, at downtown Nashville’s Skydeck on Broadway. Country superstars Brett Young, Scotty McCreery, Russell Dickerson and Morgan Evans will perform, with acoustic sets by Tenille Arts, Jordan Harvey, Erin Kinsey and HunterGirl.

For the first time in the history of Cumulus Country music, the live concert event will be recorded and broadcast across Cumulus Media’s 58 country radio stations across the U.S. as an exclusive Fourth of July concert special entitled, “Country Music Celebrates Our Country.” The special is scheduled to run on every Cumulus Media’s country station from coast to coast between Saturday, July 1, and Tuesday, July 4.

 

Gibson Garage To Celebrate Two-Year Anniversary During CMA Fest

Gibson will launch its “Gibson Garage Fest” on Wednesday, June 7 at the Gibson Garage in downtown Nashville. Falling on the two-year anniversary of the opening of Gibson Garage, the event will kick off with live performances and events with music superstars and emerging acts during CMA Fest Week.

“Gibson Garage Fest” is open to the public for fans to attend live shows, autograph signings, and participate in guitar lessons with renowned experts as they interact with the iconic brand and its philanthropic arm, Gibson Gives.

View the full “Gibson Garage Fest” event schedule here.

Tracy Chapman moves into the No. 2 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. As the sole writer of “Fast Car,” which is flying up the charts as a Luke Combs cover, Chapman receives all of the points earned from airplay, digital download track sales and streams on the Songwriter Chart.

Combs finds himself at No. 12 this week, with songwriter credit on his own “5 Leaf Clover,” “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” and “Love You Anyway.”

Ashley Gorley marks another week at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Zach Bryan (No. 2), Ryan Vojtesak (No. 4) and Morgan Wallen (No. 5) complete the top five.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.