Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire, CeCe Winans, Hillary Scott, Jamey Johnson and more have united to create an album of timeless hits honoring Bill and Gloria Gaither‘s legacy with signature arrangements of their favorite songs.

The collection is called Gaither Tribute, Honoring the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither and will release August 25 via Gaither Music Group, distributed by Capitol Christian Music Group and Universal Music. The album’s debut track, Dunn’s take on “Because He Lives,” is out now.

“This musical tribute to Bill and Gloria Gaither, two of Gospel music’s most enduring legends, by some of country music’s legendary talents has been an unbelievable joy and honor for me to be involved with,” says Steve Moore, executive producer of the project. “The newly-inspired interpretations and production by Tony Brown have given these timeless Christian classics an amazing new life that will touch and re-touch people’s hearts all over the world.”

“This recording is a special one for all involved,” says Paul Sizelove, President of Gaither Music Group. “Each of these artists selected a song from Bill and Gloria’s renowned catalog and created new renditions of these classics. Tony worked with them to create a collection that truly represents the heart and style of each of these talented artists. We are so proud of the art they have created, and what an honor to the Gaither legacy to have these heartfelt recordings from these highly-respected performers.”

The collaborations of the Gaithers have resulted in more than 700 popular gospel songs, including the standards “Because He Lives” and “He Touched Me.” They have collectively garnered eight Grammy awards and more than a dozen nominations. The Gaithers have received more than two dozen Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards, earning the Songwriter of the Year title eight times.

Bill and Gloria were the first musical artists to be inducted into the Christian Booksellers Association’s Hall of Honor, and they recorded the first inspirational album to achieve Gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America. They were named Songwriters of the Century by ASCAP and they were honored by the Indiana Historical Society in 2006 with the Living Legend Award. The couple are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as well as the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

In the early ’80s, Bill founded the Gaither Vocal Band, and in 1991, Bill gathered the Vocal Band together with a few of his gospel heroes to record a song. That recording marked the birth of Gaither Music Group’s Homecoming Video Series, which has grown to more than 150 titles strong. Gaither Music Group has sold over 40 million DVDs and CDs, and 130 of the Gaither Homecoming videos have achieved precious metal status by the RIAA, with 10 certified multi-Platinum, 60 certified Platinum and 60 certified Gold.

Gaither Tribute Track List:
1. “Jesus and John Wayne” – Alabama featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
2. “He Touched Me “/ “Something Beautiful” – Reba & Susie McEntire with Sonya & Becky Isaacs
3. “Going Home” – Josh Turner
4. “It Won’t Rain Always” – Jamey Johnson featuring Alison Krauss on strings
5. “Because He Lives” – Ronnie Dunn
6. “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen” – Ronnie Milsap
7. “Gentle Shepherd” – Lee Ann Womack
8. “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary” – The SteelDrivers
9. “There’s Something About That Name” – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
10. “The Center of My Joy” – CeCe Winans

Pictured (L-R): Maurna Donovan, Artist Development and Label Services, Wrensong; Jen Stegall, Co-Producer/Writer; Justin Roddick, Manager; Ree Guyer Co-Publisher, Wrensong; Keith Stegall, Co-Producer/Publisher, Dreamlined; Abbe Nameche, Co-Publisher, Harvey Dog Hits; Makayla Lynn

Canadian artist Makayla Lynn has signed with Keith Stegall‘s Dreamlined Entertainment Group and Wrensong Entertainment.

Lynn spent time at No. 1 on CMT’s 12-Pack Countdown and is a two-time East Coast Music Award winner in Canada. Her latest release, “Oldest Daughter,” is an ode to family dynamics. Lynn is working on an album with Grammy-winner and Dreamlined Entertainment President Stegall, and his co-producer/daughter, Jen Stegall.

“When looking for an artist/writer that we want to work with, we want someone who has an outstanding voice, a skilled instrumentalist, a charismatic and authentic personality, a dynamic performer, a brilliant songwriter with a strong work ethic,” says Ree Guyer, Wrensong Entertainment. “It is hard to find all of the above in one artist/writer, yet Makayla Lynn has it all. We are so excited and privileged to work with her.  She is an international superstar in the making.”

“Makayla is wise beyond her years and blessed with the gifts of writing and performing that is beyond explanation,” adds Keith Stegall.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen and Ryl Tea, the tea brand offering healthy, ready-to-drink teas, are debuting the first flavor from the duo, Ryl Sweet Tea.

Boasted as being antioxidant-rich, zero-sugar, low-calorie and made with no artificial ingredients, Ryl Sweet Tea is meant to be a healthy alternative to the southern classic. The ready-to-drink tea features tea polyphenols for an antioxidant boost and is sweetened with monk fruit, stevia leaf extract and allulose.

“Ryl Tea and I worked hard to capture the sweet tea taste I remember from my childhood. It took time, but it was well worth the wait. I love this sweet tea and the fact that it’s healthy makes it all the better,” shares Wallen. “This tea takes me right back to my Mamaw’s front porch on a hot summer’s day. It feels good to bring a clean and healthy product like this to my fans that love sweet tea, too,”

“Morgan was an invaluable resource in getting the Southern Sweet Tea just right through a taste verification step in the development process. It’s what makes this flavor so unique and authentic,” adds Blodin Ukella, Founder and CEO of The Ryl Company. “We’re proud to introduce a product that delivers a delicious and nostalgic taste yet aligns with our mission to provide clean and functional options to our loyal customers.”

To commemorate the new product line, Wallen and Ryl have launched a digital campaign where fans can enter for a chance to win a special Meet and Greet with the country star backstage at one of his “One Night At A Time” shows this year, along with three months worth of free Ryl Sweet Tea. Entry details can be found by following Ryl Tea on Instagram.

Wallen’s Ryl Sweet Tea is currently available at drinkryl.com. Products will be available in the Gopuff app beginning in early June, and Wallen and Ryl have also partnered up with strategic retail partners Harris Teeter, Brookshire’s Food Store and Reasor’s to launch the brand with in-store display activations this June. By mid-June, fans can find Sweet Tea in pre-existing Ryl Tea retailers Wegmans, Shoprite and Sprouts Farmers Market. In late July, Kroger will add Ryl Sweet Tea to its shelves in several Kroger divisions, including Dallas, Nashville, Michigan, Mid-Atlantic and Fred Meyer, with more divisions to follow by October.

Hannah Dasher leans on her faith on a personal new single, “Ugly Houses,” out now. The track is the latest release from her upcoming new album, The Other Damn Half, due out Aug. 4.

“‘Ugly Houses’ is the most vulnerable song I’ve ever released,” admits Dasher. “God’s been humbling me the past two years, doing a major renovation. Felt like I needed to share it with the world — especially during times like now. Whether listeners are believers or not, I hope this song leaves ’em in a better place than it found ’em.”

The Other Damn Half was co-written entirely by Dasher and produced by Ilya Toshinskiy. The collection includes everything from honky tonk jams to faith-inspired ballads, and takes a deeper look into every facet of who Dasher is as an artist. Last month, Dasher shared the song and video for the album’s unapologetic payback anthem “Cryin’ All The Way To The Bank.”

“Maybe you’re a fan of old-school country music, maybe you’re into the new stuff, or maybe you’re not a fan of country at all,” adds Dasher. “Whichever it may be, there’s something on The Other Damn Half for you. I hope fans see a little of themselves on this new half record.”

Dasher is set to appear at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend on June 3.

The Other Damn Half Track Listing:
1. “Cryin’ All The Way To The Bank” – Hannah Dasher / Benjy Davis / Dave Turnball
2. “God’s a Good Ol Boy” – Dasher / Davis / Turnball
3. “(I’m The One That Taught Him) That Thing You Like” – Dasher / Brandon Hood / Wynn Varble
4. “Ugly Houses” – Dasher / Robert Arthur
5. “I’m Gonna Whoop Your Redneck Ass” – Dasher / Joel Shewmake
6. “Go to Bed Early” – Dasher / Brent Anderson / Chris DuBois
7. “Country Do” – Dasher / Ben Stennis / Stephen Wilson Jr.

Jenna Paulette. Photo: Wes Walker

Before Jenna Paulette was a rising country artist in Nashville, she was a cowgirl on her family’s ranch in Texas. Her debut album The Girl I Was—which released March 31—laces together tributes to her roots with bright hope for her future as she rediscovers her identity following a toxic relationship.

Paulette’s music has grown with her and followed her journey from listening to classic country cassettes with her grandad to writing her own records. In a recent visit at the MusicRow offices, Paulette shared a bit about her upbringing and what led her to Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Steven Boero, Liza Anderson and LB Cantrell; Jenna Paulette; MusicRow‘s Caela Griffin, Sherod Robertson and Robert K. Oermann

“I sang [The Chicks] songs at the top of my lungs on the back of a four wheeler checking cows with my granddad,” she says. “I sang ‘Wide Open Spaces’ and ‘Cowboy Take Me Away.’ What I was living is what I got to sing about in the environment that made me feel the most like it was real. That’s what made me want to sing country music.”

When it comes to her dreams, Paulette had a key inspiration: fellow Texan George Strait. 

“I always told people I wanted to pull a George Strait on this town and do what he does—do the cowboy thing for real but tour on a high level and produce the best country music I possibly can while living what I sing about.” 

She adds, “I had just figured out in college that you could actually write songs for a living. I always knew I wanted to sing country music but I didn’t think that songwriting was an occupation. So I started looking at the songs I loved and seeing who wrote them, and what made me hear them in it. Ashley Gorley was one of the most consistent [songwriters I saw credited] because he is massive.”

After meeting Gorley while visiting Nashville, he became Paulette’s mentor, coaching her through the writing process with weekly phone calls and encouraging her to make the move to Nashville. Paulette is not one to shy away from criticism, and eagerly learned all Gorley offered to teach her. From him, she learned that it is identity and authenticity that makes people stick around—not just one good song.

When Gorley asked her to pick between being a songwriter and being an artist, Paulette chose being an artist.

“It’s awesome to experience a record from top to bottom. I made [The Girl I Was] because I want to be an artist that puts out records,” she says. “I wanted people to have a lens to experience everything through.”

She co-wrote her a tune from the album called “You Ain’t No Cowboy” with Rhett Akins. The song’s message is there’s more to being a cowboy than Hollywood’s hats and sunset chasing scenes.

“The cowboys that live up to living under the hat are full of good character,” Paulette says. “It’s this level of respect for people and things that deserve honor. I love that aspect of the cowboy. [“You Ain’t No Cowboy”] was this juxtaposition of what society says a cowboy is, but it turns out ‘you ain’t no cowboy at all.’ You look like him, you act like him, there’s a million miles you put on that saddle of yours but when it came down to it, you didn’t stick around like you said you would. That’s what matters more”

As her career grows, Paulette continues to write songs that feel genuine. She wrote “We Know How To Friday Night,” with Bobby Pinson and Casey Beathard at Sea Gayle, where she signed in 2021. This crowd favorite resonates with those who grew up like Paulette, while those who didn’t sing along anyway.

“This is one of those ones that whether people know my music or not, they’re [cheering] in the middle of the set,” she says.

With The Girl I Was, Paulette wants fans to share in her lifestyle, and she brings them along for the ride.

“It’s a really fun way to live your life and I’m just grateful for it. I’m grateful that people are even interested in hearing songs about it, and that it can relate to people outside of the world that I grew up in.”

In addition to songs from her The Girl I Was album, Paulette also shared some new tunes. “Darlin'” is an introspective look into leaving a bad relationship and rebuilding.

“I got out of a terrible relationship that did a lot of damage, but coming out of it made me a lot stronger,” she says. “This song is about the difference between being loved by somebody now and the situation I was in before.”

Between her authentic storytelling and unique style, Jenna Paulette is sure to take her career into the next level in 2023. Listen to The Girl I Was here.