T.G. Sheppard has been honored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development with the unveiling of a Tennessee Music Pathways marker in his hometown of Humboldt, Tennessee.

On the day of the unveiling of the marker, Sheppard served as Grand Marshall in the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. After both events, the country hitmaker and SiriusXM host was also presented by the City of Humboldt’s Mayor, Marvin Sikes, and President of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and Humboldt Alderman, Shane Lynch, with a proclamation declaring May 12, 2023 as T.G. Sheppard Day in Humboldt, Tennessee and announcing that Eastend Drive would be named “T.G. Sheppard Way.”

“Being from Humboldt, Tennessee is something I am very proud of and always have been,” shares Sheppard. “Some of my fondest memories are from growing up there. When I left home to chase this crazy dream, I always knew Humboldt was my home. It’s such an honor to have the Tennessee Music Pathways marker unveiled at Downtown Green Space Park and to have Eastend Drive named T.G. Sheppard Way. It was an additional honor to be the Grand Marshall in the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and to be a guest speaker at the Governor’s Luncheon, and to top it off, Mayor Sikes proclaimed May 12, 2023, as T.G. Sheppard Day. What an incredible day that I will always remember.”

“I am honored and excited to have T.G. Sheppard be our Grand Marshall for the 85th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, receiving the much-deserved recognition from his hometown for his major accomplishments in the music industry,” says Lynch, 85th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival President.

Sheppard continues to bring some of the hottest names in country as his special guests on The T.G. Sheppard Show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Airing weekly, he curates some of the biggest hits from the ’80s and ’90s and shares behind-the-scenes stories with the most recognizable names in country from that era. With a different guest each week, Sheppard has recently shared exclusive interviews with Reba McEntire, Lee Greenwood, Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Barbara Mandrell, The Bellamy Brothers, Travis Tritt and more. Upcoming guests will include Aaron Tippin, Lee Roy Parnell, Sonny LeMaire of Exile and more.

Chapter 670

When Dolly Parton beckons, we respond.

Hundreds of media and industry folks filled two sound stages at CTK Enterprises, the site of manager Danny Nozell’s offices, on Tuesday evening (May 16) for Dolly’s listening party. Billed as the superstar’s “Rockstar Album Launch Event,” the bash was a throwback to the kinds of parties that Music Row used to have in the pre-COVID days. And who can unite the community better than Dolly? Believe me, it was packed.

“How’d they get this many people in this little, bitty room,” quipped Miss Dolly as she took the stage. “I didn’t have this many people at my last concert!”

She confessed she was uncomfortable standing there and talking about the project. It is her hugely ambitious step into rock music.

“I hope you enjoy it,” she said. “Thanks for all of your help. I look forward to working with all of you.” The album isn’t due until Nov. 17, and she is planning an extensive publicity blitz about it, which will presumably include many of the media folks assembled there.

In the meantime, we got a healthy preview at the bash. To the accompaniment of “Rockstar,” her self-penned title tune from the collection, we gazed at a massive video screen showing a dazzling, behind-the-scenes documentary of her many rock-themed photo sessions. Dolly’s Creative Director Steve Summers garbed her in leather, fringe and sequins, posing on a motorcycle, a giant silver-glitter star and a leopard-print luxury car and smashing a guitar while smoke machines belched. Eye patch, pastel hair extensions, platform heels, sunglasses, rock/model glances, the works. Nozell’s newly famous brindle French bulldog Billy (Dolly’s “god-dog”) makes a cameo appearance.

Everyone applauded. That included such fabulons as Belmont’s Sarah Cates, Brittany Schaffer and Greg Jones; BMI’s David Preston, Clay Bradley and Leslie Roberts; Leslie Fram, R.J. Curtis, Marcus Dowling, Brian Mansfield, the Opry’s Dan Rogers and Gina Keltner; Sony’s Rusty Gaston and Dale Bobo; the ACM’s Damon Whiteside, Country Hall of Fame’s Michael Gray and Lisa Purcell; John Zarling, Robert Deaton, Tom Roland, the RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Jessica Nicholson, Alicia Warwick, Phyllis Stark and our own LB Cantrell.

A superb sound system blasted out such tracks as “Purple Rain,” “We Are the Champions,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (Dolly with Elton John), “Wrecking Ball” (Dolly with Miley Cyrus), “Open Arms” (with Journey’s Steve Perry), “Night Moves” (with Chris Stapleton), “Let It Be” (with Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr) and “Free Bird” (with Skynyrd vets), among others.

The event had a timetable, so not all the tracks on the album could be showcased. Make that “albums.” The eventual “Rockstar” collection will be 30 songs on four vinyl discs or two CDs. There are nine Dolly originals and 21 rock oldies. The whole thing has a ‘70s-rock vibe, which is fine with me, since rock bands have now been obliterated from the charts by hip-hop and teen pop.

The black-walled, video-ready, jumbo sound-stage rooms were flanked by lit display cases containing white and silver Dolly costumes, and the stage featured a big silver signature Dolly logo. Catering was spare, but there were fully stocked bars. And the planners of the out-of-town party provided bus transportation to and from the Music City Center, so relax.

I am told there were party-favor Dolly gift bags. I didn’t get one.

Chase Rice records for his forthcoming album in his den-turned-vocal booth. Photo: Kaiser Cunningham

Chase Rice is taking fans behind the scenes of the making of his latest album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, with a new 10-part docuseries, out now.

The short films chronicle the two weeks spent crafting the project at Rice’s home-turned-studio with producer Oscar Charles. Rice and Charles turned his rural home into their 24/7 workspace, bringing in a live band to capture an authentic sound over the course of an immersive two-week session—all of which was captured on camera for fans to witness.

The episodes feature cameos by songwriters John Byron and Blake Pendergrass, plus artists Lee Brice, Boy Named Banjo, Read Southall, Elvie Shane, Hannah Dasher and more. The 10 installments, directed by Kaiser Cunningham, will air each Tuesday beginning with episodes one through three this week.

Rice is currently on his “Way Down Yonder Tour” and recently released his new single, “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer,” which he wrote alongside Pendergrass, Byron, and Justin Thomas.

Pictured (L-R): Shelter Music Group’s James Robinson, Jackson Stubner, BMG’s Kelsey Niccoli, Hunter Metts and BMG’s Chris Oglesby

BMG Nashville has signed artist, songwriter and producer Hunter Metts to a global publishing agreement.

Metts grew up in a musical family and began to play piano at age 10, eventually picking up a guitar and starting to writing songs. He gained national attention as a contestant on American Idol in 2021. Since his time on the show, Metts has continued to write and perform his own music as well as write and produce music for other artists. He has released several songs independently, including “Nothing to Lose” and “Paper Moon.”

“Signing an artist like Hunter is a dream come true. His music is so unbelievably emotive—it makes you nostalgic while also sounding like nothing you’ve ever heard before. Hunter has an understanding of songwriting, production and artistry that is beyond his years, and BMG is so excited to be a part of his journey,” says Kelsey Niccoli, Sr. Creative Director, A&R, BMG Nashville.

“I feel like I found people who understand me and my sound, who are truly invested in the trajectory of my life and career,” adds Metts.

Metts’ frequent collaborators include Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Henry Brill, Tristan Bushman, Chandler Leighton, Dave Thomas Jr, Caleb Hearn, Cody Lovaas, Anna Hamilton, Luke Niccoli, Jonah Kagen and more.