Paramount+ will exclusively premiere Wynonna Judd: Between Hell & Hallelujah, a feature-length documentary following the legendary artist as she navigates the next phase of her life and career, in the U.S. on Wednesday, April 26.

Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Hello Sunshine in partnership with Sandbox Productions, the documentary will also debut internationally in Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria on Wednesday, July 19.

Wynonna Judd: Between Hell & Hallelujah gives viewers a raw, first-hand glimpse into Wynonna’s life as she bravely embarks on her next chapter following her mother Naomi Judd’s untimely passing. Beginning with the decision to honor Naomi’s legacy by continuing on with “The Judds: The Final Tour,” the documentary captures candid on-stage and behind-the-scenes moments as part of the sold-out nationwide tour, along with personal anecdotes from Wynonna’s friends and fellow artists Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood as well as moving and intimate footage of her spending quiet, reflective time on the farm with her beloved family and animals, as she continues to process her grief.

“Hello Sunshine is so honored that Wynonna trusted us, and our cameras, to join her on this tour and during this time. We hope that Wynonna’s strength and vulnerability help others experiencing grief. We also hope that her humor, her heart and her powerful voice inspire viewers as much as they did us. This is a very special story,” says Sara Rea, Hello Sunshine Head of Unscripted.

Wynonna served as an executive producer of the film alongside Rea, Reese Witherspoon, Cactus Moser, Jason Owen, Bruce Gillmer, Margaret Comeaux, Leslie Fram and director Patty Ivins Specht.

“It’s real and it’s raw. It’s celebration and sadness. It’s all of the people who I leaned on during one of the toughest seasons of my life. I wanted the opportunity to tell my story in my voice. If doing so helps one person out there choose life, then I am grateful,” she shares.

“The Judds will forever be one of country music’s most iconic and storied duos. Their original 1991 farewell concert was entertainment at its finest and being able to recreate that concert with Wynonna and so many talented artists is something I will cherish forever,” says Owen, Sandbox Productions CEO. “Watching Wynonna fully embrace this tour to honor The Judds’ legacy was beyond inspiring, and I can’t wait for others to witness her strength in Between Hell & Hallelujah.”

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival wrapped its 10th anniversary last weekend with a star-packed three days of music featuring headliners Kenny Chesney, Eric Church and Shania Twain.

Friday night kicked off across all three stages with acts including Deana Carter, Lukas Nelson + POTR, Pillbox Patti and more. Leading up to Church headlining the first night festivities on the main stage, fans sang along as Cole Swindell bought up surprise guest Lauren Alaina for a rendition of his chart-topping track “Never Say Never.” Highlights from the Sunset Stage also included sets from Wiz Khalifa with special guest Ty Dolla Sign, as well as Brett Young, Tyler Braden and Pecos & The Rooftops.

The feel-good energy continued on Saturday with performances for a sea of fans, as Brittney Spencer, Tyler Booth, Dylan Marlowe, Carly Pearce, The Wallflowers and more took the stage. Twain closed the night with a hit-packed set. The stacked Sunday lineup included Nate Smith, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Ashley Cooke, Shane Profitt, Kylie Morgan and more. Additionally, despite a weather delay, Chesney brought out special guest Cooke to wrap the weekend celebration.

The weekend also showcased up and coming stars from the festival’s first year of the Next From Nashville stage, giving attendees a chance to discover the genre’s new acts including George Birge, Mackenzie Carpenter, Frank Ray, Alana Springsteen and Megan Moroney.

The Tortuga Music Festival raises funds and promotes awareness of the issues that the world’s oceans currently face and supports marine conservation and research. The festival has raised almost four million dollars for the cause to date, and festival goers were given the opportunity to learn more about where a portion of the proceeds from their passes go onsite at Rock The Ocean’s Conservation Village featuring exhibits, games, interactive touch tanks, cooking exhibitions, ocean technology and more.

Six candidates have been chosen to participate in this year’s Equal Access Development Program, an artist and management training initiative helmed by CMT and management services company Mtheory.

Artists chosen for the year-long program include Angie K, Camille Parker and Denitia. The music management professionals selected to participate consist of Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere, Alex Evelyn and Roberto Martinez.

The program offers funding and training, and provides the rising artists and management professionals with access to industry leaders, helping to ensure a multi-faceted pipeline of diverse, creative talent in country music.

Launched in April 2022, Equal Access is one of the first collaborative efforts to address inequities in country music – both on and off the stage – by creating opportunities for commercial success. Spearheaded by an all-female team, including Mtheory’s Cameo Carlson and Tiffany Provenzano alongside CMT’s Leslie Fram, the program aims to proactively influence the continued disparity of underserved groups in country music.

Carlson says, “Research continues to show the enduring racial and gendered hierarchy within the industry, and its ripple effect throughout every facet of the business: radio airplay, songwriting, publishing, streaming, record label signings, artist development, touring and more.”

She continues, “Only through deliberate, consistent efforts like Equal Access, will we begin to see stronger representation of underserved groups in the format, and we’re committed to helping this new group of exceptionally talented individuals successfully prepare for careers in country music, particularly in this current legislative environment that has become an increasingly prohibitive place for creativity to grow and flourish. Thank you to all of our supporters for making this program possible, particularly our title sponsors at CMT and across the Paramount companies.”

Fram adds, “CMT, along with Paramount Global and its Content for Change initiative, is proud to partner with Mtheory once again and is committed to leading the industry in igniting systemic change. Equal Access accentuates our roster of groundbreaking initiatives including CMT Equal Play and CMT Next Women of Country, and contributes significantly towards leveling the playing field in country music. We look forward to collaborating with this amazing new group of artists and managers to amplify their work to CMT audiences and beyond.”

Hang Your Hat Music, a creative joint venture with Concord Music Publishing founded by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Hillary Lindsey, announced the hiring of Emily Baldridge as Creative Manager.

In this new role, Baldrige will report to Hang Your Hat’s Executive Vice President, Jake Gear, and will be responsible for assisting with writer relations, daily operations and liaising across Concord’s Publishing creative team in Nashville including Senior Director, A&R, Courtney Allen.

Baldridge, a Tulane University graduate, joins Hang Your Hat from her previous role as Creative Coordinator at Peermusic. Prior to Peermusic she spent time at Live Nation, as a research associate at BMI and as a creative intern at Sony Music Publishing.

“Hillary and I are stoked to welcome Emily to the Hang Your Hat family and give her an opportunity to pursue her creative ambitions,” shares Gear. “She’s a self-starter, a multi-faceted young creative, and most importantly is passionate about songwriters and the songwriting community here in Nashville. I’m looking forward to this next year of expanding our roster and footprint with her as a key part of the team.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to join and learn from the industry visionaries at Hang Your Hat, Hillary Lindsey and Jake Gear,” says Baldridge. “To be joining such a successful young company in a hands-on capacity is a dream of mine, and I am looking forward to supporting the amazing roster and catalog they’ve built.”

Hang Your Hat’s roster includes songwriters Chris La Corte, Meg McRee, Ben Chapman and Cary Barlowe, who have celebrated recent cuts with Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell, Tyler Hubbard, Keith Urban, Chris Young and more.

Entertainment business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready and McCarthy Inc. (FBMM) has promoted Dorian Yoanidis from Vice President of Operations to both Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the company. 

Yoanidis holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Penn State University. He has been a CPA since 1994, and has more than 30 years of experience as a music industry finance and operations leader. In his new positions, he will work with every department at FBMM to ensure employees continue to provide the highest-quality service to clients and is responsible for every aspect of FBMM’s business operations, from finance to IT and everything in between. 

“I have worked closely with Dorian since he joined FBMM and have witnessed firsthand his dedication to our clients, staff and the future of the company,” says Duane Clark, FBMM Owner & Business Manager. “He is the embodiment of a servant leader and has made a tremendous impact for our FBMM family and, in doing so, for our clients. His expertise allows our business managers to focus on their clients, and I have full confidence in Dorian as he continues to guide our operations in this new role.” 

“Dorian has a people-first mentality, which was critical as he helped strategically guide FBMM through the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Julie Boos, FBMM Owner & Business Manager. “His guidance during the pandemic offered support to our talented staff so that they had all the resources necessary to continue to serve our clients and make sure their businesses ran seamlessly.”