Nashville Soccer Club has unveiled their brand-new Man in Black Kit, honoring one of the most influential songwriters of all time, Johnny Cash.

Created in collaboration with the estate of Johnny Cash, Sandbox Succession and Wasserman Music, the Man in Black Kit was inspired by The Backline Supporters Collective, the club’s fans. On Feb. 29, 2020, Nashville SC inaugurated its journey in Major League Soccer in front of 59,069 fans, a state record for a soccer match. Prior to kickoff, The Backline unveiled their first ever MLS TIFO, featuring the Man in Black alongside the Nashville SC logo. Inspired by that moment, Nashville SC and Cash’s estate began collaborating to tell the story of the life and legacy of Cash.

“From the first day we started Nashville Soccer Club, we talked a lot about being ‘uniquely Nashville,’” says Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “This city is steeped in music history and icons of that industry. None more so than the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.”

From our opening match on Feb. 29th, 2020 when our supporters, The Backline, unveiled a Tifo with that famous Johnny Cash image, there has clearly been a strong connection between both The Cash Family and the NSC family. I don’t think there can be a greater tribute to Johnny’s place in music history or Nashville than to have a team full of Men in Black take the field on behalf of Nashville SC.”

The all-black ensemble is embellished by dark graphite and iron metallic accents including a jocktag of Cash’s iconic photo at Folsom Prison, Cash’s autograph on the back of the neck, the Nashville SC crest, and an iron metallic Renasant Bank logo as well as an Adidas logo. The left sleeve celebrates the Apple and MLS partnership by featuring the Apple TV and MLS logos, and the right sleeve features the Hyundai logo.

Nashville SC will don the Man in Black Kit for the very first time on Saturday, Feb. 25 as it hosts New York City FC as the first match of the MLS Is Back weekend. Scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT, the match will honor the collaboration with a special ‘Man in Black’ match.

“Nashville meant so much to my father, both as a historical music community and a welcoming home,” says John Carter Cash son of Cash and country legend June Carter. “Connecting the Cash legacy to Nashville Soccer Club and Major League Soccer, and the joy it’s bringing to Nashville residents, would have made him proud. I’m delighted to see the Man in Black celebrated alongside the Boys in Gold.”

To celebrate the launch of the Nashville SC Man in Black Kit, now featured on the official Nashville SC Apple Music playlist, fans can enjoy an exclusive pair of Johnny Cash singles: “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” a rendition performed by breakout country artist Bailey Zimmerman and a take on the classic “Man in Black” by Mexican singer-songwriter and guitarist Carín León.

Following its debut, the Man in Black Kit will be featured throughout the 2023 and 2024 MLS seasons, and will be available for purchase on the club’s website. In addition to the kit, the partnership will include special collaborations, which will be offered exclusively through Fanatics, the clubs official retail partner, throughout both seasons.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 18, Nashville fans have the opportunity to see and purchase the Man in Black Kit during a public event at the Walk of Fame Park (across from the Country Music Hall of Fame). The festival-like celebration will kick off at 11:30 a.m. CT with a live performance fromLeón as well as two other guests, a DJ, player appearances, photo ops and much more. Other activations include a hospitality area and Heineken Silver Beer Garden where fans can purchase four dollar Heineken products, Nashville SC player autograph tent, a stage photo opportunity, Fanatics servicing and order pickup, and Tempo the Coyote’s Band Kids Club registration, among others.

This article also appears in MusicRow‘s sister publication, The Sports Credential.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the historic Ryman Auditorium are gearing up for the inaugural “Rock The Ryman” concert happening March 1. The two recently announced that performers Little Big Town, Caitlyn Smith, and The Cadillac Three have joined the lineup that already includes The War and Treaty, Gavin DeGraw, Maddie & Tae, and Charlie Worsham. Worsham will also host the evening.

Little Big Town are on an arena tour bringing their tight harmonies to audiences across the country. The hitmakers are excited to pay homage to their icons and inspirations on stage at the Ryman.

“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Ryman hold so much music and so much history, it’s exciting to be part of bringing these places together for one special night. So many of the Rock Hall members are the soundtrack of everyone’s life,” shares LBT’s Karen Fairchild.

Smith is a genre-defying artist in her own rite, having written for Miley Cyrus, Aviici, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, as well as the No. 1 “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” for Meghan Trainor and John Legend

“Being part of such a special evening, honoring so many of the Rock Hall members’ influences on all of us is just such an incredible honor,” says Smith. “And to do it at the historic Ryman Auditorium adds a whole other level of highlighting what makes Nashville’s music community so special.”

The Cadillac Three has always produced rock-driven country hits with Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray, and Neil Mason forming the powerful trio.

Together, they will all take the stage to celebrate the intersection of rock & roll and country music. For this one-night concert experience, each artist will perform songs Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees who have performed at the Ryman to honor their legacies.

“More than 100 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees have performed on the Ryman’s hallowed stage throughout its 130-year history,” says Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Ryman by bringing together artists and fans for one incredible night to experience the power of rock & roll through some of Nashville’s great talent.”

The Ryman joined 11 other rock & roll institutions across the country as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in May of 2022. In November, the legendary auditorium opened an interactive exhibit, Rock Hall at the Ryman, to celebrate the venue’s influence on rock & roll history.

Tickets for “Rock The Ryman” are on sale now at ryman.com and the proceeds will go to the further preservation and celebration of the rich history of rock & roll.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted seven staffers to leadership positions within the museum’s creative, development, education, museum services and facilities, operations and sustainability teams.

Ben Hall has been promoted to Vice President, Development, and joining the museum’s senior staff team are Paul Kingsbury as Senior Director of Editorial and Interpretation, Luke Wiget as Senior Director of Creative, and Leigh Anne Wise as Senior Director of Facilities, Operations and Sustainability.

A 14-year museum veteran, Hall most recently served as Senior Director of Development. He oversees diverse fundraising initiatives consisting of the museum’s annual fund, major gifts program, planned giving, corporate philanthropy and sponsorships, government contributions, membership and special campaigns. He also manages Country Music Hall of Fame member relations. Hall received a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Nashville School of Law.

In his new role, Kingsbury will manage editorial staff and the development of written content for the museum’s website, exhibits, public programs, publications, educational materials and online offerings. He has written extensively about country music, writing or co-authoring Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World, The Grand Ole Opry History of Country Music and Hatch Show Print: The History of a Great American Poster Shop. He also served as the Editor-In-Chief for the museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, and Co-Editor for the museum’s pictorial history Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America. Before his promotion, Kingsbury served as Managing Editor for the museum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Vanderbilt University.

In Wiget’s new role, he will guide the museum’s creative and project management teams responsible for producing exhibits, books, videos, education materials, marketing collateral and social media content. He joined the museum in 2016 and, prior to his promotion, served as Director of Creative Content. Wiget holds a bachelor’s degree in English from San Jose State University and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from The New School.

In her new role, Wise will oversee facilities maintenance, building projects, building operations including security, housekeeping and event set up, as well as sustainability initiatives. A 38-year museum veteran, Wise first joined the museum as a tour guide, moving to accounting and then operations. Her most recent position was Executive Director of Operations and Sustainability. A native of Middle Tennessee, Wise attended Middle Tennessee State University and Aquinas College.

In other changes at the museum, Sam Farahmand has also been promoted to Associate Director of Creative Content, Sydney Gilbert has been named Director of Creative Project Management, and Aaron Helvig has been named Associate Director of Music Programs.

Willie Jones and RVSHVD are teaming up for a co-headlining “Sticks And Swamps Tour,” kicking off March 30 in Macon, Georgia. Renee Blair will open on all dates.

The six-date tour will run throughout the southeast, wrapping in Nashville at the Exit/In on April 21. Tickets are on sale Friday (Feb. 17).

Jones most recently released “Them Girls Do,” and is currently writing and recording the follow up to his debut album Right Now, which featured his single “American Dream.” Named one of the 12 Black Artists Shaping Country Music’s Future by USA Today, the rising artist serves as an ambassador for Ford Motor Company and has performed at festivals Stagecoach, CMA Fest, Lollapalooza, and more.

RVSHVD (pronounced Ra-Shad) started making music ten years ago. While listening to rap beats as a young teen, the self-taught R&B singer realized a new talent for songwriting and jumped genres after hearing “Sweet Thing” by Keith Urban. He signed with Penthouse South/Sumerian Records, and has built a following of 1.3 million fans on TikTok and is approaching a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Currently, he has over 100 million streams across all platforms which includes his most recent release “Hit Different.”

Sticks And Swamps Tour:
3/30/23 – Macon, GA – Hargray Capitol Theatre
3/31/23 – Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
4/1/23 – Tifton, GA – Terminal South
4/6/23 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl at Center Stage
4/7/23 – Rome, GA – Peaches
4/21/23 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In