The Country Music Association recently presented its annual industry honors to four of the industry’s finest.

Renowned documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan are the 2022 recipients of CMA’s Joe Talbot Award; CMT Senior Vice President, Music Strategy Leslie Fram has received the 2022 CMA Media Achievement Award; and Bandit Lites Founder/Chair Michael Strickland is the 2022 recipient of the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award.

The CMA Joe Talbot Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the preservation and advancement of country music’s values and tradition. Burns and Duncan were surprised with news of their awards via Zoom by CMA CEO, Sarah Trahern. Duncan was able to accept his trophy in person during a visit to Nashville for the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony in October. The two men are the visionaries behind the recent PBS documentary Country Music, which explores the history of the uniquely American art form, from its roots in small settings to its worldwide popularity over the course of the 20th century.

The CMA Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to country music. During the recent CMT Next Women of Country concert at Nashville’s City Winery, Fram was surprised by CMA Senior Director, Industry Relations & Inclusion, Mia McNeal. The pair were joined on stage by participants of CMT and Mtheory’s Equal Access Development Program, including Charlene Bryant, Madeline Edwards, Miko Marks, and Valerie Ponzio as well as Mtheory’s Cameo Carlson, Tiffany Provenzano, and Chantrel Reynolds. Fram is at the forefront of a number of equity initiatives within country music, including CMT Next Women of Country and Equal Access.

The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award honors an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism, and advocacy, supporting worthwhile causes important to the country music community. Strickland was recognized at the Pre-Telecast Ceremony during the 56th Annual CMA Awards at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Strickland has advocated on behalf of the live events industry facet, testifying before the U.S. Senate on the pandemic’s effects on the music industry and ensuring live events professionals and organizations received federal funding through various legislative bills.

The first release in the partnership is Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, the museum’s new companion book to its major multi-year exhibition of the same name. Now available in bookstores nationwide and online outlets, the illustrated book traces the impact of the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and many more, along with the next wave of L.A. roots music ushered in by the Blasters, Lone Justice, Los Lobos, Dwight Yoakam and others.

The book includes more than 160 artifact and archival photos and features a foreword by Ronstadt and main essay by longtime LA music journalist Randy Lewis, among other essays from artists, musicians and historians.

University of Illinois Press and CMF Press have each released some of the most authoritative works exploring traditional country and roots music topics. Collectively, these books have been honored with a variety of awards, including the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award, the ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award, the Belmont Book Award, the Irving Lowens Book Award and others.

“The University of Illinois Press has an impressive track record of releasing important books examining the broad spectrum of music and documenting American culture,” explains Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “The collaboration is a perfect fit to continue our museum’s longstanding commitment of reaching beyond our gallery walls via book publishing and other media platforms to explore the rich heritage of country music and its important contributions to history.”

“The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a national treasure that shares our vital mission to document and celebrate roots music culture and its makers,” adds Laurie Matheson, Director of the University of Illinois Press. “We are excited to build on the synergies of this partnership in extending the reach and impact of country music publications.”

The next release from the partnership will come in spring 2023 with the reissue of the long out-of-print title DeFord Bailey: A Black Star in Early Country Music by David C. Morton with Charles K. Wolfe. Bailey (1899-1982) was a founding member of the Grand Ole Opry and among its most popular early performers, touring with well-known Opry acts like Roy Acuff, the Delmore Brothers and Bill Monroe. The reissued book will include a new chapter on Bailey’s thoughts about race relations, more than 40 photographs and a complete session discography.

Zac Brown Band Serves As Dolly Parton’s House Band During Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

Zac Brown Band served as Dolly Parton’s band throughout her recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The award-winning group backed Parton for a performance of her signature song, “Jolene,” and also lent their talents to Sheryl Crow’s rendition of “9 to 5,” as well as to a duet of “Coat of Many Colors” from Brandi Carlile and P!nk.

Highlights from the ceremony, held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, will air this Saturday (Nov. 19) on HBO and HBO Max.

 

 

Lee Greenwood Rings In 80th Birthday By Celebrating 25 Million In Music Sales

Grammy-winning vocalist Lee Greenwood was recently honored for surpassing more than 25 million worldwide music sales while playing at the Grand Ole Opry. Ahead of his 80th birthday, Vice President and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry Dan Rogers, along with Ryman Hospitality Properties CEO Colin Reed, and country artist Dustin Lynch were there to surprise him.

An American patriot and national ambassador for the wounded warrior support organization Helping A Hero, Greenwood partnered with Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris to give away specially-adapted homes to six wounded veterans and their families from the heart of the Opry stage.

“I knew playing the Grand Ole Opry was going to be a birthday week highlight, but then to discover my recordings have surpassed 25 million sales worldwide—well, that has to be one of the greatest birthday gifts of all time; and yet, I wasn’t at the Opry to receive gifts, I was there to entertain and give gifts,” Greenwood shares. ““Our military families put their lives on the line for this country. These new homes are designed to make what can be impossible, everyday tasks, possible again for our wounded. Building these homes for our heroes is a labor of love,” he confided.

In honor of his 80th birthday, Greenwood is preparing for his 80-show “American Spirit Tour…Once and For All” in 2023.

 

 

Avery Anna’s “Narcissist” Notches Gold Distinction

Warner Music Nashville’s breakout starlet Avery Anna marked a career milestone on Tuesday night (Nov. 15) as she performed at Nashville’s Exit/In as support on Spencer Crandall’s “The Western Tour.” On top of the performance, Warner Music Nashville Co-Presidents Ben Kline and Cris Lacy joined Anna on stage to commemorate her viral smash “Narcissist” being certified Gold by the RIAA.

The 18-year-old Arizona native has accumulated more than 150 million streams in 2022, and made her Grand Ole Opry debut in September. Following the recent launch of her Mood Swings EP, she will release her first original holiday song, “Miss You At Christmas,” on Friday (Nov. 18).

 

 

Fifth Annual Dance Party To End ALZ Raises $525K

Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Ashley Williams, and Jay Williams hosted their fifth annual Dance Party to End ALZ on Sunday (Nov. 13) at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Apple Music’s Kelleigh Bannen emceed the event, which raised $525,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association research grant program.

Dressed in ‘90s fashion, country artists took to the stage performing throwback hits from the era. Artists in attendance included Brad Paisley, Hot Country Knights, Tracy Lawrence, Jay Allen, Bannen with special guest NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, Melinda Doolittle, Lindsay Ell, Charles Esten, and more.

“For our fifth Dance Party to End ALZ, we raised $525,000, making it our most successful year to date!” notes Williams-Paisley. “After losing our mom to Alzheimer’s six years ago, my siblings and I became relentless in our pursuit to advance Alzheimer’s research toward methods of treatment, prevention, and ultimately, a cure. With the Alzheimer Association’s help, and the continued support of our generous sponsors, attendees, and performers, I know one day we will achieve our goal of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”

To date, Dance Party to End ALZ has raised $1.8 million to fund diverse and exciting Alzheimer’s research.

 

Mike Ryan Marks Decade-Long Career With Grand Ole Opry Debut

Singer-songwriter Mike Ryan made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Nov. 8, performing “Dear Country Music” and “Damn Good Goodbye.” Ryan’s Opry debut follows the release of his new album, Longcut, and marks a decade of building his career independently as a singer-songwriter.

“This is an incredible night. So many of my friends came out to support me. My family and my two sons are in the audience and it’s hard not to get emotional,” Ryan shared following the performance. “I’m honored to be on this stage where so many country music legends and artists have performed. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and to be a part of this tradition.”

The San Antonio native has landed nine No. 1 songs on the Texas charts, and his previously-released Blink You’ll Miss It landed at No. 15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. Collaborating with major label artists, Ryan has earned a top 20 hit as a co-writer on Brad Paisley’s “Last Time For Everything,” and Paisley reciprocated with a guitar solo on Ryan’s song, “The Rewrite.”

Tractor Supply Company has tapped breakout country artist and two-time CMA Award winner Lainey Wilson as its newest Brand Ambassador.

Tractor Supply will partner with Wilson to support up-and-coming musicians with the launch of an Emerging Artist Program in 2023. The year-long program will be curated by Wilson, who will be joined by established country artists to serve as mentors and help launch the careers of rising artists and their songs inspired by “Life Out Here.” As curator, Wilson will advise and play an active role in launching and executing the overall program. Additional details on the Emerging Artist Program and how to participate will be announced in early 2023.

To kick off the partnership, Tractor Supply debuted a TV ad during the season five premiere of Paramount Network’s hit series Yellowstone, which marked Wilson’s acting debut. The spot is inspired by Tractor Supply’s dedication to “Life Out Here” and features the standout track “Live Off” from Wilson’s new album Bell Bottom Country. Viewers catch footage of Wilson from her childhood and present day, showing how she lives “Life Out Here” and how it impacts her music.

 

“From small-town aspiring songwriter to the fastest-rising star in country music, Lainey is the perfect mentor, advocate, and spokesperson for Tractor Supply and our Emerging Artist Program,” shares Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer at Tractor Supply. “Growing up in a small farming community and becoming the most nominated artist at this year’s CMA Awards, Lainey is the definition of ‘Life Out Here.’ We’re incredibly excited to partner with Lainey and a small group of rising country music artists to create a path and platform for these voices and songs to be heard.”

“Growing up on a farm in Louisiana made a lasting impact on the outdoor-loving country-hearted woman I am today,” Wilson explains. “I’m honored to be named Tractor Supply’s newest Brand Ambassador and to have the opportunity to curate the Emerging Artist Program. They truly understand who I am at my core and the ‘Life Out Here’ lifestyle that is so important to me.”

Wilson and Tractor Supply will collaborate on and initiate numerous activities and events over the next year, including social media content, fan experiences, and more.