The CMA Foundation celebrates its 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The CMA Foundation hosted its 10th year of celebrating the nation’s top music educators at its annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony on Oct. 7 at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
During the special evening, artists, educators, students, music industry leaders and community supporters gathered to celebrate the lasting legacy of music teachers and the generations of students they inspire. This year’s honorees include five teachers from Metro Nashville Public Schools, 10 from school districts across Tennessee, and 15 representing schools in 11 additional states. With this year’s class, Music Teachers of Excellence has now honored more than 200 educators since the program was established.
Throughout the program, artists and speakers reflected on the teachers and mentors who helped shape their own lives and careers, underscoring how a lesson, a word of encouragement or an opportunity to perform can continue to influence a student long after they leave the classroom. The evening also celebrated the legacies of the CMA Foundation and Music Teachers of Excellence, honoring the people, partners and teachers who have helped build both organizations into enduring forces for music education.
Zac Brown performs during the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Photo: Elliot Lopes/CMA
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell opened the program with an official proclamation declaring Oct. 7 as “Music Teachers of Excellence Day” in Music City. The evening continued with a special student performance by the James Lawson Blue Sparks Jazz Band, directed by Rontrell Callahan of James Lawson High School, before Zac Brown welcomed guests and introduced a special message from Dolly Parton, who, prior to her passing, addressed the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence with a heartfelt message about carrying music forward for the next generation. Brown then performed “Butterfly,” his collaboration with Parton, in a tribute to Parton’s extraordinary legacy and her commitment to creating opportunities for others.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band celebrated the tradition of passing music from one generation to the next before joining Marcus King for a special performance. Sierra Hull performed of “Beautifully Out of Place,” reflecting on the teachers who encourage students to embrace what makes them unique. Keith Urban shared the story of his own music teacher, Mrs. Grimmer, whose belief in her students changed the course of his life, before joining Sarah Trahern, CEO of CMA and President of the CMA Foundation, for a special moment recognizing her 13 years of leadership and advocacy for music education ahead of her retirement at the end of the year. Carrie Manolakos followed with a moving performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” dedicated to Trahern.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs with Marcus King during the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at The Pinnacle. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Tucker Wetmore then took the stage for an electric piano performance of “Great Balls of Fire,” and Franklin Willis, a member of the inaugural class of Music Teachers of Excellence and now Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metro Nashville Public Schools, closed the program with reflections on the legacy of investing in educators before introducing David Phelps, who brought the evening to a close with “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”
CMA Foundation Board Chairman Jennie Smythe also presented the CMA Foundation’s inaugural Music Education Impact Award to industry leader and longtime Foundation champion Joe Galante for his foundational role in the organization and his lasting impact on music education.
The CMA Foundation welcomed 83 Music Teachers of Excellence alumni back to Nashville for the first-ever alumni gathering and launched an official alumni network designed to keep past honorees connected to one another and to the program. The network will provide opportunities for alumni to stay engaged, share experiences, and continue building connections with fellow music teachers long after their year of recognition.
“Music teachers give students so much more than the ability to sing or play an instrument. They help them discover their confidence, find a place to belong and imagine possibilities for their future,” says Michelle Kirk, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Wednesday night was a powerful reminder of the impact these teachers have and what we can build when a community comes together to support them. We’re incredibly grateful to the Nashville music community, the artists, partners and supporters who showed up to celebrate our Music Teachers of Excellence and especially to our event committee for helping bring this special evening to life. It was an honor to celebrate 30 extraordinary teachers and the lasting impact they continue to make for their students.”
The 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence Honorees:
Midwest:
David Hutter, Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic:
Kyle Cook, Western Branch Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
Ryan Mack, P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, & Design Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Kevin McDonald, Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA
Alice Tsui, New Bridges Elementary School, Brooklyn, NY
Southeast :
Lucy Alegria, Gallatin High School, Gallatin, TN
Michael Aymett, Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, TN
Trevor Baxter, Centennial High School, Franklin, TN
Melissa Blizzard, Stevens Creek Elementary School, Martinez, GA
Johnny Croft, Cane Ridge High School, Antioch, TN
Julia Culp, Freedom Middle School, Franklin, TN
Elmer Feliciano, McMurray Middle School, Nashville, TN
Aurora Foster, Woodland Middle School, Brentwood, TN
Darlene Grande, Stonewyck Elementary School, Orlando, FL
Sherie Grossman, James Lawson High School, Nashville, TN
Tony Hartman, Scales Elementary School, Murfreesboro, TN
Kinsey Healy, Houston High School, Germantown, TN
Samuel Holmes, Garden Hills Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
Allen Kennedy, Hume-Fogg Academic High School, Nashville, TN
Taylor Kollmeier, Page High School, Franklin, TN
Ashleigh Ledford, Sterling School, Greenville, SC
Ollie Liddell, Memphis Central High School, Memphis, TN
Nathaniel O’Neal, DuPont Hadley Middle School, Old Hickory, TN
Michael Perryman, Ooltewah Elementary School, Ooltewah, TN
Southwest:
Efrain Casillas, Desert Oasis Elementary School and Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ
Corey Graves, Themer Middle School, Forney, TX
West:
Grace Kwon, Stoddard Elementary School, Anaheim, CA
Darlene Machacon, La Quinta High School, Westminster, CA
Henry Miller, Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine, CA
Kimberly Ritzer, Green Valley High School, Henderson, NV
Matt Jenkins Enters Top 20 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenMatt Jenkins
Matt Jenkins has moved into the top 20 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter chart. Kenny Chesney’s “Carry On” pushes the songwriter to No. 19 this week.
Ella Langley remains at No. 1 with “Be Her,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Jaded” and “Loving Life Again.” Jordan M. Schmidt moves up to No. 2 with “Be Her,” “Jaded,” “Kid Myself” and “Who Told You That.”
Chase McGill (No. 3), Jessi Alexander (No. 4) and ERNEST (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
John Morgan Lands Second No. 1 As An Artist & Seventh As A Songwriter With ‘Kid Myself’
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Morgan. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Broken Bow Records artist John Morgan has tallied his second No. 1 and seventh as a songwriter with his latest single, “Kid Myself.”
The single hit No. 1 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase & Billboard charts, and is also the first single for Morgan to hit No. 1 as a solo artist. Penned by Morgan, Tyler Hubbard and Jordan Schmidt, “Kid Myself” travels back to a regretful decision to cut a relationship short, and examines the tough but mature truth behind the past.
“Watching this song climb the charts has been very special,” says Morgan. “It’s hard to do it once and even harder to follow up back to back. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone for all the support over the last year to help get us here. ‘Kid Myself’ came off my debut album, Carolina Blue, and I’m proud to have written something that resonated with so many people around the country!”
Morgan’s prior No. 1 as an artist was a collaboration with Jason Aldean on “Friends Like That.” He is currently on tour this fall with upcoming dates in Youngtown, Cincinnati, Toledo, Biloxi, Myrtle Beach, and more.
Kameron Marlowe Slates ‘Take You Down With Me Tour’ For February
/by Lorie HollabaughKameron Marlowe. Photo: Ben Dartnell
Kameron Marlowe is kicking off his new “Take You Down With Me Tour” across the U.S. this winter beginning in February.
The 12-city tour will launch just two weeks after the release of Marlowe’s upcoming self-titled album, due out Jan. 22, and will include stops in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Raleigh, and more. Pre-sale for tickets begins tomorrow (Oct. 13) with general on-sale starting Oct. 16 here.
On his upcoming third studio album co-produced by Austin Goodloe, Marlowe draws from influences including The War on Drugs, Kings of Leon, Gary Clark Jr. and John Mayer across songs exploring redemption and rebirth, moving freely between country, soul, and rock. The rising artist has already racked up over 1.9 billion global streams, and achieved multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications.
Kameron Marlowe’s “Take You Down With Me Tour” Dates:
2/4/27: Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
2/5/27: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
2/6/27: Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
2/12/27: Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
2/13/27: Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
2/19/27: Columbia, SC – The Senate
2/20/27: Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
2/26/27: Orlando, FL – House of Blues Orlando
2/27/27: Charleston, SC – The Refinery Charleston
3/4/27: Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
3/5/27: Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron
3/6/27: Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Miranda Lambert’s Amazon Music ‘Songline Live’ Debuts
/by Lorie HollabaughMiranda Lambert. Photo: Brayln Kelly Smith
Amazon Music debuted Miranda Lambert’s Songline Live, a special broadcast of Lambert’s recent intimate performance filmed at The Truth in Nashville, last week.
Accompanied by a 12-piece string section, Lambert performed some tracks from her latest album, Crisco, alongside reimagined versions of her catalog hits for the broadcast, which streamed on the Amazon Music app, Prime Video, and Twitch as part of Country Music Month. The career-spanning set opened with “Kerosene” and featured favorites including “Only Prettier,” “Fastest Girl in Town,” and “White Liar,” as well as newer songs such as “Snakeskin Boots,” “Sunset Marquis,” and the title track from Crisco. The string arrangements brought a fresh dimension to “Bluebird,” “Vice,” “The House That Built Me,” and “Tin Man,” and Chris Stapleton joined Lambert for “A Song to Sing,” before she closed the show with “Gunpowder & Lead.”
A new Songline album featuring music from Lambert’s Songline Live broadcast is set for release Nov. 6, followed by a Songline film on Nov. 13, which pairs performances from the broadcast with exclusive interviews in which Lambert reflects on her songs and career.
The recently announced Country Music Month celebration from Amazon Music also features new Amazon Music Originals, Country Heat Weekly Podcast episodes with artists including Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, and Elizabeth Nichols, and the announcement of Stella Lefty as the newest Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist. The month’s programming also includes Lainey Wilson’s Amazon Music Live performance on Oct. 15 and a new Shaboozey Songline film debuting Oct. 23.
Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, Josiah Queen Among Winners At The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughLainey Wilson and Brandon Lake perform at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Kurt Heinecke
Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake and Josiah Queen were among the big winners of the night at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards on Oct. 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, winning three Dove Awards each.
Hosted by Tauren Wells, the evening celebrated the artists, songs and stories shaping Christian and gospel music. Phil Wickham was named Artist of the Year during the ceremony, with Jamie MacDonald awarded New Artist of the Year, Josiah Queen’s “Dusty Bibles” winning Song of the Year honors, and Brandon Lake taking home the Songwriter of the Year title.
Tauren Wells performs with Naomi Raine. Photo: Tim Hart
Tasha Cobbs Leonard won two awards, including one for “Church,” her collaboration with John Legend, and CeCe Winans won Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year for the second year in a row. Veteran Southern Gospel artist Karen Peck earned her ninth career Dove Award during the show, winning Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Good Answers.
Show highlights included Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson performing their award-winning collaboration “The Jesus I Know Now,” Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Maurette Brown Clark and Ted Winn joining together to celebrate Gospel legend Richard Smallwood, and Amy Grant & Natalie Grant paying tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Faith-based film and TV also took the spotlight with the animated feature David winning two Doves, while The Chosen was named Television Series of the Year for its fifth season.
An encore broadcast of the awards ceremony will air Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on TBN, the TBN+ app and TBN’s YouTube channel.
Josiah Queen wins at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Kurt Heinecke
Amy Grant & Natalie Grant performing a Dolly Parton tribute. Photo: Kris Rae Orlowski
Phil Wickham wins at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Kurt Heinecke
CeCe Winans wins at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Kurt Heinecke
Industry Ink: Wynonna, Gibson, Lauren Daigle, Troubadour Blue
/by Lauryn SinkWynonna Celebrates New Album With TV Appearances
Wynonna Judd. Photo: Thomas Crabtree
Wynonna celebrated the release of her new album, The Hard Truth, last week with two television appearances. She performed “Girl Who Could Sing” and “Hear Me Now” on The TODAY Show, and “All Downhill From Ashland” on Live With Kelly and Mark.
The project was released Oct. 2 via ANTI-Records. She is currently on “The Hard Truth Tour” with dates in Texas, Oklahoma, the Carolinas, Ohio and more.
Gibson Partners With Second Chance Global Partnership
Gibson Gives has partnered with Second Chance Global to donate 20 Epiphone guitars valued to expand the nonprofit’s music education programs in Belize, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The gift launches One Sound of Hope, a Second Chance Global initiative designed to give more children access to music education while building sustainable programs that can serve communities for generations.
“Music has an extraordinary ability to help a child discover their voice—and when they discover their voice, they begin to see what is possible for their future,” says Ashley Petress, Founder and Visionary Leader of Second Chance Global. “Gibson has provided the instruments. Now we have the opportunity to build programs around them that help children learn, grow, lead and dream.”
“At Gibson Gives, we believe every young person should have the opportunity to experience the life- changing power of music,” adds Erica Krusen, Executive Director of Gibson Gives. “We’re proud to place these instruments in music rooms where students can learn, create and build confidence for years to come. Through One Sound of Hope, we hope to inspire the music community to join us in expanding access to music education for even more children.”
Lauren Daigle Joins Switchfoot On Stage As Surprise Guest
Lauren Daigle.
Lauren Daigle joined Switchfoot on stage as a surprise guest at their Oct. 7 show at The Truth. Together they sang “I Won’t Let You Go.”
Troubadour Blue Signs With Unlabeled Records
Pictured (L-R): Max Sadler, Brenna Wheeler, Jonny Therrien, Rico Wallenda and Daniel Kim Ethridge. Photo: Thomas Crabtree
Troubadour Blue has signed with Unlabeled Records as the flagship artist. This fall, Troubadour Blue will join Wynonna Judd as direct support.
“Troubadour Blue is exactly why we built Unlabeled Records. Daniel, Brenna, and the band write with the kind of honesty that stops a room, and they play with the energy that fills it,” says Tanner Brandell, Co-Founder, Unlabeled Records. “Signing them as our flagship artist and bringing Tennessee Gothic into the world feels like the start of something real. This record is dark, lived in, and unmistakably theirs. We’re honored to be the home that helps them take it as far as it can go.”
Sasha Alex Sloan Plots ‘And The Crowd Goes Mild Tour’
/by Madison HahnenSasha Alex Sloan. Photo: Slater Goodson
Sasha Alex Sloan will embark on her “An Evening With Sasha Alex Sloan: And The Crowd Goes Mild Tour” on Nov. 29 in Toronto. Macy Todd will join as support.
Supporting her upcoming album And The Crowd Goes Mild, releasing Oct. 23, the 7-date trek will hit New York, San Francisco and more before wrapping at Nashville’s Exit/In. Tickets are on sale now.
In 2026, Sloan has continued to build her reputation as a sought-after songwriter, working with artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Robert Smith, KAROL G, Bruno Mars, aespa, Ty Dolla $ign, Zach John King, Brooks & Dunn, Tucker Wetmore, ILLIT and Max McNown.
And The Crowd Goes Mild features previously released singles “Glitter,” “Empty” and “Fun.” Sloan has been named Spotify’s October EQUAL Ambassador. She also helped curate the Created By Women playlist and is featured in Written By Sasha Alex Sloan, a playlist highlighting her songwriting.
“An Evening With Sasha Alex Sloan: And The Crowd Goes Mild Tour” Dates:
Nov 29 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
Dec 1 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Dec 2 – New York, NY – Racket
Dec 4 – Chicago, IL – Chop Shop & 1st Ward
Dec 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Dec 8 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
Dec 10 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
Gavin Adcock Extends ‘The Day I Hang It Up Tour’
/by Lauryn SinkGavin Adcock. Photo: Madelyn Ormond
Gavin Adcock has extended his “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” into 2027. Blake Whiten will join as support on all dates.
The newly-added dates include stops in Kentucky, Missouri, Florida, Texas, Virginia and more. Tickets go on sale Friday (Oct. 16) following artist pre-sale earlier in the week. More information can be found here.
Adcock released his latest album, The Day I Hang It Up, on Oct. 2 via Thrivin Here Records LLC under exclusive license to Warner Records Nashville. It followed Own Worst Enemy, which debuted as the top new country album on the Billboard Top 200 Country Chart and the top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart week of release in Aug. 2025.
“The Day I Hang It Up Tour” 2026-2027 Dates:
Oct. 15 – Atrium Health Amphitheater || Macon, GA
Oct. 16 – Coca-Cola Amphitheater || Birmingham, AL
Oct. 17 – First Security Amphitheater || Little Rock, AR
Oct. 22 – Fishers Event Center || Fishers, IN
Oct. 23 – Knoxville Civic Coliseum || Knoxville, TN
Oct. 24 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre || Cary, NC
Oct. 29 – Bojangles Coliseum || Charlotte, NC
Oct. 30 – Enmarket Arena || Savannah, GA
Oct. 31 – Hertz Arena || Estero, FL
Nov. 6 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway || Boston, MA
Nov. 7 – Santander Arena || Reading, PA
Nov. 13 – Masonic Temple Theatre || Detroit, MI
Nov. 14 – Van Andel Arena || Grand Rapids, MI
Dec. 10 – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas || Las Vegas, NV
March 6 – Meatstock Gippsland || Melbourne, Australia
March 13 – Meatstock Toowoomba || Toowoomba, Australia
April 1 – Gatton Park || Lexington, KY
April 2 – The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 3 – The Factory || St. Louis, MO
April 10 – SJB Pavilion || Oxford, MS
April 29 – Salem Civic Center || Salem, VA
May 1 – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre || St. Augustine, FL
May 7 – The Zoo Amphitheatre || Oklahoma City, OK
May 8 – White Oak Music Hall || Houston, TX
May 13 – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! || Richmond, VA
May 14 – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena || Atlantic City, NJ
May 15 – Pier Six Pavilion || Baltimore, MD
May 27 – Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX
May 28 – Floores Country Store || Helotes, TX
CMA Foundation Celebrates Top Music Educators At 10th Annual Teachers Of Excellence Ceremony
/by Lorie HollabaughThe CMA Foundation celebrates its 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The CMA Foundation hosted its 10th year of celebrating the nation’s top music educators at its annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony on Oct. 7 at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
During the special evening, artists, educators, students, music industry leaders and community supporters gathered to celebrate the lasting legacy of music teachers and the generations of students they inspire. This year’s honorees include five teachers from Metro Nashville Public Schools, 10 from school districts across Tennessee, and 15 representing schools in 11 additional states. With this year’s class, Music Teachers of Excellence has now honored more than 200 educators since the program was established.
Throughout the program, artists and speakers reflected on the teachers and mentors who helped shape their own lives and careers, underscoring how a lesson, a word of encouragement or an opportunity to perform can continue to influence a student long after they leave the classroom. The evening also celebrated the legacies of the CMA Foundation and Music Teachers of Excellence, honoring the people, partners and teachers who have helped build both organizations into enduring forces for music education.
Zac Brown performs during the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Photo: Elliot Lopes/CMA
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell opened the program with an official proclamation declaring Oct. 7 as “Music Teachers of Excellence Day” in Music City. The evening continued with a special student performance by the James Lawson Blue Sparks Jazz Band, directed by Rontrell Callahan of James Lawson High School, before Zac Brown welcomed guests and introduced a special message from Dolly Parton, who, prior to her passing, addressed the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence with a heartfelt message about carrying music forward for the next generation. Brown then performed “Butterfly,” his collaboration with Parton, in a tribute to Parton’s extraordinary legacy and her commitment to creating opportunities for others.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band celebrated the tradition of passing music from one generation to the next before joining Marcus King for a special performance. Sierra Hull performed of “Beautifully Out of Place,” reflecting on the teachers who encourage students to embrace what makes them unique. Keith Urban shared the story of his own music teacher, Mrs. Grimmer, whose belief in her students changed the course of his life, before joining Sarah Trahern, CEO of CMA and President of the CMA Foundation, for a special moment recognizing her 13 years of leadership and advocacy for music education ahead of her retirement at the end of the year. Carrie Manolakos followed with a moving performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” dedicated to Trahern.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs with Marcus King during the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at The Pinnacle. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Tucker Wetmore then took the stage for an electric piano performance of “Great Balls of Fire,” and Franklin Willis, a member of the inaugural class of Music Teachers of Excellence and now Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metro Nashville Public Schools, closed the program with reflections on the legacy of investing in educators before introducing David Phelps, who brought the evening to a close with “Somewhere” from “West Side Story.”
CMA Foundation Board Chairman Jennie Smythe also presented the CMA Foundation’s inaugural Music Education Impact Award to industry leader and longtime Foundation champion Joe Galante for his foundational role in the organization and his lasting impact on music education.
The CMA Foundation welcomed 83 Music Teachers of Excellence alumni back to Nashville for the first-ever alumni gathering and launched an official alumni network designed to keep past honorees connected to one another and to the program. The network will provide opportunities for alumni to stay engaged, share experiences, and continue building connections with fellow music teachers long after their year of recognition.
“Music teachers give students so much more than the ability to sing or play an instrument. They help them discover their confidence, find a place to belong and imagine possibilities for their future,” says Michelle Kirk, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Wednesday night was a powerful reminder of the impact these teachers have and what we can build when a community comes together to support them. We’re incredibly grateful to the Nashville music community, the artists, partners and supporters who showed up to celebrate our Music Teachers of Excellence and especially to our event committee for helping bring this special evening to life. It was an honor to celebrate 30 extraordinary teachers and the lasting impact they continue to make for their students.”
The 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence Honorees:
Midwest:
David Hutter, Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic:
Kyle Cook, Western Branch Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
Ryan Mack, P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, & Design Technology, Brooklyn, NY
Kevin McDonald, Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA
Alice Tsui, New Bridges Elementary School, Brooklyn, NY
Southeast :
Lucy Alegria, Gallatin High School, Gallatin, TN
Michael Aymett, Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, TN
Trevor Baxter, Centennial High School, Franklin, TN
Melissa Blizzard, Stevens Creek Elementary School, Martinez, GA
Johnny Croft, Cane Ridge High School, Antioch, TN
Julia Culp, Freedom Middle School, Franklin, TN
Elmer Feliciano, McMurray Middle School, Nashville, TN
Aurora Foster, Woodland Middle School, Brentwood, TN
Darlene Grande, Stonewyck Elementary School, Orlando, FL
Sherie Grossman, James Lawson High School, Nashville, TN
Tony Hartman, Scales Elementary School, Murfreesboro, TN
Kinsey Healy, Houston High School, Germantown, TN
Samuel Holmes, Garden Hills Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
Allen Kennedy, Hume-Fogg Academic High School, Nashville, TN
Taylor Kollmeier, Page High School, Franklin, TN
Ashleigh Ledford, Sterling School, Greenville, SC
Ollie Liddell, Memphis Central High School, Memphis, TN
Nathaniel O’Neal, DuPont Hadley Middle School, Old Hickory, TN
Michael Perryman, Ooltewah Elementary School, Ooltewah, TN
Southwest:
Efrain Casillas, Desert Oasis Elementary School and Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ
Corey Graves, Themer Middle School, Forney, TX
West:
Grace Kwon, Stoddard Elementary School, Anaheim, CA
Darlene Machacon, La Quinta High School, Westminster, CA
Henry Miller, Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine, CA
Kimberly Ritzer, Green Valley High School, Henderson, NV
MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)
/by Madison HahnenThis week’s edition of the MusicRow Weekly recaps several notable moves across the country music and live entertainment industries, including leadership changes, new business ventures, management signings and career milestones. Click here to see the full edition.
Dusty Miller has joined Big Loud Records as President of Catalog Acquisitions. Elsewhere, the live entertainment industry gathered in Nashville as IEBA celebrated its 2026 Honors & Awards on Tuesday (Oct. 6) at The Pinnacle Nashville, closing out the organization’s sold-out 56th Annual Conference. Gene Simmons received IEBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for a touring career spanning more than five decades, while Chubby Checker and legendary promoter Gil Cunningham were inducted into the IEBA Hall of Fame. The evening also featured the organization’s annual Industry Awards, which recognize outstanding work across venues, talent buying, agencies, promotion, festivals, fairs and other areas of the live business.
The Country Music Association has also announced several promotions across its teams and departments. Michelle Kirk has been promoted to Executive Director of the CMA Foundation, while Sydnie Hickey has been elevated to Director of Lifecycle Marketing and Reuben Schwartz to Director of Business Intelligence. Ansley Carlson has been promoted to Account Executive, Brand Partnerships and Katie Karl has moved up to Senior Manager, Ticketing.
In the management space, Halie Hampton Mosley has joined Breit Group as Chief Operating Officer. Meanwhile, Floating Leaf Entertainment, founded by Jeb Hurt, has joined Red Light Management, bringing its roster, which includes Koe Wetzel, Kolby Cooper, Fox & Vead and others, to the company. DEK Of Hearts has also signed with Red Light Management, while Ashley Cooke has inked a management deal with The Familie.
Several companies are continuing to expand their teams. River House Artists has announced additions and promotions across its publishing, records and recently launched The House management divisions. Alyssa Lawson joins as Manager of Digital Marketing & Artist Development, while TC Courtney has been named Director of A&R. Sydney Riley has been promoted to Manager, Creative Services, and Lyndsay Kash has moved to the publishing division as Publishing Coordinator. JJ Garcia joins as Digital & Artist Development Coordinator, with Ian Camaione coming aboard as Management and A&R Coordinator. Kyle Adams has moved into a full-time Graphic Designer role, while Taylor Robinson joins as Office Manager/Executive Assistant.
New ventures are also taking shape across the artist and label landscape. Thomas Rhett and Blue Highway Records have launched Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records, while HARDY has launched mockingbird RECORDS, a country sister label to his previously announced rock imprint, CROW RECORDS, under Big Loud Records. Triplet brother trio TRIPPP serves as the new label’s flagship signing. Lee Thomas Miller has also signed with Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Perfect Game Creative.
The week also brings a notable retirement announcement, as longtime writer, editor and curator Michael McCall prepares to retire from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. On the artist front, Wade Forster recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Riley Green takes the No. 1 spot with “Think As You Drunk.” Explore more chart data here.
The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.