Craig Morgan Reveals Details For ‘God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition)’ Album

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Craig Morgan. Photo: Nate Griffin

Craig Morgan is releasing his new God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) album on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11.

The project, coinciding with his headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, features 14 tracks including “How You Make A Man,” Morgan’s newest single and one of four previously unreleased songs.

Written by Michael August, Megan Conner and Skip Black, and produced by Phil O’Donnell, “How You Make A Man,” delivers hard-hitting lyrics and leans on wisdom gained through life’s triumphs and tribulations.

In support of the album, Morgan will launch his headlining Operation Finally Home Welcomes “God, Family, Country Tour 2022” this fall, playing eleven dates in October and November.

God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition) Track List:
1. “The Father, My Son, and The Holy Ghost” (Craig Morgan)
2. “Soldier” (Gavin DeGraw)
3. “Going Out Like This” (Craig Morgan, Michael Rogers, Korey Hunt, Sam Banks)
4. “Whiskey” (Anthony Smith, Sarah Beth Terry)
5. “Sippin’ on The Simple Life” (Craig Morgan, Michael Rogers, Justin Wright, Andrew Yacovone)
6. “God, Family and Country” (Craig Morgan, Craig Morris, Lance McDaniel)
7. “That’s What I Love About Sunday” (Adam Dorsey, Mark Narmore)
8. “My Kind of Woman” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Jason Sellers)
9. “Almost Home” (Craig Morgan, Kerry Kurt Phillips)
10. “Lotta Man (In That Little Boy)” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell, Tim Owens)
11. *“Sounds Like Home” (Craig Morgan, Wade Kirby, Styles Haury, Phil O’Donnell)
12. *“Ask Him” (Craig Morgan, Sam Banks, Wil Nance, Andy Austin)
13. *“How You Make A Man” (Megan Conner, Skip Black, Michael Walton)
14. *“I May Drink A Little” (Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell)
Tracks 1 & 3 Produced by Craig Morgan
Tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14 Produced by Craig Morgan & Phil O’Donnell
Track 9 Executive Produced by Blake Mevis
Track 6 Produced by Craig Morgan & D. Scott Miller
Track 8 Produced by Craig Morgan, Phil O’Donnell & Keith Stegall
*previously unreleased songs

Jared Scott Signs With SmackSongs

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Jared Scott with the SmackSongs team. Photo: Molly Bouchon

Jared Scott has signed a worldwide publishing deal with SmackSongs.

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Scott moved to Nashville shortly after high school and quickly signed to Plaid Flag Music as a songwriter, where he garnered cuts with Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi, Breland, Tiera Kennedy and Caylee Hammack.

“It was only a few months ago I first met Jared, but it was immediately apparent how passionate and gifted he is as a songwriter,” notes Jeremy Groves, Creative Director at Smack. “We are honored to represent him as his publisher and can’t wait to watch him continue to have success!”

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Smack family. To have champions like Jeremy Groves & the Smack team behind me is a songwriter’s dream,” says Scott. “I’m really looking forward to this next chapter and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”

Scott joins a roster of over 20 staff writers at SmackSongs, including multi-Grammy award-winners Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, who have written more than 50 No. 1 hits.

Tune In To Learn The 2022 MusicRow Awards Winners Tomorrow

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MusicRow will reveal the industry-voted winners of the 34th annual MusicRow Awards in a series of videos on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, starting at 9:00 a.m. TOMORROW (Aug. 30).

The Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards will also be announced on Aug. 30, recognizing the industry’s most in-demand studio players for Bass, Drums, Engineer, Fiddle, Guitar, Keyboards, Steel, and Vocals.

MusicRow Awards Schedule of Announcements:
9:00 a.m.: Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards
9:30 a.m.: Producer of the Year
10:00 a.m.: Label Group of the Year
10:30 a.m.: Agency of the Year
11:00 a.m.: Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
11:30 a.m.: Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year
12:00 p.m.: Male Songwriter of the Year
12:30 p.m.: Female Songwriter of the Year
1:00 p.m.: Song of the Year
1:30 p.m.: Discovery Artist of the Year
2:00 p.m.: Breakthrough Artist of the Year
2:30 p.m.: Artist of the Year

Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to read about the nominees up for each category. The nominees are also profiled in the recently released MusicRow Awards print issue.

‘Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon’ To Make Theater Debut In December

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Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon will be shown in theaters for a limited run from Dec. 5-7. Tickets for the screenings are on sale now.

Presented by Fathom Events, Kingdom Story Company, WTA Media, and Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, the documentary was created from over 100 tapes that have never been heard outside of the Cash family. Originally recorded for Cash’s autobiography, the tapes were provided with the blessings and involvement from John Carter Cash, the only child of Cash and June Carter Cash, and his sister Joanne Cash.

“I think of all the documentaries made about my dad, he’d be most excited about this one,” says John Carter Cash.

The film recounts a critical period in Cash’s life and career during the time of his most famous album Man In Black, while the legend was stuck in a cycle of depression and drug addiction. The road to redemption for the icon and his return to an unshakeable faith that would influence some of his most famous songs like “The Man Comes Around,” are the core focus of the film.

The film also features guest appearances by John Carter Cash, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, Jimmie Allen, Alice Cooper, Franklin Graham, Joanne Cash Yates, Greg Laurie, and many others.

”Johnny Cash is an American icon who undoubtedly shaped the musical landscape. Behind the fame is the true story of a man who was haunted by his own inner demons, and through facing them, ultimately found an unshakable faith in God,” notes producer Jon Erwin. “At Kingdom Story Company, we strive to bring inspiring true stories to screen. Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon is one such story. We’re excited to share it with you in theaters this December.”

“Here’s the great contradiction–who could be friends with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Billy Graham all at the same time? The answer, Johnny Cash,” explains Laurie, who is also the author of a recent spiritual biography of Johnny Cash, and released Steve McQueen: American Icon in 2017. “He was a contradiction at times, but he had a deep faith that he always returned to.”

Industry Ink: Garth Brooks, Lauren Alaina, Frank Ray, ELLA Program

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Garth Brooks Adds Two Thunder Ridge Dates In Honor Of Bass Pro’s 50th Anniversary

Garth Brooks. Photo: Becky Fluke

Bass Pro Shop will ring in its 50th anniversary with three shows from Garth Brooks.

Originally slated for one night, the country superstar will now take over Sept. 30, Oct. 1, and Oct. 2 at the newly expanded Thunder Ridge Nature Arena at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks of Missouri.

“This was for Ben Farrell, he was with us this morning,” Brooks shares after news broke earlier this week that his longtime tour promoter had passed. “I couldn’t be happier for Johhny Morris [CEO of Bass Pro Shops], his story is truly the American tale. I love him.”

 

Lauren Alaina, Maurices Partner For Fall & Holiday T-Shirt Collections

Lauren Alaina. Photo: Robby Klein

Maurices has partnered with its first-ever celebrity brand ambassador, Lauren Alaina, for an exclusive t-shirt collection. The collection is available for purchase now across its stores and online.

A multi-Platinum-selling entertainer, Alaina co-designed the collection which will feature styles for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons. The fall collection will include shirts donning puns and lyrics made famous by Alaina, while two additional tees will be made available for the holiday season.

“Lauren has been a great partner and brand ambassador, and we had a lot of fun collaborating on this t-shirt collection,” notes Laura Sieger, Chief Marketing Officer. “She had a lot of great ideas and we brought forth consumer insight to guide our final designs. We are excited to see the response from her biggest fans and our loyal customers.”

“I am a good pair of jeans and t-shirt type of southern girl at heart,” Alaina adds. “I love casual comfort with a fashionable twist, which is why I’m so excited to launch my first-ever exclusive t-shirt collection with Maurices for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons! This collaboration with Maurices has allowed me to express myself in a whole new way for my fans. The designs are a true reflection of my personality and love of sassy puns. Make sure to shop the collection just in time for fall!”

 

Frank Ray Gives Back In New Mexico & Texas Communities Following His Album Release

Frank Ray visits O’Shea Elementary School in El Paso, Texas.

Following the release of his label debut Getcha Some, BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records’ Frank Ray was off visiting police departments and schools throughout New Mexico and Texas last week. Along the way, he donated school supplies and Bose S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth speaker systems in partnership with Bose.

Visiting Picacho Middle School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Columbus Elementary School in Columbus, New Mexico and O’Shea Elementary School in El Paso, Texas, Ray gave special acoustic performances and shared his journey of growing up in New Mexico, becoming a police officer for ten years, and eventually following his dream of becoming a country music artist.

Ray also visited the Las Cruces Police Department, where he was an officer prior to turning in his badge for his guitar.

 

ELLA Celebrates Inaugural Songwriting Class

Pictured (L-R): Brenda Coulter (TLACC Board Member, Songwriter), Diane Janbakhsh (Owner, Plaza Mariachi, Founder and Exec Dir. Hispanic Family Foundation), songwriters Marta Albarracin, Pat Alger, Marcela Pinilla Eicher, Rosa Rodriguez and Rachel Rodriguez. Not pictured, Jessie Garcia Knowles, Executive Director, TLACC and ELLA. Photo: Jackie Marushka, TLACC Board Member

Entrepreneur Latina Leaders of America (ELLA), the Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce’s partner program, celebrated its inaugural Songwriting Class this week with a gathering at Plaza Mariachi.

Pat Alger, an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, NSAI Songwriter of the Year and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member (“Unanswered Prayers,” “Small Town Saturday Night”) began mentoring five Latina singer-songwriters last August.

“It started when my friend Jimmy Wayne recommended I participate in a songwriting session. Once we began, we just kept going. Over the past 12 months, I’ve grown to consider these creative ladies not only incredible talents, but also, friends,” Alger explains.

Jessie Garcia Knowles, ELLA’s Executive Director, shares, “When our TLACC board member Jackie Marushka came to me with this idea, I knew it had to be part of our ELLA program. ELLA invests in Latina entrepreneurs and we hadn’t ever approached supporting our artist community with a class directed toward music or songwriting. Jackie connected the dots, via Jimmy Wayne, to Pat Alger, and what we thought would be a one-hour mentoring session turned into a year of master classes with Pat. We are incredibly grateful to him for investing in our songwriters, our community with such a gracious heart. We love you, Pat!”

Lone Star Mainstay Pat Green Returns With ‘Miles And Miles Of You’

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Pat Green. Photo: Jimmy Burch

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Pat Green has released his first new album since 2015, Miles And Miles Of You, available everywhere now.

Produced by Dwight A. Baker, the 10 new tracks mix Green’s poetic flair with organic instrumentation as he explores life, love and beyond. The album includes the tribute to long-lasting love, “Steady,” the romantic “Build You A Bar,” “All In This Together” (featuring Abby Anderson), and the project’s expansive title track. Green dropped “If It Don’t Have A Honky Tonk” in July, which is already in the top 30 at Texas Regional Radio and climbing.

Along with the new project, the native Texan has unveiled his mini-doc series, The Miles and Miles of Pat Green. Taking viewers on a journey through his Lone Star home state, Green shares the stories, people, and music that made him. The full mini-doc is available to watch now.

YouTube video

Drew Baldridge’s New Album ‘Country Born’ On Deck For September

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Photo Credit: Russ Harrington

Drew Baldridge is gearing up for the upcoming release of his sophomore album, Country Born, on Sept. 30.

Releasing on Patoka Records in partnership with Riser House, Country Born features nine new tracks in addition to his summer release “Little Bit” and a special reimagined version of his viral hit “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.”

“First,” a brand-new track from the project written by Baldridge with Lydia Vaughan and Jordan Dozzi, is available now. The inspiration for “First” came out of a conversation that Drew had with his wife, Katie, where he expressed his hope that he goes first because he doesn’t want to live life without her.

“I am so excited to pay homage to my small-town roots through Country Born,” shares Baldridge. “This collection of songs encapsulates who I am and how my upbringing shaped me into the person I am today.”

With over 130 million total catalog streams, Baldridge has carved his own independent path. Prior to “Little Bit,” he released six songs in the last 18 months, all of which he co-wrote. His viral hit “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” has amassed over 235 million TikTok impressions and has been streamed over 60 million times.

The new album announcement comes as Baldridge gears up for his “The BIG Baldridge and Bonfire Music Festival” in his hometown of Patoka, Illinois on Oct. 1. The one-day only outdoor festival is the culmination of over 200 “Baldridge and Bonfires Tour” stops over the last two years. He will headline this special event and perform never-before-heard tunes as well as fan-favorites along with other acts on the lineup including Craig Campbell, Dylan Wolfe, Murphy 500 and Katie Hatch.

Country Born Track Listing:
1. Imma (•*Drew Baldridge, Trannie Anderson, Paul Sikes)
2. Mom and Them (*Josh Thompson, Jameson Rodgers, Will Bundy)
3. Lost in Love (featuring Harper Grace) (+*Drew Baldridge, Harper Grace, Kyle Schlienger)
4. Legacy (*Drew Baldridge, Jeb Gipson)
5. She Does (^*Drew Baldridge, Andy Sheridan, Josh London)
6. Country Born (^*Drew Baldridge, Andy Sheridan, Josh London)
7. First (*Drew Baldridge, Lydia Vaughan, Jordan Dozzi)
8. Dudn’t It (:*Drew Baldridge, Allison Veltz, Seth Mosley)
9. It Ain’t Up To Me (*Adam James, Jordan Dozzi, Jimi Bell)
10. Little Bit (=*Drew Baldridge, Matt McKinney, Andy Sheridan, Ben Williams)
11. She’s Somebody’s Daughter (reimagined) (*Drew Baldridge, Cameron Jaymes, Jimmy Yeary)

*songwriting credits
produced by Nick Schwarz
^produced by Andy Sheridan
•produced by Paul Sikes
:produced by Seth Mosley
+produced by Kyle Schlienger
= produced by Chris DeStefano

Steve Wariner & David Malloy Earn BMI Million-Air Awards

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Pictured (L-R, top row): BMI’s Shannon Sanders and Michael Collins; (L-R, middle row): BMI’s LuAnn Davidson, Leslie Roberts and Josh Tomlinson with Sam Severs and Ryan Wariner; (L-R, bottom row): Kathy Anderson, Melody Malloy, David Malloy, BMI’s Clay Bradley and Nancy Moore, Steve Wariner, BMI’s Mason Hunter and Matilda Severs and Caryn Wariner

Earlier this week, BMI celebrated legendary songwriters and soon-to-be-inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Steve Wariner and David Malloy.

The PRO presented the two tunesmiths with its signature Million-Air awards, which commemorate songs reaching one million plays. Collectively, Wariner and Malloy total more than 43 million broadcast performances.

Malloy’s songs that received awards included: “Love Will Turn You Around” (3 million), “Drivin’ My Life Away” (5 million), “Gone Too Far” (1 million), “You Can’t Run From Love” (2 million), “Real Love” (1 million), “I Love A Rainy Night” (6 million), “Suspicions” (3 million), “Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight” (2 million), and “Step By Step” (3 million).

Wariner’s songs that received awards included: “Been There” (1 million), “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven” (2 million), “I Got Dreams” (2 million), “I’m Already Taken” (1 million), “I Should Be With You” (1 million), “Longneck Bottle” (1 million), “Nothin’ But The Taillights” (4 million), “Two Teardrops” (1 million), “Where Did I Go Wrong” (1 million), “Where The Blacktop Ends” (2 million), and “You Can Dream Of Me” (1 million).

Chart Action: Blake Shelton Impacts Country Radio

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Blake Shelton‘s latest release, “No Body,” impacts country radio this week, raking in 176 new station adds across the Billboard, Mediabase and MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio charts. He debuts at No. 25, No. 33 and No. 49, respectively.

“I get excited and feel like a kid every time we release new music,” Shelton notes. “But this song in particular takes me back to the ‘90s when I was in high school and first moved to Nashville, because it feels like what the music sounded like at that time.”

Written by Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear, the tune tells the story of a guy who doesn’t want to be with “No Body” but the person he’s with. “The hook confused me the first time I heard it–I’m hoping it’s the same way for everyone else so they have to listen to it a bunch of times to figure it out!” laughs Shelton.

YouTube video

Shelton, who is celebrating his 12th year as a Grand Ole Opry member, will also return to the Opry stage on Saturday, Sept. 10.

For more chart data, click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.

In This Issue: MusicRow Awards Issue Features ’90s Country, Post-Pandemic Anxiety, More

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MusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, released its 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue earlier this week with Capitol Records Nashville’s Jon Pardi gracing the cover.

The print magazine highlights this year’s MusicRow Awards nominees in a range of categories. Presented by City National Bank, the winners for the 34th annual MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. This print issue also honors the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards, which will also be announced on Aug. 30, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums Chart during the eligibility period.

The 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue also includes a look at the resurgence of popularity for ’90s country, tapping industry veterans Cris Lacy and Kerri Edwards to analyze this trend.

“It’s the cycle of music,” Lacy tells MusicRow regarding the surge of popularity for ’90s country. “It’s the music that millennials and Gen Z heard their parents listening to. I lean into things that my folks listened to when I was a kid, so I think that’s a piece of it.”

She adds, “I also think ’90s music was really fun. If you look at The Chicks, Faith Hill, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Joe Diffie and Shania Twain, there was a lot of fun music. It was positive and uplifting. There were certainly meaningful songs, but there were also songs that felt light and carefree. I think we all need that right now. Those two things are converging—the state of the world for the last couple years and the age of younger listeners and what they grew up on.”

Also featured in the 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue is a deep dive into the recent changing of the guard in Music City’s major label publicity departments, as Meg Kehoe takes over for Allen Brown at Sony Music Nashville and Fount Lynch assumes Wes Vause’s former position at Warner Music Nashville. Both Kehoe and Lynch detail their career journeys to this point and discuss their goals for their new positions.

Elsewhere, MusicRow hears from Onsite Entertainment’s Debbie Carroll to discuss the mental and emotional health challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic, and how we as an industry can move on. Onsite is an international leader in the emotional and mental wellness space. This spring the organization launched Onsite Entertainment, an innovative new division explicitly curated to meet the growing needs of the entertainment industry, tapping Carroll to lead the division.

“The pandemic has taken a toll on all of our mental health, so it’s important for everybody to acknowledge that and to normalize it a little,” Carroll shares.

The 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue also features a discussion on the ins and outs of the life of a business manager with FBMM’s Duane Clark. As President & COO of FBMM’s Nashville firm, Clark’s roster of clients includes top recording and touring artists.

In the article, Clark tells MusicRow how he got his start, details his journey with FBMM, and speaks about his philanthropy efforts that recently secured him an ACM Award.

He shares, “It’s a blessing to get to wake up every morning and do what you really are passionate about. I can come in and do what I really love doing and hopefully help guide some folks to their dreams.”

Also included in the 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue is an informative roundup of all the awards applicable to the Nashville music industry.

Single copies of the 2022 MusicRow Awards print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $20, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.