Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Visit Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital In Nashville

Country superstar Keith Urban and his wife, award-winning actress Nicole Kidman, recently made a visit to the Seacrest Studios at Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital.

The pair spent the day performing songs, playing games, and spending time with the hospital’s young patients.

Urban will continue on his “The Speed Of Now World Tour” this weekend with stops in Detroit (Aug. 26), Indianapolis (Aug. 27) and Milwaukee (Aug. 28). For a full list of dates spanning through February of 2023, click here.

 

Runaway June To Perform At The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert

Pedigree Foundation is set to host The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert featuring a performance from all-female country trio Runaway June on Oct. 5 at The Factory at Franklin.

The event, hosted by SiriusXM’s Storme Warren and Larissa Wohl (Great American Media & WKRN News 2), will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, and a silent and live auction with a chance to win trips and autographed celebrity memorabilia.

Runaway June is comprised of Stevie Woodward (lead vocals/guitar/harmonica/ piano), Natalie Stovall (vocals/fiddle/guitar) and Jennifer Wayne (vocals/guitar), and has been named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country.

The event will raise funds for the Pedigree Foundation grant program that supports organizations across the country, with the goal to support shelters and rescue organizations that are focused on supporting fostering, matching, behavior and transport programs, as well as disaster relief. In 2021, Pedigree Foundation awarded more than $760,000 in grants, helping nearly 118,000 dogs find their forever homes.

“Shelters and rescues across the country are facing unprecedented capacity issues with over 350,000 pets currently waiting for their forever homes,” notes Kimberly Wise, President of Pedigree Foundation. “Fundraising events like The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert help us increase our grant funding to support these organizations, making a difference in the lives of dogs and making steps toward our ambition to end pet homelessness.”

 

Marvin Sapp Celebrates Release Of Documentary With Screening & Fireside Chat

A screening and fireside chat was held at the National Museum of African American Music last week (Aug. 18) to celebrate Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story.

The movie tells the story of Sapp’s upbringing, his battles with alcohol abuse, his rise in the music industry, and more. An award-winning gospel singer, he recorded with the group Commissioned in the 90s before embarking on his solo career.

During the celebration, Sapp was also honored with a Pandora Billionaire plaque for earning over one billion streams on the platform.

 

Taylor Davis Inks With Porchlight Music, Doosey Co.

Porchlight Music and Paul Brown’s Doosey Co. LLC have signed songwriter Taylor Davis.

A native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Davis had aspirations of playing college football before injuries changed his course. He made the move to Nashville to pursue his musical dreams at 18 years old. He was previously signed at Magic Mustang Music and BMG.

Davis has had cuts by Big & Rich, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Nate Barnes, and Tom O’Connor.

 

Radiate Music Adds Justin Warren To Roster

Radiate Music has signed Raleigh-based singer-songwriter and worship leader Justin Warren. He will release his debut single on the label next month.

Warren has shared stages across the country with artists such as Mercy Me, Sanctus Real, Building 429, Natalie Grant and more. Beginning Sept. 9, he embarks on the “Bigger Story Tour” with Red Street Records artist Cade Thompson.

“Spend five minutes with Justin and you’ll know why we had to add him to the Radiate roster,” says Ian Eskelin, Radiate Music founder and Grammy-nominated, two-time Dove Award-winning Producer of the Year. “He has a magnetic personality and a true heart for spreading the gospel. I can’t wait for you to hear his new music!”

“I am so thankful to be a part of the Radiate family!” Warren adds. “The opportunity to work alongside Ian is an honor and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

The Americana Association has revealed this year’s slate of Lifetime Achievement Award honorees for its 21st Annual Americana Honors & Awards show, taking place on Sept. 14 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Recipients of this year’s awards include the Fairfield Four, Al Bell, Chris Isaak, Indigo Girls, and Don Williams.

“This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees represent the diverse sounds that contribute to American roots music,” notes Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “Our honorees have inspired this community individually and have collectively changed the landscape of the music industry. I can’t wait for this show!”

The Legacy of Americana Award will be presented to the Fairfield Four, a legendary group who transformed gospel music from the 1930s onward with its R&B influenced a cappella singing. Launched at the Fairfield Baptist Church 101 years ago as a youth group, the Fairfield Four went national after Rev. Sam McCrary took over as leader in the 1930s.

Isaak will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance. He took rockabilly revival and country noir mainstream in the 1990s with songs such as “Wicked Game,” “Somebody’s Crying” and “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing.” An accomplished actor, Isaak also appeared in productions directed by Dustin Lynch and Bernardo Bertolucci, as well as two TV series under his own name.

The Spirit of Americana Award will be presented to the Indigo Girls who launched in the mid 1980s. Comprised of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray, the lifelong friends honed their artistry in school before their first album was picked up by Epic Records. As their music career soared, they kept social issues in the spotlight, chiefly LGBTQ rights, the death penalty and the environment.

Bell, an African American music executive who steered Stax Records in Memphis before running Motown Records in the 1980s, will receive the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive. In 1965, he joined Stax as head of promotions and would go on to own the company, in the meantime overseeing 1972’s legendary Wattstax festival and elevating the careers of Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers.

The President’s Award will go to the late Don Williams, a Texas-born singer-songwriter who quietly stormed the country charts from 1974-1991. His breakout came with the Pozo-Seco Singers folk group, and he was ushered into Nashville by Cowboy Jack Clement. Williams’ style and relatable hits, including “You’re My Best Friend” and “I Believe In You,” helped him become a global star who entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

Girls of Nashville made its return to City Winery Nashville last week (Aug. 15) with a sold-out crowd. This year’s show benefited Home Street Home Ministries, the largest in-the-field homeless outreach organization in the Greater Davidson County area.

Hosts Heather Morgan and Mags Duval were joined by their first ever guest host, singer-songwriter Nicolle Galyon. The evening’s lineup included Abbey Cone, Lauren Hungate, Madison Kozak, Meg McRee, Caroline Watkins, Lauren Watkins and Joy Williams, accompanied by the house band led by Annie Clements.

“The Girls of Nashville x Songs & Daughters show had so many moments that seemed to stop time,” Morgan shares. “From Lauren Watkins singing ‘Camel Blues,’ to Joy Willams filling City Winery with her soaring voice and Nicolle Galyon sharing songs from her debut album to an audience singing every word with her; the night was total magic.”

Girls of Nashville seeks to give a platform for the female voices in Nashville. Past performers at the event include Kacey Musgraves, Hillary Lindsay, Liz Rose, Maren Morris, Lainey Wilson, Danielle Bradbery and more.

Luke Bryan and AGCO Corporation, a leader in agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, are rolling out Fendt & Luke Bryan’s Boldly Grown Popcorn. The limited-edition snack, made with the help of a few farmer friends from Merritt Pop Co., will be available beginning Aug. 25.

Available in Bold Butter and Chart Toppin’ Churro flavors, Boldly Grown Popcorn will be available for sale exclusively on BoldlyGrownGoods.com while supplies last. Fendt will donate $25,000 from the popcorn sales to the National FFA Organization, which prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture.

Fendt is an official sponsor of Luke Bryan’s annual “Farm Tour” and, in 2021, Fendt and Bryan produced “Rise Before Sunrise,” a digital video series featuring more than 20 mini-episodes that provided a glimpse into Bryan’s mind while he plowed his Tennessee farm field using his Fendt 724 Vario tractor.

“AGCO’s relationship with Luke Bryan and his Farm Tour really highlights the passion we share for putting farmers first,” notes Eric Hansotia, AGCO Chairman, President, and CEO. “AGCO is a strong supporter of FFA’s educational mission, and many of our employees–including myself–grew up in the organization. This is a fun opportunity for AGCO, Luke, and his fans to help FFA prepare tomorrow’s farming leaders.”

“I’ve sung about farming my entire career, so having the chance to work with Fendt to grow my favorite snack for my fans is pretty special,” Bryan adds. “The strength, agility, precision, reliability, function, and comfort of my Fendt 724 Vario gives me the same confidence in the cab that I feel when I’m performing on the biggest stages. Hands down, it’s the perfect tractor for the job.”