Missi Gallimore
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Nashville music executive Missi Gallimore is a triple threat in the country music scene. Over the past 20 years, she has built a reputation as a highly-respected publisher and A&R executive responsible for pairing Tim McGraw with over 29 No. 1 hits, including “I Like It, I Love It” and “Live Like You Were Dying.” She was behind Faith Hill recording “This Kiss” and “Breathe,” and she introduced Keith Urban to the 5x Platinum-selling “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Now, her newly-launched Truth Management is shepherding the careers of hot newcomers Sam Williams, grandson of Hank Williams Sr. and son of Hank Jr., in addition to Shy Carter, noted singer-songwriter Abbey Cone, and sibling trio Track45. Gallimore is the sole owner of two publishing companies, Amped Entertainment and Truth or Dare, both of which are joint ventures with Kobalt Music Publishing and Warner Chappell, respectively.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I actually grew up in Nashville. I moved here when I was 10 years old, so Nashville is home for me.
Charley Pride, Missi Gallimore
Did you always want to work in the music business? How did you get into it?
Heavens no. When I started the business, I knew nothing about country music. Never even listened to country music. I had just graduated college at MTSU and was looking for a job, still living with my parents. I had applied for a receptionist position at a law firm. I didn’t get the job, but they liked me enough to pass on my resume to a record producer in town at the time by the name of Billy Sherrill. I had no idea who Billy Sherrill was, but I got a call from his assistant one day and they wanted me to come interview with him.
I go to the interview around six o’clock at night on 16th Avenue in an old house. I walk in and I’m thinking, “Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?” I walk up the steps of this old house where Billy’s studio was and he offers me champagne. He plays me a song that he had just cut—I think it might have been David Allan Coe—and he’s like, “What do you think about this song?” I say, “Well, I don’t really like it. I’ve never really listened to country music, so I can’t relate to it.” He was like, “You’re hired!” (Laughs) I guess he liked that I was honest and truthful.
I [ended up being] his face at CBS Records at the time, because he never came in but he wanted somebody there to take calls and represent Billy at the label. So I was at the label representing him for a couple of years, and then he left CBS and went and did his own thing. Then he retired and completely quit doing records. I learned so much from Billy.
What was next for you?
I left there and started working for Charley Pride, just as a catchall for anything at his publishing company. I started out doing administrative type stuff and then worked my way up to pitching songs. That’s where I met my husband, Byron Gallimore, who was producing but didn’t have any big acts at the time. He started producing Tim McGraw and then he got very, very busy. One day Byron was like, “I’m too busy to go look for songs. Can you start looking for songs for Tim?” That was my intro into the A&R world.
Missi Gallimore (second from right) backstage at the CMA Awards
You found some really big songs for Tim McGraw, as well as other artists. Tell me about finding some of those songs.
For “Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim was pretty much done with his album. I can remember exactly where I was when I got the call from Chris Oglesby from BMG. He said, “Hey, I just heard this song at the studio. Craig Wiseman is at the studio now they just recorded it. You really need to get over here and listen to this song. It’s a great song.” I was getting on the interstate at Demonbreun, and Craig Wiseman was recording at County Q—a studio in Berry Hill. I turned my car around and got my booty over to County Q. I walked in, heard the song, and put it on hold for Tim immediately. Back in the day, it was very competitive for whoever got the first hold on the song. It was always a battle. I left the studio with the song, sent the song to Tim, he called me immediately and said “I’m cutting this.” We go in, we cut it, and there it is… A big, huge song.
I’ve worked with Keith Urban on his last three or four albums. I came in late in the process [when he was working on his Ripcord album]. He had pretty much already finished the album. He brought me on and I’m thinking, “Oh goodness, how am I going to find songs for him now? He’s pretty much done.” It was a snow day and Nate Lowery from Brett James‘ company, Cornman Music, pitched me a link. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was on the link. I remember sitting at my computer on this snow day, kids running around everywhere, listening to the link of songs and that one just stuck out. I put it on hold, pitched to Keith and it did what it did.
Byron Gallimore, Missi Gallimore, Keith Urban
What got you into management?
I’ve been doing A&R for so long. It’s still a passion for me—I still get excited when I hear a great song. I still wanted to do that, but I just felt like I needed to do something different. I has been working with Shy Carter for a long time. Shy had been coming to town and pitching me songs. I knew he was an artist and I knew he was somebody that I really, really believed in as an artist. I loved his songs, I had gotten so many of his songs cut. So I went to Shy one day and said, “Hey, you need to move to Nashville. You need to plant roots here. You’re having all your success in the country market as a songwriter. You’re an artist. Let’s focus on you writing for you as an artist. Let me manage you.” That’s how all that started
Now I have four acts that all got record deals at the same time, during COVID. Sam Williams came to me four years ago. He was writing poems but he wanted to be a songwriter. There was something in those poems that was so raw and so real, and I loved his voice. There’s something that I really love about taking an artist like Sam, Shy, Track45 or Abbey Cone and developing them and seeing it through all the way to them getting a record deal.
You also operate two publishing companies.
I have Truth or Dare Publishing, which is co-venture with Warner Chappell. Sam Williams signed to that, as well as Ben Roberts of Carolina Story and Mary Gauthier. I have another company called Amped Entertainment with writers Tommy Cecil and KK Johnson, the lead singer of Track45.
Who have been some of your mentors?
Charley Pride. I will get teary-eyed talking about him. He and Rozene were the most humble and encouraging people. They let you be you as far as work and freedom. They taught me the publishing ropes; they were very influential in my coming up in the music industry. They were just amazing people.
What’s some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Stay passionate with what you do. Never lose that spark. Never lose that passion. It’s hard to sometimes because you work in the industry for so long that you get jaded, but never lose your passion.
Ingrid Andress’ Sophomore Effort, ‘Good Person,’ Set For Release This August
/by Lydia FarthingIngrid Andress. Photo: Olivia Bee
Ingrid Andress‘ sophomore album, Good Person, will be released on Aug. 26 via Warner Music Nashville / Atlantic Records. As a preview of the music to come, she has released a special track from the project, “Pain,” which is available now alongside a music video directed by Olivia Bee.
On the new track, Andress speaks to a past version of herself, reminding her that pain is a necessary part of growing. The accompanying music video follows Andress through a period of self-reflection, where she eventually discovers a budding flower, showing that with pain comes new beginnings.
Throughout the record’s 12 tracks, the 3x Grammy nominee returns to her signature brand of reflection and confession, with co-writing and co-producing credits throughout. Good Person will also feature the recently released song “Seeing Someone Else” and titular track “Good Person.”
“Making this album was one of the most painful processes I’ve ever been through, but it was also the brightest and the best,” Andress admits. “The first album was me trying to discover who I was as an artist, but the last two years forced me to really sink into what my reality was and what I was feeling. It led me to what this album is, which is me realizing I wasn’t happy and that I needed to fix it.”
She continues, “This album not only helped me grow as a person, but also as a producer. I realized how scared a lot of people are to push boundaries and how I am not, that’s my bread and butter,” she says. “Isn’t that the goal, to discover new things? What are we doing here if we’re not trying to make new art?”
This album follows Andress’ record-breaking debut, Lady Like, named one of Billboard’s Top 10 Best Country Albums of 2020. The LP earned Andress three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Country Album, and Best Country Song for the multi-Platinum No. 1 single “More Hearts Than Mine.”
She is currently in the top 25 at country radio with “Wishful Drinking” featuring Sam Hunt. The fan-favorite track has garnered over 130 million global streams, debuting at No. 8 on Spotify’s all-genre Top 10 USA Song Debuts Chart and remaining within the top 20 on their Hot Country chart since its release.
With nearly a billion global streams, Andress will join Keith Urban for his 52-date North American “The Speed of Now World Tour,” which kicks off this Friday (June 17) in Tampa, Florida.
1. Good Person (Ingrid Andress, Steph Jones, Sam Ellis)*
2. Yearbook (Ingrid Andress, Pete Good, Shane McAnally, Derrick Southerland)*
3. Seeing Someone Else (Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland, Jesse Frasure)*
4. Talk (Ingrid Andress, Alex Stacey, Tommy Gee, David Fremberg, Mich Hansen)*
5. How Honest Do You Want Me to Be? (Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland)*
6. No Choice (Ingrid Andress, AJ Pruis, Liz Rose)**
7. Pain (Ingrid Andress, Laura Veltz, Sam Ellis)*
8. Feel Like This (Ingrid Andress, Julia Michaels, Sam Ellis)*
9. Blue (Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland, Shane McAnally)*
10. Falling For You (Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland, Sam Ellis)*
11. All the Love (Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland, Sam Ellis)*
12. Things That Haven’t Happened Yet (Ingrid Andress, Derrick Southerland, Sam Ellis)
*Produced by: Ingrid Andress & Sam Ellis
**Produced by: Ingrid Andress & AJ Pruis
Endurance Music Group Expands Staff With Two New Additions
/by Lorie HollabaughTony Lemonis & Alannah Schwartz
Endurance Music Group has expanded its creative team and its administration division with two new staffers, Tony Lemonis and Alannah Schwartz.
As a Senior Data Analyst, Lemonis will play a critical role in royalty and catalog data analysis and management, and will also assist with new acquisitions.
Lemonis comes to Endurance with nearly a decade of experience in research and data analysis and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social science. He has an extensive background in both the finance and media industries, and has contributed analyses to top podcasts, radio programming, bestselling books, and award-winning documentaries.
“Tony’s unique skill set is exactly what we need to leverage the ever-increasing volume of data generated by our growing catalog of assets and to make EMG even more competitive in catalog acquisition negotiations,” shares EMG Senior Vice President Mark Ahlberg. “We’re excited to welcome him to the team!”
In her role as a Catalog Manager, Schwartz will work with the EMG creative team to provide administrative assistance, as well as marketing and promotional support for the roster of songwriters and artists.
Schwartz graduated from Belmont University’s Curb College Music Business program this year. She previously worked as Licensing Coordinator at Me Gusta Music, handling both publishing licensing and label administration for a variety of clients. She is an active member of AIMP and SOLID, where she serves on the Ambassadorship Committee.
EMG President Michael Martin adds, “Alannah’s experience in publishing, licensing, and administration will be a great asset to the EMG creative team. Her skills will provide key support to our staff and roster of songwriters, and we look forward to her impact and growth at EMG.”
Live On The Green Returns For Labor Day Weekend
/by Lydia FarthingLive On The Green
Lightning 100, Nashville’s independent radio station, has announced the return of Live On The Green after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Slated for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-5, this year’s event will take place at Nashville’s Public Square Park.
“In 2020, we turned to our Nashville listeners to help Save Our Airwaves,” shares Lester Turner, President of Tuned in Broadcasting, Lightning 100 and the Executive Producer of Live On The Green. “We were humbled by the way the community stepped up to keep the music playing on Nashville’s Independent Radio… Lightning 100 celebrates all things local, delivering on our commitment to serve our community–which includes presenting Live On The Green as a free, multi-day festival again in 2022.”
Among the first acts added to the 2022 lineup are Moon Taxi, The Shindellas and LadyCouch, as announced exclusively on 100.1 FM yesterday (June 15). The full lineup and schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
Live on the Green will continue to be free and open to the public with five-day premium packages available for purchase, including Reserved Seating, Lightning 100 Lounge, or VIP Plaza. These upgrades will be available beginning Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m. CT.
Warner Music Nashville Adds Avery Anna To Artist Roster
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): WMN Co-President Ben Kline, Avery Anna, and WMN Co-President Cris Lacy
As announced during a special CMA Fest performance at Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday (June 11), Warner Music Nashville has added Avery Anna to its artist roster.
As schools turned to virtual learning during the pandemic, Anna began filming videos of herself singing. Two years later, the Arizona native is celebrating her high school graduation with more than 1.5 million followers and 26 million likes on TikTok.
Before her performance on Saturday night, WMN co-presidents Ben Kline and Cris Lacy presented Anna with a YouTube plaque commemorating over 100,000 subscribers. During her set at Ascend, she performed her viral hit “Narcissist,” which is nearing 70 million global streams and has already topped SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown.
“There is a spirit of poetic ease and confidence with which Avery writes, plays, and sings,” shares Lacy. “It belies her age, and you can’t help but be captivated by that much talent and joy coming from the stage.”
Anna will be hitting the road on select tour dates throughout the summer as she prepares to release new music later this year.
Her team includes 33 Creative artist management and WME.
Chris Stapleton’s Career Highlighted In New Country Music Hall Of Fame Exhibit
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Stapleton‘s musical career will be chronicled in a brand new exhibit at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum, “Chris Stapleton: Since 1978,” presented by Ram Trucks.
Stapleton’s 1966 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard electric guitar, used during the recording of his song “Traveller.” This item will be on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s upcoming exhibition on Chris Stapleton, opening on Friday, July 1. Photo: Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Opening July 1 and running through May 14, 2023, the exhibit will shine a spotlight on Stapleton’s multi-faceted career, from his Kentucky roots and success as a Nashville songwriter to his rise to stardom as one of country’s most unique voices.
Items featured in “Chris Stapleton: Since 1978” include Stapleton’s first guitar amplifier; a 1960s Gibson GA-8 Discoverer; the Pendleton flannel jacket, Dee Cee denim western shirt, and Manuel leather vest worn by Stapleton on the album cover of his 2015 album Traveller; and much more.
A powerhouse singer, songwriter and musician, Stapleton has collaborated with artists ranging from Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Bare and Carlos Santana to Justin Timberlake and P!nk. Before his breakout success with his quadruple-Platinum album Traveller, he proved his musical mettle for more than a decade as one of Nashville’s in-demand songwriters.
Gary Allan (“Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey”) and Patty Loveless (“Higher Than the Wall”) were among the first to release songs written by Stapleton in 2003, but he scored his first Billboard No. 1 hit as a songwriter with Josh Turner’s “Your Man” in 2006. As a songwriter, Stapleton has also earned Billboard No. 1s with Kenny Chesney (“Never Wanted Nothing More”), Darius Rucker (“Come Back Song”), Luke Bryan (“Drink a Beer”) and Thomas Rhett (“Crash and Burn”), as well as three of his own recordings.
Chris Stapleton wore this Pendleton flannel jacket, Dee Cee denim western shirt and Manuel leather vest on the album cover of Traveller. This item will be on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s upcoming exhibition on Chris Stapleton, opening on Friday, July 1. Photo: Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
In addition to his own hits, more than 170 of his songs have been recorded by artists, including Alison Krauss and Union Station, George Strait, Sheryl Crow, Lee Ann Womack and more.
“Chris Stapleton is a powerful and emotive singer, a prolific and poetic songwriter and a skilled and expressive guitar player,” shares Kyle Young, CEO for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His rise as a successful artist may have seemed instantaneous to many, but he has been a force in country music for more than 20 years–whether writing hit songs for other country artists or contributing to studio recordings. Throughout it all, he has maintained his own unique perspective by staying true to his authentic self and artistic vision, and he continues to open the door to country music for new fans across generations and genres.”
Jon Pardi Sets Release Date For Upcoming Project ‘Mr. Saturday Night’
/by Lorie HollabaughJon Pardi has announced he’ll release his fourth studio album, Mr. Saturday Night, on Sept. 2 through Capitol Records Nashville. The project’s lead track “Last Night Lonely” has already hit the top 15 at country radio and racked up more than 55 million global streams.
The 14-song collection will also feature latest release, “Fill ‘Er Up,” and 12 additional new tracks. Mr. Saturday Night was produced by Bart Butler, Ryan Gore and Pardi, the same team behind the boards of his third studio release Heartache Medication, nominated for Album of the Year by both the CMA and ACM.
“A lot of time was spent living with the songs on this record,” shares Pardi. “There is more life experience on Mr. Saturday Night than any album I’ve released before. I chose ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ as the title track because it’s special to me. I’ve been hanging onto it for three years and can’t wait for people to hear it, and the rest of these songs.”
Jon Pardi and his Red Light Management team join the UMG Nashville staff for a Mr. Saturday Night listening party ahead of the Sept. 2 album release. Photo: Katie Kauss
Pardi stopped by the UMG Nashville office Tuesday (June 14) to preview the new album for label staff in addition to his team at Red Light Management.
The mutli-Platinum entertainer will bring his hits and brand new music coast to coast on his “Ain’t Always The Cowboy Tour,” kicking off July 14 in Irving, Texas. He’ll hit the stage in major markets along with Lainey Wilson and Hailey Whitters in Las Vegas, Boston, New York and more, wrapping with a show at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Oct. 1.
My Music Row Story: Truth Management’s Missi Gallimore
/by LB CantrellMissi Gallimore
Nashville music executive Missi Gallimore is a triple threat in the country music scene. Over the past 20 years, she has built a reputation as a highly-respected publisher and A&R executive responsible for pairing Tim McGraw with over 29 No. 1 hits, including “I Like It, I Love It” and “Live Like You Were Dying.” She was behind Faith Hill recording “This Kiss” and “Breathe,” and she introduced Keith Urban to the 5x Platinum-selling “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Now, her newly-launched Truth Management is shepherding the careers of hot newcomers Sam Williams, grandson of Hank Williams Sr. and son of Hank Jr., in addition to Shy Carter, noted singer-songwriter Abbey Cone, and sibling trio Track45. Gallimore is the sole owner of two publishing companies, Amped Entertainment and Truth or Dare, both of which are joint ventures with Kobalt Music Publishing and Warner Chappell, respectively.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I actually grew up in Nashville. I moved here when I was 10 years old, so Nashville is home for me.
Charley Pride, Missi Gallimore
Did you always want to work in the music business? How did you get into it?
Heavens no. When I started the business, I knew nothing about country music. Never even listened to country music. I had just graduated college at MTSU and was looking for a job, still living with my parents. I had applied for a receptionist position at a law firm. I didn’t get the job, but they liked me enough to pass on my resume to a record producer in town at the time by the name of Billy Sherrill. I had no idea who Billy Sherrill was, but I got a call from his assistant one day and they wanted me to come interview with him.
I go to the interview around six o’clock at night on 16th Avenue in an old house. I walk in and I’m thinking, “Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?” I walk up the steps of this old house where Billy’s studio was and he offers me champagne. He plays me a song that he had just cut—I think it might have been David Allan Coe—and he’s like, “What do you think about this song?” I say, “Well, I don’t really like it. I’ve never really listened to country music, so I can’t relate to it.” He was like, “You’re hired!” (Laughs) I guess he liked that I was honest and truthful.
I [ended up being] his face at CBS Records at the time, because he never came in but he wanted somebody there to take calls and represent Billy at the label. So I was at the label representing him for a couple of years, and then he left CBS and went and did his own thing. Then he retired and completely quit doing records. I learned so much from Billy.
What was next for you?
I left there and started working for Charley Pride, just as a catchall for anything at his publishing company. I started out doing administrative type stuff and then worked my way up to pitching songs. That’s where I met my husband, Byron Gallimore, who was producing but didn’t have any big acts at the time. He started producing Tim McGraw and then he got very, very busy. One day Byron was like, “I’m too busy to go look for songs. Can you start looking for songs for Tim?” That was my intro into the A&R world.
Missi Gallimore (second from right) backstage at the CMA Awards
You found some really big songs for Tim McGraw, as well as other artists. Tell me about finding some of those songs.
For “Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim was pretty much done with his album. I can remember exactly where I was when I got the call from Chris Oglesby from BMG. He said, “Hey, I just heard this song at the studio. Craig Wiseman is at the studio now they just recorded it. You really need to get over here and listen to this song. It’s a great song.” I was getting on the interstate at Demonbreun, and Craig Wiseman was recording at County Q—a studio in Berry Hill. I turned my car around and got my booty over to County Q. I walked in, heard the song, and put it on hold for Tim immediately. Back in the day, it was very competitive for whoever got the first hold on the song. It was always a battle. I left the studio with the song, sent the song to Tim, he called me immediately and said “I’m cutting this.” We go in, we cut it, and there it is… A big, huge song.
I’ve worked with Keith Urban on his last three or four albums. I came in late in the process [when he was working on his Ripcord album]. He had pretty much already finished the album. He brought me on and I’m thinking, “Oh goodness, how am I going to find songs for him now? He’s pretty much done.” It was a snow day and Nate Lowery from Brett James‘ company, Cornman Music, pitched me a link. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was on the link. I remember sitting at my computer on this snow day, kids running around everywhere, listening to the link of songs and that one just stuck out. I put it on hold, pitched to Keith and it did what it did.
Byron Gallimore, Missi Gallimore, Keith Urban
What got you into management?
I’ve been doing A&R for so long. It’s still a passion for me—I still get excited when I hear a great song. I still wanted to do that, but I just felt like I needed to do something different. I has been working with Shy Carter for a long time. Shy had been coming to town and pitching me songs. I knew he was an artist and I knew he was somebody that I really, really believed in as an artist. I loved his songs, I had gotten so many of his songs cut. So I went to Shy one day and said, “Hey, you need to move to Nashville. You need to plant roots here. You’re having all your success in the country market as a songwriter. You’re an artist. Let’s focus on you writing for you as an artist. Let me manage you.” That’s how all that started
Now I have four acts that all got record deals at the same time, during COVID. Sam Williams came to me four years ago. He was writing poems but he wanted to be a songwriter. There was something in those poems that was so raw and so real, and I loved his voice. There’s something that I really love about taking an artist like Sam, Shy, Track45 or Abbey Cone and developing them and seeing it through all the way to them getting a record deal.
You also operate two publishing companies.
I have Truth or Dare Publishing, which is co-venture with Warner Chappell. Sam Williams signed to that, as well as Ben Roberts of Carolina Story and Mary Gauthier. I have another company called Amped Entertainment with writers Tommy Cecil and KK Johnson, the lead singer of Track45.
Who have been some of your mentors?
Charley Pride. I will get teary-eyed talking about him. He and Rozene were the most humble and encouraging people. They let you be you as far as work and freedom. They taught me the publishing ropes; they were very influential in my coming up in the music industry. They were just amazing people.
What’s some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Stay passionate with what you do. Never lose that spark. Never lose that passion. It’s hard to sometimes because you work in the industry for so long that you get jaded, but never lose your passion.
Brian Kelley Returns To Big Machine Label Group As Solo Artist
/by Lydia FarthingBrian Kelley & Scott Borchetta. Photo: Nick Rau
Diamond-selling singer-songwriter Brian Kelley has returned to BMLG for the release of his future solo projects. Signed to Big Machine Records, Kelley will debut the patriotic “American Spirit” on July 1.
“Everyone at Big Machine gives a giant and warm welcome-back to Brian Kelley,” shares Big Machine Label Group President, CEO, and Founder Scott Borchetta. “Our results together are historic, and we look forward to building on this incredible foundation as BK enters an extremely creative season with us.”
This marks new music for Kelly, who released his debut solo effort Sunshine State of Mind in 2021 via Warner Music Nashville and embarked on his “Made by the Water Tour” after over a decade as one half of Grammy-nominated duo Florida Georgia Line.
Kelley will also take the stage tonight (June 15) during opening night of May We All: A New Country Musical, stepping into the rotating role of “Bailey Stone” at Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. Also serving as a producer under his production company CuzBro Productions, the musical will run through July 17.
“It feels good to be home at Big Machine with Scott Borchetta and the team! Their work ethic, heart, creativity, and commitment to winning is what led me back,” adds Kelley. “We’ve worked so well together on many successful projects in the past, and I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter. I’m grateful for this opportunity and honored to collaborate with Scott again! Off to the races!”
Under BMLG, FGL became the first and only country act to achieve two RIAA Diamond-certified singles with 11x Platinum, No. 1 breakout “Cruise” and 11x Platinum, No. 1 “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha. They tallied 19 career No. 1 singles, 16.1 billion global streams, sold more than 32.9 million tracks and 4.7 million albums worldwide, logged 1.9 billion video views, and played to over 4 million fans spanning massive headline tours. The duo also earned multiple CMA, ACM, and Billboard Music Awards.
Dolly Parton Donates $1 Million To Vanderbilt For Pediatric Infectious Disease Research
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured: Dolly Parton and longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD. Photo: Courtesy of Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton has made another impressive donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), this time donating $1 million to the hospital’s pediatric infectious disease research to help in the fight against infectious diseases, such as the coronavirus.
Ongoing research in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases includes understanding how viruses and bacteria cause disease, understanding and preventing resistance to antibiotics, preventing and treating infections, diagnosing and treating infections in children with cancer, and research to define the impact of childhood infections throughout the world.
“I love all children. No child should ever have to suffer, and I’m willing to do my part to try and keep as many of them as I can as healthy and safe as possible,” Parton explains.
The country legend previously made a $1 million gift to VUMC in April 2020 in honor of her longtime friend, Naji Abumrad, MD, Professor of Surgery, to increase scientific knowledge and advance the battle against COVID-19. VUMC’s researchers have tested an array of already existing drugs in clinical trials aimed at reducing life-threatening symptoms associated with COVID-19 and focused on entirely new therapies that could effectively treat and prevent the infection.
“We are deeply honored by Dolly’s contribution to our research mission,” adds Mark Denison, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. “For over 40 years our division has been a national and international leader in studies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of life-threatening infections, and this gift will accelerate our work and support new ideas.”
Among Parton’s other gifts to VUMC was a transformational contribution to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Pediatric Cancer Program in honor of Abumrad and her niece, Hannah Dennison, who was successfully treated for leukemia as a child at Children’s Hospital.
“Dolly’s previous support to infectious disease research, and also our pediatric cancer program, has already saved countless lives,” says Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “This new gift will bolster our defenses against future threats to the safety of this region and society as a whole. It speaks volumes about her passion for people, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”
Industry Ink: Dustin Lynch, ‘CMT Crossroads,’ Craig Campbell, PLA
/by Lydia FarthingDustin Lynch Joins Pandora’s Billionaire Club
Pictured (L-R): Marian Wolf (VP, Chief of Staff, BMG US), Thomas Coesfeld (CFO, BMG), Jon Loba (President, BMG Nashville) Dustin Lynch, Beville Dunkerley (Head of Country Talent Relations, SiriusXM & Pandora), Thomas Scherer (President Repertoire & Marketing, BMG Los Angeles and New York), Joe Gillen (CFO, BMG North America). Photo: Cooper Smith
Before his pop-up CMA Fest performance at Nissan Stadium on Thursday night (June 9), Broken Bow Records artist Dustin Lynch was presented with a plaque by Pandora for surpassing two billion lifetime spins since his 2012 breakout.
“Wow, this is such an honor. Pandora, thank you so much for sharing my music all around the world,” shares Lynch. “It’s been 10 amazing years of reaching milestone moments and this is definitely one I won’t forget! I’m constantly blown away by the continued support from everyone, especially fans, and I’m just so grateful. We’re only getting started!”
Lynch’s latest single, “Party Mode,” off his fifth studio album Blue in the Sky, is currently in the top 25 at country radio. The multi-Platinum entertainer will continue on his “Party Mode Tour” into the fall. For a complete list of tour dates and tickets, click here.
Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton Team Up For New CMT Crossroads Episode Airing Tonight
Mickey Guyton, Black Pumas, and CMT Staff at the taping of CMT Crossroads: Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton. Catherine Powell/Getty for CMT
Black Pumas and country star Mickey Guyton headline the newest installment of CMT Crossroads: Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton.
Following a world-premiere collaboration at this year’s 2022 CMT Music Awards, the threesome reunite for a night of high-energy performances and stripped back, soulful renditions of each other’s greatest hits, including Black Pumas’ “Fire” and “Confines,” and Guyton’s “Black Like Me” and “Better than You Left Me.”
The show will premiere tonight (June 15) at 9 p.m. CT with an immediate encore at 10 p.m. CT. Additional encores will air Sunday, June 19 at 11 a.m. CT on CMT and Thursday, June 23 at 4 p.m. CT and 7 p.m. CT on MTV Live.
8th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge Raises Over $25K
Celebrities and friends gather for the 8th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge
Craig Campbell recently hosted his 8th Annual Celebrity Cornhole Challenge at Losers Bar & Grill in Nashville, raising more than $25,000 for national nonprofit Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC).
This year’s winners were Andrew Millsaps, half of music duo Neon Union, and John Smyth, a caregiver for his sister Denise who was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). In attendance was Jerrod Niemann, Chuck Wicks, Ryan Charles, Abby Anderson, Alexandra Kay, Holly Stocks, Drew Baldridge, Heath Sanders, Thomas Mac, Ian Munsick, Leo Brooks, Lucas Hoge, and Ethan Payne.
“It never ceases to amaze me how many people come out to support this event,” Campbell shares. “I have to give a huge thank you to all of my artist and celebrity friends who came out to play, all of our wonderful sponsors, volunteers, and all of the amazing friends and family behind the scenes who make this happen.”
Campbell’s father passed away with colorectal cancer at age 36. Since then, he, his friends and family have now raised over $354,000 for Fight CRC.
PLA Media Adds Case Hardin To Its Artist Roster
Case Hardin. Photo: LaRae Russell
PLA Media has added Texas country singer Case Hardin to its artist roster. Case has logged two No. 1 hits on the Texas Regional Radio Report with “Alcohol Abuse” and “When You Roll That Way.”
A native of San Angelo, Texas, Case began his music career in 2013 when he made his American Idol debut. In 2016, he released his debut album, Over Fort Worth. Throughout his career, Case has toured with Aaron Watson, Pat Green, Eli Young Band, Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Kyle Park, Randall King, Casey Donahew, Roger Creager, Mike Ryan, Josh Ward, Cory Morrow, Jason Boland, Radney Foster, Dwight Yoakam, Tracy Byrd, and more.
His new release, “Honky Tonk Highway,” was written by Bernie Nelson and Phil O’Donnell. PLA will be directing Case’s media outreach for his current release and forthcoming album Lucky Him, which will be available this summer.
“When hit writer Bernie Nelson tells you to listen to someone, you do it. He has some of the best ears in the business. Case is an authentic representation of Texas country and we are proud to be a part his team,” says PLA Media Founder Pam Lewis.