Pictured (L-R top row): Corey Crowder, Randy Montana, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, Ashley Gorley, host Jim Beavers, Brock Berryhill, Jonathan Singleton (L-R bottom row:) Hunter Phelps, Ross Copperman, Ernest Keith Smith, Hillary Lindsey, CMA Songwriter Advocate Award recipient Bob DiPiero, Zach Crowell and Jesse Frasure. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

 The Country Music Association hosted its 12th CMA Triple Play Awards on Thursday (May 12) at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. The industry ceremony marked the event’s official return following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. In addition to honoring 19 CMA Triple Play Award recipients, CMA also awarded Bob DiPiero, Founder of Being Bob Music, with the inaugural CMA Songwriter Advocate Award.

The CMA Triple Play Award is presented to songwriters who pen three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. Honored last night for this achievement were Brock Berryhill, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Corey Crowder, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, Ray Fulcher, Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Randy Montana, Josh Osborne, Hunter Phelps, Thomas Rhett, Jonathan Singleton, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson and Morgan Wallen.

The ceremony was hosted by CMA Board Chairman and composer, Jim Beavers. Throughout the evening, the Triple Play Award honorees were surprised by special guest presenters, all with a meaningful relationship to the songwriters. Special guest presenters included Brantley Gilbert for Berryhill, Randy Goodman for Combs, Josh Van Valkenburg for Copperman, Tyler Hubbard for Crowder, Madeline Merlo for Crowell, Stevie Frasure for Frasure, Dierks Bentley for Gorley, Kelsea Ballerini and Lindsey’s daughter Bennett for Hillary Lindsey, father Billy Montana for Randy Montana, Bart Herbison for Osborne, Gorley for Phelps, Combs for Singleton, Brad and Brett Warren for Smith, and Mark Wright for Thompson.

Triple Play Award honorees who could not be in attendance, including Fulcher, Hardy, McAnally, Thomas Rhett and Wallen, shared video acceptances.

DiPiero was presented the new CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, which was created to recognize an individual who has dedicated their life to supporting and advancing the art of songwriting and careers of songwriters. Throughout the evening, as an ode to DiPiero’s long list of memorable hit singles, he was surprised with performances by good friends Neal McCoy, who performed the classic “Wink!,” Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire of Shenandoah performing “The Church on Cumberland Road,” and Jeffrey Steele performing “Gone.”

For a list of songs that the honorees were recognized for click here.

Bob DiPiero pictured with Neal McCoy who performed “Wink!” in his honor. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

Jeffrey Steele performs “Gone” to honor Bob DiPiero. Photo: Caitlin Harris/CMA

Brett Eldredge has announced his upcoming “Songs About You Tour,” which kicks off June 19 in Wheaton, Ill. and runs through September. He’s also releasing the intimate new track, “Wait Up For Me” today.

The headlining tour will make stops in Bakersfield, San Diego, Las Vegas, Louisville, Charlotte, and more before wrapping in Saginaw, Mich. Sept. 24. Presale for The Locals fan club begins Tuesday, May 17, followed by general on sale Friday, May 20.

“Wait Up For Me” was co-written by Eldredge alongside Mark Trussell and Heather Morgan. The song will be included on his fifth studio album, Songs About You, due June 17.

“Mark [Trussell] and I started writing this song by the fireplace in Montana,” Eldredge explained. “He was playing around with some chords on the piano and I just started singing and putting a sexy feel to it. Heather [Morgan] was dealing with some altitude sickness that day and was resting at the time but suddenly she appeared out of nowhere with this amazing line – ‘I’m gonna keep you warm like a furnace in the winter // you can cool me off like a summertime breeze.’ She arose from her slumber and just jumped right in!”

Songs About You will feature 12 songs co-written by Eldredge including the previously released “Want That Back,” “Holy Water,” and the album’s title track/lead single, “Songs About You,” which was written by Eldredge, Jessie Jo Dillon and Ben West, and is climbing the country charts now.

“Songs About You Tour” Dates: 

6/19 – Wheaton, IL – Dupage County Fairgrounds
7/22 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery^^
7/23 – Bakersfield, CA – Dignity Health Amphitheatre^
7/24 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theater^
7/28 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre*
7/29 – Costa Mesa, CA – Pacific Amphitheatre*
7/30 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino*
8/04 – Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Amphitheatre*
8/05 – Chautauqua, NY – Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater*
8/06 – Doswell, VA – SERVPRO Pavilion**
8/18 – Charlotte, NC – Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre+
8/19 – Roanoke, VA – Elmwood Park Amphitheater+
8/20 – Greensboro, NC – White Oak Amp*
9/02 – Portsmouth, NH – Music Hall++
9/03 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus++
9/04 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent++
9/09 – Madison, WI – Overture Hall*
9/10 – Waite Park, MN – The Ledge Amphitheater*
9/15 – East Providence, RI – Bold Point Pavilion+
9/16 – Bensalem, PA – XCite Center+
9/17 – Bethlehem, PA – SteelStacks+
9/22 – Louisville, KY – Palace Theatre+
9/23 – Fort Wayne, IN – Foellinger Theater+
9/24 – Saginaw, MI – Huntington Park Amphitheater**

^ w/ special guest BRELAND
* w/ special guest Nate Smith
+ w/ special guest Lauren Alaina
^^ w/ special guest Shelby Darrall
** w/ special guest Caylee Hammack
++ special guest TBA

Naomi Judd

Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris and Allison Russell, Little Big Town and The Gaithers will honor the legacy of Naomi Judd with performances on CMT’s Naomi Judd: A River Of Time Celebration, taking place Sunday, May 15 at the Ryman Auditorium.

The celebration of life, which will be hosted by co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America and close family friend Robin Roberts, will also include special messages from Judd’s friends and fans, including Bono, Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey and Salma Hayek.

Wynonna and Ashley Judd, Martina McBride and others will make special appearances on the show, and Carly Pearce and Cody Alan will serve as hosts for CMT. Devoted husband and ‘Pop’ to the girls, Larry Strickland, will be in attendance in loving memory of his wife Naomi. The event is presented by CMT and Sandbox Live, in partnership with The Judd family.

A limited number of tickets are available to the general public, with more information here.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Luke Gage, Mark Bright, Garrett Adair. (L-R, back row): Clay Bradley (BMI), Shannon Sanders (BMI), Jennifer Rai. Photo: Shae Defty

Multi-platinum producer/publisher Mark Bright and Adair Holdings have teamed up to form a new venture, Adair Publishing, with Bright serving as CEO of the company.

Their first two signings are up-and-coming singer-songwriters Garrett Adair and Luke Gage.

Jennifer Rai, who has worked with Bright since 2015, has been named Creative Director. She served as general manager of Mark Bright productions/Delbert’s Boy Music Publishing, working on projects for Sara Evans, Brandon Heath, and more.

Dallas native Adair is a pop singer-songwriter who is set to release his debut single, “See The World,” on May 20. He is finishing up his EP with Grammy-winning producer Chuck Butler (Tauren Wells), Bart Busch (Easton Corbin, Billy Currington), and Gage.

Orlando, Florida native Gage is a multi-genre songwriter, producer, and programmer who began writing and producing songs in high school and recently moved to Nashville. He has written with Bright, Kyle Jacobs, Tommy Karlas, and Tiffany Goss, and penned the track he is producing on new country artist Queeva.

Since launching his career in 1985, Bright has tallied production credits with superstars Sting, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire and more. He is the producer of Carrie Underwood’s first five albums, which yielded 21 No.1s. He has served as Pres./CEO of Word Entertainment, VP of EMI Publishing, and co-founded Teracel Music, signing writers Brett James, Rascal Flatts, and Danny Wells. A songwriter himself, Bright’s credits include George Strait’s 60th No. 1 hit “Give it All We Got Tonight” and songs recorded by Shakira, Whitney Duncan and others.

Contact Adair Publishing at jen@adairpublishing.com.