The CMT Music Awards has added Carrie Underwood, Mickey Guyton, Old Dominion, and the Black Pumas to the lineup of performers and unveiled the top six finalists vying for the Video of Year award.

Guyton and the Black Pumas will team up for a world premiere collaboration, while CMT’s most decorated artist of all-time Carrie Underwood will deliver a special, all-new performance from the Resorts World Theatre, home of her ongoing show “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency.”

The final six Video of the Year nominees are “If I Didn’t Love You” (Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood); “One Mississippi” (Kane Brown); “Half of My Hometown” (Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney); “Forever After All” (Luke Combs); “Til You Can’t” (Cody Johnson); and “Never Say Never” (Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson).

Over the past three weeks, fans have cast their votes across all categories, including Video of the Year, narrowing down to the top six finalists. On April 11, the six will be narrowed down to the top three, with voting continuing through the live show leading up to the reveal at the end of the night.

Hosted by Ballerini and Anthony Mackie, country music’s only entirely fan-voted award show will broadcast live from Nashville on Monday, April 11 from 7-10 p.m. CT on CBS and Paramount+.

Chris Schuler

Sony Music Nashville has announced the appointment of Chris Schuler to Vice President, Promotion, Arista Nashville.

Reporting directly to Executive Vice President of Promotion and Artist Development, Steve Hodges, and effective immediately, Schuler is responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of the strategic and tactical radio promotional plans for artists on the Arista Nashville roster.

“Chris is an absolute rising start in the industry! His business acumen, people skills, and passion for the music are second to none. I’m elated to bring him onboard and very excited about the future of Arista Nashville with him leading that team,” says Hodges.

Schuler shares, “I could not be more excited about joining the Arista Nashville promotion team and being a part of Sony Music Nashville’s ongoing legacy. Alongside Steve and the entire label group, I look forward to breaking new music, new artists and evolving careers.”

Since April 2019, Schuler has held the position of VP, Promotion & Radio Marketing at Universal Music Group Nashville. First joining UMG Nashville seven years ago as Mercury Promotion Coordinator, he became Director, Promotion & Radio Marketing for the label group in 2016. From 2011 to 2012, Schuler worked at BMI in Nashville.

Originally from Florence, Kentucky, Schuler is a Middle Tennessee State University graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis on production and technology in the Recording Industry Management program.

Reach Schuler at chris.schuler@sonymusic.com.

Jimmie Allen. Photo: Shea Flynn

Fresh off of his appearance at last night’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards, Jimmie Allen announced he’ll release his third Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group album, Tulip Drive, on June 24. The lead single from the record, “Down Home,” is available everywhere now.

Like his previous projects, the album’s title has a personal meaning for Allen and family ties. Tulip Drive is the name of the street his late grandmother grew up on. Similarly, his 2018 debut album Mercury Lane was named for the street Allen grew up on, and his 2020 and 2021 releases, Bettie James & Bettie James Gold Edition, were named for his grandmother (Bettie Snead) and father (James “Big Jim” Allen).

Jimmie Allen at the 64th annual Grammy Awards red carpet. Photo: Courtesy of BBR Music Group

“A lot of the songs on this album are from that time period. This is the first album where a lot of the songs are actually written based off a lot of my own personal life experiences–from relationships, the hardships of life, to the parties and the good times,” Allen shares. “A lot of these songs are based off things I went through when I was in later in high school and college, at a place where I was just learning a lot of life lessons from my grandmother. I wanted to honor her by naming this album Tulip Drive, after the street she lived on in Lewes, Delaware.”

Allen was nominated for Best New Artist at last night’s 64th annual Grammy Awards, and attended the show for the first time in addition to performing “Down Home” and presenting multiple categories during the premiere ceremony. He also performed the song at the Recording Academy Honors, presented by the Black Music Collective, on April 2 and appeared throughout the weekend at the 31st annual MusiCares Person of the Year Benefit Gala, Spotify’s Best New Artist celebration, and at a panel for I AM Musicology Presents: Road to the Grammys.

Allen is currently on the “Down Home Tour,” which kicked off with a sold-out start earlier this year. For a full list of upcoming dates, click here.

The worldwide release of Kenny Rogers: All In For The Gambler, the 90-minute concert film and album, has been set for May 20. The Blackbird Presents music release includes an all-star lineup of artists in a once-in-a-lifetime concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to celebrate the country/pop music icon.

The CD/DVD combo features Rogers and Dolly Parton’s final live performance together, including their chart topping duet “Islands In The Stream,” as well as artists performing Rogers’ classic hits such as “The Gambler” (Chris Stapleton), “Lady” (Lionel Richie), “She Believes In Me” (Lady A), “Through The Years” (Little Big Town), and “We’ve Got Tonight” (Idina Menzel and Charles Kelley).

Kenny Rogers: All In For The Gambler also includes previously unseen performances of the Country Music Hall of Famer’s classics: “Lucille” (Justin Moore), “Love Or Something Like It” (The Oak Ridge Boys), “You Turn The Light On” (Wynonna), “Blaze Of Glory” (Billy Dean, Crystal Gayle, Kim Forester, Lee Greenwood, Rudy Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, T. G. Sheppard, T. Graham Brown, Travis Tritt) and more.

Blackbird Presents’ Keith Wortman is the creator and executive producer of All In For The Gambler. Grammy award-winner Don Was served as music director and presided over an all-star house band backing the performers at the historic concert event taping. Rogers’ manager, Ken Levitan, also serves as executive producer.

“Like millions of fans around the world, Kenny Rogers has been the soundtrack of my life, and I am honored and privileged to share this show celebrating his monumental career,” says Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents.

The CD/DVD combo is available for preorder now at AllInForTheGambler.com and KennyRogers.com.

Kenny Rogers: All In For The Gambler Track List:
The Gambler – Chris Stapleton
Tulsa Turnaround – Elle King
Love Or Something Like It – The Oak Ridge Boys (DVD ONLY)
She Believes In Me – Lady A
Blaze Of Glory – Billy Dean, Crystal Gayle, Kim Forester, Lee Greenwood, Rudy Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, T. G. Sheppard, T. Graham Brown, Travis Tritt
You Turn The Light On – Wynonna
Coward Of The County – Aaron Lewis
Sweet Music Man – Jamey Johnson(CD ONLY)
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In) – Jamey Johnson
Twenty Years Ago – Hillary Scott & Linda Davis
Morning Desire – Billy Currington (DVD ONLY)
Lucille – Justin Moore
Through The Years – Little Big Town
We’ve Got Tonight – Idina Menzel & Charles Kelley
Lady – Lionel Richie
You Can’t Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
Islands In The Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

Pictured: Cameron Bedell and Seth Ennis performing at The Bluebird Cafe (stage sponsored by Academy of Country Music). Photo: Tin Pan South/Sydney Zuyus

Night three of Tin Pan South featured songs from Nashville tunesmiths at venues across the city.

Chart-topping songwriters Brad Clawson, Ben Johnson, Taylor Phillips, and Will Weatherly played some “hits from the Tape Room” at 3rd & Lindsley’s 6 o’clock show. Over at the Bluebird, audience members heard from Phil Barton, Cameron Bedell, Seth Ennis, and Liz Rose.

Chris DeStefano, Emily Shackelton, and Eric Van Houten entertained at The Listening Room; while Endurance songwriters Seth Alley, Johnny Dailey, Chase Martin, and Paul Sikes played the Cross-Eyed Critters stage.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Rob Hatch, Lydia Cahill (SESAC), Jesse Lee, Lyndsie McClure (NSAI), Joe Fox; (L-R, back row): Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Bart Herbison (NSAI), ET Brown (SESAC), Scott Jungmichel (SESAC), Jimmie Allen, Brad Peterson (Regions Bank). Photo: Amanda Terranova

More Tape Room writers took over the 3rd & Lindsley stage at 9 o’clock, including Wyatt McCubbin, Hunter Phelps, and the company’s founder and CEO Ashley Gorley. Hitmakers Gary Burr, Peter Cincotti, Mark Hudson, and Victoria Shaw set up camp over at The Lounge at City Winery.

SESAC affiliates Jimmie Allen, Rob Hatch, Jesse Lee, and Jon Nite played some of their many hits at The Listening Room Cafe; while Jessie James Decker, Dave Pittenger, and Shane Stevens treated audience members at the Hard Rock Cafe stage.

Among the songwriters who will be featured at tonight’s rounds (April 1) are Bob DiPiero, Bill Anderson, Rodney Clawson, JT Harding, and many more. See the full schedule here.

Pictured: Surprise guest Tenille Arts showed up at Hard Rock Cafe (stage sponsored by Musicnotes) for the round presented by Hot 106.7 joining Dave Pittenger, Shane Stevens, and Kyle Clark. Photo: Tin Pan South/Kari Jakobsen

Pictured: Hunter Phelps & Wyatt McCubbin perform as part of “Hits From The Tape Room” at 3rd & Lindsley (stage sponsored by Visit Music City). Photo: Tin Pan South/Brittni Talley