Pictured (L-R, top row): Joe Bridges, Grace Cavanaugh, and Patrick Huber; (L-R, bottom row): Paige Maillet, Aubrey Miller, and Kayla Zabosek

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted five staff members to associate director or director roles across five departments. The museum also recently welcomed Patrick Huber as historian-editor.

Huber recently joined the museum as Historian and Editor in the museum services department. In this role, he will contribute to exhibitions, museum publications, public programs and other educational initiatives that document and interpret the history of country music and the genre’s contributions to American culture. Huber is professor emeritus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he taught U.S. history for more than 20 years and won more than a dozen campus teaching and research awards. He is the author or editor of six books and has earned numerous awards and national recognition for research and documentation of country, blues and bluegrass history.

Grace Cavanaugh has been promoted to Associate Director of Event Services and Catering. She oversees the event services team, which manages more than 1,000 private and internal events annually. Since joining the museum in 2015, Cavanaugh has served as Event Services and Catering Manager and, most recently, Senior Event Services and Catering Manager. With more than 13 years of experience in the event industry, she previously worked with Sodexo.

Paige Maillet has been named Associate Director of Guest Relations. She oversees all aspects of the visitor experience for the museum, Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B tours, as well as other publicly ticketed events and programs. Her oversight includes box office sales, information and membership desks, greeters, tour guides, reservationists and ushers. During her seven-year tenure with the museum, Maillet has served as Guest Relations Specialist, Guest Relations Coordinator, Assistant Reservations Manager, Reservations Manager and most recently Ticketing Services and Reservations Manager.

Aubrey Miller has been promoted to Director of Public Relations. In this role, she develops and implements public relations and media relations strategies, as well as executes external communications campaigns for museum initiatives, including exhibitions, public and family programming, education programs, development and community outreach efforts, along with museum-operated Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B. Miller previously served as Public Relations Manager and most recently Senior Manager of Public Relations. Prior to joining the museum staff in 2019, she served as Senior Manager of Public Relations and Video/Photo Production for the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Kayla Zakosek has been named Associate Director of Retail. In her new role, she helps oversee the retail stores and develop strategies to drive sales that provide key operating revenue for the museum. Her oversight includes operation of four stores featuring merchandise for the museum and Hatch Show Print. Zakosek joined the museum in 2019 as Store Manager. She previously held the position of Retail Store Manager at the United Center in Chicago.

Joe Bridges has been promoted to Associate Director of Security. He is responsible for a safe working environment for staff, visitors and guests during all hours and events. His job entails maintaining and enforcing security policies and procedures; providing security for the buildings, artifacts and other company assets; and overseeing daily security operations, among other duties. Bridges previously served as Senior Security Manager.

Parker McCollum. Photo: Chris Kleinmeier

Parker McCollum, the freshly crowned ACM New Male Artist of the Year, has landed his second consecutive No. 1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase charts with “To Be Loved By You.”

McCollum’s major label debut Hollywood Gold, which was released last fall, became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020, and earned the Texas native his first No. 1 with the Platinum-selling debut single, “Pretty Heart.”

He also recently made a childhood dream come true by performing to a sold-out crowd at the famed RodeoHouston, selling over 73,000 tickets.

“It’ll be years before I truly look back and realize what happened this week,” shares McCollum. “I was nervous that all my hard work and sacrifice wouldn’t be worth it in the long run. Well, after selling out RodeoHouston and having my second No. 1 I can assure you all–it was damn worth it. Every single last bit of it was worth it.”

Mike Whelan

Music publishing veteran Mike Whelan has joined Round Hill Music as Sr. VP / General Manager. The news follows publishing executive Mark Brown‘s exit from the same role.

Whelan brings with him 35 years of publishing experience, including stints with Polygram Music, Acuff-Rose Publishing, Sony/ATV Publishing and Ole Music. He most recently served as Sr. Creative Director at MV2 Entertainment.

Whelan has worked with writers Bob McDill, Dean Dillon, Tony Martin, Skip Ewing, Casey Beathard, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick and more. As a plugger he has had over 85 BMI and ASCAP award-winning songs—40 of which have topped the charts.

Now at Round Hill, Whelan will work alongside Bob Squance, Sr. Director A&R, and Lindsay Will, Manager of A&R. The company’s roster includes a diverse group of writers, including hitmaker Jimmy Robbins.

“Round Hill has been here for 10 years. We’ve come a long way in a short time. I want to help Round Hill grow and continue the success that they’ve already had,” Whelan tells MusicRow. “Get ready for Round Hill 2.0. We’ve got some incredible plans and some great things coming in the future.”

Reach Whelan at mwhelan@roundhillmusic.com.

Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile

The first slate of artists scheduled to perform at this year’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards have been revealed. Among them will be current nominees Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Representing Nashville, Brothers Osborne received two Grammy nominations this year for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Younger Me”) and Best Country Album (Skeletons).

Meanwhile, 6x Grammy winner Carlile is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Right On Time,” for Song Of The Year for (“A Beautiful Noise” with Alicia Keys), and for Best American Roots Performance for “Same Devil.”

Elsewhere, BTS are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Butter”), and 7x Grammy winner Eilish received seven nominations this year: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video for “Happier Than Ever,” as well as Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Happier Than Ever, and Best Music Film (Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles).

Two-time Grammy winner Lil Nas X is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Music Video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Album Of The Year (Montero), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Industry Baby”). Harlow has two nominations this year for his work on Montero, in the categories of Best Melodic Rap Performance and Album Of The Year.

First-time nominee Rodrigo is up for seven awards: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Drivers License,” Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for SOUR, Best New Artist, and Best Music Video for “Good 4 U.”

This year’s Grammy Awards will broadcast live on CBS from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3 at 7 p.m. CT . Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Gene Watson

Gene Watson has teased new music coming this fall with his upcoming album Outside The Box. The Grand Ole Opry member has also added more dates to his “60th Anniversary Tour,” which will visit venues across the country through December.

Watson recently presented awards to two of his longtime band members–Staley Rogers and Todd Hines–backstage during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Pictured (L-R): Dan Rogers (Vice President/Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry), Todd Hines (drummer), Gene Watson, Staley Rogers (bass). Photo: Stephen Shepherd

“I couldn’t have made it this far without my band and these are some of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with. I want to take this moment to show my gratitude to Staley Rogers, who has been with me as my bass player for 25 years and to Todd Hines, my drummer who has worked with me for 17 years and neither of them has ever missed a single performance in all those years!” Watson proclaimed during the special moment.

The hitmaker has charted 75 titles throughout his career, including 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel records.

“60th Anniversary Tour” Dates:
March 17 Rio Grande Livestock Show – Mercedes, Texas
March 18 Heart of Texas Festival – Brady, Texas
March 19 2920 Roadhouse Bar & Grill – Hockley, Texas
March 25 Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tenn.
March 26 The Palace Theatre – Crossville, Tenn.
March 31 Arlington Music Hall – Arlington, Texas
April 1 The Cactus Theatre – Lubbock, Texas
April 2 Bare Bones BBQ – Gatesville, Texas
April 8 Grand Ole Opry – Nashville, Tenn.
April 9 Jackson Live Events Center – Seymour, Ind.
April 23 McMinnville Park Theater – McMinnville, Tenn.
April 24 Nathan Stanley Festival – Micanopy, Fla.
April 29 The Little Roy & Lizzie Festival at The Lewis Family Homeplace – Lincolnton, Ga.
April 30 Walhalla Civic Auditorium – Walhalla, S.C.
May 7 Sisseton Performing Arts Center – Sisseton S.D.
May 14 Mo’s Place – Katy, Texas
May 21 Southern Junction – Rockwall, Texas
June 3 Hank Williams Festival – Georgiana, Ala.
June 11 Texas Pride BBQ – Adkins, Texas
June 17 Main Street Crossing – Tomball, Texas
June 18 Honky Tonk Texas – Silsbee, Texas
June 25 Rodgers Theatre – Poplar Bluff, Mo.
July 1 Beebe City Park – Beebe, Ark.
July 7 Bluegate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, Ind.
July 9 Red Barn Convention Center – Winchester, Ohio
July 16 Alto Country Club – Alto, N.M.
Aug. 12 Jettie Baker Center – Clintwood, Va.
Aug. 13 Old Dominion Barn Dance – Hopewell, Va.
Aug. 14 Old Dominion Barn Dance – Hopewell, Va.
Aug. 19 Reidsville Showcase Theater – Reidsville, N.C.
Aug. 20 Liberty Showcase Theatre – Liberty, N.C.
Sept. 4 Fayette County Fair – Lagrange, Texas
Sept. 9 Wild Rose Casino – Jefferson, Iowa
Sept. 10 Monson Lake Opry Festival – Sunburg, Minn.
Sept. 17 Hardy Murphy Coliseum – Ardmore, Okla.
Sept. 30 Capitol Arts Theatre – Bowling Green, Ky.
Oct. 1 Marion Cultural & Civic Center – Marion, Ill.
Oct. 3 Clay Cooper Theater – Branson, Mo.
Oct. 7 Dailey & Vincent Festival – Gainesboro, Tenn.
Oct. 12 Georgia Mountain Fair – Hiawassee, Ga.
Oct. 14 Kentucky Opry – Benton, Ky.
Oct. 15 Kentucky Opry – Benton, Ky.
Oct. 22 The Mansion – Branson, Mo.
Oct. 29 Coyote Country Store – Gail, Texas
Nov. 11 The Mansion – Branson, Mo.
Nov. 12 Windstone Entertainment Center – Jefferson City, Mo.
Nov. 18 Country Tonite Theatre – Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Nov. 19 Heard County Performing Arts Center – Franklin, Ga.
Dec. 2 Main Street Crossing – Tomball, Texas
Dec. 9 The Historic Ritz Theatre – Toccoa, Ga.