Midland is set to release their third album, The Last Resort: Greetings From, on May 6 via Big Machine Records. The project’s title track, penned by the trio with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, is available now.

“It’s about more than the roots,” lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach offers. “Because that makes you think of something that’s buried, which this music shouldn’t be. It’s about creating country music that’s pure in a different kind of way, that draws on some of what’s been left behind but shouldn’t be. Some of these songs are pure Gary Stewart, others are the earliest Eagles stuff when they really were country.”

“There are a lot of honky-tonk truths,” guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson explains. “Some of them are the way a guitar or steel twines around the melody, almost a counterpoint or counter-narrative. To us, the playing is as important as the vocals or the lyrics. It’s not just a big wad of sound, but how the tracks build to extract the song’s essence. It’s a different thing, but it lets us not just have a sound, but make the songs more than just the hook… We’re trying to have people lean in, listen to the rest of what’s going on, too.”

Pictured (L-R): Travis James, Nick Meinema. Photo: Courtesy AEC

Tenured booking agent Travis James has joined Action Entertainment Collaborative (AEC), the boutique agency founded in 2021 by Nick Meinema and partner Greg Baker.

James joins AEC from United Talent Agency (UTA), and brings country artists John Michael Montgomery, John Anderson, Collin Raye, Aaron Tippin, Confederate Railroad and The Kentucky Headhunters with him to AEC.

“We were thrilled to be called on by Travis for this new chapter of his career,” says Meinema. “His mindset for the future of his clients is directly what we have set out to do when AEC opened its doors last year.”

James’ roster adds to AEC’s Music Row-based office which includes Trace Adkins, TLC, Terri Clark, Lonestar, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, newly-signed Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, High Valley, Williams and Ree, Etta May, James Barker Band, as well as Canadian representation of The Mavericks, Sawyer Brown, Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, Hunter Brothers, The Road Hammers, The Trailer Park Boys and with Paquin Entertainment, The Reklaws, Gord Bamford and Jojo Mason.

“I met Nick in 2014 and worked with him daily through 2020,” shares James. “The pandemic changed the touring landscape forever and gave many of us enough pause to reprioritize our approach to booking. I’m a ‘Greatest Hits’ agent. My passion and happiness lies within the box set artists. As I looked around town, it was no surprise that Nick, Charley [Ray] and staff were redefining that agency model in a way I’ve never seen. I began learning my craft in a similar model in 1996, under my father’s tutelage at the Bobby Roberts Company. AEC is a modern version of where I came from, and their goals toward growth are unique and inspiring. Its singularly focused goal allows me to better serve my artists with the dedication they and the talent buyers deserve.”

Reach James at travis.james@action-ent.com or (615) 208-9596.

Kenny Rogers. Photo: Jay Fletcher

A deluxe edition of Kenny Rogers‘ 2011 gospel album, The Love Of God, will be available for the first time ever on CD beginning March 25 via Capitol Records Nashville/UMe.

Produced by Warren Hartman and Grammy award-winner Kyle Lehning, The Love Of God was recorded at The Compound and Sound Emporium in Nashville in 2010. Upon its release in March of 2011, the album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.

One of the tracks originally recorded for the album was “The Gospel Truth,” featuring The Oak Ridge Boys. While the song, written by Rogers and his bandmates Steve Glassmeyer and Hartman, didn’t make the final track listing of the original release, it makes its physical debut on The Love Of God (Deluxe Edition).

“The Love Of God is the culmination of an idea I had been thinking about for years but never had the opportunity to bring to life,” the late Country Music Hall of Famer shared back in 2011. “It’s been a musical awakening to me. To all of the wonderful musicians, vocalists, and songwriters who lent their amazing talents to this record, I want to thank you for making it so special. It seems I have a personal relationship with every song on it. For example, ‘In The Sweet By And By’ was my mom’s favorite song. When I was a kid, as I was leaving to go to school, I remember hearing her sing along with the radio. Music is by far the best ‘memory creator’ I know, and that memory is very special to me.”

Other special guest artists who collaborated with Rogers on the project include Point of Grace, The Whites, and Winfield’s Locket. Songs written by Rogers, Vince Gill, Michael McDonald and Michael W. Smith are also featured, along with Rogers’ take on classics, such as “I’ll Fly Away,” “In The Sweet By And By,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Amazing Grace,” and more.

Additionally, the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, will be showcasing “Through the Years: Kenny Rogers’ Photographs of America.” The exhibit, in collaboration with the Rogers estate, will display one of Rogers’ greatest hobbies and present a selection of his color and black and white photographs of America. It will remain on view through July 10, 2022.

The Love Of God (Deluxe Edition)Track List:
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Peace
I’ll Fly Away (featuring The Whites)
The Rock Of Your Love
In The Sweet By and By (featuring Winfield’s Locket)
He Showed Me Love
Grace
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Circle of Friends (featuring Point of Grace)
For the Love Of God
The Gospel Truth (featuring The Oak Ridge Boys)
Amazing Grace
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Capitol CMG artist Anne Wilson is set to release her full-length debut, My Jesus, on April 22.

The album’s title track catapulted Wilson to success in 2021, making her the first female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. The track also became the longest-running No. 1 song on the chart for 2021.

Dolly Parton. Photo: Stacie Huckeba

Dolly Parton is curating three floral arrangements for 1-800-Flowers.com to celebrate both the release of her new album and novel, Run, Rose, Run, penned with James Patterson, and International Women’s Day on March 8.

The three new International Women’s Day rose bouquets are available now through March 11 at 1-800-Flowers.com. During the two-week campaign, along with the bouquets, customers will be able to purchase a digital copy of the album and audiobook.

The purchase will come with a digital note from Parton and bouquet recipients will receive a special note from the country icon.

“I remember as a little girl, running into the meadows behind our house so I could pick fresh flowers for my mama. I loved the smell and that they felt like a little ray of sunshine that I could share,” recalls Parton. “To this day, I feel the same way. I’m partial to yellow roses, but I love all different kinds of flowers. So, join me and send a little bit of sunshine to the special woman in your life with 1-800-Flowers.com. Plant a seed with love.”