Walker Hayes. Photo: Robert Chavers.

Walker Hayes debuts on both the Mediabase and MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio charts this week, landing at No. 47 and No. 67, respectively. His single “AA” follows his viral hit, “Fancy Like.”

“I am so grateful for the support country radio has given me,” says Hayes. “A year ago, if someone told me I would have a number one under my belt and a second song at radio with this many stations on board today, I would have been sure they were lying. ‘AA’ is so personal and so different. I just can’t thank these stations enough for believing in it.” 

Written by Hayes with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird, and produced by “Fancy Like” collaborator Joe Thibodeau and McAnally, “AA” taps into all the things fans love about “Fancy Like” with a deeper shade. On the track, Hayes sings about experiences of everyday Americans, along with his own anxieties as a dad, his love for his wife, and his journey with sobriety.

“At the end of the day, we are all just doing the best we can,” says Hayes about the track. “What I really mean to say with this song is just that I’m trying to stay the course. I’ve struggled with alcohol abuse and sometimes I wish I didn’t need AA, but I do. I think a lot of people can relate to that. I’m just trying to be the best dad and husband I can be. It’s not easy all the time, but my wife smiles a lot and my kids are growing up with more than I had, and that’s a really good thing.”

For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.

Joni Mitchell. Photo: Marcy Gensic

Just two nights before the Grammy awards telecast, MusiCares will honor Joni Mitchell at the 31st Annual MusiCares Person of the Year benefit gala.

On Jan. 29, Grammy award-winning artists Brandi Carlile, Graham Nash, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, Leon Bridges, and Pentatonix, as well as Grammy nominees Mickey Guyton, Black Pumas, Jon Batiste, and Maggie Rogers are among the performers for the night’s festivities. Carlile and Batiste will also serve as Artistic Directors for the night.

The tribute will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The night will include a reception and silent auction, followed by a dinner and tribute concert. Artists will pay tribute to some of Mitchell’s most iconic songs, showcasing her talent for inspiring generations of musicians and songwriters.

“We are crafting a once-in-a-lifetime evening in honor of Joni,” says Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares. “I thank each of these artists for lending their talents to celebrate Joni and her impact on the music community.”

One of the most prestigious events held during Grammy Week, the Person of the Year tribute benefits MusiCares, the leading music charity providing music professionals health and human services across a spectrum of needs.

Carlene Carter performs at Ralph Lauren store in Nashville. Photo: Bob Merlis

Chapter 651

Whatever you think of his clothes, you can’t fault the musical taste of the folks who run Ralph Lauren’s Double RL stores.

The designer’s branded, quality-lifestyle company is debuting a Nashville-music film that will run in a continuous loop in all of its stores. It showcases the sounds of Carlene Carter, The Lone Bellow, The McCrary Sisters, Willy Gantrim and Aaron Steele. They were among those on hand at a celebratory premiere party at the retailer’s Nashville venue on Villa Place on Thursday evening (Dec. 16).

Carlene was tapped to headline the gig. “I’m Carlene Carter…I’m a third-generation member of The Carter Family,” she told the crowd. “I’m here by way of a film that Double RL did. I’m gonna entertain the shit outta ya, if I can.” She could, and did.

The Lone Bellow sing with Carlene Carter. Photo: Bob Merlis

Armed with just her guitar, she kicked things off with an expressive, driving delivery of “The Bitter End.” The lilting, autobiographical “Me and the Wildwood Rose” drew enthusiastic applause. Before singing it, Carlene talked about writing “Easy From Now On” with Susanna Clark and of Emmylou’s decision to record it.

Elizabeth Cook joined her to harmonize on The Carter Family’s “I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight.” Carlene offered her gospel tune “Damascus Road,” again demonstrating her Maybelle-style, acoustic-guitar mastery (she also plays autoharp and piano). She commands and charms the stage as a total pro, a true troubadour. She closed by leading a sing-along of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” joined by The Lone Bellow and the whole crowd.

Singing, mixing and mingling were Brian Mansfield, Tim Ghianni, Ronna Rubin, Trav Livingston & Randy Talmadge, Tiffany Anastasia Lowe, Wade Sapp, Ben Payne, Bob Merlis, filmmaker Dikayl Rimmasch and a boatload of handsomely attired and expensively groomed fashionistas.

The party was originally planned for outdoors, but we were somewhat uncomfortably crowded inside because of the rain. The move indoors also meant that they couldn’t actually screen the film at its premiere. It is called Double RL Holiday Bread & Jam and was shot on the old Orbison property located next to Old Hickory Lake. Also featured making music in the film are Cindy Cashdollar, Jacob Sooter, Cedric Burnside, Dylan Smucker, Redd Volkaert, Nina Brown & Jackson Lynch, Bart Pike and Matt Pynn.

As for Ralph Lauren in Nashville: Forget the Polo shirts and the preppy look — Double RL is Lauren’s line of western wear. Think denim, Navajo-patterned garments, leather goods, outdoor wear, boots, corduroy and woolens. Lauren’s getaway ranch in Montana initially inspired these beautifully created garments. I doubt that there’s a cowboy in that entire state who can afford Ralph Lauren prices.

There are only 11 of the exclusive Double RL stores in the world, and Music City has one of ‘em. The merch is awesome.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has announced the dates for the 30th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, presented by Regions Bank.

The festival is scheduled to take place Tuesday, March 29 through Saturday, April 2, 2022 in some of Nashville’s most popular venues throughout town. Per usual, each venue will host two shows per night showcasing hundreds of songwriters from Nashville and beyond.

The 2022 Tin Pan South line-up will be revealed and tickets will go on sale on March 1 at 10 a.m. CST. Additional details will be made available in January.

The official 2022 Tin Pan South poster was created by Charlie Hartrich, a freshman at Watkins College of Art at Belmont University.

“When designing this poster I wanted to focus on the songwriting aspect more so than music or Nashville. I was inspired by the idea that songwriters across America are all a part of this festival, and that is what music is all about. Bringing people together and encouraging empathy,” Hartrich says. “Music and the city are a part of one another here so I also wanted to mix the two together and that drove most of the subject choices. But, lastly my main inspiration for my work was music itself. As a musician, music can be such a crazy, other-worldly thing and I tried to convey how expressive it can be in the poster although nothing beats the real thing!”

J.T. Harding. Photo: Fred Hayes

Songwriter J.T. Harding is known for his hilarious, fun-filled stories, and he’s sharing some of them in a new memoir and songwriting how-to, Party Like A Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck, and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter, due out Feb. 22 from Twelve Books.

The new autobiography charts Harding’s life from a kid growing up in Michigan to a chart-topping songwriter living in Nashville and working with stars like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, and more.

In addition to being a memoir, Party Like A Rockstar is also a how-to guide for anyone wanting to learn how to craft a hit song. It tells the story of one man’s love for rock and roll, and how it guided him through some of the greatest tragedies and triumphs of his life.

Inspired by his favorite artists from KISS to Prince and everything in between, Harding ran away to LA, where he formed a band and became part of the music scene there all while selling records to his favorite artists and producers at Tower Records. Harding made his first demo tape with prize money he earned by winning the VH1 game show Rock & Roll Jeopardy!

He’s penned numerous chart-topping hits, including the triple Platinum “Smile” with Uncle Kracker; “Somewhere In My Car” with Keith Urban; “Somewhere With You” and “Bar at the End of the World” for Kenny Chesney; Dierks Bentley’s “Different For Girls;” Jake Owen’s “Alone With You;” and Blake Shelton’s No. 1 “Sangria.”