Pictured (L-R): Brandon Amie, Ron Hill, Natina Nimene, Kirk Franklin, Danielle Price Sanders and Phil Thornton.

Grammy-winning artist Kirk Franklin has entered into a partnership with Uptown Records in conjunction with Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group.

To celebrate the news, Franklin has released a video for his latest single “Thank You For Everything” featuring gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard of the Clark Sisters.

“No one has shaped gospel and sustained its influence from one decade to the next quite like Kirk Franklin,” says Uptown Executive/EVP Urban Audience & Artist Relations REPUBLIC Collective, Natina Nimene. “His impact is transformational and we are honored that he has entrusted Uptown as his partner for this next chapter and the incredible body of work he has planned.”

“Kirk Franklin’s legacy and impact on music and culture are undeniable,” shares Phil Thornton, EVP TRIBL Music Group/Insignia Assets. “At TRIBL, we’re proud to collaborate with Kirk, Fo Yo Soul and Uptown Records to celebrate that legacy while helping amplify the music and vision still ahead.”

“To be a part of the Uptown family is a genuine honor,” adds Franklin. “I feel energized by the entire team’s enthusiasm and support already. It’s a blessing, and I’m beyond thankful and excited for what the future holds. Let’s make history together!”

The partnership further accelerates the momentum behind the label’s return and ongoing resurgence as Uptown marks its 40th anniversary. The revitalized label is already making waves with releases and breakout moments from Yung Miami, G Herbo, Trap Dickey, rising artist 9B Meechie, and mega-producer ATL Jacob.

Tucker Wetmore headlines Country Splash Cabo. Photo: Daniel Pantoja (@Daniel.PressPlay)

The Country Splash Festival in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico wrapped its inaugural weekend on Sunday (Sept. 6) after three days filled with poolside sets, sunset acoustic performances and nightly shows.

Guests experienced artists in a more intimate setting against the backdrop of Cabo, all while enjoying personalized hospitality, curated wellness experiences, concierge services and resort amenities throughout the talent-packed weekend.

Jon Pardi headlines Country Splash Cabo. Photo: Daniel Pantoja (@Daniel.PressPlay)

On day one Jacob Hackworth kicked things off as the sun began to set, performing songs from his upcoming debut EP What Took You So Long. Dee Jay Silver kept the energy building, blending country favorites with hip-hop, house and EDM between each act, followed by Blake Whiten, whose performance included his Billboard Hot 100-charting single “Bet On That.”

Dasha then took the stage for a high-energy set that included her breakout hit, “Austin,” and Tucker Wetmore brought the inaugural night to its peak with a set featuring fan-favorites “Wind Up Missing You,” “3, 2, 1,” and “Sunburn.” With a 90-minute set that included “doing whatever I want up here,” Wetmore took the intentionally-intimate festival crowd back with “Casino,”  “Drops of Jupiter,” and led the at-capacity-crowd through Beethoven, Queen and Journey sing-alongs on piano.

During the second day of the festival, guests transitioned from the pool to an intimate acoustic Sunset Fireside Sessions with Zach John King and Jon Pardi. The Main Stage opened with Dee Jay Silver before a performance from King, whose set featured songs from his recently released debut album I’m What You Get.

LOCASH then brought the fun and a three-piece mariachi band, and had the crowd singing along to their current single, “Let The Country Music Play,” and No. 1 “I Love This Life.” Pardi closed out the night with a set spanning a decade of hits, with the crowd singing along to “Head Over Boots, “Heartache Medication” and more to send the festival’s second night out on a high note.

Riley Green closed out Country Splash Cabo’s inaugural weekend. Photo: Daniel Pantoja (@Daniel.PressPlay)

Guests spent the final day of the festival moving between the pool, Sunset Fireside Sessions and the Main Stage at Paradisus Los Cabos, and as the pool closed and the sun began to set, fans gathered for intimate acoustic sets at the Sunset Fireside Sessions from Riley Green, Lauren Watkins, and Dasha.

Later as the moon rose above the Main Stage, Watkins kicked things off with a set showcasing her earthy mix of sunset country and heartland grit before Cameron Whitcomb brought backflips and an energetic stage presence to the final night. Green closed out the fest’s inaugural weekend with a set filled with hits and fan favorites, turning the final performance into a full-scale singalong with songs “Different ‘Round Here,” “Think As You Drunk” and “Worst Way,” with Watkins joining for “Don’t Mind If I Do.”

Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard

“Choosin’ Texas” continues its historic run as the Ella Langley smash hit has been named No. 1 on the Billboard Songs of the Summer Chart 2026.

The 20-song chart ranks the most popular songs based on their combined streaming, radio and sales performance on the Billboard Hot 100 from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This year’s tracking period covers charts dated June 6 through Sept. 12. Songs that appeared on the 2025 Songs of the Summer chart or reached the Hot 100 before or during summer 2025 were not eligible for this year’s ranking.

“Choosin’ Texas” has topped the Hot 100 for 21 weeks and counting, including 11 straight weeks since July 4. During its run, country songs, defined as songs that have appeared on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, made up the Hot 100’s entire top five for the first time in August.

The tune is also a rare Songs of the Summer winner that was released the previous year, debuting in October 2025. The last song to do so was OMI’s “Cheerleader,” which won in 2015 after being released in May 2014. However, “Cheerleader” first appeared on the Hot 100 in 2015, while “Choosin’ Texas” debuted in 2025. That makes “Choosin’ Texas” the first Songs of the Summer No. 1 in 30 years to enter the Hot 100 in a previous year. The last was Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” which won the 1996 Songs of the Summer ranking after spending 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, where it debuted in September 1995.

Country music also made history by claiming the top three spots on the Songs of the Summer chart for the first time. “Choosin’ Texas” led the way, followed by Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” at No. 2 and Langley’s “Be Her” at No. 3.

BELLES and Dolly Parton. Photo: ashtronot

Rising country artist BELLES is climbing on the radio charts and seeing significant streaming growth on her collaboration with the late global icon, Dolly Parton, “Son of Jolene.”

The song is Parton’s last collaboration released prior to her passing, and marks her return to radio with an original track since her chart-topping 2006 duet with Brad Paisley, “When I Get Where I’m Going.”

“Son of Jolene” was written by Kelli Belles, Dan Harrison and Tyler Bank—with Parton receiving writing credit, as well. It takes the iconic story from her massive 1973 hit, “Jolene,” and as a continuation of the tale, with Jolene’s son taking his mother’s flirtatious traits.

In a PEOPLE interview, Parton shared, “When I heard ‘Son of Jolene,’ I thought it was very clever. No one had ever thought of it that way.”

“Dolly gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life when she believed in “Son of Jolene” and lent her voice to it. Hearing our voices together on country radio and to have Dolly’s last song on country radio is something I’ll never be able to fully put into words,” shares BELLES. “Country radio has always been such an important part of the music I grew up loving and knowing that Dolly helped me find my own place there makes every spin feel incredibly special. I’ll carry her belief in me, and the gift she gave this song, with me for the rest of my career.”

The track just made its Billboard Hot Shots Debut at No. 51, and climbed four spots on Mediabase to No. 60. Apple Music streams for “Son of Jolene” are up 1,794% week over week, while BELLES’ overall Apple Music streams are up 780%. On Spotify, BELLES gained 500,000 monthly listeners in just one week.

BELLES will release her debut album, Midwestern, on Oct. 16 via East Music Row Records. She is currently out on the road wrapping up her 45-city “Song & Stories Tour.”