Pictured (L-R): Trisha Yearwood, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Photo: Courtesy The Food Network

Trisha Yearwood is teaming up with First Lady Jill Biden on Nov. 20 in a new Food Network special to usher in the holiday season. A White House Thanksgiving finds Yearwood in Washington, D.C. where she and the First Lady provide viewers with a rare glimpse at holiday entertaining at the White House.

In the special, Yearwood and Dr. Biden create a tablescape using flowers from the White House Kitchen Garden, make Yearwood’s favorite turkey gravy and Dr. Biden’s grandmother’s savory stuffing, enjoy an apple crisp created by the White House pastry chef (topped with the President’s favorite ice cream) and more. The two are joined by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, Chief Floral Designer Hedieh Ghaffarian, and Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison on the special.

“Food brings us together,” Yearwood notes. “I hope this special is a reminder to all of us about what we all have in common. Love one another.”

“Food is love – and gathering together this year for Thanksgiving is healing for our hearts,” adds Dr. Biden. “The family recipes passed down through the generations, the fun traditions that continue, and the meaningful blessings shared, all keep me filled with gratitude. It was fun opening up the White House to Food Network and learning cooking tips from Trisha and the White House chefs and florist, while sharing my own family recipes. I hope everyone watching comes away feeling that cooking a Thanksgiving meal is something anyone can do, but if you’re still nervous about making the gravy, like I am, you’re in good company!”

A White House Thanksgiving premieres Saturday, Nov. 20 at noon ET – the time Trisha’s Southern Kitchen cooking show normally airs.

Yearwood released her fourth cookbook, Trisha’s Kitchen: Easy Comfort Food for Friends and Family, in September.

Pictured (L-R): Combustion Music’s Kelly Lyons, Blake Duncan, Tom Whall, Chris Van Belkom, Jameson Rodgers, Chris Farren

Combustion Music has signed Tom Whall to an exclusive publishing deal in partnership with Jameson Rodgers.

Since moving to Nashville in 2011, Whall has been an internationally touring drummer and is currently on the road with Rodgers. As a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter, Whall has had cuts with Emily Earle, Charlie Berry and more.

“Tom is a phenomenal musician and songwriter and I’m proud to not only have him in my band but to help his songwriting career take off as well. His work ethic paired with this team is going to set him up for a lot of success,” Rodgers says.

“As a writer/producer, I’ve always looked up to the Combustion team and Jameson,” Whall adds. “I’m super pumped to be a part of this killer team!”

Whall is the first signing on Combustion’s venture with Rodgers, whose songwriter career began with Combustion in 2014. The Platinum singer-songwriter has since celebrated two No. 1 songs as an artist such as “Some Girls” and “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” the latter of which he co-penned, as well as several hit songs as a songwriter with Chris Lane, Luke Combs, and Jason Aldean.

“Our creative strategy is based on organic relationships. When Tom connected with Jameson in the writer room, we knew he needed to be the first signing to our new venture,” says Combustion Vice President, Chris Van Belkom.

Chris Farren, Combustion Music President, sums, “Couldn’t be happier to be both signing Tom and partnering with Jameson on this deal…two guys of huge talent and character. Looking forward to a long, fruitful relationship together.”

Singer-songwriters Brent Cobb and Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls are set to host “Gretsch Presents Georgia On My Mind,” an online benefit for the Georgia Music Foundation, on Dec. 7.

Earlier in 2021, the Georgia Music Foundation staged “Georgia On My Mind” lakeside at Five Arrow Farms in Georgia with performances by Cobb, Ray, Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin, Jontavious Willis, Kalen & Aslyn, Trina Meade and Tomi Martin of Three5Human, and the Lola Gulley Band. December’s streamed concert will feature highlights from that show.

Tickets for the show, airing at 7 p.m. CT, are $10 and can be purchased here. All proceeds will benefit the Georgia Music Foundation.

“Amy and I never would’ve guessed our first shot at hosting ‘Georgia On My  Mind’ would be online, but we both loved the way the show turned out last year,” Cobb offers. “While we eased back in this year playing with a small group of friends for a small audience, it was so much fun that we wanted to make that experience available online, too.”

“Being together and making music after COVID-imposed isolation was meaningful in so many ways,” adds Ray. “Everyone was present for something special and you can hear it in the performances as we all come together on behalf of an organization that not only supports music education grants every year, but also provided grants to musicians and crew around the state last fall through a relief fund it organize.”

Usually held at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, “Georgia On My Mind” was founded by Georgia natives The Peach Pickers (Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip) in 2014. After seven years of hosting, the trio turned the reins over to fellow Georgians Cobb and Ray but as COVID-19 began to spread, the charitable event was reimagined as an online affair with living room and studio performances by more than 20 artists.

Studio and touring musician Adam Shoenfeld is releasing his latest album All the Birds Sing on Jan. 28 via Lozen Entertainment Group/Copperline. The first single, “The Sky is Falling Down,” alludes to the chaos in the world with a silver lining in its message and is available now.

Shoenfeld has spent the last nine years in Tim McGraw’s touring band, but decided to step out on his own for his new family-inspired project. When going through the track list, his children inspired “Son,” “Pave Those Highways,” and “11,” while “Her Song” is an ode to his wife. Shoenfeld’s cover of “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” ties back to his childhood in New Jersey where he listened to his parents’ Beatles records as well as classic live albums by Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, and the Rolling Stones.

“What I really connected to, and what gave me the chills, was the audience,” Shoenfeld recalls. “I had a guitar in my hand before I turned 5. My parents bought me one because I was air-guitaring to Frampton Comes Alive. I couldn’t help myself.” He continues, “I love getting to play guitar for people and making a living doing that. It’s the best job in the world, but I’ve always been an artist at heart.”

Since 2011, he’s received seven nominations from the Academy of Country Music for Guitar Player of the Year. He’s also accrued credits on more than 40 No. 1 country hits, including Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” by Big & Rich.