Ryan Hurd’s “Chasing After You” Earns Platinum Certification

Arista Nashville’s Ryan Hurd recently celebrated the release of his debut album, Pelago, as well as the RIAA Platinum certification of his Top 5 and climbing hit “Chasing After You” with Maren Morris. The album was inspired by Hurd’s upbringing on the shores of Lake Michigan, and was produced with childhood friend and longtime creative partner Aaron Eshuis, with further contributions from Jesse Frasure and Teddy Reimer.

The track reached the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart on Oct. 1, 2021.

Hurd is nominated for two trophies at next month’s CMA Awards–Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Chasing After You.” He kicks off his “Tour de Pelago” headline run in January with dates including Chicago’s The Vic, New York’s Irving Plaza, Nashville’s Marathon Music Works and more.

 

 

Grammy Winning Musician Paul Martin Honored With Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame Exhibit

Paul Martin, the former lead singer of country/pop group Exile and a Grammy award–winning artist, will be honored in a new exhibit at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Martin’s exhibit features a large shadow box that will showcase highlights of his career with Exile, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, and Rockland Road, including stage clothes and one of Martin’s go-to guitars played on all the Exile hits throughout the ’90s.

The exhibit unveiling will be held Friday, Oct. 22, followed by an acoustic performance by Martin’s current band, Rockland Road. The event is free and open to the public, and will also be livestreamed on the museum’s Facebook page.

“When I was a little boy my mom and dad played in a country band, and their guitar player, Dave Reffet, would leave his Gretsch Chet Atkins guitar at my dad’s studio and would encourage me to play it,”recalls Martin. “It was literally the guitar I learned to play on. Seven years ago his family gave me that guitar! I never once thought while I was learning to play, that my love and obsession with music would bring me to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum today. I’m so thankful for my career and everyone that played a part in getting me here.”

 

 

Bob DiPiero, Ronnie Bowman & Payton Smith Play The Bluebird To Support Habitat for Humanity

Bob DiPiero, Ronnie Bowman and Payton Smith performed at the Bluebird Cafe on Tuesday (Oct. 26) to a sold out crowd and raised money for the Habitat for Humanity Music Row build.

Music Row Build began in 2003 and helped eight local families purchase affordable homes before it ended in 2012. Habitat’s Music Row build reignited in 2020 when Mark Brown, senior vice president and GM of Round Hill Music, decided he wanted to do more to help hardworking Nashville residents have equal opportunities to live in the city in which they work.

Donations are still being accepted here to help meet the fundraising goal.

 

 

Natalie Grant’s “Your Great Name” Goes Gold

Curb | Word Entertainment and Maximum Artist Management recently celebrated Natalie Grant’s RIAA Gold certification for “Your Great Name.” Members of Grant’s team commemorated the milestone with a plaque presentation at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Grant is an eight-time Grammy winner and has remained one of Christian music’s top-selling artists since her 2005 breakout RIAA Gold-certified album, Awaken. Having been named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association five times, Grant has propelled multiple singles and records to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard album charts.

Grant was nominated for two awards at the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. Winners will be revealed tomorrow (Oct. 22).

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Brent Cobb is releasing his debut gospel album, And Now, Let’s Turn To Page…, on Jan. 28 via his own label, Ol’ Buddy Records. Ahead of the release, the track “We Shall Rise” is available everywhere now.

The album, which was produced by Dave Cobb and recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, includes new renditions of eight traditional gospel favorites, as well as one original track, “When It’s My Time,” penned by Cobb, his wife Layne and Mike Harmeier. Through the songs, Cobb pays homage to the community and values of his hometown while incorporating his signature sound of country, blues and southern rock.

The project came to fruition in part due to a near-death experience in July 2020, when the vehicle that Cobb was driving with his young son inside got T-boned at a rural four-way stop.

“You just start piecing together how everything is sort of intentional… I’d always had it in the back of my mind to make a gospel album. That moment of clarity, of almost getting killed, made me think I should just make the gospel album now,” shares Cobb. “I’ve always wanted to make a southern gospel album because it’s what I come from, but also it used to seem like a rite of passage for country singers to make a gospel album. I’m just trying to carry on that torch.”

The album was also a family affair of sorts for Cobb, who enlisted the help of his wife, his mother Renee Cobb, his sister Alecia Grant, his father Patrick Cobb and his cousin Dave on the closing track, “Blessed Be The Tie That Binds.” Also featured on the project are backing vocals from Anderson East, Caylee Hammack, and members of Antioch, a Georgia-based gospel group led by Cobb’s father.

And Now, Let’s Turn To Page... Track List:
1. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
2. When It’s My Time
3. In The Garden
4. Are You Washed in the Blood?
5. Softly and Tenderly
6. Old Rugged Cross
7. We Shall Rise
8. Old Country Church
9. Blessed Be The Tie That Binds

The Country Music Association has announced the first round of performers for the upcoming 55th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 10.

Hosted by Luke Bryan, the award show will be broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and will feature some of country’s biggest hits today, including CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Jimmie Allen singing “Freedom Was a Highway;” reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and five-time nominee this year Eric Church performing “Heart On Fire;” and reigning and two-time consecutive CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Dan + Shay on “I Should Probably Go To Bed.”

Three-time CMA Awards nominated group this year Brothers Osborne will also deliver a personal performance from their CMA Album of the Year-nominated Skeletons, while CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Mickey Guyton will welcome Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards for a collaboration from her debut album, Remember Her Name. Two-time nominee Carly Pearce and three-time nominee Ashley McBryde will perform “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” and 10-time CMA Awards-winner Blake Shelton will bring his “Come Back as a Country Boy” to the CMA Awards stage.

Additional performers and presenters for the 55th Annual CMA Awards will be revealed in the coming weeks. Winners will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members. The third and final ballot is open now, with voting closing Wednesday, Oct. 27  at 6 p.m. CT.