Loretta Lynn To Host Hometown Rising Benefit With Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, More

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Loretta Lynn and a handful of her country music friends will be hosting “Loretta Lynn’s Friends: Hometown Rising Flood Relief Benefit Concert” in response to the devastating flooding that took place in Dickson and Lynn’s hometown of Humphreys Counties.

Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan and Luke Combs have all jumped in to perform with more artists to be announced in the coming days. Slated for Sept.13 at the Grand Ole Opry House, tickets are on sale now. The special event will also be broadcast live on Circle Network at 7 p.m. CT in addition to live streaming on Circle All Access via social media. All proceeds will directly support United Way of Humphreys County.

“I am so honored that so many of our friends are coming together to show so much love for our neighbors and community after such a devastating loss,” shares Lynn. “You know, we’ve all needed help from time-to-time, and that’s why when we can give back, we do.”

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The devastating floods rushed through rural Tennessee on Aug. 17 after the area received more than 15 inches of rain over a six-hour period, leading to flash flooding that took the lives of 20 people–including the Lynn family’s own longtime ranch hand Wayne Spears.

“United Way of Humphreys County has been dedicated to our communities for years, and we established the Humphreys County Flood Relief Fund to get immediate and long-term needs met for all the flood victims,” notes Executive Director Nioka Curtis. “We had no idea this would be one of the worst floods in our history, but our community will be whole again. It’s UWHC’s goal to help make that happen as quickly as possible with the help of our generous donors. From the rental deposits and down payments necessary for people to get re-housed, to remodeling, replacing clothing and rebuilding their lives, we want to make sure their needs are met and we will continue our fight to make that happen.”

Those wanting to donate can click here or text TNFLOODRELIEF to 44321

Nominees For 55th Annual CMA Awards To Be Announced Sept. 9

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The final nominees for The 55th Annual CMA Awards will be revealed Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 a.m. CT.

Hosts, performers and presenters for this year’s CMA Awards will be announced in the coming weeks. The program will air in November on ABC.

At the 54th Annual CMA Awards in 2020, Eric Church took home the biggest honor of the night for Entertainer of the Year, while Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get won Album of the Year and Maren Morris‘ “The Bones” won both Song of the Year and Single of the Year. For a full recap of last year’s award winners, click here.

The 55th Annual CMA Awards is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer.

Cody Johnson Returns In October With ‘Human The Double Album’

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Cody Johnson. Credit Chris Douglas

Cody Johnson has announced his sophomore album from COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville, Human The Double Album, will be released Oct. 8. Johnson has also released brand new tracks “Treasure” and “Son of a Ramblin’ Man,” both of which appear on the 18-track project.

The upcoming double album is packed with songs originally rejected by other Nashville artists for what Johnson considers being “too country for country,” containing songs penned by Willie Nelson, Travis Meadows, Trent Willmon, Harlan Howard, Eric Paslay, Matt Stell, and others.

“It’s so hard to watch the fight to get the cowboy back on the radio, so I told them to bring those songs to me because that’s who I am and the lifestyle I live,” Johnson shares. “There was too much good out there to let go of, so I just said, ‘We’re going to cut all of them.’ There are ones I wrote on, there are ones I didn’t write on, and there are ones that I wish I’d written.” He continues, “I addressed things personally with this music and when people listen to Human, they are going to hear a lot more of me being me. I am finally comfortable with myself and able to share that with my fans.”

Johnson’s recently released feature-length documentary, Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, is also available to rent or purchased exclusively via the Apple TV app through Oct. 8. The documentary was first released to select cinemas nationwide for a limited time, with multiple showings added due to popular demand, totaling 239 theaters. Throughout the film, Johnson opens up about how his years on the rodeo circuit prepared him for being a country artist.

Human The Double Album Track List:

Cody Johnson. Credit Chris Douglas

Part 1
1. Human – Tony Lane, Travis Meadows
2. Honky Tonk Hardwood Floors – Carson Chamberlain, Wyatt McCubbin, Michael White
3. Sad Songs and Waltzes – Willie Nelson
4. ’Til You Can’t – Matt Rogers, Ben Stennis
5. God Bless the Boy (Cori’s Song) – Barrett Baber, Terri Jo Box, Scott Sean White
6. Known for Loving You – Cody Johnson, Ben Hayslip, Trent Willmon
7. Driveway – Lindsay Rimes, Matt Rogers
8. Son of a Ramblin’ Man – Vince Gill
9. I Always Wanted To – Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin, Jordyn Shellhart

Part 2
10. I Don’t Know a Thing About Love – Harlan Howard
11. Longer Than She Did – Eric Paslay, Paul Sikes, Matt Stell
12. Made a Home – Cody Johnson, Jesse Raub, Scott Sean White
13. Let’s Build a Fire – Chris Janson, Mitch Oglesby
14. When It Comes to You – Jeremy Bussey, Tony Lane
15. Treasure – Matt Rogers
16. Stronger – Jared Elledge, Dustin Miller, Trent Willmon
17. Cowboy Scale of 1 to 10 – Cody Johnson, David Frasier, Trent Willmon
18. By Your Grace – Cody Johnson

Nashville Symphony Announces New Health & Safety Protocols

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The Nashville Symphony has announced new health and safety protocols for patrons attending events at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Beginning Sept. 13, proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test within 48 hours of the performance will be required for all audience members. For patrons who cannot provide either, on-site rapid tests will be available for no charge through Nov. 28. Face masks will also be required indoors at the Schermerhorn at all times, with no exceptions for age, medical or religious reasons, or vaccination status.

Additionally, MERV-14 filters have also been installed in all air-handling units throughout the venue. These filters are considered to be hospital-grade and are extremely effective at filtering out pathogens.

“Everyone’s safety–our audiences, musicians, staff, and volunteers–is our top priority. With heightened concerns around the spread of COVID-19 because of the Delta variant, this updated policy puts patrons’ health first and allows us to get back to fulfilling our mission: making music for the people of Nashville and Middle Tennessee,” says Alan D. Valentine, President & CEO.

Details about the new policy along with frequently asked questions can be found here. Health and safety measures may be updated as conditions of the pandemic warrant.

Morgan Wallen To Host Benefit Concert For Waverly Flood Victims

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Big Loud/Republic Records’ multi-Platinum recording artist Morgan Wallen will host “Morgan Wallen and Friends” on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Marathon Music Works in response to the recent catastrophic flooding in Middle Tennessee.

The singer-songwriter announced the event via social media last night (Sept. 2) saying, “I have been touched and heartbroken by the stories I’ve heard from the recent flooding and it’s impact in Middle Tennessee. Wanted to do my part to help.” He continues, “Proud that this is my first official show in such a long time. Hope you guys can make it on such short notice.”

The writers round style show will feature performances from Hardy, Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, Lainey Wilson, Josh Thompson, Ernest, Ben Burgess, Lathan Warlick, and Jared Mullins. Tickets for the event sold out instantly after the “Whiskey Glasses” singer made the announcement.

Proceeds from the acoustic concert will benefit The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund, assisting victims of the recent storms and flooding in Humphreys County and Middle Tennessee. To make a direct donation, click here.

Aldean, Underwood Rocket To No. 1 On MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart

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“If I Didn’t Love You” by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood bolts to the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Gaining an additional 5 stations and a +175 spins this week. This single the quickest to reach No. 1 in 2021, doing so in a record six weeks.

“If I Didn’t Love You” was written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan and Lydia Vaughan, and produced by Michael Knox.

Aldean shares, “We were pretty close to finishing up this album, but this song came in and we knew we had to record it. I went ahead and put my vocals down while we asked Carrie in the meantime. Luckily she loved the song and it was kind of like a rocket from there. She did her thing like only Carrie can… and I don’t know how, but she made it sound even better than what we expected. It’s a really special song to start this album.”

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Charlie Worsham: ‘Life’s Been Really Great Here Lately’ [Interview]

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Photo: Jason Myers

Beloved musician Charlie Worsham is in a sweet season of life. In April, he and his wife Kristen welcomed their first child, son Gabriel Thomas; and in July, Worsham released his anticipated new EP, Sugarcane. The project follows Worsham’s 2017 album, Beginning of Things, which received critical acclaim across the board.

“Life’s been really great here lately. In the midst of this pandemic, I’ve been so excited to be able to continue to work. The session work that’s happened in the last year has been a godsend, and getting to be around Kristen during the pregnancy was amazing,” Worsham beams.

The sweetness shines through on Worsham’s Warner Music Nashville release, Sugarcane. Produced by Jay Joyce, the six-song release finds the singer-songwriter marveling on endearing romance (“Sugarcane,” “Half Drunk”), frustrating disappointment (“Fist Through This Town”), hope (“Believe In Love”), and what really matters in life (“For The Love,” “Hang On To That”).

Worsham wrote the title track on the flight home from his honeymoon. “I’m the one person who brought a guitar to his honeymoon,” Worsham quips.

“Kristen had gone out to get some coffee or something and I was messing with little riff. I put in my phone, as we do, and I didn’t think anything of it. On the last full day there, we signed up for this tour of a farm on a mountain side. We rode horses, pet the chickens, and tried cheese that they make and all this stuff. At the end of the tour you got to take a strip of sugarcane and use this hand crank to get the juice out of it.

“These things all got planted in my brain and on the flight home, I started writing the song. I think it’s representative of the full set of tunes because of everything that has happened for me since the last time the world heard from me. The last time the world heard from me I was sandwiched between Sam Hunt and Kip Moore on tour and I was not in a good place, I was very angry. That’s where ‘Fist Through This Town’ comes into the story. But eventually I stopped writing songs for everybody else and I started writing songs for this one person. I was trying to get Kristen to laugh or to get her to think I was sweet. That’s where these songs started happening.”

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Worsham’s muse is the subject of a few songs on the project, another being “Half Drunk.”

“I first told Kristen that I loved her outside the Station Inn after my Beginning of Things album release. It was April, 2017. The week before the record came out, my day-to-day manager quit management, my publisher had dropped me and I owed him 10 copyrights, and I could feel in my gut already that this record wasn’t going to be my Gambler like it was for Don Schlitz. But I was in love with this girl and I worked up the courage to tell her. That’s where the song comes from.

“The title is actually from a line of dialogue and an episode of Twin Peaks, which we binged early in the pandemic. The line was ‘half drunk, half joking and half crazy.’ I wrote it with Jay Knowles.”

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“Believe In Love,” co-written by Worsham and Jimmy Bell, tells the musician’s guiding life principles. “I believe our better days are up ahead and not behind / I believe we’ll have our struggles but they’ll get sweeter with time,” Worsham sings.

“It’s my story of the roadmap that I was raised and sent away from home with for how to live and love. And then of course the future that I’m building now with my wife.”

Worsham’s romantic, hopeful and wise EP Sugarcane is available everywhere now.

Industry Ink: Sharon Brawner, Jim Hurst, Cliff Dorsey

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Former Country Music Hall of Fame Exec. Sharon Brawner Named President & CEO Of The National Corvette Museum

Sharon Brawner. Photo: Donn Jones

Sharon Brawner has been named as the new President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. She most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville for nearly two decades.

Brawner initially joined the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum staff in 2001 as director of new business development. In her most recent role as SVP of sales, marketing & IT, she had day-to-day oversight of the museum’s revenue-producing areas, including admission ticket sales, special event sales, restaurant and catering sales, product licensing, corporate sponsorships, and the Museum’s retail store sales. Brawner also oversaw management of the historic RCA Studio B, the Home of 1,000 Hits, and Hatch Show Print.

Brawner assumed full CEO duties at the National Corvette Museum on Sept. 1, 2021.

“Sharon possesses the necessary skills to expand the mission of this museum and work collaboratively across the organization to help us reach our strategic objectives, says NCM Board Chairman Glenn Johnson. “Sharon’s leadership skills are proven, and we’re fortunate that her career path led her to our organization.”

“As a Kentucky native and a true car enthusiast, I have long been a fan of the Corvette. I’m thrilled to be able to bring my experience in tourism, museum, and non-profit leadership to The National Corvette Museum,” shares Brawner. “I’m beyond honored to accept the position of President and CEO, and I know that, together with the NCM team, we can create incredible new opportunities to continue the growth and success of this world class museum.”

 

 

Jim Hurst Joins Pinecastle Records, Reissues ‘Second Son’ Project

Pinecastle Records has added award-winning artist Jim Hurst to its roster. The singer-songwriter is currently in the studio finishing up new music expected to release in early 2022. He is also re-issuing his 2001 project, Second Son.

Second Son was Hurst’s first album on Pinecastle Records, featuring collaborations with acts like Russell Moore, Alison Brown, Missy Raines, John Cowan, Jesse Brock, Casey Driessen, Randy Kohrs, Ned Lubercki, Shawn Lane, Ron Stewart, Wayne Benson, Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Charlie Cushman, Ray Deaton, Scott Vestal, Tim Stafford and Kristin Scott Benson.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome Jim Hurst back to Pinecastle Records,” says Pinecastle CEO Ethan Burkhardt. “Over the years, he’s established himself as one of the premiere musicians in the bluegrass genre, and we’re ecstatic for everyone to hear the amazing music that he has coming up. The next chapter of Jim’s career is looking very bright and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Hurst has been honored by the bluegrass industry on multiple occasions, including with Guitar Player of the Year from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Most recently, he has seen success on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart with his solo penned “It’s a Beautiful Day.”

 

 

Black Sheep Label Signs Cliff Dorsey

Cliff Dorsey. Photo: Bill Thompson

Black Sheep Label has signed singer-songwriter Cliff Dorsey to an exclusive recording deal.

The Florida native bought his first guitar at fifteen and soon began performing songs at church. He soon began playing shows around his hometown of High Springs and eventually released his first album, 321, which included “If Whiskey Was A Woman.” In fall of 2020, he released Hurricane Blues.

“We are so honored to have the opportunity to sign Cliff Dorsey and welcome him to the Black Sheep family,” says Susan Hobbs Ortiz, CEO Black Sheep Label. “His deep, rich traditional sound will bring you back to the roots of country music.”

Dorsey is working on new music for his Black Sheep debut release expected later this year.

The Cadillac Three Bring 10 Year Anniversary Tour To The Ryman Auditorium

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Photo: Nathan Leslie

The Cadillac Three returned to their hometown of Nashville last night (Sept. 1) for the first of a two-night stint at the Ryman Auditorium.

Singer-guitarist Jaren Johnston, drummer Neil Mason and lap-steel guitarist Kelby Ray have been performing together for a decade, and are celebrating the feat with a 10th anniversary tour.

Last night the country-rock trio entertained with their signature “I’m Southern,” “Tennessee Mojo,” “Bury Me In My Boots,” “American Slang,” “The Jam” and more. Hey Steve opened for the band last night, and Boy Named Banjo will heat up the crowd tonight.

Photo: Nathan Leslie

“We’re grateful to be here with you all tonight in our hometown of Nashville, Tennessee! This past year has been hard on fans, families and independent venues so we’ve tried to help highlight these special rooms where so many memories – and for some of you, a few babies – are made,” joked Jaren. “It’s been a hell of ride with Neil and Kelby, but being back at the Ryman to play you all songs from over a decade of life is pretty badass!”

In Pictures: Nelly, FGL, Kane Brown, Breland, Blanco Brown Perform On ‘CMT Crossroads’

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Kane Brown, Breland, Nelly, City Spud and Blanco Brown perform onstage for CMT Crossroads: Nelly & friends at The Factory At Franklin on Sept. 1, 2021 in Franklin, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for CMT

Hip-hop recording artist Nelly made history as the first rapper to headline CMT Crossroads with his episode which aired last night (Sept. 1).

Joined by longtime friends and collaborators Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & Breland, the 60-minute episode featured performances from Nelly’s new country-inspired EP Heartland as well as some of his chart-topping hits to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his album Country Grammar.

CMT Crossroads shows the far-reaching roots of country music by pairing country artists with musicians from other genres. The series originally debuted on Jan. 13, 2002 with Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams

Upcoming encores can be found as follows:
Friday, Sept. 3 – 9 p.m. CT on VH1 // 11 p.m. CT on CMT
Saturday, Sept. 4 – 8 a.m. CT on MTV // 12 p.m. on CMT
Friday, Sept. 10 – 9 p.m. CST on CMT Music // 11 p.m. CT on BET

Nelly and Blanco Brown perform onstage for CMT Crossroads: Nelly & friends at The Factory At Franklin on Sept.1, 2021 in Franklin, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for CMT

Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, Nelly and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line perform onstage for CMT Crossroads: Nelly & friends at The Factory At Franklin on Sept. 1, 2021 in Franklin, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for CMT

Nelly and Kane Brown perform onstage for CMT Crossroads: Nelly & friends at The Factory At Franklin on Sept. 1, 2021 in Franklin, Tennessee. Photo: Jason Davis/Getty Images for CMT