The Grand Ole Opry announces the release of a limited-edition vinyl called Unbroken | Empty Room, Full Circle, available on June 24.

The exclusive record honors the performances done in an empty Opry hall after live shows halted on March 14, 2020. For 29 weeks, Saturday night Opry shows continued uninterrupted despite public health orders that temporarily shuttered many other live productions. The Opry continued broadcasting through its weekly WSM radio broadcast and launched the Opry Live television broadcast, which was viewed by more than 50 million people from more than 100 countries during the 29-week period.

“The performances featured on this album brought people together at a time in which they were otherwise largely separated,” says Dan Rogers, executive producer of the album and the Opry. “As a collection, they to me represent some of the most remarkable music made during what I believe will be looked on as a most pivotal time in Opry history.”

Vince Gill and Reba McEntire. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry LLC.

The album includes memorable performances from Opry legends like Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire and many more. Opry member Marty Stuart leads off the collection with “No Hard Time Blues” from the Opry’s March 21, 2020 show.

“Country music is no stranger to hard times,” says Stuart. “The Grand Ole Opry is no stranger to hard times, either. It’s 94 years old [now 95] and has been through world wars, catastrophes, and presidential assassinations, but somehow the show has just gone right along and never gone off the air.”

For the Opry’s 95th Anniversary celebration, a limited audience was welcomed on October 3, 2020 and currently hosts limited audiences at its Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night shows. The Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, will mark a historic, record-breaking milestone with its 5,000th Saturday night broadcast on October 30, 2021.

The first 1,000 vinyl sold will include a special-edition, album-sized Hatch Show Print commemorating the release.

Joey Hendricks. Photo: David Bradley

Joey Hendricks‘ debut Sony Music Nashville EP, Between The Clouds, is out today (March 12).

The project was produced by Daniel Ross and features “Yours or Mine,” “Hollywood,” and three new tracks, all co-written by Hendricks with Ross, Michael Whitworth, Michael Lotten, Claire Douglas, and Zach Abend.

“I named the EP Between The Clouds because writing these songs have been little moments of clarity and light in between a lot of confusion and anxiety that I’ve dealt with over the years,” says Hendricks. “I hope these songs bring some of the same joy they’ve brought me, to others. I’m so excited to finally get to share it with people.”

Originally from Anacortes, Washington, Hendricks moved to Nashville in 2017, and signed a publishing deal with Parallel Entertainment, where then-head Tim Hunze, encouraged him to make the leap as a solo artist. Heavily inspired by songwriters like Neil Young and John Mayer, Hendricks’ music has a timeless feel, touching on heartland rock themes while steeped in country storytelling tradition.

Between The Clouds EP Track List:
1. Yours or Mine (Joey Hendricks, Daniel Ross, Michael Whitworth)
2. Hollywood (Joey Hendricks, Daniel Ross, Michael Whitworth)
3. Top Drawer (Joey Hendricks, Michael Lotten, Michael Whitworth)
4. Going Home (Joey Hendricks, Claire Douglas, Daniel Ross)
5. Drifter (Joey Hendricks, Zach Abend, Michael Whitworth)

The Store, the nonprofit free-referral based grocery store co-founded by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, is celebrating its one-year anniversary and marking a year of serving many more families in a more widespread way than ever imagined when it was originally conceived.

The nonprofit had no idea a year ago how its operation model was going to change. It opened for in-store clients on March 12, 2020, following the March 3 tornado that devastated parts of Nashville. The Store was only open for four days when the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread and in-store shopping was not going to be feasible. A new plan was implemented to reach people in need as they sheltered at home. A home delivery system for the elderly was immediately put in place, and curbside pick-up was implemented for households in need. Weekly deliveries are currently capped at 450 households and curbside pickup is at 200 per week, which is six times the initial projection.

Fifty-four million people are estimated to be suffering from food insecurity nationally at this time, with one in four being children and one in six elderly. The Store serves the community not only food staples, but fresh produce, toiletries, household cleaners, pet food, diapers and other non-food items needed provided by sponsors, partners and donors.

“When we started dreaming about creating The Store years ago, we never imagined we would open our doors just days from catastrophic events—the tornados and then the pandemic—that would greatly impact the need for assistance in our community for months and months to come…. We couldn’t have opened The Store without fantastic community involvement from many people and organizations, including Belmont University, our board, staff, referral partners, volunteers, donors and the Edgehill community,” says The Paisleys, The Store, co-founders. “None of us could have done this alone. We are definitely Better Together.”

The Store’s referring agencies increased from the original six partners in March 2020 to currently fifteen. Clients are referred by Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Edgehill Community Partners/MDHA, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Monroe Harding (Reengagement Hub), Conexión Américas, CMA, Metro Public Health Department (COVID Reserve Group), Oasis (Transitions Program), TriStar Centennial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Hillsboro High School/MNPS Hillsboro Cluster, Safe Haven Family Shelter, Amerigroup, End Slavery TN, Community Achieves Program and YWCA.

“We are so grateful for our community partners who have worked with us as we rapidly adjusted our operating model to meet this year’s challenges, our volunteers who stepped up to deliver groceries to our elderly neighbors, and our donors who recognized that their support meant food on tables this past year,” says Courtney Vrablik, The Store, Executive Director. “I think it’s been a great example of how Nashville is at its best when we work together.”