Sara Evans, Wynonna Judd, RaeLynn, and Kix Brooks are putting a country twist on a holiday classic in a new Hallmark Channel movie, A Nashville Christmas Carol, which is premiering Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Evans plays “Belinda” in the TV movie, which gives a country spin on Charles Dickens’ beloved traditional holiday tale.

Evans is also performing a live series of virtual full band concerts in partnership with VYE over three nights coming up on Dec. 10-12. Each virtual date will have its own theme, with the first show including Evans’ biggest hits including her five chart-topping singles, fan favorite album cuts, and more. The second night will feature the cover songs from her latest album, Copy That, and the last night she’ll perform a virtual version of her annual Christmas concert tour named after her Holiday album, At Christmas. Each show will also include surprise special guests.

Tickets for each of the live virtual shows will start at $14.99 and are available to purchase immediately at vye.live/saraevans, with special packages including exclusive merch bundles and VIP virtual meet & greets also available. A limited number of in-person tickets will be made available at a later date and attendees will be required to follow all appropriate COVID safety protocols including spaced seating, temperature checks, and wearing masks.

Bebe Winans

Longtime BMI-affiliated songwriter and Gospel music legend BeBe Winans will serve as a consultant and personal advisor to BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill. According to a statement from BMI, Winans will “lend his guidance and perspective to help the company navigate these changing times and continue BMI’s efforts to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.”

Winans has earned success both for his musical work with his sister CeCe Winans, and as a solo artist. He has earned six Grammys, 10 Dove Awards, six Stellar Awards, four NAACP Awards and more. He has served as an executive producer for the OWN series Greenleaf, hosted his own radio show on SiriusXM, and has been an actor and author. He shared his life story in the musical Born For This, and released an autobiography by the same name last year. Most recently, Winans released the single “Black Lives Matter,” offering a look at the Black Lives Matter movement and lending his voice to a call for understanding and empathy.

Winans said, “I’m proud to be a partner and guide for BMI and Mike O’Neill as President and CEO at this pivotal moment in our country and our industry. I know BMI is committed to doing the hard work that’s needed and has already taken important steps to drive change, and I’m excited to take this on to advance their progress. I also know Mike as a business leader, and more importantly, I know him as a friend, and I very much look forward to being a partner to him on this moving forward.”

O’Neill added, “I’m very grateful to BeBe for his support, and I know he will be integral in helping BMI continue our efforts to be more diverse and inclusive as a company. Not only is he one of the most inspirational, influential and dynamic songwriter/artists of our time, but importantly, BeBe also brings a wealth of experience and perspective. His wise counsel will be essential to us as BMI continues charting our course forward. I appreciate that BeBe believes in BMI, the mission of our company, and the core foundation of who we are. I will rely on him tremendously as an invaluable resource.”

BMI is also in the process of hiring a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Responsibility Officer to examine the company’s hiring, recruiting and training practices. The company has also developed an internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force as well as Affinity Resource groups, and has established a paid time-off volunteer policy where team members can volunteer at a local, community-based organization promoting diversity, championing social and racial justice, serving underserved communities, and protecting voting rights.

Del McCoury Band at Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

Ricky Skaggs and Del McCoury will help the Grand Ole Opry celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bluegrass music in a special show on Saturday, Dec. 5. Opry member McCoury is also a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and Skaggs is a member of both the Country Music and Bluegrass Halls of Fame. The two will be joined by group Sister Sadie, the first female group to ever be named as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year.

After years in its development, bluegrass as we know it today was born on the Opry stage at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 8, 1945. On that night that Earl Scruggs made his Opry debut with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys that included Lester Flatt, and just three months later, the historic lineup that would serve as the prototype for the bluegrass sound was complete: Monroe on mandolin, Scruggs on banjo, Flatt on guitar, Chubby Wise on fiddle, and Howard Watts on bass.

Earlier this month, the Opry resumed Friday night performances and expanded both Friday and Saturday night shows to two hours. In-venue audiences continue in compliance with operating plans developed in collaboration with the Nashville Public Health Department that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.

Upcoming performers on the Opry include Opry members Bill Anderson, Trace Adkins, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Jeannie Seely, and Chris Young plus special guests Russell Dickerson, Lady A, Keb’ Mo’, Ashley McBryde, Michael Ray, Chris Tomlin, Brett Young and more.