Pictured (clockwise from top left): Kent Blazy, Brett James, Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Spooner Oldham
Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy, Brett James and Spooner Oldham have been elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, according to an announcement made today by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors.
The five new inductees-elect – who next year will join 219 of their previously named colleagues in the elite organization – will be officially inducted during the “50-51” edition of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Monday, November 1, 2021, at the Music City Center. The Class of 2020 will join the yet-to-be named Class of 2021 to celebrate the 50th and 51st anniversaries of the event, which was postponed this year because of the ongoing health crisis.
“This year marks our 50th year to welcome a new class into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And although our year has looked different, we couldn’t be more excited to continue our commitment and core mission by announcing the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2020,” says Cates. “It’s our great honor today to welcome our class of 2020: Kent Blazy and Brett James in the songwriter category; Spooner Oldham in the veteran songwriter category, Steve Earle as our songwriter/artist and Bobbie Gentry as our veteran songwriter/artist.”
Kent Blazy’s songwriter credits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes” (Garth Brooks), “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up)” (Garth Brooks) and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” (Chris Young).
Brett James’ resume is known for “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “When The Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker) and “Summer Nights” (Rascal Flatts).
Spooner Oldham is the writer of R&B and Pop hits such as “I’m Your Puppet” (James & Bobby Purify), “Cry Like A Baby” (The Box Tops) and “Sweet Inspiration” (The Sweet Inspirations).
Multiple Grammy Award winner Steve Earle recorded many of his self-penned hits, including “Guitar Town,” “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand.”
Artist/songwriter/producer Bobbie Gentry popularized many of her own compositions such as the oft-recorded smash “Ode To Billie Joe,” “Fancy” and “Mornin’ Glory.”
Since 1970, the Hall has enshrined more than 200 of the greatest writers from all genres of music ever to put words to music in Music City, including such luminaries as Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Garth Brooks, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Johnny Cash, Don & Phil Everly, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.
For more biographical information on each inductee, see below:
KENT BLAZY
Kent Blazy grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, playing in various local bands. By the mid-’70s, he was touring as a guitar player for Canadian legend Ian Tyson. After a first-place win in a national songwriting competition, Kent decided to make the move to Nashville. In 1982, Gary Morris sent Kent’s “Headed For A Heartache” to No. 5 on the country chart. Soon after, other cuts followed with The Forester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo and Moe Bandy. In 1987, Kent was introduced to new demo singer Garth Brooks. The two began writing together, and their first collaboration, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” became Brooks’ first No. 1 single and NSAI’s 1989 Song of the Year. Their writing partnership yielded four additional Top 5 songs with “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up),” “Somewhere Other Than The Night,” “It’s Midnight Cinderella” and “She’s Gonna Make It.” Kent also was a co-writer on the Brooks & George Jones duet “Beer Run,” as well as on “That’s What I Get For Lovin’ You” by Diamond Rio, “My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me” by American Idol finalist Danny Gokey and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” by Chris Young.
BRETT JAMES
Midway through medical school, Oklahoma City native Brett James left college to pursue music in Nashville. After several years as an Arista/Career recording artist, he continued writing for others, scoring early cuts by Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride. In 2001, “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews became Brett’s first #1 hit. In 2006, the chart-topping “Jesus Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood earned the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2005 ACM Single of the Year, the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2006 NSAI Song of the Year. Now with more than 300 major-label cuts, Brett’s catalogue includes hits such as “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker, “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood, “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins, “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney, “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young and “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert. Brett also has a Top 5 Latin hit with “The One You Love (Todo Mi Amor)” by Paulina Rubio. Brett was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010. In 2020, he released a new self-written album titled I Am Now.
SPOONER OLDHAM
Star City, Alabama, native Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham started off in Muscle Shoals as a session keyboardist before moving to Memphis in the mid-1960s. It was there that he formed a songwriting partnership with Vernon, Alabama, native Dan Penn, who also had cut his musical teeth in Muscle Shoals. As a duo, Oldham & Penn created many often-recorded R&B and Pop hits such as “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify, “It Tears Me Up” and “Out Of Left Field” by Percy Sledge, “Cry Like A Baby” by The Box Tops, “Sweet Inspiration” by The Sweet Inspirations, “I Worship The Ground You Walk On” by Jimmy Hughes, “Take Me (Just As I Am)” by Solomon Burke and “Up Tight, Good Man” by Laura Lee. Outside the duo, Spooner’s catalog includes songs such as “Lonely Women Make Good Lovers” — a Country hit for both Bob Luman and Steve Wariner — and “Another Night Of Love” for Freddy Weller. In addition to songwriting, Spooner has played keyboards in sessions and on the road for artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Dickey Betts and many others. Spooner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “sideman” category in 2009.
STEVE EARLE
Steve Earle grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he began playing guitar at age 11. Dropping out of school at age 16, he moved to Houston. Then in 1974, Steve moved to Nashville, where he worked blue-collar jobs by day and played music by night before landing a gig playing bass in Guy Clark’s band. Ever restless, Steve formed his own band, The Dukes, in 1982 — the same year that Johnny Lee took Steve’s self-penned “When You Fall In Love” into the Top 20. Moving on from his previous publishing- and record- deals, Steve released his first full-length album on MCA in 1986. The title track, “Guitar Town,” reached the Top 10 that year, followed by another Top 10, “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left,” the next year. In 1987, Steve’s “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied” reached #26 on the Rock chart. In 1988 – the year Patty Loveless reached #2 with Steve’s “A Little Bit In Love” – he hit #10 on the Rock chart with “Copperhead Road,” the title track of his landmark album. Other classic songs from Steve’s pen include “My Old Friend The Blues” (also recorded by T. Graham Brown, Joe Nichols, The Grascals), “Nothing But A Child” (also recorded by Nicolette Larson, Kathy Mattea, Lee Ann Womack), “The Devil’s Right Hand” (also recorded by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger) and Miranda Lambert’s Top 20 hit “Kerosene.”
BOBBIE GENTRY
Born Roberta Lee Streeter near Woodland, Mississippi, Bobbie Gentry was raised on her grandparents’ farm following the divorce of her parents. At age seven, she composed her first song and began teaching herself to play a variety of instruments. At 13 she moved to California to live with her mother. Following high school, Bobbie entered UCLA as a philosophy major. During that time, she began performing occasionally at nightclubs before signing with Capitol Records several years later. In 1967 Bobbie released her first single, “Mississippi Delta,” however, it was the flipside, “Ode To Billie Joe,” that became a worldwide smash. (That single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.) After the release of her follow-up “Okolona River Bottom Band,” Bobbie scored another hit single with her self-penned “Fancy” (which would also become a hit years later for Reba McEntire). Bobbie wrote and performed other hits into the mid-1970s, including “Mornin’ Glory” (a duet with Glen Campbell) and “But I Can’t Get Back.” In 1968-71, Bobbie had her own TV series on the BBC in the U.K. She later produced, choreographed, and wrote/arranged the music for her own nightclub revue in Las Vegas before retiring from show business in the early 1980s.
Matt Stell Earns Second No. 1 Hit: “What A Great Feeling To Ring The Bell For A Song That Means So Much To Me”
/by Jessica NicholsonMatt Stell. Photo: Dustin Haney
Matt Stell has notched his second No. 1 single, as “Everywhere But On” tops the both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the Mediabase Country chart this week. The song follows his breakthrough chart-topper, “Prayed For You,” which reached the pinnacle of the country charts in October 2019.
This second No. 1 hit makes RECORDS/Arista Nashville artist Stell, only the seventh debut artist in the past five years to earn consecutive No. 1 hits with their first and second singles.
“This song is really personal to me, and it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, so the fact that we’ve been able to get a No. 1 with this is special,” he told MusicRow Magazine of “Everywhere But On.” “The feeling is a little different from my first No. 1, because with the first one, I didn’t know what to expect, but with this one, I had expectations and man, what a great feeling to ring the bell on a song that means so much to me.”
Stell co-wrote the track alongside Lance Miller and Paul Sikes.
“Paul tossed out the title idea, and I knew immediately that it was a song I wanted to be a part of,” Stell recalls of the writing session. “I interjected a lot of my own experiences in it and I got to write it with two great friends.”
One of the lines that stood out for Stell was My mail’s still goin’ to mama’s house/’Cause I’m still long gone tryin’ to figure out/Who I am without you.
“That’s definitely a line that is true,” he says. “ I was on the road so much, that I didn’t have a steady place for me to get mail, so to this day there is stuff that gets sent to my mom’s house that she has to keep for me or send to me. That was one lyric that really struck me as personal.”
Arkansas native Stell is also in his 67th week on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, and at 24 weeks as of Oct. 31, Stell holds the record for the most weeks spent in the chart’s Top 5 among all country acts since the Billboard Emerging Artists chart was launched.
Like most artists and songwriters in 2020, Stell says he has been taking advantage of being off the road to further deepen his catalog of songs.
“The co-writing has been the silver lining to all of this. I normally wouldn’t have so much time to write. I’ve done a lot of Zoom writes, but I’ve done a few in-person writes. I think going forward, Zoom writes are something that will stick around, now that everyone has gotten a little used to it. If you have a good idea, and your buddy is in California or New York, you can still co-write. I think that is one positive that is going to stick around.”
BREAKING: Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise from top left): Kent Blazy, Brett James, Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Spooner Oldham
Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy, Brett James and Spooner Oldham have been elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, according to an announcement made today by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors.
The five new inductees-elect – who next year will join 219 of their previously named colleagues in the elite organization – will be officially inducted during the “50-51” edition of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Monday, November 1, 2021, at the Music City Center. The Class of 2020 will join the yet-to-be named Class of 2021 to celebrate the 50th and 51st anniversaries of the event, which was postponed this year because of the ongoing health crisis.
“This year marks our 50th year to welcome a new class into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And although our year has looked different, we couldn’t be more excited to continue our commitment and core mission by announcing the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2020,” says Cates. “It’s our great honor today to welcome our class of 2020: Kent Blazy and Brett James in the songwriter category; Spooner Oldham in the veteran songwriter category, Steve Earle as our songwriter/artist and Bobbie Gentry as our veteran songwriter/artist.”
Kent Blazy’s songwriter credits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes” (Garth Brooks), “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up)” (Garth Brooks) and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” (Chris Young).
Brett James’ resume is known for “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “When The Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker) and “Summer Nights” (Rascal Flatts).
Spooner Oldham is the writer of R&B and Pop hits such as “I’m Your Puppet” (James & Bobby Purify), “Cry Like A Baby” (The Box Tops) and “Sweet Inspiration” (The Sweet Inspirations).
Multiple Grammy Award winner Steve Earle recorded many of his self-penned hits, including “Guitar Town,” “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand.”
Artist/songwriter/producer Bobbie Gentry popularized many of her own compositions such as the oft-recorded smash “Ode To Billie Joe,” “Fancy” and “Mornin’ Glory.”
Since 1970, the Hall has enshrined more than 200 of the greatest writers from all genres of music ever to put words to music in Music City, including such luminaries as Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Garth Brooks, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Johnny Cash, Don & Phil Everly, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Bob McDill, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.
For more biographical information on each inductee, see below:
KENT BLAZY
Kent Blazy grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, playing in various local bands. By the mid-’70s, he was touring as a guitar player for Canadian legend Ian Tyson. After a first-place win in a national songwriting competition, Kent decided to make the move to Nashville. In 1982, Gary Morris sent Kent’s “Headed For A Heartache” to No. 5 on the country chart. Soon after, other cuts followed with The Forester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Donna Fargo and Moe Bandy. In 1987, Kent was introduced to new demo singer Garth Brooks. The two began writing together, and their first collaboration, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” became Brooks’ first No. 1 single and NSAI’s 1989 Song of the Year. Their writing partnership yielded four additional Top 5 songs with “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up),” “Somewhere Other Than The Night,” “It’s Midnight Cinderella” and “She’s Gonna Make It.” Kent also was a co-writer on the Brooks & George Jones duet “Beer Run,” as well as on “That’s What I Get For Lovin’ You” by Diamond Rio, “My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me” by American Idol finalist Danny Gokey and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” by Chris Young.
BRETT JAMES
Midway through medical school, Oklahoma City native Brett James left college to pursue music in Nashville. After several years as an Arista/Career recording artist, he continued writing for others, scoring early cuts by Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride. In 2001, “Who I Am” by Jessica Andrews became Brett’s first #1 hit. In 2006, the chart-topping “Jesus Take The Wheel” by Carrie Underwood earned the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2005 ACM Single of the Year, the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year and the 2006 NSAI Song of the Year. Now with more than 300 major-label cuts, Brett’s catalogue includes hits such as “When The Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker, “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood, “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins, “Out Last Night” by Kenny Chesney, “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts, “The Man I Want To Be” by Chris Young and “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert. Brett also has a Top 5 Latin hit with “The One You Love (Todo Mi Amor)” by Paulina Rubio. Brett was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year in 2006 and 2010. In 2020, he released a new self-written album titled I Am Now.
SPOONER OLDHAM
Star City, Alabama, native Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham started off in Muscle Shoals as a session keyboardist before moving to Memphis in the mid-1960s. It was there that he formed a songwriting partnership with Vernon, Alabama, native Dan Penn, who also had cut his musical teeth in Muscle Shoals. As a duo, Oldham & Penn created many often-recorded R&B and Pop hits such as “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify, “It Tears Me Up” and “Out Of Left Field” by Percy Sledge, “Cry Like A Baby” by The Box Tops, “Sweet Inspiration” by The Sweet Inspirations, “I Worship The Ground You Walk On” by Jimmy Hughes, “Take Me (Just As I Am)” by Solomon Burke and “Up Tight, Good Man” by Laura Lee. Outside the duo, Spooner’s catalog includes songs such as “Lonely Women Make Good Lovers” — a Country hit for both Bob Luman and Steve Wariner — and “Another Night Of Love” for Freddy Weller. In addition to songwriting, Spooner has played keyboards in sessions and on the road for artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Dickey Betts and many others. Spooner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “sideman” category in 2009.
STEVE EARLE
Steve Earle grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he began playing guitar at age 11. Dropping out of school at age 16, he moved to Houston. Then in 1974, Steve moved to Nashville, where he worked blue-collar jobs by day and played music by night before landing a gig playing bass in Guy Clark’s band. Ever restless, Steve formed his own band, The Dukes, in 1982 — the same year that Johnny Lee took Steve’s self-penned “When You Fall In Love” into the Top 20. Moving on from his previous publishing- and record- deals, Steve released his first full-length album on MCA in 1986. The title track, “Guitar Town,” reached the Top 10 that year, followed by another Top 10, “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left,” the next year. In 1987, Steve’s “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied” reached #26 on the Rock chart. In 1988 – the year Patty Loveless reached #2 with Steve’s “A Little Bit In Love” – he hit #10 on the Rock chart with “Copperhead Road,” the title track of his landmark album. Other classic songs from Steve’s pen include “My Old Friend The Blues” (also recorded by T. Graham Brown, Joe Nichols, The Grascals), “Nothing But A Child” (also recorded by Nicolette Larson, Kathy Mattea, Lee Ann Womack), “The Devil’s Right Hand” (also recorded by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger) and Miranda Lambert’s Top 20 hit “Kerosene.”
BOBBIE GENTRY
Born Roberta Lee Streeter near Woodland, Mississippi, Bobbie Gentry was raised on her grandparents’ farm following the divorce of her parents. At age seven, she composed her first song and began teaching herself to play a variety of instruments. At 13 she moved to California to live with her mother. Following high school, Bobbie entered UCLA as a philosophy major. During that time, she began performing occasionally at nightclubs before signing with Capitol Records several years later. In 1967 Bobbie released her first single, “Mississippi Delta,” however, it was the flipside, “Ode To Billie Joe,” that became a worldwide smash. (That single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.) After the release of her follow-up “Okolona River Bottom Band,” Bobbie scored another hit single with her self-penned “Fancy” (which would also become a hit years later for Reba McEntire). Bobbie wrote and performed other hits into the mid-1970s, including “Mornin’ Glory” (a duet with Glen Campbell) and “But I Can’t Get Back.” In 1968-71, Bobbie had her own TV series on the BBC in the U.K. She later produced, choreographed, and wrote/arranged the music for her own nightclub revue in Las Vegas before retiring from show business in the early 1980s.
for King & Country, Tauren Wells, We The Kingdom, Tasha Cobbs Leonard Top 51st GMA Dove Awards
/by Jessica Nicholsonfor King & Country. Photo: Don Claussen/Trap The Light Photography for Dove Awards
The 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards winners were announced Friday evening (Oct. 30), and broadcast on TBN.
for King & Country earned their first Artist of the Year win, the evening’s top honor, only six years after earning their first No. 1 Christian Airplay hit with “Fix Your Eyes.” They earned their first Dove Award in 2013, for New Artist of the Year. This year has been a whirlwind of collaborations and accolades for the brother duo, who earned another No. 1 hit with “Together” featuring Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin, and took home Grammy honors earlier this year for “God Only Knows” featuring Dolly Parton. Their video clip for the song also earned Short-Form Video of the Year at this year’s Dove Awards. The duo also released their Christmas Album, A Drummer Boy Christmas.
“We just heard the news about the Artist of the Year award,” for King & Country’s Joel Smallbone, said via a video message on Friday evening. “We’re very grateful. [We] loved seeing you all finding new ways, in times like this … to come together and do something new, do something fresh. Love seeing the diversity and the representation. Good on you…We’re proud to receive this award.”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard performs onstage for the 2020 Dove Awards at TBN Studios. Photo: Don Claussen/Trap The Light Photography for Dove Awards
Tasha Cobbs Leonard was named Gospel Artist of the Year. We The Kingdom earned New Artist of the Year honors.
Like every awards show this year, the GMA Dove Awards took precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and offered pre-taped performances and interviews from artists including Jeremy Camp, and Jonathan McReynolds. for King & Country opened the show with “Amen,” featuring LeCrae and Tony Williams, while Leonard performed “Release the Sound” and Leeland collaborated with Mandisa and Sinach on “Way Maker.”
A performance of “Famous For (I Believe)” from Tauren Wells, Christine D’Clario, Jenn Johnson and Jekalyn Carr during the 2020 Dove Awards. Photo: Don Claussen
This year’s show featured Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year winner Tauren Wells collaborating with Christine D’Clario, Jenn Johnson and Jekalyn Carr on “Famous For (I Believe),” which has been a Top 10 Christian radio hit for Wells this year, following his Gold-certified hit “Known” and his Platinum-certified “Hills and Valleys.”
Kanye West also picked up his first GMA Dove Award win, earning Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year for “Follow God,” from his album Jesus Is King, which became the first album to simultaneously top the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Top Rap Albums chart, and the Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums charts. He also became the first artist to hold the entire Top 10 on the Hot Christian Songs and Hot Gospel Songs charts with tracks from the album.
Jonathan McReynolds performs onstage during the 2020 Dove Awards at TBN Studios. Photo: Don Claussen/Trap The Light Photography for Dove Awards
A partial list of this year’s GMA Dove Awards winners is below. For a full list of this year’s winners, visit doveawards.com.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: for KING & COUNTRY
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tauren Wells
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: We The Kingdom
SONG OF THE YEAR: “Way Maker” – (Writer) Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, (Publisher) Integrity Music Europe
WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “The Blessing (Live)” – Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship, (Writers) Kari Jobe Carnes, Cody Carnes, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST): Zach Williams
SOUTHERN GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Joseph Habedank
GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Tasha Cobbs Leonard
INSPIRATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR: I Still Believe (Directors) Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin, (Producers) Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin
CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “People” – Jonathan McReynolds
GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Broken Record – Travis Greene, (Producers) Travis Greene, Brunes Charles
RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: MOOD // DOOM – Social Club Misfits, (Producers) Young Sidechain, Dirty Rice, Cardec, Ben Lopez, Colby Wedgeworth, Tedd Tjornhom, Martin Santiago, Dave James, Rey King, Jordan Sapp
RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Follow God” – Kanye West
SPANISH LANGUAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Aleluya (En La Tierra) – Elevation Worship, (Producers) Chris Brown, Steven Furtick
Josh Turner Celebrates RIAA Certs
/by Jessica NicholsonJosh Turner with his wife Jennifer.
Josh Turner was surprised this week with a 2x multi-Platinum certification plaque commemorating this multi-week No. 1 singles “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Would You Go With Me.”
Turner’s wife Jennifer presented him with the plaques during a special livestream event he performed at AJ’s Good Time Bar in Nashville to celebrate his recently-released album Country State of Mind. The project finds Turner paying homage to a cross-section of classic country music icons, including Randy Travis, John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Vern Gosdin, and Hank Williams.
Rayne Johnson Debuts With Self-Titled EP Out Today
/by Lorie HollabaughRayne Johnson releases his debut, self-titled EP today via Mountain Road Records/VERGE. The nine-track project features Rayne’s current single, “Real Dang Good” which is currently making its way up the charts.
Between working a full-time job on the railroad and creating music, the Fairfield, Ohio, native has put in overtime to introduce fans to his first full-length project. He amplifies traditional country tales through soulful vocals bolstered by rock energy and a twist of R&B flavor, and his music has already generated over 43 million streams independently.
“I have always been fan of multi-genre music,” said Johnson. “I grew up listening to country radio above all else, but also really loved Boyz II Men. For me, it was all about the storytelling. My personal brand of country is upbeat and combines different sounds that have influenced me over my lifetime.”
The new EP features lead single “Front Seat,” written by Rhode Island singer/songwriter Joe Jordan, which propelled Rayne into the Top 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase Country Aircheck charts earlier this year as an independent artist before he signed with Mountain Road Records/VERGE. Rayne himself contributed to the writing process on “Bring it Back” with frequent collaborator Jordan and Nashville songwriter Walt Aldridge.
Rayne Johnson EP Track List:
Granger Smith To Release Second Half Of ‘Country Things’ In November
/by Lorie HollabaughGranger Smith announced he will release the second half of his 10th studio album, Country Things Vol. 2 on Nov. 27. The release is part of a two-part project totaling 16 tracks (plus two bonus tracks on the physical album) that give fans a glimpse of Smith and his family’s current country-state-of-mind.
Smith released the first half of the project on Sept. 25. He also revealed the fall launch of his apparel line, Yee Yee Apparel, which included 31 new products including pullovers, custom ball caps, camo neck gaiters, and more.
CMA Sets New Webinar Series
/by Lorie HollabaughThe CMA is launching a new webinar series beginning today (Oct. 30) offering new educational programming for its members and the music community at large as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to alter the entertainment industry. The free series is designed to further provide resources and guidance to industry members as many continue to navigate the difficulties surrounding the pandemic.
CMA developed this virtual programming in direct response to feedback received from its members, and topics will range from job placement assistance, health insurance guidance, financial planning, and preparations for reopening live events, to how music can aid recovery efforts on a local level and the scientific progress related to finding a COVID-19 treatment. While each webinar is free, registration is required, and due to high demand, CMA expects each live webinar to reach a maximum capacity.
Among the series speakers will be Shain Shapiro PhD, Founder and CEO of Sound Diplomacy, walking through the Music Cities Resilience Handbook, their CARESForMusic initiative, the role of cities, local government and local policies on enhancing and speeding up recovery, and how music can influence our cities, towns and places and benefit from recovery planning across the country; and Dennis Freeman, Founder & Special Event Producer and Erin Regrutto, Senior Event Manager from Freeman Enterprises walking industry members through the necessary actions to prepare for reopening or modifying your event. and much more.
In addition to the complimentary programming, CMA will host its Annual Meeting of the Members on Thursday, Dec. 10, where CMA senior staff will address key issues the industry continues to face. Music and entertainment industry professionals are encouraged to utilize CMA’s COVID-19 Resources Page, which is regularly updated with new resources and updated information to meet industry needs and help overcome challenges that many continue to face.
See the full programming schedule and registration links below.
CAREER SPA: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOUR CAREER?
Presented by Thomas Darrow, Founder and Principal of Talent Connections, LLC
Friday, Nov. 6 at 11:00 AM/CT
REGISTER HERE
Learn about the valuable tools and techniques available for guiding individuals in finding the appropriate job opportunities based on career tenure, skills and current needs.
WHAT THE HEALTH!
Presented by Tatum Hauck Allsep, Founder/CEO or Music Health Alliance
Monday, Nov. 9 at 12:00 PM/CT
REGISTER HERE
Learn about your 2021 health insurance options along with what to watch for before enrolling in a plan. Get your questions answered so you will be prepared to have the health plan that best suits you. Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2020 – Dec. 15, 2020 for a Jan. 1, 2021 start date.
PROTECTING YOUR FINANCES DURING COVID
Presented by Nicole Dunigan and Andy Moats of Pinnacle Bank
Monday, Nov. 16 at 1:00 PM/CT
REGISTER HERE
As the industry continues to struggle during the pandemic, we feel that it is imperative to present resources to our industry that will help protect and manage finances during this time of uncertainty.
THE MUSIC CITIES RESILIENCE HANDBOOK AND COVID RECOVERY
Presented by Shain Shapiro PhD, Founder and CEO of Sound Diplomacy
Friday, Nov. 19 at 9:00 AM/CT
REGISTER HERE
Join us as we welcome Sound Diplomacy, global thought leaders in music cities economics and cultural planning, to discuss COVID recovery efforts and what it could mean for you. Shain will walk through the Music Cities Resilience Handbook, their CARESForMusic initiative, the role of cities, local government and local policies on enhancing and speeding up recovery, how music can influence our cities, towns and places and benefit from recovery planning across the country.
REOPENING YOUR EVENT IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Presented by Dennis Freeman and Erin Regrutto of Freeman Enterprises
Friday, Dec. 4 at 11:00 AM/CT
REGISTER HERE
Join Dennis Freeman, Founder & Special Event Producer and Erin Regrutto, Senior Event Manager from Freeman Enterprises as they walk you through the necessary actions to prepare for reopening or modifying your event. Here is your chance to hear from two industry leaders who between them have completed the World Health Organization’s Public Health Preparedness for Mass Gatherings, the Event Safety Alliance’s Event Safety Access Training, FEMA’s National Incident Management Systems, FEMA’s Orientation to FEMA Logistics and contributed to the Event Safety Alliance’s Reopening Guide.
MANAGING YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH DURING COVID AND THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
Presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners
Monday, Dec. 7 at 3:00 PM/CT
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Despite the slow reopening of the U.S. economy now underway, surveys show that most people are more concerned about their health and their financial well-being. Together, we will look at options to ease financial anxiety, revisit wealth plans and leave you the resources to Manage Your Financial Health During COVID and Through the Holidays.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS
Presented by CMA Board Chairman Kurt Johnson and CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 10:30 AM/CT
Join CMA for a re-envisioned Annual Meeting of the Members. While we are not able to meet in person, our virtual meeting will still deliver all pertinent information necessary for our members. CMA senior staff will report on important subject matter and address key issues facing our industry now more than ever.
Sarah Buxton To Release ‘Signs Of Life’ EP Nov. 20
/by Jessica NicholsonSarah Buxton will release her first new project in nearly 10 years, with her EP Signs of Life releasing Nov. 20. The first single, “Some Things Don’t Change,” releases today (Oct. 30).
“I always wanted to make a record that would live in somebody else’s world the way a Joni Mitchell record does in mine,” Buxton says. “I always felt like Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks were my older sisters, walking with me, lifting my chin up and saying, ‘You got this.’”
Buxton recorded the project at Daniel Tashian‘s studio, with collaborators including Tashian, Ian Fitchuk, and Buxton’s husband guitarist Tom Bukovac Tashian, who is also Buxton’s bandmate in the group Skyline Motel, alongside Kate York and Fitchuk.
“I feel like a huge theme in my life is learning how to love myself, listen to myself, observe myself, and accept myself,” says Buxton. “I used to have people I would go to for answers, but now, I’m trying to lean a little bit more on my own intuition. It takes courage to grow younger in your heart as you’re getting older, and to not just close off. It takes a lot of shedding, too. There is a lot of grief in these songs. It’s been a time of growing up for me—but it’s also a return to who I was.”
Lauren Daigle, for King & Country, Zach Williams, Kirk Franklin, Tauren Wells Among Early Dove Awards Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Gospel Music Association announced winners in several categories ahead of tonight’s 51st annual GMA Dove Awards ceremony. Early winners were revealed Thursday evening (Oct. 29) via a pre-telecast awards presentation on the Dove Awards official Facebook page.
Kirk Franklin‘s Long Live Love earned Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year, while Kierra Sheard‘s “Something Has To Break (Live),” featuring Tasha Cobbs Leonard was named Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year.
Tauren Wells‘s Citizen of Heaven was named Pop Contemporary Album of the Year, while Lauren Daigle‘s “Rescue” was named Pop Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. Hillsong Worship‘s Awake took home Worship Album of the Year. Selah took home Inspirational Album of the Year for Firm Foundation, as well as Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me.” for King & Country earned Short-form Video of the Year for their “God Only Knows” clip, featuring Dolly Parton.
Production team Ed Cash & Steven V. Taylor were named Producer of the Year. Zach Williams earned Songwriter of the Year-Artist, while Jason Ingram earned Songwriter of the Year, Non-Artist.
Tonight’s ceremony will air beginning at 7 p.m. CT on TBN. For a full list of early Dove Awards winners, visit doveawards.com.
Kip Moore Supports Indie Music Venues In Video For New Song “Don’t Go Changing”
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Chris Cobb (owner of Exit/In & co-founder of MVAN), Kip Moore
Kip Moore is releasing a new extended version of his album Wild World on Feb. 12, 2021, titled Wild World Deluxe. The deluxe version offers up four new tracks, including the song “Don’t Go Changing,” which he penned with Blair Daly and Westin Davis and dropped today (Oct. 30).
Moore also shared the impactful, gritty new music video for the song today which was directed by Alex Ferrari and shot at some well-known independent music venues across Nashville including The 5 Spot, The End, The Basement, Mercy Lounge and Exit/In. The video featured Exit/In owner and Music Venue Alliance Nashville co-founder Chris Cobb discussing the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on independent music venues.
“Personally and professionally, my life looks entirely different right now than it did last year, and my business has been closed for eight months, a business that is typically very busy….we did 20 shows a month this time last year and this year, no shows.” Cobb said in the video’s introduction. “We had reserves but they’re gone, and we did get a PPP loan through the CARES Act, but it’s gone, so at this point, it’s survival mode. We’ve laid off about 50 event staff—security guards, your bartenders, your kitchen people…all that staff that has supported us all these years, where are they gonna go?”
“I think about living in a garage apartment that was 150 square feet when I was 28, 29 years old,” Moore said during a recent roundtable discussion with media. “You know, having $315 in my bank account. And I think about what a scary place that is, mentally, when you’re watching all your friends build a 401(k), and they’re doing all the things that society tells you that you’re supposed to do…for me, those venues were a place of refuge, or a place where my dreams were safe, because I was surrounded by other dreamers. So, those venues are everything to me.”
The clip was created as a thought-provoking call to action to fans to help support and donate to Music Venue Alliance Nashville (MVAN), an organization whose key goal is currently to help independent music venues working to survive during the pandemic, as well as retaining and nurturing the eco-system of Nashville’s beloved music scene. For more information and to donate visit mvan.org and to join the conversation #Keep615Live.
Wild World Deluxe Official Track List:
1. “Janie Blu” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore)
2. “Southpaw” (Westin Davis, Kip Moore)
3 “Fire And Flame” (Cary Barlowe, Brett James, Kip Moore, Will Weatherly)
4. “Wild World” (Josh Miller, Kip Moore)
5. “Red White Blue Jean American Dream” (Jimi Bell, Barton Davies, Luke Dick, Philip Lammonds)
6. “She’s Mine” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore, Scott Stepakoff)
7. “Hey Old Lover” (Dan Couch, Kip Moore)
8. “Grow On You” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)
9. “More Than Enough” (David Garcia, Josh Miller, Kip Moore)
10. “Sweet Virginia” (Kip Moore, Manny Medina, Erich Wigdahl)
11. “South” (Adam Browder, Dan Couch, Manny Medina, Kip Moore, Dave Nassie, Erich Wigdahl)
12. “Crazy For You Tonight” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)
13. “Payin’ Hard” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore, Dave Nassie)
14. “Don’t Go Changing” (Blair Daly, Westin Davis, Kip Moore )
15. Midnight Slow Dance (Dan Couch, Mike Elizondo, Kip Moore)
16. “How High” (Bobby Terry, Luke Dick, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)
17. “Man’s Gotta Do” (Dan Couch, Westin Davis, Kip Moore)