DISClaimer Single Reviews: Brandy Clark Is ‘A Song Goddess’

Brandy Clark. Photo: Pamela Springsteen

Country music sings us into autumn today in DISClaimer.

Duking it out for the Disc of the Day award are stars Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert & Ella Langley, and Brandy Clark. I’m going with the underdog, my longtime love, Clark.

In a similarly tight contest, the DISCovery Award is a choice between Max Alan, Ty Myers, and our winner, Wyatt McCubbin. By the way, he and Clark are both performing in Nashville this week.

TY MYERS & WILLIE NELSON / “Write Your Own Songs”
Writer: Willie Nelson; Producers: Brandon Hood, Mickey Raphael; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia/Outlier Recordings
– The Myers album is titled Two Braids and the Truth: My Tribute to Willie, which includes his versions of Nelson’s hits. The man, himself, joins in on this delightful duet. Its a pointed jab at the suits who run the music industry, and it’s as true today as it was during the Red Headed Stranger’s heyday.

BRANDY CLARK / “American Roots”
Writers: Brandy Clark/Griff Clawson/Michael Pollack; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: Reprise
– Utterly enchanting. Clark unspools a meditation on legacy and heritage while a lively acoustic band trips merrily along. Soft, heavenly vocal harmonies embellish a hearty performance. A song goddess at work. If you can get in the door, Brandy Clark is booked for 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday (Oct. 18). She’ll be celebrating the release this week of her new album, The Bird.

LAINEY WILSON / “Kinda Love It”
Writers: John Mayer/Jon Decious/Kid Harpoon/Lainey Wilson; Producer: Kid Harpoon; Label: Broken Bow Records
– Wilson rocks out on this lickety split celebration of falling for a charming bad boy. Breezy, sunny, and insanely catchy. Ya gotta love it.

STEVE MARTIN & ALISON BROWN / “Old Town Road”
Writers: Atticus Matthew Ross/Kiowa Roukema/Montero Lamar Hill/Trent Reznor; Producers: Alison Brown, Garry West; Label: Compass Records
– This is a total hoot. The rippling banjos of Brown and Martin lead a stellar band (Stuart Duncan, Ronnie McCoury, Garry West). Martin sings, but the song’s main lead vocalists are Dan Tyminski and Del McCoury, who ham it up delightfully. Goofy new lyrics also enliven this bluegrass reworking of the 2019 mega hit.

PYNK BEARD / “Ice on the Road”
Writers: Coleridge Tillman/Jayme Silverstein/Warren Okay Felder; Producers: Jayme Silverstein, Oak for The Orphanage; Label: Anzie Blue Records
– Pynk Beard’s comment on the ICE raids targeting minorities urges compassion, empathy, community-building, and understanding in the face of violence and unrest. The stirring anthem’s music video contains harrowing footage of masked agents beating and killing our neighbors. The song has become a social-media phenomenon since its release.

DAVID ALLAN COE / “You Never Even Called Me By My Name”
Writer: Steve Goodman; Producers: Noah Gordon, Lex Lipsitz; Label: F3 Entertainment
– The final studio album by the late David Allan Coe is titled A Million Reasons. It drops tomorrow (Oct. 16). Among its highlights is this fine reworking of the artist’s wry, witty 1975 hit. The country-spoof lyrics were co-written by an uncredited John Prine. This late Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member is celebrated in a superb new movie titled You Got Gold, which documents the all-star Ryman concerts that saluted John Prine following his passing in 2020.

STEPHEN WILSON JR. / “Yellow Brick Home”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Big Loud Records
– Wilson is capping a breakthrough year with four CMA nominations. In addition to Best New Artist, he earned nods for Male Vocalist plus Song and Video (for “Gary”). His new single describes a tornado while singing beneath loud, crashing electric guitars. Gripping and dramatic, if a little hard to decipher.

MIRANDA LAMBERT & ELLA LANGLEY / “Snakeskin Boots”
Writers: Brendan McLoughlin/Jesse Frasure/Miranda Lambert/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert; Label: MCA
– This has a cool, retro, neo-western vibe. The ladies are singing about a female outlaw, and an airy twang abounds. Highly recommended.

WYATT McCUBBIN / “I Love You”
Writers: Marty Stuart/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Lucille Records
– McClubbin is booked to play the Exit/In tonight (Oct. 15). Expect the chiming, melodic, echoey twang of this rhythmic, darkly romantic single and more. The newcomer co-wrote it with Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart, and it is a swirl of audio pleasure that keeps on captivating through an extended instrumental fade. The ethereal female harmony vocalist is McCubbin’s wife, Holly, and she is found through his 650 album, which drops tomorrow (Oct. 16).

CHRIS JANSON & DAVID LEE MURPHY / “Fun”
Writers: Chris Janson/David Lee Murphy/Jesse Murphy/Michael Wayne Wilkes/Mitchell Oglesby; Producer: Michael Wayne Wilkes; Label: Harpeth 60 Records/Warner Records Nashville
– A rollicking country rocker with a bop that don’t stop.

EXILE / “Habanero”
Writers: Clay Mills/Liz Hengber/Sonny LeMaire; Producers: JP Pennington, Sonny LeMaire; Label: StarVista
– Meixcali rhythm accents underlie this playful, melodic romance that lasts though the years. I’ve always loved these guys.

MAX ALAN / “Hundred Thousand Sunsets”
Writers: Delaney Ramsdell/Max Alan Zimmerman; Producers: Brian Stanley, Ryan LeVine; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Tender, wistful, sweet, sad, and gently lovely, this traces a lifelong love that endures into old age and death. The simple, fiddle-guitar production aches beautifully.

Zach Bryan To Embark On 19-Stadium ‘Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs Tour’

Zach Bryan. Photo: Lucas Creighton

Zach Bryan will embark on the”Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs Tour” across North America and Australia in April.

The 23-date tour will visit 19 stadiums, with support from John Fogerty, Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen, Vance Joy, Fey Fili, Gabriella Rose and Emma Ogier on select dates.

The trek will launch at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on April 28 with stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Buffalo and more before the Australian leg kicks off with two performances at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Accor Stadium in Sydney, and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 23 following various pre-sale opportunities. More ticket information can be found here.

“Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs Tour” Dates:
Wednesday, April 28, 2027 – Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium *
Saturday, May 1, 2027 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium *
Tuesday, May 4, 2027 – Green Bay, WI – Lambeau Field *
Saturday, May 8, 2027 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field *
Friday, May 14, 2027 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium *
Saturday, May 15, 2027 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium *
Tuesday, May 18, 2027 – Baltimore, MD – M&T Bank Stadium *
Saturday, May 22, 2027 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium *
Tuesday, May 25, 2027 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field *
Saturday, May 29, 2027 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
Wednesday, June 2, 2027 – Buffalo, NY – Highmark Stadium *
Friday, July 16, 2027 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium #
Tuesday, July 20, 2027 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium #
Saturday, July 24, 2027 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field #
Wednesday, July 28, 2027 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place #
Sunday, August 1, 2027 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium #
Friday, August 6, 2027 – Boise, ID – Albertsons Stadium #
Friday, December 3, 2027 – Melbourne, VIC – Marvel Stadium !
Saturday, December 4, 2027 – Melbourne, VIC – Marvel Stadium !
Friday, December 10, 2027 – Sydney, NSW – Accor Stadium !
Saturday, December 11, 2027 – Sydney, NSW – Accor Stadium !
Friday, December 17, 2027 – Brisbane, QLD – Suncorp Stadium !
Saturday, December 18, 2027 – Brisbane, QLD – Suncorp Stadium !
* John Fogerty and Fey Fili
# Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen and Gabriella Rose
! Vance Joy and Emma Ogier

Eric Church, Megan Moroney & Florida Georgia Line To Headline Tortuga Music Festival

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival is returning in 2027 with three days of music, sunshine and oceanfront fun on the shores of Fort Lauderdale April 2–4.

The 14th annual celebration will bring together some of the biggest names in country music and beyond, with Eric Church, Megan Moroney and Florida Georgia Line, in the duo’s first headlining festival performance since announcing their return to touring in 2027.

Beyond the main stage where fans can also catch Stella Lefty, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Tucker Wetmore, the Sunset Stage will feature the Goo Goo Dolls, Train and NE-YO headlining a genre-spanning mix of rock, pop and R&B. The 2027 lineup also includes Benny G, Blake Proehl, Carter Faith, Chase Matthew, Cody Lohden, Drake Milligan, Dylan Marlowe, Dylan Scott, Franklin Jonas, Grace Potter, Highway Home, Jacob Hackworth, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Redferrin, Sons of Habit, The Droptines, Tyler Braden, Vincent Mason, Zach John King and many more.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 23 at TortugaMusicFestival.com.

Tortuga Music Festival continues to prioritize sustainability and ocean conservation throughout every aspect of the festival experience. Each year, Tortuga raises funds and provides fans with opportunities to learn about critical environmental issues impacting the oceans through Rock The Ocean’s Conservation Village. To date, Tortuga fans have helped raise more than $7 million for ocean conservation, research and education.

Veteran Entertainment Reporter Jimmy Carter Passes

Jimmy Carter

Beloved veteran Nashville-based entertainment reporter Jimmy Carter passed away on Oct. 13. He was 73.

Carter worked in journalism and broadcasting for over 50 years, providing an inside look and red carpet coverage and interviews at awards shows, film premieres and other Music Row events. Over 20 of those years were spent working as WSMV-TV Channel 4’s entertainment reporter, as well as in Nashville radio for decades, often as a frequent reporter on WSM’s Coffee, Country & Cody. He also served as a correspondent for years for the nationally syndicated country radio and TV shows Crook & Chase, and interviewed an array of artists and celebrities throughout his career including Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and countless more.

The Montgomery, Alabama native attended Auburn University, where he helped launch campus station WEGL-FM before working in radio, TV and production roles. His expansive resume included early work as a street reporter covering civil rights, hurricanes and controversial politics in his home state of Alabama; as a UPI award-winning TV news producer at NBC’s Birmingham station; and as producer of The Scene at Six on WSM-TV. As Executive Producer at CBS’s Houston station, his work included coverage of everything from NASA to major airline crashes and Texas politics.

Carter received a regional Emmy for his public service TV work and multiple Emmy nominations for his news, children’s, sports and public affairs specials. He was the recipient of an IRIS award for his special on the Iroquois Steeplechase, and his affiliation with Barbara Mandrell productions as a writer/producer resulted in two of the highest-rated specials in The Nashville Network’s history.

His work covering Hollywood for the Crook and Chase shows took him all over the world, from James Bond premieres in London to the Academy Awards in Hollywood, where he interviewed major film stars of the last 40 years including Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery, Jack Lemmon, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner and Sylvester Stallone, among others. Carter also shared Nashville news and entertainment stories on his YouTube channel in recent years, which had nearly 22,000 subscribers.

A visitation for Carter will be held Nov. 5 at St. Henry Catholic Church (6401 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205) at 9 a.m., followed a funeral service at 11 a.m.

Payton Sullivan Inks With Sony Music Publishing Nashville

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): Kenley Flynn (SMP), Tom Luteran (SMP), Dale Bobo (SMP) and Synnovea Halsel (SMP). (Front Row, L-R): Payton Sullivan and Rusty Gaston (SMP). Photo: Savannah Spencer

Payton Sullivan has signed with Sony Music Publishing Nashville.

Born in Florida and raised near Nashville, Sullivan has shared stages with Eli Young Band, Midland, Chase Matthew and Redferrin. Her recent releases include “F150” and the Kristian Bush-produced “Blondie,” which secured a spot on Spotify’s All New Country playlist. She is currently on the road with Sugarland as direct support on the “2026 Ride or Die Tour.”

“With southern roots running as deep as her island breezes, Payton brings a high-octane energy to the genre that is entirely her own,” says Sony Music Publishing Nashville Vice President, Creative A&R Tom Luteran and Manager, Creative A&R, Synnovea Halsel. “Her electrifying debut release captures that signature larger-than-life spirit. We are excited to have her on the Sony Music Publishing team.”

“Any team that’ll wear bikini top T-shirts for you is a ride-or-die team! I’ve been writing songs since I was five, and dreaming of this life in my bedroom, so joining Rusty [Gaston], Tom, and everyone at Sony Music Publishing means the world,” adds Sullivan. “None of this would be possible without the songs, and I can’t wait to write the next chapter with them.”

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry Returns For 21st Year

Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Blake Harbison

Tracy Lawrence will host his 21st annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry on Nov. 24 at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

This year’s event aims to feed 32,000 people in need with 2,000 cooked turkeys and distribution of an additional 2,000 frozen turkeys through the Nashville Rescue Mission, 11 surrounding county school systems and community organizations who provide for those in need.

“I truly believe that if we all give back a little, we can make the world a better place,” says Lawrence. “It’s not always about money. Sometimes, it’s about leading by example. If what we’ve done with Mission:Possible inspires someone to do something similar in their own town, then we’ve made a difference. Iron sharpens iron, and every little thing matters. You can make a difference, even if you think it’s small. Thank you all for your years of support. Let’s continue to make a difference.”

Last year, after a refrigerated truck broke down and spoiled 650 turkeys, individuals and organizations from throughout the local community stepped in to replace them, resulting in over 2,400 additional turkeys donated, bringing the new total to 5,350 cooked and frozen distributed turkeys. The added donations brought the total to 50,000+ meals provided for those in need. Artists and celebrities who came out to support the turkey fry with appearances and donations included Jamey Johnson, Tucker Wetmore, Charles Esten, Dustin Lynch, Meghan Patrick, John Crist, Rodney Atkins, Clint Black, Rhett Akins, Frank Ray and more.

Since its inception, Lawrence’s Mission:Possible has fried over 15,000 turkeys, provided more than 135,000 meals to the homeless across Middle Tennessee, donated over $1.3M to Nashville Rescue Mission, and raised over $2.5M to further its goals, advocate for those in need, and expand its ability to support aligned causes.

BREAKING: Mike Sistad, Evyn Mustoe Johnston Exit ASCAP

Mike Sistad & Evyn Mustoe Johnston

Mike Sistad and Evyn Mustoe Johnston have unexpectedly exited ASCAP after 25 and 14 years with the organization, respectively. Sistad most recently served as Vice President, Nashville Membership, while Johnston was Assistant Vice President.

Sistad joined ASCAP’s Nashville Membership team in 2001 and has helped drive major market share growth at the PRO. He was elevated to VP in 2019, managing ASCAP’s relationships with some of its most successful members, including 12x ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley; recording artists Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Carly Pearce, Brothers Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini, Jordan Davis, Old Dominion, Brandy Clark and Chris Stapleton; and hit songwriters Craig Wiseman, Josh Osborne and Hillary Lindsey. He has also been instrumental in developing ASCAP’s next generation of country songwriter-artists, including Nate Smith, Hailey Whitters and George Birge. Before ASCAP, Sistad played in Phil Vassar’s band and spent nine years as an A&R rep at Arista Records Nashville.

“I am proud of our Nashville team and my 25+ years with ASCAP,” Sistad says. “My heart is, and always will be, with the songwriters and musicians that give this town its voice. Thank you to Connie Bradley for bringing me to ASCAP and all my friends in our Nashville Music community. I look forward to my next chapter and will see you soon.”

Johnston joined the ASCAP Nashville team in 2012, focusing on developing both new and established talent across genres. She managed key festival partnerships, coordinating events and performance opportunities for ASCAP members at 30A Songwriters Festival, Americana Music Festival, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and more. She also played an essential role in curating creator-first programming, including showcases, song camps and mixers.

“I have deep respect, love, and am extremely grateful for every experience and memory that came with my nearly 15 years at ASCAP,” Johnston shares. “Nashville is home, music is a huge part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to be an advocate for songwriters, publishers, and all creators in this town I love so much.”

Sistad can be reached at mike.sistad@gmail.com. Johnston can be reached at evynmustoe@gmail.com.

Riley Biederer Signs With Reservoir

 

Photo: Courtesy of Reservoir

Riley Biederer has signed with Reservoir through its joint venture with independent music publisher superreal, which has represented Biederer since 2024.

Based in Los Angeles and Nashville, Biederer first caught the attention of Elton John as a teenager and signed to his management company Rocket Music. She later was a top 20 contestant on The Voice and toured with Nick Carter. Her breakout collab, “Heartbreak Back” with DJ Frank Walker, peaked at No. 20 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.

Outside of her own artist project, Biederer has collaborated with other artists, such as Avery Anna, Carter Faith, Dustin Lynch, Priscilla Block, Ava Hall, Ethan Burdick, Elizabeth Nichols, Ingrid Andress, Adrien Nunez, Macy Todd, Summer Overstreet and Tigirlily Gold, as well as songwriters, including Emily Weisband, Tofer Brown, Alysa Vanderheym, Jon Decious, Jon Nite and Geoff Warburton. She was selected this year as a 2026 AIMP Songwriter Series winner. Biederer’s recent songwriting credits include “Tumbleweeds and Chewing Gum” by Lily Meola and Willie Nelson, “Roses & Wildfire” by Lanie Gardner, “It Takes Two” and “Break My Heart Again” by Danielle Bradbery, “Family Reunion” by Paige Fish, and Priscilla Block’s recent single “Maybe Next Time, Honey!,” among others.

“I’m so excited to be entering this next chapter with my superreal crew by adding Reservoir to the family,” says Biederer. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved music like nothing else, and I feel incredibly grateful to have a group of people alongside me and championing my craft who feel the same joy and passion for songs that I do. I truly feel like I’ve lucked out with such a dream team, and I can’t wait to see what we do together.”

“Riley is a versatile songwriter and artist, with a strong creative voice and an impressive network of collaborators across genres,” shares John Ozier, Reservoir Executive Vice President of Creative. “She is a great asset to the growing country music community in Los Angeles, while her adaptability gives her the opportunity to work well beyond the country space. With Reservoir’s global team and reach across Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond, we’re excited to connect Riley to new creative opportunities and collaborators across our network. We’re thrilled to be working alongside superreal to support Riley as she continues to build on all that she’s already accomplished.”

“When we signed Riley to superreal, we were immediately struck by her lyricism and ability to tell memorable stories through song,” adds Josh Toll, Vice President, Head of A&R at superreal. “We’ve always been intentional about keeping the superreal roster selective and going all-in on writers who have something truly special, and Riley immediately felt like someone worth making that kind of bet on. As Riley continues to grow, particularly within Nashville and country music, we wanted to build an environment where that evolution could continue while bringing in another exceptional team. Reservoir is the right partner for that next chapter, and we’re excited to be working with them.”

My Music Row Story: Results Global’s Jackie Campbell

Jackie Campbell. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

Jackie Campbell is Co-Head and Chief Operating Officer of Results Global, formerly 615 Leverage + Strategy, a Nashville-based talent-centric marketing and brand management firm. She leads the company’s mission to build impactful marketing campaigns and forge enduring brand partnerships that extend the legacies of iconic talent. Results Global’s client roster includes the Dolly Parton Estate, Clint Black, Busch Light, CRS, the Grand Ole Opry, Megadeth, Scent Beauty and Trisha Yearwood.

With more than 20 years of experience connecting brands with Nashville’s evolving music and creative community, Jackie has guided partnerships and marketing initiatives for organizations including Big Loud, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Big Machine Label Group, and US99 Chicago.

She serves on the Board of Directors for ACM Lifting Lives, is an ACM and CMA member, and is part of the Leadership Music Class of 2024.

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

 MusicRow: Where did you grow up?

I grew up primarily in Chicago, IL. My parents were Chicago Police Officers, so I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood in the city. My exposure to music was pretty limited to pop radio and whatever my friends were listening to, my first album purchases were Boyz II Men (Cooleyhighharmony) and Madonna (Like A Prayer). I’m not even sure I knew country music was a music genre at this point.

Right before I started high school, my parents retired from the police force and we moved to a lake house in rural northwestern Illinois, near the border of Wisconsin and Iowa. I went to high school in Stockton, Illinois, population 2,000 people. During this time, I tried my best to hate country music, but ultimately fell in love with my new friends and the rural lifestyle and got hooked by Tim McGraw’s “Where the Green Grass Grows.” From there, his album Everywhere was put on constant repeat, and it was game over… I soon became a full-fledged country music fan.

How did you get into the music business?

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

My initial full-time position at US99 was an NTR (“non-traditional revenue”) Coordinator working for Beth Sugrue, who would become a lifelong mentor and friend to me. This was a newly created position, a hybrid sales-marketing role. Our team would work closely with Programming to come up with big marketing ideas that we would get advertising partners to sponsor in order to pay for them.

We had so much fun during this era with a team that included Marci Braun, Mike Peterson, Dave Robbins, Gabe Tartaglia, Heidi Siena and Liz Geerling, among many others who’ve had a long-lasting impact on my life and career. One of our first projects with this new team was finding a way to give away 50,000 tickets to see Shania Twain for a free show at Grant Park! From there, we started working more closely with Nashville labels and artists to support album releases, headline tours and new artist development.

Another highlight was working with Ed Warm, who would become another amazing friend and mentor, to bring country music to Joe’s Bar, the heart of downtown Chicago. Could anyone imagine country music without Joe’s Bar and Ed Warm?

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

 Where did you go from there?

This radio sales & marketing part of my career lasted for nearly 10 years as our team grew and evolved, and I spent a lot of time at shows and backstage getting to know label folks and artist teams. One of the labels we worked closely with was Big Machine Records, right when Scott Borchetta launched it. We did a lot with a young Taylor Swift, and worked closely with Mandy McCormack, our midwest rep.

She thought of me when she and John Zarling were looking to grow their team and put more priority on brand partnerships at the label. They challenged me to create a role similar to what I was doing on the radio side and apply it to the label side of the business. Scott Borchetta loved the idea, and in 2011, I made the jump from radio to records as Big Machine’s new Director of Strategic Partnerships.

It’s crazy to think back to that era. In my first six months at Big Machine, we chartered an Amtrak train to make 11 stops from Los Angeles to New York City with Martina McBride, to promote the release of her album Eleven, and launched Outnumber Hunger with General Mills and Rascal Flatts. Over the next six years, this program was credited with securing over 45,000,000 meals via a partnership with Feeding America and with the ongoing support of the full Big Machine roster of artists, including The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Thomas Rhett.

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

Of course, getting to be a small part of the team that worked closely with Taylor Swift and 13 Management to launch Red in 2012 and 1989 in 2014 were unimaginable career highlights during that time. We also coordinated a Harley-Davidson ride from Athens, Georgia to Arlington, Virginia with Brantley Gilbert to launch Just As I Am in 2014 and put on a multi-media album event at Ellis Island to Dig Your Roots with Florida Georgia Line in 2016.

Overall, my nearly six-year run at BMLG alongside Scott Borchetta, John Zarling and Mandy McCormack taught me to “start at crazy and work backward,” and was filled with so many memories, accomplishments and great humans — the absolute brightest rising stars on Music Row at the time, including Jake Basden, Stacy Blythe, Allison Jones, Dave Kelly, Kris Lamb, Annie Ortmeier, Erik Powell, Jack Purcell and Ashley Sidoti, among so many more extremely talented professionals who continue to be some of my dearest friends today.

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

Where did that lead?

As the label continued to grow and restructure, and the music industry landscape continued to evolve, John Zarling and I came up with a new business concept, more of an agency/consultancy structure that could support artists directly via management, labels for special projects and album releases, as well as brands directly. We had realized working within the label structure was limiting some business growth opportunities.

I had developed a close relationship with the Big Loud team through working with Florida Georgia Line, so I brought this idea to Seth England, Joey Moi, Craig Wiseman and Chief Zaruk. They had just recently started their label division and were growing the management side at the time. They committed to be my first client in early 2017, which gave me the courage to make the jump from Big Machine to the world of consulting and entrepreneurship via what would become 615 Leverage + Strategy, a marketing agency. Continuing to work on FGL as they were selling out stadiums and then getting to work on the rising careers of Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Ernest on both the management and label side of things was really special in those early days.

In 2019, John Zarling and I officially joined forces in the venture. We announced our partnership on December 2, 2019, exactly one day before I gave birth to my child, and three months before the COVID pandemic started. What timing! Our small but mighty team worked as a white-label extension for a roster of labels, artist management and brands on marketing strategy, partnerships and special projects. In addition to working with Big Loud during these years, one of our first clients was Dolly Parton and CTK Enterprises/Danny Nozell.

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

In 2025, we relaunched as Results Global, Dolly Parton’s official marketing agency of record. With Danny Nozell’s support, and due to the continued growth of Dolly’s business, we’ve been able to build out a full service marketing team offering social media management, email marketing, websites, paid media and PR to the clients we represent. This has also given us the resources to continue working with iconic talent and brands including Clint Black, Busch Light, CRS, Megadeth, Trisha Yearwood, and more.

What has been the best advice you’ve been given throughout your career?

Be a kind human. Because why be any other kind?

Also, credited to the one and only Dolly Parton: Be a “professionalist,” not a perfectionist. We should strive to do our best at all times, but recognize that flaws and mistakes are an essential part of both life and the creative process. Dolly said, “Everybody likes to do their best at all times. We don’t like to mess up. I don’t like to make mistakes. But like I said if you make a mistake, it’s best that you just pick it up and turn it into something positive.”

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

Who have been some of your mentors?

I am so immensely grateful for the country music community, and the incredible people who’ve impacted my career. I’ve mentioned many of them already, but a few that deserve a little extra love:

John Zarling. From boss to business partner and always a true friend first, John has taught me so much about the country music industry and passion for the genre, and he has opened so many doors for me that I didn’t even know existed. “Mentor” isn’t really the right word, but in so many ways we’ve mentored each other on different sides of the business over the past 15+ years.

Ed Warm. Since my early days at US99, Ed has been a constant friend and supporter of every step of my career. When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, he encouraged me to run for the ACM and ACM Lifting Lives boards. While I certainly dealt with imposter syndrome in every meeting, my time on these boards has been such a great way to get involved in the industry and develop deep relationships with other executives I may never have crossed paths with otherwise.

Photo: Courtesy of Campbell

Beth Sugrue. As my first real boss in the professional world, the impact Beth had on me as an employee and future leader is immeasurable. While she certainly helped me excel in my role under her leadership, she taught me some important life lessons early on, before I even realized they were life lessons: (1) You can be great at work and also be present for your family. (2) If someone on your team does something awesome, say it out loud and give them the credit. (3) If something goes wrong, own it as the leader — don’t throw your team under the bus, fix it together.

Lisa Purcell. Lisa is one of the smartest, kindest and most well-spoken industry executives in Nashville, and she has shown up in my life unexpectedly during critical points in my career, just to drop the most perfect nuggets of business, career and life advice whenever I need it most.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I’m most proud of the team we’ve built at Results Global. Especially coming out the past 36 days after Dolly’s passing. It’s just a team of the absolute best, most talented music industry professionals, but more importantly kind, generous humans that care about each other. That is such a special part of where I am in my career right now.

William Beckmann Continues His Holiday Tradition With Fifth Annual ‘Las Posadas Tour’

Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist William Beckmann will celebrate the Christmas season this December with his fifth annual “Las Posadas Holiday Tour,” an intimate, one-of-a-kind holiday tradition.

Launching Dec. 16 at Dallas’ Majestic Theater, the four shows also visiting Houston, Austin, and San Antonio will feature Beckmann blending holiday classics, Spanish favorites and select originals alongside a specially assembled band with a horn section. Named after the Latin American custom, Las Posadas celebrates the spirit of community and hospitality and has become a cherished annual experience for Beckmann and his fans. Tickets and VIP packages go on sale this Friday (Oct. 16) at williambeckmann.com.

“The Las Posadas Tour has become a tradition of mine over the last five years,” says Beckmann. “It’s me in a tuxedo, performing a mix of Christmas songs and selections from the Great American Songbook. There’s always been a charitable element to these shows, and this year, I’m proud to support The Del Rio Chamber Foundation and OMNIA Casa Infantil, a nonprofit in my hometown that helps provide school supplies and everyday necessities for children in need. A close friend of my family is deeply involved with the organization, which makes supporting their work especially meaningful to me. We’ll have four shows across Texas this year, and I’m looking forward to carrying on the tradition.”

Beckmann is on the road this weekend with upcoming stops in Corpus Christi (Oct. 16), College Station (Nov. 5) and Alpine, Texas (Nov. 13).