Dolly Parton has announced a new holiday movie musical, Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, which will release on Netflix Nov. 22. Parton will portray an angel and the movie will include 14 Parton original songs.

The film is executive produced by Sam Haskell, writer Maria Schlatter, Debbie Allen, and Parton, and directed and choreographed by Allen, with a cast including Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis, Jeanine Mason and Treat Williams. The project is produced by Magnolia Hill Productions and Parton’s Sandollar Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

The movie follows a wealthy—and malicious—woman, Regina Fuller (played by Baranski) who returns to her tiny hometown after her father’s death to evict everyone and sell the land to a mall developer. An angel (Parton) and the town’s residents join to convince Fuller to have a change of heart.

Jake Owen’s Grandparents Receive No. 1 Plaque For Their “Homemade” Love Story

Pictured: Jean and Bryan Yancey Owen

Jake Owen recently surprised his grandparents Jean and Bryan Yancey Owen with a No. 1 plaque celebrating his first CMA Video of the Year nomination for “Homemade.” The video is based on their true-life love story and marriage of more than 70 years, and is a tribute to them and a reenactment of their story, detailing how they met, were separated and reunited during WWII. “Homemade” marked Owen’s eighth career No. 1 in the U.S., and his sixth in Canada. Co-written by Bobby Pinson, Drew Parker, Jared Mullins and Ben Goldsmith, the track is the third single from Owen’s album Greetings From…Jake.

Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project Makes Donation To A Soldier’s Child Foundation

Charlie Daniels’ The Journey Home Project non-profit veterans organization has announced plans to forge ahead with its mission to aid our nation’s military heroes. Last month at the 11th Annual “A Life Worth Celebrating” dinner banquet held in Murfreesboro, TN, TCDJHP donated $10,000 to the A Soldier’s Child Foundation, which benefits children of veterans, allowing them to receive birthday gifts and scholarships to the A Soldier’s Child Foundation’s week-long Journey Camp. When COVID-19 restrictions ease, TCDJHP plans to continue with its events including the “Charlie Daniels Patriot Award Dinner,” normally held in the Fall at Nashville’s Palm Restaurant. TCDJHP is also planning an upcoming songwriting collaboration/partnership with Tennessee-based Operation Song and Texas-based Warriors Heart, both of which aid in the well-being of U.S. military vets.

“Even though Charlie has passed, we will continue his legacy and stay on mission,” explains David Corlew, Daniels’ longtime manager and The Journey Home Project co-founder. “As we all know, the men and women that have and continue to serve our country were so important to him. Our goals are to always support the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Center at MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University), as well as our suicide prevention programs and the process of reintegrating and transitioning these great Americans back to a productive and rewarding life.”

 

Cash Campbell Inks Distribution Deal With ONErpm

Cash Campbell. Photo: Robby Klein

Cash Campbell has signed a distribution deal with global music company ONErpm. Campbell’s new single, “Weddings & Funerals,” is available on all streaming sites now. Campbell burst onto the scene in 2017 with “Cannonball,” and shortly after that “The In Between” hit Top 40 on Billboard’s Country Indicator and Top 20 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout charts. He was also selected by CMT for their Artist Discovery Initiative.

“Cash is a multifaceted artist who has the ability to inspire and entertain an audience with ease,” said Ken Madson, general Manager, USA, ONErpm. “Jeff Tobias, the entire ONErpm team and I are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to his upcoming releases.”

 

Jeremy McComb Talks ‘Cotton’ With Big D And Bubba

Pictured: Big D, Jeremy McComb, Bubba

Average Joes’ recording artist Jeremy McComb stopped by recently to visit with Big D & Bubba and chat about his new single, “Cotton’s Gettin’ High,” which was released on Sept. 25. The interview will air on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

 

Rayne Johnson Joins Verge Records Roster

Rayne Johnson has signed a deal with Verge Records, becoming the latest act to sign a deal with Mickey Jack Cones, president and COO of Verge, the label arm of global music company ONErpm. Johnson’s first single under his new label, “Real Dang Good,” will be released to all streaming partners on Wednesday (Oct. 7) in advance of its radio add date on Oct. 12. Verge is partnering with Mark Liggett, president of Mountain Road Records, to roll out Johnson’s single, using ONErpm for distribution.

An Ohio native, Johnson has opened concerts for Hunter Hayes, Riley Green and Randy Houser, among others, and has released three singles in the last two years, the latest of which, “Front Seat,” was embraced by country radio earlier this year. It landed on the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase Country Aircheck charts and was well received by fans and critics, garnering 24 million cumulative streams.

Kenny Rogers. Photo: Piper Ferguson

All five Gambler films starring Kenny Rogers are set to be released in one DVD collection, Kenny Rogers: The Gambler. The six-film box set (which includes the movie Coward of the County as a bonus), will be available at Walmart beginning Oct. 6, via Shout! Factory.

The Gambler series generated five Emmy Award nominations. Rogers made his acting debut in the original film The Gambler, which debuted on April 8, 1980. Rogers returned as Brady Hawkes in The Gambler: The Adventure Continues, which premiered on CBS in November 1983. The Gambler Part III: The Legend Continues followed in 1987, with the fourth installment, The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (featuring Rogers alongside Reba McEntire) aired on NBC in 1991. The series finale, Gambler V: Playing For Keeps, aired on CBS in 1994.

The series was loosely based on the Grammy-winning song “The Gambler,” penned by Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Don Schlitz. The song was Rogers’s fourth No. 1 solo hit and one of five consecutive songs by the entertainer to reach No. 1. The song earned a Grammy in 1978 for Best Country Song and earned CMA’s Song of the Year honor in 1979.

In 2018, “The Gambler” was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.” Rogers died on March 20, 2020; following his passing, “The Gambler” reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Digital Song Sales chart.

Pictured: Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen/ABC

Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker have been named as the hosts for the upcoming 54th annual CMA Awards, set to air live from Nashville on Nov. 11 on ABC. This year’s event will take place at Music City Center in downtown Nashville. This marks Rucker’s first time as a host for the CMA Awards, while McEntire returns for a fifth time as host.

“I’m thrilled to be back hosting the CMA Awards and even more thrilled that I get to share the stage with Darius Rucker,” McEntire said via a statement. “We’re looking forward to a night of celebrating great country music and hope you’ll tune in and watch!”

“I look forward to the CMA Awards every year because of the incredible performances and the opportunity to celebrate the year in country music,” Rucker added. “To be invited to host this year’s awards alongside Reba — are you kidding me?! — it is an absolute honor. Even though this year will look a little different than normal, I know that we’re all eager for a night of musical celebration, and this year’s show definitely won’t disappoint!”

McEntire has won six CMA honors during her career, and is currently nominated Musical Event of the Year for her role in Thomas Rhett’s “Be A Light,” which also included Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban. Rucker won the CMA’s New Artist of the Year honor in 2009, and has been nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Single of the Year (“Wagon Wheel”) in recent years.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Reba and Darius as this year’s CMA Awards hosts,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Their playful chemistry and genuine warmth are exactly what we know our viewers want to see this year. We look forward to bringing fans a night of celebration, live performances and a television experience unlike any other. We cannot wait to share more details about our show in the coming weeks.”

The third and final ballot for the upcoming CMA Awards is open now and closes Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. CT.

The 54th 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.

Miranda Lambert leads this year’s nominees with seven nominations, followed by Luke Combs with six nominations.