Pictured (L-R): Scott Graves, Tommy Shaw, Trevor Pardue, Jesse James Dupree (of Jackyl), Kyle Law, Rome Ramirez, Billy Gibbons, Tim Montana, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, Michael Ray, Big Kenny and Brian Sutherland

Recording artist and outdoorsman Tim Montana‘s sixth annual American Thread Sporting Clays Shoot benefiting Special Ops Xcursion on Sept. 29 raised more than $307,000, bringing the total money raised at the annual event to more than $1.8 million

The fundraiser kicked off at City Winery Nashville with its “Tim Montana and Friends” dinner, auction and concert before the shoot, with performances by Montana and Billy Gibbons, Gavin DeGraw, Craig Morgan, Colbie Caillat, Michael Ray, Tyler Farr,  Elvie Shane, Big Kenny, Jerrod Niemann, Scotty Hasting, Rome Ramirez and more. Army veteran/Warrant Officer Craig Morgan, currently serving in the Army Reserve, was also surprised by Brigadier General Travis McIntosh with the Order of Saint Michael-Airborne Award.

The Clay Shooting Competition brought together hundreds of people at the Nashville Gun Club to support active-duty Special Operations Forces members and their families by providing them outdoor adventures to decompress between deployments. There were appearances by several active military branches with parachute landings, helicopter landings and other military demonstrations.

“Every year this event gets bigger and better, thanks to the generosity and spirit of everybody that participated we raised more than $300,000 for our military families… and donations continue to pour in,” shares Montana. “I’m already looking forward to next year’s event and bringing folks even more of those ‘only-in-Nashville’ moments.”

“We’re incredibly grateful for all of Tim’s efforts to pull this enormous event together and everyone who stands behind our mission in providing support and relief for those who have sacrificed so much for us,” says Scott Graves, founder of Special Ops Xcursion. “I want to especially thank all of our sponsors for their generous support—we couldn’t have done this without you all.”

“Friends Of The Atwoods: A Night Of Giving Benefitting Tim & Roxane Atwood” will take place on Nov. 18 at 3rd & Lindsley. The event will benefit medical expenses for Tim and Roxane Atwood, who are facing ongoing health challenges including spinal surgery complications and a recent stroke.

Sponsored by Gus Arrendale & Springer Mountain Farms, with additional contributions from Mezek Films and in partnership with Music Amplifies, the event will have a live auction, as well as performances from Darin & Brook Aldridge, Jimmy Fortune, John Berry, Linda Davis, Makenzie Phipps, Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown, The Isaacs, The Kody Norris Show, The Whites and Ty Herndon.

Before their health challenges hit, Tim spent 38 years playing the piano at the Grand Ole Opry, backing Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, and Taylor Swift, among others. Roxane produced Grand Ole Opry Live and Opry Backstage, working with Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton and more.

Tickets are on sale now. There is also a GoFundMe available here.

Brendan Walter is gearing up for the release of his debut album, Disappearing Days, on Nov. 7 via RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville. The rising young artist has also shared the title track from the upcoming new project.

Inspired by real events in Walter’s life, the anthemic, high-energy track captures the feeling of navigating life in one’s early twenties, and is the main thread that ties Walter’s debut project together.

“Grady [Smith], Gary [Stanton], and I sat down to make the title track for the album intentionally and wanted to encompass the feeling of entering adulthood feeling like you are behind,” says Walter. “That feeling has been my reality for the past few years, so it was only natural to make a reflective punk country song to let everyone that feels like they are lost in life know they aren’t alone.”

Combining aspects of Texas country, folk, and turn-of-the-millennium alt-rock,  the new album focuses on the roller coaster of early adulthood. and explores themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, growing up, following dreams and everything in between. Raised in Dallas on Mumford & Sons, Van Halen and Tyler Childers, Walter learned the value of discipline, achievement and toughness through a life-long hockey career, and began posting cover videos in college.

Ditching a junior-year finance internship for Austin, Walter learned the live-performance ropes and auditioned for American Idol before moving to Nashville and releasing the aptly titled 2024 EP, I Don’t Know What I’m Doing Yet. Following the hit collab “If a Song Could Change Your Mind” with Low Gap (over one million streams and counting), he is prepping Disappearing Days for release.

“My path in life has been a little different than most and being 21 as a freshman then graduating at 25 to ultimately decide I wanted to pursue music has been the most exciting and terrifying grind I have ever jumped into,” Walter shares. “I wanted to try and include every major part of my life in this album, so it touches on growing up, moving out, falling in love, heartbreak, and all of the ups and downs that life brings. We made this album last year when I made the move to Nashville. We poured everything into making this first real project and we are so excited we can finally share it with you.”

Disappearing Days Track List:
1. “Pipe Dream” – Brendan Walter, Grady Smith
2. “No One’s Gonna Do It For You” – Brendan Walter, Zachary Ray Williams
3. “Back On Deseret” – Brendan Walter, Colton Venner
4. “Normal Day” – Brendan Walter, Grady Smith, Jack Rauton
5. “The Other Side” – Brendan Walter, Robert Williford, Grady Smith
6. “Disappearing Days” – Brendan Walter, Grady Smith, Gary Stanton
7. “Fightin’ Today” – Brendan Walter, Ben Wagner
8. “Asking For A Friend” – Brendan Walter, David DeVaul
9. “Sweet Gone Sour” – Brendan Walter, Michael Thompson Ferrari, William Blackburn Guild, Evan Honer
10. “Come Back Home” – Brendan Walter, Jack Hummel, Jack Rauton

Reba McEntire is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her album Starting Over with a special anniversary edition, due out Jan. 23.

The new anniversary edition features three bonus tracks including the never-before-released “Heat Wave,” out now, and will be available for the first time ever on vinyl. Starting Over debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart upon its release on Oct. 3, 1995, and its lead single “On My Own,” was a collaboration that united four powerhouse voices: Reba, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride and Linda Davis. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Reba’s Top 10 success spans five straight decades, landing her in the singular group with only George Jones, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Her latest single “Trailblazer” featuring Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert, garnered 2.6 million on-demand streams in its first week, marking a new personal best for Reba in the streaming era.

Starting Over Track List:
1. “Talking In Your Sleep”
2. “Please Come To Boston”
3. “On My Own”
4. “I Won’t Mention It Again”
5. “You’re No Good”
6. “Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands”
7. “Five Hundred Miles Away From Home”
8. “Starting Over Again”
9. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
10. “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”
11. “Heat Wave”
12. “Misty Blue”
13. “Tulsa Time”

Big Machine Rock has re-launched under Gebbia Media, a subsidiary of Siebert Financial Corp., which acquired the company earlier this year.

The company is helmed by General Manager Heather Luke, who joined Big Machine in 2018. Luke oversees the company’s all-female team, comprised of Allison Smith (SVP, Promotion), Brooke Nixon (VP, Digital Strategy), Tara Curran (Project Manager), Megan O’Reilly (Label Coordinator), Kyla Schweitzer (Digital Coordinator), Shea Berkhouse (Label Operations Coordinator) and Rachel Spackman (Stylist and Event Coordinator).

“We’re building a label that embraces creativity in all its forms,” shares Luke. “Raw, real and innovative. With an artist-first approach, we’re focused on empowering voices and fostering authentic connections. I’m excited to grow alongside this incredible team and grateful to Gebbia Media for this opportunity and partnership to bring this vision to life.”

The label’s current roster includes Sammy Hagar, Daughtry, Olive Vox, Ryan Perdz and Wes Parker.

Big Machine Rock is also launching “Off The Record with Big Machine Rock,” an event series designed to showcase artists in intimate and immersive settings. The series debuts Oct. 15 in Chicago.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of Big Machine Rock,” says Greg Murphy, Executive Vice President at Gebbia Media. “The label has an incredible lineup of artists, from legends like Sammy Hagar to rising stars like Ryan Perdz and Olive Vox. With Heather Luke and her exceptional all-female team at the helm, we see a tremendous opportunity to expand our investment in the music industry and support the future of rock music.”

“At Siebert Financial, we believe in the power of creativity and the importance of supporting emerging talent,” adds Richie Gebbia, Co-CEO of Muriel Siebert & Co., LLC. “Sponsoring the ‘Off The Record with Big Machine Rock’ series is a natural fit for us. It allows us to connect with the next generation of investors by fostering creative expression and providing a platform for artists to share their music in unique and intimate settings.”