Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett‘s journey from the American Idol finals to country radio success could be the epitome of the lyrics featured in one of her songs, “Jesus and My Mama”: I don’t break and I don’t bend.
Barrett recently performed an acoustic rendition of the song, which she wrote at age 16, during a visit to the MusicRow Magazine offices in Nashville. The song showcased her soulful voice, which can be velvety and full, or piercing and grainy when called for, soaring over the crunchy guitar work.
“That’s a fun one to open shows with, because you see the girls with their cups, holding them up like, ‘Yeah!!'”
Pennsylvania native Barrett began perfecting that unique vocal style at age 9, when she joined a gospel choir.
“That group of women really helped carve my voice and helped show me what I was capable of doing with singing,” Barrett said. “I really like R&B, and you also get a lot influence from what your parents play around the house when you are young, so I grew up loving country, too.”
From age 11-16, she and her family sacrificed so Barrett could pursue her musical ambitions, “grinding it out” on the touring circuit (“like getting the power pulled at my house because we were putting all the money into singing…that kind of grind,” she recalls candidly), before she was scouted to compete on American Idol at age 17.
Though Barrett placed third on Season 16 of American Idol and soon began working with Red Light Management’s Tom Lord, she found that television success doesn’t always translate easily—or quickly—with Nashville labels.
“I think there are times the town is a bit jaded,” Lord said. “Tons of people have come off of these shows and have knocked on the doors in town. Understandably so, the labels wanted to see what she could do outside of the show.”
Eager to prove that she had artistry and songwriting talent to match her attention-grabbing voice, Barrett began working on music in the midst of a grueling post-Idol tour in 2018. Barrett would perform three or four days on the tour, then book red eye flights back to Nashville to work on writing for a day or two, before returning to the Idol tour for another three-four day run.
“She challenged the stigma a bit,” Lord said. “She’d be on the road, then in the writing room and working on mixes.”
One of those writing sessions resulted in her breakthrough “I Hope,” a sultry song that takes the all-too-nice story of forgiving an ex-lover and wishing them well, and turns it on its head with a surprising, satisfying twist, as Barrett sings, I hope she’s wilder than your wildest dreams/She’s everything you’re ever gonna need…And then I hope she cheats.
“I Hope” currently sits in the Top 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. She penned the song alongside Zachary Kale and Jon Nite; Kale and Ross Copperman produced the track.
“I wrote from a point of view of being in high school relationship that was bad and hopefully I’ve grown from that,” Barrett says. “I feel like everyone has gone through these types of emotions, people who haven’t gotten over it.”
MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson and Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett.
Barrett and her team decided to not wait on labels, and put out “I Hope” independently. Once outlets such as CMT, Radio Disney and SiriusXM jumped on board, Lord says the phones started ringing. In June 2019, Barrett announced she’d inked a label deal with Warner Music Nashville, with the label’s radio promo team engaging to further push “I Hope” to radio.
While “I Hope” stakes its claim on the upper regions of the Country Airplay chart, Barrett also released “The Good Ones,” inspired by her now-husband (the couple wed in October 2019) and fellow Idol finalist Cade Foehner.
“When I was on American Idol, we were secretly dating and the people that knew would ask, ‘How is your boyfriend doing?’ And I’d say, ‘He’s good. He’s a good one, a keeper.’ So when I got to the writing room, I knew I had written a song about the bad ones but I was like, ‘There are still good ones out there, because I found mine.'”
The sweet, elegant piece with the lilting melody is made all the more touching by the the accompanying music video, which shares the story of a young woman in a wheelchair, who hopes to be able to dance with her boyfriend. Throughout the video, the boyfriend is shown crafting a a project, which turns out to be a harness swing for the young woman to use so they can dance together.
“I wanted to make it really special and pull on the heartstrings a bit. I wanted to make it a 360-degree turn from the [“I Hope”] video,” Barrett says. “My cousin has autism and my nephew has cerebral palsy and I just wanted people to know that they feel left out, but that there is still a possibility for you to be loved the same as anyone, no matter what deficiency you have. I just wanted to reaffirm people with that message for the video.”
Lord said, “When the idea started floating around, there were some of us who were like, ‘We want to be cautious with this, it’s a little different twist,’ and Gabby just felt firm on this and she said this felt like a story she wanted to tell. That speaks to the courage she has on her creativity and direction. She has a strong maturity and awareness, and there was an amazing reaction to the video.”
Most recently, Barrett released another song inspired by her relationship with Foehner, the track “Hall of Fame,” which she wrote alongside Trannie Anderson, Adam Doleac and Zachary Kale.
Gabby Barrett with MusicRow Magazine staffers.
Industry Ink: Russell Dickerson, Billy Blue Records, Womens Music Business Association
/by Lorie HollabaughRussell Dickerson Celebrates Gold
Pictured (L-R): Norbert Nix (Triple Tigers), Russell Dickerson, John Dennis (Dennis Entertainment) Photo Credit: Kailey Dickerson
Russell Dickerson recently celebrated an RIAA Gold Certification for his debut album Yours, just months after earning his third Gold certification for his most recent No. 1 single, “Every Little Thing.” The smash single has amassed over 175,000,000 worldwide streams to date. Following the tremendous success of his singles “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma,” Dickerson now has three Gold singles in his discography, the first two already reaching multi-platinum and Platinum status.
“I’m blown away by the constant love of this army aka #RDFam that has supported me on this entire ride,” said Dickerson. “What an amazing way to close out the Yours album with a big ole GOLD celebration!!!”
Alan Bibey & Grasstowne Join Billy Blue Records Roster
Jerry Salley and Ed Leonard (Billy Blue Records, standing L-R), Alan Bibey (seated)
Alan Bibey & Grasstowne have signed with Billy Blue Records. Bibey has a reputation as one of the most technically gifted mandolinists in bluegrass and acoustic music. He was an original member of ground-breaking bands, The New Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out, and BlueRidge. For the last 12 years, he has fronted his own Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, and in 2019, Bibey was voted IBMA Mandolin Player Of The Year. He has been voted SPBGMA Mandolin Performer Of The Year six times, including in 2020.
“Bluegrass veteran, Alan Bibey, is easily one of the very best mandolin players in our genre of all time,” says Jerry Salley, A&R/Creative Director for BBR. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with such a talent and with his incredible band, Grasstowne, one of the top groups in our industry.”
Womens Music Business Association Hosts Spotify’s Brittany Schaffer
2020 WMBA Officers pictured with speaker Brittany Schaffer. (L-R): Emily Boardman, Kelsey Wise, Brittany Schaffer (Spotify), Kaleigh Imbriale, Lauren Simon, Dana Dickie, Nina Schollnick.
The WMBA started the year on a high note with Brittany Schaffer, Spotify’s Head of Artist and Label Marketing for Nashville, as the featured speaker at their January Membership Meeting. Eighty members of WMBA gathered at ASCAP on Jan. 28 to learn about Schaffer’s experience as a lawyer in the music industry and how she transitioned to her current role at Spotify.
Warner Music Group To Revamp Nashville Offices
/by Jessica NicholsonJohn Esposito, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Nashville said, “The heartbeat of our music community has long been on Music Row and we have found it an important part of our identity and soul. We’re excited to continue our longstanding presence on The Row in a new, more creative atmosphere.”
Ben Vaughn, President/CEO, WCM Nashville said, “We’re thrilled to have our own building entirely dedicated to WCM, and still right near our friends at WM Nashville. A welcoming space for writers to create and clients to come experience the best music from WCM writers, it’ll allow us to collaborate in an artistic environment all our own.”
Sugarland Reveals 2020 Tour, Welcomes All-Female Opener Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughSugarland is heading back out on the road this Summer for their There Goes The Neighborhood Tour 2020 with special guests Mary Chapin Carpenter and Tenille Townes, as well as Danielle Bradbery on select dates.
The tour will kick off in Toronto on June 4 and hit 26 cities including Dallas, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and more before wrapping in Charlotte on Aug. 1. Citi is the official presale credit card of the There Goes The Neighborhood Tour, and Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets through Citi Entertainment.
Sugarland will also release a special collection of tracks on their Bigger, Louder, Live EP on Big Machine Records on Feb. 28. The live versions honor their sixth studio album BIGGER as Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush prepare to record some new music later this year.
There Goes The Neighborhood Tour 2020:
June 4 – Toronto, ON / Budweiser Stage *^
June 5 – Syracuse, NY / St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview *^
June 6 – Hartford, CT / Xfinity Theatre *^
June 12 – The Woodlands, TX / Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman *^
June 13 – Dallas, TX / Dos Equis Pavilion *^
June 14 – Austin, TX / Germania Insurance Amphitheater *^
June 18 – Albuquerque, NM / Isleta Amphitheater *^
June 19 – Phoenix, AZ / Ak-Chin Pavilion *^
June 20 – Chula Vista, CA / North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre *^
June 25 – Wheatland, CA / Toyota Amphitheatre *^
June 26 – Mountain View, CA / Shoreline Amphitheatre *^
June 27 – Irvine, CA / FivePoint Amphitheatre *^
July 2 – Aurora, IL / River Edge Park ^
July 3 – Prior Lake, MN / Mystic Lake Casino Amp ^
July 10 – Mansfield, MA / Xfinity Center *^
July 11 – Camden, NJ / BB&T Pavilion *^
July 12 – Wantagh, NY / Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater *^
July 16 – Holmdel, NJ / PNC Bank Arts Center *^
July 18 – Bangor, ME / Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion *^
July 19 – Gilford, NH / Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *^
July 23 – Burgettstown, PA / S&T Bank Music Park *~
July 24 – Clarkston, MI / DTE Energy Music Theatre *~
July 25 – Milwaukee, WI / American Family Insurance Amphitheater *~
July 30 – Cincinnati, OH / Riverbend Music Center +^
July 31 – Alpharetta, GA / Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *^
August 1 – Charlotte, NC / PNC Music Pavilion +^
* Mary Chapin Carpenter
^ Tenille Townes
~ Danielle Bradbery
+ Special guest to be announced
Tim McGraw Exits Sony Music Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonTim McGraw has exited Sony Music Nashville, which has been confirmed by MusicRow Magazine’s sources. The news was first reported by Billboard.
McGraw, along with wife Faith Hill, inked a multi-album agreement with Sony in 2017, joining the Sony imprint Columbia Nashville. He teamed with Hill to release the duets album The Rest of our Life that same year.
Prior to signing with Sony, McGraw had been with Big Machine, where he released the albums Damn Country Music, Sundown Heaven Town, and the Gold-certified Two Lanes of Freedom. His Damn Country Music album included the Lori McKenna-penned track “Humble and Kind,” which earned a CMA Award for Song of the Year in 2016, as well as a Grammy for Best Country Song, and an American Music Award for Favorite Country Song. The song was certified 2x multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Most recently, the superstar released the tracks “Neon Church” and “Thought About You,” and is set to release the album, Here on Earth.
McGraw’s Here on Earth tour launches July 10 with openers Midland and Ingrid Andress, and includes two stadium shows with Luke Combs.
McGraw has expanded his portfolio of business ventures recently, partnering with Snap Fitness for the TRUMAV line of boutique fitness centers in 2018, and launching the book Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life in November 2019. He also teamed with historian Jon Meacham to co-write Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest and the Music That Made a Nation.
Industry Ink: Main Street Media, Country Music Hall of Fame And Museum, One Country
/by Jessica NicholsonWSM General Manager Chris Kulick Resigns To Launch New Venture
Chris Kulick. Photo: Chris Hollo
Chris Kulick recently resigned from his role as WSM General Manager to help launch a new venture, Main Street Media. He will serve as New Business Development Sales Manager for Main Street Media.
“I am grateful for the 18 cumulative years I spent with Gaylord Entertainment, Ryman Hospitality, and WSM. I would like to thank the CEO, Colin Reed, and all of the great people I met for treating me so well throughout the years. I wish that great company all the best,” Kulick says. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the owner of Main Street Media, Dave Gould. From the day I met Dave, I felt a special chemistry that I believe will allow us to continue to grow Main Street Media’s vision, while allowing me to bring my unique skill set to the daily operations.”
“We are very excited that Chris is joining the Main Street team. With his vast experience, he is going to be a tremendous help as we work on new ways to share information with our readers and bring more value to local advertisers,” Dave Gould, co-owner of Main Street Media, says.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Troubadour Advisory Council Adds New Members
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Troubadour Advisory Council, comprised of talented and dedicated young professional leaders in the Nashville community, has added four new members, including Beth Neil (Content Marketing Specialist, Asurion), Weston Newman (Associate, Goodpasture Gray), Spencer Nohe (Director, Creative, BMI) and Torianne Valdez (Program Manager, Musicians On Call).
These newly appointed council members will work closely with the Troubadour Advisory Council leadership team comprised of Council Chairman Mary Lauren Teague (Owner/Manager, Dotted i Entertainment), Corporate Relations Team Co-Leader Jeremy Bradford (Finance, Universal Music Group Nashville), Corporate Relations Team Co-Leader Katie Cline Moore (Business Manager, Wiles+Taylor & Co., P.C.), Events Team Co-Leader Patrick Thomas (President, Silverfish Media) and Events Team Co-Leader Emilee Warner (Community Volunteer).
One Country Teams With Numana To Benefit Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank
One Country has teamed with hunger relief non-profit Numana to host their first meal packing event in Nashville, on Feb. 15 at Cross Point Church (299 Cowan Street). The event aims to donate 250,000 meals to Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank.
The event, which will run from noon-4 p.m. CT, marks One Country’s first meal packing event since launching One Country Give, the company’s charitable division, in 2019. One Country is looking for volunteers within Nashville and surrounding areas to help give back. Attendees can sign up for two-hour shifts (either 12-2 p.m. or 2-4 p.m.), where they will be packing meals, enjoying live music, giveaways and more. Season 17 The Voice winner Jake Hoot and Season 9 The Voice contestant Barrett Baber will be on hand to perform for volunteers and help pack meals throughout the day.To register, visit onecountrygive.com/
On The Row: Gabby Barrett On Her Journey From ‘American Idol’ To A Radio Hit
/by Jessica NicholsonGabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett‘s journey from the American Idol finals to country radio success could be the epitome of the lyrics featured in one of her songs, “Jesus and My Mama”: I don’t break and I don’t bend.
Barrett recently performed an acoustic rendition of the song, which she wrote at age 16, during a visit to the MusicRow Magazine offices in Nashville. The song showcased her soulful voice, which can be velvety and full, or piercing and grainy when called for, soaring over the crunchy guitar work.
“That’s a fun one to open shows with, because you see the girls with their cups, holding them up like, ‘Yeah!!'”
Pennsylvania native Barrett began perfecting that unique vocal style at age 9, when she joined a gospel choir.
“That group of women really helped carve my voice and helped show me what I was capable of doing with singing,” Barrett said. “I really like R&B, and you also get a lot influence from what your parents play around the house when you are young, so I grew up loving country, too.”
From age 11-16, she and her family sacrificed so Barrett could pursue her musical ambitions, “grinding it out” on the touring circuit (“like getting the power pulled at my house because we were putting all the money into singing…that kind of grind,” she recalls candidly), before she was scouted to compete on American Idol at age 17.
Though Barrett placed third on Season 16 of American Idol and soon began working with Red Light Management’s Tom Lord, she found that television success doesn’t always translate easily—or quickly—with Nashville labels.
“I think there are times the town is a bit jaded,” Lord said. “Tons of people have come off of these shows and have knocked on the doors in town. Understandably so, the labels wanted to see what she could do outside of the show.”
Eager to prove that she had artistry and songwriting talent to match her attention-grabbing voice, Barrett began working on music in the midst of a grueling post-Idol tour in 2018. Barrett would perform three or four days on the tour, then book red eye flights back to Nashville to work on writing for a day or two, before returning to the Idol tour for another three-four day run.
“She challenged the stigma a bit,” Lord said. “She’d be on the road, then in the writing room and working on mixes.”
One of those writing sessions resulted in her breakthrough “I Hope,” a sultry song that takes the all-too-nice story of forgiving an ex-lover and wishing them well, and turns it on its head with a surprising, satisfying twist, as Barrett sings, I hope she’s wilder than your wildest dreams/She’s everything you’re ever gonna need…And then I hope she cheats.
“I Hope” currently sits in the Top 20 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. She penned the song alongside Zachary Kale and Jon Nite; Kale and Ross Copperman produced the track.
“I wrote from a point of view of being in high school relationship that was bad and hopefully I’ve grown from that,” Barrett says. “I feel like everyone has gone through these types of emotions, people who haven’t gotten over it.”
MusicRow Magazine owner/publisher Sherod Robertson and Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett.
Barrett and her team decided to not wait on labels, and put out “I Hope” independently. Once outlets such as CMT, Radio Disney and SiriusXM jumped on board, Lord says the phones started ringing. In June 2019, Barrett announced she’d inked a label deal with Warner Music Nashville, with the label’s radio promo team engaging to further push “I Hope” to radio.
While “I Hope” stakes its claim on the upper regions of the Country Airplay chart, Barrett also released “The Good Ones,” inspired by her now-husband (the couple wed in October 2019) and fellow Idol finalist Cade Foehner.
“When I was on American Idol, we were secretly dating and the people that knew would ask, ‘How is your boyfriend doing?’ And I’d say, ‘He’s good. He’s a good one, a keeper.’ So when I got to the writing room, I knew I had written a song about the bad ones but I was like, ‘There are still good ones out there, because I found mine.'”
The sweet, elegant piece with the lilting melody is made all the more touching by the the accompanying music video, which shares the story of a young woman in a wheelchair, who hopes to be able to dance with her boyfriend. Throughout the video, the boyfriend is shown crafting a a project, which turns out to be a harness swing for the young woman to use so they can dance together.
“I wanted to make it really special and pull on the heartstrings a bit. I wanted to make it a 360-degree turn from the [“I Hope”] video,” Barrett says. “My cousin has autism and my nephew has cerebral palsy and I just wanted people to know that they feel left out, but that there is still a possibility for you to be loved the same as anyone, no matter what deficiency you have. I just wanted to reaffirm people with that message for the video.”
Lord said, “When the idea started floating around, there were some of us who were like, ‘We want to be cautious with this, it’s a little different twist,’ and Gabby just felt firm on this and she said this felt like a story she wanted to tell. That speaks to the courage she has on her creativity and direction. She has a strong maturity and awareness, and there was an amazing reaction to the video.”
Most recently, Barrett released another song inspired by her relationship with Foehner, the track “Hall of Fame,” which she wrote alongside Trannie Anderson, Adam Doleac and Zachary Kale.
Gabby Barrett with MusicRow Magazine staffers.
Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Tanya Tucker, Blake Shelton Show Out For All For The Hall
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young, Morgan Wallen, John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Chris Stapleton; (L-R, front row): Tanya Tucker, Tenille Townes, Carly Pearce, Ingrid Andress, and Lauren Daigle backstage at All for the Hall: Under the Influence, benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The seventh annual All For The Hall, benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, sold out Bridgestone Arena last night (Feb. 10). With Keith Urban serving as the host, the show was billed as All For The Hall: Under The Influence, and each special guest played a song of their own and a song that had influenced them. Urban was joined by Tanya Tucker, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce, Morgan Wallen, Tenille Townes, Brother Osborne, Lauren Daigle, and Ingrid Andress throughout the night.
Urban kicked off the night with his 2016 No. 1 hit, “Wasted Time.” He then thanked the sold-out arena crowd for coming and supporting the County Music Hall of Fame. He also thanked Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill for starting the campaign in 2005. The song that Urban chose to perform that had influenced him was Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou.”
Carly Pearce was next up with her first No. 1 “Every Little Thing,” and a Shania Train mega-hit that inspired her, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.” Her self-titled, sophomore album will release this Friday (Feb. 14).
Pictured: Carly Pearce performs at All for the Hall. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Morgan Wallen took it from there with his hit “Whiskey Glasses,” and chose the Eagles hit “Take It Easy” for his influenced pick. The lively crowd knew every word to both hits.
Tenille Townes followed Wallen with a heartfelt delivery of her song, “Somebody’s Daughter,” and then again with U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” She let the crowd know that she had come to All For The Hall as a fan years ago during a trip to Nashville with her mom, and that it was an honor to get to be performing during the benefit show.
Pictured: Tenille Townes. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Blake Shelton was next up and was met with a thunderous applause. Everyone in Bridgestone Arena was standing and singing along to his Platinum-certified, 2002 single, “Ol’ Red.” He then performed Alan Jackson’s “Dallas.”
Urban made sure to brag on Shelton, saying that he flew in to Nashville to perform at All For The Hall and soon would be flying back out.
Pictured: Blake Shelton and Keith Urban. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Ingrid Andress showed off her star power, singing her introductory single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” while the crowd sang along. She then lead the crowd in singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” with Urban adding pleasant harmonies.
Brothers Osborne started their high-energy performance with Merle Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down.” They then played their “Ain’t My Fault,” with John Osborne and Urban dueling it out on guitar.
The talented backing band for the night included the legendary steel guitarist Paul Franklin. At one point, the whole band turned to watch Franklin shred on steel guitar. “This guy is a legend,” TJ Osborne said.
Lauren Daigle then appeared to sing her Grammy-winning “You Say,” only accompanied by a keyboard. Her stellar vocals then mastered Roberta Flack’s version of “Killing Me Softly.” A trumpet player joined her on-stage.
Pictured: Lauren Daigle. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The stellar Chris and Morgane Stapleton were up next and held everyone’s attention with their harmonies and an acoustic guitar on “Millionaire.” Stapleton then went into Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground,” saying that Nelson was someone he and his father listened to while he was growing up.
Tanya Tucker then stole the show during her performance. She picked several songs that had influenced her, performing snippets of George Jones’ “Grand Tour,” Loretta Lynn’s “Blue Kentucky Girl,” Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues,” and Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man.” She also sounded wonderful on her recent Best Country Song Grammy winner, “Bring My Flowers Now.”
Pictured: Tanya Tucker. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Cheers erupted as soon as Urban gave the first hint of Luke Combs approaching the stage. The star appeared to a thunderous applause, and performed his song, “Even Though I’m Leaving.” “It’s a casual Monday,” he said. Combs then closed the All For The Hall show with his version of Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man.”
Pictured: Luke Combs. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured: Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured: Morgan Wallen and Keith Urban. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured: Ingrid Andress. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured (L-R): John Osborne and T.J. Osborne of Brothers Osborne. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured: Keith Urban. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured: Blake Shelton and Tanya Tucker. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Craig Wiseman To Be “Roasted And Toasted” As T.J. Martell 2020 Ambassador Of The Year
/by Lorie HollabaughCraig Wiseman will be roasted and toasted as The T.J. Martell Foundation 2020 Ambassador Of The Year at this year’s charity event set for April 14. Special guests who will be “roasting and toasting” the guest of honor will be announced soon.
With over 350 cuts, 125 singles, and 27 No. 1 songs to his credit, Wiseman is one of the most celebrated songwriters in Nashville with a long list of genre-defining hits like Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff,” and Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here.” The recipient of ASCAP’s first-ever Heritage Award as the most-played country songwriter of the century, he was also named the Songwriter of the Decade by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Presented as part of the Nashville Comedy Festival, sponsorship opportunities, tables, and individual tickets are now available and benefit cancer research through the T.J. Martell Foundation. Hosted at Nashville’s ZANIES Comedy Night Club, doors open at 4:45 p.m. with all the fun beginning at 5:30 p.m.
For the seventh year in a row, the event celebrates an individual who has risen to the top of their field through commitment, dedication, and perseverance. This recognition is presented to a gifted professional who is respected by seasoned industry veterans and serves as a mentor to the next generation of rising young executives who are following in their footsteps. Past “Ambassador of the Year” honorees who have been roasted and toasted include Shane McAnally (2019), Jay Williams (2018), John Esposito (2017), Mike Dungan (2016), Ali Harnell (2015), and Rob Beckham (2014).
On The Row: Curb Records’ Filmore Talks Building A Fanbase And Confessional Songwriting
/by Jessica NicholsonFilmore. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Missouri native and Curb Records artist Filmore announced his signing to the label in early 2019, but the singer-songwriter has been steadily building his following through touring and strong streaming numbers for the past few years. He melds country sensibilities with masterly pop grooves and the occasional rap verse in a style reminiscent of Sam Hunt. His recent hit “Other Girl” has earned more than 14 million on-demand streams, and follows last year’s breakthrough hit “Slower,” which has earned more than 26 million streams. He has also released the track “My Place.”
Filmore (full name: Tyler Filmore) grew up in Wildwood, Missouri, and moved to Nashville eight years ago. He began writing songs, both for other artists and for himself, and releasing his own music, before signing with Creative Artists Agency and spending more time on the road.
“I didn’t want to sign a record deal for a very long time. I wanted to build it up on my own, to prove my value,” Filmore says. “Curb stepped in and put gas on the fire and it keeps getting better. I’m enjoying every minute right now.”
Pictured (L-R): Filmore with MusicRow Magazine Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Filmore recently visited the MusicRow Magazine offices to perform a trio of songs, including “Other Girl,” “Country Song,” and “Love That About You,” with each song drawn directly from Filmore’s own experiences.
“It’s really cool to be playing here. One day, hopefully I’ll have the cover,” he said, before introducing two fellow musicians, including one of his producers and co-writers John Luke Carter, as well as musician/tour manager BC Taylor.
“This is about a girl I don’t like, but it is a love song,” he said, introducing “Love That About You.” “I used to live off of 8th [Ave. in Nashville] and she used to make me go get a Sprite from a drive-thru because apparently fountain drinks taste way better than from a can or a bottle,” he said, referencing one of the song’s lyrics, before adding, “She’s no longer in the picture, and we don’t care about it.”
Pictured (L-R): BC Taylor, John Luke Carter, and Filmore. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
He also recalled his journey as a kid who began singing as a way to get out of schoolwork, to finding his true creative calling.
“In fifth grade they offered an extra recess time if you joined the choir, so I did that, and it just stuck. I played sports, but I was always in choir, too.” After high school, he enrolled at University of Missouri—”I would have moved to Nashville after high school, but I followed a girl to college,” he noted.
He majored in vocal performance and business, balancing his studies with playing music.
“At school, I did operas, musicals, did Bye Bye Birdie. Then on Fridays and weekends, I had a group of buddies and we would tour the Northeast because you could play colleges and make some cash.”
He finished his three-song set with “Other Girl,” noting that he will soon release more music in the coming weeks, including a stripped down version of “Other Girl,” accompanied by piano and strings.
“It’s not about a side chick,” he clarifies of the song’s title, “but it’s about just being in a good relationship.”
Filmore has been opening shows on Lauren Alaina’s headlining That Girl Was Me Tour. He will perform at C2C Festival in Berlin, Germany on March 6-8 and in London March 13-15.
Filmore with MusicRow Magazine staffers.
Bobby Bones To Host New Weekly ‘Opry’ Show On Circle
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto credit: Taylor Kelly
Bobby Bones has signed on as host and executive producer of Opry, a new weekly, one-hour Circle Network TV program featuring exclusive highlights from the Grand Ole Opry stage each week. Beginning Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. CT, Opry will bring the Grand Ole Opry experience to viewers nationwide with the week’s live-recorded
“Bobby is a terrific entertainer and music enthusiast who has been a friend of the Grand Ole Opry for many years, and a fan for much longer,” said Scott Bailey, president of Opry Entertainment. “As both an executive producer and host, Bobby will have the opportunity to collaborate with our Grand Ole Opry team and present the Opry in a way that will complement the live radio broadcast by providing an insider’s unique perspective into what goes on behind the curtain of country’s most famous stage.”
“As a kid from Mountain Pine, Arkansas who grew up listening and loving the Opry with my grandma…I’m very honored by this opportunity. The rich history and tradition is second to none, and I’m thankful the Opry has not only trusted me to play music and tell jokes on its famed stage so many times, but to also invite me into this next chapter along with so many great country artists,” Bones said.