DISClaimer: Christmas Greetings From Keith Urban, Chris Janson, Tenille Townes, Maddie & Tae

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Country music wears its heart on its sleeve all year long, so the sentimentality of Christmas music fits the genre perfectly.

A plethora of country acts issued seasonal songs this year. In addition to the 10 reviewed here, we also have offerings from Lacy J. Dalton, Mags, Darryl Worley, King Calaway, J.T. Hodges, Cam, Paulina Jaye, Wade Bowen, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Temecula Road, The Gibson Brothers, Rachel Wammack, Clare Dunn, Lauren Lucas, Mike Aiken and a bluezillion more.

Our Discs of the Day on the distaff side are the singles by Tenille Townes and Maddie & Tae. The male Disc of the Day winners are Chris Janson and Keith Urban.

KEITH URBAN/I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight
Writers: Urban/Shane McAnally; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; UMG
– This has a cool, retro, doo-wop feel, complete with piano triplets and a bluesy melody. The sound of an instant classic?

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS/Don’t Go Pullin’on Santa Claus’ Beard
Writers: Anderson East/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Lightning
– The Oaks’ new Down Home Christmas album is one of this year’s best. Producer Dave Cobb mixes the quartet’s harmony singing front and center and puts the emphasis on newly composed holiday tunes. This light-hearted one has Joe taking the lead with Richard dipping down low on the title phrase. Also check out the fun, festive “Reindeer on the Roof,” with a video shot at Santa’s Pub, as well as the Jamey Johnson/Bill Anderson/Buddy Cannon tune “South Alabama Christmas.”

THOMAS RHETT/Christmas In The Country
Writers: Thomas Rhett/David Garcia/Ashley Gorley/Chris Tomlin; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Big Machine
– Pleasant, if somewhat routine and forgettable. Mid-tempo pudding.

JENNY TOLMAN/Cowboy For Christmas
Writers: Tolman/Dave Brainard/Bill Whyte; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed
– Sweet, wistful, gentle and yearning. It’s a lovely country waltz wishing that Santa will rope her a wrangler for a present. Smooth as silk.

CHRIS JANSON/Run Run Rudolph
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Mr. Energy takes Chuck Berry’s holiday classic out for a rollicking country spin and it is a boatload of fun, fun, fun.

TENILLE TOWNES/One In a Million
Writers: Tenille Townes/Daniel Tashian; Producer: Tashian; Publisher: none listed; Columbia Nashville
– Tenille’s Songs for Christmas includes this dreamy, jazzy ditty wherein her soprano wafts above simple guitar work and cushiony strings. It’s as pretty and seductive as can be.

DYLAN SCOTT/I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– His collection is titled, simply, Merry Christmas. And it consists, also simply, of his renditions of evergreen favorites such as this classic ballad. Background music lacking any innovation.

MADDIE & TAE/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury
– Taken at a languid tempo, this classic is lushly arranged. So their vocals sound luminous and sparkly. Nicely done, ladies.

SHANE OWENS/Nothing Compares To Christmas
Writers: Shane Owens/Galen Griffin/Melissa Querry; Producer: Nick Lutz & Melissa Querry; Publishers: none listed; Amerimonte
– His country-as-grits voice delivers the sentiments in this ballad so effectively. A steel sighs and strings softly embellish the mood.

CHARLES ESTEN/On The Road To Bethlehem
Writers: Charles Esten/Mark Collie; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; CE
– This is a stark, guitar-voice performance. Which is cool. Also intriguing/unusual is the fact that the ballad is sung from the point of view of Joseph while he’s on the road with pregnant Mary. Recommended.

Industry Pics: Milk & Honey Management, Jim Halsey, Dustin Lynch

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Milk & Honey Management Leads Bluebird Cafe Show

Pictured (L-R): Emerson Hart, Shelby Yoder (Head of Milk & Honey Nashville), Pete Griffin (President & CEO, MOC), Dana Sones (Director Of Strategic Partnerships MOC), Lee Thomas Miller, Torianne Valdez (Program Manager MOC), Tarah Duarte (Executive Assistant MOC), Mandy Kresiberg (Fundraising Operations Coordinator MOC), and David Hodges.

Milk & Honey Management spearheaded a sold-out show at the Bluebird Cafe to benefit Musicians On Call. David Hodges, Emerson Hart and Lee Thomas Miller performed, while the show concluded with Hodges being honored with a Platinum RIAA certification plaque to commemorate sales for Kelsea Ballerini’s “Miss Me More,” the No. 1 hit Hodges co-wrote with Ballerini.

 

Kansas Auditorium Renamed In Honor Of Jim Halsey

(L-R): Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Jim Halsey, Joe Bonsall

Music manager Jim Halsey is celebrating more than 70 years in the entertainment industry. The 89-year-old Independence, Kansas native was recently honored in his hometown with the 2,000 seat auditorium inside Memorial Hall being renamed to the Jim Halsey Auditorium.

“This honor means more to me than anything else in my life. To be recognized in my home town that I love dearly is the best thing to ever happen to me,” said Halsey.

During his career, Halsey has managed, booked or guided the careers of country artists including Roy Clark, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Hank Thompson, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Wanda Jackson, Freddy Fender, Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, Rick Nelson, Clint Black, Dwight Yoakam, Minnie Pearl, James Brown and The Oak Ridge Boys, who he’s managed for over 45 years.

 

Dustin Lynch Holds 6th Annual Dustin Lynch & Friends Benefit Concert

Broken Bow Records artist Dustin Lynch returned to his hometown of Tullahoma, Tennessee on Dec. 17 for his 6th annual Dustin Lynch & Friends Benefit Concert. The event raised $36,000 for local charities including Isaiah 117 House and Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center, in addition to collecting toys for the Tullahoma Fire Department’s Toys for Tots drive.

Dustin Lynch With Tullahoma Fire Department Firefighters And Fire Chief Richard Shasteen

Delta Rae Plans New Album Release ‘The Light’ For 2020

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Delta Rae will release their new album, The Light, on March 20. The project will be their first since 2015’s After It All, and the group will embark on a mini-tour in April in support of the album, marking their first full tour as an independent band. They’ll visit New York, Boston, Philly, Atlanta and more through April 25.

Conceived as a sister album with The Dark (which will come out in 2021), The Light was crafted using The Tarot’s major arcana as inspiration and tracing the band back to its origins convening in a house in the woods of Durham, N.C., writing songs that were honest explorations of their lives and emotions. Songs like “Back to The Garden – The Empress,” “Stronger Than A Lion – Strength,” and others find the band pivoting between doo-wop and folk in a genre-bending sonic experience.

“Take Me There,” one of the tracks on the new album, can be heard here.

Delta Rae The Light 2020 Northeast Tour Dates:
4/9 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
4/10 – Philadelphia, Pa @ Union Transfer
4/11 – New York, Ny @ Gramercy Theater
4/16 – Concord, Nh @ Bank Of New Hampshire
4/17 – Portland, Me @ State Theatre
4/18 – Boston, Ma @ The Royale
4/21 – Hartford, Ct @ Infinity Hall
4/25 – Atlanta, Ga @ Sweetwater Festival

Weekly Radio Report (12/20/19)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Radio Report.

Recording Academy To Honor John Prine

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John Prine

The accolades keep coming for John Prine. Prine will soon be honored with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside fellow honorees Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. A special presentation ceremony is set for April 18, 2020 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

In 2018, Prine released his first project of new material in over a decade with The Tree of Forgiveness, produced by Dave Cobb. Prine was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year, and earned three Grammy nominations. He also won two honors at the 2019 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, including Album of the Year for The Tree of Forgiveness and Song of the Year for “Summer’s End,” which Prine wrote alongside Pat McLaughlin.

Prine is currently on tour and will perform a New Year’s Eve concert at Nashville’s Opry House. Additionally, after a sold-out inaugural year, Prine’s All The Best Fest is set to return to the all-inclusive Breathless + Now Onyx Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic November 16-20, 2020.

DISClaimer: For King & Country Offers A “Stop-You-In-Your-Tracks Masterpiece”

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You just can’t beat Music City when it comes to Christmas records.

This community has given us such holiday standards as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Tennessee Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Blue Christmas,” “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” “Christmas Time’s A-Comin,’” “Santa Claus Is Watching You,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “If We Make It Through December,” “Christmas In Dixie” and “Pretty Paper.”

This year, Nashville’s non-country artists are leading the way. We have a dandy DisCovery Award winner in Nickie Conley, as well as an undisputed Disc of the Day winner in For King & Country.

KEB’ MO’/Christmas Is Annoying
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Concord
– Nashville’s resident blues superstar has issued his debut holiday collection, Moonlight Mistletoe and You. Long noted for his wry sense of humor, he includes this smile-worthy, bah-humbug ditty on the set. Who can’t relate to maxed-out credit cards and the stress of the season?

NICKIE CONLEY/100 Christmas Kisses
Writers: none listed; Producer: Roger Ryan; Publisher: none listed; AfterTouch
– This Music City resident was Donna Summer’s longtime backup vocalist, and Nickie has also harmonized behind Sara Evans, CeCe Winans, Third Day, Gloria Gaynor, Kirk Whalum, Patti LaBelle and The Zac Brown Band, among others. Her holiday album is titled A Time for Hope and includes this bopping lament for a missing lover. Her soulful voice rides confidently atop a snappy rhythm track right up to the key-change, doo-wop, octave-leaping finale.

CHRIS TOMLIN/Christmas Day
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Capitol CMG/BMI; Sparrow
– This Grammy-winning CCM star has a holiday EP to accompany his Christmas tour. It includes this single featuring We the Kingdom. It’s an echoey, soaring, pop celebration of the Reason for the Season. By the way, Chris recently became the first Christian artist to surpass one billion streams of his music.

TAYLOR SWIFT/Christmas Tree Farm
Writer: Taylor Swift; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Republic
– The video features Taylor as a tot frolicking in Pennsylvania snow at Christmastime. It also includes footage of her unwrapping her first guitar. And, yes, her family did own a Christmas tree farm. Catchy and bopping.

STRASSER & COMBS/Appalachian Rhapsody
Writers: Strasser/Combs; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; AC
– Nate Strasser and Matt Combs have a Nashville project called Americana Carols. It’s mainly instrumental versions of holiday standards, but does include this original orchestral epic that shimmers with wintery wonder. Singer Briana Tyson drops by for “O Holy Night” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”

FOR KING & COUNTRY/Little Drummer Boy
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Curb
– This is a stop-you-in-your-tracks masterpiece. Easily the sensation of this holiday season, the performance electrified viewers of the CMA’s Christmas TV special. The band rocks this standard righteously. If you haven’t heard it, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. It will stir your blood and make you want to shout, “Hallelujah.” ABC will rebroadcast the CMA special on Christmas eve.

ERNIE HAAS & SIGNATURE SOUND/Christmas In Manhattan
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Warner Chappell/BMI; Gaither Music
– The album is titled A Jazzy Little Christmas. This quartet has a harmony blend to die for, and shows that off splendidly on this minor-key, romantic ballad track from it.

ORIGINAL CAST/The Circle of Love
Writers: Dolly Parton; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Red Tail
-This one comes to us from the theater world. Earlier this month, Dolly premiered a new musical called A Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol, which continues to play in Boston. This song of hers originally appeared on Jennifer Nettles’ Christmas album, and is now a standout on the cast recording. It’s a waltz-time rendition of the Biblical Christmas story that warms the cockles of your heart.

THE McCRARY SISTERS/Joyful, Joyful
Writers: none listed; Producer: Scott Billington; Publisher: none listed; Rounder
– The whole McCrary clan joins in on this rousing, hand-clapping hymn, as does the legendary Shirley Caesar. These Nashville treasures have titled their holiday CD A Very McCrary Christmas, and it will set you free. Unconditionally guaranteed to please.

BOUDLEAUX BRYANT/No Place Like Home On Christmas
Writers: Boudleaux Bryant; Producer: Bryant; Publisher: none listed; Bryant
– As part of the celebration of the centennial of this songwriter’s birth, the estate has issued a clutch of holiday-themed demos by the Bryants. This sweet, simple tune is just Boudleaux with his guitar in his living room. It’s loaded with heart. Previously recorded by Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson, it sounds best in the songwriter’s own voice.

Michael W. Smith Extends ’35 Years Of Friends Tour’

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Michael W. Smith and Awakening Events are adding a spring extension to the Michael W. Smith 35 Years Of Friends Tour. A 17-city slate of shows follows the fall 2019 run of 14 sold-out shows. The spring leg of the tour will visit cities including Sugar Land, Texas; San Francisco; Macon, Georgia; and Roanoke, Virginia.

“The fans made it clear, they want more Michael W. Smith, and the momentum of finishing this fall with all 10 of the final 10 shows being sold out left no doubt that we needed to extend this tour,” said Curtis Pinkerton, Director of Marketing at Awakening Events.

Smith says, “I am thrilled that we are taking the 35 Years Of Friends Tour back on the road this spring. The fall tour was so much fun and such a great success, I can’t wait to do it again. Last year in Nashville, we had an event where 56 of my friends and fellow artists came together to celebrate my 35 No. 1’s and the 35th Anniversary of “FRIENDS.” It was an amazing night⁠—and, for me, brought back memories of some songs I hadn’t thought of for quite a while! To fit all the songs into one night and be my own opening act is really special to me. From the old songs I haven’t done in concert for a long time, to newer hits and, of course worship⁠—it’s a full night. I can’t wait to see you there!”

Tickets for the spring leg of the “35 Years Of Friends Tour” are on sale now.

35 Years of Friends Spring Tour
Thu., Mar. 12: Sugar Land, TX (Houston) – Sugar Land Baptist Church
Fri., Mar. 13: Lewisville, TX (Dallas) – First Baptist Church Lewisville
Sat., Mar. 14: Amarillo, TX – Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts
Sun., Mar. 15: Albuquerque, NM – Hoffmantown Church
Thu., Mar. 19: San Francisco, CA – Palace Of Fine Arts Theatre
Fri., Mar. 20: Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre Napa
Sat., Mar. 21: San Luis Obispo, CA – Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
Sun., Mar. 22: Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre
Thu., Mar. 26: Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
Fri., Mar. 27: Lincoln, NE Rococo Theatre
Sat., Mar. 28: Lafayette, IN – Long Center for the Performing Arts
Sun., Mar. 29: Louisville, KY – The Brown Theatre
Fri., Apr. 3: Macon, GA – The Grand Opera House, a performing arts center of Mercer University
Sun., Apr. 5: Indian Trail, NC (Charlotte) – First Baptist Church Indian Trail
Tue., Apr. 14: Roanoke, VA – Jefferson Center
Wed., Apr. 15: Greensboro, NC – Carolina Theatre of Greensboro
Thu., Apr. 16: Middleburg Heights, OH – Grace Church

Rival Sons Celebrate Grammy Nominations In Nashville

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California rock band Rival Sons entertained guests with a performance at RCA Studio A Wednesday night (Dec. 18) to celebrate their Grammy nominations for Best Rock Album (Feral Roots) and Best Rock Performance for (“Too Bad”). The band is currently signed under Dave Cobb’s Low Country Sound imprint of Elektra in conjunction with Atlantic Records.

Their sixth studio effort was written in a cabin by Natchez Trace and recorded in part in Nashville and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Lead vocalist Jay Buchanan said, “Scott and I knew that we wanted to approach things differently. We knew that we’re going to have more time and we also knew that we were graduating to another level.”

Guitarist Scott Holiday added, “You either gonna turn a corner and do something totally different or you’re really trying to hone in on exactly what you’ve been trying to do. I think this record we were honing in and at the same time really trying [to] turn a corner with our new team.”

Cobb notes, “One thing for this record for me, everyone’s here in Tennessee. This is an absolutely Tennessee record. It was written in Tennessee, and when Jay told me the name of the record Feral Roots, it all generates from all of the of this area. I think it’s a beautiful sentiment; there’s so much Tennessee in this album.”

They performed their No. 1 single “Do Your Worst” and their Grammy-nominated single “Too Bad” from their Feral Roots album. They continued the music with a selection from their 2012 album Head Down, the melancholic “Jordan” and concluded with the closing track to Feral Roots “Shooting Stars” accompanied by Shannon Sanders’ Nashville Urban Choir.

Rival Sons includes Jay Buchanan (vocals), Scott Holiday (guitar), Dave Beste (bass guitar), and Mike Miley (drums).

IBMA Announces 2020 Leadership Bluegrass Class

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The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced the 2020 class of Leadership Bluegrass, an intensive three-day program of advanced interactive learning experiences designed to build commitment, motivate talents, and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry. Since its inception in 2000, Leadership Bluegrass boasts more than 400 graduates.

“This year’s Leadership Bluegrass class is as strong as any I’ve seen. The large number of diverse and high-quality applicants is quite a statement about the impressive qualifications of those selected and the reputation of the program,” says IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger. “Our association’s mission is to connect, educate, and empower bluegrass professionals, and IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass continues to be one of the most important professional development programs in the bluegrass music industry. Participation in this class and future alumni activities is an impactful commitment to one’s career, the IBMA, and the bluegrass community. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!”

Leadership Bluegrass 2020 will take place March 2-4 at BMI in Nashville.

The members of the class of 2020 are:
Jake Blount – Washington, D.C.
David Brower – PineCone / WUNC – Carrboro, NC
Thomas Cassell – Circus No. 9 – Johnson City, TN
Ethan Charles – International Bluegrass Music Association – Nashville, TN
Jennifer Danielson – Pandora – Nashville, TN
Worth Dixon – D’Addario & Company, Inc. – Farmingdale, NY
Rick Faris – Special Consensus – Topeka, KA
Rebecca Frazier – Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run – Nashville, TN
Greg Garrison – Leftover Salmon / University of Colorado – Denver – Lakewood, CO
Dave Howard – Louisville Folk School – Louisville, KY
Fred Knittel – Smithsonian Folkways Recordings – Washington, D.C.
Marianne Kovatch – Blue Ridge Music Center – Winton-Salem, NC
Evie Ladin – Evie Ladin Band – Oakland, CA
Michelle Lee – WOBL / Bluegrass Borderline / Smoked Country Jam – Sheffield Lake, OH
Ed Leonard – Billy Blue Records – Hendersonville, TN
Ned Luberecki – Becky Buller Band / SiriusXM – Nashville, TN
Didier Philippe – La Roche Bluegrass Festival – Etaux, France
Lauren Price Napier – The Price Sisters – Hyden, KY
Angela Sommers Rees – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival – Dorrigo, NSW, Australia
Brian Swenk – Big Daddy Love / Midwood Entertainment – Glen Allen, VA
Abi Tapia – Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – Nashville, TN
Suzy Thompson – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention – Berkeley, CA
Amanda Thompson – Frankfort Bluegrass Festival – Mokena, IL
Roxanne Tromly – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum / ROMP Fest – Owensboro, KY
Natalya Weinstein Miller – Zoe & Cloyd / Warren Wilson College – Fairview, NC
Benjamin Wright – Henhouse Prowlers / Bluegrass Ambassadors – Chicago, IL

CMA Adds Two In Finance, Operations

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Abell, London

The Country Music Association has hired Sarah Abell as Operations Manager and Leslie London as Sr. Staff Accountant.

Abell will oversee event space utilization, including booking, event execution and maintenance. She will also maintain outside vendor relationships and manage the receptionist on staff. Abell previously worked as Service Captain for Flavor Catering, where she was responsible for overseeing staff and ensuring client satisfaction. She attended Western Kentucky University and Bowling Green Technical College. Abell reports to Amy Smartt, CMA Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, and can be reached at sabell@cmaworld.com.

London will assist in accurately reporting CMA’s financial standing, including the preparation of CMA’s financial reports, reviewing, reconciling and assisting with the annual budget process and ensuring internal controls are followed. London joins CMA after six years as an Accounting Manager at Diversicare Healthcare Services, where she oversaw the accounting for Long Term Care facilities and resident trust funds. She attended Sierra College before receiving her Accounting Certificate from the University of California – Davis Extension. London reports to Ben Balch, CMA Director, Accounting & Financial Planning, and can be reached at llondon@cmaworld.com.