John McBride, Martina McBride. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

The T.J. Martell hosted the 2026 Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner on Tuesday (April 14).

The exclusive event, with Grand Cru Presenting Sponsor Secure Air, brought together influential and philanthropic leaders from Nashville’s music and wine industries for a celebratory charity auction and dinner dedicated to the fight against cancer. With $690,000 in total revenue, the evening set a new record for the event in Nashville.

The evening also recognized Martina and John McBride with the prestigious Billy Ray Hearn Award of Excellence. Established to carry forward the legacy of Billy Ray Hearn, the award honors industry leaders who exemplify outstanding professional achievement, extraordinary philanthropic contributions, and an unwavering commitment to Music’s Cure for Cancer.

Additionally, the event featured a spirited fundraising auction hosted by acclaimed radio personality and auctioneer Shawn Parr.

Michael Bublé, Randy Travis (seated), Lauren Alaina. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

Attendees included Randy Travis, Mary Travis, Michael Bublé, Dave Cobb, Frank Ski, Lauren Alaina, Jordan Davis, Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, Brad Tursi of Old Dominion, and Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello of The Band Perry. This year’s dinner, which was presented by Troy and Nicole Vollhoffer and Premier Global Production, was crafted by Executive Chef Freddy Money of Atlas in Atlanta.

Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner was presided over by Steve Gawley, Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs and Business Development at REPUBLIC Collective and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the T.J. Martell Foundation, and co-hosted by Mike Harris, President and CEO Music Corporation of America (MCA) and John Esposito, Co-Founder of HEY NOW Records and 15-year veteran Chairman/CEO of Warner Music Nashville. A Dinner Committee featuring many of Nashville’s top executives included Stacy Blythe, Charlie Brusco, Dave Cobb, Derek C. Crownover, Seth England, Clint Higham, Jon Loba, Jordan Pettit, Patrick Sabatini, and John & Nataliia Sanzo. Event co-chairs in attendance also included entrepreneur, philanthropist and wine collector Tom Black, and philanthropist, wine connoisseur and active supporter of various charitable organizations Eliza Kraft Olander.

“Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the T.J. Martell Foundation. Over that half century, we — together — have raised more than $280 million to fund bold, high-risk/ high reward cancer research that has led to real breakthroughs and lifesaving treatments. This reflects not only strong stewardship, but also the trust that all of you place in this organization,” says Gawley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the T.J. Martell Foundation. “It also reminds us that there is still so much more to do. The work you support doesn’t happen someday — it is happening everyday in the finest cancer research institutions in the nation because of what we choose to do in rooms like this. And here in Nashville, that impact is real, not abstract — it’s right here in your own community. The marquee on the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center contains the words ‘Supported by the T.J. Martell Foundation.’ That’s not just recognition. It’s a reflection of decades of commitment from this community. And your commitment is driving real science.”

Pictured (L-R): Steve Gawley, Jordan Pettit, Stacy Blythe, Scott Borchetta, John Sanzo, John McBride, Martina McBride, John Esposito, Eliza Kraft Olander, Mike Harris, Frank Ski, Chef Freddy Money, Dave Cobb, Shawn Parr, Peter Marcum. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

“Now, as many of you know, I had the privilege of serving as the chair of the Nashville Board of Governors for years, and the T.J. Martell Foundation is deeply personal to me. But the story of this Foundation in Nashville did not start with me. It started with giants,” shares Esposito, Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the T.J. Martell Foundation. “It started with people like the legendary Frances Preston. Frances was a force of nature. She brought the T.J. Martell Foundation to Nashville because she saw the power of this community. She knew that the music industry did not just write songs; we take care of our own, and we fight for the people who need it most. Frances laid the groundwork that allowed us to build the Frances Williams Preston Labs at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, right here in our backyard.”

“Every year, I am reminded of just how extraordinary this community is, and this year’s Nashville Best Cellars Dinner was no exception,” says Lynn-Anne Huck, CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation. “The artists, executives, and philanthropic leaders who came together that evening didn’t just attend an event; they reaffirmed a shared belief that we can and will make a difference. Their generosity moves me deeply, and I am endlessly grateful.”

Lauren Alaina, Karen Fairchild. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

Brad Tursi and Roxy King. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

Dave Cobb, Frank Ski, Steve Gawley. Photo: Ed Rode for The T.J. Martell Foundation

Kelli Masters‘ boutique agency KMM Sports has formed a strategic partnership with Borchetta Entertainment Group, the multi-platform company founded by industry titan Scott Borchetta, and veteran media executive Erik Logan, former President of the Oprah Winfrey Network and current CEO of Tony Robbins’ conglomerate, Robbins Research International.

The new partnership gives KMM Sports the brand-building infrastructure, media relationships, and business management capabilities of a world-class entertainment organization while preserving the personal, relationship-driven representation that has defined KMM for two decades. KMM Sports has represented players in every NFL Draft since 2006, and the move positions KMM Sports as one of the only agencies in professional sports to combine NFLPA-certified contract negotiation with entertainment-grade brand management, strategic financial planning, and full-service legal counsel under one roof — from the first college offer through professional career, retirement and into life after the game.

In 2010, Masters became the first woman in history to represent a Top 5 pick in the NFL Draft when Gerald McCoy was selected No. 3 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in the 16 years since, she has represented more athletes than any woman in the industry, negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars in NFL contracts, and built KMM Sports into one of the most respected boutique agencies in professional sports. Masters, a member of the Cherokee Nation and former Miss Oklahoma, earned her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Oklahoma and was named one of Bleacher Report’s 25 Most Influential Women in Sports.

“For twenty years, I’ve built KMM on a simple belief: represent the whole person, not just the player,” says Masters. “We’ve done that with heart, with hustle, and with relationships that last longer than any contract. This partnership doesn’t change who we are — it amplifies what we can do. Our athletes now walk into any room with the credibility and infrastructure of an organization that has built some of the biggest names in entertainment. We’re ready to go up against anybody.”

“I built Big Machine Records from nothing — thirteen people, three artists, and a belief that the independents could outwork the majors. We proved that. The same playbook applies here,” says Borchetta. “Kelli has something that no mega-agency can replicate: twenty years of trust, built one athlete at a time. What Erik and I bring is scale — the brand-building infrastructure, the media relationships, and the business management capabilities that turn a great agent into an industry-defining platform. When the world sees the full picture of what we’re building, they’re going to understand why every athlete should be paying attention.”

“Our job is to build the infrastructure around the agency so athletes get the same caliber of brand management, financial guidance, and career strategy that the biggest names in entertainment and music have relied on for decades. This is about giving the athletes a partner for every chapter of their life — not just the seasons they play,” adds Logan.

KMM Sports will now offer athletes a fully integrated platform that spans every stage of their career, including Contract Negotiation & Legal Representation; End-to-End Brand Management; Financial Advisory & Wealth Strategy; Media, Content & Digital Strategy; NIL & College-to-Pro Transition; and Post-Career Transition & Life Planning. The announcement comes as Borchetta Entertainment Group rapidly expands its management division, which now includes artists Carly Pearce, The Band Perry, and a roster of developing artists across country, Americana, and the broader music landscape, giving KMM Sports clients access to an entertainment ecosystem that spans music, media, content creation, and brand partnerships.

Photo: Robby Klein

Luke Combs was honored earlier this week with a TIME100 cover story, highlighting him as one of the world’s most influential people..

Combs’ full feature is available here, and a tribute written by Ed Sheeran can be found here.

Combs recently kicked off his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” with a sold-out show at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, which broke the venue’s attendance record. Additional tour stops will include three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium, two nights at Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield, two nights at Ireland’s Slane Castle, two nights at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field and stops at South Bend’s Notre Dame Stadium, Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, Columbus’ Ohio Stadium, Paris’ Accor Arena and Sweden’s Ullevi, among others.

The tour celebrates Combs’ new album, The Way I Am, which he released on March 20 via Sony Music Nashville. Produced by Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews, the 22-track album includes a collaboration with Alison Krauss as well as previously released songs “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “Days Like These,” “15 Minutes,” “Giving Her Away” and “Back in the Saddle.”

Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson

Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson were among the evening’s big winners at the 37th Annual Pollstar Awards, held earlier this week at the Loews Hollywood Hotel as part of the Pollstar Live! gathering of global live entertainment professionals.

This year’s ceremony honored the most innovative and successful artists, tours, companies, venues and executives, and Stapleton and Wilson were recognized in a tie for Country Tour of the Year. As part of its partnership with iHeartRadio, Pollstar also introduced a new fan-voted honor this year: the inaugural iHeartRadio Pollstar Fan Favorite Award for Live Performer of the Year. The category marks a new era of audience-driven recognition, created to spotlight the artists whose live performances resonate most powerfully with fans, with this year’s inaugural award going to Morgan Wallen.

The Pinnacle in Nashville also received the award for New Concert Venue of the Year during the evening, which also recognized outstanding talent buyers, promoters, booking agents, sound companies and more. Other winners recognized during the night included Oasis, Metallica, Kendrick Lamar/SZA, The Weeknd, Benson Boone, Bad Bunny, Adam Sandler and more.

Pictured (clockwise): Louie Newman, Chele Fassig, RG Jones, and Matt Galvin

Veteran record executive Louie Newman has launched Saddle Up Records, a new country label and radio promotion company. Saddle Up Records will also collaborate on select projects with Lyric Ridge Records going forward.

“Radio remains a primary driver in country music, and we understand how critical airplay is to breaking and furthering an artist’s career,” says Newman. “We’ve built a team with a long track record of credibility at country radio, while also working closely with digital and streaming partners to build momentum across all platforms. We’re excited about what’s ahead.”

Newman, who will serve as Founder and President, most recently spent 25 years at MCA Nashville. He also played a major role in the fully independent promotion effort for Drew Baldridge’s “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” the first independent No. 1 at country radio. Newman’s team has also worked on Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” as well as Julia Cole’s “Day Late & A Buck Short.” He was named the 2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Independent Promotion Executive of the Year. He can be reached here.

Chele Fassig has been named SVP of National Promotion & Marketing, where she will oversee national promotion and marketing strategy. She previously served as Director of Promotion at Lyric Ridge Records and brings extensive radio experience from markets including Decatur, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Charlotte. She can be reached here.

Matt Galvin joins the team as VP, National Promotion & Streaming. Galvin has over 25 years of experience, including 15 years at RCA Nashville. During his time at RCA, his promotion team scored 38 No. 1 hits, working with Old Dominion, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, and Chris Young, among others. At Saddle Up, he’ll lead radio promotion, shape overall strategy, and manage relationships with streaming partners. He can be reached here.

RG Jones will join the team for special projects using his experience and data-driven approach to radio. He can be reached here.

The label’s first artists will be announced in the coming weeks.