Caylee Hammack, Ian Munsick, Dylan Scott, Chandler Walters and Anne Wilson have been added as performers to the eight annual Nashville Songwriter Awards on Sept. 23 at the Ryman Auditorium.

They join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Kelly Archer, Drew Baldridge, Marc Beeson, Johnny Clawson, Travis Denning, Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Dorr, Aaron Eshuis, Tyler Hubbard, Lalo Guzman, Cameron Jaymes, Tony Lane, Josh Miller, Lukas Nelson, Tim Nichols, Josh Phillips, Daniel Ross, Chris Stevens, Kyle Sturrock, Chris Tompkins, Trisha Yearwood and Jimmy Yeary.

All performers will honor NSAI’s Song, Songwriter, and Songwriter-Artist of the Year, as well as the 10 Songs ‘I Wish I’d Written’ awards and celebrate this year’s Legendary Song. Additionally, performances will honor several individuals whose careers and musical contributions have left an indelible mark for music makers around the world, including ALABAMA for the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, and Brenda Lee for the NSAI President’s Keystone Award.

Tickets for the eight annual Nashville Songwriter Awards are available here.

2025 Music Teachers of Excellence. Photo: John Russell/CMA

The Nashville music community gathered on Sept. 10, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center to honor 30 of the nation’s most dedicated music educators at the ninth Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony, hosted by the CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association. The evening brought together artists, students, industry leaders and local supporters to celebrate teachers.

The honorees included five teachers from Metro Nashville Public Schools, 10 from districts across Tennessee and 15 representing schools in 11 states were recognized.

“Music Teachers of Excellence is about more than one night of recognition—it is a testament to the life-changing power of music education,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Every student deserves a teacher who believes in them, sparks their creativity, and gives them the confidence to dream bigger than they ever thought possible. This year’s honorees remind us that investing in teachers means investing in stronger communities, brighter futures, and the very heartbeat of our culture.”

The night featured a one-of-a-kind lineup of performers and speakers. Country soul artist Drake White opened the evening, leading into the performance by powerhouse gospel vocalist Nate Bean, a Metro Nashville Public Schools music teacher, performing with 4Given and the Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School Choir, led by former Music Teachers of Excellence Dee Hammonds and Christopher Blackmon. CMA Award-nominated artist Caylee Hammack took the stage, followed by motivational speaker Carlos Whittaker, who shared reflections on purpose, resilience, and the power of music in everyday life. The Cane Ridge High School Rhythmic Ravens Purple Reign Drum Line, led by former Music Teacher of Excellence Johnny Croft, energized the room, and actor/musician Charles Esten recognized all 30 honorees. After offering an intimate look at the impact of educators on creativity and careers, songwriter Nicolle Galyon made way for CMA Award-winning hitmaker Jon Pardi, who closed the night.

“It has been a true honor to celebrate these remarkable teachers,” says Sloane Cavitt Logue, WME Partner & Head of Client Strategy and Music Teachers of Excellence Planning Committee Chair. “The Nashville music community showed up with such generosity, and together we created a night that reflects our shared belief in the power of music education. This celebration is a reminder that our role in supporting these educators doesn’t end with Wednesday night’s event—it’s a commitment we can all carry forward, year-round, to ensure music education continues to thrive.”

Additionally, the CMA Foundation gave $5,000 to each honoree—half to help enhance their music program and half for personal use.

This year’s Music Teachers of Excellence are Justin Antos (Dwight D. Eisenhower High School), Jeremy Bartunek (Greenbrier School), Melissa Gustafson-Hinds (O’Fallon Township High School), Dr. Kathryn Spangler (Mt. Vernon High School), Brandon Dittgen (Milford High School), Hong Le (Ellsworth Hill Elementary School), Matthew Shephard (Meridian Early College High School), Eric Songer (Chaska Middle School West), Erin Althen (West Hill High School), Theresa Iacarino (Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School), Michael Antmann (Freedom High School), Nick Blue (Franklin High School), Chuck Brown (Head Magnet Middle School), Neshawn Calloway (Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts), Reggie Coleman (Rocky Fork Middle School), Jandrea Crum (Chimneyrock Elementary School), Garrett Doo (Smyrna High School), Nicholas Efstathiou (Riverdale High School), Marisa Frank (Explore! Community School) Elaina Gallas (Mill Creek Elementary School), Jason Glashauser (South Clinton Elementary School), Carolyn Hankins (Page Middle School), Elisabeth Lay (Downtown Elementary School), Anna Maria Miller (Hume-Fogg Academic High School), Dave Petrelli (Lockeland Design Center Elementary School), Allison Snyder (Hunters Lane High School), Sara Duce (Greenfield Junior High School), Megan Perdue (Sheldon High School), Ethan Chessin (Camas High School) and Haviland Gilbert (Lincoln Elementary School).

Jake Owen will release his new album Dreams to Dream, produced by Shooter Jennings, on Nov. 7 via Good Company Entertainment. In conjunction with the album announcement, Owen has shared new track “Long Time Lovin’ You,” out now.

When Owen was a boy in Vero Beach, Florida, he used to pick out country tunes by Hank Williams Jr. and Merle Haggard on back porches for his parents, and he channels that kind of easy, familiar comfort throughout Dreams to Dream. The new project features guest appearances by Jamey Johnson on “The Jukebox Knows,” and Savannah Conley on “Them Old Love Songs” and writing credits on the new album include Owen’s longtime friends and songwriters Ben Chapman and Kendell Marvel.

“Sometimes you need to get outside what’s comfortable, what people think you are, or think you should be, and take a risk. It really feels cathartic to be honest about a lot of stuff in my life—how I feel, where I see myself going, and how I see myself going there,” says Owen. “Where I feel most comfortable is grabbing my guitar and singing a song that fits my voice really smoothly. I feel like it’s more honest. I’ve just become a guy that wants to sing songs for people that have also matured with me in my life.”

The project was recorded at Snake Mountain (Sunset Sound Studio 3) in Los Angeles and was mixed by Trina Shoemake and mastered by Pete Lymanm, with additional production by Marvel and additional recording by Dan Ballard in Nashville with assistant engineers Nate Haessly in Los Angeles and Dannon Johnson in Nashville.

Ahead of the album release, Owen will join Darius Rucker for five shows in the UK from Sept. 29-Oct. 5. At the end of October, he’ll team with Dirty Heads for a small run of shows in Florida Oct. 23-26 before wrapping up the year with the annual “Flamingo Weekend, benefiting The Jake Owen Foundation.

Dreams to Dream Track List:
1. “Dreams to Dream” (Jake Owen, Ben Chapman, Kendell Marvel)
2. “Them Old Love Songs” (feat. Savannah Conley) (Donnie Fritts, Troy Seals)
3. “Long Time Lovin’ You” (Will Jones, Kendell Marvel)
4. “Wouldn’t Be Gone” (Troy Jones)
5. “The Jukebox Knows” (feat. Jamey Johnson) (William Beckmann, Jamey Johnson)
6. “Fool Like Me” (Kendell Marvel, Waylon Payne)
7. “Chill of December” (Jake Owen, Kendell Marvel, Channing Wilson)
8. “Middle Age Crazy” (Sonny Throckmorton)
9. “The One I Did it To” (Dean Dillon, Bob DiPiero, Scotty Emerick)
10. “You’d Think” (Chuck Cannon, Scotty Emerick)
11. “Wrinkle In The Road” (Scotty Emerick, Troy Jones, Paul Overstreet)
12. “So Long, LA” (Jake Owen, Kendell Marvel, Matt Pingel, Jimmy Ritchey, Channing Wilson)
13. “Voice Note to Shooter (Once And For All)” (Hank Williams, Jr.)

Old Dominion. Photo: Dove Shore

Old Dominion will kick off a third leg of the “How Good Is That – World Tour” in the spring, bringing the band to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Dasha and Alexandra Kay will join for select dates across Australia and New Zealand in March, while Phil Vassar and Sacha will join them on an extensive Canadian run in April and May.

“We have had the time of our lives playing the hits and introducing Barbara across America this year,” frontman Matthew Ramsey shares. “Now it’s time to visit our friends abroad again. We can’t wait to get back to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to connect with the international Odies.”

Old Dominion recently released their 13-song project, Barbara, which the band sees as its most personal album to date. Old Dominion’s fall tour dates will run through October, before the band heads to Las Vegas for “BARBARA. HITS. VEGAS.,” at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Dec. 5 and 6.

Old Dominion 2025/2026 Tour Dates:
September 12 & 13 – Durant, OK // Choctaw Casino*
September 18 – Ontario, CA // Toyota Arena=+
September 19 – Bakersfield, CA // Dignity Health Arena=+
September 20 – Fresno, CA // Save Mart Center at Fresno State=+
September 25 – Kennewick, WA // Toyota Center – Kennewick=+
September 26 – Everett, WA // Angel of the Winds Arena=+
September 27 – Airway Heights, WA // BECU Live at Northern Quest=+
October 19 – Copenhagen, Denmark // Vega
October 20 – Stockholm, Sweden // Cirkus
October 21 – Oslo, Norway // Sentrum Scene
October 23 – Hamburg, Germany // Docks
October 24 – Urecht, Netherlands // Tivolivredenburg
October 25 – Antwerp, Belgium // Trix
October 27 – Belfast, UK // Ulster Hall
October 29 – London, UK // Eventim Apollo
October 30 – Manchester, UK // O2 Apollo
October 31 – Glasgow, UK // SEC Armadillo
November 13 – 15 – Miramar Beach, FL // Odie’s Beach Vacation
March 14 – Perth, WA // Red Hill Auditorium&^
March 17 – Melbourne, VIC // Margaret Court Arena&^
March 18 – Sydney, NSW // ICC Sydney Theatre&^
March 21 – Ipswich, QLD // CMC Rocks QLD
March 24 – Auckland, NZ // Powerstation^
March 26 – Christchurch, NZ // Christchurch Town Hall^
April 23 – Hamilton, ON // TD Coliseum%#
April 24 – Ottawa, ON (Live Nation) // Hard Rock Live%#
April 25 – Quebec City, QC // Le Centre Videotron%#
May 1 – Winnipeg, MB // Canada Life Centre%#
May 2 – Saskatoon, SK // SaskTel Centre%#
May 4 – Kelowna, BC // Prospera Place%#
May 5 – Vancouver, BC // Pacific Coliseum at the PNE%#
May 6 – Victoria, BC // Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre%#
August 29 – Dieppe, NB // YQM Country Fest

= : ERNEST + : Redferrin * : Ty Myers ^ : Alexandra Kay # : Sacha % : Phil Vassar & : Dasha