Grand Ole Opry Unveils Carnegie Hall Show Lineup

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Scotty McCreery, Rhonda Vincent, Henry Cho, The War And Treaty.

The Grand Ole Opry has announced the lineup for “An Evening with the Grand Ole Opry” show, set for March 20 in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The night will feature performances from Opry members Scotty McCreery, Rhonda Vincent and Henry Cho as well as Grammy Award-nominated duo The War And Treaty, with additional artists to be announced. Tickets are available here.

The one-night-only occasion is part of Carnegie Hall’s “United in Sound: America at 250” festival celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary and marks the continuation of the Opry’s 100th year.

This event will mark the Grand Ole Opry’s fourth headlining performance at Carnegie Hall. The Opry made its Carnegie Hall debut in 1947 under the billing “Ernest Tubb and the Grand Ole Opry Stars” with a sold-out performance also featuring Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, Minnie Pearl, Red Foley, Eddy Arnold, and The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle Carter. A return performance in 1961 benefited the Musician’s Aid Society and was headlined by Patsy Cline in her only Carnegie Hall appearance among other all-stars. The Grand Ole Opry’s 2005 performance celebrating its 80th anniversary showcased Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood along with longtime Opry members Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Bill Anderson.

Chase Rice Announces Break From The Road

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Chase Rice

Chase Rice recently revealed to fans on social media that he’s taking a break from touring after 13 years on the road.

Rice decided to step back from life on the road, saying he’s exhausted and needs to take some time for himself. “I’ve lived a dream far greater than I could’ve ever expected. This isn’t a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place,” says Rice in the post.

“I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music. After 13 years it’s finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while. I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down. I won’t be touring this year and it wasn’t even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself. A lot of artists do this all the time, but it’s new for me so it’s kind of a big deal in my life.”

Rice does have a handful of shows on the books to wrap this year before taking some downtime away from the road.

Hudson Westbrook Unveils Cover Art, Tracks For New EP ‘Exclusive’

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Hudson Westbrook has revealed the cover art for his upcoming new EP, Exclusive, set for release on Jan. 23.

Westbrook has already previewed the EP with early releases “If He Wanted To” and “Pretty Privilege,” and writers contributing to the project include Jesse Frasure, Neil Medley, Lukas Scott, and more. Westbrook’s top 10-and-rising debut single “House Again” continues to soar at country radio, and the budding star has earned over 900 million global career streams in under 18 months.

Westbrook is gearing up for an exciting 2026, hitting the road with Bailey Zimmerman and Morgan Wallen this year on both of their headline tours.

Exclusive Track List:
1. Exclusive (Hudson Westbrook, Neil Medley, Lukas Scott, Ryan Beaver)
2. LMWYL (Hudson Westbrook, Neil Medley, Jesse Frasure)
3. Lovin’ On Me (Hudson Westbrook, Neil Medley, Beau Bailey, Lukas Scott)
4. If He Wanted To (Hudson Westbrook, Reid Haughton, Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver)
5. Pretty Privilege (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Beau Bailey)

Matthew West Shares Testimony In New Short Film From I Am Second

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Youtube video

Matthew West appears in a new White Chair film from the global storytelling ministry, I Am Second, that details the defining yet unexpected moments that led him to discovering his identity and purpose.

As a kid West grew up in the front row of his parents’ church in suburban Chicago, where he felt the constant pressure to perform and live up to a “preacher’s kid” standard. The weight of others’ expectations followed him wherever he went. “From a very early age, I had this feeling that all eyes were on me,” says West. “The pressure that I felt being the preacher’s kid, there were several moments in my life where I was like ‘I don’t want this pressure, I don’t like how this feels.’”

As he entered college and stepped away from the label of pastor’s kid, West sought to define his own identity. He found himself making choices that strayed from his faith—decisions he knew would disappoint his parents and left him feeling ashamed. Recognizing his mistakes, West surrendered control and trusted a higher power with the story of his life.

“I knew that my prayer was sincere and I knew that I wanted what God had for me,” said West. “It was a moment where I was fully embracing his grace and forgiveness in my life.”

More about West’s story can be found at iamsecond.com/film/matthew-west. West’s newest single, “Unashamed,” from his Don’t Stop Praying album is currently climbing the Top 10 on Christian radio, and his ninth book Don’t Stop Praying is slated for release in February.

Nominees Revealed For 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards

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Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean & Luke Combs.

Nominees have been revealed for the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which are set to air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26 through Fox.

Taylor Swift is the leading nominee this year with nine nods.

Morgan Wallen earned four nods this year including Artist of the Year and Country Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year, both for “Love Somebody.” Shaboozey earned a nomination for Song of the Year with “Good News,” and Jelly Roll notched a nomination for Artist of the Year.

BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman are up for Best Collaboration for “All The Way.” Tucker Wetmore’s What Not To is nominated for the new Favorite Debut Album category. Lainey Wilson’s “Cowgirl of the Night” earned a spot in the Favorite Tour Tradition category.

Among those also nominated for this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards are Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Chase Matthew, Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, Josh Ross, Zach Top, Amy Allen, Ashley Gorley and Charlie Handsome.

The 13th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2025, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2026. Three categories have been added this year, including favorite TikTok dance, favorite debut album and favorite K-pop collab.

Fan voting will determine the winners in Favorite Broadway Debut, Favorite Tiktok Dance, Favorite Debut Album, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite On Screen, Favorite Tour Photographer, Favorite Soundtrack, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Tour Tradition And Favorite K-Pop Collab. Social voting is open now March 19. Votes can be cast here.

The host, special award recipients, performers, presenters and additional categories will be announced at a later date. Find the full list of announced nominations here.

Syntax Creative Adds Four New Record Labels To Roster

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Syntax Creative has added Outside Voices Entertainment, Sunday Worship Records, Apex Global Music Group and Arena Creative Services to its distribution roster.

“These are people who already understand how this works,” says Timothy J. Trudeau, CEO of Syntax Creative. “They’ve put in the time, learned how to pivot and built something real. That kind of experience changes the conversation from day one.”

Outside Voices Entertainment, led by Daniel Martin and Stefani Rose Martin, joins Syntax with an established catalog that includes Martin and Rose Music, a children’s catalog with more than one million monthly listeners on Spotify and 100 million streams worldwide.

“Our focus has always been on helping artists make bold moves without putting themselves in a hole,” Martin shares. “Syntax has been willing to slow down, think strategically, and help us plan releases in a way that actually makes sense long term.”

Sunday Worship Records, founded by gospel musician Matt Fouch, centers on hymns and worship songs reinterpreted across a wide range of styles. The catalog is one of the most-streamed Christian instrumental collections.

“I started releasing instrumental worship music because I know we all need those quiet times in our life and this music is designed to enhance those moments. It helps people stay grounded, even when there aren’t words being sung,” Fouch says. “I wanted a distributor who would treat that musical philosophy with care and purpose. Somebody that gets it and believes in it. That’s what drew me to Syntax.”

Apex Global Music Group is led by songwriter and producer Shay Watson. Watson’s work has been featured in more than 75 television series and films across pop, jazz, ambient, country, and world music.

“Most of my career has lived behind the scenes in sync,” Watson adds. “The digital marketplace has challenges, but it also creates opportunity if you approach it intentionally. Syntax understands how catalogs like mine actually function over time, and that alignment mattered.”

Arena Creative Services is a newly formed label built from the career of Nashville-based engineer Warren David with an emphasis on artist development, release strategy, and operational support.

“I’ve spent years solving problems most listeners never hear about,” says David. “What stood out to me about Syntax was their integrity and how seriously they take execution. That made this an easy decision.”

Chris Stapleton Confirms 2026 ‘All-American Road Show’ Dates

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Chris Stapleton. Photo: David McClister.

Chris Stapleton has extended his “All-American Road Show” through the fall with over 20 newly-confirmed stops.

Added dates on the tour include Jacksonville, Charlotte, Portland, Atlanta, Kansas City, and more, with a Nashville Nissan Stadium show set for May 23 with special guests Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone and a Boston Fenway Park show with Zach Top.

Other special guests on select dates of the tour include Ashley McBryde, Carter Faith, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Molly Tuttle, Nikki Lane and The Teskey Brothers. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 16, and Stapleton’s fan club will have early access to tickets with pre-sale Jan. 13-15. Details can be found at chrisstapleton.com/tour.

Stapleton is heading into a busy 2026 with four nominations at the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Country Song (“A Song To Sing” with Miranda Lambert), Best Country Solo Performance (“Bad As I Used To Be”), and two nods in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category (“A Song To Sing” with Lambert and “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” with George Strait). He recently released the video for his Grammy and CMA Award-winning song, “White Horse,” starring actor Josh Brolin.

Chris Stapleton Newly-Added 2026 Dates:
May 23—Nashville, TN—Nissan Stadium*
June 11—Jacksonville, FL—Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena†
June 13—Tampa, FL—Raymond James Stadium*
June 17—Burgettstown, PA—The Pavilion at Star Lake†
June 20—Charlotte, NC—Bank of America Stadium*
June 24—Hershey, PA—Hersheypark Stadium#
June 26—North Charleston, SC—North Charleston Coliseum#
July 8—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre‡
July 10—Chula Vista, CA—North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre‡
July 17—Portland, OR—Providence Park#
July 22—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena%
July 24—George, WA—The Gorge#
July 29—Shakopee, MN—Mystic Lake Amphitheater†
August 1—Cincinnati, OH—Paycor Stadium*
August 6—Toronto, ON—Rogers Stadium+
August 8—Detroit, MI—Ford Field*
August 14—Boston, MA—Fenway Park+
August 18—Virginia Beach, VA—Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach~
August 21—Atlanta, GA—Mercedes-Benz Stadium^
August 26—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater**
August 28—Philadelphia, PA—Freedom Mortgage Pavilion**
October 2—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live††
October 7—Lincoln, NE—Pinnacle Bank Arena‡‡
October 9—Kansas City, MO—Morton Amphitheater‡‡

*with special guests Lainey Wilson and Allen Stone
†with special guest Allen Stone
‡with special guest Molly Tuttle
#with special guest Grace Potter
+with special guests Zach Top and Allen Stone
%with special guest The Teskey Brothers
~with special guest Maggie Rose
^with special guests Lainey Wilson and Ashley McBryde
**with special guest Carter Faith
††with special guest Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
‡‡with special guest Nikki Lane

Country Songwriting Great Jim McBride Passes

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Jim McBride

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jim McBride died Tuesday morning (Jan. 6) at age 78.

McBride was particularly noted for his collaborations with country superstar Alan Jackson. His songs were also recorded by such Country Music Hall of Famers as Conway Twitty, George Jones, Patty Loveless, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, The Browns, Bill Anderson, Reba McEntire, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Travis, Charlie Louvin, John Anderson, Toby Keith and Johnny Cash.

He has written or co-written 10 top-10 hits and 18 top-40 singles. His classics include “Bet Your Heart on Me,” “A Bridge That Just Won’t Burn,” “Chattahoochie,” “Rose in Paradise” and “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.”

The songwriter was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. His mother was an avid country-music radio listener, so the household was often filled with music. McBride began writing songs at age 18 and started playing guitar at age 21. He worked for the Post Office for 14 years before his music career ignited.

Jim McBride started traveling to Music Row with his songs in the early 1970s. Hee Haw TV stars The Hagers recorded several of his tunes around 1972. None became hits, but some were performed on the nationally-seen Hee Haw telecasts.

His first song to hit the country charts was 1979’s “We Let Love Fade Away,” which was a minor success for Leon Everette. “I’m Gettin’ Into Your Love” charted for Ruby Falls six months later. In 1980, Conway Twitty recorded “A Bridge That Just Won’t Burn,” which ascended to No. 3 in early 1981.

Encouraged by co-writer Roger Murrah, Jim McBride moved from Huntsville to Nashville. Everette returned to the songwriter’s catalog for 1981’s “If I Keep on Going Crazy,” which rose to No. 11. McBride rounded out 1981 with his first No. 1 country hit, “Bet Your Heart on Me” sung by Johnny Lee.

In 1983, Alabama included McBride’s “Dixie Boy” on its LP The Closer You Get. The collection sold four million copies and was named the CMA Album of the Year.

In 1984, Keith Whitley recorded “Living Like There’s No Tomorrow,” which John Conlee issued as a charting single three years later. Also in 1984, Louise Mandrell charted with “This Bed’s Not Big Enough.” In 1985, Keith Stegall scored a top-10 hit with their cowritten “California.” The following year, Crystal Gayle recorded “Do I Have to Say Goodbye.”

The songwriter had a banner year in 1987. In addition to the John Conlee single of “Living Like There’s No Tomorrow,” McBride’s co-written “Rose in Paradise” became a No. 1 hit for Waylon Jennings. Mandrell revived Gayle’s “Do I Have to Say Goodbye” and scored a top-30 hit with it. McBride and Guy Clark co-wrote “Heavy Metal (Don’t Mean Rock and Roll to Me),” which Johnny Cash recorded in 1987. George Jones issued a single of “I’m a Survivor” the following year.

As successful as the 1980s were to Jim McBride, they were merely a prelude to the outstanding country hits he created in the 1990s. He and a then-unknown Alan Jackson had become songwriting partners in 1988. In the following decade, the singer had smash hits with their collaborations “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow” (1990), “Someday” (1991), “Chattahoochie” (1993), “(Who Says) You Can’t Have it All” (1994), and “A House With No Curtains” (1998). “Chattahoochie” was the CMA’s Song and Single of the Year, ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year, Billboard’s Most Played Country Single of the Year and the ACM’S Single of the Year. The team also co-wrote several tunes for Jackson’s multi-million-selling albums.

McBride’s other successes of the decade came via Aaron Tippin’s version of “I Was Born with a Broken Heart” (1992), Patty Loveless’s “Love Builds Bridges (Pride Builds Walls)” (1993), Diamond Rio’s “Sawmill Road” (1994) and Toby Keith’s “Night Before Christmas” (1995). This run was capped with Wade Hayes singing “What I Meant to Say” as a top-5 smash in 1996. The vocalist returned to McBride’s pen for 1998’s hit “How Do You Sleep at Night.”

After the turn of the century, Jim McBride’s country songwriting career continued to thrive. In 2001, Tammy Cochran had a top-10 smash with “Angels in Waiting.” In 2006, Mark Chesnutt hit the charts with “Hard Secret to Keep.” Beginning in 2007, McBride co-wrote songs with Luke Bryan that appeared on the million-selling singer’s albums. “Rose in Paradise” was revived by Chris Young & Willie Nelson (2009), Kris Kristofferson & Patty Griffin (2011) and The Lonesome River Band (2016). Charley Pride revived “This Bed Ain’t Big Enough” in 2011.

Others who have placed Jim McBride’s songs on the charts include Johnny Rodriguez, Gary Wolf, David Rogers, Lou Hobbs and Darlene Austin. His works have also been recorded by Trace Adkins, Collin Raye, Shelly West, Mark Wills, Travis Tritt, Elizabeth Cook, Pam Tillis, Del Reeves, Lorrie Morgan, Ed Bruce, The Whites, Lacy J. Dalton, Johnny Paycheck, David Ball, Vern Gosdin, Lonestar, Mickey Gilley, Mel McDaniel, Moe Bandy, Billie Jo Spears and Gene Watson, among many others.

Jim McBride was a kind, genial personality who readily collaborated with hitless hopefuls and aspiring tunesmiths as well as top recording artists. In recent years, he served as the president of the board of the Nashville Songwriters Association.

He was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame honored him that same year.

Services will be held on Feb. 19 from 5-8 p.m. at Mars Music Hall located in the Von Braun Center (700 Monroe Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801). The event is open to the public.

Pollstar Unveils Nominees For 37th Annual Awards

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Pollstar has unveiled the nominees for the 37th Annual Pollstar Awards, which are slated to take place April 15 in Los Angeles. The awards are designed to recognize the music industry’s most innovative and successful artists, tours, companies, venues, and executives. iHeartRadio personality Valentine will return as this year’s host.

“The Pollstar Awards represent one of the most important nights of the year for the live entertainment business,” says Ray Waddell, Chief Content Director, OVG Media and Conferences. “This year’s nominations reflect the extraordinary breadth of our industry — from global superstars to emerging headliners — and recognize the leaders, innovation, and diversity that defined an exciting and impactful year for live music.”

The nominees for the Country Tour of the Year are Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Tour,” Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show,” Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind World Tour,” Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem Tour,” Post Malone’s “Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour,” Tyler Childers’ “On the Road Tour,” and Zach Bryan’s “Quittin’ Time Tour.”

Jelly Roll scored a nomination for Support/Special Guest of the Year for Post Malone’s tour, while Kenny Chesney made the ballot for Residency of the Year for his Sphere run. Megan Moroney and Zach Top were both nominated for New Headliner of the Year. Bourbon & Beyond and Two Step Inn were among the nominees for Music Festival of the Year.

Bridgestone Arena received a nod for Arena of the Year, while Nissan Stadium is nominated for Stadium of the Year. After a successful opening year, The Pinnacle is up for New Concert Venue of the Year. Bridgestone’s David Kells is also being recognized with a nomination for Venue Executive the Year.

Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Tour,” Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “Grand National Tour,” Lady Gaga’s “The Mayhem Ball,” Oasis’s “Oasis Live ’25 Tour,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet Tour,” and Tate McRae’s “Miss Possessive Tour” each earned a nomination for Pollstar Awards’ Major Tour of the Year.

AEG Presents’ Adam Weiser is up for Promoter of the Year, while a Rising Star Award nod went to WME’s Shannon Saunders. Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland is nominated for Touring Publicist of the Year.

A full list of nominees can be found here. Voting opens to Pollstar subscribers on Jan. 16 and will end on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. PT.

Luke Combs Slates ‘The Way I Am,’ Due In March

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Luke Combs will release his new album, The Way I Am, March 20 via Sony Music Nashville. In celebration of the announcement, his new track “Sleepless in a Hotel Room,” written by Combs, Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton, is available now.

“It’s been a long process getting this thing going, but I’m really proud of this record,” says Combs. “I’ve loved the song ‘Sleepless in a Hotel Room’ for a long time and it’s been awesome to see how excited the fans are for that one as well.”

The 22-track project was produced by Combs, Singleton and Chip Matthews and features previously releases “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “Days Like These,” “15 Minutes,” “Giving Her Away” and “Back in the Saddle.” The album explores the challenges of balancing family and career, self-doubt and self-belief and more, with a full track list to be announced soon.

Combs will kick off his “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” this spring with sold-out stadium shows across the U.S., U.K. and Europe, including 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.

Combs recently became the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, in addition to topping the bills at Austin City Limits, Newport Folk Festival and New Orleans JazzFest. He became the first country artist with two songs earning a billion streams on Spotify, the first with four singles certified RIAA Diamond and recently extended his record for the most consecutive No. 1 singles at country radio as he earned his 20th chart-topper with “Back in the Saddle.”