Pictured (L-R, back row):Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver Cline, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora. (L-R, front row): Benjy Davis, Luke Dick, Jackson Dean and Driver Williams. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Jackson Dean filled the BMI lobby yesterday (May 5) to celebrate his second ever chart-topper “Heavens To Betsy.”
Emceed by BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, the event honored the artists, songwriters, publishers and industry team members who contributed to the single’s success.
Written by Dean, Benjy Davis and Driver Williams, and produced by Luke Dick, the track appeared on Dean’s sophomore album On The Back Of My Dreams. It marked the first No. 1 for Williams, who was presented with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar to commemorate the moment.
Driver Williams and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora each took the microphone to honor the team behind the song.
Each spoke to the track’s storytelling, thanking the team for creating a song that connects on a deeper level with many fans, reflecting on the different ways they’ve seen that connection manifest, both through audience reactions and in their own experiences. In addition, several underscored Jackson’s rare talent, highlighting his strength as a vocalist, songwriter and artist.
Sponsored by Studio Bank, Kari Barnhart made a special donation presentation on behalf of Dean and collaborators in support of Old Friends Senior Dogs Sanctuary, a Nashville-based organization that finds forever foster homes for senior dogs. The official whiskey sponsor of BMI No. 1 parties, Green River Whiskey, gifted Dean, his co-writers and producer each with a commemorative bottle of single barrel bourbon in honor of their hit.
“When you do great things, write great songs, sing great songs and bring great songs, you make it easy to make great songs in the studio. To see people [on tour] come up to [Jackson] and tell their stories about how much this song means to them from a place of grief and loss–to me that is the real truth, the granular purity of music. To be part of that, I get more grateful everyday,” Dick shared.
Williams shared his gratitude for his teams, friends and family, many of whom were in attendance. He shared that celebrating the moment at BMI felt especially full circle, having grown up around the music business.
“Lastly, I want to thank the songwriting community, and the two streets that grew me up as a music business kid all the way until now,” he shared. “I’ve seen it grow and change for better and worse, but it’s my home. Thank you Music Row–16th and 17th avenue and all the side streets in between. It’s not just the individual people that make up this community. Its quite literally the streets, buildings, sidewalks and parking lots. There’s too many important memories in this little part of town, so thank you Nashville.”
“It’s been an honor to watch the journey of this song and how it has made people feel. It has been a really cool thing to be a part of,” Davis added.
“Thank you for being under this roof for a couple hours with us to celebrate this. It took Driver walking through the door saying ‘Heavens To Betsy boys, what do you think about that?’ and the darkness of Benjy Davis to make it happen,” Dean quipped. “I think we’ve all known since the get that this was going to be a song to speak volumes. Thank you so much to everyone that has made that happen.”
Bonnaroo Unveils 2026 SuperJam Lineup
/by Madison HahnenKESHA PRESENTS: SUPERJÂM ESOTERÍCA: THE ALCHEMY OF POP will take place June 13 in This Tent from 8:45-10:30 p.m. Kesha will be joined on-stage by Blondshell, Chromeo, Del Water Gap, Grouplove, Margo Price, Mountain Grass Unit, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Wyatt Flores. More guests will be announced at a later date.
Bonnaroo will take place June 11-14 in Manchester, TN. Headliners set to perform this year are Skrillex, The Strokes, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Noah Kahan. Additional performers include GRiZ, Teddy Swims, The Neighbourhood, Role Model and more.
Jackson Dean Celebrates Second Chart-Topper ‘Heavens To Betsy’
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R, back row):Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver Cline, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora. (L-R, front row): Benjy Davis, Luke Dick, Jackson Dean and Driver Williams. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Jackson Dean filled the BMI lobby yesterday (May 5) to celebrate his second ever chart-topper “Heavens To Betsy.”
Emceed by BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, the event honored the artists, songwriters, publishers and industry team members who contributed to the single’s success.
Written by Dean, Benjy Davis and Driver Williams, and produced by Luke Dick, the track appeared on Dean’s sophomore album On The Back Of My Dreams. It marked the first No. 1 for Williams, who was presented with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar to commemorate the moment.
Driver Williams and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora each took the microphone to honor the team behind the song.
Each spoke to the track’s storytelling, thanking the team for creating a song that connects on a deeper level with many fans, reflecting on the different ways they’ve seen that connection manifest, both through audience reactions and in their own experiences. In addition, several underscored Jackson’s rare talent, highlighting his strength as a vocalist, songwriter and artist.
Sponsored by Studio Bank, Kari Barnhart made a special donation presentation on behalf of Dean and collaborators in support of Old Friends Senior Dogs Sanctuary, a Nashville-based organization that finds forever foster homes for senior dogs. The official whiskey sponsor of BMI No. 1 parties, Green River Whiskey, gifted Dean, his co-writers and producer each with a commemorative bottle of single barrel bourbon in honor of their hit.
“When you do great things, write great songs, sing great songs and bring great songs, you make it easy to make great songs in the studio. To see people [on tour] come up to [Jackson] and tell their stories about how much this song means to them from a place of grief and loss–to me that is the real truth, the granular purity of music. To be part of that, I get more grateful everyday,” Dick shared.
Williams shared his gratitude for his teams, friends and family, many of whom were in attendance. He shared that celebrating the moment at BMI felt especially full circle, having grown up around the music business.
“Lastly, I want to thank the songwriting community, and the two streets that grew me up as a music business kid all the way until now,” he shared. “I’ve seen it grow and change for better and worse, but it’s my home. Thank you Music Row–16th and 17th avenue and all the side streets in between. It’s not just the individual people that make up this community. Its quite literally the streets, buildings, sidewalks and parking lots. There’s too many important memories in this little part of town, so thank you Nashville.”
“It’s been an honor to watch the journey of this song and how it has made people feel. It has been a really cool thing to be a part of,” Davis added.
“Thank you for being under this roof for a couple hours with us to celebrate this. It took Driver walking through the door saying ‘Heavens To Betsy boys, what do you think about that?’ and the darkness of Benjy Davis to make it happen,” Dean quipped. “I think we’ve all known since the get that this was going to be a song to speak volumes. Thank you so much to everyone that has made that happen.”
Jason Isbell’s ShoalsFest Returns In October
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Isbell and Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood
Jason Isbell‘s ShoalsFest returns to McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama on Oct. 3-4.
The fifth edition of the festival features a two-day lineup that includes Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jeff Tweedy, S.G. Goodman, Willow Avalon and Steve Trash. Isbell will also perform with the Drive-By Truckers and perform their 2003 album Decoration Day in its entirety. Tickets for ShoalsFest will go on sale this Friday, (May 8) at shoalsfest.net.
This year’s ShoalsFest supports the local effort to bring Nuçi’s Space to the Shoals. Nuçi’s Space is a suicide prevention nonprofit based in Athens, Georgia. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space advocates for and helps to alleviate the suffering of those living with a brain illness and fights to end the stigma of mental illness. The nonprofit maintains a health and resource center for musicians and offers programs and services including access to low-cost professional counseling, suicide prevention training, and various support groups. Their facility provides affordable rehearsal space, a recording studio, gear rental and sales, and a music venue to showcase local talent and support all musicians.
Muscle Shoals and the surrounding towns of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Florence (collectively referred to as “The Shoals”) had an immeasurable impact on popular music with what was dubbed the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Isbell developed his guitar playing and his deep reverence for music history as a teenager working at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and playing with local musicians and members of the studio’s revered house band, The Swampers.
CMHOFM To Offer Daily Family Programs & Free Admission To Local Youth This Summer
/by Lauryn SinkThis summer, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is offering additional daily programs for families and will continue offering free admission for local youth and discounted admission for up to two accompanying adults.
The free and discounted admission applies to those living in counties including Davidson, Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.
Between Memorial Day and Aug. 10, increased daily programming and workshops for families will include a musical instrument petting zoo, dance workshops, friendship bracelets, art making, creative crafts, and String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry.
Museum tickets and additional programming can be found here.
ALABAMA Announces Fan Appreciation Week Events
/by Lorie HollabaughALABAMA has announced the schedule for its 2026 Fan Appreciation Week, set for June 18–21 in Fort Payne, Alabama.
The multi-day celebration kicks off on June 18 with Teddy Gentry’s “Singing with the Stars” Talent Contest at the Fort Payne City Hall Auditorium. Benefiting the DeKalb County Children’s Advocacy Center, the event invites rising talent to take the stage for a night of entertainment and philanthropy.
The June Jam Songwriters Showcase also takes place June 19-20, and both showcases will be held at the Fort Payne City Hall Auditorium. ALABAMA’s Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry will host each night, which will feature three Nashville songwriters performing their hits and sharing the stories behind them. Scheduled writers include Tony Lane, Tim Nichols, Deric Ruttan, Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr and Lalo Guzman, with the possibility of additional writers being added.
One of the week’s most anticipated events, Randy Owen’s “Fandemonium at the Farm,” is set for June 20. Held at the Tennessee River Music Farm, fans can enjoy a full day of music and celebration, with gates opening at 9 a.m. All tickets must be purchased in advance, and for tickets and more information, visit the ALABAMA Fan Club Facebook page and click on the Fandemonium link.
Dylan Gossett & Charles Wesley Godwin Announce Co-Headlining Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Gossett and Charles Wesley Godwin
Singer-songwriters Dylan Gossett and Charles Wesley Godwin are joining forces for a co-headlining tour this fall. Max Alan will join as support on the trek.
Kicking off Aug. 28 in Lubbock, Texas, the new tour will include stops in New Braunfels, New York City, Raleigh and Asheville, with a Nashville date at the Pinnacle set for Sept. 26. Tickets will be available via artist pre-sale on May 7, followed by public on-sale on May 8.
Gossett, an Austin native, continues to build momentum with the recent release of his deeply personal new single “My Boy,” a heartfelt tribute dedicated to his growing family. The track arrives amid a busy touring schedule, including a recent appearance supporting fellow Texan George Strait in Lubbock, as well as upcoming summer tour dates with Mumford & Sons and The Red Clay Strays.
During his explosive Stagecoach set last month, West Virginia native Godwin announced that his new song “Better That Way” will feature country superstar Luke Combs and is set to be released on May 15 via Big Loud Records. In addition to the new song announcement, Godwin teased a new album from the stage. Last week, Godwin was also announced as an opener on Kacey Musgraves’ “Middle of Nowhere Tour.”
Dylan Gossett & Charles Wesley Godwin Co-Headline Tour Dates:
August 28 // Lubbock, TX // Cook’s Garage
August 29 // New Braunfels, TX // Whitewater Amphitheater
September 26 // Nashville, TN // The Pinnacle
September 29 // New York, NY // The Rooftop at Pier 17
October 1 // Raleigh, NC // Red Hat Amphitheater
October 2 // Asheville, NC // Hellbender
Tracy Lawrence Sells Out Ryman Auditorium For Third Consecutive Year
/by Lauryn SinkTracy Lawrence. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Tracy Lawrence performed to a sold-out crowd at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday night (May 3) as a part of his “No Alibis Tour.”
The hitmaker performed a range of tracks from his catalog, spanning from the ’90s to today. He surprised the crowd with Hudson Westbrook for a rendition of the tour’s namesake, “Alibis.”
Lawrence and his charity Mission:Possible took a moment during the show to present $50,000 total to various local non-profit organizations including Brooks House, People Loving Nashville, Open Table, The Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn.
The following day (May 4), he hosted the sixth annual Mission:Possible Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament at Old Hickory Country Club outside of Nashville with guest players including Jon Pardi, John Daly, Priscilla Block, Wade Bowen, Drake Milligan, Eric Paslay, Mitchell Tenpenny and more. The celebrity event raised over $210,000 this year for Mission:Possible, bringing the grant event total to over $1.7M to date over six years.
Lawrence recently announced a second leg of dates to the “No Alibis Tour,” adding 33 shows to the run with new shows in San Antonio, Tucson and Green Bay. The tour will continue tomorrow (May 7) in Savannah, Georgia.
Tracy Lawrence and Hudson Westbrook. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Lukas Nelson & Molly Tuttle Team For Co-Headlining Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughMolly Tuttle, Lukas Nelson
Lukas Nelson and Molly Tuttle are teaming up this fall for a special co-headline tour in September.
The tour kicks off Sept. 4 in Massachusetts, and includes stops in New York, Vermont and Maine. The dates will feature full sets from both artists, highlighting Nelson’s soulful songwriting and expansive Americana sound alongside Tuttle’s virtuosic guitar work, warm vocals, and boundary-pushing blend of bluegrass, Americana and rock.
Tickets for the mini-tour will be available for pre-sale starting today (May 6), with public on-sale following on Friday (May 8). Details can be found at lukasnelson.com or mollytuttlemusic.com.
Nelson released his Grammy-nominated album, American Romance, last summer to widespread acclaim, and continues his extensive headline tour through the summer in addition to dates with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Zach Top. Tuttle released her fifth album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, in 2025, which earned two Grammy nominations, including Best Americana Album, with its lead single “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark” also nominated for Best Americana Performance. She is on the road throughout the summer including dates on Chris Stapleton’s “All American Road Show.”
Lukas Nelson & Molly Tuttle Co-Headline Tour Dates:
September 4—Hyannis, MA—Cape Cod Melody Tent
September 5—Cohasset, MA—South Short Music Circus
September 9—Albany, NY—Palace Theatre
September 10—Shelburne, VT—The Green at Shelburne Museum
September 11—Sidney, ME—Bowl in the Pines
Carrie Underwood Launches New Wellness Brand HiNote
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood. Photo: Jeff Johnson
Carrie Underwood has launched a new wellness brand, HiNote, designed to help women with an easy, accessible daily path to wellness through movement, nourishment and community to make wellness feel attainable, even on the busiest days.
“Health and wellness have always been such an important part of my life,” says Underwood. “Through my app, my own workouts, and daily conversations, I keep hearing the same heartfelt truth from women everywhere, myself included: we want to care for ourselves while still showing up for everything else our busy lives demand. That’s why I created HiNote. To help build a home for the everyday habits that support real life: movement, nourishment, and simple routines you can stick with.”
The first product rollout under the launch is HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix, which is designed to provide sustained energy throughout the day and features 20g of protein, 15 grams of clear whey and 5 grams of collagen, along with 5g of fiber, 13 fruits and vegetables, superfoods, greens and vitamin B, with no added sugar or caffeine. HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix is available in three flavors, Berry Medley, Juicy Peach and Strawberry Lemonade, and single-flavor bags and a variety pack with a branded shaker bottle are available for purchase on HiNote.com.
Underwood’s fitness app, fit52, is also evolving into HiNote Life – Powered by fit52. The app offers guided workouts led by Carrie, simple and nutritious recipes, a food tracker, and a supportive community to help members stay on track and motivated.
As part of its commitment to making wellness accessible and empowering women through confidence, movement and community, HiNote has partnered with Girls on the Run International, a national nonprofit that offers after-school programs for girls in grades 3-8 that combine physical activity with confidence-building lessons and life skills development to support initiatives that help the next generation build lifelong healthy habits.
Underwood has built a business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness, where in addition to fit52 which launched in 2020 along with her first book, the New York Times bestseller Find Your Path, she also founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and has been an equity partner in BODYARMOR sports drink.
Joan Vance Launches Vance & Co Advisory, LLC
/by Lauryn SinkJoan Vance. Photo: Createurs Sarah Reynolds
Business management veteran Joan Vance has launched Vance & Co Advisory, LLC, an independent bookkeeping and financial advisory firm serving individuals and small to mid-sized businesses across industries.
“So many creatives find themselves in a position where they aren’t quite ready yet for business management and don’t think about the financial side until tax time,” shares Vance. “This causes undue stress and a mad rush to provide information to their tax accountant. I want to relieve that burden so songwriters, artists, and other businesses can focus on what they excel at.”
Originally from New Jersey, Vance holds an MBA from Belmont University, along with dual undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Writing Arts. She began her career at a law firm before moving to Nashville, where she joined Wiles + Taylor.
“I am grateful to have been mentored by some of the best in the business at Wiles + Taylor and carry those experiences with me each day,” she continues. “I leave with nothing but respect and appreciation for the firm and those who helped shape my career and am excited for the journey ahead!”
Vance can be reached here.