Chapter 601
This year’s ACM Honors show at Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday (Aug. 22) was a collection of musical delights, interspersed with lots of blah-blah, horribly-lit video interviews and borderline-incompetent hosting.
Things began promisingly with Jon Pardi — splendidly attired in a rhinestone-festooned, black bolero jacket – delivering a spot-on rendition of honoree Alan Jackson’s “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” In mid-song, his co-host Lauren Alaina joined him. They drove the song home together with elan.
“We’re honored to be in the presence of people who have inspired us all of our lives,” said Jon. It was among the few coherent comments he made all evening. I love this guy’s music, but he was embarrassing as a host, consistently misreading the Tele-Prompter screen and mispronouncing names.
Co-host Lauren tried to compensate by being ebullient, charming, honest and fluent throughout.
In marked contrast to Jon, Jordan Davis was a total pro in presenting the live-performance honors. The winners were The Greek Theater (Los Angeles), the MGM Grand Arena (Las Vegas), the Cotton-Eyed Joe nightclub (Knoxville), the Country Thunder festival (Arizona), R.J. Romeo (talent buyer), Brian O’Connell (promoter, Live Nation) and the absent Venetian Resort Hotel (Las Vegas).
Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina speak onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
“We love music, and we love what we do for a living,” said Brian O’Connell. “This is the coolest thing in the world.”
Lindsay Ell was up next. Clad in striped slacks and a matching, midriff-baring top, she presented the Studio Recording Awards. The winners were Jim “Moose” Brown (keyboards), Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), Fred Eltringham (drums), Rob McNeeley (guitar), Danny Rader (specialty instrument) and Dave Cobb (producer). Not present were Justin Niebank (his eighth win as engineer) and Paul Franklin (his 12th win for steel guitar).
Masterful honky-tonk stylist Joe Diffie sang “The Grand Tour” to salute the first Poet’s Award honoree, the late Norro Wilson. Norro’s son and daughter accepted.
The Gene Weed Milestone Award went to Sam Hunt. Newcomer Kassi Ashton made the most of her performance moment. She was loaded with stage presence as she delivered “Body Like a Back Road” garbed in a billowing, full-length, pink lame evening coat and matching trousers. Bobby Bones presented the statuette.
“I appreciate everybody involved,” said Sam, “especially my co-writers Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. Country radio, you made all the difference. ACM, thank-you for having me.”
Kassi Ashton performs onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
The Mae Boren Axton Service Award went to the late ACM co-founders Eddie Miller and Mickey & Chris Christensen. Their children accepted.
In their honor, Cam sang the Buck Owens classic “Crying Time.” Her rendition was absolutely eloquent. The house band’s understated arrangement was a marvel. Frank Liddell was the gig’s musical director, and the band included James Mitchell, Nick Buda, Lex Price, Bobby Terry, Liana Manis and John Wesley Ryles.
The Jim Reeves International Award went to the recently deceased Rob Potts. Rob was a mainstay of the Aussie country scene and was a particular booster of Morgan Evans. The new chart topper stunned the crowd with his super creative, multi-textured performance of “The Things That We Drink To.”
Storme Warren presented the award. Rob’s son Jeremy accepted.
The audience went wild for Old Crow Medicine Show’s performance of “Wagon Wheel.” The group brought up the house lights so that the attendees could sing along, loudly and lustily.
Dierks Bentley speaks onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
This standing-ovation moment was because widely beloved Darius Rucker was being given the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award for his community service. Kip Moore presented the honor to his friend.
“I don’t do what I do for awards,” said Darius. “I do it because anytime you can do something for somebody less fortunate than you, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip and Dustin Lynch sang a medley in honor of Songwriter of the Year winner Rhett Akins. Lynch, by the way, was invited to join the Opry cast this week.
“How cool to have your best buddies sing your songs,” said Rhett. “I want to dedicate this to all the dreamers out there. This CAN happen, for sure. In 1991, I came to Nashville, just as a tourist. I came here to the Ryman and had my picture taken on this stage. I wondered what it would be like to sing on this stage.”
He recalled that he next went into a Lower Broadway bar and encountered a performer singing to an empty room. It was a then-unknown Kenny Chesney. Today, Rhett’s son Thomas Rhett is on tour with superstar Kenny.
Pictured (L-R): Lauren Alaina, Matraca Berg, Deana Carter, and Ashley McBryde perform onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Jon Pardi returned to sing a riveting “I Hold On.” This was for Merle Haggard Spirit Award honoree Dierks Bentley.
By this time, the winner evidently had heard enough. “Thank you for that, Jon,” said Dierks. “Stick to singing, by the way — Left to right, top to bottom, makes a paragraph.”
Dierks’ hero Ricky Skaggs presented the honor. Said Dierks in accepting, “It’s always gonna be easy if you love what you do. And I love country music.”
The second Poet Award went to Matraca Berg. Vocal greats Lauren Alaina (“You and Tequila”), Ashley McBryde (“Wrong Side of Memphis”) and Deana Carter (“Strawberry Wine”) performed in Matraca’s honor, fabulously. Lauren changed into classy evening slacks for the number, perhaps to keep up with the evening’s female fashion trend and/or to match Ashley, Deana and Matraca.
“Girls rule!” exclaimed the teary eyed winner. “To get one along with the great Norro Wilson is just so special….Thank you so much. This means the world.”
Honoree Sam Hunt speaks onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Chris Stapleton provided the final musical highlight with his heartfelt delivery of “Here in the Real World.” This was for Alan Jackson’s winning the Cliffie Stone Icon Award. Alan’s daughter Mattie accepted eloquently, since the superstar was reportedly ill.
Martha Moore, Lori Badgett, Buddy Cannon, Stuart Dill, Earle Simmons, Bob Romeo, Diane Pearson, Mark Moffatt, Adam Wright, John Clore, Chris Oglesby and many other industry fabulons attended. Not to mention the ACM’s Pete Fisher, Nick DiFruscia, Lisa Lee and more.
But the balcony crowd was dominated by fans. This is cool, because it lets them feel like they are at an industry “insider” event. Plus, they take their seats on time instead of schmoozing endlessly.
Morgan Evans (L) and Kelsea Ballerini take photos during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Buddy Miller-Produced Duo The War And Treaty Announce Fall Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonThe War and Treaty’s Tanya Blount-Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr.
Nashville-based duo The War and Treaty (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter) will head out on an extensive headline tour this fall with stops at Los Angeles’ Hotel Café, Louisville’s Headliners Music Hall, Pittsburgh’s Rex Theater, Boston’s Great Scott, Chicago’s Lincoln Hall and two nights at Ann Arbor’s The Ark. Tickets go on-sale Friday (Aug. 24) at 10 a.m. local time.
The tour supports their recently-released album, Healing Tide, which was produced by Buddy Miller and released on Strong World/Thirty Tigers.
Healing Tide includes 11 songs written solely by The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and features Miller (guitars, banjo) Russ Pahl (pedal steel, banjo), Sam Bush (fiddle) and special guest vocalist Emmylou Harris on “Here Is Where the Loving Is At.”
All dates after September will go on sale Friday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.
THE WAR AND TREATY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
August 24—Florence, AL—Billy Reid Shindig 10
August 25-26—Fayetteville, AR—Fayetteville Roots Festival
September 7—Las Vegas, NV—Big Blues Bender
September 9—Chattanooga, TN—Moon River Music Festival
September 12-15—Nashville, TN—AmericanaFest
September 22—Bristol, TN—Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
September 28—Dana Point, CA—Ohana Festival
October 2—Los Angeles, CA—Hotel Café
October 16—Asbury Park, NJ—Asbury Lanes
October 17—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theater
October 19—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel
October 29—Louisville, KY—Headliners Music Hall
October 30—Pittsburgh, PA—Rex Theater
November 1—Uncasville, CT—Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun
November 2—Allston, MA—Great Scott
November 3—Fall River, MA—Narrows Center For The Arts
November 5—Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
November 6—Chicago, IL—Lincoln Hall
November 7—Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark
November 8—Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark
November 12—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Hall Ballroom
November 13—Minneapolis, MN—Cedar Cultural Center
November 15—Sun Valley, ID—Sun Valley Opera House
November 17—Indianapolis, IN—Hi-Fi Indy
February 10-17—Tampa, FL—Cayamo Cruise
Nashville Indie Label The Creak Music Aligns With Integrity Music
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): The Creak Music’s David Leonard, Seth Talley, Brad King and Noelle and Ben Kilgore.
Newly-launched independent label The Creak Music has inked an agreement for the collaboration and global release of projects through Integrity Music, beginning with The Creak’s debut artists, Ben & Noelle Kilgore.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, and co-owned by Brad King, Seth Talley and David Leonard (formerly of All Sons & Daughters), The Creak Music is also a full-service studio and production team whose credits include NEEDTOBREATHE, I Am They, Brandon Heath, JJ Heller, All Sons & Daughters and Ben & Noelle Kilgore.
The Creak trio has been working together for five years, including production for All Sons & Daughters’ Grammy Award-nominated Poets & Saints album in addition to Jaci Velasquez’s Dove Award-winning Spanish language album, Confío, both released through Integrity.
The Creak and Integrity will release the Kilgores’ debut single, “Grace, Grace,” featuring guest vocals from Leonard, on Aug. 24, followed by the single “Oh My Soul” on Sept. 21. The Kilgores’ debut EP, A Resting Place, releases in October.
Delta Rae’s ‘Revival’ Kicks Off Sept. 5
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Delta Rae Revival will offer a new immersive experience from the parking lot to the stage as audiences assemble every Wednesday from Sept. 5 through Dec. 19. Tickets are $10 with a limited amount available online and are on sale now at DeltaRae.com with the remainder sold first-come-first-served at the door. Special guests will be announced throughout the next few months over the band’s social media.
“Since finding our home here in Nashville we’ve become friends with many artists we have long admired. We’re beyond excited and honored that this level of talent will share the stage with us every night for The Revival. Some of them are hidden gems, some are dominating the Music City scene, all are incredible, and we are thrilled to combine forces to create a musical experience unlike anything this town has ever seen. Country fans deserve a show like this, southern magic and music for the soul,” expresses Brittany Holljes.
Bobby Karl Works The Room: 2018 ACM Honors
/by Bobby KarlChris Stapleton performs onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 601
This year’s ACM Honors show at Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday (Aug. 22) was a collection of musical delights, interspersed with lots of blah-blah, horribly-lit video interviews and borderline-incompetent hosting.
Things began promisingly with Jon Pardi — splendidly attired in a rhinestone-festooned, black bolero jacket – delivering a spot-on rendition of honoree Alan Jackson’s “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow.” In mid-song, his co-host Lauren Alaina joined him. They drove the song home together with elan.
“We’re honored to be in the presence of people who have inspired us all of our lives,” said Jon. It was among the few coherent comments he made all evening. I love this guy’s music, but he was embarrassing as a host, consistently misreading the Tele-Prompter screen and mispronouncing names.
Co-host Lauren tried to compensate by being ebullient, charming, honest and fluent throughout.
In marked contrast to Jon, Jordan Davis was a total pro in presenting the live-performance honors. The winners were The Greek Theater (Los Angeles), the MGM Grand Arena (Las Vegas), the Cotton-Eyed Joe nightclub (Knoxville), the Country Thunder festival (Arizona), R.J. Romeo (talent buyer), Brian O’Connell (promoter, Live Nation) and the absent Venetian Resort Hotel (Las Vegas).
Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina speak onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
“We love music, and we love what we do for a living,” said Brian O’Connell. “This is the coolest thing in the world.”
Lindsay Ell was up next. Clad in striped slacks and a matching, midriff-baring top, she presented the Studio Recording Awards. The winners were Jim “Moose” Brown (keyboards), Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), Fred Eltringham (drums), Rob McNeeley (guitar), Danny Rader (specialty instrument) and Dave Cobb (producer). Not present were Justin Niebank (his eighth win as engineer) and Paul Franklin (his 12th win for steel guitar).
Masterful honky-tonk stylist Joe Diffie sang “The Grand Tour” to salute the first Poet’s Award honoree, the late Norro Wilson. Norro’s son and daughter accepted.
The Gene Weed Milestone Award went to Sam Hunt. Newcomer Kassi Ashton made the most of her performance moment. She was loaded with stage presence as she delivered “Body Like a Back Road” garbed in a billowing, full-length, pink lame evening coat and matching trousers. Bobby Bones presented the statuette.
“I appreciate everybody involved,” said Sam, “especially my co-writers Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. Country radio, you made all the difference. ACM, thank-you for having me.”
Kassi Ashton performs onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
The Mae Boren Axton Service Award went to the late ACM co-founders Eddie Miller and Mickey & Chris Christensen. Their children accepted.
In their honor, Cam sang the Buck Owens classic “Crying Time.” Her rendition was absolutely eloquent. The house band’s understated arrangement was a marvel. Frank Liddell was the gig’s musical director, and the band included James Mitchell, Nick Buda, Lex Price, Bobby Terry, Liana Manis and John Wesley Ryles.
The Jim Reeves International Award went to the recently deceased Rob Potts. Rob was a mainstay of the Aussie country scene and was a particular booster of Morgan Evans. The new chart topper stunned the crowd with his super creative, multi-textured performance of “The Things That We Drink To.”
Storme Warren presented the award. Rob’s son Jeremy accepted.
The audience went wild for Old Crow Medicine Show’s performance of “Wagon Wheel.” The group brought up the house lights so that the attendees could sing along, loudly and lustily.
Dierks Bentley speaks onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
This standing-ovation moment was because widely beloved Darius Rucker was being given the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award for his community service. Kip Moore presented the honor to his friend.
“I don’t do what I do for awards,” said Darius. “I do it because anytime you can do something for somebody less fortunate than you, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip and Dustin Lynch sang a medley in honor of Songwriter of the Year winner Rhett Akins. Lynch, by the way, was invited to join the Opry cast this week.
“How cool to have your best buddies sing your songs,” said Rhett. “I want to dedicate this to all the dreamers out there. This CAN happen, for sure. In 1991, I came to Nashville, just as a tourist. I came here to the Ryman and had my picture taken on this stage. I wondered what it would be like to sing on this stage.”
He recalled that he next went into a Lower Broadway bar and encountered a performer singing to an empty room. It was a then-unknown Kenny Chesney. Today, Rhett’s son Thomas Rhett is on tour with superstar Kenny.
Pictured (L-R): Lauren Alaina, Matraca Berg, Deana Carter, and Ashley McBryde perform onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Jon Pardi returned to sing a riveting “I Hold On.” This was for Merle Haggard Spirit Award honoree Dierks Bentley.
By this time, the winner evidently had heard enough. “Thank you for that, Jon,” said Dierks. “Stick to singing, by the way — Left to right, top to bottom, makes a paragraph.”
Dierks’ hero Ricky Skaggs presented the honor. Said Dierks in accepting, “It’s always gonna be easy if you love what you do. And I love country music.”
The second Poet Award went to Matraca Berg. Vocal greats Lauren Alaina (“You and Tequila”), Ashley McBryde (“Wrong Side of Memphis”) and Deana Carter (“Strawberry Wine”) performed in Matraca’s honor, fabulously. Lauren changed into classy evening slacks for the number, perhaps to keep up with the evening’s female fashion trend and/or to match Ashley, Deana and Matraca.
“Girls rule!” exclaimed the teary eyed winner. “To get one along with the great Norro Wilson is just so special….Thank you so much. This means the world.”
Honoree Sam Hunt speaks onstage during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Chris Stapleton provided the final musical highlight with his heartfelt delivery of “Here in the Real World.” This was for Alan Jackson’s winning the Cliffie Stone Icon Award. Alan’s daughter Mattie accepted eloquently, since the superstar was reportedly ill.
Martha Moore, Lori Badgett, Buddy Cannon, Stuart Dill, Earle Simmons, Bob Romeo, Diane Pearson, Mark Moffatt, Adam Wright, John Clore, Chris Oglesby and many other industry fabulons attended. Not to mention the ACM’s Pete Fisher, Nick DiFruscia, Lisa Lee and more.
But the balcony crowd was dominated by fans. This is cool, because it lets them feel like they are at an industry “insider” event. Plus, they take their seats on time instead of schmoozing endlessly.
Morgan Evans (L) and Kelsea Ballerini take photos during the 12th Annual ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC)
Brett Young Joins Stella Maxwell As William Rast Brand Ambassador
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry fans might spot a familiar face in ads for clothing line William Rast this fall, as Brett Young will serve as a Brand Ambassador for the campaign for William Rast’s Fall 2018 collection. Young will join model Stella Maxwell as an ambassador. The national advertising campaign featuring Young and Maxwell will launch in select traditional and digital media outlets and in select retail stores across the country, including Macy’s, Dilliard’s, Belk, Lord & Taylor, and more.
Shot by fashion photographer Boo George and styled by Deborah Watson, the campaign embraces the collection’s Americana styled clothing.
“I’m so excited to work with both William Rast and Stella for this campaign,” Young said. “This is the first time I’ve done anything like this, and it’s been an absolute blast.”
Grounded in the iconography of biker culture, William Rast’s designs combine the origins of American denim with modern and sophisticated fits, premium fabrics, washes and techniques.
The fashion brand alignment is the latest career development from Young, who has been headlining his own Caliville Tour, and opening for Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes Tour 2018. Young also recently announced he will headline the CMT On Tour: Here Tonight beginning Nov. 16. Young has earned a platinum-selling debut album with his self-titled BMLG Records effort, spearheaded by hits including “In Case You Didn’t Know,” “Like I Loved You,” and his latest No. 1 “Mercy.”
DISClaimer: Morgan Evans, Cole Bradley Top New Tracks
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): Cole Bradley, Morgan Evans
We have three handsome young men who are new the column this week.
Actually, almost four, since it has been five years since we’ve heard from the still promising Justin Adams. Anyhow, the three vying for the DisCovery Award are Cash Campbell, Chance McKinney and our winner, Cole Bradley.
There’s no question about who ruled the listening session. Morgan Evans continues to impress, every time I see or hear him in performance. Give this former DisCovery Award winner his first Disc of the Day award.
JUSTIN ADAMS/How It Rolls
Writers: none listed; Producer: Derek Wells; Publisher: none listed; Flycatcher (track)
– He has a pleasant, earnest tenor. The song is country-love generic. The rocking track rumbles along nicely. Easy on the ears, if not exactly life changing.
SOUTHERN HALO/I Think Too Much
Writers: Natalia Morris/Roxie Dean; Producers: Catt Gravitt/Gerald O’Brien; Publishers: Southern Halo/Sweet 202, BMI/SESAC; Southern Halo
– Jaunty, sunny and sweetly harmonized. I have liked everything I have heard by this trio. Give ‘em a shot.
CHANCE McKINNEY/Take It Back
Writers: none listed; Producer: Kevin Ray Lawson; Publisher: none listed; CM (track)
– Deeply masculine sounding. The steady rocking tempo draws you in at the same time as his throaty baritone. Hale and hearty and well worth a listen.
CHERISH LEE/Ones You Leave Behind
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CL
– The daughter of Johnny Lee and Charlene Tilton continues to make her own mark in Music City. Her new single is a trembling, shakily sung ballad about loss, addressed to her brother who died of a heroin overdose. Considering our national opioid abuse crisis, it’s quite timely.
KEITH URBAN/Never Comin’ Down
Writers: Keith Urban/Josh Kerr/James Abrahart/Shy Carter; Producer: Josh Kerr/Keith Urban; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Maroma/Songs of Black River/Whistlepig Winners/James Abrahart/Artist 101/Songs of Kobalt/You Want How Much of What/BMG Rights, BMI/ASCAP; Capitol Nashville
– This ain’t country.
HARPER GRAE/Monster
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Jennifer Hanson/Nick Brophy; Grae Area
– Fearsome memories haunt her sleeping hours in this torrid tempo tune. The video makes it explicit that the “monster” was her mother’s alcoholism.
KATHY MATTEA/St. Teresa
Writers: None listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Captain Potato
-Mattea’s forthcoming Pretty Bird comeback album is heralded by this spooky, ethereal and utterly cool cover of a Joan Osborne gem. Lotsa crunchy, acoustic textures.
CASH CAMPBELL/Cannon Ball
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CC
– Extremely well produced in a Euro-pop kinda way, but melodically repetitive and lyrically dull.
MORGAN EVANS/Young Again
Writers: Morgan Evans/Chris DeStefano/Josh Kear; Producer: Chris DeStefano; Publisher: none listed; Warner Bros.
– I dig this guy a lot, and he seems to be on his way. This extremely catchy, bopping anthem is another big step forward. Sing along and shout for joy. It needs to become huge.
COLE BRADLEY/Happy Hour
Writers: Cole Bradley/Sandy Chila/Michael Fitzgerald/Alex Dezen; Producer: Sandy Chila; Publishers: Warner-Chappell/Kala, no performance rights listed; Kala
– Summer fun beats, cute barroom lyrics and groovy spoken passages. The drinks are on Cole Bradley.
Lee Brice To Welcome Maddie & Tae, Victoria Shaw, Liz Rose To Benefit Thistle Farms
/by Lorie HollabaughTickets are $20 for VIP seating and $15 for General Admission. Ticket packages covering all three shows are $55 for VIP and $40 for General Admission. Space is limited at the all-age shows which are open to the public.
On Oct. 1, Brice will focus on Route 91 Festival’s one-year anniversary. The lineup for that show will be announced in coming weeks and tickets are available at eventbrite.com/e/
Brice’s first Analog show on July 16 was sold out and featured performances by Jake Owen, Rob Hatch, Dallas Davidson and Tyler Farr. The evening honored the military and first-responders and raised more than $3,500 for Folds of Honor.
Lindsay Ell, Abby Anderson Play To Packed BMI Rooftop On The Row Crowd
/by Lorie HollabaughLindsay Ell and Kristian Bush. Photo by Nathan Zucker
Lindsay Ell and Abby Anderson rocked the rooftop at BMI Tuesday night (Aug. 21) during the fifth installment of BMI’s Rooftop On The Row summer concert series. Anderson kicked off the show with her single “Make Him Wait,” and special guest Kristian Bush joined Ell for her set just as the sun began to set over the skyline. The summer’s final rooftop show takes place Sept. 11.
Abby Anderson. Photo by Nathan Zucker
BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Kristian Bush, Lindsay Ell and BMI’s Michael Steinberg. Photo by Nathan Zucker
Ben Folds, Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely, Ray Stevens Celebrate Stars On Music City Walk Of Fame
/by Jessica NicholsonTrisha Yearwood with Jeannie Seely. Photos by Donn Jones.
On Tuesday (Aug. 21) in downtown Nashville, four artists were honored with stars on the Music City Walk of Fame. Ray Stevens, Brenda Lee, Jeannie Seely and Ben Folds received the 81st, 82nd, 83rd and 84th stars on the Walk of Fame. The four were recognized for significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song (other industry collaboration).
Ricky Skaggs presented Stevens with the honor, while Trisha Yearwood and Carly Pearce were on hand to honor Seely.
“When I look at all the names on the Walk of Fame, it’s truly humbling to see mine included there,” Stevens said. “Thank you Nashville.”
“I’m honored to be a part of celebrating Jeannie Seely at the induction ceremony putting her star on the Music City Walk of Fame,” Yearwood said. “Jeannie continues to do so much for our industry, and I’m proud to call her my friend.”
“I am humbled by this recognition, and to know I have a place in history among my peers is truly astounding! Hopefully those who are following our shared dreams will be inspired and encouraged by this walkway,” Seely said. ”Last year I saw the incredible respect given to those represented here. I can only hope that I have earned, and will continue to deserve that respect.”
Pictured (L-R) Ray Stevens, Ricky Skaggs. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Brenda Lee. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Ben Folds. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Photo courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp
Three Writers Celebrate First No. 1 With Luke Combs’ “One Number Away”
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): BMI songwriter Robert Williford, Luke Combs, SESAC songwriter Sammy Mitchell, and ASCAP songwriter Steven Battey
Luke Combs just might be the country artist with the most chart impact right now that is also the most devoted to giving new songwriters a shot at a coveted No. 1 single.
As music industry members gathered on Tuesday (Aug. 21) at Nashville venue The Sutler to celebrate the Columbia Nashville/River House artist’s third No. 1 single, much praise went to Combs’ three co-writers, who were each celebrating their first No. 1 country single with “One Number Away.” “One Number Away” is Combs’ third consecutive No. 1 single from his debut album This One’s For You. Combs’ previous chart-topping singles, “Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours,” also marked the first No. 1 songs for Combs’ co-writers on those tracks.
BMI’s Leslie Roberts, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, and SESAC’S ET Brown hosted the event to honor Combs and his co-writers Steven Battey, Sammy Mitchell, and Rob Williford.
Brinker celebrated Battey, a Georgia native who moved to Los Angeles and began street performing at age 19. Seven years later, Atlantic Records discovered his songwriting talent. Since then, Battey has written or produced for Justin Bieber, Madonna, Flo Rida, Bruno Mars and many others. He moved to Nashville three years ago, before earning his first country No. 1 song with “One Number Away.”
Battey also started the organization Singing for Superheroes, which brings awareness to kids with terminal illnesses. The first video as part of that program has earned more than 47 million views. ASCAP celebrated by giving Battey a Yeti cooler. First Tennessee Bank is ASCAP’s partner at No. 1 parties.
Brown celebrated Mitchell, offering him a Bose headset and speaker. Mitchell hails from Oklahoma City, where he led his rock band This City Lives, before moving to Nashville to attend Belmont University.
Roberts recalled how Williford first moved to Nashville in 2006, and eventually returned home. Then in 2013, he tried Nashville again, with a renewed focus on songwriting. Williford’s connection to Combs came via Combs’ college roommate’s mother, who was Williford’s high school science teacher. Rob also has “Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time” on Combs’ debut album, plus two tracks on the deluxe album. “Beautiful Crazy,” another Williford co-write, hasn’t been released as a single, but it has already been certified Gold. Williford received a Taylor Guitar from BMI to celebrate his first No. 1 song.
“When you find your core group of co-writers, your people you come up with in the business, there is nothing more authentic or rewarding than celebrating No. 1s with them. It’s [Luke’s] co-writers’ first No. 1 singles, too,” Roberts said.
Other celebrating include Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline, Concord Music’s Brad Kennard, Sony Music Nashville’s Shane Allen, and more.
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Steve Hodges, Sony Music Nashville’s Shane Allen, MakeWake’s Zebb Luster, Big Machine’s Mike Molinar, River House’s Lynn Oliver-Cline, BMI songwriter Robert Williford, 50 Egg’s Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, ASCAP songwriter/producer Steven Battey, SESAC songwriter Sammy Mitchell, SESAC’s ET Brown, Concord Music Publishing’s Brad Kennard, and BMI’s Leslie Roberts
Molinar pointed out Combs’ skyrocketing career success, which so far includes a Platinum debut album, several Gold- and Platinum-certified singles, and more than 1 billion streams.
“To watch Luke’s trajectory, it is mind-blowing,” said Molinar. “The best part is that it just flows through him and he keeps giving back. It’s not a surprise. This is what Luke is. We look forward to seeing so much more of it.”
“I sat down with Steven and Sammy and they had dreams of being able to come into this town and make a difference,” said Kennard. “This song was written in 2015. Again, to see this album come together and the momentum and see that this song made the album, it has been great to see both of them have their moment in the sun.”
“This is so surreal. We wrote this in a bedroom in a house when we had nothing going on in our careers,” Mitchell said.
“I can’t thank Luke enough for believing in this song,” Battey said. “He championed this song the whole way through. I called it. I said, ‘Bro, you’re dope.’ I’m very honored and humbled to be here.”
“The first time we played this song, we were performing in Asheville, and we had written it the week before,” Williford recalled. “I said, ‘Luke, why don’t we play it tonight?’ He was like, ‘We just wrote it, I don’t know the lyrics.’ So there is a video out there somewhere of Luke singing it, reading the lyrics from his cell phone. Going from that night—watching a crowd that had never heard it before—to watching 65,000 people singing it at Nissan Stadium in June, I’m absolutely honored and humbled to have been a front-row spectator.”
“I’m going to spit some dip in this cup here for a minute,” Combs said in his straightforward manner. “They told me to be authentic so I’m just trying to do that for you guys. In all seriousness, it is hard to believe when you are doing something like this. I want to deflect all the praise to my co-writers here. Thank you guys for believing in me. I had absolutely nothing going on when we were writing this song. It was at the point where I was like, ‘Thank you guys for even letting me cut a song we wrote together’ because it was at that point where it was like, ‘Well, someone else could probably [sing] it.
“Sony, you guys have been rock stars for me. Columbia Nashville, you are superstars. Thank you for helping spread our songs to 48 or 50 million people on country radio every week.” Combs also offered appreciation to those at CAA, River House, Big Machine Music and Jonathan Singleton’s 50 Egg Music, BMI and more.