Jason Isbell will be artist-in-residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum for 2017. He will present three performances in the museum’s CMA Theater on Dec. 5, 12 and 19, at 7 p.m.

Isbell has won Grammys for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song. The Americana Music Association named him Artist of the Year in 2015 and has awarded him Album of the Year two times and Song of the Year honors three times. Master songwriter John Prine, a key influence on Isbell, told the Nashville Scene, “I just feel proud that Jason is writing and putting out the kind of music he is.”

After working in the early 2000s as a member of Drive-By Truckers, Isbell left the band in 2007. The Alabama native has recorded six albums under his own name and with his band, the 400 Unit. His latest, The Nashville Sound, is nominated for Album of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.

“Jason is a tremendously accomplished performer whose songwriting skills have set him on a path to join the lofty ranks of writing legends like Kristofferson and Prine,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “He will be our fourteenth artist-in-residence, and also our youngest, but the stellar work that he has done already in his career proves that he belongs in such august company. We are thrilled to welcome him for what will be three unforgettable performances. It is a bonus that he takes the stage while he is featured in the museum’s exhibit American Currents: The Music of 2016.”

After taking a break last year to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Bob Dylan’s masterpiece album Blonde on Blonde with two sold-out concerts by Old Crow Medicine Show, the artist-in-residence series returns in 2017. The Artist-In-Residence was launched in 2003, and has included Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson and 2015 artist-in-residence Rosanne Cash.

Ticket prices for each show range from $49.50 to $85.50 (plus ticketing fees). Ticket sales are limited to four tickets per transaction on a first come, first served basis and are non-refundable. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CDT on Friday, Oct. 27, and can be purchased at countrymusichalloffame.org/air-2017.

SMACKSongs Celebrates First Writers’ Night

Pictured (front row, L-R): Midland’s Jess Carson, SMACKSongs’ Kylie Morgan, Shane McAnally, Midland’s Cameron Duddy, and SMACKSongs’ Renee Blair. (back row, L-R): Midland’s Mark Wystrach, SMACKSongs’ Josh Osborne, Matt McGinn, Ryan Beaver, and Aaron Eshuis.

SMACKSongs celebrated its first writers’ night at the Listening Room Café in Nashville last Wednesday (Oct. 11). The round was hosted by SMACKSongs partners, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and featured surprise performances by Walker Hayes and Midland.

Other performers included SMACKSongs writers Ryan Beaver, Renee Blair, Aaron Eshuis, Kylie Morgan, and Matt McGinn. Presented by Kobalt, the evening was part of the company’s week-long Global Creative Retreat in Nashville.

ASCAP Presents at The Bluebird Cafe

Pictured (L-R): Shane Gamble, Jeb Gipson, Hailey Whitters, Josh Matheny, and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad.

The October installment of ASCAP’s long-running showcase series at The Bluebird Cafe was held last Wednesday (Oct. 11) and featured Shane Gamble, Sea Gayle’s Jeb Gipson, Carnival Music’s Hailey Whitters and Curb Music Publishing’s Josh Matheny, who is a member of the band Steel Union.

Chris Janson, Keith Urban’s Grand Ole Opry Surprise

Pictured (L-R): Chris Janson and Keith Urban.

Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Janson joined Keith Urban for two surprise performances at the Grand Ole Opry last Tuesday night (Oct. 10).

Urban welcomed Janson to the legendary stage by declaring, “If there’s justice, in one year he’s going to be Entertainer of the Year,” before launching into their guitar-drenched and harmonica-infused take on the John Michael Montgomery hit “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).”

Check out a video of the performance here.

BMG and BBR Music Group Celebrate Country Music Week in UK

Randy Houser. Photo: Anthony D’Angio

Lindsay Ell. Photo: Shawn Ell

Walker McGuire. Photo: Luke Dyson

BMG and BBR Music Group celebrated a strong presence at this year’s Country Music Week (Oct. 2-8) in the UK, launching with a special live event at London’s Bush Hall. Broken Bow Records Presents showcased Randy Houser, Lindsay Ell, and Walker McGuire (comprised of Jordan Walker and Johnny McGuire).

T.J. Martell Foundation’s 5th Annual Chic Awearness Event

Pictured (L-R): Melissa Thompson, Jayne Wochomurka, Linda Davis, Tammie Eldridge, Dawn Mangrum, Hope Loftis, Marci Houff, Memarie Gayle, Sally Rose, Leora Allen, and Janet Schock. Photo: Bev Moser.

The 5th Annual Chic Awearness event was held on Monday, Sept. 25 at Nashville restaurant Prima and raised over $100,000 to benefit the T. J. Martell Foundation’s ovarian cancer research program.

Hosted by NewsChannel 5’s Carrie Sharp, event highlights included a moving survivor speech, an exciting live auction and a spirited fall fashion show by Levy’s.

Tiffany Moon, EVP and Managing Director for the Academy of Country Music (ACM), has exited her role at ACM. The organization says there are no plans for a replacement. Moon served as interim CEO of the organization from May 2016 to 2017, when it was announced Pete Fisher would permanently fill the position.

ACM CEO Pete Fisher said:

“Although I have only worked side-by-side with Tiffany since late January, as an ACM Board member, I have had the pleasure of observing all she has given to the Academy over her 15 years of service.  She has made an indelible impact which will benefit this great organization for many years to come.  It is because of her great work, in partnership with a terrific staff and Board, that we are able to dream big dreams and chart the Academy’s future course.”