Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Features Pat McLaughlin In Poets and Prophets Program

Last weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a program with Pat McLaughlin for its in-depth interview series Poets and Prophets. The series highlights songwriters who made significant contributions to country music in a conversation moderated by museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer.

McLaughlin arrived in Nashville in 1977 and earned his first chart-topper with Steve Wariner’s “Lynda.” He has earned additional notable cuts with Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton’s “Tell Me About It,” Josh Turner’s “Firecracker,” Gary Allan’s “Songs About Rain” and John Anderson’s “Years,” among others.

 

OU Student-Athlete Center To Be Named In Toby Keith’s Honor

A new student-athlete center at Oklahoma University will be named the Toby Keith Family Performance Center following a significant philanthropic commitment. Construction is set to begin in the coming months and completion is expected in 2028.

“Naming this performance center in [Keith’s] honor is something that truly reflects his impact, and his legacy will continue to live on,” says OU Head Baseball Coach Skip Johnson. “Toby changed so many lives, and this player development facility will further change the lives of future student-athletes that step foot into the building.”

“We’re proud to support Skip, this program and these student-athletes, and to carry forward something Toby cared so deeply about,” says Keith’s widow, Tricia Covel on behalf of the family. “I know he would have loved being a part of it. We’re honored to help shape this next chapter and excited to see what the future holds for Oklahoma Baseball.”

 

Music Community Foundation Celebrates Official Launch

Last week, industry members gathered to celebrate the launch of Music Community Foundation, an organization designed to help artist-led philanthropy initiatives.

“This night has been a long time coming, and there was something incredibly special about having so much of the MCF family together in one room to celebrate,” shares Rondal Richardson, Executive Director of Music Community Foundation. “We’ve seen firsthand the collective impact that happens when artists lead with their hearts and trust us to be a partner in their giving journey. Last week was a celebration of everything this community has already accomplished together, but even more importantly, of what we can build together in the years ahead.”

MCF builds on three decades of philanthropic work through CFMT, providing artists, managers and industry partners with the infrastructure, expertise and tools to create and sustain charitable initiatives. Since its beginnings, the program has generated more than $300 million in charitable impact, including $213 million in new gifts since 2018. Artist-led initiatives have also generated more than $90 million in philanthropic support to nonprofits, with impact reaching communities in all 50 states and beyond.

 

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Hosted ‘The Endless Road’ Film Screening

Last week, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a film screening of the new documentary, The Endless Road, which tells the story of guitar ace Tommy Emmanuel. Following the screening, Museum Writer-Editor Jon Freeman led a discussion with Emmanuel, director Jeremy Dylan, and producer Brian Penix about the making of the documentary.

The documentary follows Emmanuel’s family struggles and battle overcoming addiction while developing into one of the most admired guitar players in the world. Additionally, it highlights Emmanuel’s relationship Chet Atkins, who bestowed upon Emmanuel the title of Certified Guitar Player, or CGP.

Shaboozey is appearing in a new episode of Amazon Music’s docu-performance series Songline, and has released a new Songline companion album available now exclusively on Amazon Music.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter reimagines his hits in an intimate Songline performance filmed at Rancho Deluxe, with the full video episode debuting Oct. 23. Amazon’s Songline series invites artists to reimagine their music in a stripped-down, intimate setting, and each performance is intercut with in-depth interviews with the artist, giving songwriters the opportunity to demystify the writing process and share their personal and creative journeys with fans.

In addition to his Songline episode, Shaboozey’s recent Amazon Music Original, “Let ’Em Know,” serves as the official anthem and opening theme for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts.

Over the summer, Shaboozey released his concept album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, via American Dogwood in partnership with his label home EMPIRE. He is currently bringing the project to life across America with his sprawling “Outlaws Never Die Tour,” which builds on the cinematic nature of the album and features pre-shot visuals throughout the performance, complementing the songs and inviting audiences into Cherie Lee’s world.

Shaboozey Songline Tracklist:
1. “Till Sunday”
2. “Sweet Revenge”
3. “Amen”
4. “Born To Die”
5. “If I Was An Outlaw”
6. “Cowgirl”
7. “Coyotes Point”
8. “Tipsy”

Thomas Rhett and Blue Highway Records have launched Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records. Through its partnership with Blue Highway Records, the label will release Rhett’s music while supporting the next stage of his career as both an artist and entrepreneur.

“When we started talking about what the next chapter could look like, I knew I didn’t simply want to make another deal. I wanted to build something that reflected the legacy and shaped the future of my music,” says Rhett. “From my initial conversations with Jake [Basden] and the leadership team at Blue Highway, it was clear they, too, were thinking differently about what a record company can be for an artist today. This allows me the opportunity to own the body of work I’ve spent my entire career creating, while still having an ambitious team and global infrastructure around me for my future recordings. I am incredibly excited about building this next chapter together.”

“Thomas Rhett has always been an artist, a songwriter, a performer who brings the best of what being a progressive country artist is today: someone who is willing to explore how other genres merge with Nashville without losing his roots, without sounding calculated or forced,” adds Blue Highway Records CEO Basden. “His musical fluidity is matched by his sense of lyrics, songs, and what people feel, creating an honest kind of country that finds its way into people’s lives, wherever they are. Having watched Thomas Rhett come into his own and then achieve major success, I am honored to be his partner going forward.”

Over his career, Rhett has amassed 25 No. 1 singles, more than 16 billion streams, eight ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, five CMA Triple Play Awards, five Grammy nominations and additional trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards. Rhett is currently on the “Soundtrack to Life Tour” through the end of the month.

Miranda Lambert took the stage Thursday night (Oct. 1) at The Truth, marking the first show at the brand-new Nashville venue.

Lambert kicked off the sold-out show with a run of hits, including “Kerosene,” “Fastest Girl In Town” and “Only Prettier,” getting the crowd warmed up early.

The night was extra special, celebrating the release of Lambert’s new album, Crisco, out now via MCA. “We’re so excited to open this amazing venue in Nashville,” Lambert shared from the stage. “[Crisco] is one of my favorite projects I’ve gotten to work on in a really long time. It’s the first time I’ve recorded with strings. It’s the first time I’ve really dove into that area of country music so thank y’all for coming along for the ride!”

She continued the show with a preview of the new music, performing “Snakeskin Boots,” “Sunset Marquis,” “Till The Going’s Gone” and the title track, “Crisco.”

The energy surged as Lambert moved through a run of fan-favorites including “Heart, Like Mine,” “Famous In A Small Town,” “If I was A Cowboy,” “Bluebird” and “Vice.”

A highlight of the night came as Lambert began “House That Built Me,” leading to a crowd-wide sing-a-long of the timeless track before she continued with “Automatic” and “All Kinds Of Kinds.”

The crowd roared as Lambert called to the stage Chris Stapleton for a duet on “A Song To Sing.” Lambert shared that this track inspired her to begin what would become the Crisco album.

After “Tequila Does,” she explained that she often doesn’t get to include her deeper album cuts in her set, but picked a few to share through a medley of “Dear Diamond,” “Bathroom Sink” and “Dead Flowers.”

As the night began to wind down, Lambert delivered yet another run of hit tracks including “Tin Man,” “White Liar,” “Mama’s Broken Heart” and “Little Red Wagon,” before ending the night with the fiery “Gunpowder and Lead.”

Today (Oct. 5), Lambert announced an iTunes exclusive release of “Seven Year Ache” featuring Parker McCollum. The previously unreleased take on Rosanne Cash’s 1981 chart-topper is available exclusively when fans download Crisco on iTunes, now through 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 8.

Lambert continues the Crisco celebration tomorrow (Oct. 6) with a sold-out album release show at Billy Bob’s Texas.

Ashley Cooke has inked with The Familie for management representation.

“Ashley represents everything we’re looking for in the artists we partner with,” says Steve Astephen, Founder and CEO of The Familie. “She has an incredible work ethic, an authentic voice, and a clear vision for where she wants to go. She’s built a remarkable connection with fans while continuing to evolve creatively, and we’re excited to help support the next chapter of her career.”

“I’m thrilled to join The Familie and begin this new chapter together,” adds Cooke. “Steve and his team fully understand my vision and the kind of career I want to continue to build, which makes me so excited for the future!”

Cooke released her 15-track self-titled album via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music in August. The project was primarily produced by Dann Huff and features the country radio singles “the hell you are” and “baby blues,” the latter of which continues to climb the charts. The “baby blues” music video, featuring comedian and actor Matt Rife, premiered last month.

Throughout her career, she has earned ACM Award and iHeartRadio Music Award nominations, toured with Kane Brown and Parker McCollum, and appeared on CBS’ Marshals.

Cooke will continue her “baby blues world tour” this week at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre. The 28-date tour is currently scheduled through Feb. 25, when it wraps at the Ryman Auditorium. Cooke will also take the tour to the UK early next year, with stops at venues including Belfast’s Limelight 1 and London’s KOKO.