Helen Cornelius
Singer Helen Cornelius died on Friday at age 83.
With vocal partner Jim Ed Brown, she earned the 1977 CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The team was also nominated for this honor in 1978 and 1979. Its string of top-10 hits included “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You” (1976), “Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” (1977), the Grammy-nominated “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight” (1978), “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1979), “Lying in Love With You” (1979), “Fools” (1979) and “Morning Comes to Early” (1980).
Born Helen Johnson, she was a native of Missouri who began singing at an early age. As a high-school student, she formed a trio with sisters Judy and Sharon. The siblings competed successfully on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour TV show in 1960.
She married truck driver Lewis Cornelius and channeled her music ambitions into songwriting while working as a housewife and raising children. She was signed as a staff writer by Screen Gems in 1970, and her songs were eventually recorded by such stars as The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Charlie Louvin & Melba Montgomery, Jeannie C. Riley, Lynn Anderson, Barbara Fairchild and Connie Smith, among others.
With her husband and three children in tow, she moved to Music City. Established Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown was introduced to the newcomer by RCA Records producer Bob Ferguson. The duo clicked with such sexy tracks as “I’ll Never Be Free” (1978), “The Bedroom” (1980) and “Don’t Bother to Knock” (1981) and co-starred as hosts of his Nashville On the Road nationally syndicated TV series in 1976-80.
Brown and Cornelius had an affair, which became embarrassingly public when they broke up in 1980. She became a solo artist with charted singles released by the RCA, Elektra and Ameri-Can labels. She released her debut solo LP in 1985 on Dot Records.
Helen Cornelius became the opening act for The Statler Brothers and for Conway Twitty. In 1984, she starred in a road company production of Annie Get Your Gun that played 64 cities. Cornelius briefly reunited with Jim Ed Brown for a tour in 1988. In 1991, she opened a theater called Nashville South in Gatlinburg. She performed there nightly for the next five years.
Returning to her native Missouri, Cornelius settled in Branson to headline at the Jim Stafford Theater. In recent years, she has often been featured on Larry Black’s Country Family Reunion series on RFD-TV.
Helen Cornelius passed away in Nashville. No cause of death has been reported. She is survived by her children, Christy and Dennis Cornelius, by two grandchildren, by brother Elvin Johnson, and by her beloved dog, Bella.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (MichaelJFox.org). Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. with a service immediately following at the Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064. A private burial will be held after for family and close friends.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Adrien Nunez
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Dillon Goldberg (The PRNT Company), Josh Van Valkenburg, Taylor Ratkovich and Cam Caldwell; (L-R, front row): Rusty Gaston, Adrien Nunez and Synnovea Halsel. Photo: Joshua Erb
Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed rising country artist and songwriter Adrien Nunez to a global publishing administration agreement.
Nunez, a Brooklyn native and former University of Michigan basketball standout, has emerged as one of music’s most compelling new voices, blending elements of country, pop and hip-hop into a sound uniquely his own. He has amassed over 100 million streams with hits such as his 2024 breakout single “Low Road” with Avery Anna, as well as his latest single “Don’t Wanna Go Home.”
Of the deal, Nunez says, “I’m excited to be working with Synnovea, Rusty, and the entire Sony Music Publishing family. I can’t wait to see what we achieve together.”
Synnovea Halsel, Manager of Creative A&R, Sony Music Publishing Nashville, adds, “Adrien’s music is absolutely infectious. He has been captivating listeners since day one and has built an amazing fanbase. There’s no doubt that he’s a star in the making, and we are thrilled to be a part of his journey.”
Signed to Warner Music Nashville/Warner Records, Nunez is touring across the U.S. as an opening performer on Luke Bryan’s “Country Song Came On Tour.” His highly anticipated upcoming single “WILD” is also set to release on Friday (July 25).
Shanna Strassberg Joins Julien’s Auctions As Director, Music Business Development
/by Lorie HollabaughShanna Strassberg
Julien’s Auctions has hired Shanna Strassberg as Director, Music Business Development, leading Julien’s growth strategy and business operations in Nashville.
Strassberg is an Emmy-winning TV and music industry executive whose roles have included serving as VP of Music and Talent at CMT, Talent Executive for CBS New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, and an artist booker on a multitude of series, live events, music specials and red carpets. Strassberg has booked celebrities from film, television, comedy, and sports on various networks and online properties, such as the Dolly Parton Telethon Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund, The Loretta Lynn Birthday Celebration at Bridgestone Arena, Bluebird – The Movie, the original documentary on the legendary Bluebird Café, Ken Burns’ Country Music Live at the Ryman, and more.
Strasssberg joins the entertainment memorabilia auctions company as it is coming off of its hit Nashville auctions and exhibits at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in the past two years, including the million-dollar sales of the iconic and legendary guitars of Eric Clapton and Kurt Cobain.
Other company appointments include Danny Bennett as Senior Managing Director, Business Development, Ken Blaustein as Managing Director, Business Development, and Lou Robinson as Director, Music Business Development.
“Julien’s success will be further fueled by these high achieving and visionary leaders, Danny Bennett, Ken Blaustein, Shanna Strassberg, and Lou Robinson,” says Darren Julien, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “Their dynamic experience, proven track records, creativity, and passion will elevate Julien’s commitment to ensuring long term success and adaptability in the marketplace for our exceptional buyers and esteemed clients who have entrusted Julien’s with celebrating their legacies at our premium auctions.”
100x Hospitality To Takeover Full Operations Of Playa Luna Destination Events
/by Madison HahnenPlaya Luna Presents was founded by Dan Berkowitz. Berkowitz established CID Entertainment and CID Presents, the latter turning into Playa Luna Presents. He launched 100x in 2022, and currently serves as CEO.
“Playa Luna has set the standard for destination events,” shares Berkowitz. “We’re building on that foundation while doubling down on our commitment to putting guests first and artists forward — whether it’s 25,000 people at a camping festival or 200 at an intimate gathering.
“We work hard because we believe unforgettable experiences matter now more than ever, he continues. “It’s the moments we share out in the world, with the people we love, that leave the deepest impact. We’re incredibly fortunate to partner with the artists who mean the most to people and bring those connections to life in unforgettable places like Riviera Maya, San José del Cabo, and Napa Valley. This is about building a company grounded in care, trust, and creative ambition. Our goal is to raise the bar for how live events feel — for guests, artists, and the teams that make them happen. None of this would be possible without the incredible team behind 100x and Playa Luna — a group of passionate, hardworking individuals who bring these experiences to life with care, creativity, and excellence.”
Part of 100x services’ includes VIP programs, travel packages, and transportation services for tours, festivals and one-off events. So far this year, the company has worked with boutique hotel events, an artist-curated camping festival with GRiZ in Virginia, “A Weekend in Napa with Andrea Bocelli” and more.
Outside of destination events, 100x has also curated VIP and travel experiences for national tours with Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Goose, Phish, The Lumineers and Max McNown. This summer, the company will support Dead & Company’s three night run at Golden Gate Park.
100x plans to expand its offerings beyond music in the future.
Country Thunder Wisconsin Draws Thousands for Four Days of Music in Twin Lakes
/by Lauryn SinkJelly Roll and Ashley Cooke. Photo: Anthony Houle/Country Thunder
Country Thunder Wisconsin brought thousands of fans to Twin Lakes for a four-day festival. From July 17 – July 20 at Shadow Hill Ranch, nearly 100,000 attendees posted up on the grounds.
A powerhouse lineup including Hardy, Jelly Roll, Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley, Gavin Adcock, Ashley McBryde, Zach Top and more took the stage. Additionally, the weekend was filled with many one-of-a-kind moments. Hardy welcomed Ashley McBryde to join him for a duet on “wait in the truck.” To the crowd’s surprise, Jelly Roll called Ashley Cooke to the stage for a cover of the Garth Brooks classic “Friends in Low Places.” When Angie K’s set was cut due to inclement weather, Cooke invited her to sing during her set. Finally, Bentley pulled out all of the stops for Hot Country Knights set, bringing out special guest Top.
Zach Top. Photo: Anthony Houle/Country Thunder
Among other moments, The Lake Stage drew the spotlight to a myriad of rising artists such as Faster Horses, Cody Parks & The Dirty South, Jacquie Roar, Roseland, SJ McDonald, Drew Cooper, J Edwards, Austin Hopkins and more. On the same stage, the Songwriters Showcase featured top Nashville hitmakers including Ryan Beaver, Benjy Davis, Neil Medley, Brinley Addington, Johnny Clawson, Lauren McLamb and more.
The festival celebrated its “One Millionth Fan,” Hailey Rovetuso, with an array of prizes including First Row Reserved Seats and Camping for life, access to festival catering and artist hospitality, exclusive merchandise and more.
Cole Swindell. Photo: Anthony Houle/Country Thunder
Dierks Bentley. Photo: Anthony Houle/Country Thunder
Photo: Anthony Houle/Country Thunder
Trisha Yearwood & Friends Celebrate Linda Ronstadt & L.A. Country-Rock
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Bernie Leadon, Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Patti Scialfa, Rodney Crowell and James Taylor backstage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Trisha Yearwood hosted a sold-out concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater last night (July 22) with some special guests celebrating the music of Linda Ronstadt and the L.A. country-rock scene of the 1960s-’80s.
The concert featured performances by Yearwood, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Bernie Leadon, Patti Scialfa and James Taylor, and was co-produced by Yearwood and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in connection with the museum’s “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock” exhibit, presented by City National Bank.
Performances from Yearwood included gems like “You’re No Good,” “Blue Bayou,” “It’s So Easy,” “When Will I Be Loved,” “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” and more, including “To Know Him Is to Love Him” by Yearwood joined by Emmylou Harris and Patti Scialfa.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that Linda Ronstadt is THE reason I became a singer,” says Yearwood. “Celebrating Linda and her fellow L.A.-based musicians alongside some of my biggest musical heroes is a lifelong dream come true for me.”
The concert, which benefited the museum and its educational mission, was filmed and will be released next month on the museum’s website and YouTube channel. “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock,” which will conclude its nearly three-year run on Sept. 16, explores the L.A.-based communities of visionary singers, songwriters and musicians including Ronstadt, who created and shaped the country-rock sound and made a lasting impact on pop music.
Netflix’s ‘Hitmakers’ Pulls Back The Curtain On The High-Stakes World Of Songwriting Camps
/by LB CantrellHitmakers. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
A new docu-series premiering Thursday (July 24) on Netflix goes behind the scenes of the songwriting camps where today’s biggest hits are made. Hitmakers follows 12 top-tier songwriters and producers as they team up in high-pressure writing sessions for major artists like John Legend, Shaboozey and Lisa of Blackpink.
Across six episodes, viewers follow hitmakers including Jenna Andrews, Tommy Brown, Trey Campbell, Ferras, Harv, Ben Johnson, Stephen Kirk, JHart, Whitney Phillips, Sevyn Streeter and Nova Wav as they travel to songwriting camps in the Bahamas, Nashville and Cabo. Split into writing rooms, the creatives are tasked with crafting standout songs—offering a rare, inside look at both the technical craft and emotional grit of hit songwriting.
The series highlights not only the creative process but also the personal dynamics of working in a collaborative, high-pressure environment.
Phillips, a pop songwriter who often works out of Nashville, told MusicRow that the series felt like an overdue celebration of the songwriting community.
“I’ve been part of this community for 13 years. I’ve seen myself and my friends wait tables, drive Ubers and crash on couches, all to keep making music. We’ve given our blood, sweat and tears to an industry that doesn’t always give songwriters their due,” she says. “Hitmakers is a celebration of that grit, that dedication. With streaming and AI reshaping the landscape, this was our chance to show the humans behind the songs. We had a blast, wrote some incredible records, and captured the chaos, the magic and the heart of it all. And I think that’s exactly what the world is going to see.”
Nashville-based songwriter Johnson adds, “I’m excited for more people to discover that the songwriting community exists and hopefully raise some awareness. I love new experiences and challenges, and this was both of those. It was an interesting process integrating reality TV with music creation—I hope I represented Nashville well and that everyone’s entertained!”
JHart shares, “Filming Hitmakers was a terrifying yet exciting experience. Terrifying in the sense that I had to put my talent, my story, and my reputation in the hands of people who I didn’t know, and exciting in the sense that I could be a part of introducing the average viewer to an underrepresented ecosystem they didn’t know existed, and in a format that felt familiar and digestible to them.”
Hitmakers is produced by Done and Done Productions and Harvey Mason Media, with executive producers Adam DiVello, Harvey Mason Jr., Britt Burton, Kimberly Goodman, Kristofer Lindquist, Megan Roger and Skyler Wakil.
Anne Wilson Slates ‘God Story’ EP For August 1
/by Lauryn SinkAnne Wilson will release her newest EP, God Story, on Aug 1.
“I’ve been pouring my heart into these songs over the last year – writing, dreaming and recording in the studio,” shares Wilson. “I’m so excited to finally start sharing this new chapter of music. God Story is full of the stories God’s been writing in my life, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Wilson penned the tracks alongside Matthew West, Jeff Pardo and Emily Weisband. The EP follows her sophomore album, Rebel, which was released in 2024. Named after her most recent single, the four-song project comes just ahead of her second weekend on Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem Tour.”
Wilson recently announced that she will return to her home state of Kentucky for a special benefit concert at Corbin Arena on Aug. 11, raising funds for families and communities impacted by the deadly tornado that struck eastern Kentucky this May.
God Story Track List:
1. “God Story” (Anne Wilson, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo)
2. “Til The Road Runs Out” (Anne Wilson, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo)
3. “Devil Is Too” (Anne Wilson, Emily Weisband, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo)
4. “Twenty Three” (Anne Wilson, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo)
Exile Celebrates Emmy Win For ’60 Years Of Music’ Documentary
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Exile: Les Taylor, Marlon Hargis, Sonny LeMaire, Steve Goetzman and JP Pennington. Photo: Mark Conner
Exile has received an Emmy award for the career-spanning documentary Exile: 60 Years of Music, produced by KET (The Kentucky Network).
Through rare photos, home movies filmed over 50 years ago, and rarely seen archival musical footage, the documentary chronicles 60 years on the road with the American country rock legends and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inductees, original members Sonny LeMaire, JP Pennington, Marlon Hargis, Steve Goetzman and Les Taylor.
“As a band now in our 62nd year of music and friendship, we’ve achieved more than we ever imagined as kids. From unforgettable TV moments on The Midnight Special, Solid Gold, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, to so many others, we’ve been blessed with a remarkable journey,” says the band. “But our documentary has given us center stage like never before. While we’ve seen many dreams come true, we never imagined an Emmy. We tip our hats to KET and producer/director Tom Thurman for bringing this honor home. We’re proud of our Kentucky roots and deeply grateful to be the subject of an Emmy-winning collaboration with our fellow Kentuckians.”
“As the director of this documentary, I knew that it would be a real challenge covering Exile’s 60 years of history,” says Thurman. “But these men are not only talented musicians and songwriters; they are great storytellers as well. And maybe even more importantly, they are survivors thriving in a very tough business. That’s a filmmaker’s dream right there.”
For fans wanting to enjoy the band’s many hits, the album Exile HITS Anniversary Edition, a remixed and remastered collection of 15 timeless hits, featuring eleven No.1s, is now available in immersive Dolby Atmos sound that allows audio elements to be placed in a 3D space, delivering a more realistic and dynamic experience for fans and content creators alike.
CMA Award Winner Helen Cornelius Passes
/by Robert K OermannHelen Cornelius
Singer Helen Cornelius died on Friday at age 83.
With vocal partner Jim Ed Brown, she earned the 1977 CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The team was also nominated for this honor in 1978 and 1979. Its string of top-10 hits included “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You” (1976), “Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye” (1977), the Grammy-nominated “If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight” (1978), “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1979), “Lying in Love With You” (1979), “Fools” (1979) and “Morning Comes to Early” (1980).
Born Helen Johnson, she was a native of Missouri who began singing at an early age. As a high-school student, she formed a trio with sisters Judy and Sharon. The siblings competed successfully on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour TV show in 1960.
She married truck driver Lewis Cornelius and channeled her music ambitions into songwriting while working as a housewife and raising children. She was signed as a staff writer by Screen Gems in 1970, and her songs were eventually recorded by such stars as The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Charlie Louvin & Melba Montgomery, Jeannie C. Riley, Lynn Anderson, Barbara Fairchild and Connie Smith, among others.
With her husband and three children in tow, she moved to Music City. Established Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown was introduced to the newcomer by RCA Records producer Bob Ferguson. The duo clicked with such sexy tracks as “I’ll Never Be Free” (1978), “The Bedroom” (1980) and “Don’t Bother to Knock” (1981) and co-starred as hosts of his Nashville On the Road nationally syndicated TV series in 1976-80.
Brown and Cornelius had an affair, which became embarrassingly public when they broke up in 1980. She became a solo artist with charted singles released by the RCA, Elektra and Ameri-Can labels. She released her debut solo LP in 1985 on Dot Records.
Helen Cornelius became the opening act for The Statler Brothers and for Conway Twitty. In 1984, she starred in a road company production of Annie Get Your Gun that played 64 cities. Cornelius briefly reunited with Jim Ed Brown for a tour in 1988. In 1991, she opened a theater called Nashville South in Gatlinburg. She performed there nightly for the next five years.
Returning to her native Missouri, Cornelius settled in Branson to headline at the Jim Stafford Theater. In recent years, she has often been featured on Larry Black’s Country Family Reunion series on RFD-TV.
Helen Cornelius passed away in Nashville. No cause of death has been reported. She is survived by her children, Christy and Dennis Cornelius, by two grandchildren, by brother Elvin Johnson, and by her beloved dog, Bella.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (MichaelJFox.org). Visitation will be held on Friday, July 25 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. with a service immediately following at the Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064. A private burial will be held after for family and close friends.
Ernest To Return To Ryman This November
/by Lauryn SinkErnest is set to return to the Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 4. Tickets go on sale on July 25 at 10 a.m. CT.
The hometown performance follows his back-to-back nights at the Ryman last year and multiple Stars For Second Harvest shows at the venue.
Ernest recently released Cadillac Sessions, a mixtape-style record with DeVille Records signees Chandler Walters, Rhys Rutherford and Cody Lohden. The album features original songs from the group and additional guests including Snoop Dogg, Miranda Lambert and Jake Worthington.
He is currently on tour as direct support for Old Dominion’s “How Good Is That Tour” and will be hitting the road as an opener for Lainey Wilson this fall for her “Whirlwind Tour.” Ernest recently earned his 13th No. 1 hits as a songwriter and has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Mornings, LIVE with Kelly and Mark and more. He recently appeared on Sundae Conversation with Caleb Pressley.