An American music titan was saluted Monday evening (Sept. 8) as rock royalty John Fogerty was presented with BMI’s Troubadour Award.

“I hope I’m worthy of all this attention,” said the humble legend who has a catalog of immortal songs he wrote for Creedence Clearwater Revival as well as his solo albums. “I’m pretty overwhelmed.”

Fogerty was saluted in song and speeches during an invitation-only two-hour cocktail party, banquet and ceremony. BMI’s Clay Bradley presided.

“You are in for a real treat, I promise you,” said Bradley when he took the stage. “The power of music can transcend time itself.”

A stellar lineup of talents sang Fogerty’s enduring classics. New sensation Jesse Wells kicked it off with “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” Z.Z. Top’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Billy Gibbons joined with Grammy winning La Marisoul for a Spanglish rendition of “Green River.” Classic rock vocalist Jay Buchanan turned in an electrifying version of “Fortunate Son.”

Writer David Wild gave the induction speech. “Legacy is the title of his new album,” Wilds said. Named for “a legacy you created, nurtured and ultimately won back. You won…a happy ending that you deserve, and that’s the most heartening legacy of all. These are songs that defined and graced all of our lives….songs made to outlive us, and what Troubadour could have a better legacy than that?” Fogerty battled in the courts for years to regain control of his copyrights, which was a symbolic victory for all music creators.

The evening’s celebratory mood was amped up by The War and Treaty, who offered a barn-burning “I Put a Spell on You” and a soul-saturated “Born on the Bayou.” Then Lainey Wilson capped the tribute music with “Proud Mary.”

All of the performances were given standing ovations. Interspersed among them were video congratulations from Chris Stapleton, Eric Church and Dolly Parton, among others.

The Troubadour Award recognizes songwriters who have made significant contributions to the music industry and whose work has endured over time. It celebrates songwriting prowess and impact. Prior recipients have been Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, the late John Prine and attendees Gibbons, John Oates and Robert Earl Keen.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” said honoree Fogerty. “Like many of you, I was captivated by music. This is a town that music has built…by people who were captivated by music like I was. I heard Hank Williams and Nashville became a symbol for me, a magical place.

“The main thing I want to say is I’ve been blessed. I don’t know what else to say. I love you all.”

For Legacy, John Fogerty re-recorded his classics with a new band including his sons Tyler and Shane. They joined him on stage to rip through a set including a thrilling “Up Around the Bend,” a long jam on “Old Man Down the Road” and the rousing, apocalyptic “Bad Moon Rising.” At age 80, Fogerty still sounded astounding, singing with passion in the same keys that the raspy rock tenor originally recorded his hits in.

The banquet crowd was spellbound, reveling in an intimate mini concert by a songwriter’s songwriter, an American original, a national treasure and a true, modern Troubadour. Notable musicians in attendance included Elizabeth Cook, Fats Kaplan, Jeff Hanna, Dave Pomeroy, Liz Rose, Ray Kennedy, Carmella Ramsey, Matraca Berg, Steve Fishell, Kenny Vaughan, Bob DiPiero and 2025 Americana Lifetime Achievement honoree Regina McCrary, as well as Keen, Gibbons and Oates.

The event was the unofficial kick-off of the Americana Music Association’s annual celebration week. Known as AmericanaFest, it takes place in various Nashville venues Sept. 9-13.

Ella Langley is set to headline Cowgirls at The Cowboy, the nation’s only all-female country music festival which returns to Jackson Hole and the stage of the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on Oct. 9-11.

Jenny Tolman is once again curating the fourth annual event, designed to celebrate strong women in music. Langley’s headlining appearance at Cowgirls at The Cowboy will mark her debut Jackson Hole performance. Cowgirls will kick off on Thursday night with a Songwriter Showcase featuring Tolman, Willow Avalon and Trannie Anderson. Friday night will feature Tolman, (who will appear on the forthcoming Taylor Sheridan/Blake Shelton-produced CBS performance series, The Road,) and co-headliner Mae Estes. Tickets will be sold for each night, and may be purchased at cowboybarjh.com.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, soon to enter its 90th year, is widely regarded as a national treasure and is regularly named one of the top honkytonks in the country.

ASCAP has added John Pershing as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, effective Sept. 22.

“ASCAP is excited to bring John on board as we continue to drive innovative global technology solutions that benefit our songwriter, composer and publisher members as well as our licensees,” shares ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “He will be instrumental as we harness the power of AI in exciting new ways to create growth, solve market needs, and advance efficiencies.”

“ASCAP has a future forward approach to developing technology initiatives that drive industry solutions,” adds Pershing. “It is especially exciting to join the team at a time when there are so many new opportunities to innovate in service of ASCAP’s strategic goals across the organization.”

Pershing joins ASCAP from What If Media Group where he held the role of CTO and Head of Product for the past six years. At the company, he was responsible for all IT functions, including software, product and data engineering, corporate IT structure and operations, information security and more. Before What If Media Group, he serves as Vice President of Software Engineering at 1010data.

Five-time GMA Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Natalie Grant has signed to Capitol CMG, marking an exciting new chapter in her career.

Along with the signing news, Grant also announced her new holiday album Christmas, is set for release Oct. 3, arriving nearly 20 years after her beloved debut Christmas album Believe. Christmas brings new light to beloved classics like“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and the Ella Fitzgerald-inspired swing of “Jingle Bells,” and also introduces two originals: the sweeping, six-minute ballad “God’s Gift” and the playful “Christmas Looks Good on You,” inspired by family traditions. The project was recorded alongside Grant’s husband and longtime collaborator, Grammy-winning composer/producer Bernie Herms.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Natalie to the Capitol Christian Music Group family,” says Brad O’Donnell, Co President at Capitol .”We’ve been fans for a long time and it’s an honor to partner with her on this project—especially as she marks 20 years since her first holiday release. “’Christmas’” is a classic and timeless collection of holiday songs that will resonate with fans of all genres and generations.”

“It’s been 20 years since my last Christmas album, and making another one has been a dream in my heart for so long,” says Grant. “Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I set out to create something timeless – full of nostalgia, warmth, and a few new songs that could stand beside the classics. I’m beyond excited to be partnering with Capitol CMG for the first time. Their passion and vision for this project made them the perfect home and the timing couldn’t be better. This is a partnership that just makes sense on so many levels, and I’m truly excited about what the future holds together.”

In celebration of the new album, Grant and Danny Gokey will embark on the 10th annual “Celebrate Christmas Tour” kicking off Dec. 4, spreading Christmas cheer to 11 cities across Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, D.C. and beyond.

In addition to garnering nearly one billion streams and multiple number No. 1 albums and singles, Grant is also a respected author of 11 books, including the Glimmer Girls series for tween girls. As an active philanthropist, she is the co-founder of Hope for Justice, a non-profit that fights against human trafficking through programs in the U.S. and globally that help more than 150,000 adults and children each year.

Tigirlily Gold Partners With Home State Of North Dakota For New Track

Tigirlily Gold has partnered with their home state of North Dakota to release their new track, “Call It Home (A Song for North Dakota),” which is out now.

“There’s a million reasons why we’re proud to call it home. That’s how we feel about our home state of North Dakota,” share Tigirlily Gold’s Krista Olson and Kendra Slaubaugh. “Growing up there shaped everything about us, and when we wrote ‘Call It Home,’ we had no trouble listing all our favorite things about our home state while pouring love into every note. We are beyond excited to share our pride of North Dakota through this song.”

Born and raised in Hazen, North Dakota, the duo announced their relationship as spokespersons for North Dakota Tourism and debuted the song during their July 10 appearance at ND Country Fest. The duo wrote the song alongside Pete Good and Josh Jenkins. Good and Austin Goodloe served as co-producers.

 

‘Salute the Songbird with Maggie Rose’ Podcast Live Taping To Be Held At Anzie Blue

Maggie Rose is set to host a live taping of her Salute The Songbird podcast at Anzie Blue on Sept. 16. Presented in partnership with Family Alliance in Music, the episode spotlights the challenges and rewards of motherhood for the performing musician, featuring Caitlyn Smith, Jillian Jacqueline and Lucie Silvas.

“I’m thrilled to host a special episode of Salute the Songbird, where I’ll have the privilege of speaking with friends and fellow musicians who are also working mothers at Anzie Blue, a venue owned and operated by women,” shares Rose. “We all share a passion for working with FAM, an organization that makes commendable efforts to provide resources to caregivers in the music industry. It promises to be an inspiring evening of music and storytelling, as well as an opportunity for us to come together and discuss how we can create a more supportive environment for one another.”

“As Nashville’s only female-owned venue, we are big believers in the exponential power of women supporting women and are thrilled to serve as the host venue for Maggie’s ‘Salute the Songbird’ series,” adds Marcie Allen, co-owner of Anzie Blue. “From our monthly showcases with organizations like She Is The Music and FEMco to a variety of shows and events featuring all genres, Anzie Blue is proud to be a first-in-class, inclusive venue, open to everyone.”

 

Get After It Media Names Sebastian Trujillo Chief Commercial Officer

Get After It Media (GAIM) has named Sebastian Trujillo as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In his new role at GAIM, Trujillo will lead all revenue-generating strategies across advertising, distribution, digital and brand partnerships.

“Sebas and I have worked together and known each other for decades. He brings a deep understanding of where we are as an industry and where we need to go as a company,” says Otto Padrón, President & COO of Get After It Media. “With his focus on growth, innovation and partnerships, he will help us scale GAIM into the future as a next gen media company while staying true to our mission of delivering content that connects, inspires and empowers audiences.”

“I’m honored and excited to begin this new chapter with a best-in-class organization such as GAIM,” says Trujillo. “The media industry is evolving at an extremely rapid pace, and I’m eager to help the team optimize the business across a variety of consumer touch points. We’re going to build a truly exciting future for our industry by working in concert with brand partners and connecting audiences at scale with a vast suite of engaged and diverse content offerings.”

 

The Desert Rose Band To Release Limited Edition Vinyl Double Album

The Desert Rose Band released its new limited edition vinyl double album last Friday (Sept. 5). The 24-track, double live album was produced, mixed and mastered by Mick Conley.

The band, most popular during the 1980’s, reunited for one final performance in Nashville, on October 2, 2022 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater. The two-hour show was recorded and featured at the grand opening of the museum’s exhibition, “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country Rock.”

 

Musically Fed Celebrates Record-Breaking Summer

Musically Fed, an organization fighting against hunger by working with artists, promoters, management and venues nationwide to donate unused backstage meals to community organizations that feed people facing homelessness, hunger and food insecurity, is celebrating a record-breaking summer of donations. Partnering with venues including Bridgestone Arena, Ascend Amphitheater and First Bank Amphitheater in Nashville as well as artists such as Dierks Bentley the organization donated 51,500 pounds of backstage catering and repurposed more than 43,000 meals for the food insecure across America, England and the EU.

“Today our mission is more important than ever,” says Maria Brunner, founder of Musically Fed. “As food banks, shelters and community centers nationwide feel the pain of budget cuts, organizations like ours must help fill the holes. What our team has accomplished this summer and will continue through the fall represents an ongoing commitment to sustainability, community impact and making a difference in the lives of veterans, seniors and families in crisis. Music feeds the soul. We feed the hungry.”

This fall, Musically Fed will continue its mission by partnering with national tours including Lainey Wilson, Eric Church and Tyler Childers.