Little Big Town’s Disney Surprise

Little Big Town pose for a selfie with Radio Disney Country correspondent Savannah Keyes and the Wadsworth High School Choir after the group surprised the choir at a music workshop at Walt Disney World. Photo: Greg Newton

Little Big Town surprised students from Ohio’s Wadsworth High School on Friday (Jan. 13) as they finished up a Disney Performing Arts workshop at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Performance Hall with a visit that was part of Give a Note Foundation’s 2017 Music In Our Schools Tour. The kickoff event was part of the fourth annual Music In Our Schools – Music Inspires Tour founded by the Give a Note Foundation, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). The event continues to grow each year thanks to the generosity of contributors such as Disney Performing Arts, Radio Disney, Radio Disney Country, and the CMA Foundation.

Country Families Have Some Globetrotters Fun

The Harlem Globetrotters and Josh Turner and his family Photo: Frederick Breedon

A group of country artists and their families had a ball when the Harlem Globetrotters came to town Sunday (Jan. 15) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and enjoyed a meet and greet with the world-famous team, which has been entertaining millions of fans around the globe for the past 91 years. Josh Turner, with wife Jennifer and sons Hampton, Otis and Colby, Allison DeMarcus with children Madeline and Dylan, David Nail with wife Catherine and twin children Lawson and Lillian, and songwriter Bobby Braddock with daughter, Lauren Braddock Havey and his grandson Braddock Havey were all on hand for the fun. Turner’s son Hampton even appeared on the court in the game’s final quarter and swished a long shot, causing the arena to erupt in cheers. For his achievement, Hampton was awarded with a Harlem Globetrotters autographed jersey presented by Globetrotters star, Ant Atkinson.

 

Old Dominion Pops Up In Nashville

Old Dominion surprised more than 500 fans at the Basement East in Nashville on Thursday night (Jan. 12) with a pop-up show. During the surprise 90-minute set, the band performed their chart topping singles “Break Up With Him” and “Song For Another Time” along with fan favorites from their album Meat and Candy and cuts they’ve written for Kenny Chesney, Tyler Farr and more.

 

Tucker Beathard Makes His Opry Debut

Tucker Beathard with Pete Fisher

Tucker Beathard made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday (Jan. 14), walking into the Opry Circle for the first time with just his guitar and performing a reflective rendition of his new single “Momma And Jesus.”

Beathard also played a new song for the Opry audience, “18,” during his debut on the hallowed stage, which also marked the final one for Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher after 17 years of welcoming new artists into the circle.

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood are among the first round of performers announced for the upcoming Grammy Awards in February. Other performers revealed include Metallica, The Weeknd, and John Legend.

No word if Urban and Underwood will perform separately or together during the ceremony, as they appear together for “The Fighter” on Urban’s Ripcord project.

Urban is nominated for Best Country Album for Ripcord, as well as for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” The track also netted a Best Country Song nomination for songwriters Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey and Steven Lee Olsen.

Meanwhile, Underwood is also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Church Bells.”

The 2017 Grammy awards will be held Feb. 12 at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The ceremony airs live at 8 p.m. on CBS.

The Country Network’s Nashville Team Adds Program Director

Kent Bailey

Kent Bailey has joined The Country Network’s Nashville team as Program Director. Bailey’s experience in radio and TV spans over three decades, including stints at CMT International, as well as alongside former associate Cary Rolfe, VP of Programming and Artist Relations for The Country Network.

Bailey assisted Rolfe in programming The Country Network during its original launch in 2012 (and subsequently ZUUS Country, until its sale in late 2015). Bailey reunited with Rolfe and has been working with The Country Network in Nashville as a programming consultant since June, contributing greatly to its initial success. Bailey can be reached at kent@tcncountry.com.

IBMI Adds Member Services Director, Opens Showcase Applications

Amy Beth Hale

Amy Beth Hale has joined the staff of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) as Member Services Director. Hale was most recently Director of Writer/Publisher Relations at SESAC Nashville, working closely with songwriters and publishers as well as maintaining SESAC’s audio library and overseeing the maintenance of their database. Hale is a member of the Leadership Bluegrass class of 2011. She can be reached at amybeth@ibma.org or 615-256-3222.

Additionally, the IBMA has opened its showcase applications for the 2017 Bluegrass Ramble, which will take place during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass. All emerging bands plus established bands with new music or new personnel are encouraged to apply. The application process runs through Feb. 28. Bands can apply at ibma.org.

Exegan Music Group Promotes Silverado’s Chesling To VP Role

Aaron Chesling

Aaron Chesling has been promoted to VP, A&R at Silverado Records’ parent company, Exegan Music Group. Chesling will continue to oversee A&R at Silverado Records as well as the company’s other properties. Chesling formerly served as Logistics Coordinator for Big Machine Records.

“We have an exciting year planned and are very excited to have Aaron helming a key element of our strategy,” said Exegan Music Group CEO Scott Thomas.

“This past year building up Silverado Records here in Nashville, and working with Scott on some new projects going forward have been an awesome experience. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter,” Chesling said.

Silverado, which launched in 2016, boasts an artist roster that includes Joe Diffie, HISH, Zack Dyer, Ali Morgan and Melissa Mickelson.

Exegan Music Group was formed in 2010 by Scott Thomas and a group of investors. The company owns and manages more than a dozen small record labels and catalogs, including Gateway Records, Poison Tree Records and more.