Kelsea Ballerini will perform as the featured entertainer for Nashville’s 2017 Symphony Fashion Show, set for April 18 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Ballerini will join featured designer Zac Posen for the star-studded, 12th edition of the annual show, which will be emceed by Former Miss Tennessee, actress and television personality Allison DeMarcus, with Janet Ayers serving as honorary chair.

Bryan Switzer

Westwood One announced today (Jan. 23) that music industry and network radio veteran Bryan Switzer has joined the company as Vice President/General Manager, Music & Entertainment-Country.

Switzer will oversee the marketing, affiliate sales and and operations of all owned and represented country shows including Ty, Kelly & Chuck, NASH Nights Live, The Blair Garner Show, and American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, Country Countdown USA, Country’s Inside Track, Country Gold with Terri Clark, The Lia Show, Power Source Country and various Country specials and events.

“Bryan is a gem, perfectly suited to this role at Westwood One,” commented Suzanne Grimes, President of Westwood One. “His passion for the business, his deep industry relationships and his vision for the future will benefit affiliated radio stations and sponsors alike.”

From 1989 through 2000, Switzer rose from VP/National Promotion to General Manager of Atlantic Records, and then became SVP/National Promotion for Universal South Records, through 2005. From 2006 through 2014, he oversaw Nashville marketing, promotion, and affiliate sales for American Country Countdown, 24-hour formats and more for the then-ABC Radio Networks, Citadel Media, and Cumulus Media Networks. Most recently, Switzer held an executive position in JennsCo Chemical Solutions, a chemical manufacturing and distribution company.

“I never dreamed I would be back with the company I left a little over two years ago, but let me just say it’s a new day at Cumulus,” commented Switzer. “The new leadership is inspiring and empowering; I look forward to helping advance Westwood One’s reputation as a leader in Country.”

Switzer will be based at the company’s NASH Campus in Nashville, and can be reached at 615-727-6987 or bswitzer@westwoodone.com.

CCM artist Jaci Velasquez is set to release Trust, her first studio album in five years and her first for Integrity Music. The project will be released both in English and in a Spanish-language version, Confío, and will release globally on March 31. A Billboard Latin Music Award winner with five Spanish albums to her credit, this marks the first time Velasquez will release an album simultaneously in both languages and is also her first worship album.

Produced by David Leonard and Chris Bevins (Salvador, Phillips Craig & Dean), Trust features new songs penned by Velasquez and her husband Nic Gonzales (lead singer of Salvador) along with songs by Martin Smith, Michael Farren and more. The title-inspired track, “Trust You,” was penned by Velasquez with Aruna Abrams, James Slater and Bobby Hamrick and encapsulates the core message of the new project and also touches on Velasquez’ relationship with her son Zealand, who has autism.

Velasquez has 17 albums, 16 No. 1’s, five Grammy nominations, seven Dove Awards, and multiple gold and platinum records to her credit. Along with promoting her new album, she is currently working on a book, a clothing line that raises support for Autism related causes, and will be featured in two Christian films due out in 2017.

Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. Photo: Chris Hollo

Proud big sister Loretta Lynn inducted sister Crystal Gayle into the Grand Ole Opry  Saturday night (Jan. 21) making her an official member during the show at the Ryman Auditorium. Gayle first sang on the hallowed Ryman stage 50 years ago when she performed “Ribbon Of Darkness” as a 16-year-old. The “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” singer was publicly invited to join the Opry by member Carrie Underwood in November.

“We’ve been together a long time, honey. And we’ve never had a fight,” Lynn said. “It was the greatest moment of my life when they made me a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962. I know she is just as happy as I was then.”

“Being a member of the Opry is just incredible,” Gayle said about the honor. “It’s really hard to comprehend. I have felt like a part of the Opry for all these years. Now, I’m official.”

The Opry induction is the latest in a long line of career accolades for Gayle, whose reign in the music business includes 20 No. 1 hits, six gold albums, and the distinction of being the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. She was also honored by the ACM last year with the organization’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors Show.