ACM Lifting Lives recently hosted its 16th Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, held in collaboration with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

The week-long residential program is designed for musically talented individuals with Williams syndrome, offering enriching musical experiences while also contributing to ongoing research on the rare genetic condition. Artists who joined the campers throughout the week include Roman Alexander, Priscilla Block, Tyler Braden, Ross Copperman, Jackson Dean, Dalton Dover, JT Harding, Bryce Leatherwood, Parmalee, Emily Ann Roberts and Lauren Watkins.

27 campers with Williams syndrome from across the U.S. and Canada came together to take part in a customized lineup of activities, starting with the writing of an original song with some top writers, and culminating with a live performance of the song on the Grand Ole Opry stage in front of a packed Opry House audience.

The week kicked off with campers teaming with Ross Copperman (marking his 12th year participating in the camp), Dalton Dover and JT Harding to co-write “Our Best Year Yet” inspired by Opry’s 100th Anniversary. Later in the week, they joined Lauren Watkins to bring the song to life, recording it at Ocean Way Studios before culminating in a standing-ovation performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage alongside Jackson Dean.

Campers got an inside look at the Nashville music industry through exclusive experiences as Bryce Leatherwood welcomed them to the Bluebird Cafe for a special performance and Q&A, while Parmalee met them at Gold Pacific Studio to share some studio 101 and record vocals on existing tracks. Emily Ann Roberts joined the campers at Seacrest Studios at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where they stepped into the role of radio DJs, asking questions and sharing their voices over the hospital’s internal airwaves. Tyler Braden also surprised campers for karaoke at Riley Green’s Duck Blind, and Roman Alexander and Priscilla Block joined the group for an outing to Topgolf, adding to a week full of connection and lasting memories.

“ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp is a tangible reminder of how unifying, inspiring, and meaningful music is,” shares Taylor Wolf, Director, ACM Lifting Lives. “The campers’ song ‘Our Best Year Yet’ was written in homage to Opry100, and also speaks to the universal feelings of love, singing together, friendship, and how music makes us feel. Thank you to all the artists, venues, partners and supportive teams that made this week possible. We hope you, too, felt the energy and celebration of our best year yet.”

The camp is fully funded by ACM Lifting Lives, in addition to providing scholarships to several campers. These efforts directly support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through research, education and community outreach.

Mike McVay of McVay Media and Julie Talbott of Premiere Networks have been unveiled as two of the 2025 inductees into the Radio Hall Of Fame.

Six inductees were determined by a voting participant panel composed of more than 900 industry professionals invited to cast votes and four inductees were voted on by the Radio Hall of Fame 2025 Nominating Committee. Inductees will be honored at an in-person ceremony on Oct. 30 in Chicago. Tickets are available now.

Additionally, Tom Carballo, Alice Cooper, Colin Cowherd, DeDe McGuire, Martha Quinn, Bob Lacey, Sheri Lynch, Scott Simon and Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart will be inducted.

“Our 2025 Induction Ceremony and Celebration will be a special, standing room only, event honoring the talents, history and contributions of 11 incredible people,” shares Kraig Kitchin, Co-Chair of the Radio Hall of Fame. “I cannot wait to celebrate the careers and impact of these men and women who’ve made a forever positive impact on the radio industry!”

“It is an honor to induct another amazing class of talented individuals to the Radio Hall of Fame that adds to the history of radio,” adds Dennis Green, Co-Chair of the Radio Hall of Fame. “These Radio Hall of Famers have entertained us, informed us, and helped to bring special moments to our lives through a medium that does this better than any other. I look forward to welcoming this year’s inductees as we honor their legacies and share their stories which will serve as an inspiration for future generations to come.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome this year’s class into the Radio Hall of Fame—an extraordinarily talented and diverse group of broadcasters whose voices have informed, inspired, and entertained listeners across America,” says David Plier, Chairman, The Museum of Broadcast Communications. “This year’s inductees reflect the depth, creativity, and cultural impact of radio across generations and formats. We’re especially excited to celebrate the Class of 2025 as we bring the Induction Ceremony back to Chicago.”

Songwriter and producer Foster Ferrell has inked with 507 Publishing.

Ferrell is a Nashville-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist known for his versatile work across genres, penning songs for Olivia Lane, Katie Flemming, Chandler Letner and more.

“I’m so excited and honored to be working with everyone at 507 Publishing,” says Ferrell. “It’s such a wonderful place to call home, and I know we have a lot of wonderful songs in our future together!”

“I met Foster Ferrell on June 27th, 2023, and instantly became a fan,” shares Madison Policastri, A&R Manager at 507 Publishing. “His talent, work ethic, and heart are undeniable, and he captivates everyone in his path – it’s a privilege to welcome him to the 507 Publishing family.”

“I am so thrilled to welcome Foster Ferrell to the 507 Publishing family,” adds Teri Nelson Carpenter, CEO. “Foster brings a sonic and skillful versatility to 507 Publishing, he is invaluable. We look forward to all the milestones to come in this partnership.”

Scotty McCreery gathered some of his musical buddies and went a little off book in the making of his new EP, Scooter & Friends, due out on July 18.

Produced by Frank Rogers, the project brings McCreery together with some legendary friends including Hootie & the Blowfish, Lee Brice and one of McCreery’s biggest musical idols, R&B legend Charlie Wilson.

“Back home everyone calls me ‘Scooter,’ so since I’m singing with a few of my favorite artists, I decided to call this project Scooter & Friends,” explains McCreery. “It’s a fun collection of songs that are a little different from what I normally sing, yet they are still me. If the fans like it, maybe there will be a second volume in a few years.”

The latest release from Scooter & Friends, “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine,” with Wilson is out now. The track features an unexpected sound that many fans haven’t heard from McCreery and he co-wrote the song with Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey and Frank Rogers.

“I have been a massive fan of Charlie Wilson since I first heard him on the radio when I was a kid. He’s one of my favorite artists of all time,” says McCreery. “Getting to perform with him on stage a few years ago was a bucket list item for me. Being able to call him a friend means more than I can say. And now, having him sing with me on a song I wrote is a dream come true.”

“My ‘Charlie Last Name Wilson’ song was one of his favorites when he was growing up and I never knew he was a fan, so when we finally met years ago I was blown away with that huge voice and had him jump on stage with me,” says Wilson. “He brought the house down that night and now I’m so excited that we have a duet together.”

The first single from Scooter & Friends, “Bottle Rockets” featuring Hootie & the Blowfish, quickly became the song of the summer for McCreery fans upon its release, and was the top track added to country radio at impact. It’s currently rising up the charts, ranking No. 20 on Mediabase this week after just five weeks since its release.

McCreery is also gearing up for his new monthly series “Prime Country with Scotty McCreery” on SiriusXM’s Prime Country channel (Ch. 58). The show will debut on July 5 at 2 p.m. CT and will air 10 times on the channel throughout the month. A new episode will debut on the first Saturday of each month as McCreery spotlights his favorite musical era, ‘80s and ‘90s country, sharing how each artist influenced him or telling behind-the-scenes stories. Each episode will also feature a live performance from an artist on the Opry that was recorded on the legendary stage in the ‘80s or ‘90s.

Scooter & Friends Track List:
1) “Bottle Rockets” feat. Hootie & the Blowfish – Scotty McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers, Bobby Hamrick, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld
2) “Swim Up Bar” – Scotty McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers
3) “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine” feat. Charlie Wilson – Scotty McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Frank Rogers
4) “Whiskey Said” feat. Lee Brice – Scotty McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Frank Rogers
5)“Holding Down the Honky Tonk” – Scotty McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Frank Rogers

Carter Faith is slated to release her debut record, Cherry Valley, on Oct. 3 via MCA. She has unveiled the latest track from the LP, “Sex, Drugs and Country Music,” today (June 27).

“Cherry Valley means everything to me,” says Faith. “Every time I have slipped into a dark place (which I have a propensity for), this album has brought me out of it. I know that I wrote the songs but they still carry reminders for me every day when I relisten. Some of the songs have even transformed for me and mean something different now. The world of Cherry Valley has been a safe and freeing place for me and everyone who has worked so hard on this record. I have truly created this album with my best friends, which feels surreal. It feels like it belongs to all of us, because it does.”

The songs on Cherry Valley span Faith’s journey from her North Carolina hometown to Nashville, with all the heartbreak, triumph and hazy nights in between. Carter and longtime producer Tofer Brown spent two years crafting tracks for the album before finally entering the studio in 2024. Named for an imagined place, a road sign Carter once saw that came to signify her creative home, the album is a document of Carter’s time in Nashville, working chronologically through her breakout successes and gut-punching breakups, new loves and family dustups.

Fresh from her Stagecoach debut and runs with Ella Langley and Carly Pearce, Faith will head back out with Little Big Town this summer.

Cherry Valley Track List:
1. “Cherry Valley” (Carter Faith, Ashley Monroe, Andrew Petroff)
2. “Sex, Drugs, and Country Music” (Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown)
3. “Arrows (Die For That Man)” (Carter Faith, Steph Jones, Tofer Brown)
4. “Bar Star” (Carter Faith, Aaron Raitere, Tyler Halverson, Tofer Brown)
5. “Betty” (Carter Faith, Shane McAnally, Tofer Brown)
6. “Grudge” (Carter Faith, Steph Jones, Tofer Brown)
7. “Six-String” (Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown)
8. “If I Had Never Lost My Mind…” (Carter Faith, Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Jen Stegall)
9. “Misery Loves Company” (Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown)
10. “Drink Up, Baby” (Carter Faith, Amy Allen, Tofer Brown)
11. “Burn My Memory” (Carter Faith, Jessi Alexander, Brock Berryhill, Jessie Jo Dillon)
12. “Sails” (Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown)
13. “So I Sing”(Carter Faith)
14. “Changed” (Carter Faith, Ashley Monroe, Connie Harrington)
15. “Still A Lover” (Carter Faith, Tofer Brown, Steph Jones)