EMI Records Nashville artist Eric Paslay appeared on the Grand Ole Opry last night (March 15) performing a few of his hits, including new single “High Class” and “She Don’t Love You,” which is nominated for “Song of the Year” at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.

Following his performance, Paslay was presented with the “Young Alumni Achievement Award” from his alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The award was presented by MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee alongside Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher, also an alumni from the school and a past recipient of two MTSU achievement awards, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The “Young Alumni Achievement Award” honors an MTSU graduate 35 years of age or younger who has had outstanding achievement in career, public service and/or volunteer activities and is selected annually by the Association’s Board of Directors from nominations submitted by alumni, MTSU faculty, staff and friends.

Carrie Underwood and members of her team gathered prior to Underwood’s C2C appearance at the 02 Arena in London on Friday, March 11.

 
Miranda Lambert played in London, Dublin and Glasgow as part of C2C: Country to Country 2016. Of her experience in Europe, the singer-songwriter said, “I loved every second. Music is so universal and it was great to have such an enthusiastic response so far from home. Fans knew all the words to my songs, even album cuts! I’m already looking forward to returning.”

 
Chris Janson performed “Power of Positive Drinkin’,” the second single off his Warner Music Nashville debut album, last night on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

 
“Smokey and the Bandit” star Burt Reynolds posed for a photo with CMT’s Lewis Bogach and John Miller-Monzon at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, this past weekend, where “The Bandit” documentary, executive produced by Bogach and Miller-Monzon, premiered on Saturday.
“The Bandit,” which tells the action-packed story of the making of the original film, features new interviews with Reynolds, rare archive material and candid interviews with the late Hal Needham, and is set to premiere on CMT in August.

 
On Friday, Mar. 11, Scotty McCreery brought several friends and family members to PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, to see one of his biggest heroes in concert – Garth Brooks. After watching the show, McCreery tweeted a photo taken backstage of the two singers and wrote, “This guy IS country music! He brings it at every concert! Enjoyed the show and hanging out man!…”

Darius Rucker To Host ACM Lifting Lives Golf Classic

Darius Rucker will return to host the ACM Lifting Lives Golf Classic for the fifth consecutive year at TPC Las Vegas on Sat., April 2, 2016. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the ACM Lifting Lives’ Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, which provides immediate relief to those in need within the music industry.

The ACM Lifting Lives Golf Classic and the 4th Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival are just two events benefitting the charities during “The Week Vegas Goes Country,” leading up to the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 3.

Cam Remakes “Here Comes The Sun” For Major Motion Picture

Cam has recorded a remake of “Here Comes The Sun” which will be included in the Sony Pictures film Miracles From Heaven (starring Jennifer Garner) opening in theaters nationwide tomorrow (March 16). This classic song was written by George Harrison and first released in 1969 on the Beatles’ album Abbey Road.

This past weekend, Cam made her Down Under debut performing at CMC Rocks QLD 2016. “Mayday” is the new follow-up to her major hit “Burning House.” Cam heads to the April 3 ACM Awards as the most-nominated female, with six nominations.

Terri Clark To Host Country Gold Show

Westwood One has announced that Terri Clark will take over hosting duties of the four-hour classic country show Country Gold, beginning the weekend of April 9-10, 2016. Country Gold airs on more than 100 stations. Randy Owen previously hosted the show for four years.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band On PBS Tonight

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s star-studded PBS Pledge Special airs tonight (March 15) at 7 p.m. CST on WNPT in Nashville. Guests include John Prine, Sam Bush, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Byron House, and Jerry Douglas as well as former members, Jimmy Ibbotson (longtime member) and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and early NGDB member Jackson Browne.

There will be an accompanying CD and DVD as well as concert tickets and meet and greets available exclusively through PBS member stations.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has a full slate of dates to commemorate their Golden 50th anniversary running through the end of 2017.

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) will honor several artists and industry executives during the 2016 My Music Matters™: A Celebration of Legends Luncheon, to be held Friday, May 6 at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel. Shannon Sanders and Dyana Williams, GRAMMY chapter presidents of Nashville and Philadelphia, respectively, will co-host the event and serve as masters of ceremonies.

Sanders and Williams were on hand Tuesday morning (March 15) at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel to announce this year’s honorees, which include:
• Pastor Shirley Caesar, GRAMMY®, Dove and Stellar award-winning Gospel icon
• Cathy Hughes, TV One/Radio One, Chairman
• Alfred Liggins, III, TV One/Radio One, President & CEO
• Kenny Gamble, Gamble-Huff Music
• Leon Huff, Gamble-Huff Music
• Jon Platt, CEO, Warner/Chappell Music, North America

“It is an honor to serve as co-host of the Legends Luncheon with the co-founder of Black Music Month, Dyana Williams, in Music City,” said Sanders, the first African American elected to serve as president of the GRAMMY’s Nashville chapter. “It’s especially powerful that we will host this event in Nashville, leading into June and celebrating NMAAM. This project is a cultural imperative, not just for Nashville, but for the world. I am looking forward to the many aspects of American culture told within the museum and in communities all across this country.”

“The conversations we have had with leaders and community members, across the nation, fueled our progress and has produced growth in multiple facets,” said H. Beecher Hicks III, president and CEO of NMAAM. “By ensuring the mission of NMAAM with new and existing supporters, we have accomplished key milestones and significant fundraising, including securing plans for our future home – in the heart of Music City’s downtown core – surpassing 2015 goals and reaching over 10,000 youth and adults through expanded educational programming.”

Tickets for the My Music Matters: A Celebration of Legends luncheon are $125 per person and can be purchased at nmaam.org. Those interested in becoming a sponsor should contact NMAAM’s development department by calling 615-301-8724 or contacting info@nmaam.org.