Jamey Johnson. Photo: Ben C

Jamey Johnson is heading out on his new 36-city headlining tour, “The Last Honky Tonk Tour,” starting June 4.

Kicking off at Wichita Riverfest in Wichita, the tour will visit Detroit, Albuquerque, N. Charleston, Fort Worth, Atlantic City, and more, before wrapping with two shows in Nashville Oct. 17-18. The tour’s name comes from Johnson’s recently recorded track, which was the title track of the 2010 album by The Wayne Mills Band, featuring musician Jason “Rowdy” Cope on guitar.

“The Last Honky Tonk,” which was completed with producer Buddy Cannon a few weeks ago, and the tour name are in tribute to Mills and Cope, both of whom were his dear friends. Mills was murdered at a Nashville bar in 2013. Jason “Rowdy” Cope, a member of The Steel Woods who had previously been a member of Johnson’s band, died in 2021 from complications from diabetes.

“When Wayne and Rowdy got together and did that record, that song made it on my radar,” Johnson says. “Back then, I played that song several times with Wayne. We would do it at shows. So, it is one I haven’t done in a while. And now Wayne’s son, Jack, is a badass guitar player. He says he learned it all from Rowdy. I don’t doubt that at all. Jack really is something else! I thought, ‘Man, his dad would be proud. Let’s break that song out and get Jack to play guitar on it.’ I am proud to have him playing on it.

“The tour will be a lot of fun,” he continues. “It’s a chance for us to hang out every night, where we get to walk onstage and show off what we’ve learned over the past 20 years. This is my 20th year on the road, not counting the road gigs I did in the 10 years before that. I thought that the name sounded pretty good as a tour name – ‘The Last Honky Tonk Tour.'”

Tickets for the tour are on sale now, with more dates to be announced soon.

“The Last Honky Tonk Tour” Dates:
June 4- Wichita, KS- Wichita Riverfest
June 5- Round Rock, TX- Round Rock Amp
June 6- Bossier City, LA- Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Resort and Casino
June 7- Lake Charles, LA- Golden Nugget Lake Charles
June 12- Warren, OH- Packard Music Hall
June 13- Detroit, MI- Aertha Franklin Amphitheater
June 14- Creighton, PA- Pittsburgh Brewing Company
June 20- Albuquerque, NM- Isleta Resort & Casino Showroom
June 21- Chandler, AZ- Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
June 22- Winchester, CA- Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
June 26- Emigrant, MT- The Old Saloon
June 27- Emigrant, MT- The Old Saloon
June 28- Whitefish, MT- Big Mountain Ranch Indian Relay Races
July 11- Danville, VA- The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia
July 12- Somerset, KY- Master Musicians Festival
July 25- Franklin, OH- JD Legends
July 26- Franklin, OH- JD Legends
August 7- Webster MA- Indian Ranch Amphitheatre
August 8- Quakertown, PA- Univest Performance Center
August 9- Charles Town, WV- Hollywood Casino- The Event Center
August 16- Petros, TN- Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary Distillery
August 23 & 24- N. Charleston, SC- Marcus King Family Reunion
September 5- Cherokee, NC- Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center
September 6- Cherokee, NC- Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center
September 11- Hot Springs, AR- Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
September 12- Pryor, OK- Born & Raised Festival
September 13- Helotes, TX- Floores Country Store
September 20- New Madrid, MO- New Madrid Riverfront Park
September 21- Council Bluffs, IA- Harrah’s Stir Cove
September 26- Durant, OK- Choctaw Casino
September 27- Fort Worth, TX- Billy Bob’s Texas
October 4- Atlantic City, NJ- Tropicana Atlantic City
October 5- Verona, NY- Turning Stone Resort Casino
October 10- Biloxi, MS- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
October 17- Nashville, TN- Schermerhorn Symphony Center
October 18- Nashville, TN- Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Rachel Burleson.

Big Machine Records has elevated Rachel Burleson to Senior Director of Streaming.

“Rachel’s promotion to Senior Director of Streaming is a direct reflection of her expertise, leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence in a constantly evolving space. Her deep understanding of the streaming landscape, coupled with the strong relationships she’s built across platforms and services, has played a vital role in our artists’ success,” says Kris Lamb, EVP/General Manager of Big Machine Records. “Rachel continues to be a trusted voice in the room and a driving force behind our strategy. Her growth at the label has been inspiring to watch and this next chapter is well deserved.”

Burleson graduated from Belmont University in 2016 and began her career at Creative Nation. She joined Big Machine Records in 2021 and spent two years as a Project Manager before moving into her most recent role as Director of Streaming. She was named a member of MusicRow’s 2024 Next Big Thing Industry Directory list. Burleson will continue to spearhead streaming initiatives for the Big Machine Records artist roster which includes Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Midland, Jackson Dean and more.

“What an exciting time it is to be a part of the country music community! I am inspired by the projects and artists I help connect to listeners across streaming platforms alongside the Big Machine Records team,” shares Burleson. “I’m incredibly thankful for the leadership and support from Scott Borchetta and Kris Lamb, and I’m thrilled to continue working with our streaming partners in this new role.”

She can be reached at rachel.burleson@bmlg.net.

Linda Martell will be honored by Sun Records and the National Museum of African American Music at a special public event June 4 at the museum’s Roots Theater.

The event celebrates her groundbreaking album Color Me Country, the kickoff to Black Music Month, and the May 16 induction of her hit single “Color Him Father” into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The evening will include a video tribute honoring Martell’s life and legacy, a panel discussion exploring Martell’s impact and the evolving space for Black voices in country music and live performances and appearances from artists she inspired, including jazz vocalist and social commentator Dara Tucker, country and Americana artist Amythyst Kiah, rock & blues pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph and country artist and host of the Color Me Country podcast Rissi Palmer.

In 1969, Martell became the first Black woman to chart on country radio and the first to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, breaking barriers and rewriting the narrative of what country music could be. That same year, her rendition of “Color Him Father” became a Top 25 hit, launching a career that would shape generations of artists.

Sun Records helped reintroduce Martell’s music to a new generation in 2022, when the label remastered and reissued her landmark album Color Me Country as part of its 70th-anniversary celebration. Originally released on Plantation Records, the album’s revival affirmed Martell’s enduring influence and deepened the label’s commitment to preserving her legacy.

Siebert Financial Corp. subsidiary Gebbia Media has added Big Machine Rock to its portfolio. Big Machine Rock’s current roster includes Daughtry, Badflower, Sammy Hagar, Olive Vox and Ryan Perdz, among others. All will remain signed to the roster.

“Growing up with incredible music by iconic artists like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and The Doors, I recognize the importance of bringing rock to a new generation of listeners and fans, who are ready to embrace it,” says David Gebbia, CEO of Gebbia Media. “Big Machine Rock embodies the Gebbia Media approach: bold, cross-generational and deeply in touch with the culture. This acquisition allows us to further our mission of empowering artists through investment in robust catalogs and cross-platform expansion.”

Heather Luke-Husong has helmed Big Machine Rock as GM over the past few years. During her tenure, she has led the label to a slew of No. 1 singles and Platinum certifications.

With Gebbia Media’s leadership, the label will continue to focus on artist development, immersive storytelling and cross-platform visibility. Big Machine Label Group Founder Scott Borchetta will continue to oversee operations and join the advisory board of Siebert Financial.

“This acquisition marks another step in Siebert’s commitment to innovating at the intersection of Finance and Culture,” adds John J Gebbia, CEO of Siebert Financial. “By bringing Big Machine Rock into the Gebbia Media portfolio, we’re aligning visionary talent with the resources and stability of a diversified financial platform, ensuring long-term growth and cultural impact.”