Song Suffragettes Partners With Musicana And Hispanic Entertainment Alliance
Pictured (L-R): Uriah Solis, Jackie Martinez Marushka (Founder, Hispanic Entertainment Alliance), Karina Daza (artist and Founder, Musicana), Mia Morris, Alyssia Dominguez, MŌRIAH, Kat Luna, Angie K (artist and Founder of Country Latin Association) and Todd Cassetty (Founder, Song Suffragettes). Photo: Rebecca Anne.
Song Suffragettes partnered with Musicana and Hispanic Entertainment Alliance for a night of music featuring Alyssia Dominguez, Angie K, Karina Daza, Kat Luna, MŌRIAH and Song Suffragettes’ multi-instrumentalist, Mia Morris. Over 200 people packed the Listening Room Café to hear each of the women in the round perform three of their own songs and finish with an “all sing” medley of Selena’s “Como La Flor,” “Baila Esta Cumbia” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” arranged by Dominguez.
To view a recording of the show, click here.
Spirit Music Group And Champagne Breakfast Team To Host Nashville Sync Camp
Spirit Music Group team, Champagne Breakfast team and participating writers.
Spirit Music Group recently teamed up with Champagne Breakfast to host a Nashville Sync Camp at Spirit’s Nashville offices and recording studios. Over the course of three days, artists, writers and producers worked in writing sessions designed to inspire, connect, and provide a creative environment for collaboration through briefs given by music supervisors across media.
This year’s writers included Spirit Music Nashville’s Bobby Hamrick, Brock Westover, Cale Dodds, Jessica Cayne, Joy Williams, Justin Halpin and Mike Fiorentino as well as Champange Breakfast’s Anna Graceman, Beacon Light, Bryan Dawley, Christian Harger, Geoff Duncan, Levi Bennington, Que Parks, Teddy Boldt and Tyler Ewing.
Music supervision and production clients included Shelby Britten, Trailer Music Supervisor, Seismic Productions; Jon Moshier, Executive Music Producer at Doner Advertising; Aaron Mercer, Co-President, Premier Music Group; Ashley Young, Associate Music Supervisor, GrandSon Creative; and Anna Romanoff, Music Supervisor, Yay Team Inc.
Memorial Honoring Jimmy Capps To Be Unveiled June 1 At Spring Hill Cemetery
Jimmy Capps. Photo: Chris Hollo
A memorial honoring the late Jimmy Capps will be unveiled on the fifth anniversary of his passing (June 1) at Spring Hill Cemetery. The free public event will take place at 3 p.m. and will include live music, remarks from fellow musicians, Opry members, and family, and a blessing over the newly installed monument, which sits near other notable country music greats.
Known as “The Man in Back,” Capps left an indelible mark on countless recordings by legends like George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Alan Jackson, and served as a beloved fixture in the Grand Ole Opry band for over six decades. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
‘Cold War Country’ Awarded Belmont Book Award
Cold War Country: How Nashville’s Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism by Joseph M. Thompson has been dubbed 2025’s Top Country Music Book by Belmont Book Award.
The announcement was made by Don Cusic, Founder and Chair of the Belmont Book Award. The presentation will be made on May 30 at the annual International Country Music Conference at Belmont University.
For more information on the conference, click here.
Graham Barham To Headline Nashville Underplay Tonight
/by Lorie HollabaughNashville Underplay returns tonight (May 21) for a night of southern soul set in the heart of Music City at 6th & Peabody.
Hosted by Markus Koger of the Smoking Section Podcast, the evening will be headlined by breakout country artist Graham Barham, with openers Dalton Dover, Landon Parker, and Mike Parker, kicking off the fun.
Free tickets to the show are available here.
Scott & Sandi Borchetta Donate $5 Million To Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital NICU
/by Lauryn SinkScott and Sandi Borchetta.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Level IV-designated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has received a $5 million donation from Sandi and Scott Borchetta. This NICU is considered among the best in the nation, serving between 1500 and 1600 infants each year. With a recent four-floor expansion atop the existing Monroe Carell facility, the hospital now has 131 NICU beds. A portion of those beds will be housed on the hospital’s new 14th floor, which will be named the Scott & Sandi Borchetta Floor.
“Sandi and Scott’s generous gift allows us to expand our premier neonatal intensive care unit’s services to provide even more specialized care for our most vulnerable patients. Their gift supports crucial programming, neonatal equipment, space and staffing. We are grateful for their longstanding commitment to Monroe Carell,” says Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of the School of Medicine.
The Borchettas’ latest gift builds on their ongoing support of the hospital’s NICU services. In March 2020, the hospital opened the Big Machine Neighborhood, a 23-bed NICU wing on the 11th floor of the hospital, made possible by the Borchettas and Big Machine Label Group. The Scott & Sandi Borchetta Floor will include specialized NICU care and a new model of care to create a Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)/Complex Airway Center of Excellence.
“Children should never be sick, let alone not being ensured a safe entry into life in their golden hour” shares Borchetta, Founder, Chair & CEO of Big Machine Label Group. “Sandi and I have taken great joy in the extraordinary success stories of the Big Machine Neighborhood, and we know the great team at Monroe Carell will put every dollar toward saving more lives.”
The multidisciplinary pediatric team in the Center of Excellence includes neonatology, critical care, pulmonology, otolaryngology, nursing, respiratory therapy, social work and case management.
“I am so very grateful to Sandi and Scott for this amazing gift and sustained belief in our neonatal programs,” adds Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell. “They have embraced our mission and vision for this program is such a special way. Because of their generosity, we will be able to continue to develop specialized care models, support people, and continue to lead advancements in neonatal medicine for years to come. On behalf of our teams and more importantly our small patients and their families, I offer heartfelt thanks to our partners Sandi and Scott!”
Sand In My Boots Wraps 2025 Festival
/by Lauryn SinkMorgan Wallen. Photo: Demian Becerra
Morgan Wallen‘s inaugural Sand In My Boots Festival took place May 16-18 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The sold-out three-day festival featured an eclectic mix of more than 30 artists, including Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy, The War On Drugs, T-Pain, Three 6 Mafia and more.
Wallen concluded night three with a 23-song set including a mixture of songs from his newest record and fan-favorites. He was joined on stage by Bailey Zimmerman and Ernest to perform duets of “Up Down” and “Cowgirls” respectively.
“Me and a couple of my closest friends and teammates, we’ve been throwing the idea of doing a festival around for a long time now, and we just happened to run into the right partner and the right people to work with. With a lot of hard work, and a lot of really great artists to come out here, we got to make that happen,” Wallen stated from stage. “We’ll try to do it again sometime.”
Photo: Demian Becerra
Bailey Zimmerman, Morgan Wallen. Photo: Demian Becerra
Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen’s ‘Superman’ Lands At No. 1
/by John Nix ArledgeMorgan Wallen. Photo: Spidey Smith
Morgan Wallen‘s new track “Superman” off of his album I’m The Problem tops the country songs chart this week. According to Luminate data, the song notched 14 million streams.
Wallen also keeps his position at No. 1 and 2 on the country albums chart with One Thing At A Time (48K) and Dangerous: The Double Album (35K). Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going maintains No. 3 with 32K in total consumption, while Post Malone‘s F-1 Trillion takes No. 4 with 23K. Rounding out the chart at No. 5 is Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak with 19K.
Elsewhere on the country songs chart, Wallen’s “Just In Case” and “I’m The Problem” take No. 2 and No. 5 with 14 and 12 million streams, respectively. At No. 3, BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman‘s “All The Way” garners 13 million streams and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” takes the No. 4 spot with 12 million streams.
Artist Action: Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood, Riley Green, More
/by Lauryn SinkLuke Bryan Wraps California ‘Farm Tour’ Dates and ‘American Idol’ Season
John Foster, Luke Bryan. Photo: Disney/Christopher Willard
Luke Bryan wrapped his first-ever California run of the “Farm Tour” with a three-show weekend in Atwater, Clovis and Shafter, drawing more than 57,000 fans. Since the tour began in 2009, Bryan has awarded 87 scholarships to students from farming families who are attending local colleges or universities near his tour stops.
Following the wrap of tour, Bryan concluded the most recent season of ABC’s American Idol alongside fellow judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie. The 2025 season marked his eighth consecutive year as a celebrity judge. Jamal Roberts was named the 2025 American Idol winner.
Additionally, Bryan is set to launch his “Country Song Came On Tour” on May 29 and the fall “Farm Tour” dates will run Sept 18-20.
Cody Johnson Makes Surprise ‘American Idol’ Appearance
Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood, Slater Nalley. Photo: Disney/Christopher Willard
Cody Johnson made a surprise appearance on the season finale of American Idol, performing alongside judge and global superstar Carrie Underwood and contestant Slater Nalley. Johnson surprised Nalley mid-song to perform his multi-week No. 1 duet with Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You.”
This is Johnson’s second consecutive appearance on the American Idol finale after performing “Til You Can’t” with contestant Triston Harper in 2024.
Riley Green Announces Collaboration With Boot Barn
Riley Green.
Riley Green is teaming up with Boot Barn to launch Boot Barn x Riley Green: Riley Green’s Top Picks. The curated capsule was hand-selected by Green and features concert-ready looks and everyday staples that reflect his own style.
To explore the collection, click here.
The War And Treaty Make ‘American Idol’ Appearance
Photo: Disney/Christopher Willard
On May 18, The War And Treaty performed “Hey Driver,” their hit collaboration originally recorded with Zach Bryan, alongside contestant Thunderstorm on the Season 23 finale of American Idol.
The duo is currently in the midst of their headline tour, with upcoming performances at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, Bottle Rock Napa Valley Music Festival and CMA Fest.
The performance is available here.
Country Radio Seminar Reveals 2025-2026 Agenda Committee Members
/by Lorie HollabaughCountry Radio Broadcasters has revealed its Agenda Committee leaders and members for the 2025-2026 Country Radio Seminar year.
The 2025-2026 Committee members include Andrea Burtscher (Audacy), Tanner Davenport (White Boy MGMT/Black Opry), Gideon Dean (Local Daily Media), Katie Dean (Leo33), Paisley Dunn-Banks (7 Mountains Media), Sarah Frazier (Audacy), Bridget Herrmann (Red Street Records), Jamice Jennings (RECORDS Nashville), Jess Jennings (iHeart/KSSN/KKIX), Ileana Landon (Megatrax Production Music), Bo Matthews (Super Hi-Fi), Charlie Maxx (Forever Media/Futuri Media), Nicole Michalik (Beasley Media), Jennipher Miller (Cumulus Media), Brooks O’Brian (Cumulus Media Indy), Scott Roddy (Audacy), Lo Sessions (Radio One/KKBQ), Jennifer Shaffer (BMG/Wheelhouse Records), Jimmy Steal (Collective Heads Consulting), Jude Walker (Townsquare Media) and Neil Wilson (Neil Wilson Voiceovers).
Returning to lead the Agenda Committee this year are Shelley Hargis (BMG/BBR Music Group) as Chair and Krista Hayes-Pruitt (BMG/BBR Music Group) as Co-Vice Chair, with Kevin Callahan (Pamal Broadcasting) joining the CRS 2026 leadership team for the first time as Co-Vice Chair.
Brittani Johnson (The Core Entertainment) will lead the agenda content for the Digital Music Summit, which will return to CRS 2026. The Digital Music Summit Team also includes Sarah DeMarco (Amazon), Jared Meyer (Q Prime South), Ed Rivadavia (mtheory) and Bryan Webb (Apple).
“Each year, I get more and more excited about the future of our industry,” says Hargis. “We continue to have record numbers of applicants for the Agenda Committee, and it’s so inspiring to see so many people invested and passionate about growing our industry and making it better! I am thrilled with our team this year and can’t wait to get to work to bring you the best CRS Agenda ever!”
Blake Shelton To Headline The Smoke Show
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton. Photo: Robby Klein
Blake Shelton has been announced as headliner for The Smoke Show on Aug. 9 in Albuquerque.
Presale tickets for The Smoke Show begin May 29, with general on-sale starting May 30, and more information is available at abqsmokeshow.com.
The announcement comes on the heels of Luke Combs and Cody Johnson headlining the Boots In The Park Festival in Albuquerque last weekend. The two-day event drew tens of thousands of country fans to the sold-out festival featuring powerhouse performances by Combs, Johnson, Jon Pardi, Parker McCollum and many more.
Alan Jackson Retires From Touring; Announces Final Show In Nashville
/by Lauryn SinkAlan Jackson. Photo: Ty Helbach
Alan Jackson officially wrapped his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” on Saturday (May 17), marking the final touring show of his career.
“It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September,” he recalled from stage. “I’ve really lived the American dream for sure – so blessed.”
During the set, Jackson announced plans to hold a final show in Nashville in summer 2026. Plans for the show will be revealed at a later date.
“We just felt like we had to end it all where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City – where country music lives. I gotta do the last one there,” he said. “This is the last one out on the road for me.”
Jackson, who announced in 2019 that he’s living with a neurological disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth, donated a portion of every ticket sale to the CMT Research Foundation. Over $2.25 million dollars were directly and indirectly raised by the tour through donations, matching contributions and efforts as well as other revenue inspired by Jackson and the tour.
“I just have to thank y’all for supporting my music all these years, coming to the shows, buying the records and having a good time with us,” Jackson says. “I’m so fortunate, so lucky.”
Avery Anna Visualizes Sophomore Album With Short Film
/by Madison HahnenAlongside the release of her sophomore album, Let Go Letters, last Friday (May 16), Avery Anna brought the album to life with a short film. The video blends together the music videos for “Cheerios,” “Danny Don’t,” “Depression,” “Grave” and “Skinny.”
Anna co-directed the film alongside Ben Humphrey, Kate Bowling and Tyler Shoemaker. The short film weaves together five thematically linked music videos to create a narrative that brings the album’s message to life. Between the videos, there are moments of Anna reading from her “Let Go Letters” series, an outlet she created where her listeners release painful experiences by writing them down and sending them in. These letters served as the foundation for both the songs and visual storytelling, exploring powerful subjects like body image, depression, suicide, addiction and domestic violence.
“I started asking people for their letters because I wanted to give them some kind of emotional outlet, but they ended up shifting my whole perspective on so many things in life,” says Anna. “After a while, it felt almost impossible not to write about the letters, and over time, this album became a way to thank everyone for being so vulnerable and sharing their lives with me.”
“This was a whole new world I stepped into for this album, trying to best portray the pains and struggles people have shared with me through their beautiful letters,” she continues. “I hope they feel seen when they watch this film.”
Anna’s sophomore album Let Go Letters features 14 tracks, with five solo-penned tracks by Anna and co-write credits on the rest. The project was produced with David Fanning and features fan favorite tracks “Mr. Predictable,” “Wish You Well,” “Danny Don’t,” “Grave” and more, as well as a collaboration with Maggie Antone on “Giddy Up!”
Industry Ink: Song Suffragettes, Spirit Music Group, Jimmy Capps, ‘Cold War Country’
/by Lauryn SinkSong Suffragettes Partners With Musicana And Hispanic Entertainment Alliance
Pictured (L-R): Uriah Solis, Jackie Martinez Marushka (Founder, Hispanic Entertainment Alliance), Karina Daza (artist and Founder, Musicana), Mia Morris, Alyssia Dominguez, MŌRIAH, Kat Luna, Angie K (artist and Founder of Country Latin Association) and Todd Cassetty (Founder, Song Suffragettes). Photo: Rebecca Anne.
Song Suffragettes partnered with Musicana and Hispanic Entertainment Alliance for a night of music featuring Alyssia Dominguez, Angie K, Karina Daza, Kat Luna, MŌRIAH and Song Suffragettes’ multi-instrumentalist, Mia Morris. Over 200 people packed the Listening Room Café to hear each of the women in the round perform three of their own songs and finish with an “all sing” medley of Selena’s “Como La Flor,” “Baila Esta Cumbia” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” arranged by Dominguez.
To view a recording of the show, click here.
Spirit Music Group And Champagne Breakfast Team To Host Nashville Sync Camp
Spirit Music Group team, Champagne Breakfast team and participating writers.
Spirit Music Group recently teamed up with Champagne Breakfast to host a Nashville Sync Camp at Spirit’s Nashville offices and recording studios. Over the course of three days, artists, writers and producers worked in writing sessions designed to inspire, connect, and provide a creative environment for collaboration through briefs given by music supervisors across media.
This year’s writers included Spirit Music Nashville’s Bobby Hamrick, Brock Westover, Cale Dodds, Jessica Cayne, Joy Williams, Justin Halpin and Mike Fiorentino as well as Champange Breakfast’s Anna Graceman, Beacon Light, Bryan Dawley, Christian Harger, Geoff Duncan, Levi Bennington, Que Parks, Teddy Boldt and Tyler Ewing.
Music supervision and production clients included Shelby Britten, Trailer Music Supervisor, Seismic Productions; Jon Moshier, Executive Music Producer at Doner Advertising; Aaron Mercer, Co-President, Premier Music Group; Ashley Young, Associate Music Supervisor, GrandSon Creative; and Anna Romanoff, Music Supervisor, Yay Team Inc.
Memorial Honoring Jimmy Capps To Be Unveiled June 1 At Spring Hill Cemetery
Jimmy Capps. Photo: Chris Hollo
A memorial honoring the late Jimmy Capps will be unveiled on the fifth anniversary of his passing (June 1) at Spring Hill Cemetery. The free public event will take place at 3 p.m. and will include live music, remarks from fellow musicians, Opry members, and family, and a blessing over the newly installed monument, which sits near other notable country music greats.
Known as “The Man in Back,” Capps left an indelible mark on countless recordings by legends like George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Alan Jackson, and served as a beloved fixture in the Grand Ole Opry band for over six decades. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
‘Cold War Country’ Awarded Belmont Book Award
Cold War Country: How Nashville’s Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism by Joseph M. Thompson has been dubbed 2025’s Top Country Music Book by Belmont Book Award.
The announcement was made by Don Cusic, Founder and Chair of the Belmont Book Award. The presentation will be made on May 30 at the annual International Country Music Conference at Belmont University.
For more information on the conference, click here.