Gabby Barrett is gearing up to launch her new headlining tour, the “Life I’m Living Tour 2025.”

Beginning with a double dose of CMA Fest events on June 5 and 6 in Nashville, the trek will feature 30 dates across the U.S., visiting Columbus, Abilene, Sioux City, Fort Wayne, Bakersfield and more before wrapping Oct. 5 in Ocean City.

“I’m pumped to hit the road this year!” Barrett shares. “The ‘Life I’m Living Tour 2025’ is going to be about the journey of my music career thus far, and turning the page to the next chapter with new music that is coming shortly!”

The tour will build on a whole new level of creative control that Barrett claimed with the 2024 release of her sophomore album, Chapter & Verse (Warner Music Nashville), when she co-wrote nine of 14 songs and for the first time, co-produced the full project alongside producer Ross Copperman.

Barrett, the 2020 ACM New Female Artist of the Year, returns to the 60th ACM Awards tonight (May 8) as a presenter on the show.

Gabby Barrett’s “Life I’m Living Tour 2025” Dates:
June 5 – Nashville, TN @ CMA Fest
June 6 – Nashville, TN @ CMA Fest
June 7 – Blue Springs, NE @ Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska
June 20 – West Chester, OH @ Lori’s Roadhouse
June 21 – Joliet, IL @ Taste of Joliet
June 27 – Santa Rosa, CA @ Country Summer Music Festival
June 28 – Redding, CA @ Win-River Resort & Casino
July 5 – O’Fallon, MO @ Heritage and Freedom Festival
July 10 – Granite Falls, MN @ Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort
July 11 – Columbus, NE @ Platte County Fair
July 12 – Catoosa, OK @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Track 5)
July 17 – Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center
July 18 – Bloomington, IL @ Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
July 19 – Lincoln City, IN @ Lincoln Amphitheatre
July 24 – Saginaw, MI @ The Theater at The Dow Event Center
July 25 – Rockford, IL @ Coronado Theatre
July 26 – West Bend, WI @ Washington County Fair Park
August 14 – Worley, ID @ Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel
August 21 – Abilene, TX @ West Texas Rehabilitation Fundraiser
August 22 – Sioux City, IA @ Orpheum Live
August 23 – Mason, WI @ Concert in the Corn
September 1 – Du Quoin, IL @ Du Quoin State Fair
September 5 – Lancaster, PA @ American Music Theatre
September 6 – Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater
September 7 – Wooster, OH @ Wayne County Fair
September 11 – Allegan, MI @ Allegan County Fair
September 12 – Valparaiso, IN @ Central Park Plaza
September 13 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Sweetwater Performance Pavilion
September 18 – Bakersfield, CA @ *Venue TBA
October 5 – Ocean City, MD @ Country Calling Festival

The Ryman Auditorium will host its annual Ryman Community Day on May 25.

Tennessee residents are invited to enjoy the daytime tour experience free of charge from 9-4 p.m. with a valid Tennessee state ID. Tickets may be reserved in advance here.

As part of Ryman Community Day festivities, PNC Plaza at Ryman Auditorium will come alive with family-friendly offerings, including on-site printmaking from the iconic Hatch Show Print, food trucks and games and activities for children like face painting, caricatures and music crafts from the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab.

The Ryman gift shop will also be open, offering a 10% discount to all guests with a valid Tennessee state ID. Throughout the day, free live music will take place both outside on the PNC Plaza stage and inside on the Ryman stage. The full live music schedule can be found at ryman.com/event/ryman-community-day-2025.

On the Ryman’s daytime tour, guests can experience the history of Nashville’s Mother Church and the legendary artists that have graced its stage. This year, Tennessee visitors can enhance their experience with a guided backstage tour, available for $10 day-of at the box office. Guests can also experience Ryman’s newest exhibit, “Opry 100 at the Ryman” which highlights the 100-year history of the Grand Ole Opry. The new exhibit features exclusive memorabilia and items from Opry members like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and more. The daytime tour experience includes immersive videos and star-studded exhibits, including the famed Rock Hall at the Ryman which debuted in 2022 and currently has brand new items on display that were owned or worn by Eric Clapton, Jon Bon Jovi, Mavis Staples and Sheryl Crow.

Belmont University awarded Trisha Yearwood, Hillary Lindsey and two leading entrepreneurs with honorary Doctor of the University degrees during its 2025 Spring Commencement ceremonies May 2-3 at the Curb Event Center.

President Dr. Greg Jones presided over the events and presented the honorary degrees at the ceremonies, which recognized the graduation of 2,016 students, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candidates.

“These four extraordinary individuals exemplify what Belmont seeks to instill in its graduates,” said President Jones during the ceremonies. “We bestow this prestigious award with great discernment, recognizing it as the highest accolade the University offers. On behalf of our entire Belmont community, it is with great honor that we recognize these leaders who continue to make a tremendous impact through their commitment to faith, service and excellence in their respective fields.”

A Belmont alumna who graduated in 1986 with a degree in music business, Yearwood has been a singer, author, chef and entrepreneur for over three decades. In 1991 she became the first female country artist to have a debut single reach No. 1 with “She’s in Love with the Boy.” With 15 studio albums and over 15 million records sold, she has received multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM Awards, been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and has stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Nashville Music City Walk of Fame. She is also a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, Emmy-winning host of Trisha’s Southern Kitchen on Food Network, and philanthropist supporting Habitat for Humanity, breast cancer research and animal welfare through her charity, Dottie’s Yard.

“When I think about all of the things that allowed me to have that first song go to number one, and to get a record deal, and to get to tour the world and do all the things that I’ve been able to do in the 34 years of my career, I can’t thank Belmont enough for all of the things along the way,” said Yearwood receiving her honorary doctorate.

Hillary Lindsey, a Belmont alumna and award-winning songwriter, has had songs recorded by artists in both country and pop. Her career includes 28 No. 1 country singles, three Grammy awards, and CMA Song of the Year honors. She is well known for co-writing Carrie Underwood’s hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and has been inducted into both the Nashville and National Songwriters Hall of Fame, one of only 400 songwriters in the National Hall of Fame and one of just a few from the country genre.

Dr. Kim Tan, a trained chemist, businessman, entrepreneur and innovative leader focused on social impact through creative business strategies, and Michael Bontrager, founder of Chatham Financial, the largest independent global financial derivatives advisory services and technology firm, also received honorary Doctor of the University degrees during the ceremony.

The Family Alliance in Music (FAM) has opened applications for its inaugural $25,000 support grant. The application is available now through June 1 and can be found here.

FAM is an organization dedicated to supporting music professionals as they navigate the challenges of caregiving, parenting, and family life. The funding will be awarded to a music industry professional in one of the following areas:
– Fertility assistance for those pursuing parenthood.
– Needs-based grants for live touring professionals facing financial hardship due to family demands.
– Family caregiving assistance to support those balancing their careers and caring for a loved one.
– A Small business looking to provide employee benefits that support family needs.

Jordan Davis Performs ‘Bar None’ On Live With Kelly & Mark

Jordan Davis kicked off his week performing his single “Bar None” on Live With Kelly And Mark Monday (May 5) to celebrate the recent announcement of Learn The Hard Way, his upcoming album set for release on August 15. Davis also embarks on his headlining “Ain’t Enough Road Tour” this fall, with dates across the U.S. including Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. 

Maddie & Tae Receive Platinum Surprise At Ryman Show

Maddie & Tae played their first-ever headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to a packed hometown crowd on May 1. At the show, Maddie & Tae were surprised with plaques celebrating the success of two of their hits: “Die From A Broken Heart” for 4x Platinum, and “Friends Don’t” which went Platinum. The duo just released their fourth studio album Love & Light via Mercury Nashville which features the new song “Chasing Babies & Raising Dreams.”

ACM Lifting Lives Unveils Custom Gibson Guitar Wall In Frisco Hospital

ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music, kicked off the 60th ACM Awards week in Frisco, Texas by unveiling a unique guitar wall for patients, families and other hospital patrons during an exclusive event at the new Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco at PGA Parkway, which is scheduled to open July 2025. The custom wall features six Gibson guitars, all donated by Gibson Gives, displayed alongside photos of Texas-born country superstars performing at the ACM Awards over the years, including Ronnie Dunn, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, George Strait and Tanya Tucker. Additionally, each guitar is joined by a QR code, which links directly to a curated playlist that correlates to themes including “Inspire,” “Celebrate,” “Motivate,” “Heal,” “Cope,” and “Relax” – providing unique soundtracks to whatever listeners may be facing at the time of their hospital visits.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Hosts 46th Annual Words & Music Celebration

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted its 46th annual celebration in honor of Words & Music, the museum’s flagship educational program, on May 5. School-aged participants and their families gathered in the museum’s Ford Theater, along with the evening’s host, Capitol Records Nashville artist Caylee Hammack, to hear a selection of 14 songs written by students in Nashville and its surrounding areas. Hammack closed the evening with a performance of her original song, “Family Tree.” Throughout the night, students performed their Words & Music compositions alongside their professional songwriting partners and classmates. The program was recorded and will be shared on the museum’s website later this summer.

Sierra Hull Shares Origin Story On PBS NewsHour

Singer, songwriter and award-winning mandolinist Sierra Hull was featured on a recent episode of PBS NewsHour during a deep dive interview taped earlier this year at The Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. Special Correspondent Tom Casciato took viewers from Hull’s early days growing up in Byrdstown, Tennessee, to present day, including releasing her first independent album, A Tip Toe High Wire and joining Willie Nelson’s “Outlaw Music Festival Tour” later this month. Casciato and Hull discussed her genre-bending approach to music, her precision with the mandolin, and a childhood letter she wrote to hero-turned-mentor Alison Krauss.

Musicana & Hispanic Entertainment Alliance Team For Song Suffragettes Show

Song Suffragettes and Musicana & Hispanic Entertainment Alliance are partnering for a Song Suffragettes Show on May 19 featuring a Latina lineup including Alyssia Dominguez, Angie K, Karina Daza, Kat Luna, MŌRIAH and Mia Morris. “Our mission is to celebrate and uplift the Latine music community and elevate our collective presence in the music industry and beyond,” says Musicana Founder Karina Daza. “We produce public showcases and networking events, and we offer Latine artists performance opportunities, press spotlights, education, connection, and community. We believe that through representation, we can dismantle prejudices and build bridges of solidarity, compassion and empathy.”

Eli Gable Inks With Capitol Christian Music Group

Singer-songwriter Eli Gable has signed with Capitol Christian Music Group. Gable’s debut single, “Holy Ghost Town,” is set for release May 16. The Ohio native has been independently releasing music and developing his mountain soul and rock sound as an artist since he moved to Nashville in 2020. This fall, Gable will join Rend Collective on the “FOLK! 2025 Fall Tour,” visiting 20+ cities beginning Oct. 17 in Portland, Maine.

AK Cody Signs With CDX Records

Singer-songwriter AK Cody has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with CDX Records. Cody is a Nashville-based soulful writer who originally hails from working class roots in rural New England. He has toured extensively as an independent artist and has been writing his own songs for years, including his single “Marry Me.” His latest single “Summertime” from his upcoming EP is due out soon.