Carly Pearce. Photo: Dove Shore
With Honest Woman, Carly Pearce is embracing the lessons and experiences that have shaped her.
The award winning artist released her fifth studio album today (Aug. 28) via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Across the project, Pearce turns toward the parts of herself she has continued to discover, from her Kentucky bluegrass roots to the complicated emotions that come with growing older, navigating relationships and watching life unfold on its own timeline.
In fact, the album’s title came together only after Pearce had already lived through many of the songs.
“I truly did not come up with the title of the album until the very end,” she tells MusicRow. “I think I was subconsciously coming to this understanding of my life as I was living these songs.”
That realization shaped the record’s central theme. As Pearce entered a new season of life, she found herself thinking about the expectations placed on women to reach certain milestones by a certain age, and how easily those expectations can overshadow the life happening in front of you.
“We are told as women that we shouldn’t say our age and we need to have this by this time, and we’re on these timelines and the highlight reel. I just wanted to be the exception to the rule.”
That perspective comes through particularly on “Dream Come True” and “Happy For Myself,” two of the album’s most vulnerable moments. Both songs explore the less polished side of life, confronting the sacrifices, comparisons and disappointments that can exist alongside professional success and personal milestones.
For Pearce, that kind of openness begins in the writing room. Rather than relying on a conventional co-writing circle, she often writes with people she already trusts, allowing conversations with friends to become the foundation for some of her most personal songs. 
“Both of those songs came out of conversations that I was having with my friends who happened to be my co-writers. I write with my friends because I’m so honest and vulnerable that I could never write these songs with people I didn’t know.”
While the album digs into Pearce’s present, it also reaches back to where she came from. Having started singing in bluegrass bands as a child, Pearce wanted Honest Woman to reconnect listeners with the Kentucky side of her musical identity. That comes through most prominently on “What If You Loved Me,” a bluegrass collaboration with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle.
The project’s other major collaboration, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay,” pairs Pearce with Riley Green. After deciding she wanted Green on the album, Pearce simply sent him the song. His response came almost immediately, creating the emotional ballad currently climbing country radio.
Sonically, Pearce sees the album as a departure from worrying about what might fit neatly into the commercial country landscape. She co-produced the project with longtime collaborator Ben West, incorporating bluegrass musicians and leaning further into the sounds that felt natural to her.
“I really think sonically it’s the most interesting album I’ve ever done, and my best.”
That honesty runs throughout the album, with Pearce allowing herself to show both the good and difficult parts of where she is in life.
It also extends to the lighter moments. She points to “You Don’t Like My Dogs” as the song she’s most excited to hear fans sing back to her on the road, calling it “an anthem.”
And while Pearce believes women are already ruling country music, she sees honesty as the next step in continuing that momentum.
“I challenge all the girls to be more honest because clearly women want to hear other women and they want to hear other stories.”
With Honest Woman, Pearce is doing exactly that. Looking back at where she came from, acknowledging where she is and leaving room for wherever life takes her next.
Flatland Cavalry Slates Deluxe LP ‘Work Of Heart – Heartstrings’ For October
/by Lorie HollabaughFlatland Cavalry are releasing a deluxe edition of their fifth studio album, Work of Heart – Heartstrings, on Oct. 2 via Lost Highway.
The deluxe edition adds five new songs to the collection, and a new track from the expanded project titled “Strangers & Angels” will drop on Friday (Sept. 4.)
“We recorded 17 songs when we went into the studio to record Work Of Heart,” shares frontman Cleto Cordero. “It wasn’t easy separating these songs into two factions – the standard and the deluxe – but, per usual, leaning upon intuition, I knew Heartstrings was raising its hand to be set apart. It came from a musical idea our pianist and multi-instrumentalist, Adam Gallegos, brought to the table. On one of our days off we got together alongside Reid [Dillon] and Jason [Albers] and chased it down. To me, it sounded like a classic love song and brought forth the image of one following his heart, floating through a relationship on Cloud 9; not weary of naysayers claiming he’s ‘trippin.’ If we’re to trip, tripping on heartstrings seems a noble way to fall.”
Tonight, the band kicks off their run as support on Kacey Musgraves’ “Middle of Nowhere Tour” with two nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Their own “Work of Heart Tour” rolls on through the end of 2026, with five dates left.
Work of Heart – Heartstrings Track List:
1. “Gone” (Cleto Cordero, Ryan Beaver, Aaron Eshuis)
2. “On and On” (Cleto Cordero, Ray Fulcher, Cole Taylor)
3. “Bird’s Eye View” (Cleto Cordero, Ryan Beaver, Aaron Eshuis)
4. “Never Comin’ Back” (Cleto Cordero, Luke Laird, Aaron Raitiere)
5. “Unglued” (Cleto Cordero, Dwight Baker)
6. “Life, Love, and Happiness (Entertainer’s Lament)” (Cleto Cordero, Jason Nix)
7. “Flicker” (Cleto Cordero, Jason Albers, Reid Dillon)
8. “Work of Heart” (Cleto Cordero, Clara Calaway)
9. “Long Goodnight” (Cleto Cordero, Rodney Clawson)
10. “Nightshine” (Cleto Cordero, Dwight Baker)
11. “Real Slow” (Cleto Cordero, Dwight Baker, Conner Smith)
12. “All or Nothing” (Cleto Cordero)
13. “Hard Lessons” (Cleto Corero, Nick Walsh)
14. “Cinnamon Sugar (It’s Love)” (Cleto Cordero, Jay Knowles)
15. “Heartstrings” (Cleto Cordero, Adam Gallegos, Jason Albers, Reid Dillon)
16. “Strangers & Angels” (Cleto Cordero, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell)
17. “One More Song” (Cleto Corero, Reid Isbell, Jason Nix)
Jeff Tobias Named VP Of Sales At Mogul
/by Lauryn SinkJeff Tobias.
Jeff Tobias has been named Vice President of Sales at Mogul.
In this role, Tobias leads the company’s enterprise sales and go-to-market strategy, with a focus on business management firms, artist management companies, distributors, catalog owners, royalty administrators and other organizations managing artists, rights and royalty income at scale.
Prior to joining Mogul, he served as Senior Director of Business Development at Tone, where he helped build the company’s go-to-market strategy, expanded its client base, and drove significant revenue growth across artists, labels, business managers, and other music industry partners. He previously held senior commercial and artist-facing roles at Stem and ONErpm, including Head of Artist & Label Relations for Nashville at Stem and Head of Country Music at ONErpm.
New 17-Track Collection ‘Terri Clark: Live From The Ryman’ Due In October
/by Lorie HollabaughTerri Clark. Photo: Hayley Gjertsen
Terri Clark will release Terri Clark: Live From The Ryman, a new 17-song album recorded during her long-awaited debut at the Ryman Auditorium, on Oct. 30.
The upcoming collection captures the special evening live from the first note to the final encore during her Aug. 29, 2024 debut, when Clark stepped onstage at the Mother Church for a night filled with timeless hits, reimagined medleys, and unforgettable surprise guests including Ashley McBryde and Trisha Yearwood.
The new live album includes performances of Clark’s chart-topping hits “You’re Easy On The Eyes,” “I Wanna Do It All,” “Girls Lie Too” and more, as well as duet renditions of the mega hit “Better Things To Do,” with McBryde and “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” with special guest Yearwood to close out the show.
“Headlining a show at the legendary Ryman Auditorium has always been a lifelong dream of mine,” shares Clark. “Although we never intended it to become a live record, that’s exactly what happened. What you will hear is exactly how the show went down that night. Piecing together board tracks from my road technicians, it found its way to the live recording that encapsulates one of the greatest experiences I have ever had on stage. I’m so grateful for all the fans who came for this show, they are a huge part of what makes this what it is. A truly joyous and magical exchange of energy that will be hard to ever top or replicate.”
Before the release of her live album, Clark will join Cody Johnson this September for select dates across the U.S. and Canada in addition to headline shows this fall and a special performance at the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 29. Following the show, Clark will host a special VIP event Opry After Party for the first 200 fans who purchase Terri Clark: Live From The Ryman in the Opry Shop that evening. Those fans will receive admission for two to an exclusive performance and conversation with Clark directly following the show.
Fans will also have the opportunity to hear Clark speak about the album for the first time on TalkShopLive at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The Heartland Network To Premiere New Series, ‘Common Strings’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Heartland Network will premiere a new series Common Strings, featuring conversations between country’s hitmakers, veterans and emerging artists usually reserved for green rooms, tour buses, backstage hallways and writers’ rooms, on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. CT.
The weekly, one-hour series offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at candid and unscripted conversations that reveal the vulnerable, funny, and human moments and strip the glamour and glitz away from show business, revealing what artists’ lives are really like.
The first seven episodes are ready for airing, with the final six going into production this fall. In “Family Roots,” Tyler Reese Tritt and Alison Nichols discuss what it means to grow up in country music families, reflecting on the opportunities, expectations and challenges of carrying a legendary last name while forging identities of their own.
“Ten Year Town” brings together Craig Campbell, Allie Colleen and Dave Fenley for a conversation about the perseverance required to build a career in Nashville, revealing the years of sacrifice, setbacks and determination behind what audiences often see as overnight success.
In “Remixing the Rules,” Drew Baldridge and Chase Wright examine how independent thinking, entrepreneurship and betting on themselves have helped redefine what success can look like in today’s music business.
Legendary producer Keith Stegall is paired with neo-traditional artists Mo Pitney and Spencer Hatcher in “Old School, New School” to explore the resurgence of traditional country, the enduring influence of the 1990s, and the importance of honoring the genre’s roots while moving it forward.
“The Reality Check” reunites artists whose careers were launched before millions on national TV. Adam Sanders, Ashland Craft and HunterGirl discuss life after the competition shows ended, reflecting on the transition from prime-time TV to building lasting careers as recording artists.
In “TikTok Trailblazers,” viral artists Taylor Austin Dye and Atlus explore how social media has transformed artist discovery, fan engagement and career development, offering a firsthand look at how a new generation is rewriting the rules of the music industry.
Frank Ray and Elizabeth Nichols appear in “Unexpected Detours” and reveal insights around pivotal moments which redirected their lives toward music, proving that some of country music’s most compelling stories begin with a path no one expected.
In addition to airing on The Heartland Network, Common Strings will also stream on Heartland+, with new one-hour episodes premiering weekly.
CMA Awards Nominees To Be Revealed Next Week
/by LB CantrellThe final nominees for the 60th annual CMA Awards will be revealed next Thursday, Sept. 10.
The announcement will kick off with Good Morning America host Lara Spencer revealing a selection of categories live on air, followed by a livestream at 8:00 AM/CT revealing the remaining categories, hosted by country star Lee Ann Womack and recent American Idol winner Hannah Harper on CMA’s official YouTube channel.
All nominations are determined by CMA’s Professional voting membership. The 60th annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18 on ABC, Disney+ and next day on Hulu.
Tickets for the live event will go on sale Friday, Sept. 18 at 10:00 AM/CT.
‘DOLLYFEST: The Celebration Of A Lifetime’ To Be Held In Nashville & London In 2027
/by Lauryn SinkDolly Parton.
The estate of global icon Dolly Parton have announced plans to host an official Team Dolly-produced celebration in Parton’s honor, DOLLYFEST, in 2027.
The event will take place across two consecutive weekends in Nashville, Tennessee and London, England. Ticket information and further details will be announced at a later date.
The event was originally planned as a multi-artist event for January 2026 in Nashville and intended to feature Parton as performer and host.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” says Danny Nozell, Founder/CEO of CTK Enterprises. “Many people behind the scenes know that DOLLYFEST is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville. We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,” continues Nozell. “However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly. This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
Governor Lee Announces Intentions To Name Nashville Airport In Honor Of Dolly Parton
/by LB CantrellDolly Parton
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport (BNA) have revealed their intentions to name the airport in honor of Dolly Parton.
Following the passing of the iconic Tennessean earlier this week, Governor Lee spoke to Parton’s team about honoring her in this way. The Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s (MNAA) current Naming Policy and Gov. Lee’s proposal to rename the airport will be addressed at MNAA’s meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” shares Gov. Lee. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
“BNA® is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” says Doug Kreulen, President and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. “Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life. She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status. At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
In addition to amassing 44 top 10 country albums, 11 Grammy Awards, 10 CMA Awards, multiple hall of fame inductions and much more, Parton’s legacy includes a lifelong commitment to service and philanthropy. Through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, she has provided hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, promoting literacy and empowering children to reach their full potential.
MusicRow Weekly (Dolly Parton, News, Charts, More…)
/by Madison HahnenThis week’s edition of the MusicRow Weekly covers a week of major news across Nashville’s music industry, from the passing of global icon Dolly Parton and legendary manager Dale Morris to the release of the 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue, new industry leadership moves, publishing deals and several Grand Ole Opry debuts. Click here to see the full edition.
Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday (Aug. 25) at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her death marked the loss of one of the most influential figures in country music history, whose career spanned music, film, television, business and philanthropy.
Nashville gathered for the annual SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inside the city’s historic Municipal Auditorium. The ceremony honored six more “women behind the music,” Debbie Cheek Carroll, Paige Conners, Cris Lacy, Sherry Oakley, Margie McGahey and Carla Wallace. Hosted by Grand Ole Opry star Mandy Barnett and radio and television personality Kelly Sutton, the evening celebrated the contributions of women who have helped shape Nashville’s music industry.
Nashville also mourned the loss of legendary entertainment executive and artist manager Dale Morris, who died peacefully on Aug. 21 at age 89. Morris spent nearly seven decades in the music business and guided the careers of artists including Country Music Hall of Fame members Alabama and Kenny Chesney.
Amid the week’s news, MusicRow also marked an important milestone with the release of its 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue, featuring Warner Records Nashville’s Dan + Shay on the cover. The issue spotlights the nominees for the 2026 MusicRow Awards, with winners set to be revealed on MusicRow platforms on Sept. 2. The special issue also honors the winners of the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Award and examines the way independent labels approach awards season through a conversation with Leo33. Additional industry insights come from acclaimed producers and music makers Frank Liddell, Tofer Brown and Joey Moi, who share their perspectives on creating records that make an impact.
Elsewhere across the business, Ryan Beuschel has been promoted to Co-Head of The Neal Agency. WME has also elevated Sara Williams to Head of Music Marketing, while Riser House Entertainment has added Anna Widmer as Vice President of Promotion. On the publishing side, songwriter Phil Barton has signed a deal with BMG in partnership with Liz Rose Music, while Nashville-based songwriter Conner Moye has signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing.
Scott Borchetta is expanding his business ventures with the launch of Borchetta Spirits & Beverage Co. (BSBC), a Nashville-owned and operated parent company bringing together five Tennessee spirit brands and three destinations. As part of the launch, the downtown Nashville property formerly known as Big Machine Brewery & Distillery has been renamed The Borchetta Bourbon Experience.
The Grand Ole Opry also welcomed several debuts. Kenny Whitmire made his Opry debut on Aug. 18, followed by Troy Cartwright. Brandon Wisham made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Wednesday (Aug. 26).
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Kenny Chesney takes the No. 1 spot with “Carry On.” Explore more chart data here.
The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.
Carly Pearce Embraces Her Roots & Her ‘Honest Woman’ Era [Interview]
/by Madison HahnenCarly Pearce. Photo: Dove Shore
With Honest Woman, Carly Pearce is embracing the lessons and experiences that have shaped her.
The award winning artist released her fifth studio album today (Aug. 28) via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Across the project, Pearce turns toward the parts of herself she has continued to discover, from her Kentucky bluegrass roots to the complicated emotions that come with growing older, navigating relationships and watching life unfold on its own timeline.
In fact, the album’s title came together only after Pearce had already lived through many of the songs.
“I truly did not come up with the title of the album until the very end,” she tells MusicRow. “I think I was subconsciously coming to this understanding of my life as I was living these songs.”
That realization shaped the record’s central theme. As Pearce entered a new season of life, she found herself thinking about the expectations placed on women to reach certain milestones by a certain age, and how easily those expectations can overshadow the life happening in front of you.
“We are told as women that we shouldn’t say our age and we need to have this by this time, and we’re on these timelines and the highlight reel. I just wanted to be the exception to the rule.”
That perspective comes through particularly on “Dream Come True” and “Happy For Myself,” two of the album’s most vulnerable moments. Both songs explore the less polished side of life, confronting the sacrifices, comparisons and disappointments that can exist alongside professional success and personal milestones.
For Pearce, that kind of openness begins in the writing room. Rather than relying on a conventional co-writing circle, she often writes with people she already trusts, allowing conversations with friends to become the foundation for some of her most personal songs.
“Both of those songs came out of conversations that I was having with my friends who happened to be my co-writers. I write with my friends because I’m so honest and vulnerable that I could never write these songs with people I didn’t know.”
While the album digs into Pearce’s present, it also reaches back to where she came from. Having started singing in bluegrass bands as a child, Pearce wanted Honest Woman to reconnect listeners with the Kentucky side of her musical identity. That comes through most prominently on “What If You Loved Me,” a bluegrass collaboration with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle.
The project’s other major collaboration, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay,” pairs Pearce with Riley Green. After deciding she wanted Green on the album, Pearce simply sent him the song. His response came almost immediately, creating the emotional ballad currently climbing country radio.
Sonically, Pearce sees the album as a departure from worrying about what might fit neatly into the commercial country landscape. She co-produced the project with longtime collaborator Ben West, incorporating bluegrass musicians and leaning further into the sounds that felt natural to her.
“I really think sonically it’s the most interesting album I’ve ever done, and my best.”
That honesty runs throughout the album, with Pearce allowing herself to show both the good and difficult parts of where she is in life.
It also extends to the lighter moments. She points to “You Don’t Like My Dogs” as the song she’s most excited to hear fans sing back to her on the road, calling it “an anthem.”
And while Pearce believes women are already ruling country music, she sees honesty as the next step in continuing that momentum.
“I challenge all the girls to be more honest because clearly women want to hear other women and they want to hear other stories.”
With Honest Woman, Pearce is doing exactly that. Looking back at where she came from, acknowledging where she is and leaving room for wherever life takes her next.
Jacob Hackworth Slates Debut EP For October
/by Lauryn SinkJacob Hackworth will release his debut EP, What Took You So Long, on Oct. 23 via MCA/Goat Island Sound.
Hackworth wrote the seven-track project alongside Jaxson Free, Josh Phillips, Jessie Jo Dillon, Daniel Ross and more. The EP is a chronological account of the breakup that unknowingly set Hackworth on the path to Nashville. Its title track is currently top 40 at country radio.
“This EP is probably the most full-circle thing I’ve ever done. I definitely didn’t set out to write a project about a breakup—it just kind of came together naturally. There is something poetic about getting to tell that story as my first project as an artist, considering it was the reason for me moving here to chase my dream of being a recording artist. I also love the message underneath it all: sometimes the hardest things in your life happen the way they do for a reason. Zero out of 10 would recommend getting dumped, BUT it put me exactly where I was supposed to be. I’m happier, healthier and living a life I dreamed about for a long time because of it,” shares Hackworth. “We wrote ‘I Wanna Quit’ at a writers camp back in May and knew instantly it was a smash. We cut it almost immediately because we didn’t want to overthink it, it was the perfect addition to this project.”
In celebration of the announcement, he has previewed the project with “I Wanna Quit,” written by Hackworth, Free, Heath Warren and Tyler Dopps.
Hackworth is currently on the road with Tucker Wetmore for their third run together before he joins Zach John King this fall.
What Took You So Long Track List:
1. “What Took You So Long” (Jacob Hackworth, Daniel Ross, Jaxson Free, Steph Jones)
2. “I Wanna Quit” (Jacob Hackworth, Jaxson Free, Heath Warren, Tyler Dopps)
3. “Bad As I Do” (Jacob Hackworth, Daniel Ross, Chris Tompkins, Jessie Jo Dillon)
4. “Last Night I Got Lonely” (Jacob Hackworth, Gabe Foust, Danny Majic)
5. “First Friday Night” (Jacob Hackworth, Jaxson Free, Daniel Ross, Matt Roy)
6. “Help Yourself” (Jacob Hackworth, Gabe Foust, Sean Wave, Travis Smith)
7. “Mess That Marlboro Made” (Jacob Hackworth, Josh Phillips, Jordan Schmidt)