The West Virginia Music Hall of Fame held its sold-out 10th annual induction ceremony on Saturday (April 12) in Charleston, West Virginia, inducting 2025 honorees Jeff Stevens, Daniel Johnston, Cam Mullins and The Valentinos (a.k.a. The Womack Brothers).

Hosted by Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson and West Virginia’s own Juliana Soltis, the ceremony featured performances from Luke Bryan, Stevens, Benson, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Kathy Mattea and more.

Among the many highlights from the evening was Bryan taking the stage to perform with Stevens. Stevens has penned No. 1 hits for artists including Bryan, George Strait, Tracy Byrd and Tim McGraw. His award was presented by Dale Bobo, catalog strategist for the Sony Music Publishing’s Nashville office.

“Such a special night for me to come celebrate with my longtime producer and songwriting buddy Jeff Stevens,” said Bryan. “From the moment we met, it just clicked and I never looked back, only forward. He has helped teach me how to do this business the right way by working hard and treating people good along the way. Congratulations on being inducted to the WV Music Hall of Fame.”

Wilco Co-Founder Tweedy was also on hand to present Daniel Johnston’s posthumous award to the honoree’s brother and sister, Margie and Dick Johnston. Johnston’s songs have found a dedicated fanbase all over the world. Tweedy, who performed and recorded with Daniel, performed three of his favorite Johnston songs with his band during the ceremony, which included many other memorable moments as well.

An edited version of this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony will air on West Virginia Public Broadcasting on May 3 at 7 p.m. ET and will be made available to stream on YouTube and PBS Passport the same day.

Drake Milligan has announced a slew of dates that slate his 2025 schedule opening for stars like Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan as well as his own headlining shows.

The Texas native and 2025 MusicRow Next Big Thing artist, has charted multiple hits on iTunes and recently opened for Blake Shelton, with whom he performed a viral duet of George Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live In Texas.” The upcoming tour will launch with Milligan’s Stagecoach performance, set for April 25.

For select dates throughout “Drake Milligan In Concert,” fans can purchase VIP tickets, which provide a unique experience including early entry, an exclusive acoustic performance, and a group Q&A session with Milligan himself ahead of the show.

Ed Sheeran Guests At SHOF & Belmont Master Session

Ed Sheeran, the 2017 recipient of the SHOF Hal David Starlight Award, shared his journey from empty rooms to sold-out arenas, emphasizing authenticity, resilience and the courage to fail last month at Belmont. The intimate session was attended by 30 Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business songwriting students. Sheeran disclosed the ideology that has guided and anchored his career, serves as his North Star and reminds him to take risks – “Dare to suck!” – which he learned from songwriter/producer 2017 SHOF inductee Max Martin.

After rich conversation, Sheeran played a new song from his upcoming album and then shared the stage with a group of Belmont’s aspiring songwriters followed by an impromptu jam of a rootsy version of “Shape of You” with members of Belmont’s Bluegrass Ensemble. SHOF Board Member/Chairman, SHOF Nashville Committee Fletcher Foster and Belmont Songwriting Co-Chair James Elliott were also in attendance.

 

Darius Rucker Named Ambassador For Carolinas Golf Foundation

Darius Rucker has been named Ambassador for the Carolinas Golf Foundation, the charitable arm of the Carolina Golf Association. As an ambassador, Rucker will help champion the Foundation’s efforts to promote access and opportunity in golf, particularly among youth, individuals with disabilities and underserved communities. His involvement will include appearances at select Foundation events, engagement in awareness campaigns and collaboration with the CGA to drive fundraising and outreach.

Rucker is a longtime golf enthusiast with deep roots in the Carolinas and a strong track record of using his platform for good. His philanthropic endeavors include founding the annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosting collegiate golf events, along with support for public education, health care initiatives and military veteran programs. The Carolinas Golf Foundation was established in 1977 to support the growth and sustainability of golf throughout North and South Carolina. Over the past five decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $3.3 million in grants to support programs and initiatives that embody its mission to provide access to life-changing opportunities through the game of golf.

 

Ira Dean Celebrates New Album At Packed Music City Bash

Ira Dean celebrated the release of his album I Got Roads in true Nashville style with a packed party at Blueprint Underground Cocktail Club. The night was filled with music, memories, and surprise performances in celebration of Dean’s most personal project to date. The event welcomed a crowd of family, friends, and collaborators, including Gretchen Wilson, Styles, David Lee Murphy, Chris Wallin and Dave Turnbull. Among the highlights of the evening were Dean surprising the crowd by bringing out Wilson to perform their emotional duet “Everything,” a standout track on the album written as a tribute to Dean’s wife, Jennifer.

 

The Warren Brothers Reunite With Old Friends At Songwriter City Show

The Warren Brothers and Valory Music’s Preston Cooper performed at a Songwriter City show at Chief’s in downtown Nashville last weekend, and it was a family reunion of sorts since promo guys Tom Baldrica, Mike Wilson and Jimmy Rector surprised Brett and Brad Warren at the show. Baldrica was the VP of Promotion when the Warrens were on the BNA label, and Rector was a regional, while Wilson was at RCA at the same time.