
Vince Gill has released Eighteen Summers, the latest EP in his year-long 50 Years From Home Series.
The upbeat, slightly Cajun-flavored title track kicks the ninth EP off as a duet with co-writer Cyndi Thomson, a fellow country singer who had some hits during the early 2000s. Gill wrote the smooth, swinging “I’m All the Mississippi You’ll Ever Need” from the project with Belle Frantz, but credits Steve Earle with inspiring the title.
“Steve had this bass player named Dennis Crouch, who has played with everybody – a world-class musician,” says Gill. “Steve used to introduce him and would say, ‘This cat over here is all the Arkansas you’ll ever need.’ That always stuck with me, and when Belle and I were writing I asked her where she was from and she said Mississippi, so I said, ‘OK, maybe this is the time.’ Some songs just show up a whole lot later than you ever anticipated.”
The two-stepping, twangy and slightly sinister “I’ll Haunt Your Memory” marks Gill’s first co-write with Carter Faith, and Gill wrote the mellow, lovelorn “Gone Like Yesterday” himself, wallowing in how “Misery keeps me company.” The tone is decidedly happier on “Dancing In Texas,” a collaboration with Catie Offerman with a three-quarter time sway that invites listeners to leave their problems behind. “I’ve lived in a waltz tempo.” Gill notes. “Waltzes built my house – ‘When I Call Your Name,’ ‘Pocket Full of Gold,’ those kinds of songs. I’ve always been drawn to waltzes because when I was a little boy my mom taught me how to do it, and the only kind of dancing I still do is an occasional waltz.”
“Last Night at Closing Time” penned with Brad Warren, Brett Warren, (The Warren Brothers) and Preston Cooper, offers another mood shift. The mid-tempo ode to loneliness features a soul-piercing pedal steel solo by Paul Franklin, and introduces a protagonist who passes away in the last verse. For the EP’s previously-released single Gill chose “What the Cowgirls Do,” his hit from 1994’s When Love Finds You album.
Gill’s familial musical roots are celebrated on Eighteen Summers on the guitar featured on the cover. It’s been around Gill his whole life, though he doesn’t know where it came from initially. “It’s a tiny little thing I used to drag around with me everywhere and bang and beat on it,” he remembers. “My mom has a picture of me sleeping face down on the couch when I was about a year and a half, maybe two years old, with my arm around that guitar.”
Commemorating his departure from Oklahoma to begin his music career, Gill has been releasing a new EP each month, drawing from songs he’s written mostly over the past few years.
Eighteen Summers Track List:
1. “Eighteen Summers” (Vince Gill, Cyndi Thomson)
2. “I’m All The Mississippi You’ll Ever Need” (Vince Gill, Belle Frantz)
3. “I’ll Haunt Your Memory” (Vince Gill, Carter Faith, Ashley Monroe)
4. “Gone Like Yesterday” (Vince Gill)
5. “Dancing In Texas” (Vince Gill, Catie Offerman)
6. “Last Night At Closing Time” (Vince Gill, Preston Cooper, Brett Warren, Brad Warren)
7. “What The Cowgirls Do” (Vince Gill, John Jarvis)
Myles Morgan To Hit The Road This Fall On ‘The Road Sign Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughMyles Morgan is set to launch “The Road Sign Tour” on Aug. 20 in Clemson, South Carolina.
The title of the new tour was inspired by Morgan’s new single “Road Sign,” the track he penned with Rhett Akins that captures a restless escape where the open highway becomes a place of reflection, and every exit, mile marker, and “Road Sign” offer possibilities. Stops on the new tour include Indianapolis, Tuscaloosa, Tucson, Raleigh and more through Nov. 21.
Fan Club presale tickets for the headline shows are available beginning today, and general tickets go on sale Aug. 7.
“Getting back out on a headline tour is always exciting because it’s my chance to connect with fans in a way that’s really personal,” shares Morgan. “I’m pumped to play songs people are already loving, plus a lot of new music we can’t wait to perform live. We’re ready to hit the road and see everyone on ‘The Road Sign Tour’!”
“Road Sign” is the latest in a series of singles from Morgan following “Batting 1.000” and “Wrong Kind of History.”
“The Road Sign Tour” Dates:
8/20 – Study Hall – Clemson, SC
8/21 – Ned Kelly’s Down Under – Milledgeville, GA
8/22 – Southern Social – Statesboro, GA
9/23 – Brick Street Bar – Oxford, OH
9/25 – The Grainery – Plain City, OH
9/26 – 8 Seconds Saloon – Indianapolis, IN
10/9 – Two Dimes – Tuscaloosa, AL
10/22 – Proud Larry’s – Oxford, MS
10/23 – Rick’s Cafe – Starkville, MS
11/20 – The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop – Raleigh, NC
11/21 – One Thirteen Brewhouse + Rooftop Bar – Greensboro, NC
Brian Kelley Readies New Album Due This Month
/by Lauryn SinkBrian Kelley will release his new album, Coral Beats, on Aug. 14 via his own Nashville South Records.
Mainly produced by Kelley’s frequent collaborator Katlin Owen, Coral Beats includes previously released tracks like “B-Y-O-Beach” and “Jimmy Buffett Summer.” Featuring collaborations with ERNEST, Niko Moon, Wheeland Brothers and CHXNDLER, the album highlights Kelley’s signature “beach cowboy” sound.
The album follows his 2025 Sunshine State of Mind Season Two, Chapter One and 2021’s Sunshine State of Mind Season One. He has also released two additional LPs, Tennessee Truth and Ed & Mary Margaret’s Son, since embarking on his solo career.
The Florida native recently concluded another round of his SURF POST SESSIONS, the concert series hosted in the backyard of Brian and his wife Brittany Kelley’s Tribe Kelley Surf Post in Grayton Beach, Florida. After kicking off summer 2026 with a run of shows last month, the SURF POST SESSIONS continued with back-to-back headline spots from Kelley last week. Since launching in 2022, the in-demand series has hosted more than 75 SOLD-OUT performances.
Coral Beats Track List:
1. “Palms And Pines ft. ERNEST” (Brian Kelley, Ernest Keith Smith, Alysa Vanderheym)*
2. “Bike With No Hands” (Brian Kelley, Mark Holman, James McNair, Steven Lee Olsen)*
3. “Waves Roll In ft. Wheeland Brothers” (Brian Kelley, Ernest Keith Smith, Jordan Schmidt, Travis Wheeland, Nate Wheeland)*
4. “Low Tide High” (Brian Kelley, Mark Holman, James McNair)*
5. “Beach Bar ft. CHXNDLER” (Brian Kelley, Chandler Johnston, Zach Smith)*
6. “1000 Islands” (Brian Kelley, James McNair, Steven Lee Olsen, Alysa Vanderheym)*
7. “Tropical” (Brian Kelley, Michael Hardy, Chris Bandi, Jordan Schmidt)*
8. “B-Y-O-Beach ft. Niko Moon” (Mark Holman, Ben Burgess, Brad Tursi)*
9. “Jimmy Buffett Summer” (Brian Kelley, Brittney Kelley)*
10. “Jimmy Buffett Summer – Remix” (Brian Kelley, Brittney Kelley)+
* Produced by Katlin Owen
+ Produced by Caleb Gilbreath
Wyatt Flores Celebrates ‘Scared Of Heights’ Release At Skinny Dennis [Recap]
/by Madison HahnenWyatt Flores. Photo: Matt Paskert
Wyatt Flores celebrated the release of his sophomore album, Scared of Heights, with an intimate, sold-out album release show at Skinny Dennis in Nashville on Sunday (Aug. 2), giving fans an up-close look at the personal collection. The free pop-up performance was one of only four album release shows Flores announced to mark the new project.
Backed by his band in the packed East Nashville venue, Flores opened with the album’s first track, “Hate Myself,” immediately setting the vulnerable tone that runs throughout the album. He rolled seamlessly into “Drive All Night” before continuing with “Sober For A Month,” “Not Good Enough” and “How To Let Me Go,” as the crowd enthusiastically sang along to every word.
The Oklahoma native kept the momentum going with “Half The Man,” one of the project’s early fan favorites, before delivering “God Forgives” and “The Way I Do.” He followed with “South Dakota,” then welcomed fellow singer-songwriter Evan Honer to the stage for a performance of their collaboration, “Take Me As I Come,” earning one of the afternoon’s biggest reactions.
Flores returned to the new album with the title track, “Scared Of Heights,” before slowing things down for the reflective “Sleepless Lullaby.” He picked the energy back up with “Runnin’ On E” and “Tulsa and Eleanor,” both met with loud singalongs from the standing-room-only crowd.
Before closing the set, Flores paid tribute to fellow Oklahoma favorites the Turnpike Troubadours with a heartfelt cover of “The Bird Hunters,” bringing the intimate celebration to a fitting close.
Industry Ink: Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Eccho Live, Girls Write Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood Stars In NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ Show Open For 14th Consecutive Year
Carrie Underwood. Photo: Danny Ventrella/NBC Sports
Carrie Underwood will star in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football for the 14th consecutive season beginning Sept. 13 on NBC and Peacock. In the latest evolution of SNF’s show opens since 2013, this year’s edition features scenes in the recording studio, in a small music venue, and a concert performance in a packed stadium.
The show open for Sunday Night Football, primetime television’s No. 1 program for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, will debut leading into the season debut of SNF featuring the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New York Giants. A preview will debut during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on NBC and Peacock on Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET as the Carolina Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals.
Brooks & Dunn Add New RIAA Hardware With Six New Platinum-Plus Certs
Brooks & Dunn. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Brooks & Dunn has added new RIAA certifications to their catalog. The Country Music Hall of Famers’ “Red Dirt Road” has now reached triple Platinum, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Bout You” are certified double Platinum, and “She’s Not The Cheatin’ Kind,” “Hard Workin’ Man” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” are each now Platinum. Originally released years before streaming became the industry’s dominant format, the songs continue to find new audiences today. The duo’s expanded “Neon Moon Tour” kicks off next month.
Eccho Live Seeking New Executive Director
ECCHO Live is seeking a new Executive Director. The Executive Director provides leadership, operational oversight, and strategic direction in service of the organization’s mission. The ED is responsible for all aspects of organizational management including, programs, finances, human resources, fundraising, communications, and external affairs, while serving as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors and its committees.
Interested candidates should submit a current résumé and a cover letter sharing their nonprofit experience and connection to the live events and touring industry via email to elle@nonprofit-leadership.com. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of Aug. 19. Founder Chris Lisle will remain in the role until that new hire is onboarded.
Girls Write Nashville To Receive NPEF’s 2026 Thomas J. Sherrard Inspiring Innovation Award
Girls Write Nashville has been named a recipient of the 2026 Thomas J. Sherrard Inspiring Innovation Award by the Nashville Public Education Foundation, recognizing the organization’s contribution to public education through its longstanding partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools. Through expressive arts and creative youth development, Girls Write Nashville helps young people with belonging, well-being, and creative confidence. The award will be presented during the 22nd Annual Public Schools Hall of Fame Luncheon on Aug. 27 at Music City Center, celebrating individuals and organizations making exceptional contributions to public education in Nashville.
Founded in 2016, Girls Write Nashville during the 2026–27 school year, will provide more than 12,000 free participant-hours of creative youth development programming for MNPS students through in-school, after-school, mentorship, and music production programs.
‘My Home’s In Alabama: The Randy Owen Story’ Documentary To Premiere On Alabama Public Television
/by Lorie HollabaughRandy Owen’s life story is the subject of a brand new documentary, My Home’s in Alabama: The Randy Owen Story, premiering Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. CT on Alabama Public Television.
The Jacksonville State University-produced documentary offers an unfiltered look at one of country’s most recognizable voices, following Owen’s journey from his humble beginnings in Fort Payne, Alabama, to becoming the frontman of one of the most successful and influential bands in music history. Featuring cinematography of the Alabama landscapes that shaped Owen’s life, the film weaves together personal reflections, career-defining moments and heartfelt conversations with family, friends and fellow artists. Appearances by Alabama founding member Teddy Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Riley Green and others provide additional insight into Owen’s enduring impact on country music and the lives he has touched throughout his career.
Throughout the documentary, Owen reflects on the people, places and values that have guided him while remaining deeply connected to the community he has always called home. The band has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, earned 43 No. 1 singles and became one of the most decorated and influential acts in country music history, but My Home’s in Alabama: The Randy Owen Story shifts the spotlight away from the accolades, focusing instead on the faith, family and humble beginnings that continue to define Owen today.
Viewers can watch on their local APT station, stream live through the free PBS Video App on iPhone, iPad, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and other supported devices, or watch online through the APT website.
Laci Kaye Booth Plots ‘Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughLaci Kaye Booth. Photo: Natalie Sakstrup
Laci Kaye Booth is set to kick off her first-ever headline tour, the “Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart Tour,” Sept. 27 in Chicago.
The seven-date tour in support of her new album Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart, due out Sept. 18 via Lost Highway Records, will include stops in Brooklyn, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington and more, wrapping in Los Angeles on Oct. 15.
Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Aug. 6 here.
Booth, who was named as one of Spotify’s Artists to Watch for 2026 and CMT’s Next Women of Country, recently kicked off a run of dates supporting Ella Langley on her “Dandelion Arena Tour.” Leading into her new album Booth released two singles, “Pathetic,” and “Ethereal Redneck Shit,” which she performed during CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium’s Platform Stage and Spotify House. She is also featured on Carter Faith’s new song “Pearl Handled Pistol” with Baby Nova.
“Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart Tour” Dates:
9/27 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
9/30 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s 20 Lanes
10/2 – Brooklyn, NY – Desert 5 Spot
10/5 – Columbus, OH – Ace Of Cups
10/6 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Indy
10/7 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
10/15 – Los Angeles, CA – Desert 5 Spot
BREAKING: MusicRow Reveals Nominees For 38th Annual MusicRow Awards
/by MusicRow StaffMusicRow Magazine is proud to reveal the nominees for the 2026 MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank. Determined by MusicRow subscribers, this year’s winners will be revealed on all online MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
MusicRow subscribers will receive their ballots via email on Wednesday, August 5. The Ballot Voting Period runs through Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. To become a MusicRow subscriber and become eligible to vote, sign up here.
Click here to view the digital “Nominator” newsletter for a complete list of all nominees.
There are 16 subscriber-voted categories, including:
1. Producer of the Year
2. Studio of the Year
3. Label Group of the Year
4. Talent Agency of the Year
5. Publishing Company of the Year
6. Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
7. Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year
8. Male Songwriter of the Year
9. Female Songwriter of the Year
10. Song of the Year
11. Discovery Artist of the Year
12. Breakthrough Artist of the Year
13. Female Artist of the Year
14. Male Artist of the Year
15. Group/Duo Artist of the Year
16. Entertainer of the Year
Now in its 38th year, the MusicRow Awards are Nashville’s longest running music industry trade publication honors and celebrate the achievements of songwriters, artists, producers and more.
The final nominees revealed in this announcement are determined by a committee. For the categories of Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer, outside nominations are also considered. For the Male and Female Songwriter of the Year categories, nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart.
All nominations are based on projects that were active between the period of June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. Continuing MusicRow’s tradition of recognizing talent behind the scenes, the Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards will be presented in conjunction with the MusicRow Awards. These honors salute Nashville’s most in-demand studio players who performed on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period.
Vince Gill Releases ‘Eighteen Summers’ From Year-Long EP Series
/by Lorie HollabaughVince Gill has released Eighteen Summers, the latest EP in his year-long 50 Years From Home Series.
The upbeat, slightly Cajun-flavored title track kicks the ninth EP off as a duet with co-writer Cyndi Thomson, a fellow country singer who had some hits during the early 2000s. Gill wrote the smooth, swinging “I’m All the Mississippi You’ll Ever Need” from the project with Belle Frantz, but credits Steve Earle with inspiring the title.
“Steve had this bass player named Dennis Crouch, who has played with everybody – a world-class musician,” says Gill. “Steve used to introduce him and would say, ‘This cat over here is all the Arkansas you’ll ever need.’ That always stuck with me, and when Belle and I were writing I asked her where she was from and she said Mississippi, so I said, ‘OK, maybe this is the time.’ Some songs just show up a whole lot later than you ever anticipated.”
The two-stepping, twangy and slightly sinister “I’ll Haunt Your Memory” marks Gill’s first co-write with Carter Faith, and Gill wrote the mellow, lovelorn “Gone Like Yesterday” himself, wallowing in how “Misery keeps me company.” The tone is decidedly happier on “Dancing In Texas,” a collaboration with Catie Offerman with a three-quarter time sway that invites listeners to leave their problems behind. “I’ve lived in a waltz tempo.” Gill notes. “Waltzes built my house – ‘When I Call Your Name,’ ‘Pocket Full of Gold,’ those kinds of songs. I’ve always been drawn to waltzes because when I was a little boy my mom taught me how to do it, and the only kind of dancing I still do is an occasional waltz.”
“Last Night at Closing Time” penned with Brad Warren, Brett Warren, (The Warren Brothers) and Preston Cooper, offers another mood shift. The mid-tempo ode to loneliness features a soul-piercing pedal steel solo by Paul Franklin, and introduces a protagonist who passes away in the last verse. For the EP’s previously-released single Gill chose “What the Cowgirls Do,” his hit from 1994’s When Love Finds You album.
Gill’s familial musical roots are celebrated on Eighteen Summers on the guitar featured on the cover. It’s been around Gill his whole life, though he doesn’t know where it came from initially. “It’s a tiny little thing I used to drag around with me everywhere and bang and beat on it,” he remembers. “My mom has a picture of me sleeping face down on the couch when I was about a year and a half, maybe two years old, with my arm around that guitar.”
Commemorating his departure from Oklahoma to begin his music career, Gill has been releasing a new EP each month, drawing from songs he’s written mostly over the past few years.
Eighteen Summers Track List:
1. “Eighteen Summers” (Vince Gill, Cyndi Thomson)
2. “I’m All The Mississippi You’ll Ever Need” (Vince Gill, Belle Frantz)
3. “I’ll Haunt Your Memory” (Vince Gill, Carter Faith, Ashley Monroe)
4. “Gone Like Yesterday” (Vince Gill)
5. “Dancing In Texas” (Vince Gill, Catie Offerman)
6. “Last Night At Closing Time” (Vince Gill, Preston Cooper, Brett Warren, Brad Warren)
7. “What The Cowgirls Do” (Vince Gill, John Jarvis)
Country Radio Hall Of Fame Inducts Seven
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L–R): CRB/CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis, Marci Braun, Chris Carr, Bruce Logan, Rick Jackson, Michael J., John Marks, Phil Hunt, and CRB/CRS Board President, Kurt Johnson. Photo: Kayla Schoen
Country Radio Broadcasters hosted the 2026 Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony last night (Aug. 3) at the Virgin Hotels Nashville, honoring seven radio professionals whose careers have helped shape country radio.
This year’s inductees included Chris Carr, Michael J., Rick Jackson, Marci Braun, Phil Hunt, Bruce Logan and John Marks. They were recognized for their longtime contributions to broadcasting, programming, leadership and the country music industry.
The evening also honored legendary broadcaster and industry leader Lon Helton with the 2026 CRB President’s Award. Given each year to someone who has made an outstanding impact on the Country Radio Seminar and the country radio format, the award recognized Helton’s more than 50 years of service. Helton is the longtime host of Country Countdown USA, Founder of Country Aircheck, a 2006 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee and a 2022 Radio Hall of Fame inductee.
CRB also dedicated the evening to the late Bill Cody, the beloved WSM announcer and Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee, honoring his lasting legacy and the impact he made on country radio, the artists he supported and the listeners he reached throughout his career.
Lon Helton, Recipient of the 2026 CRB President’s Award. Photo: Kayla Schoen
Pictured (L–R): Marci Braun, Chris Carr, Bruce Logan, Rick Jackson, Michael J., John Marks, and Phil Hunt. Photo: Kayla Schoen
Josh Rouse Signs With New West Records
/by Madison HahnenJosh Rouse. Photo: Joshua Black Wilkins
Josh Rouse has inked with New West Records.
Rouse first broke through with his 1998 debut, Dressed Up Like Nebraska. He has since released 13 more critically acclaimed albums, blending folk, roots rock and classic pop with thoughtful songwriting. After living in Spain for more than a decade, Rouse won a Goya Award for his song “Do You Really Want To Be In Love.” Since returning to Nashville in 2018 with his wife and children, he has continued to tour and record, performing at venues and festivals around the world, including Glastonbury and Massey Hall.
Alongside the signing, Rouse has revealed he will release his new album Museums and Women on Oct. 23. The 10-song album was produced by Brad Jones. Museums and Women finds Rouse at his most hopeful and romantic, mixing thoughtful lyrics with subtle humor as he tells stories of drifters and dreamers finding meaning in everyday life. The songs balance bittersweet emotion with warm, understated melodies, creating a rich, cinematic look at the people who briefly pass through our lives.
“I was drawn to these songs because they’re so observational,” says Rouse. “They’re full of characters and stories I dreamed up from little moments that sparked my imagination on the road. At the end of the day, though, it’s inevitable that I’m in there somewhere, too.”
He will also hit the road this fall to support the album, with stops in Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia and more through Nov. 21.