Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matthews has signed with Curb Records.

With his earliest music connection deeply rooted in the church, Matthews first gained widespread recognition as a lead vocalist and songwriter for Elevation Worship. He co-wrote and performed on several of the group’s worship projects, including “Here as in Heaven,” “Resurrecting” and “Echo,” as well as the Here As In Heaven album, cementing his reputation as a gifted songwriter and powerhouse vocalist.

Now stepping into his solo career, Matthews continues his mission to create songs that offer hope to a searching world. Rooted in the heart of worship yet shaped by his diverse influences, he brings a fresh, authentic voice to faith-driven music.

“My passion for music is ingrained in the depths of hope and the magnificence of the sound of worship—the way it shifts atmospheres, brings healing, and transforms lives,” shares Matthews. “Signing with Curb represents a dream unfolding—an opportunity to share my stories and my heart. My music is the outward expression of my inward experience, and my prayer is that it reaches those who need it most.”

Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Welcomes Home Its National Medal Of Arts Medallion

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently celebrated the arrival of its National Medal of Arts medallion with staffers. Museum CEO Kyle Young gathered staff in the Ford Theater to thank them for their contributions and acknowledge the many individuals and entities who supported the museum’s educational mission through the years.

The newly-engraved Medal was placed on display in the museum’s galleries along with the accompanying White House Citation. The museum was recognized with the prestigious honor last October during a ceremony at the White House, which is the highest honor in the arts given by the U.S. government.

 

Scotty McCreery’s ‘Damn Strait’ Becomes ‘Jeopardy’ Question

Scotty McCreery was part of the $1,000 answer last week on an episode of Jeopardy on Feb. 21. The answer was “A Scotty McCreery country megahit puts together a cuss word and the last name of singer George for this title.” The question, of course, was “What is ‘Damn Strait’?”

 

Max McNown Makes TV Debut On ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’

Max McNown recently made his TV debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show with a performance of his radio hit “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” from his recently released sophomore album Night Diving. Just last month, host and singer-songwriter Clarkson covered McNown’s breakout single “A Lot More Free” on her show.

 

Shane Stevens & Sara Evans Perform ‘I Can’t Quit’ During Opry Appearance

Shane Stevens and Sara Evans celebrated the release of their new single “I Can’t Quit” on Feb. 22 with a live performance at The Grand Ole Opry as part of the Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration. The song was co-written by Stevens and released on Feb. 21 on all major streaming platforms via Melody Place.

 

Pam Lewis Makes National Museum of Women in the Arts 2025 Honor Roll For Advocacy

Pam Lewis has been honored by The National Museum of Women in the Arts with inclusion in its 2025 Honor Roll, recognizing her dedication to promoting and supporting women artists. This honor reflects her contribution to the museum’s ongoing mission to highlight the achievements of women in the arts and address gender disparities in the art world. The #5WomenArtists campaign, launched by NMWA, encourages people to name five women artists, a challenge that underscores the historic lack of recognition women have received in the field. The initiative aims to bring greater visibility to female artists while fostering awareness and dialogue about equity in the arts.

 

Country Music Hall Of Fame Hosts ‘In-Law Country’ Discussion With Author Geoffrey Himes

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a discussion last weekend with author Geoffrey Himes about his recently published book In-Law Country: How Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, and Their Circle Fashioned a New Kind of Country Music, 1968–1985. Himes was joined by Rodney Crowell, who is featured in the book. P

ublished by the museum’s CMF Press, In-Law Country is about the musical community that grew up around Harris, Cash and their collaborators and friends. The book explores the lives and influential works of Harris, Cash, Crowell, Guy Clark, Gram Parsons, Ricky Skaggs, Clarence White, Townes Van Zandt and others from this fruitful movement. Himes has won awards for writing about music in the New York Times, No Depression, Rolling Stone, Washington Post and other publications since 1975.

The “Sac Song & Wine Series” is returning for its third year to Clarksburg, California just outside Sacramento at the Miner’s Leap Winery beginning May 16.

The five-week series will take place once a month on Friday evenings through Oct. 10, bringing some of the biggest hit songwriters from Nashville to share the stories behind how some of the biggest hits in country music came to be.

The “Sac Song & Wine Series” will kick off May 16 with songwriters Tyler Reeve and Cole Taylor. Other writers taking part in the series include James Otto, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Jordon Walker, Jerry Flowers and artist/actor Charles Esten.

Attendees will be treated to a live DJ set by DJ Louie Giovanni, The Sac Song & Wine Hometown Hero Series, food truck options, lawn games and more. Tickets are on sale now at sacsongandwineseries.com.

“Sac Song & Wine Series” Dates:
May 16: Tyler Reeve & Cole Taylor
June 20: James Otto & TBA
August 15: Lee Thomas Miller & Wendell Mobley
September 19: Jordon Walker & Jerry Flowers
October 10: Charles Esten & TBA

Fancy Hagood will be honored with the HRC Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign at their Nashville dinner on March 8 at the JW Marriott Nashville.

Hagood embraces his LGBTQ+ identity, offering visibility and representation within the country music industry. He has also released two albums, Southern Curiosity and American Spirit, both of which share his personal journey with audiences. In attendance will be Kacey Musgraves who, in 2022, teamed up with Hagood for “Blue Dream Baby,” which earned accolades from influential figures like Elton John, and HRC President Kelley Robinson will be on hand to address attendees and discuss the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

“Expanding LGBTQ+ visibility in all spaces is such an integral part of this fight for LGBTQ+ equality,” says Robinson. “As Fancy Hagood takes the country music world by storm, his commitment to being authentically who he is lets the world know that LGBTQ+ people belong everywhere and our stories deserve to be heard. To also be joined by award-winning country music star Kacey Musgraves illustrates the power of having committed LGBTQ+ allies alongside us in the fight for equality. This will be a beautiful night of celebration and community building as we continue our work to advance LGBTQ+ rights.”

At 17, Hagood moved to Nashville from his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas with the dream of becoming an openly queer country artist. In 2021, he released his debut album, Southern Curiosity, a fusion of country, glam rock and confessional pop, which earned a nomination for Best Country Record at the 2022 Libera Awards. In October of last year, Hagood released his second solo album, American Spirit, which blends his country roots with a sense of both return and new beginnings. He’s worked with acclaimed producers such as John Osborne, Jarrad K and Jeremy Lutitio, and has collaborated with other major artists such as Musgraves and Orville Peck.

“It is such an honor to be receiving HRC’s Visibility award and to be joined by other LGBTQ+ advocates all committed to making our state and country a better place for our community,” shares Hagood. “As a gay country artist who moved to Nashville at just 17 years old, I understand first-hand the barriers LGBTQ+ people face in this industry and beyond. I also recognize the resilience of our community — we are powerful, we are fearless and we are strong — and we will continue to work together to overcome any barrier placed in our way.”

“At its heart, country music is about real life and real people, and that includes the LGBTQ+ community,” adds Musgraves. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support my friend and fellow country music star, Fancy Hagood, whose talent and authenticity is opening doors for more representation and inclusion in the industry. I have a deep love for this community, and I remain committed to continue making this world a better place for all LGBTQ+ people.”

HRC’s Nashville Dinner will unite the organization’s most dedicated advocates, members and supporters from across the state to raise funds for the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Tickets and more information are available here.