Lee Brice. Photo: Chase Lauer

Lee Brice’s acoustic show at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday night (Feb. 18) was an intimate journey through his life and career, delivered in a storytelling format that resonated deeply with attendees. As part of his “You, Me & My Guitar Tour,” Brice took the stage surrounded by a collection of guitars, with no elaborate set or distractions, just him and his music. 

Edwin McCain kicked off the night with some of his biggest tunes including “I Could Not Ask For Me,” “Walk With You” and “Take Me.” After letting his charismatic banter shine through, McCain ended his set with “Solitude” and “See Off This Mountain.”

Brice’s set began with a moving video montage, setting the stage for his musical voyage. As the clip came to an end, Brice greeted the audience. “This is special for me. We’re going to talk about guitars, and we’re going to talk about my life.” The crowd was immediately drawn in as he began his story, showcasing his first-ever guitar, signed by Willie Nelson. Brice shared how he learned to play that guitar by playing a few lines of the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” a moment that set the tone for the rest of the night. 

Pictured (L-R, front row): Ciara Shortridge, Curb Records; Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light Management and Lee Brice; (L-R, back row): Rebekah Liles-Jackson, Curb Records; RJ Mecham, Curb Records; Storme Warren; Anthony DeVincenzo, Red Light Management; Jackie Jones, RIAA; Jeff Tuerff, Curb Records; Benson Curb, Curb Records and John Clore, Curb Records; Photo: Chase Lauer

“Picture of Me” kicked off his own musical journey timeline. He then honored his roots with a heartfelt piano rendition of “Oh How I Love Jesus,” paying tribute to the church music that shaped his early years. The energy in the room soared as the crowd stood for “Soul,” and then Brice played his new single, “Cry.”

The next part of the show featured several meaningful covers, each representing a pivotal moment in Brice’s journey. He kicked off with “Old Violin” by Johnny Paycheck, a song that inspired his move to Nashville. He then paid tribute to Travis Tritt by performing “Be Somebody” on Tritt’s actual guitar, showing his respect for the artist who helped shape his path. Brice continued with “More Than a Memory,” a song he wrote that was recorded by Garth Brooks. Finally, he performed “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band, a song he co-wrote, and the performance took on extra significance when a couple in the audience got engaged during the heartfelt rendition. After these emotional moments, the energy in the room was undeniable as the crowd got back on their feet for “Drinking Class.”

Brice then began playfully bragging on his crew member Simon, who played riffs of various iconic rock hits before him and Brice went into “Beverly Hills.” The audience then waved their hands as the bandmates turned the Ryman into a big celebration for “Parking Lot Party.”

The emotional high continued as Brice was presented with multiple plaques, honoring his career achievements. Jackie Jones of the RIAA presented him with plaques for his double-Platinum hit “Boy” and six-times Platinum “Rumor.” Storme Warren also presented Brice with a “Career Highlights” plaque, celebrating his incredible milestones, which included 12 billion global streams, nine No. 1 radio singles, 18 billion airplay impressions, CMA and seven-time ACM Award winner, Grammy, Emmy and Billboard Music Award nominee, SESAC, ASCAP and BMI 2021 Song of the Year for “One of Them Girls,” $1.5 million donated to Folds of Honor and a roster of country music hitmakers who have recorded his songs, including Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks, among others. Overcome with emotion, Brice took a moment to thank his fans and his team.

Rebecca Lynn Howard, Edwin McCain & Lee Brice. Photo: Chase Lauer

The powerful singer delivered a tender moment with his cover of “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton, where his vulnerability truly shone through. He then transitioned to the piano for a heartfelt performance of “I Don’t Dance,” leaving the audience in awe. The energy soared again when Brice performed “Boy,” dedicated to his son. He followed with “This Little Guitar,” a touching song he co-wrote with his daughter Trulee at seven years old, accompanied by a heartwarming video of her singing along and moments of them together.

The night reached new heights when Brice was joined by Rebecca Lynn Howard for an unforgettable version of “I Will Always Love You.” The audience stood in ovation, moved by the beautiful duet. “I’ll Be” with both Howard and McCain followed, evoking chills throughout the room.

As the night continued, Brice’s setlist delivered fan-favorites with “Rumor” and “One Of Them Girls.” Before “I Drive Your Truck,” Brice took time to honor the men and women in the military, first responders, teachers and healthcare workers. During the performance, the audience lit up the room with their cell phone lights, creating a sea of stars.

The crowd stayed standing as “When the Kingdom Comes” featured just Brice and his guitar, no microphone, with a single spotlight shining down. His voice filled the room as the a capella version gave everyone goosebumps.

“This is me and my guitar, but I wouldn’t be anything without you,” Brice shared. With that, the crowd erupted into applause, and Brice ended the night with the tour anthem, “You, Me & My Guitar.”

The “You, Me & My Guitar Tour” will continue tomorrow (Feb. 21) in Savannah, with additional stops in Overland Park, Wallingford, Duluth and more throughout the end of March.

Pictured (L-R, top row): Red Street Records’ Patrick Waters, Alex Valentine, Amanda Roach, Lex Music Group’s Austin McBride, Lex Lipsitz and Red Street Records’ Andy Elliot; (L-R, bottom row): Red Street Records’ Mike Craft, Taylor Austin Dye and Red Street Records’ Jay DeMarcus

Taylor Austin Dye has signed with Red Street Records.

A Booneville, Kentucky native, Dye has amassed a solid fanbase since her 2023 debut project Out of These Hills followed by her 2024 album Sick of Me. Her viral breakout hit “Rest In Peace” garnered millions of online views and hit the top of the iTunes country charts, leading to a year of major milestones including a Grand Ole Opry debut and a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music. Dye has played for audiences across the nation headlining her own shows and opened for acts including Luke Combs, Keith Urban, Jake Owen, Elle King and more.

“Taylor Austin Dye is a one-of-a-kind artist, and we feel so fortunate to have her as a part of the Red Street team,” says Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus. “She’s worked so hard to build what’s proving to be a stellar career, and we’re honored to partner alongside her and watch her explode!”

“I’m positively thrilled to be part of the Red Street family,” says Dye. “From the moment I first met with their team, I knew they were the right people to help me achieve my dreams, while still staying true to my roots. I’m so excited for this partnership and can’t wait for what’s to come.”

Abbey Cone will release her debut album, Greener on April 11.

“Greener is an album I pieced together when my life felt like it was falling apart,” says Cone. “These songs are some of the most personal I’ve ever written. Although the past year has been one of the hardest of my life, light found its way through the cracks, and I’ve somehow found myself on the other side. This is Greener— a true story.”

Her first full-length project since 2022 EP Hate Me, Greener traces Cone’s journey through the highs and lows of love, capturing the complex emotions that arise along the way. The album opens with “If You Were A Song,” which has garnered over 17 million streams on Spotify. From there, it unfolds like a narrative, beginning at the peak of love, unraveling through the heartache of a breakup and ultimately finding peace in the quiet clarity of closure.

She also dropped the latest single from the project last Friday (Feb. 14), “I Kissed My Friend Last Night,” produced by Matt Martin and co-penned by Cone, Martin and Cece Coakley. The track captures the emotional complexity that follows a breakup, with Cone navigating a mix of conflicting feelings. Set against a backdrop of synths and shimmering guitars, she harmonizes with two versions of herself, one ready to move on and the other still mourning what’s been lost.

Since moving to Nashville at 16, Cone has performed at major events like C2C Festival in London at The O2, Stagecoach, CMA Fest and even made her Grand Ole Opry debut after receiving an invitation from Vince Gill. She was inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020 and named one of Pandora’s 10 Country Artists to Watch in 2022. Cone has been building a reputation for her emotionally powerful songwriting that resonates with both the next generation of listeners and beyond.

Cone started 2025 with a guest feature on Mat Kearney’s latest single, “Good Thing Going On,” following a string of releases last year. These included “This Little Lighter Of Mine (Joy Version),” featuring Joy Oladokun, which celebrates finding light in tough times, and “I Hate Springsteen,” both of which will appear on her upcoming project. Cone also co-founded the Nashville writers round series, The Pony Show, and stayed busy on the road, performing alongside Kimberly Perry on CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour, as well as with Mickey Guyton and Morgan Wade. She also joined Brittney Spencer for her Tiny Desk performance, where she helped arrange the set and provided background vocals.

Later this month, Cone will join Stephen Day as a supporting act for the first leg of his nationwide tour, with stops in cities like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and more.

Greener Track List:
1. “If You Were A Song” (Abbey Cone, Nate Cyphert, Nathan Spicer)
2. “Video Games” (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
3. “Worst Case Scenario (Worktape)” (Claire Douglas, Madison Kozak, Abbey Cone)
4. “I Hate Springsteen” (Abbey Cone, Madison Kozak, Joe Ginsburg)
5. “Little Bit of You” (Abbey Cone, Tom Jordan, Andrew Stoelzing)
6. “This Little Lighter Of Mine (Joy Version)” (Abbey Cone, Hank Compton, Josh Lovell)
7. “Cry That It Happened” (Abbey Cone, Ava Suppelsa, Madison Kozak)
8. “I Kissed My Friend Last Night” (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
9. “Greener” (Abbey Cone, Andy Seltzer, Charli Adams, Carys Selvey)

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was announced today during CRS Honors at Country Radio Seminar 2025.

The three On-Air Personality inductees are Big D & Bubba, Mary McCoy and Rowdy Yates, while the three Radio inductees include Ginny “Rogers” Brophey, Clay Hunnicutt and Gregg Swedberg.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry. To qualify, candidates must have worked in the radio industry for at least 20 years, with 15 years in the country format. Inductees are recognized in two categories: On-Air Personality, highlighting the achievements of on-air talent, and Radio, honoring professionals behind the scenes in programming, management and sales.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held on Monday, July 21 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville.

The Key West Songwriters Festival, presented by BMI, has revealed initial details for the 29th annual event set to take place from April 30 to May 4, 2025. This year, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Rams Head Presents will welcome over 150 BMI-affiliated songwriters to the five-day festival where they will showcase their hits and introduce new music to audiences.

The event will feature both acoustic and full band performances from Nashville songwriters such as Chuck Cannon, Bob DiPiero, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Raul Malo, Lee Thomas Miller, Taylor Phillips, Liz Rose, Jeffrey Steele and Bridgette Tatum while prominent newcomers like Matt Castillo, Bre Kennedy, Jackson Nance, DJ Smoke and The Kentucky Gentlemen make their debut.

The festival will kick off with the official “Sunset Pier Kick Off Party” at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa on Wednesday (April 30), featuring Dylan Altman, Robert Randolph and Guthrie Trapp. On Thursday (May 1), Nate Smith will headline the Coffee Butler Amphitheater with support from Chase Matthew and the annual free block party at Main Stage Duval Street will be held on Saturday (May 3) with talent to be announced soon. “Sunday Songs: Music & Mimosas” at Williams Hall will make its return on the final day, Sunday (May 4), with additional performances to take place at the Key West Woman’s Club at Hellings Curry Museum and La Te Da, which will host intimate theater showcases.

This year’s new venues will include the Marquesa Hotel, The Alamo and Island Dogs, while Rams Head Southernmost Bar & Restaurant will serve as the event’s headquarters. Several established locations will also return, including Key West Theater, Southernmost Resort, Blue Heaven, Dante’s Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant and San Carlos Institute.

“We’re excited for another year of collaborating with BMI and the amazing venues across the island to highlight the industry’s best songwriting talent,” shares Kyle Muehlhauser, owner of the Key West Songwriters Festival and Rams Head Presents.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the BMI Foundation and the Michelle Foundation, a Key West-based nonprofit that helps children and families in need. Additional info on passes and ticketed shows at the Key West Theater and San Carlos Institute will be available here.