The Oak Ridge Boys have added a series of dates to their “American Made Farewell Tour.”

They’ll kick off the next leg Jan. 24 with four Grand Ole Opry dates through Mar. 1, then head to South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and more through the end of the year. The tour, named after one of their most beloved hits, celebrates the Oaks’ decades-long career and supports their latest album, Mama’s Boys, which was released in November of last year via Lightning Rod/Thirty Tigers.

The group will head back into the studio later this year to record a new album, continuing their legacy of creating music that resonates with fans old and new.

“We’ve had so much fun touring from city to city and getting to see everyone,”shares William Lee Golden. “The response we received from the new album has been wonderful and we hope you love it as much as we do. Keep checking our website as new dates will be added soon!”

“American Made Farewell Tour” Dates:
Jan 24 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
Jan 25 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
Feb 28 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
Mar 1 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
Mar 6 – Florida Strawberry Festival / Plant City, Fla.
Mar 7 – Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium / Spartanburg, S.c.
Mar 21 – the Midland Theatre / Newark, Ohio
Mar 22 – American Music Theatre / Lancaster, Pa.
Mar 23 – American Music Theatre / Lancaster, Pa.
May 18 – the Caverns / Pelham, Tenn.
Jun 5 – Bluegate Performing Arts Center / Shipshewana, Ind.
Jun 6 – Bluegate Performing Arts Center / Shipshewana, Ind.
Jun 7 – Renfro Valley – the New Barn Theater / Mount Vernon, Ky.
Jun 13 – Hartville Kitchen / Hartville, Ohio
Jun 14 – Hartville Kitchen / Hartville, Ohio
Aug 5 – Warren County Fair / Pittsfield, Pa.
Aug 15 – Fairbury Fair / Fairbury, Ill.
Sep 13 – Alabama Theatre / North Myrtle Beach, S.c.
Sep 21 – Bloomsburg Fair / Bloomsburg, Pa.
Dec 13 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Wrensong Publishing has hired Haily Harris as Creative Manager.

Harris comes to Wrensong from Jody Williams Songs (JWS), where she assisted Jody Williams, Nina Jenkins Fisher and Tenasie Courtright with various publishing endeavors as an intern. The Marietta, Georgia native graduated from Belmont University in 2024, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in music business with a legal emphasis.

In her new role, Harris will work with songwriters Makayla Lynn, Joe Ginsberg, Connor Matthews and Charles Esten.

“We are so excited to welcome Haily to the Wrensong team. She came highly recommended from Jody Williams and Nina Jenkins Fisher as their amazing intern. You cannot get a better endorsement than team Jody Williams Songs!! We are very impressed by her entrepreneur spirit and ‘get it done’ attitude,” says Ree Guyer, President & Owner, Wrensong Publishing. “We see great things in her future, and we are thrilled she is on team Wrensong.”

“I am so excited and honored to join the Wrensong team! This past year interning at Jody Williams Songs, I have learned so much, and found a true passion for songs and the people who bring them to life. I look forward to learning and growing with this amazing group of women,” shares Harris.

Northern Ireland-born singer-songwriter Gareth has signed a publishing deal with BMG.

Born and raised in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, Gareth blends his Irish roots with a love for country music and storytelling. He got his start playing in local pubs, and his breakthrough came in 2024 with a viral cover of “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, which amassed over 25 million views and 15 million streams.

The buzz from that cover led to his projects Covers (From Across the Pond) and his debut original EP Changing Seasons, which together have garnered over 25 million streams and significant airplay on stations such as SiriusXM’s The Highway and Absolute Country Radio. His rise has also seen him share stages with Brett Young and The 502s, while earning him a loyal fanbase.

“We are delighted to welcome Gareth to BMG,” says Ciara Newell-Bailey, Senior Director, Creative (Publishing) BMG. “His deep love for music, his roots, and his hometown shines through in his writing style. Writing from the heart, his lyrics resonate with honesty and emotion, all complemented by his stunning and beautiful voice. Gareth’s talents know no bounds, and we are thrilled to be part of his creative team and to support him on his musical journey.”

Walk Off Entertainment’s Chris Ruediger adds, “We are very excited to work with BMG. They are fervent believers in Gareth’s craft and understand his desire to blend his Irish roots with country storytelling. We are fortunate to have BMG in our corner to champion Gareth’s songwriting and artistry.”

“I feel very fortunate to be in such great hands at BMG,” says Gareth. “They see my vision as a songwriter and artist and I am ready to get to work!”

Gareth’s latest single, “Last Thing I Do,” is due out Jan. 17 via Walk Off Entertainment. The track is a heartfelt ode to staying grounded while chasing dreams, a theme that resonates deeply with Gareth’s own journey.

“I wrote this song as it relates to my recent move from Northern Ireland to Nashville,” he shares. “The song mentions that no matter where you travel or what dreams you chase, you will never forget those that are closest to you. Somehow you will always find your way back to the ones you love.”

Opry Entertainment Group (OEG), a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, has acquired a majority stake in Southern Entertainment, a live events, hospitality and production company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Southern Entertainment’s portfolio includes several owned or promoted festivals, such as the Carolina Country Music Fest, Barefoot Country Music Fest, Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Greenville Country Music Fest, and the upcoming Field & Stream Outdoor Music Fest, set to debut in 2025.

“In just 10 years, the Southern Entertainment team has grown their business into one of the strongest independent festival businesses in the United States,” shares Patrick Moore, OEG CEO. “With this investment, we are entering a dynamic and growing sector of the events business with seasoned operators who share our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for artists and fans. This investment will allow us to expand our reach to a large and loyal fan base that is complementary to our current audience.”

Bob Durkin and Rob Pedlow, who co-founded Southern Entertainment in 2015, will remain at the helm of the company.

“Joining forces with OEG will add immediate value to our existing events and allow us to accelerate our plans to bring festivals to new markets,” add Durkin and Pedlow. “We are confident our fans, the artists who play our stages and the cities where we operate will benefit from our alliance with such an iconic name in country music.”

Southern Entertainment will incorporate OEG’s artist development initiatives into its country music festivals, which have featured numerous Opry members and Opry NextStage artists in recent years. The two teams also plan to create additional artist-focused experiences in the coming years.

“We view festivals as a tremendous opportunity to deepen our commitment to artists at all phases of their careers,” Moore continues. “And we especially look forward to joining forces with Southern Entertainment to bring even more of the up-and-coming artists who play our stages to their large-scale events.”