FBMM Elevates Shelley Grayson & Chris Trump

Shelley Grayson & Chris Trump

FBMM has promoted Nashville based employees Shelley Grayson and Chris Trump to Associate Business Manager. Both previously served as Senior Account Manager.

“Shelley and Chris exemplify the leadership, dedication and ‘white glove’ service we are committed to at FBMM,” says Owner Erica Rosa. “These promotions reflect their hard work and the care they bring to their clients and to our team every day. My fellow owners and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow and help lead FBMM forward.”

Over the past 15 years, Grayson has gained experience across touring and recording artists from different genres, overseeing domestic and international headline touring, real estate transactions, estate planning and more. She is a member of ACM, CMA, Recording Academy and SOURCE Nashville, and also serves as a Public Director on ACM Lifting Lives’ Board of Directors.

“Working behind the scenes to help artists become financially stable and achieve their financial goals is the most rewarding part of what I do,” shares Grayson. “It’s very personal to work with someone’s finances and earning my clients’ trust and helping set them up for success is something I take very seriously. I’m proud to contribute to FBMM’s deep bench of expertise.”

Since joining FBMM in 2009, Trump has worked with developing artists and award winning acts, overseing acting careers, catalog sales and more. He is a member of ACM, CMA, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Troubadour Society, and a SOLID alum.

“Every artist’s definition of success looks different, and I love helping them build the financial side of their careers in a way that supports the life and goals they actually want,” adds Trump. “Just as importantly, I want artists to understand and have agency in their businesses, so they feel empowered and confident in the decisions that shape their future. I’m thankful I get to help my clients do just that at FBMM.”

Thomas Rhett Covers ‘Georgia On My Mind’ To Celebrate The Masters

Thomas Rhett has recorded and released the Southern classic “Georgia On My Mind” as part of ESPN’s official campaign for the 2026 Masters Tournament.

Rhett lends his unmistakable vocal and modern country soul to the beloved tune that has become synonymous with the road to Augusta National Golf Club. The Valdosta, Georgia native brings a personal connection to the track, honoring its legacy while introducing it to a new generation.

“Recording ‘Georgia On My Mind’ was a pretty surreal moment for me,” shares Rhett. “Being from Georgia, sports and music are both just in my blood. Obviously nobody can touch the original, but it meant a lot to me to be asked to honor both the song and tradition of the Masters.”

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Rhett recently announced he’ll hit the road this summer on “The Soundtrack To Life Tour,” a 20+ city run that will also feature two special stadium shows with longtime friend Niall Horan this July at Nashville’s GEODIS Park and at Hersheypark Stadium. Alongside his headlining trek, Rhett will join Morgan Wallen for four stadium dates on the “Still The Problem Tour” and make his return to the U.K. this summer for a three-night run at Wembley Stadium with Luke Combs.

Ashley McBryde Fans Across The World Help Unlock Tracks On New LP ‘Wild’

Ashley McBryde unveiled the track list for her fifth studio album Wild in a unique way, enlisting the help of some devoted fans around the world from her official fan club, The Trybe.

Eleven patches were mailed last week across the globe to some of McBryde’s top fans from The Trybe. Each patch held a passcode key and instructions on how to unlock the title of a different song from Wild. When someone entered their password on McBryde’s website, that patch lit up on a jean jacket that matched the one Ashley wears in the cover art for the album, and released the title to all fans globally. One by one, the Trybe unlocked the album’s entire track list together, revealing all 11 songs worldwide late last night.

McBryde co-penned six out of the 11 tracks on the project, collaborating with Jessie Jo Dillon, Laura Veltz, Travis Meadows and more. John Osborne served as sole-producer on the album.

Still live on McBryde’s Wild website, fans who re-enter those discovered passwords here can hear early previews of every song on Wild, and enter to win one of five limited edition physical versions of the unlocked patch jacket.

Early preview tracks released from Wild include “Rattlesnake Preacher,” “Arkansas Mud,” most recent release “Bottle Tells Me So,” and McBryde’s current single to country radio, “What If We Don’t,” which was the No. 1 most-added single of the week upon impact, earning McBryde the biggest add date of her career.

Wild Tracklist:
1. “Rattlesnake Preacher” (Randall Clay)
2. “Arkansas Mud” (Ashley McBryde, Jessie Jo Dillon, Chris Tompkins)
3. “Water in the River” (Randall Clay, Blue Foley, Roger Hodges)
4. “Creosote” (Ashley McBryde, Lisa Carver)
5. “Bottle Tells Me So” (Ashley McBryde, Shelly Fairchild, Terri Jo Box)
6. “What If We Don’t” (Ashley McBryde, Terri Jo Box, Randall Clay)
7. “Lines In The Carpet” (Lauren Hungate, Caroline Watkins, Lori McKenna)
8. “Behind Bars” (Jeff Hyde, Jessie Alexander, Jon Randall)
9. “Hand Me Downs” (Ashley McBryde, Jessie Jo Dillon, Laura Veltz)
10. “Wild” (Jeremy Spillman, Makayla Lynn, Matraca Berg)
11. “Ten to Midnight” (Ashley McBryde, Travis Meadows)

Ella Langley Notches Fourth Week Atop Billboard Hot 100

Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard

Ella Langley has once again made history as her Platinum-certified single “Choosin’ Texas” tops the Billboard Hot 100 for its fourth week. The milestone marks a new record for the most weeks ever spent atop the Hot 100 for a song by a woman that also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, surpassing Taylor Swift’s record for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

Langley wrote the track alongside Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick, and co-produced it with Lambert and Ben West. The song has amassed over 486 million worldwide streams to date and is also currently No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs, Billboard Country Streaming Songs chart, and Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart.

The track is featured on Langley’s upcoming Dandelion album, releasing April 10. Langley will also kickoff her “The Dandelion Tour” on May 7, visiting Toledo, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Austin, Fort Worth and more.

Lucas Ball Inks With Twelve6 Entertainment

Pictured (L-R): Twelve6’s Brooke Pauley and Travis Myatt, Lucas Ball, Gutt Law’s Rachel Guttmann, Twelve6’s Willow Belenski. Photo: Gina Di Maio

Singer-songwriter Lucas Ball has signed a recording deal with Twelve6 Entertainment. Ball’s first release via Twelve6 will be his cover of Keith Whitley’s “I’m Gonna Hurt Her on the Radio,” available everywhere March 27.

Ball has been steadily building a digital audience through his performances on TikTok, and Twelve6 President and GM Travis Myatt first discovered Ball performing the song on the platform, where the original video has already generated nearly one million views. Rooted in classic ’80s and ’90s country influences, Ball’s sound bridges the gap between the traditional songwriting he grew up on and today’s modern country landscape.

“Lucas has one of the most compelling voices I’ve heard in a long time,” says Myatt. “When you come across someone as talented as he is, you’re usually late to the party. In this case, the stars aligned and I happened to be the first one to reach out. When we finally met in person, it was immediately clear that his character runs just as deep as his talent. Starting with the cover that first took him viral, an ode to one of his heroes, Lucas is on his way to releasing some of the most compelling neo-traditional country music being made today.”

“‘I’m Gonna Hurt Her on the Radio’ is a song that really hits home for me,” says Ball. “It may not be one of Keith Whitley’s most well-known tracks, but it spoke to me, and when I shared my cover online a few months ago, it seemed to resonate with others as well. I’ve always admired the song and its clever lyrics. It’s an honest heartbreak story that still carries a sense of hope, about turning that pain into something meaningful. Singing it feels natural, and it reflects the kind of authentic, heartfelt country music I aspire to make.”

Michael August Exits Demolition Music

Michael August.

Michael August has exited Demolition Music.

August moved to Music City in 2014 and signed as a staff-writer with Demolition Music Publishing. In July of 2017, he was added as Creative Manager. August has served as General Manager of the company since 2019 where he oversaw day-to-day operations and curated creative and strategic partnerships.

During his tenure as General Manager, August established a Film & Television Department that has secured over 300 placements, strategized and set up sessions that resulted in cuts with Kelly Clarkson, Iggy Azalea, Roddy Rich, Dolly Parton, Blessing Offor and Erin Kinsey, among others, became a committee member for Nashville Film Festival, and more.

As a songwriter, August has earned over 200 cuts with Adam Doleac, Madeline Merlo, Harper Grace, Cooper Alan and more. He has also notched 30 placements in film and television, including in The Kardashians, Dynasty and American Idol, among others.

August will step back into full-time songwriting. He can be reached here.

Dailey & Vincent To Launch New Chapter With ‘A Beautiful Life’ Album & Tour [Exclusive]

Dailey & Vincent. Photo: Gregg Roth; courtesy of Morris Higham Management

Grand Ole Opry members Dailey & Vincent are ushering in a new chapter with the announcement of their upcoming studio album, A Beautiful Life, set for release June 12, alongside a nationwide tour of the same name.

The announcement follows the pair’s recent multi-week Bluegrass Today Radio Chart No. 1 with their reimagining of “Ruby,” the classic first made famous by The Osborne Brothers. The track marked a return to their deep traditional roots while showcasing the signature harmony and musicianship that have defined their nearly two-decade career.

“It means a great deal to us. ‘Ruby’ is one of those songs that carries so much history, emotion, and weight in bluegrass music, so to see listeners and radio embrace our version in that way is incredibly humbling,” the duo share with MusicRow. “Any time you record a song that has meant this much to so many people for so long, you want to honor the legacy of it while still bringing your own heart to the performance. That was very important to us from the beginning. We never wanted to simply recreate something people already knew, we wanted to pay respect to the tradition, while also delivering it in a way that felt honest to who Dailey & Vincent are today. To have it reach No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Chart tells us that people connected with that spirit. We’re grateful to radio, grateful to the fans, and grateful for the generations of artists who made songs like ‘Ruby’ timeless in the first place. When a classic song still resonates like that, it says a lot about the power of great music—and we’re honored to be a small part of its story.”

Originally performed as part of a special Grand Ole Opry tribute at the Ryman Auditorium, “Ruby” drew an immediate response from the crowd, ultimately leading to its recording.

“When the Grand Ole Opry asked us to perform an Osborne Brothers classic for a special show at the Ryman, we knew we wanted to choose something that truly represented the power and legacy of their music. ‘Ruby’ has always been one of those songs that just grabs you from the first note it’s haunting, emotional, and unmistakably bluegrass. When we performed it that night, the response in the room was immediate. To feel that kind of connection from the audience and to see the way the song still moved people all these years later told us something. By the time we walked off that stage, we really felt like this might be a song we were supposed to record.”

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They followed “Ruby” with the release of “Longer Than That,” offering an early look at the emotional depth of A Beautiful Life.

“What stood out to us first was the heart of the song. ‘Longer Than That’ has a depth and sincerity that immediately got our attention. It speaks to love, commitment, and the kind of bond that stands the test of time, and songs like that always resonate with us. What we loved is that it did not need anything extra to make its point. It is beautifully written, and the emotion is strong enough to carry itself. That allowed us to approach it in a very intimate, understated way and let the lyric, the melody, and the feeling speak for themselves. Those are the kinds of songs that stay with people, because they are honest. ‘Longer Than That’ felt that way to us from the very beginning, and that is what made us want to record it.”

Drawing from bluegrass, country and gospel traditions, A Beautiful Life reflects the duo’s longstanding approach to blending influences while remaining rooted in authenticity.

“Those influences show up in a very natural and organic way, because they have all helped shape who we are as artists. We have never really thought in terms of categories as much as we have thought in terms of songs, and A Beautiful Life reflects that. It is a project that allows different musical threads to come together in a way that still feels cohesive and true to us. Some songs lean more into the roots of what people may expect from us, while others open the door to a broader emotional and musical landscape. But through it all, the focus was always on serving the song and making sure each track felt authentic. That is really the heart of Dailey & Vincent. We draw from a variety of influences, but the goal is always the same: to make music that is meaningful, well-crafted and honest. This album gave us the opportunity to do that in a way that feels both familiar and fresh.”

Harmony remains a defining element of their sound, built on trust and a shared commitment to the song.

“Harmony has always been a defining part of what we do, but not every song calls for both of us to sing all the way through,” the duo’s Jamie Dailey offers. “We’ve always tried to serve the song first, and that means being willing to let the other guy take the lead when that is what the music needs. There’s never been ego in that. It’s about doing what is best for the song.”

Darrin Vincent shares, “And I think that same idea applies beyond the vocals. Jamie brings such a powerful voice and a real emotional presence to the music, and my role has always been to complement that however the song calls for it whether that’s singing lead, singing harmony, or helping shape the record from the production side. At the same time, I think we both understand each other’s strengths, and that trust is a big part of why this works.”

“Darrin brings so much to this duo that people may not always see at first glance,” Dailey adds. “What he does vocally, musically and creatively behind the scenes is a huge part of who we are. I think we complement each other well because we’re not trying to do the exact same thing we’re each bringing something different, and that balance has helped define both our sound and our career.”

In tandem with the album release, Dailey & Vincent will launch the “A Beautiful Life Tour,” kicking off April 10 in Reidsville, North Carolina, and running through the duo’s annual Dailey & Vincent Music Festival in Hiawassee, Georgia, Sept. 17-19.

As they look ahead to the new project, the duo remains driven by the same passion that first brought them together.

“We’ve been blessed beyond anything we could have imagined, and becoming members of the Grand Ole Opry will always be one of the greatest honors of our lives. But what keeps us inspired is the same thing that got us started in the first place—the love of the music. There is still nothing like finding a great song, stepping into the studio, or walking onstage and feeling that connection with the audience.

We also believe music is always giving you something new to chase. No matter how much you’ve done, there is always another song to discover, another way to grow, and another opportunity to say something meaningful. That creative part of it never really leaves you.

And we never take for granted that our fans still want to hear new music from us. That means a lot. It makes us want to keep digging deeper, keep challenging ourselves, and keep giving people songs that might encourage them, move them, or stay with them. At the end of the day, we still love it. We love the process, we love the tradition, and we love the chance to keep making music that reflects where we are in life and what we still have to say. That is what keeps us inspired.”

A Beautiful Life Track List:
1. “Ruby” (Cousin Emmy)
2. “Butterfly” (Jamie Dailey, Pete Sallis, Tia Sillers)
3. “Moon Shines On The Still” (Laura Leigh Jones Robertson, Bill Whyte)
4. “When I Meet My Maker” (Tenille Townes)
5. “Uncle Billy Play Your Fiddle” (Randall Hylton)
6. “A Beautiful Life” (Bill Anderson, Jon Randall, Carrie Underwood)
7. “Love You Longer Than That” (Tenille Townes, Park Chisolm)
8. “I’ll Keep Going” (Jamie Dailey)
9. “I Grew Up In Heaven” (Josh Kear, Don Schlitz)
10. “God’s Country” (Butch Curry, Marcus Hummon)
11. “Smokey Mountain Memories” (Dolly Parton)
12. “Jacob’s Ladder” (Bruce Hornsby & John Hornsby)

Upcoming “A Beautiful Life Tour” Dates:
April 10 – Reidsville, N.C.
April 11 – Greenville, Tenn.
April 12 – Appomattox, Va.
May 15 – Mount Vernon, Ky.
May 22 – Shelby, N.C.
May 23 – Glennville, W.Va.
June 4 – Franklin, N.C.
June 5 – Grayson, Ky.
June 6 – Bagdad, Ky.
June 16 – Nashville, Tenn.
July 17 – Brenham, Texas
July 18 – Arlington, Texas
July 19 – Tomball, Texas
July 29 – Solana Beach, Calif.
July 30 – San Juan Capiste, Calif.
July 31 – Fresno, Calif.
August 2 – Berkeley, Calif.
August 4 – Grass Valley, Calif.
August 5 – Portland, Ore.
August 6 – Seattle, Wash.
August 15 – Dubuque, Iowa
August 22 – Steelville, Mo.
September 17 – Hiawassee, Ga.
September 18 – Hiawassee, Ga.
September 19 – Hiawassee, Ga.

ACM Unveils Radio Award Winners

Pictured (Left Photo, L-R, top row): Jesse Tack, Brent Lane, Damon Whiteside, Parker McCollum, RJ Curtis, Mike Preston, Al Farb and Chris Michaels. (L-R, bottom row): Anna Marie, Heather Froglear, Chris Carr and StyckMan. (Right Photo, L-R): Damon Whiteside, Bryan “B-Dub” Washington, RJ Curtis and Lauren Alaina. Photos: Courtesy of ACM

The Academy of Country Music has revealed this year’s ACM Radio Award winners.

Parker McCollum unveiled the first round of winners last week at CRS Honors. In the On-Air Personality Of The Year, Chris Carr & Company took home the win for Major Market, Heather Froglear nabbed Large Market, Mo & StyckMan collected Medium Market and The Eddie Foxx Show earned small market.

In the Radio Station categories, KSCS-FM in Dallas, Texas took home its second win for Major Market Radio Station of the Year, WUBE-FM in Cincinnati, Ohio took home its fifth win for Large Market Radio Station of the Year, WLFP-FM in Memphis, Tennessee took home its first win for Medium Market Radio Station of the Year, and WYCT-FM in Pensacola, Florida took home its fifth win for Small Market Radio Station of the Year.

The second round of awards were announced at Country Radio Seminar’s New Faces of Country Music Show on Friday (March 20) with the help of Lauren Alaina.

B-Dub took home both National Daily and Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year. This marks B-Dub’s first win for National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year and his third win for National Weekly On-Air Personality of the year.

The 61st ACM Awards are set for Sunday, May 17 MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additional performers and nominees will be announced in the coming weeks.

Winners Revealed For 2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards

The winners of the 2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards were announced Friday night (March 20) during the annual New Faces of Country Music dinner at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Triple Tigers was honored as the Platinum Label of the Year, while Big Machine took home the Gold Label of the Year award. Individual label awards included Big Loud’s Lauren “LT” Thomas for SVP-VP/National Promotion and Records Nashville’s Jamice Jennings as Label Streaming Specialist of the Year. MCA’s Katie Bright was named Director/National Promotion of the Year, and the label’s Annie Sandor earned the Regional Promoter honor.

Nashville’s own WSIX was named Medium Market Station of the Year with other station honors going to WUSN/Chicago for Large Market and WUSY/Chattanooga and for Small Market.

Spotify was named DSP of the Year, and Pandora’s Johnny Chiang was honored as Streaming Programmer/Editor. Lyric Ridge’s Louie Newman received the Independent Promotion Executive award, while Amazon Music’s Michelle Tigard Kammerer accepted DSP Partner Specialist award.

2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Award Winners:

Station
— WUSN/Chicago (Large Market)
— WSIX/Nashville (Medium Market)
— WUSY/Chattanooga (Small Market)

Platinum Label: Triple Tigers
Gold Label: Big Machine

OM/PD
— Marci Braun, WUSN/Chicago (Large Market)
— Heather Froglear, KFRG/Riverside (Medium Market)
— Brent Michaels, KUZZ/Bakersfield (Small Market)

APD/MD (tie):
Chris Huff, KILT/Houston; Lauren “Lo” Sessions-Barker, KKBQ/Houston

DSP: Spotify

Streaming Programmer/Editor: Johnny Chiang, Pandora

SVP-VP National Promotion: Lauren “LT” Thomas, Big Loud

Label Streaming Specialist: Jamice Jennings, Records Nashville

Director/National Promotion: Katie Bright, MCA

Market Manager/GM: Sarah Frazier, KILT/Houston

Personality/Show
— Lauren “Lo” Sessions-Barker, KKBQ/Houston (Large Market)
— Melissa Quinones, WWKA/Orlando (Medium Market)
— Brent Michaels & Ness Heraldez, Brent & Ness In The Morning, KUZZ/Bakersfield;
— Nancy Wilson & Aaron “Woody” Woods, Nancy & Woody, WHKO/Dayton, OH (Small Market [tie])

National Personality/Show
— Rob Stone & Holly Hutton, The Rob & Holly Show, Audacy (Daily)
— Lon Helton, Country Countdown USA, Compass (Weekly)

National Radio Programmer: Tim Roberts, Audacy

Regional Promoter: Annie Sandor, MCA

DSP Partner Specialist: Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Amazon Music

Independent Promotion Executive: Louie Newman, Lyric Ridge

New Face Of Country Music: Ashley Petro, Warner

Grand Ole Opry Celebrates Special Show As Part Of Carnegie Hall’s ‘United In Sound: America At 250 Festival’

The War and Treaty, Rhonda Vincent, Scotty McCreery, Kelsea Ballerini, Henry Cho and Wyatt Flores perform “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Photo: Fadi Khelr

The Grand Ole Opry held a special show at Carnegie Hall on Friday night as part of Carnegie Hall’s “United in Sound: America at 250” festival, which celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and continues the Opry’s 100th year.

“An Evening with the Grand Ole Opry” featured performances by Opry members Kelsea Ballerini, Scotty McCreery, Rhonda Vincent and Henry Cho, along with special guests Wyatt Flores and The War and Treaty. The artists’ individual sets were bookended by a show opener featuring Vincent and McCreery taking turns on the classic “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” in the styles of Bill Monroe (Vincent) and Elvis Presley (McCreery) as well as an all-cast closing performance of the Opry’s unofficial theme “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” 

The show marked the Opry’s fourth headlining performance at Carnegie Hall. The Opry debuted there in 1947 under the billing “Ernest Tubb and the Grand Ole Opry Stars,” with a sold-out concert also featuring Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, Minnie Pearl, Red Foley, Eddy Arnold, and The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle Carter. A return performance in 1961 benefited the Musicians’ Aid Society and was headlined by Patsy Cline in her first and only Carnegie Hall appearance, among other all-stars. The Grand Ole Opry’s 2005 show – marking its 80th anniversary – featured Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood, along with longtime Opry members Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Bill Anderson.

Throughout 2026, the Opry will continue to honor the past, showcase the present, and shape the future of country music through one-of-a-kind live shows including special themed shows observing the nation’s 250th birthday on April 23, May 28 and July 4.