Tracy Lawrence Presents $50,000 To Local Non-Profits
Photo: Evan DeStefano
Tracy Lawrence took to the Ryman Auditorium stage for the third year in a row to perform to a sold-out crowd on Sunday night (May 3).
Lawrence and his charity Mission:Possible took a moment on stage to present $50,000 total to various local non-profit organizations including Brooks House, People Loving Nashville, Open Table, The Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn.
Parker McCollum Surprises Hometown Nurses
Photo: Courtesy of Create Amor
Parker McCollum recently surprised a group of nurses at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. The visit was part of the Healthcare Heroes Initiative, a national effort founded by Create Amor to recognize and support nurses. As part of the initiative, a total of 500 nurses were gifted a pair of Create Amor scrubs.
“This community is home to me, and these nurses are a big part of what holds it together,” shares McCollum. “Being here to give back, even in a small way, means a lot.”
Maddox Batson Visits Seacrest Studios In Salt Lake City
Photo: Courtesy of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
Maddox Batson recently visited Seacrest Studios, bringing an acoustic set of songs to Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital of Salt Lake City in addition to a Q&A session and rounds of mini golf with patients.
“It was an honor to spend the morning at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Thank you to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation for giving me the privilege to connect and perform for patients like Piper,” shares Batson. “I was beyond inspired by the determination and joy from the patients, family and entire staff at the hospital. Much appreciation to the child life specialists, doctors and the team at Seacrest for welcoming me.”
“We are always so appreciative to our celebrity partners who are able to come into Seacrest Studios and spend time with patients, with many becoming repeat visitors and friends of RSF,” says Meredith Seacrest Leach, Executive Director & CEO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “Maddox has quickly become a friend, and we are so grateful that he has continued to make time to visit as he juggles his busy tour schedule.”
CMHOFM Hosts Program Exploring Woody Guthrie’s Home Recordings
Steve Rosenthal, Erin Osmon, Anna Canoni and Jesse Welles. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Over the weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a program exploring Woody Guthrie’s home recordings and the recently released two-volume collection Woody at Home.
Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon led a discussion with Guthrie’s granddaughter, Anna Canoni, and Grammy-winning producer and engineer Steve Rosenthal, who discussed their work on the collection. Jesse Welles performed during the program.
IBMA Taps Maggie O’Connor As Events Director
Maggie O’Connor.
The International Bluegrass Music Association has named Maggie Carruth O’Connor as Events Director. Based in Chattanooga, O’Connor will lead event production of the IBMA’s major events.
“I moved to Chattanooga from Atlanta in 2019 with my husband and dog and immediately felt at home,” says O’Connor. “The sense of community here, especially in the music world, is undeniable. My work over the past five years has focused on building more equitable, sustainable opportunities for local artists, including founding Highland Park Porchfest, a free festival now in its fifth year that features local bands performing on neighborhood porches. Joining IBMA as Events Director feels like a natural extension of that work. I am excited to support the IBMA team and help bring people together around bluegrass music.”
Tracy Lawrence Sells Out Ryman Auditorium For Third Consecutive Year
/by Lauryn SinkTracy Lawrence. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Tracy Lawrence performed to a sold-out crowd at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday night (May 3) as a part of his “No Alibis Tour.”
The hitmaker performed a range of tracks from his catalog, spanning from the ’90s to today. He surprised the crowd with Hudson Westbrook for a rendition of the tour’s namesake, “Alibis.”
Lawrence and his charity Mission:Possible took a moment during the show to present $50,000 total to various local non-profit organizations including Brooks House, People Loving Nashville, Open Table, The Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn.
The following day (May 4), he hosted the sixth annual Mission:Possible Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament at Old Hickory Country Club outside of Nashville with guest players including Jon Pardi, John Daly, Priscilla Block, Wade Bowen, Drake Milligan, Eric Paslay, Mitchell Tenpenny and more. The celebrity event raised over $210,000 this year for Mission:Possible, bringing the grant event total to over $1.7M to date over six years.
Lawrence recently announced a second leg of dates to the “No Alibis Tour,” adding 33 shows to the run with new shows in San Antonio, Tucson and Green Bay. The tour will continue tomorrow (May 7) in Savannah, Georgia.
Tracy Lawrence and Hudson Westbrook. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Evan De Stefano
Lukas Nelson & Molly Tuttle Team For Co-Headlining Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughMolly Tuttle, Lukas Nelson
Lukas Nelson and Molly Tuttle are teaming up this fall for a special co-headline tour in September.
The tour kicks off Sept. 4 in Massachusetts, and includes stops in New York, Vermont and Maine. The dates will feature full sets from both artists, highlighting Nelson’s soulful songwriting and expansive Americana sound alongside Tuttle’s virtuosic guitar work, warm vocals, and boundary-pushing blend of bluegrass, Americana and rock.
Tickets for the mini-tour will be available for pre-sale starting today (May 6), with public on-sale following on Friday (May 8). Details can be found at lukasnelson.com or mollytuttlemusic.com.
Nelson released his Grammy-nominated album, American Romance, last summer to widespread acclaim, and continues his extensive headline tour through the summer in addition to dates with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Zach Top. Tuttle released her fifth album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, in 2025, which earned two Grammy nominations, including Best Americana Album, with its lead single “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark” also nominated for Best Americana Performance. She is on the road throughout the summer including dates on Chris Stapleton’s “All American Road Show.”
Lukas Nelson & Molly Tuttle Co-Headline Tour Dates:
September 4—Hyannis, MA—Cape Cod Melody Tent
September 5—Cohasset, MA—South Short Music Circus
September 9—Albany, NY—Palace Theatre
September 10—Shelburne, VT—The Green at Shelburne Museum
September 11—Sidney, ME—Bowl in the Pines
Carrie Underwood Launches New Wellness Brand HiNote
/by Lorie HollabaughCarrie Underwood. Photo: Jeff Johnson
Carrie Underwood has launched a new wellness brand, HiNote, designed to help women with an easy, accessible daily path to wellness through movement, nourishment and community to make wellness feel attainable, even on the busiest days.
“Health and wellness have always been such an important part of my life,” says Underwood. “Through my app, my own workouts, and daily conversations, I keep hearing the same heartfelt truth from women everywhere, myself included: we want to care for ourselves while still showing up for everything else our busy lives demand. That’s why I created HiNote. To help build a home for the everyday habits that support real life: movement, nourishment, and simple routines you can stick with.”
The first product rollout under the launch is HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix, which is designed to provide sustained energy throughout the day and features 20g of protein, 15 grams of clear whey and 5 grams of collagen, along with 5g of fiber, 13 fruits and vegetables, superfoods, greens and vitamin B, with no added sugar or caffeine. HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix is available in three flavors, Berry Medley, Juicy Peach and Strawberry Lemonade, and single-flavor bags and a variety pack with a branded shaker bottle are available for purchase on HiNote.com.
Underwood’s fitness app, fit52, is also evolving into HiNote Life – Powered by fit52. The app offers guided workouts led by Carrie, simple and nutritious recipes, a food tracker, and a supportive community to help members stay on track and motivated.
As part of its commitment to making wellness accessible and empowering women through confidence, movement and community, HiNote has partnered with Girls on the Run International, a national nonprofit that offers after-school programs for girls in grades 3-8 that combine physical activity with confidence-building lessons and life skills development to support initiatives that help the next generation build lifelong healthy habits.
Underwood has built a business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness, where in addition to fit52 which launched in 2020 along with her first book, the New York Times bestseller Find Your Path, she also founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and has been an equity partner in BODYARMOR sports drink.
Joan Vance Launches Vance & Co Advisory, LLC
/by Lauryn SinkJoan Vance. Photo: Createurs Sarah Reynolds
Business management veteran Joan Vance has launched Vance & Co Advisory, LLC, an independent bookkeeping and financial advisory firm serving individuals and small to mid-sized businesses across industries.
“So many creatives find themselves in a position where they aren’t quite ready yet for business management and don’t think about the financial side until tax time,” shares Vance. “This causes undue stress and a mad rush to provide information to their tax accountant. I want to relieve that burden so songwriters, artists, and other businesses can focus on what they excel at.”
Originally from New Jersey, Vance holds an MBA from Belmont University, along with dual undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Writing Arts. She began her career at a law firm before moving to Nashville, where she joined Wiles + Taylor.
“I am grateful to have been mentored by some of the best in the business at Wiles + Taylor and carry those experiences with me each day,” she continues. “I leave with nothing but respect and appreciation for the firm and those who helped shape my career and am excited for the journey ahead!”
Vance can be reached here.
Keith Urban Returns As Presenting Sponsor Of Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament
/by Lauryn SinkKeith Urban.
Keith Urban is returning as Presenting Sponsor of the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament for the tenth consecutive year.
The 39th annual charity event is set for Aug. 10 at Old Natchez Country Club and will benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCP).
The MRLGT has raised over $2.6 million for UCP and is among the organization’s most significant annual sponsors. Last year, the event raised nearly $90,000 for UCP, which aims to advance the independence and full citizenship of people with all types of disabilities.
Registration for the 2026 MRLGT is now open and team space is limited.
Riley Green Renews Global Publishing Deal With Warner Chappell Music
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): Austen Adams (WCM), Riley Green, Jess Rosen (Greenberg Traurig), Jessi Vaughn Stevenson (WCM Consultant) and Phil May (WCM). Photo: Courtesy of WCM
Riley Green has renewed his global publishing deal Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville.
The release of his 2019 debut album, Different ‘Round Here, kicked off Green’s career trajectory. The project features 3x Platinum-certified “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and 2x Platinum “There Was This Girl.” In 2020, he was crowned Best New Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and was named MusicRow’s Breakout Artist of the Year.
In 2024 he dropped his third studio album, Don’t Mind If I Do, which featured collaborations with Luke Bryan and Ella Langley. The collaboration with Langley, “you look like you love me,” took home Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year at the 2025 CMA Awards.
Green has kicked off this year with back-to-back No. 1 hits “Don’t Mind If I Do” featuring Langley and “Worst Way.” “Worst Way” became Green’s sixth career No. 1, and made him the first country music artist to achieve consecutive solo-written No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since Taylor Swift.
“When I was playing bars around northeast Alabama, I thought my career would end up as being a songwriter,” says Green. “Warner Chappell was the first on my team and brought me to Nashville. I’m really excited to continue with them.”
“Riley has a natural gift for storytelling, writing songs that pull on your heartstrings from the very first note,” adds Austen Adams, President, WCM Nashville. “Warner Chappell has been a part of his journey for a while, and we knew we wanted to continue building on this incredible momentum. He is a rare special talent, and our team looks forward to continuing to champion his music on a global scale.”
Green is currently on his 2026 “Cowboy As It Gets Tour,” with scheduled stops in Charlotte, Saratoga Springs, Green Bay and more through August. He will also make festival appearances at Gulf Coast Jam, CMA Fest, Country Thunder Saskatchewan, and more throughout the summer.
He is also up for four ACM Awards this year, including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
Bailey Zimmerman Rocks Sold-Out Ascend Amphitheater Show
/by Lauryn SinkBailey Zimmerman. Photo: Masonn1k
Bailey Zimmerman brought his “Different Night Same Rodeo Tour” to Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Friday (May 1) and Saturday (May 2).
Newcomer Blake Whiten kicked off the night on Friday with a taste of his recently announced debut album, Something To Say. He performed “Break Me,” “Bet On That” and his breakthrough track, “Rolling Stone.”
Next to take the stage was rising star Hudson Westbrook. He warmed up the crowd with “Painted You Pretty,” “5-9”, “Hello Darlin’” and more. The crowd jumped to their feet for a cover of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” before he wrapped his time with his first No. 1 track, “House Again.”
With the sun set over the Nashville skyline, Zimmerman burst on stage with the “Backup Plan.” He kept the energy high, moving through “Never Comin’ Home,” “Lost” and “Change.”
Fans roared as he launched into his first-ever No. 1, “Fall In Love.”
“Nashville, I can’t believe this day is finally here. I’ve been looking forward to this all year,” Zimmerman shared from the stage. “I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us that you showed up and sold out Ascend. I can’t begin to say how much I love y’all, and how much I appreciate the opportunity to get in front of you and sing some of my songs.”
Zimmerman kept the set moving with “Comin’ In Cold” and “Get To Gettin’ Gone.” He welcomed surprise guest Chandler Walters to the stage to duet on “Fix’n To Break,” and then took a moment to speak of his close relationship with his late grandfather ahead of “Chevy Silverado.”
Zimmerman slowed it down with a section of love songs, moving through “Before You” and “Never Leave.” He held the crowd with fan-favorite “Holy Smokes,” “Just Believe” and “Ashes.”
He made his way to the B-stage before inviting Whiten to join for “Holding On,” a track Whiten wrote alongside Austin Shawn. Zimmerman surprised the crowd with a sing-along of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.”
After “All The Way,” his collaboration with BigXThaPlug,” he made his way back to the main stage for a run of “New To Country,” “Religiously” and “Where It Ends.”
Flashlights lit up the amphitheater as he ended the night with “Rock and a Hard Place.”
Zimmerman will continue his “Different Night Same Rodeo Tour” on May 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Industry Ink: Tracy Lawrence, Parker McCollum, Maddox Batson, CMHOFM, IBMA
/by Lauryn SinkTracy Lawrence Presents $50,000 To Local Non-Profits
Photo: Evan DeStefano
Tracy Lawrence took to the Ryman Auditorium stage for the third year in a row to perform to a sold-out crowd on Sunday night (May 3).
Lawrence and his charity Mission:Possible took a moment on stage to present $50,000 total to various local non-profit organizations including Brooks House, People Loving Nashville, Open Table, The Village at Glencliff and Room in the Inn.
Parker McCollum Surprises Hometown Nurses
Photo: Courtesy of Create Amor
Parker McCollum recently surprised a group of nurses at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. The visit was part of the Healthcare Heroes Initiative, a national effort founded by Create Amor to recognize and support nurses. As part of the initiative, a total of 500 nurses were gifted a pair of Create Amor scrubs.
“This community is home to me, and these nurses are a big part of what holds it together,” shares McCollum. “Being here to give back, even in a small way, means a lot.”
Maddox Batson Visits Seacrest Studios In Salt Lake City
Photo: Courtesy of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
Maddox Batson recently visited Seacrest Studios, bringing an acoustic set of songs to Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital of Salt Lake City in addition to a Q&A session and rounds of mini golf with patients.
“It was an honor to spend the morning at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Thank you to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation for giving me the privilege to connect and perform for patients like Piper,” shares Batson. “I was beyond inspired by the determination and joy from the patients, family and entire staff at the hospital. Much appreciation to the child life specialists, doctors and the team at Seacrest for welcoming me.”
“We are always so appreciative to our celebrity partners who are able to come into Seacrest Studios and spend time with patients, with many becoming repeat visitors and friends of RSF,” says Meredith Seacrest Leach, Executive Director & CEO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “Maddox has quickly become a friend, and we are so grateful that he has continued to make time to visit as he juggles his busy tour schedule.”
CMHOFM Hosts Program Exploring Woody Guthrie’s Home Recordings
Steve Rosenthal, Erin Osmon, Anna Canoni and Jesse Welles. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Over the weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a program exploring Woody Guthrie’s home recordings and the recently released two-volume collection Woody at Home.
Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon led a discussion with Guthrie’s granddaughter, Anna Canoni, and Grammy-winning producer and engineer Steve Rosenthal, who discussed their work on the collection. Jesse Welles performed during the program.
IBMA Taps Maggie O’Connor As Events Director
Maggie O’Connor.
The International Bluegrass Music Association has named Maggie Carruth O’Connor as Events Director. Based in Chattanooga, O’Connor will lead event production of the IBMA’s major events.
“I moved to Chattanooga from Atlanta in 2019 with my husband and dog and immediately felt at home,” says O’Connor. “The sense of community here, especially in the music world, is undeniable. My work over the past five years has focused on building more equitable, sustainable opportunities for local artists, including founding Highland Park Porchfest, a free festival now in its fifth year that features local bands performing on neighborhood porches. Joining IBMA as Events Director feels like a natural extension of that work. I am excited to support the IBMA team and help bring people together around bluegrass music.”
Koe Wetzel Is ‘The Night Champion’ On New Album
/by Madison HahnenKoe Wetzel will release his new album, The Night Champion, on June 12 via Columbia Records.
“It’s a continuation of 9 Lives, from that record to now,” says Wetzel. “Really, it’s everything that’s happened – because you don’t go from kids playing for beer to headlining Red Rocks, arenas all over the country, partying and trying to make sense of it all and not shift. My head space is clearer now. I can look back, see how it fits together. It doesn’t make sense, exactly, but it all happened. That search for what it all means keeps bringing me back.”
The new project will contain rock songs and ballads, reflecting the balance of chaos in Wetzel’s life. Throughout the album, Wetzel’s creative growth is showcased.
“It’s crazy I’m not in jail or dead as hard as I went these last 15 years,” he shares. “Right now, I’m the best version of myself I’ve ever been. I survived the night side of me. I’m coming out of it a champion. That’s the essence of the record.”
The Night Champion features already released “Time Goes On,” and the new “Hurts Like You,” releasing this Friday (May 8).
Wetzel will embark on his “The Night Champion Tour” today (May 5) in Australia. He will make stops in Canada, Las Vegas, Nashville and more before wrapping on Oct. 30 in Lubbock. He is also slated to make festival appearances at Boots in the Park, Gulf Coast Jam, St. Pete Country Fest and more throughout the year.
Donna Hughes To Launch Hughes Media
/by John Nix ArledgeIndustry veteran Donna Hughes is launching her own independent company, Hughes Media. With over 35 years of experience in the country music industry, Hughes aims to support artist storytelling and fan engagement.
“With Hughes Media, my goal is to champion artists by helping them convey their authenticity, equipping them to make the most of every consumer-facing, media-driven opportunity…using those moments to build deep, genuine connections,” Hughes shares. “The love, respect, passion and gratitude I have for this music and industry is at the heart of everything I do, and I’m ready to build something that supports both the artist and the broader country music community.”
Hughes Media offers a specialized suite of services including artist interview content creation, satellite radio tours and tour marketing collaborations. Further offerings include media training, radio programming, and full-scale media day management in partnership with labels and publicity teams.
Hughes most recently served as VP of Touring and Communications at Borman Entertainment. Before that, she held the role of National Director of Radio Marketing at UMG Nashville and Capitol/EMI Records Nashville, where she helped expand the reach of artists including Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Stapleton. Her efforts earned her the CRS/Country Aircheck Award for Director/National Promotion of the Year.
Her media career, which also earned her the CMA Media Achievement Award, includes serving as Executive Producer of GAC Nights: Live From Nashville, Senior Producer for Premiere Radio Networks, and on-air talent for Nashville’s Rockin’ Country 102.9. Her background also includes production roles for television staples like Crook & Chase and Music City Tonight.