Amy Grant is celebrating Mother’s Day in 2025 with two “Mother’s Day at the Mother Church” performances at the Ryman Auditorium on May 9-10.

The special shows, perfectly timed for Mother’s Day weekend, celebrate Grant’s deep connection to the Ryman, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” She has a long and cherished history with the Ryman as Grant and husband Vince Gill have made their annual Christmas at the Ryman residency a beloved Nashville tradition, performing the holiday shows over 100 times at the historic venue. Tickets for both Mother’s Day shows are on sale now at ryman.com.

“Performing at the Ryman is always a homecoming for me,” says Grant. “Its history, intimacy, and magic make it the perfect place to share music and memories, especially for Mother’s Day.”

In 2024, Grant played 33 shows in the spring, and released the Songs From The Loft album, (originally released in 1993), for the first time digitally. This fall, she released an Expanded Anniversary Edition of her classic album, House Of Love with never before heard tracks and remixes, and recently finished a headlining tour featuring many songs from the album. Grant will wrap the year with the annual “Christmas At The Ryman” residency with Gill featuring songs from their recent When I Think Of Christmas album. She is also writing songs for her next album, set for release in 2025.

The lineup has been announced for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025, presented by ABC and Dick Clark Productions.

Seacrest will mark his 20th year as host, returning alongside co-host Rita Ora to lead the festivities from New York’s Times Square. Carrie Underwood will headline the night of performances, performing before the ball drops at midnight. Country breakout star Megan Moroney and British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor are also set to perform.

Underwood shares, “I have such fun memories of performing on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Times Square in both 2007 and 2015, and I’m so excited to perform just before the ball drops again this year. I’m thrilled to celebrate 20 years since winning American Idol by joining Ryan as he hosts his 20th New Year’s Eve in Times Square.”

Previously-announced performers also include rock legend Lenny Kravitz, genre-bending singer-songwriter Teddy Swims, R&B hitmaker Tinashe, chart-topping country superstar Cody Johnson and five-time Grammy nominee Thomas Rhett.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025 will air Tuesday, Dec. 31, live on ABC beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST and stream next day on Hulu.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the opening of its “Rosanne Cash: Time Is a Mirror” exhibit last night (Dec. 4), which explores Cash’s over-40-year journey as an artist and songwriter.

On display through March 2026 and included with museum admission, “Rosanne Cash: Time Is a Mirror” features stage wear, song manuscripts, instruments, photographs and more, along with an official playlist. From the 1970s to now, Cash has sought to carve in her own path in American music, drawing on rockabilly rhythms, the truth-telling of folk-rock songwriters, west coast country-rock energy and the deep roots of country music.

The quadruple-Grammy winner’s hits include “Seven Year Ache,” “Blue Moon with Heartache,” “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party,” “It Hasn’t Happened Yet,” “Tennessee Flat Top Box, “No Memories Hangin’ Round” and “Never Be You,” among others. In 2021, Cash became the first female composer to receive the MacDowell Medal, which has been awarded to an artist who has made an outstanding contribution to American culture since 1960.

To support the exhibit opening, she will participate in a conversation and performance in the museum’s Ford Theater this Sunday (Dec. 8). The sold-out program will be filmed and available to stream on the museum’s website at a later date as part of the “Live at the Hall” digital series. For more information, click here.

Jenn Essiembre Joins Big Loud Rock As SVP/A&R

Jenn Essiembre has been named SVP of A&R at Big Loud Rock in Los Angeles. In her new role, Essiembre will spearhead the label’s A&R strategy and execution, reporting directly to Big Loud Partner Joey Moi and Lloyd Norman, GM of Big Loud Rock. Before joining Big Loud Rock, Essiembre served as Vice President of 300 Publishing, a division of 300 Entertainment. Her foundation in the industry was built at ole Music Publishing, where she achieved placements with global artists such as Sam Smith, Justin Timberlake and Maluma.

 

Miranda Lambert’s Muttnation Honors Lucky Break Rescue With Inaugural Idyllwind Award

Miranda Lambert has announced the inaugural Idyllwind Award, administered by her MuttNation Foundation, will go to Lucky Break Rescue in Arizona with a $25,000 donation. Named after Lambert’s first horse, Idyllwind Ellund, the Idyllwind Award will annually recognize an outstanding U.S. equine rescue or sanctuary that rehabilitates and/or rehomes horses that have been neglected, abused or abandoned, while also educating the public about the difficult conditions these horses face. Lambert spoke about the Idyllwind Award at the recent taping of the Boot Barn: Voiceless fashion show, premiering on Roku December 15 and airing on Hulu in early 2025. Boot Barn is the exclusive retailer of Lambert’s Idyllwind clothing and boot line.

“We’re so excited to be adding this new award to our MuttNation programs,” says Lambert. “The strong bond that horses form with people is one of the most magical – and caring for horses that have been mistreated takes a very special kind of person. Cait Luca, who started Lucky Break Rescue, is one of the most special I’ve ever known. Her rescue is the perfect choice for this first Idyllwind Award.”

 

CMHOFM Honors David Olney With Songwriter Round Tribute

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a songwriter round honoring singer-songwriter David Olney last weekend. The program included tribute performances by Steve Earle, Mary Gauthier, Jaimee Harris and Jim Lauderdale. Olney, who died in 2020, released more than two dozen albums during his five-decade career as both a solo artist and a member of the Nashville Jug Band and the X-Rays. His songs have been recorded by Kieran Kane, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt, Townes Van Zandt and Emmylou Harris.

The program was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital programs series, available to stream on the museum’s website.

 

Blessing Offor Debuts On ‘Today With Hoda & Jenna’

Blessing Offor made his debut on Today With Hoda & Jenna last week, performing his latest single, “All Over The World.”

On Friday (Dec. 6), Blessing will release a new EP, Covers, featuring his unique take on Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed,” Taylor Swift’s “Holy Ground,” John Mayer’s “Gravity” and Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” featuring Bob Lanzetti of Snarky Puppy. Previously only available via Amazon Music, Offor’s version of “Godspeed” marks one of his top-streamed songs across platforms. This will also mark the first time “Holy Ground,” and “Gravity” have been available outside of Apple Music.

 

Bayker Blankenship Performs On’ CBS Saturday Morning’

Rising star Bayker Blankenship made his network TV debut this past Saturday on CBS Saturday Morning. A Livingston, Tennessee native with over 770,000 followers on TikTok, Blankenship performed his songs “Tennessee Sunset,” “Maxed Out” and the unreleased “300 Miles” (which drops Dec. 11) for CBS Saturday Morning’s Saturday Sessions. In addition, Blankenship recently announced his upcoming “The Maxed Out Tour,” which kicks off in Athens, Georgia on Jan. 15.