Krista Dykes has joined PLA Media as Senior Media Relations Manager, marking her return to Music Row following the launch of her Secret Mom Hacks podcast.

Prior to the podcast launch, Dykes served as Media Relations Manager for the Country Music Association from May 2015–February 2023, where she handled relationships with television affiliates and national media, securing coverage across all media tiers and various beats. She began her career in 2007, and has worked on award-winning communications projects and campaigns in both the online insurance lead space and country music industry.

“Krista’s proven track record in media relations, combined with her thoughtful approach to storytelling, makes her an exceptional addition to our team,” says Pam Lewis, PLA Media Founder & CEO. “Her resourcefulness, experience and passion for building meaningful relationships align perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients.”

“Pam has cultivated something truly special,” shares Dykes. “She fosters a culture of creativity and dedication that resonates with many things I value in this industry. The opportunity to join forces with someone like her is rare. It’s a privilege to be part of team PLA.”

Dykes will continue to serve as the Host & Executive Producer of Secret Mom Hacks. She also curates the MomCom Database, a national database of mom communities, and founded Mom Boss Mastermind, a virtual networking group for mother entrepreneurs.

Jennie Smythe, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nashville-based firm Girlilla Marketing, will release her memoir on April 15, 2025 via Resolve Editions, an imprint of Forefront Books (Simon & Schuster).

Titled Becoming Girlilla: My Journey to Unleashing Good – in Real Life, Online, and in Others, the book tells Smythe’s story as a digital marketing trailblazer, detailing her unique journey through career highs and lows, personal challenges and her recent breast cancer battle.

Smythe’s experiences at Elektra, Disney’s Hollywood Records, YAHOO! Music, Warner Bros. Records, Clear Channel and more led her to launch her own Nashville-based firm, Girlilla Marketing, following a deathbed conversation with her estranged father. Becoming Girlilla aims to highlight how resilience, authenticity and passion can make a meaningful impact both online and in real life.

“I’ve been embraced, ignored, yelled at, fired and rehired. I’ve been told I am worthless, I’ve won awards, I’ve been blamed for shit I wasn’t responsible for and given credit for things I didn’t deserve. I’ve had disgruntled employees, I’ve had slim years and I’ve had fat years,” Smythes says of her story.

“I have heart. I care. I will outwork you and I try not to repeat mistakes. I bleed passion for what I do, who I represent and who I stand next to. And here’s the secret: there’s no secret. To be successful, you must go to work every day like it’s your first day on the job. When you don’t get out of bed with your ass on fire, you need a change. I hope with my own story that I can save you some hassle. I hope that I can make you think, laugh and see your own story in mine… because we are all connected, online and offline.”

With Smythe at its helm, Girlilla Marketing has become an award-winning firm renowned for its work with world-famous entertainers, including Willie Nelson, Dead & Company, Darius Rucker, Blondie, Brooke Shields, Iliza Shlesinger, Terry Crews, Kristin Chenoweth, Vince Gill and more.

In addition to her work with Girlilla, Smythe serves as President Elect of the Country Music Association and is on the boards of the CMA Foundation and Music Health Alliance. She has been recognized by Billboard, Fast Company, The Tennessean and People for her inspiring personal story and innovative approach to digital strategy, and is multi-year recipient of Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards and is a MusicRow Rising Women on the Row honoree.

Pre-orders for Becoming Girlilla are available here.

The CMA is bringing its CMA Songwriters Series to London, returning to the U.K. in March 2025 for the C2C: Country to Country festival.

Host Darius Rucker and Jessi Alexander, Wyatt Flores, Mickey Guyton and Tucker Wetmore are set to perform at the CMA Songwriters Series show at Indigo at The O2 in London on March 13, which serves as the official kickoff leading into C2C.

“We are so excited for the lineup of artists featured as part of this year’s CMA Songwriters Series in London,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It will be the first time that Mickey Guyton and Tucker Wetmore have ever performed in the U.K.; and we are honored to have our longtime friend, and U.K. fan favorite, Darius Rucker as our host for the evening.”

Tickets for the CMA Songwriters Series will go on sale Dec. 6. Since 2005, the series has presented more than 100 shows in cities including Austin, Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Toronto and Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress and John F. Kennedy Center.

Brenda Lee‘s beloved holiday classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was honored at a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol yesterday (Dec. 2) naming it the “Official Holiday Song of Tennessee.”

Lee was given a signed proclamation by Governor Bill Lee and Representative Jason Powell (D-Nashville) at the special event. Representative Powell filed the bill making the song the official holiday song of the state last December, and the bill passed the state legislature earlier this year and was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee back in April. 

“Brenda Lee is a music icon and a true Tennessee treasure. ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ has spread holiday joy throughout the world for decades and we are proud her number one song was made in Nashville,” says Representative Jason Powell. “I am thrilled that my legislation made the beloved ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee the first official holiday song of Tennessee.”

“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” has been certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA and reached one billion streams on Spotify. In November 2023, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever, 65 years after the song’s debut, and was at the top spot for three weeks. Lee claims just the third holiday No. 1 ever on the Hot 100, and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” is also Lee’s third No. 1. Lee and her holiday hit now hold the record for the longest climb to the top of the Hot 100, as the Johnny Marks-written tune was released 65 years ago, when Lee was just 13 years old.

Lauren Daigle, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty and Ledisi will perform pregame for Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

The pregame show will honor the legendary music scene of New Orleans and features artists who call Louisiana home. Batiste will perform the national anthem, Trombone Shorty and Daigle will perform “America the Beautiful” and Ledisi will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

“We’re honored to work with this year’s pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state,” says Seth Dudowsky, head of music at the NFL. “The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year’s performers will bring the energy, soul and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kickoff Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember.”

The Super Bowl pregame entertainment and Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show will also feature American Sign Language (ASL) performances. Stephanie Nogueras will perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful,” Otis Jones IV will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Matt Maxey will deliver the ASL rendition of the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar.