Jelly Roll Releases ‘Run It’ From New ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ Movie

Jelly Roll. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

Jelly Roll has penned and released Run It,” the only original song in the third installment of the beloved franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which opens in theaters everywhere on Dec. 20.

He co-wrote the new tune with a powerhouse group of collaborators including OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, artist and DJ David Guetta and songwriter Sean Cook. Tedder, Guetta and Cook co-produced the track as well. 

YouTube video

The artist wraps his “Beautifully Broken Tour” with a sold-out hometown headlining show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tomorrow night (Nov. 26.), and recently made his debut on the PBS series Austin City Limits as the show celebrates its 50th Anniversary Season.

BREAKING: Big Loud Records Elevates Stefanie Carter

Stefanie Carter. Photo: Brayln Kelly Smith

Big Loud Records has elevated Stefanie Carter to SVP, Finance, effective immediately.

Carter joined the team as VP in 2023, bringing two decades of experience. In addition to more than five years spent with Nissan Motor Corporation, her previous stops include Mars Petcare, PICA Group, Evergreen Copyrights, Nashville Predators and Live Nation. Carter is a CPA and holds a degree in accounting from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).

“Stefanie’s leadership is felt throughout the company as she continues to spearhead our in-house Finance department that she was foundational to building two years ago,” says Austen Adams, Big Loud COO. “Her expertise has been invaluable to our team, and we are privileged to honor this well-deserved promotion.”

“Since joining Big Loud, I have been in awe of the integrity, creativity and passion exhibited by the partners, leadership team and staff,” Carter shares. “Big Loud is truly best in class. I’m so proud to be part of such an incredible, growth minded company, and look forward to the opportunity to take on new adventures with the team.”

BREAKING: Rhett Akins Signs With Jonas Group Publishing

Pictured (L–R): Jessi Vaughn Stevenson (Warner Chappell Music), Matthew Beckett (Partner, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC), Emily Peacock (Sr. Creative Dir., JGP), Kevin Jonas Sr. (Founder/Chairman Jonas Group Entertainment), Rhett Akins, George Kreis (Pres., JGE), Leslie T. DiPiero (Pres., JGP), Jess Rosen (Co-Chair, Greenberg, Traurig), Ben Vaughn (Pres. & CEO Warner Chappell Music) and Bryce Sherlow (Warner Chappell Music). Photo: Cole Barnhill

Award-winning songwriter Rhett Akins has signed with Jonas Group Publishing (JGP). The company has also acquired songs from his extensive catalog. Warner Chappell Music will continue its long relationship with Akins and administer the copyrights. The hit songwriter is represented by his longtime attorney, Jess Rosen.

A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Akins is a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year, an eight-time CMA Triple Play Award winner and was named the ACM Songwriter of the Decade. He has notched 36 No. 1 hits, with songs recorded by Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Joe Nichols, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Young and others.

“Rhett is an extraordinary songwriter,” shares JGP President Leslie T. DiPiero. “Personally, I have admired his work since I first came to town. He is a master of everything that is great about country music. It is an honor to represent his catalog of excellence, and our entire team is looking forward to contributing to his continued growth and success.”

“I’ve seen Leslie’s dedication to songwriters for many years,” says Akins. “She is a friend of and advocate for creators. The impact the Jonas family has made on the music world is remarkable, and it is obvious their love for music and family is their driving force. You put all that together, and I think you have a pretty unstoppable squad that leads with their values. I am very excited to join Kevin [Jonas Sr.], Leslie, and the whole Jonas Group Publishing team.”

Within the catalog acquisition are fan-favorite hits, like the recent No. 1 “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” (Luke Bryan), the double-Platinum “What’s Your Country Song” (Thomas Rhett), the Platinum-certified “To Be Loved By You” (Parker McCollum), the Platinum-certified “Half Of Me” (Thomas Rhett and Riley Green), the Gold-certified “It Matters To Her” (Scotty McCreery) and the Gold-certified “Red” (Hardy and Morgan Wallen).

“We are honored to welcome Rhett to our roster, along with his incredible catalog,” shares Jonas Sr., Jonas Group Entertainment Founder & Chairman. “Rhett is an immensely talented songwriter whose contributions have shaped the landscape of country music and beyond. His catalog reflects not only his incredible talent but also his ability to create songs that resonate with audiences around the world.

“We are thrilled to bring Rhett’s body of work into the Jonas Group Publishing family, which would not have been possible without the support and expertise of our trusted financial partner, Corrum Capital Management,” he adds. “We must also thank Access Media Advisory and Teresa Miles Walsh, Dave and Ruscell Pavlin, Matthew Beckett, and Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC for providing valuable assistance throughout the purchase of the catalog. All of us at JGP look forward to celebrating and amplifying Rhett’s extraordinary artistry.”

Kix Brooks To Step Down As American Country Countdown Host

Kix Brooks. Photo: Matthew Berinato

After nearly two decades, Kix Brooks is stepping down as Host of American Country Countdown.

Since January 2006, Brooks has taken listeners through the week’s top hits, upholding tradition while championing up-and-coming artists and bridging the gap between classic sounds and modern influences. His candid, intimate interviews sought to provide unfiltered insights into both the past and future of country music.

Praised for his broadcast contributions, Brooks was honored as CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2013—making him the first person to receive a CMA Award in both the artist and broadcast categories. He also took home the ACM National Personality honor in 2021.

Brooks’ final broadcast will air the weekend of Dec. 28–29. The news follows Brooks & Dunn’s recent CMA Award win for Vocal Duo of the Year and the release of their Reboot II collection.

“I never dreamed I would be asked to host a legendary international radio show like American Country Countdown,” Brooks expresses. “The fact that I have been supported by hundreds of affiliates and an amazing team of radio professionals for 18 years has made this one of the greatest experiences of my professional life. It’s time to turn my primary focus back to writing, recording and touring with Brooks & Dunn. It’s been an honor, to say the least, that I was trusted with a microphone that had such an iconic history. Special thanks to all the fans who listened and participated, to ensure that I was being the best that I could be. Keep counting ‘em down!”

Zach Bryan & Morgan Wallen Among Top 2024 Billboard Music Award Finalists

Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen are among the top contenders for the upcoming 2024 Billboard Music Awards, set to air on Dec. 12 in a first-of-its-kind multi-platform viewing experience across Fox, Paramount+ and Amazon’s Fire TV channels.

Bryan leads the 2024 BBMA finalists, with 18 nods and 21 total entries including Top Country Touring Artist and Top Country Male Artist. A first-time finalist in 2023, Bryan took home awards for Top New Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album for American Heartbreak and Top Rock Song for “Something in the Orange.” The hit song spent six weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart. Bryan scored his first No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 with “I Remember Everything,” featuring Kacey Musgraves (also her first No. 1). The song concurrently hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs surveys — the first hit to top all three charts.

Wallen won the most BBMAs in 2023 (11) and this year celebrates 15 finalist entries in 13 categories, including five for “I Had Some Help” with Post Malone as well as a nod for Top Streaming Songs Artist. Wallen’s second No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 held the spot for six weeks and was the 2024 Songs of the Summer chart-topper after leading the weekly chart all 14 weeks of the season, making him the first artist in 46 years to win the competition in consecutive years. Wallen marks a second straight year with the seasonal No. 1, joining Drake, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Usher with two summer chart-toppers.

Other top country nominees include Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Beyoncé, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson. Top Country Duo/Group nominees include Zac Brown Band, The Red Clay Strays and Treaty Oak Revival. Up for Top Country Touring Artists are Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Combs. Country star Shaboozey, a first time finalist with six nominations, will also deliver a special performance from W Hollywood on the show.

The 2024 BBMA top contenders vying for the Top Artist win include Bryan, Taylor Swift, Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter, with Swift facing off against Drake to compete for the most all-time wins. Dolly Parton also received a nomination for Top Rock Album, The Red Clay Strays received two first-time finalist nominations and Post Malone received cross-genre recognition with two of his eight categories including Top Country Artist and Top Country Song.

“We are thrilled to bring the 2024 Billboard Music Awards to multiple platforms, ensuring fans have more options to watch the very artists they helped propel to the top of the charts,” says Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions. “By partnering with FOX, Paramount+ and Fire TV Channels, we are able to reach music enthusiasts where they are, whether they’re tuning in on TV, streaming on-demand, or watching from their mobile devices.”

See the full list of BBMA contenders here.

Nickelback, Gretchen Wilson, More Among 2025 Cattle Country Festival Lineup

Nickelback is set to headline Cattle Country Festival, taking place April 10–12 in Gonzales, Texas.

Other acts slated perform include Parker McCollum, Gretchen Wilson,Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Wyatt Flores, Chase Rice, Clay Walker, Reckless Kelly, Aaron Watson, Pecos & The Rooftops, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, 49 Winchester, Wade Bowen, Drake White, Shenandoah, Ty Myers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tyler Halverson, Black Pistol Fire, Sophia Scott, Josh Ward, Cameron Sacky Band and Logan Mize. The festival will also feature late night sets from Ghostland Observatory and more.

Tickets as well as camping, RV and glamping passes are available now. For more information, click here.

Empire Hosts CMA Awards After Party

Shaboozey celebrates at Empire after party

Empire invited industry members out to an after party following the 58th annual CMA Awards last week at The Twelve Thirty Club.

During the party, the powerhouse independent label honored Shaboozey, who garnered several nominations and performed during the CMA Awards. Attendees also enjoyed a performance from CeCe.

Empire CMA After Party

Empire CMA After Party

CeCe performs. Empire CMA After Party

Brantley Gilbert To Launch ‘Tattoos Tour’ In February

Brantley Gilbert. Photo: Brian Vaughan

Brantley Gilbert will kick off his “Tattoos Tour 2025” on Feb. 27 in Everett, Washington. Special guests Travis Denning, Black Stone Cherry, Austin Snell, Colt Ford and Payton Smith will join Gilbert on select dates.

The multi-Platinum star will be taking his seventh studio album from coast-to-coast across the country, visiting cities including Bloomington, Illinois; Salem, Virginia; Athens, Georgia; Albany, New York; Huntsville, Alabama and more.  Tickets will start at $25 plus applicable fees.

“My hope is that with tickets starting at $25, people can step away from everyday stresses and enjoy themselves—whether it’s making it a fun evening with the family or giving mom and dad the chance to hire a babysitter and have a night out just for them,” says Gilbert. “Music has always been about bringing people together and offering a break from the grind, even if it’s just for a few hours.”

Fan club pre-sales for BG Nation begin today, (Nov. 25,) and general on sale begins Nov. 29 at BrantleyGilbert.com.

Brantley Gilbert “Tattoos Tour 2025” Dates:
Feb. 15 – Brighton Field Day Festival 2025 // Okeechobee, FL%
Feb. 27 – Angel of the Winds Arena // Everett, WA*+
Feb. 28 – Adams Center // Missoula, MT*+
March 1 – Toyota Center // Kennewick, WA*+
March 6 – Toyota Arena // Ontario, CA*+
March 7 – Findlay Toyota Center // Prescott Valley, AZ*+
March 8 – Mullett Arena // Tempe, AZ*+
March 13 – Grossinger Motors Arena // Bloomington, IL^+#
March 14 – Alliant Energy PowerHouse // Cedar Rapids, IA^+#
March 15 – Cable Dahmer Arena // Independence, MO^+#
March 20 – Salem Civic Center // Salem, VA^+#
March 21 – Akins Ford Arena at The Classic Center // Athens, GA^+#
March 22 – The Orion Amphitheater // Huntsville, AL^+#
March 27 – Tsongas Center // Lowell, MA*+
March 28 – Cross Insurance Arena // Portland, ME*+
March 29 – Total Mortgage Arena // Bridgeport, CT*+
April 24 – MVP Arena // Albany, NY*~
April 25 – Adirondack Bank Center // Utica, NY*~
April 26 – Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza // Wilkes-Barre, PA*~
June 8 – Carolina Country Music Fest 2025 // Myrtle Beach, SC%
June 20 – WYRK Taste of Country 2025 // Buffalo, NY%
July 10 – Country Concert // Fort Loramie, OH%

* Travis Denning
^ Black Stone Cherry
+ Austin Snell
# Colt Ford
~ Payton Smith
% Festival Date

Tyler Hubbard Wraps ‘Strong World Tour’ With Sold-Out Ryman Show

Teams from UMG Nashville and Borman Entertainment present a plaque to Hubbard celebrating recent RIAA certifications and streaming successes.

Tyler Hubbard wrapped his headline “Strong World Tour” with a sold-out hometown show at the iconic Ryman Auditorium Thursday night (Nov. 21).

After an opening set by Alana Springsteen, Hubbard gave a 90-minute show in front of fans, family, friends and his team. He played songs from his Strong album, as well as his self-titled debut album. Hubbard also performed renditions of some of his biggest hits as a songwriter including Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and Bebe Rexha’s “Meant To Be.”

Prior to taking the stage, Hubbard’s team from UMG Nashville presented him with a plaque commemorating his 1.7 billion global streams, as well as his recent RIAA certifications including his double-Platinum singles “Dancin’ In The Country” and “5 Foot 9,” his Gold self-titled debut album and Gold single “Back Then Right Now.”

Hubbard is on tap to play a host of festivals in 2025, including Country Thunder Saskatchewan, Boots In The Park and Country To Country Festival, among many others.

Kix Brooks Details Latest ‘Reboot’ Of Brooks & Dunn Classics & Reaching New Audiences [Interview]

Brooks & Dunn. Photo: Matthew Berinato

The celebrated work of Brooks & Dunn has sparked inspiration in country creators for decades. Their tunes have transcended generations and continue to reach new audiences, as they were crowned Vocal Duo of the Year at the 58th CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 20).

The honor, which led the pair and Chris Stapleton to tie for the most CMA Award wins of all time with 19 total each, came just after the release of their Reboot II collection, the sequel to 2019’s Reboot album, via Sony Music Nashville.

Reboot II follows the same format as the first project, but features collaborations with a new, genre-spanning group of acts, including Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Marcus King Band, Megan Moroney, Jelly Roll, The Cadillac Three, Halestorm, The Earls of Leicester, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Hardy, A Thousand Horses and more. The Country Music Hall of Famers let each artist choose the Brooks & Dunn number they’d like to lead on the 18-track collection, and gave them the space to put their own spin on it. Kix Brooks recently took some time to discuss the development of Reboot II with MusicRow.

He recalls their manager, Clarence Spalding, coming to them with the idea for the original Reboot project when artists like Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves began covering their hits during their live shows. After reaching out to various teams, Spalding returned with an extensive list of interested acts.

“It was one of the most enjoyable experiences we ever had in the studio. Dann Huff is a great traffic cop and a brilliant producer,” states Brooks. “All o these acts are really good, and some of them tell us that they’re fans and have been listening to our music for long time, which makes you feel good. But there’s never any real fanboy/fangirl stuff going on, just professionals that are really good at what they do.”

After seeing the success of the initial album, Spalding and the duo decided to curate a sequel, this time expanding to other genres and allowing the collaborators to bring their own producers and bands. Brooks describes the selections that surprised him and how impressed he was with everyone.

“This was a really different experience. Some of these songs are deep cuts, and it’s really fun doing stuff we play live and rock out hard to with our Brooks & Dunn band like ‘She Like to Get Out of Town,'” he notes.

“I wanted Jaren [Johnston] on this record because I just love The Cadillac Three, and sure enough, they showed up and picked that song,” Brooks says. “I was looking forward to seeing how they were going to sling it and man, he kicked off this deep swamp groove. I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding. I freaking love this,’ and grabbed a harp and jumped all over it with him. We had a lot of fun doing that one.”

A reimagined “Play Something Country” with Lainey Wilson opens the new body of work. As a fellow Louisiana native, Brooks says he’s been hearing about the CMA Female Vocal of the Year for a decade now and truly enjoyed working with her.

“She made a pair of bell bottoms out of that flame shirt that I wore on the Hardworking Man album cover, which was just hysterical,” he reflects. “She came in with so much energy and lit it up.”

When it comes to uniquely different takes, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with rock group Halestorm comes to mind.

“Halestorm is a badass, headbanging rock band. Once they tuned their stuff up and hit the downbeat, it was on. That control room just exploded,” Brooks shares with a laugh. “Engineers were grabbing nobs with both hands trying to get a handle on what was going on. I’m really proud of Ronnie [Dunn]. He stepped up and went toe to toe with [Lizzy Hale]. Singing backgrounds was easy compared to what he was up to.”

Brooks shares that he could talk for hours about how fun each collaboration was, as well as what they learned from the creation process.

“We don’t feel like we’re the old guys on the block, we’re all doing the same thing. We’ve been doing it a few years longer, but that doesn’t change anything,” says Brooks. “Some of these acts that are really hot on this record aren’t posturing because they’re the hottest thing out there right now. The bottom line is we’re all just trying to make good music, and there’s a reason that these acts are popular. It does make you step up because you want to be your best and show them that you’ve still got it, and they want to do their best and show you they do have it.”

He continues, “I didn’t feel any ego ever, and you’d expect me to say that, but that’s the truth. Everybody just came in and said, ‘Let’s make a record, let’s do this.’ It gets fun pretty quick. It’s our job to make people feel comfortable in a situation like this, and there’s no reason that they shouldn’t feel comfortable because we really respect all the acts that are on this record.”

Through these collaborations and their storied career, Brooks & Dunn have amassed new fans, who are sure to come see them perform live when the pair embarks on their “Neon Moon Tour” this spring.

“One night last year, I was just looking at the crowd and it just looked so young, so I asked, ‘How many of y’all are at your first Brooks & Dunn show?’ Almost 70% of that crowd put their hands in the air,” Brooks recalls. “I said, ‘Wow, welcome to the party,’ and ask that every night now.

“It’s fun to think that there’s an audience out there that’s just now getting familiar with our music and hearing us play for the first time.”

Reboot II Track Listing:
1. “Play Something Country” with Lainey Wilson
2. “Neon Moon” with Morgan Wallen
3. “Rock My World (Little Country Girl)” with Marcus King Band
4. “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” with Megan Moroney
5. “Brand New Man” with Warren Zeiders
6. “Believe” with Jelly Roll
7. “She Used to Be Mine” with Riley Green
8. “She Likes to Get Out of Town” with The Cadillac Three
9. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with Halestorm
10. “Ain’t No Way To Go” with Mitchell Tenpenny
11. “How Long Gone” with The Earls of Leicester
12. “I’ll Never Forgive My Heart” with Jake Worthington
13. “She’s Not the Cheatin’ Kind” with Hailey Whitters
14. “Hard Workin’ Man” with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
15. “Hillbilly Deluxe” with Hardy
16. “Indian Summer” with Ernest
17. “Drop in the Bucket” with A Thousand Horses
18. “Only In America” with Corey Kent