CabaRay has a new lease on life with the residence of the theatrical presentation “Country Roads USA,” which debuted there over the weekend.

Opened by Ray Stevens in 2018, the state-of-the-art showroom houses the new production on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The dinner theater is one of Nashville’s finest venues and was the location of the PBS TV series Ray Stevens CabaRay Nashville. But its future became uncertain following the star’s heart procedure late last year.

“Country Roads USA” is a fast-paced revue tracing the history of country music. The 11-member cast performs 43 song excerpts to tracks recorded by top Music Row session musicians. Fleet costume changes, shifting video projections, rotating stage props and energetic choreography create a flashy environment during the 75-minute show.

The show’s writer/director is Dean Sams of the hit country band Lonestar. He described “Country Music USA” as “the most authentic show you can see in Nashville when it comes to country music.”

During a press preview last week, Sams praised costume designer Renee Layher, choreographer Laurin Floyd Turner and producers Jeanna Kenney and Brian Schafer for bringing the show to life. The projected celebrity photos are drawn from the archive of the late Slick Lawson.

“This is a chronological tale of country music, with some of the biggest names this genre has ever known coming to life before your very eyes and ears,” says Sams. “It’s a high-energy musical and visual experience that takes the audience back in time. There is nothing about this show that my hands, ears, eyes, and heart haven’t been a part of.”

The 11 cast members portray three-dozen iconic country stars, ranging from The Carter Family to the Dixie Chicks. Most songs are delivered in a lickety-split, verse-chorus fashion, but the revue pauses the pace with a tribute to Minnie Pearl’s vintage jokes, a clog-dancing segment and an all-cast gospel medley of “I’ll Fly Away,” “Farther Along,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “Just a Little Talk With Jesus.”

The hit songs’ arrangements are performed as close to the original records as possible. Among the most effective are Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn,” Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira,” George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Brooks & Dunn’s “My Maria” and Martina McBride’s “Independence Day.” Offstage narration introduces each number and provides continuity.

Most of the cast members have extensive Nashville stage experience. Millie Martin, Krista Dudley and Zachariah Malachi are veterans of Lower Broadway’s nightclubs. Dancer Nikki Mele has entertained on the General Jackson showboat. Terin Christopher has been in Nashville for six years and has backed more than a dozen country stars as a dancer. Merissa Milile has been a choreographer/cheerleader for the Tennessee Titans. Belmont University alumnus Sam Mulligan is an indie recording artist, as are Malachi and singer-songwriter Sara Kelly.

The three relative newcomers include Kyle Henry, who plunged into the audience and sang among the dinner tables during his portrayal of Garth Brooks. His entertainment background includes theme parks, cruise ships, and regional theater. George Arbuckle was quite effective as Alan Jackson and in other roles. The Nashville newcomer’s bass-to-tenor vocal range also impressed. In Nashville since 2021, Tom Baker displayed ease with the honky-tonk material of George Strait and other stars.

During Kenny Chesney’s “How Forever Feels,” beach balls were tossed into the crowd. Dancers wheeled desks around the stage during Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” All the cast members assembled on risers for the show finale, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Songs also included Ray Stevens’ “Everything Is Beautiful” and Lonestar’s “Amazed.”

The “Country Roads USA” production recalls the country show at Opryland during the theme park’s 1972-1997 heyday. It also echoes the long-running “Country Tonite” tourist show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It serves as a fast-paced, entertaining introduction to country music for the uninitiated or a nostalgic, sing-along overview for established fans.

“Country Roads USA” will be staged at CabaRay every weekend. As before, the venue’s sound, lights and sight lines are first rate. CabaRay’s walls are decorated in vintage photos honoring the architects of the Nashville Sound. Six display areas salute producers Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley, Shelby Singleton, Fred Foster, Jerry Kennedy and Billy Sherrill.

The lobby opens at 5:00 p.m. on show nights. Dinner seating on the main floor begins at 5:30 p.m. Show-only seating in the balcony begins at 6:30 p.m. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

ERNEST has inked a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music.

A Grammy, ACM, CMA Award nominee, and two-time Variety Hitmakers honoree, ERNEST has penned 13 No. 1 hits, including his breakout single “Flower Shops” featuring Morgan Wallen and the global hit “I Had Some Help,” cut by Post Malone featuring Wallen. He is set to be honored in April at the CMA Triple Play Awards for the fourth time. ERNEST is the founder of DeVille Records.

“This next chapter with Warner Chappell feels like an extension and expansion of the family,” ERNEST shares. “I always loved working with Austen Adams while he was at Big Loud, and have loved getting to know the team here. Looking forward to everything that’s ahead.”

“Ern is an innovative songwriter and artist who consistently defies genre boundaries to find the heart of a great song,” says Austen Adams, President, WCM Nashville. “Having worked with him for some time, I can truly say he is a generational talent with an undeniable work ethic. Our entire Warner Chappell team is honored to be his long-term partner in this next chapter of his career.”

ERNEST is currently on his Live From The South Tour, which will have stops in Boston, New York, and Houston, among many others. His third full-length album, DEEP BLUE, is set for release this summer.

Don Williams‘ EPILOGUE: THE CELLAR TAPES, a collection of previously unheard tracks, will release on May 29 via Craft Recordings.

“Fans from Abilene to Zimbabwe (really) will delight in discovering these never-before-released gems from the incomparable Don Williams,” says Ed Morris in the album’s liner notes. “Recorded and held in reserve during his 1979–1984 era of hits, these songs present Williams in his artistic prime.”

Found in the cellar of the Williams family’s rural Tennessee home, the tapes were brought to Williams’ four decade long co-producer Garth Fundis. The tapes contain recordings from 1979 to 1984, which involved hits such as “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” “It Must Be Love,” “I Believe in You,” “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good,” and “Love Is on a Roll.”

The collection will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The lead single, “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” is available now, with a music video directed by West Webb. The song was co-penned by Rodney Crowell and Donivan Cowart, and was previously recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys and Emmylou Harris.

Don’s son, Tim Williams, served as Executive Producer on the project. Joe Allen is noted on bass, with Kenny Malone on drums and congas. String arrangements, piano and organ were done by Charles Cochran. Additional players include Lloyd Green on steel and Jimmy Colvard, Dave Kirby and Billy Sanford on guitar.

“These songs Dad recorded are—as music can be—a time machine,” shares Tim. “Obviously, I grew up always hearing what he was doing. He’d bring home three to four songs at a time from the album he was working on at different stages. In working on this project, we tried above all to stay true to how Dad approached production, made much easier for me with Garth’s involvement, and then just to stay out of the way of the music.”

“Don liked every one of these songs,” adds Fundis. “I remember recording all of them… He was very particular about the songs he recorded and the sound we created for each of them. But, if a song didn’t make in to an album, it wasn’t necessarily because he didn’t like it. Moreover, it was because of how songs fit together to create an album. I think he’d be thrilled to know that people could hear him sing these new songs they didn’t know existed. I’m certain Don would be proud of this album.”

Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes Tracklist:
1. “Try Me Again”
2. “You Came True”
3. “I’m The One (Alternate Version)”
4. “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight”
5. “I Wish I Was Crazy Again”
6. “I’m In Love For My Last Time”
7. “Spinning Around”
8. “A Matter Of Time”
9. “I’m The One (Original Version)”
10. “How Can I Miss What I Never Had”
11. “Goldy’s Gone From Golden”
12. “Growing On Me”

Breakout star Ty Myers is set to launch “The Legal Tour” on June 11. Emerging artist Benny G will support on all dates, with singer-songwriter Brent Cobb and rising star Lanie Gardner on select dates.

The new tour includes stops in New York City, Austin, Grand Junction, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Fort Worth and more, including a stop at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Pre-sales for the 33-date U.S. trek begin March 31 and continue through April 2, with the public on-sale starting on April 3 at tymyersmusic.com.

Myers is gearing up for the release of his sophomore album Heavy On The Soul, due out via RECORDS Nashville/Columbia this Friday (March 27). He was recently selected for Spotify’s RADAR program, which was created to spotlight up-and-coming music talent, giving them an opportunity to broaden their fanbase and supporting them on their path to stardom using a unique set of tools that only Spotify can provide.

The 18-year old is currently wowing crowds at stadiums across North America as support for Luke Combs’ “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour,” and after completing the first slate of dates for “The Legal Tour,” he’ll hit the road again with Combs in July and spend the month touring Europe, then return to the U.S. to resume his own headline dates.

Announced Dates For Ty Myers’ “The Legal Tour”:
June 11 | Sidney, ME – Bowl In The Pines ★●
June 12 | Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion ★●
June 13 | New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 ★●
June 19 | Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater ★●
June 20 | Reading, PA – Santander Arena ★●
August 13 | Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest ★●
August 14 | Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater ★●
August 15 | Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater ★●
August 20 | Avila Beach, CA – Avila Beach Golf Resort ★●
August 21 | Modesto, CA – The Fruit Yard Chicken Ranch Casino & Resort Amphitheater ★●
August 22 | Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic ★●
August 28 | Grand Junction, CO – Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park ★●
August 29 | Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater ★●
August 30 | Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre ★●
September 4 | Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater ★●
September 5 | Andover, KS – Capitol Federal Amphitheater ★●
September 6 | Camdenton, MO – Ozarks Amphitheater ★●
September 10 | Tuscaloosa, AL – Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater ★●
September 11 | Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater ★●
September 12 | Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater ★●
October 1 | Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Cane’s River Center ◼●
October 2 | Little Rock, AR – First Security Amphitheater ◼●
October 3 | Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater ◼●
October 8 | St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre ◼●
October 9 | Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound ●
October 10 | Estero, FL – Hertz Arena ◼●
October 15 | Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre ★●
October 16 | Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park ★●
October 17 | Port Wentworth, GA – VyStar Pavilion ★●
October 23 | Evansville, IN – Ford Center ◼●
October 24 | Pikeville, KY – Appalachian Wireless Arena ◼●
November 20 | Austin, TX – Moody Center ★●
November 21 | Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena ●

★Brent Cobb
◼Lanie Gardner
●Benny G

CMA Fest has revealed its 2026 outdoor stages lineup, which includes the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr. Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Good Molecules Reverb Stage, and the new Wrangler Remix Stage.

Performers on the Chevy Riverfront Stage include Ashley Cooke, Braxton Keith, Carter Faith, Charles Wesley Godwin, Chase Matthew, Chayce Beckham, Cooper Alan, Dasha, Drew Baldridge, Dylan Marlowe, Ernest, Ian Munsick, Josh Ross, Kaitlin Butts, Kameron Marlowe, Lauren Alaina, Mackenzie Carpenter, Maddox Batson, Marcus King, Max McNown, Midland, Molly Tuttle, Nate Smith, Priscilla Block, RaeLynn, Redferrin, Russell Dickerson, Shane Smith & The Saints, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tigirlily Gold, Tucker Wetmore, Ty Myers, Tyler Braden, Vincent Mason and Waylon Wyatt.

Ascend park’s Dr. Pepper Amp Stage will feature Angie K, Billy Dean, Blanco Brown, Canaan Smith, Cody Hibbard, Craig Campbell, Dave Fenley, Drake Milligan, Emily Ann Roberts, Erin Kinsey, Greylan James, The Jack Wharff Band, John Morgan, Kaylee Bell, Kaylee Rose, Kolby Cooper, Late Night Thoughts, Leanna Crawford, Melissa Etheridge, Noeline Hofmann, Pam Tillis, Pecos & the Rooftops, Shaylen, Travis Bolt, Travis Denning, Ty Herndon, Tyler Farr, Uncle Kracker, The War And Treaty and Willow Avalon.

Over on the Chevy Vibes Stage, Adrien Nunez, Alana Springsteen, Ashland Craft, Austin Snell, Bellah Mae, Caylee Hammack, Chase McDaniel, Colt Ford, Dax, Drake White, Frankie Ballard, Graham Barham, Hannah McFarland, Jade Eagleson, Karley Scott Collins, Kelsey Hart, Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, Mack Geiger, Madeline Merlo, Mae Estes, Maggie Antone, Mark Wills, Melanie Dyer, Neal McCoy, Owen Riegling, Shane Profitt, Sister Hazel, Tayler Holder, Walker Montgomery and Willie Jones will all take the stage.

In front of Bridgestone Arena, Abbey Cone, Alex Lambert, Alexandra Kay, Atlus, Ava Hall, Belle Frantz, Blake Proehl, Brad Cox, Bryan Andrews, Cassidy Daniels, Cody Lohden, Eli Winders, Elizabeth Nichols, Gareth, Jacob Hackworth, Jamie MacDonald, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Jenna Davis, John Foster, Julia Cole, Just Jayne, Kevin Powers, The Kruse Brothers, MaRynn Taylor, McCoy Moore, Myles Morgan, Preston Cooper, Scoot Teasley, Sophia Scott, Stella Lefty,  Timmy McKeever, Trey Lewis, Tyce Delk, Tyler Nance, Wesko and Will Moseley will all take the Good Molecules Reverb Stage.

Debuting this year inside Fan Alley is the Wrangler Remix Stage, with performances from Alli Walker, Aniston Pate, Ashley Kutcher, Benny G, BODHI, Bottomland, Brooke Lee, Carson Wallace, CECE, Chancey Williams, Chandler Walters, Clayton Mullen, Cole Goodwin, Dalton Davis, Emily Nenni, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, Hayden Blount, Hayden Coffman, Highway Home, Hogslop String Band, Jake Banfield, Jay Webb, Kat Luna, Lil Man J, Lily Meola, Matt Cooper, Payton Smith, ROME from Sublime with Rome, SKEEZ, Sons of Habit, Sterling Elza, Trey Pendley, Tyla Rodrigues and The Wilder Blue.

All CMA Fest outdoor stages are free and open to the public. Passes for the night time Nissan Stadium shows are available here.