Former BNA Records artist Lisa Stewart Seals, wife of country artist Brady Seals, will join the all-star cast of the new motion picture Love Don’t Let Me Down starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. Seals plays the mother of a 7-year-old son, Travis, a Leukemia patient who, as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, gets to meet Paltrow’s country music artist character.  Travis is played by Gabe Sipos, a real life cancer survivor.

“My role is a small one, but I’m so excited to have a few lines and to share a scene with an Academy Award winner, a country music icon and a brave soul like Gabe,” says Seals.  “On my list of ‘Things I Hope to Accomplish in My Life,’ I get to check something off!”

Seals previously starred in the film Jericho, winner of Best Feature Film award at Naples Film Fest. She also appeared in Nothing Lasts Forever, a CBS mini-series directed by Jack Bender of Lost fame. Seals has been a red carpet correspondent for E! Entertainment and has hosted various TV show in national syndication for TNN, GAC and more. Her voice is currently featured as the reader of Sara Evans’ audio book The Sweet By and By.

Showdog-Universal artist Phil Vassar has teamed up with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radio station partners for a year-long promotion to benefit kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude. The Country Cares radio station that secures the most “Partner In Hope” monthly pledges throughout the designated contest time will receive a free acoustic concert from Vassar.  The contest begins on February 3, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011.

The St. Jude Partner In Hope family is made up of a special group of loyal supporters who give monthly to St. Jude so the hospital has the necessary financial resources to ensure that no child is turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.

“St. Jude is such a fantastic and necessary organization,” says Vassar, who recently visited with St. Jude patients. “I want to do whatever I can to help these kids and we’re going to have some fun in the process.”

“St. Jude steps up to the plate every day,” says Bill Black, Program Director of Mobile, Alabama’s WKSJ. “And now Phil Vassar steps up and supports St. Jude and country radio with a great incentive to grow your radiothon!”

A distinguished group of songwriters will come together for the second John Jarrard Foundation Concert at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe on Saturday, Feb. 20. Hit songwriters Bob Dipiero, Walt Aldridge, Rory Bourke and Kendall Marvel will perform to benefit the John Jarrard Foundation. Dipiero’s 15 No. 1 hits include “Southern Voice” by Tim McGraw. Aldridge, writer of Reba’s “Fear Of Being Alone,” has twice been voted Billboard Magazine Top 10 Country Songwriter of the Year, and Bourke, writer of Charlie Rich’s “The Most Beautiful Girl,” is a member of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and a three-time ASCAP Writer of the Year. Marvel is the writer of “Right Where I Need To Be” by Gary Allan.

“We are excited to have such a great group of songwriters performing at the Bluebird,” says John Jarrard Foundation Executive Director Jody Jackson.

John Jarrard was a well-known Nashville songwriter who penned hits for a number of top country music stars. Jarrard fought a long battle with diabetes before passing away in 2001.

Tickets for the Bluebird show are $15 and can be purchased here. Proceeds will go to a permanent endowment fund in Jarrard’s name funding local charities. For more information, contact Jody Jackson at jjackson@johnjarrardconcert.com or (770) 710-9191.

SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) held its first general assembly meeting of the year featuring Sony Music Nashville CEO/President, Joe Galante. Galante supplied insightful advice on current issues, including the marketing of digital music, technology and how it affects the profit for the industry as well as what he believes will be future issues for the music industry.

“This was a great opportunity for SOLID members to get advice from one of the best leaders in the music industry,” said SOLID President Katie Pope. “Joe Galante is really a role model that members of SOLID should look up to.”

SOLID plans an array of activities throughout the coming year, including additional high profile speakers.

“Last year our committee raised the bar in educational opportunities available for SOLID members,” says Education Chair Heath Baumhor. “We look forward to continuing to secure top-notch speakers for our general assembly meetings as well as the (After)Work Shops.”

Started in 1997 by a small group of industry professionals, SOLID combines educational opportunities, hands-on training from diverse industry experts, music industry social networking and community service.