Ashley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss
Ashley Gorley has extended his record of chart-toppers with his 80th No. 1 hit, “I Am Not Okay,” recorded and co-written by Jelly Roll along with Tape Room writers Taylor Phillips and Casey Brown.
To commemorate the milestone, the 10-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year is supporting the launch of a program designed for the creative community by The Onsite Foundation: Creatives Support Network, which provides free mentorship, education, resources and mental wellness support specifically designed for members of the songwriting community.
“A song about struggling to get out of bed in the morning is No. 1 and that really speaks to where we are in the world,” Gorley shares. “It was important for us to take this moment to say ‘you’re not the only one,’ and to support a creative network with programming that is tailored to songwriters at any stage of their journey.”
A key part of the Creatives Support Network are two-day immersive individual or group coaching and therapy sessions explicitly curated for creatives called Songwriter-Focused Intensives. The program also includes mentorship and social impact initiatives as well as online curriculum and conversation resources complimentary to the creative community thanks to Gorley’s gift in the form of 80 grants for 80 individuals as well as program infrastructure support.
“This song in particular, along with the Jelly Roll Era, is creating a movement and timely conversation regarding the need to equip creatives with necessary tools to optimize their personal and professional pursuits,” adds Onsite’s Miles Adcox.
“I’ve been at the intersection of Music and Mental Wellness for the better part of my career and have experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing today’s creatives. Music is medicine, and the comfort, relief, support, and overall impact it provides globally to humanity is immeasurable,” Adcock adds. “Our storytellers are a national treasure we should pour into and protect at all costs. We’re grateful to Ashley, Jelly Roll, and the Tape Room writers for starting this conversation in the songwriting community and for lending their expertise and resources.”
Click here to learn more about The Onsite Foundation’s Creatives Support Network.
Ashley Gorley Commemorates 80th No. 1 With A Focus On Mental Health
/by LB CantrellAshley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss
Ashley Gorley has extended his record of chart-toppers with his 80th No. 1 hit, “I Am Not Okay,” recorded and co-written by Jelly Roll along with Tape Room writers Taylor Phillips and Casey Brown.
To commemorate the milestone, the 10-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year is supporting the launch of a program designed for the creative community by The Onsite Foundation: Creatives Support Network, which provides free mentorship, education, resources and mental wellness support specifically designed for members of the songwriting community.
“A song about struggling to get out of bed in the morning is No. 1 and that really speaks to where we are in the world,” Gorley shares. “It was important for us to take this moment to say ‘you’re not the only one,’ and to support a creative network with programming that is tailored to songwriters at any stage of their journey.”
A key part of the Creatives Support Network are two-day immersive individual or group coaching and therapy sessions explicitly curated for creatives called Songwriter-Focused Intensives. The program also includes mentorship and social impact initiatives as well as online curriculum and conversation resources complimentary to the creative community thanks to Gorley’s gift in the form of 80 grants for 80 individuals as well as program infrastructure support.
“This song in particular, along with the Jelly Roll Era, is creating a movement and timely conversation regarding the need to equip creatives with necessary tools to optimize their personal and professional pursuits,” adds Onsite’s Miles Adcox.
“I’ve been at the intersection of Music and Mental Wellness for the better part of my career and have experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing today’s creatives. Music is medicine, and the comfort, relief, support, and overall impact it provides globally to humanity is immeasurable,” Adcock adds. “Our storytellers are a national treasure we should pour into and protect at all costs. We’re grateful to Ashley, Jelly Roll, and the Tape Room writers for starting this conversation in the songwriting community and for lending their expertise and resources.”
Click here to learn more about The Onsite Foundation’s Creatives Support Network.
CMHOFM Exhibits Artifacts From Nashville Folk & Blues Artist Cortelia Clark
/by Lorie HollabaughCortelia Clark. Photo: Courtesy of Sony Music Archives
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is featuring several artifacts from blind folk and blues singer Cortelia Clark in a temporary display, “Cortelia Clark’s Everyday Blues.”
Open through September 2025, the exhibit explores the story of the Grammy-winning artist and Nashville figure who performed on the streets of downtown for years.
Clark came to Music City in 1919 at the age of 17 to work in a broom factory, and learned how to play the guitar from another blind man. By the 1960s, he was playing almost daily on 5th Avenue North by a Woolworth store, where he caught the attention of RCA Records producer Felton Jarvis. Jarvis then recorded Clark live, talking and playing on an average day in the city. Later, his 1966 album, Blues on a Street, won the Grammy for Best Folk Recording in March 1967. Not long after, Clark was filling his kerosene heater, which exploded and set his wood-frame house on fire. The explosion left him badly burned and resulted in his untimely death weeks later on Christmas Eve in 1969.
The items on display include Clark’s broken Grammy, which was damaged in the fire, and the Kay 6116 Super-Auditorium model guitar featured on his album cover as well as his Kay 5113 Plains Special guitar.
“Cortelia Clark’s Everyday Blues” is supported by a new video on the museum’s YouTube channel, which includes interviews with Clark’s friend, producer and champion Mike Weesner, Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray and the museum’s Instrument Collection Curator Jack Clutter. The video also features the museum’s Vice President of Creative Warren Denney, who sat down with Weesner.
T.G. Sheppard Celebrates 50-Year Career In Country Music
/by Lorie HollabaughT.G. Sheppard
T.G. Sheppard is celebrating his 50-year anniversary as a country artist.
Sheppard’s first No. 1 single, “Devil In The Bottle” was released in October 1974 and quickly climbed the charts, where it remained for 10 weeks. The hit laid the foundation for Sheppard’s career success, marking the first of his 22 No. 1s, which include classics like “Last Cheater’s Waltz,” “I’ll Be Coming Back for More,” “Do You Want to Go to Heaven,” “Party Time,” “Only One You,” “I Loved ‘Em Every One,” “Slow Burn” and more.
“Over 50 years ago, I had no idea the career journey I started would still be going strong today,” shares Sheppard. “It’s been the most incredible and rewarding trip, and I’m happy to say the highs have far outweighed the lows. I still have to pinch myself to make sure this isn’t just a dream. Every day, I thank God and the fans for blessing me with such an amazing life and allowing me to continue doing what I love. I hope you’ll join me on the 50th Anniversary Tour and sing along to many of the 22 No. 1 hits I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve. I am humbled beyond words.”
Sheppard and singer-songwriter/author Kelly Lang recently released their latest duets album, Chemistry: The Duets Collection. The album includes 11 love songs, including classics such as “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” “More Today Than Yesterday” and “It’s Too Late,” along with their recently-released singles “You’re Still The One,” “Addicted to You” and “Because You Loved Me.”
Josh Gicker Launches Living Life Films
/by Liza AndersonJosh Gicker
Nashville-based creative director Josh Gicker has launched Living Life Films.
Focused on creating visually and emotionally resonant music videos, short-form documentaries and commercials, Gicker has worked with Alan Jackson, Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis, Gabby Barrett, Lauren Daigle, Universal Music Group (UMG), Warner Music Nashville, Big Loud Records, HCA Healthcare and more.
“I’ve been pursuing a calling on my heart to tell stories since I was just a kid, and it brings me so much joy to know that I’ve been blessed to help and document so many other individuals’ journeys while chasing after that dream,” he shares. “Living Life Films thrives on collaboration, bringing clients’ visions to the screen and engaging audiences through sentimental content.
“I firmly believe that the trick to determining a good video is if the viewer not only wants to show it to a friend, but if they also want to watch it again. So how do we do that together? We think bigger than what is on screen and think about the person who will be watching it. By tugging at the heartstrings and telling a story that inspires.”
For more information, click here.
Ricky Skaggs To Kick Off 2024 Christmas Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughRicky Skaggs. Photo: Courtesy of Skaggs Family Records
Ricky Skaggs has announced his 2024 holiday tour “Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Christmas,” which will kick off Dec. 5 in Tucson.
Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder will hit the tour trail this December with 13 Christmas concerts across the nation in Louisville, Knoxville, Scottsdale and more, wrapping with a Ryman Auditorium show on Dec. 22. Concertgoers can expect to hear the bluegrass tune “Christmas Time’s A Comin,’” along with a rendition of “New Star Shining,” a hit for Skaggs and James Taylor. Beloved classic songs “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls” and “Let it Snow” are also part of the show, along with other special Christmas melodies and seasonal sing-a-longs.
“This is my favorite time of the year,” explains Skaggs. “Not only do we celebrate the birth of the Savior, we also get to play some really fun music. I hope you will come out and see one of our Kentucky Thunder Christmas shows. It’s a joyful time. You’ll love it.”
“Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Christmas” Tour Dates:
Dec. 5 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Theatre
Dec. 6 – Scottsdale, AZ – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Dec. 10 – Richmond, KY – EKU Center for the Arts
Dec. 11 – Newport News, VA – Ferguson Center for the Arts
Dec. 12 – Huntington, WV – Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center
Dec. 13 – Wheeling, WV – The Capitol Theatre
Dec. 14 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
Dec. 15 – Marietta, OH – Peoples Bank Theatre
Dec. 18 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center
Dec. 19 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
Dec. 20 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace
Dec. 21 – Germantown, TN – Germantown Performing Arts Center
Dec. 22 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Artist Action: Reba McEntire, Easton Corbin, Drake Milligan
/by Lorie HollabaughReba McEntire Talks New Sitcom & The Voice During Multiple Television Appearances
Reba McEntire on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC
Reba McEntire made appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Today and The Kelly Clarkson Show last week to talk about her new sitcom, Happy’s Place, the latest season of The Voice and more.
Happy’s Place premiered earlier this month and garnered 10 million total viewers across NBC and Peacock. The debut marks NBC ‘s top comedy launch yet and improved its time slot by 90% in total viewers.
Easton Corbin Celebrates First Responders Day With Cedar Key Fire Department
Easton Corbin with the Cedar Key Fire Department. Photo: Dusty Barker
Easton Corbin recently met with the Cedar Key Fire Department in Cedar Key, Florida, which was devastated by Hurricane Milton last month.
The invitation was extended to all first responders in the area as well as their families for the event, which took place on Oct. 29, the day after National First Responders Day. The visit included a private acoustic performance by Corbin, a Florida native, and a meet-and-greet.
Drake Milligan Sells Out The Basement East
Drake Milligan headlining The Basement East
Drake Milligan performed for a sold-out crowd at The Basement East in Nashville last week, marking his first headlining show in Music City since 2022.
Milligan has collected over 150 million on-demand global streams, and reached No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre albums and Top Country Albums chart with his debut project, Dallas/Fort Worth. Additionally, his current single, “I Got A Problem,” was recently the most-played song at Australian country radio and hit No. 1 on the Countrytown National Airplay chart.
Bellamy Brothers Release New Project ‘Double Dog Dare’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Bellamy Brothers have released their new album, Double Dog Dare, via Bellamy Brothers Records and Select-O-Hits.
Double Dog Dare includes their collaboration, “Forever Ain’t Long Enough” with Gene Watson and “I’d Lie to You For Your Love” featuring the late K.T. Oslin. Produced by David and Howard Bellamy and Randy Hiebert, the 12-song collection also features a duet with The Isaacs, “Normal Ain’t Coming Back,” along with previously-released singles “Crawl In A Hole” and “Doin It This Way.”
The video shoot for “Crawl In A Hole” was highlighted on season four of the Bellamy Brothers’ Honky Tonk Ranch show, which chronicles their lives on the road and is free to watch on Circle Country’s YouTube channel.
Double Dog Dare Track Listing:
1. “Terpene Dreams”
2. “Song About My Home”
3. “Normal Ain’t Coming Back (with The Isaacs)”
4. “Crawl In A Hole”
5. “Lap Dog”
6. “Doin It This Way”
7. “Forever Ain’t Long Enough (with Gene Watson)”
8. “Neon Rain”
9. “Double 7s”
10. “Dance With Your Dog”
11. “I’m Gonna Find Somebody New (To Break My Heart)”
12. “Lie To You For Your Love (with K.T. Oslin)”
Jon Pardi Wraps Yearlong ‘Mr. Saturday Night Tour’
/by Madison HahnenJon Pardi performs on the “Mr. Saturday Night Tour.” Photo: Evan De Stefano
Country star Jon Pardi wrapped his yearlong “Mr. Saturday Night Tour” over the weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina.
With global visits to Ireland, the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Sweden, and an additional 40+ U.S. headlining stops, the tour sold more than 317,000 tickets combined. Pardi was joined by a multitude of openers throughout the trek, including Ella Langley, Midland, Priscilla Block, Larry Fleet, Jackson Dean, Randall King, Dillon Carmichael, Meghan Patrick and DJ Highmax.
A portion of each ticket sold benefited the Starlight Fund, founded by Pardi and his wife Summer. The fund supports organizations passionate about providing resources to youth in need that want to pursue a path in trades, agriculture and construction.
Pardi will close out 2024 with “The Christmas Show,” making stops in California, Oklahoma and New Mexico, before heading overseas in March for headline Australia dates.
Alliance Music Partners & Warner Chappell Music Sign Max King
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L–R): Warner Chappell’s Bryce Sherlowe, Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford, Alliance Music Partners’ Abbey Adams, Max King, Warner Chappell’s Alexa Morris and Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn. Photo: Carter Maggipinto
Alliance Music Partners and Warner Chappell Music have signed Max King to a publishing deal.
The Gibsonia, Pennsylvania native developed a passion for music at an early age. From impromptu guitar sessions at home to singalongs in the car, King was immersed in a musical environment that shaped his style, learning the art of storytelling through song from influences like Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and the Eagles.
He relocated to Nashville in the fall of 2018 to attend Belmont University. Majoring in music business, King expanded his knowledge while engaging with the city’s songwriting community. After graduation, he began pursuing a full-time career as a songwriter.
“It’s essential for me to work with songwriters who can dig deep, crafting lyrics and melodies that resonate with people’s experiences and emotions—whether it’s to inspire reflection or get you up and dancing,” says Alliance Music Partners’ Abbey Adams. “When I first heard Max’s music, I knew he was one of those exceptional writers. I was instantly inspired and eager for us to start working together.”
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Abbey and the Warner Chappell Music team,” shares King. “It’s truly a lifelong dream come true for me!”
In addition to penning tunes, he now frequently tours as a guitarist with close friend and Big Machine Records artist Lecade.
ACM LEVel Up 2024 Cohort Concludes First Year
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L–R, back row): Gator Pizer, Nathan Pyle, Lizzy Stone, Kortney Toney and Jimmy Wheeler; (L–R, front row): David Hawkins, Lacey Hayes, Jackie Ebnet, Alexes Aiken and Kenyon Glenn. Photo: Courtesy of ACM
The Academy of Country Music’s LEVel Up 2024 cohort concluded their first of two years in the professional development program last week with a final education session.
Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission Jimmy Wheeler served as the guest speaker, giving attendees a look into the dynamic landscape of Tennessee’s entertainment sector.
During his time, Wheeler gave a glimpse of future plans, including the ongoing devotion to create new opportunities the local music community. He also touched on the future entertainment impacts regarding the new Titans Stadium and previewed some upcoming developments that aim to continue boosting the energetic future of the state’s entertainment scene.
ACM LEVel Up is currently accepting applications and nominations for its 2025 cohort through Nov. 11. The program comes at no cost to participants.