Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson passed away at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday (Sept. 28) at age 88.
One of the greatest songwriters in music history, he revolutionized Nashville with his lyrics’ frank sexuality, poetic structures and intellect. Kristofferson’s musical legacy includes such masterpieces as “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “For the Good Times,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “Why Me (Lord)” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” He had success as a solo recording artist, in a duet with Rita Coolidge and as a member of the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Along the way, he earned four Grammy Awards and seven Gold records.
He graduated from music stardom to a thriving film career in such features as A Star Is Born, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Semi-Tough and Blade. He was also a novelist, a poet, a short story writer and an essayist.
Kris Kristofferson was born in Texas, but the family moved several times because his father was in the military. A major general in the Air Force, he urged his son to emulate him. In high school in California, Kristofferson excelled in rugby, track, soccer, boxing and football. He was also a brilliant student. While enrolled in Pomona College, he had two essays published by The Atlantic Monthly. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated summa cum laude, then became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. While there, he began his recording career as “Kris Carson,” but that music went nowhere.
His father pressured him to join the Army. Kristofferson became a helicopter pilot while in the service. A fellow soldier was related to Nashville songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, who took an interest in Kristofferson’s music. The two later co-wrote the million-selling alcohol-recovery anthem “One Day at a Time.”
Instead of taking a position as an instructor at West Point, Kristofferson quit the Army and moved to Nashville in 1965. His parents reportedly disowned him. During his early years on Music Row, the singer-songwriter worked as a janitor at Columbia Studios and as a bartender at the Tally-Ho Tavern. He also flew helicopters for a Louisiana oil company. He’d write songs on an oil rig, then return to Nashville to pitch them. At one point, he landed a helicopter on Johnny Cash’s yard to get attention for his tunes. Songwriters Mickey Newbury, Shel Silverstein and Tom T. Hall befriended and encouraged him.
Kristofferson had his first Nashville success in 1966 when Dave Dudley had a hit with “Viet Nam Blues.” In 1968, Roy Drusky made the country charts with “Jody and the Kid.” In 1969, Roger Miller recorded “Me and Bobby McGee;” Faron Young had a top 10 hit with “Your Time’s Comin;’” Billy Walker scored with “From the Bottle to the Bottom,” and Ray Stevens had “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”
Major successes occurred the following year when Johnny Cash hit the top of the country charts with “Sunday Morning Coming Down;” Waylon Jennings scored with “The Taker;” Jerry Lee Lewis had a smash with “Once More With Feeling” and Ray Price had a massive pop crossover success with “For the Good Times.” The last was named the Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year. Meanwhile, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) bestowed its 1970 Song of the Year honor on “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”
Following a brief, unsuccessful stint at Epic Records, Kristofferson signed with Monument Records. His 1970 LP debut was packed with hits, including “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” a 1971 pop-crossover smash for Sammi Smith that earned the songwriter his first Grammy Award. That was also the year that Janis Joplin topped the pop charts with his “Me and Bobby McGee;” Ray Price scored with “I’d Rather Be Sorry” and Bobby Bare had back-to-back top 10 country hits with “Come Sundown” and “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends.” Sammi Smith returned to his catalog for her 1972 hit “I’ve Got to Have You.”
Kristofferson and Coolidge were married in 1973-80. She and Larry Gatlin sang backup on his gospel song “Why Me.” In the summer of 1973, it became his only No. 1 hit as an artist. The couple earned two Grammys for their recordings together.
Brenda Lee’s top 10 success with Kristofferson’s “Nobody Wins” in 1973 marked her transition from pop stardom to country hit maker. Ronnie Milsap’s revival of “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” hit No. 1 on the country hit parade in 1974. Singers Marilyn Sellars and Don Gibson both recorded “One Day at a Time” that year, and the Sellars version became a top 20 country hit. In 1976, Johnny Duncan went into the top 10 with the songwriter’s “Stranger” (featuring vocal accompaniment by Janie Fricke). Kristofferson’s own recordings continued, with nine albums issued between 1972 and 1979.
Kris Kristofferson began his silver-screen career in the 1970s. Early credits included The Last Movie (1971), Cisco Pike (1972), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume In Love (1973), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976) and Vigilante Force (1976). He co-starred with Barbra Streisand in 1976’s A Star Is Born, which earned him a Best Actor Golden Globe Award. Its soundtrack album sold more than four million copies. He went on to star in Semi-Tough (1977, with Burt Reynolds), Convoy (1978), Songwriter (1980, with Willie Nelson) and Heaven’s Gate (1980). His Songwriter soundtrack was nominated for an Oscar.
As a songwriter, he continued to be a force on the country charts. In 1980, Cristy Lane scored an No. 1 smash with “One Day at a Time.” Nelson recorded an entire album of Kristofferson songs and hit the top 10 in 1980 with his revival of “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” In 1981, The Glaser Brothers scored the biggest hit of their career with Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier.” The songwriter had based that song on a Shakespeare sonnet.
Kristofferson teamed up with Nelson, Lee and Dolly Parton on the hit 1982 album The Winning Hand. The first Highwaymen all-star album was issued in 1984 and earned a Platinum record. The group scored major hits the following year with Jimmy Webb’s “Highwayman” and Guy Clark’s “Desperados Waiting for a Train.” Kristofferson, Cash, Nelson and Jennings issued two more collections and became a hugely popular concert attraction.
Toward the end of the decade, Kristofferson moved from Monument to Mercury Records. His Repossessed (1988) and Third World Warrior (1989) albums for Mercury illuminated his progressive, leftist political positions. One of his songs from this era endured: “They Killed Him” was an homage to Kristofferson’s martyred heroes Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Jesus Christ. Bob Dylan soon re-popularized it on his Knocked Out Loaded album.
The songwriter’s film career continued to thrive with Rollover (1981, with Jane Fonda), Flashpoint (1984), Big Top Pee Wee (1988), Welcome Home (1989), Knights (1993), Lone Star (1996) and Fire Down Below (1997). In 1998, he was cast in the vampire superhero action film Blade, which spawned two sequels. In the new millennium, Kristofferson took roles in Planet of the Apes (2001), Where the Red Fern Grows (2003), The Jacket (2005), Fast Food Nation (2006), He’s Just Not That Into You (2009, with Jennifer Anniston), Dolphin Tale (2011, plus a 2014 sequel) and Joyful Noise (2012, with Parton). He was also featured in a number of high-profile television films and miniseries. In 2015, he portrayed President Andrew Jackson in the historical miniseries Texas Rising.
His music continued to be prominent. “Help Me Make It Through the Night” was a soul-music hit three times—for Joe Simon, O.C. Smith and Gladys Knight—and his songs were also recorded by Black music stars Al Green, Tina Turner, Millie Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne. Such diverse artists as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Olivia Newton-John, Joan Baez, Tom Jones, Pattti Page, The Grateful Dead, Frank Sinatra and Carly Simon recorded Kristofferson songs, as did a who’s-who of country celebrities—Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Rosanne Cash, K.T. Oslin, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Anne Murray, Hank Snow, Dottie West, LeAnn Rimes, Merle Haggard, Charlie McCoy, Lynn Anderson, Roy Clark, Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers, etc.
Career accolades rolled in. Kris Kristofferson was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977. The national Songwriters Hall of Fame followed suit in 1985. Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame came in 2004.
The new Americana music genre coalesced in 1999-2000. This reinvigorated his recording career and brought him new honors. In 2003, he received the “Spirit of Americana” free-speech award from the Americana Music Association. In 2006, he issued This Old Road, his first album of new material in 11 years. It was succeeded by more Americana-music favorites, his Closer to the Bone (2009), Feeling Mortal (2013) and Cedar Creek Sessions (2016) albums. They demonstrated that he was still writing as powerfully as ever. He was also the subject of a tribute album 2006’s The Pilgrim.
In the fall of 2009, Kristofferson was celebrated as a BMI Icon. By then, his songwriting had earned him 48 BMI awards. In 2013 he won a Poet’s Award from the ACM. He was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. An all-star concert in Nashville celebrated his 80th birthday in 2016, and he appeared at the Newport Folk Festival that year. The CMA presented him with its Lifetime Achievement honor in 2019.
Kristofferson announced his retirement in January 2021. He had been experiencing memory loss for several years, possibly as a result of old head injuries from sports. He assigned his estate management to Morris-Higham Management in Nashville. In October 2023 he attended the Country Music Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony. This was his final public appearance.
Kris Kristofferson is survived by his wife Lisa and by eight children—Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John Robert, Kelly Marie and Blake—as well as by seven grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
BREAKING: Superstar Kris Kristofferson Passes
/by Robert K OermannKris Kristofferson. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson passed away at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday (Sept. 28) at age 88.
One of the greatest songwriters in music history, he revolutionized Nashville with his lyrics’ frank sexuality, poetic structures and intellect. Kristofferson’s musical legacy includes such masterpieces as “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “For the Good Times,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “Why Me (Lord)” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” He had success as a solo recording artist, in a duet with Rita Coolidge and as a member of the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Along the way, he earned four Grammy Awards and seven Gold records.
He graduated from music stardom to a thriving film career in such features as A Star Is Born, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Semi-Tough and Blade. He was also a novelist, a poet, a short story writer and an essayist.
Kris Kristofferson was born in Texas, but the family moved several times because his father was in the military. A major general in the Air Force, he urged his son to emulate him. In high school in California, Kristofferson excelled in rugby, track, soccer, boxing and football. He was also a brilliant student. While enrolled in Pomona College, he had two essays published by The Atlantic Monthly. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated summa cum laude, then became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. While there, he began his recording career as “Kris Carson,” but that music went nowhere.
His father pressured him to join the Army. Kristofferson became a helicopter pilot while in the service. A fellow soldier was related to Nashville songwriter Marijohn Wilkin, who took an interest in Kristofferson’s music. The two later co-wrote the million-selling alcohol-recovery anthem “One Day at a Time.”
Instead of taking a position as an instructor at West Point, Kristofferson quit the Army and moved to Nashville in 1965. His parents reportedly disowned him. During his early years on Music Row, the singer-songwriter worked as a janitor at Columbia Studios and as a bartender at the Tally-Ho Tavern. He also flew helicopters for a Louisiana oil company. He’d write songs on an oil rig, then return to Nashville to pitch them. At one point, he landed a helicopter on Johnny Cash’s yard to get attention for his tunes. Songwriters Mickey Newbury, Shel Silverstein and Tom T. Hall befriended and encouraged him.
Kristofferson had his first Nashville success in 1966 when Dave Dudley had a hit with “Viet Nam Blues.” In 1968, Roy Drusky made the country charts with “Jody and the Kid.” In 1969, Roger Miller recorded “Me and Bobby McGee;” Faron Young had a top 10 hit with “Your Time’s Comin;’” Billy Walker scored with “From the Bottle to the Bottom,” and Ray Stevens had “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”
Major successes occurred the following year when Johnny Cash hit the top of the country charts with “Sunday Morning Coming Down;” Waylon Jennings scored with “The Taker;” Jerry Lee Lewis had a smash with “Once More With Feeling” and Ray Price had a massive pop crossover success with “For the Good Times.” The last was named the Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year. Meanwhile, the Academy of Country Music (ACM) bestowed its 1970 Song of the Year honor on “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”
Following a brief, unsuccessful stint at Epic Records, Kristofferson signed with Monument Records. His 1970 LP debut was packed with hits, including “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” a 1971 pop-crossover smash for Sammi Smith that earned the songwriter his first Grammy Award. That was also the year that Janis Joplin topped the pop charts with his “Me and Bobby McGee;” Ray Price scored with “I’d Rather Be Sorry” and Bobby Bare had back-to-back top 10 country hits with “Come Sundown” and “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends.” Sammi Smith returned to his catalog for her 1972 hit “I’ve Got to Have You.”
Kristofferson and Coolidge were married in 1973-80. She and Larry Gatlin sang backup on his gospel song “Why Me.” In the summer of 1973, it became his only No. 1 hit as an artist. The couple earned two Grammys for their recordings together.
Brenda Lee’s top 10 success with Kristofferson’s “Nobody Wins” in 1973 marked her transition from pop stardom to country hit maker. Ronnie Milsap’s revival of “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends” hit No. 1 on the country hit parade in 1974. Singers Marilyn Sellars and Don Gibson both recorded “One Day at a Time” that year, and the Sellars version became a top 20 country hit. In 1976, Johnny Duncan went into the top 10 with the songwriter’s “Stranger” (featuring vocal accompaniment by Janie Fricke). Kristofferson’s own recordings continued, with nine albums issued between 1972 and 1979.
Kris Kristofferson began his silver-screen career in the 1970s. Early credits included The Last Movie (1971), Cisco Pike (1972), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume In Love (1973), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976) and Vigilante Force (1976). He co-starred with Barbra Streisand in 1976’s A Star Is Born, which earned him a Best Actor Golden Globe Award. Its soundtrack album sold more than four million copies. He went on to star in Semi-Tough (1977, with Burt Reynolds), Convoy (1978), Songwriter (1980, with Willie Nelson) and Heaven’s Gate (1980). His Songwriter soundtrack was nominated for an Oscar.
As a songwriter, he continued to be a force on the country charts. In 1980, Cristy Lane scored an No. 1 smash with “One Day at a Time.” Nelson recorded an entire album of Kristofferson songs and hit the top 10 in 1980 with his revival of “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” In 1981, The Glaser Brothers scored the biggest hit of their career with Kristofferson’s “Lovin’ Her Was Easier.” The songwriter had based that song on a Shakespeare sonnet.
Kristofferson teamed up with Nelson, Lee and Dolly Parton on the hit 1982 album The Winning Hand. The first Highwaymen all-star album was issued in 1984 and earned a Platinum record. The group scored major hits the following year with Jimmy Webb’s “Highwayman” and Guy Clark’s “Desperados Waiting for a Train.” Kristofferson, Cash, Nelson and Jennings issued two more collections and became a hugely popular concert attraction.
Toward the end of the decade, Kristofferson moved from Monument to Mercury Records. His Repossessed (1988) and Third World Warrior (1989) albums for Mercury illuminated his progressive, leftist political positions. One of his songs from this era endured: “They Killed Him” was an homage to Kristofferson’s martyred heroes Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Jesus Christ. Bob Dylan soon re-popularized it on his Knocked Out Loaded album.
The songwriter’s film career continued to thrive with Rollover (1981, with Jane Fonda), Flashpoint (1984), Big Top Pee Wee (1988), Welcome Home (1989), Knights (1993), Lone Star (1996) and Fire Down Below (1997). In 1998, he was cast in the vampire superhero action film Blade, which spawned two sequels. In the new millennium, Kristofferson took roles in Planet of the Apes (2001), Where the Red Fern Grows (2003), The Jacket (2005), Fast Food Nation (2006), He’s Just Not That Into You (2009, with Jennifer Anniston), Dolphin Tale (2011, plus a 2014 sequel) and Joyful Noise (2012, with Parton). He was also featured in a number of high-profile television films and miniseries. In 2015, he portrayed President Andrew Jackson in the historical miniseries Texas Rising.
His music continued to be prominent. “Help Me Make It Through the Night” was a soul-music hit three times—for Joe Simon, O.C. Smith and Gladys Knight—and his songs were also recorded by Black music stars Al Green, Tina Turner, Millie Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne. Such diverse artists as Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Olivia Newton-John, Joan Baez, Tom Jones, Pattti Page, The Grateful Dead, Frank Sinatra and Carly Simon recorded Kristofferson songs, as did a who’s-who of country celebrities—Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Rosanne Cash, K.T. Oslin, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Anne Murray, Hank Snow, Dottie West, LeAnn Rimes, Merle Haggard, Charlie McCoy, Lynn Anderson, Roy Clark, Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers, etc.
Career accolades rolled in. Kris Kristofferson was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977. The national Songwriters Hall of Fame followed suit in 1985. Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame came in 2004.
The new Americana music genre coalesced in 1999-2000. This reinvigorated his recording career and brought him new honors. In 2003, he received the “Spirit of Americana” free-speech award from the Americana Music Association. In 2006, he issued This Old Road, his first album of new material in 11 years. It was succeeded by more Americana-music favorites, his Closer to the Bone (2009), Feeling Mortal (2013) and Cedar Creek Sessions (2016) albums. They demonstrated that he was still writing as powerfully as ever. He was also the subject of a tribute album 2006’s The Pilgrim.
In the fall of 2009, Kristofferson was celebrated as a BMI Icon. By then, his songwriting had earned him 48 BMI awards. In 2013 he won a Poet’s Award from the ACM. He was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. An all-star concert in Nashville celebrated his 80th birthday in 2016, and he appeared at the Newport Folk Festival that year. The CMA presented him with its Lifetime Achievement honor in 2019.
Kristofferson announced his retirement in January 2021. He had been experiencing memory loss for several years, possibly as a result of old head injuries from sports. He assigned his estate management to Morris-Higham Management in Nashville. In October 2023 he attended the Country Music Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony. This was his final public appearance.
Kris Kristofferson is survived by his wife Lisa and by eight children—Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John Robert, Kelly Marie and Blake—as well as by seven grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Brad Paisley Is Proving That His ‘Truck Still Works’ [Interview]
/by Madison HahnenBrad Paisley. Photo: Jim Shea
With instantly recognizable hits such as “Whiskey Lullaby,” “She’s Everything,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her” and many more, it’s easy to say Brad Paisley has cemented himself as a country music legend. With a career spanning more than 25 years, some would have hung up the cowboy hat by now, but Paisley recently spoke to MusicRow about how he doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.
Today (Sept. 27), Paisley released his newest single “Truck Still Works,” after premiering it at the People’s Choice Country Awards last night live from the Grand Ole Opry. Written by Paisley, Chris Dubois, Will Bundy, Hunter Phelps and Rodney Clawson, with production from Luke Wooten and Paisley, the new tune serves as a precursor for the Opry member’s next era.
At first listen, fans will recognize the ode to one of Paisley’s biggest hits “Mud On The Tires.” Co-written with Dubois, the track became a No. 1 single in 2005. There are little easter eggs hidden throughout “Truck Still Works,” including the same guitar licks and the beloved lyric, “how ‘bout a little test drive down by the lake.”
“‘Truck Still Works’ feels like we did something brand new and also feels like a return to certain themes. But more than that, it’s the feeling of way back when I first started,” Paisley says.
Co-writers Bundy, Phelps and Clawson already had the idea for “Truck Still Works” in hand when the A&R team at UMPG heard it and suggested the writers bring Paisley and Dubois in. That’s where the ode to “Mud On The Tires” came to life.
“I don’t know whether or not they were trying to stay off of ‘Mud On The Tires’ at all with what they were doing, but once we were involved, it was like, ‘No, let’s say it,'” he says, recalling how the writes balanced what to add in from the 2005 hit and what to leave out.
One of the first people to recognize the connection to Paisley’s older hit was his youngest son, who was away at summer camp while Paisley was writing and recording the song.
“He hadn’t heard any incarnation of it prior. We got in the car and I hit play and didn’t tell him about it. He turned to me and said, ‘Dad, while I was at camp you wrote the sequel.'”
With the release of the new single, Paisley is giving a glimpse into what fans can expect from his new music moving forward.
“There’s plenty of heavy topics [to talk about right now]. Just watch the news. I wanted to do something here that really exists for feeling good,” Paisley says. “Turn this thing up in whatever vehicle you’re driving. It should sound really good and it should take you away from some of those things. More than that, it’s a return. It’s nostalgia. I love things that evoke good memories, and that’s what this did for me.”
While making his new music, Paisley recorded and wrote for Post Malone‘s F-1 Trillion album, which included co-writes with Ernest and Lainey Wilson. He says that though the modern country hitmakers were excited to work with him, he had questions for them as well.
“What’s funny is when we sat down to write together, they had a lot of questions. But for me, it was the same thing. I wanted to know what the new guys that are doing so well would think of a [song] like this” he shares.
Gearing up to kick off the new era, Paisley got the call to debut the song at the People’s Choice Country Awards. It was a no-brainer decision for him. When discussing the opportunity with the show’s producers, Paisley recalls how the idea came up to not only live debut “Truck Still Works,” but also how he was going to integrate “Mud On The Tires.” The performance was also a way for Paisley to show that he’s still here to make an impact on the country genre.
“It’s a nice way to check back in and [for everyone to] see what I’m up to—’cause I’m not retired yet.”
Paisley is excited to show the world what he has been working on, and says that he genuinely loves what he is going to be sharing with everyone.
“I’m really excited because I like what I’m doing,” he sums. “It’s so much fun to bring you great memories and nostalgia, but it also sonically sounds new for me.”
35th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Award Winners Announced
/by Lorie HollabaughDel McCoury was honored with the Entertainer of the Year Award at the 35th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards last night (Sept. 26) at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.
Hosted by artists John Cowan and Missy Raines, the show also honored winners of the Vocal Group of the Year Authentic Unlimited, who also won Song Of The Year for their song ““Fall in Tennessee.” Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway took home Album Of The Year for City of Gold; Rob McCoury won Banjo Player of the Year; East Nash Grass was named New Artist of the Year and many more winners were crowned.
The show also recognized previously-announced inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Katy Daley, Jerry Douglas and Alan Munde.
2024 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Winners:
Entertainer Of The Year – Del McCoury Band
Vocal Group Of The Year – Authentic Unlimited
Instrumental Group Of The Year – The Travelin’ McCourys
Song Of The Year – “Fall In Tennessee” by Authentic Unlimited
Album Of The Year – City Of Gold by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Gospel Recording Of The Year – “God Already Has” by Dale Ann Bradley
Instrumental Recording Of The Year – “Knee Deep In Bluegrass” by Ashby Frank
New Artist Of The Year – East Nash Grass
Collaborative Recording Of The Year – “Brown’s Ferry Blues” by Tony Trischka with Billy Strings
Male Vocalist Of The Year – Danny Paisley
Female Vocalist Of The Year – Jaelee Roberts
Banjo Player Of The Year – Rob McCoury
Bass Player Of The Year – Vickie Vaughn
Fiddle Player Of The Year – Deanie Richardson
Resophonic Guitar Player Of The Year – Gaven Largent
Guitar Player Of The Year – Cody Kilby
Mandolin Player Of The Year – Jesse Brock
Music Video Of The Year (Tie) – “Fall In Tennessee” by Authentic Unlimited and “Alberta Bound” by Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero and Claire Lynch
Conner Smith Highlights ‘The Storytellers’ On Upcoming New Concept Project
/by Lorie HollabaughConner Smith. Photo: Cooper Smith
Conner Smith goes a little deeper into the heart of the craft on his new project The Storyteller due October 4 via The Valory Music Co.
The reflective roots collection features four tracks co-written in sequence, plus a solo-penned revelation and was produced by Dwight Baker. The title track from the project arrives today and finds Smith thinking big about small, simple elements and realizing those are the actual stuff of legend. Featuring the presentation of a modern Western, Smith details a journey of discovery alongside co-writers Dwight Baker and Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero that celebrates those who leave their mark on the world – whether through a million-dollar masterpiece, or a steady 9-to-5.
“I had the title of ‘The Storyteller’ in my phone for a long time and didn’t really know what that meant yet in terms of a song, I just knew that the heart of my music is the stories,” explains Smith. “It got me thinking that we’re all storytellers, every person is in their own story inside of the bigger story. It’s amazing to think about how stories can really move people and I’ve always been fascinated with how to do that through music, ever since I was a little kid writing songs. The Storyteller feels like a rare creative moment that I wanted to capture by telling stories in a cool way.”
A new video for the title track was conceptualized and filmed by Conner’s brother and creative director, Cooper Smith. Smith currently serves as direct support for Luke Bryan’s “Farm Tour,” which rolls on tonight (9/27) in Millersport, Ohio.
The Storyteller Track List:
1. “The Storyteller” – (Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero)
2. “Nostalgia” – (Conner Smith, Dwight Baker)
3. “Faith From A Farmer” – (Conner Smith)
4. “Rollin’ Down The Road (featuring Cleto Cordero) – (Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero)
5. “The Garden” – (Conner Smith, Dwight Baker, Cleto Cordero)
ASCAP Reveals Nashville 2024 GPS Project Songwriters
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, back row): ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, John Frank, Bobby Watson, Dylan Rockoff, Bryce Cain, Aaron Pollock and ASCAP’s Kele Currier. (L-R, front row): Maggie Reeves, Daniella Spadini, Bri Fletcher, Fran Litterski and Jillian Dawn
ASCAP has announced the songwriters chosen for their 12th annual ASCAP GPS (Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters) Project.
The ASCAP Nashville membership team, led by ASCAP Vice President Mike Sistad, designed the program to help promising, unsigned songwriters who have been identified as ready for a publishing deal take the next step in their career. Well-known ASCAP GPS alumni include Jacob Davis, Hannah Dasher, Caylee Hammack, Joe Ragosta and more.
Curated by ASCAP Associate Director of Nashville Membership Duane Hobson and ASCAP Manager of Nashville Membership Emilia James, the ASCAP GPS Project Class of 2024 includes up-and-coming songwriters Aaron Pollock, Bobby Watson, Bri Fletcher, Bryce Cain, Daniella Spadini, Dylan Rockoff, Fran Litterski, Jillian Dawn, John Frank and Maggie Reeves.
Over the next several months, the writers will be paired with publishers who will critique their songs and host followup meetings to help develop their craft. By the end of the program, each songwriter will have met with representatives from at least five publishers. The program has helped numerous songwriters earn publishing agreements as a result of their participation.
Participating 2024 publishers include Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing, Liz Rose Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Endurance Music Group and MV2 Entertainment.
Songwriters from the GPS Project Class of 2023 will perform in the GPS Project LIVE showcase at The Basement on Oct. 21 featuring Blake Rackley, Chris Housman, Dan Harrison and Kalina Tyne.
People’s Choice Country Awards Dedicates Night To Fans During Second Annual Ceremony
/by Madison HahnenShania Twain hosts the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards at Grand Ole Opry House. Photo: Katherine Bomboy/NBC
The second annual People’s Choice Country Awards was held at the historic Grand Ole Opry last night (Sept. 26), where the country music community gathered to celebrate the genre’s favorite people: the fans.
Host Shania Twain came down from the rafters on a pink heart with to start off the electric night. As the country legend was descending with “Man! I Feel Like A Women” playing in the background, fans and other country stars in attendance were on their feet for the first of many times throughout the night.
Immediately after hitting the ground, Twain welcomed Kane Brown for the first performance of the evening. Brown came out with high energy to perform his current single “Fiddle In The Band.” After the hostess reappeared for a few opening remarks, it was already time for the first award of the night.
2024 PEOPLE’S Miranda Lambert performs on stage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Ralph Bavaro/NBC
Nashville native and comedian Nate Bargatze presented the award for The New Artist Of 2024 to Shaboozey, marking his first of two trophies during the night. “I never thought I’d be up on the Grand Ole Opry stage accepting something like this,” he shared at the podium.
Lady A then took the stage for a fiery rendition of Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks’ “Stop Dragging My Heart Around,” which the trio recorded for the Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty album.
Twain was welcomed back to the stage, this time wearing her iconic all black look. She welcomed out Ashley Cooke and WWE champion Cody Rhodes to present The Group/Duo of 2024.
Kane Brown accepts the Country Champion award on stage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Ralph Bavaro/NBC
When Dan + Shay were accepting their trophy, they shared, “this has been the best year of our career. We’ve been out on the road all year getting to play for and hug our fans, and we are so grateful.”
Buzzing with anticipation, the entertainment started back up with Keith Urban playing his current single “Messed Up As Me” solo. After Urban fired the place up by shredding the guitar and showing off his vocals, Carly Pearce appeared to present The Crossover Song of 2024.
The award went to “Lonely Road” by MGK and Jelly Roll. Since Jelly Roll is currently out on his “Beautifully Broken Tour,” MGK accepted the award for both of them. “Thank you to the John Denver estate for trusting us with this one. I love you Jelly!”
Shaboozey accepts the award for New Artist 2024 during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Katherine Bomboy/NBC
With no signs of the show slowing down anytime soon, it was time for one of the night’s highest honor. Parker McCollum began the presentation of the Country Icon Award to superstar Miranda Lambert. McCollum pointed out Lambert’s incredible talent, longevity and influence in the genre, as well as her big heart off stage. After a video montage of Lambert’s career from the beginning to now, the icon took the stage to perform “Kerosene” and “Dammit Randy,” and proved exactly why she deserved the crown.
“It’s been a lot of years, tears, beers and Tito’s,” Lambert shared. “I feel like I’ve been able to make so many great memories in my life and career because of the fans. Y’all keep creating all these years, 20 years later.”
Dasha accepts The Female Song of 2024 award on stage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Ralph Bavaro/NBC
Keeping the female power going, Kelsea Ballerini took the stage to perform her newest song “Two Things” in a “field” of sunflowers, eventually having the set switch mid-song to a city back drop. The night’s host then handed out the trophy for The Female Song of 2024, which was presented to Dasha‘s “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’).”
“Country music has just opened its arms to me. Thank you for that,” she noted in her speech. The War And Treaty were welcomed to the stage after and brought the Grand Ole Opry crowd to church with “Can I Get An Amen,” featuring a whole choir. The duo received a rowdy standing ovation after their powerhouse performance.
Bailey Zimmerman began the night’s celebration for Kane Brown, who was chosen as this year’s Country Champion Award recipient. Zimmerman noted that Brown “gives back not for headlines or pats on the back [but because he’s] always there doing the right thing.”
MGK performs onstage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards at Grand Ole Opry House. Photo: Katherine Bomboy/NBC
While accepting the honor, Brown stated, “I just want to say for any kid that’s watching, anybody that has a dream, anybody that wants to give back…there’s a lot of people that need your help. Don’t listen to people that tell you no when you’re trying to do something.”
With two guitars in hand, it was time for Brad Paisley to debut his brand new song, “Truck Still Works” with a mashup of 2005 hit “Mud On The Tires.” Paisley spent the first half of the performance with his acoustic guitar and then spent the rest of the time showing off his skills on the electric.
Keeping the performances going, McCollum then took the stage again to play his current single “What Kinda Man,” where he stood in the coveted Opry circle for the classic country sounding song. Shaboozey and Dasha then came out onto the stage to present the final award of the night, The Group/Duo Song of 2024.
Pictured: (L-R) Geoff Sprung, Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi of Old Dominion accept The Group/Duo Song of 2024 award onstage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Katherine Bomboy/NBC
Old Dominion took home the last televised trophy for “Different About You” off their Memory Lane project. The group thanked the fans for voting for a deep cut on their album.
With the night winding down and fans still buzzing from anticipation inside the Opry, the stage was prepared for MGK’s performance. Set to look like a two lane country road, MGK stood in the center and went into Denver’s “Take Me Home” before transitioning into his now-award-winning collaboration “Lonely Road.” After the stunning performance, he ran over to Twain and the two closed the night off together.
Dan + Shay react to winning the Group/Duo of 2024 award during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Ralph Bavaro/NBC
Kelsea Ballerini performs on stage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards. Photo: Ralph Bavaro/NBC
Keith Urban performs on stage during the 2024 People’s Choice Country Award. Photo: Mickey Bernal/NBC
Parker McCollum Commemorates Fourth Consecutive No. 1 Hit
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Concord’s Brad Kennard, Liz Rose Music’s Dave Pacula, BMI’s Mason Hunter, MCA Nashville’s Miranda McDonald, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson and Creative Nation’s Emily Furman. (L-R, front row): Lori McKenna (BMI), Liz Rose (BMI), Parker McCollum (BMI), Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP) and Studio Bank’s Ron Cox. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI
“Long live the Love Junkies!” one publisher shared from the stage at BMI where the industry was gathered to celebrate Parker McCollum‘s fourth consecutive hit “Burn It Down” earlier this week.
Written by McCollum and Junkies Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey, the CMA Song of the Year-nominated tune brought together happy celebrators. The party was hosted by BMI and ASCAP.
Parker McCollum and BMI’s Mason Hunter pose with three BMI Million-Air Awards for “Pretty Heart,” “To Be Loved By You” and “Handle On You” each surpassing two million broadcast performances on U.S. radio. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI
BMI’s Mason Hunter presided. He highlighted BMI affiliates, sharing that Rose will join the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame next month and McKenna is a three-time Grammy winner. Later he surprised McCollum with three BMI Million-Air Awards—certificates given to songwriters whose works have achieved the rare feat of surpassing one million broadcast performances on U.S. radio—for his consecutive chart-toppers “Handle On You” (two million), “Pretty Heart” (two million) and “To Be Loved By You” (two million).
ASCAP’s Mike Sistad shared words about Lindsey, reminding the crowd that she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York earlier this year.
The hitmakers had a slew of top publishers speak about them, including Concord’s Brad Kennard, Liz Rose Music’s Dave Pacula, Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson and Creative Nation’s Emily Furman. All of them commented on the generosity and excellence of the Love Junkies, and recognized McCollum for his commitment to writing and recording quality country songs.
MCA Nashville’s Miranda McDonald shared words of congratulations to her radio promo team and said that McCollum is the first MCA Nashville artist to have every single released reach the top of the charts. She also shared that “Burn It Down” is the only song that McCollum has specifically identified as a radio single.
Studio Bank’s Ron Cox made a special donation presentation on behalf of McCollum and the songwriters in support of Folds of Honor. The organization grants educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen men and women in the military and first responders.
When it came time for the “Burn It Down” creators to speak, they bragged on each other and McCollum and thanked their teams.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge; Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Parker McCollum and Hillary Lindsey pose with their MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins; MusicRow’s LB Cantrell. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI
“Most of all, I want to thank Parker for being a such a songwriter-artist,” Rose shared. “I love the way you have been so careful and respectful of songwriters and your songs. The fact that we get to write with you is really amazing. We appreciate it because we know how careful you are and how much you care about your songs, music and what you say.”
“It’s hard not to write a song with [Parker] because he oozes it. We were lucky enough to be in the room that day,” Lindsey said. “It was a magical day. I’m so thankful.”
“Parker, you’re a Love Junkie,” McKenna said. “We call ourselves Hocus Pocus when we’re with Parker. We were staying at his house [in Texas] for a few days and he took us around to local restaurants. You could see everyone in town watching Parker and three old women walk by. It was pretty much Parker and Hocus Pocus.”
“You know you’re in good company when your wife will go to her parents’ house for a week while three women come over,” McCollum joked. “To be sitting up on stage with three of the best songwriters country music has ever seen and get to have a No. 1 with them…is amazing.
“I care so much about the people that came before me and the what the songwriters I look up to would think about any song that I write,” McCollum added. “I’ve always been so hard on myself about writing songs that could stand the test of time and were good for country music. My hope is that Steve Earle, Chris Knight, James McMurtry and George Strait might hear them one day and not talk shit about them.”
McCollum, Rose, Linsey and McKenna’s “Burn It Down” will compete for Song of the Year at the 58th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Jelly Roll Tops The MusicRow Radio Chart
/by John Nix ArledgeJelly Roll rises to the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with “I Am Not Okay.”
The track comes off of his upcoming album Beautifully Broken, releasing on Oct. 11, and was written by Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, Jason Deford and Taylor Phillips.
Jelly Roll is on the road on his “Beautifully Broken Tour” with upcoming stops in cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
“I Am Not Okay” currently sits at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 7 on the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Songwriter Hugh Prestwood Passes
/by Robert K OermannHugh Prestwood
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Hugh Prestwood died on Sunday (Sept. 22) at age 82 following a stroke.
Prestwood wrote such iconic country hits as “The Song Remembers When” and “Ghost in This House.” His “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” was BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 1991.
He was born and raised in El Paso. Hugh Loring Prestwood began playing guitar at age 12. After graduating from the University of Texas with an English degree, he taught grade school while performing cover songs three nights a week in a lounge band.
When he was 30, Prestwood decided to move to New York to pursue a career in music. He worked at Macy’s department store and as a secretarial temp during his first five years in Manhattan. In 1977, Jackie DeShannon recorded his song “Dorothy.” Folk star Judy Collins discovered his songwriting, took his “Hard Times for Lovers” onto the AC charts in 1979 and helped him get his first song-publishing contract.
Prestwood’s first major Nashville success was “The Sound of Goodbye.” The song became a smash for Crystal Gayle in 1983, topping the country chart, becoming a top 10 AC hit and earning a Grammy nomination. Rather than moving to Nashville, Prestwood relocated from Manhattan to Long Island that year. Prestwood always thought that living far away from Music Row gave him a “mystique.” In 1983, he also began a 20-year tenure teaching advanced songwriting at The New School in New York.
Meanwhile, in Nashville, Holly Dunn, Judy Rodman and others were recording his tunes. In 1987, he scored his second No. 1 country hit, Michael Johnson’s recording of “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder.” Johnson followed it with his hit single of Prestwood’s “That’s That” in 1988.
Hugh Prestwood wrote solo and was not a prolific composer—he often worked on a song for months or even a year before he thought it was finished to his satisfaction. But in rapid succession, he wrote both “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” and “Ghost in This House.” The former topped the country chart for Randy Travis in 1990, which led to its big BMI award. “Ghost in This House” became a major 1990 country hit for Shenandoah. This song was re-popularized by Alison Krauss in 1999, then became a top 20 country hit for TV’s The Voice finalist Lauren Duski in 2017.
The songwriter’s third big hit of 1990 was Anne Murray’s version of his rhythmic “Feed This Fire.” The following year, Highway 101 scored with Prestwood’s “Bing Bang Boom,” and Kathy Mattea was successful with “Asking Us to Dance.” In 1993, Trisha Yearwood recorded Prestwood’s “The Song Remembers When.” It became an enduring songwriters’ anthem and was named the NSAI Song of the Year.
During the next few years, his songs became singles for Vern Gosdin, Suzy Bogguss, Bobbie Cryner, Stephanie Bentley and Ty England. Then Colin Raye returned Prestwood to the top of the charts with his hit recording of “On the Verge” in 1997.
Prestwood’s songs were also recorded by Conway Twitty, The Judds, Shelby Lynne, John Conlee, Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Douglas, James Taylor, Baillie & The Boys, Jerry Jeff Walker, Gene Watson, Barbara Mandrell, Sammy Kershaw, Lee Greenwood, Don Williams and Tanya Tucker.
Hugh Prestwood was also a recording artist, himself. His albums were Ghost in This House (1990), Fate of Fireflies (2005), All the Way On (2007) and I Used to Be the Real Me (2016). In 2006, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2020, the English recording artist Rumer released Nashville Tears – The Songs of Hugh Prestwood. All 15 of the album’s tracks were written by Prestwood. In 2022 the songwriter moved from Long Island to Lincoln, Nebraska, where his wife’s family lives. This is where he died.
Hugh Prestwood is survived by his wife, the photographer Judy Ahrens. He is also survived by son Bryan Prestwood, daughter Jennifer Bustillos and four grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews, A Celebration of Life is planned in the future. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation towards medical expenses. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please Venmo to: @Judy-Ahrens-5
Levi Hummon Releases New EP ‘Bet On Me’
/by Liza AndersonLevi Hummon has released his new EP, Bet On Me.
The seven-song project features the title track, produced by Jake Rose, as well as six additional tunes, produced by Eric Arjes, co-written by Hummon, including “Autopilot” and “Paying For It” with co-writer Walker Hayes.
“The second I heard ‘Bet On Me’ I knew it was an absolute smash,” he says. “Jake Rose, Canaan Smith and Amy Stroup are some of my favorite writers, and I’m grateful that they let me take a stab at it.
“On top of that, this is the first collection of songs that I’ve gotten to release under Jonas Group’s Red Van Records. I’m thrilled that everyone gets to hear these songs not just as singles, but as a full body of work. This EP is setting the stage for the level of music that’s to come!”
The EP also includes bonus version of “Make It Love” that features Stroup. Hummon wrote the song alongside his father, Grammy winner Marcus Hummon, and the late Andrew Dorff.
“Make It Love’ is one of the first songs I wrote when I moved back to Nashville after transferring from Eckerd College in Florida, and it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” the artist shares.
He is currently on the road for Hayes’ “Same Drunk Tour,” which will visit in Reno, Nevada tonight (Sept. 27).
Bet On Me Track Listing:
1. “Bet On Me” (Canaan Smith, Amy Stroup, Jake Rose)
2. “Paying For It” (Eric Arjes, Levi Hummon, Walker Hayes)
3. “Make It Love” (Levi Hummon, Marcus Hummon, Andrew Dorff)
4. “Another Shot” (Levi Hummon, Eric Arjes, Jimmy Robbins)
5. “Autopilot” (Levi Hummon, Madelyn Paquette, Rajiv Dhall)
6. “Rock Bottom” (Eric Arjes, Jaxson Free, Levi Hummon, Sam Tinnez)
7. “Make It Love (feat. Amy Stroup)” (Levi Hummon, Marcus Hummon, Andrew Dorff)