Tucker Wetmore makes Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Tucker Wetmore made his Grand Ole Opry debut last night (Sept. 10).

Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall, Tucker Wetmore and UMG Nashville’s Cindy Mabe. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

He received a standing ovation following his three-song set, which included “Wind Up Missin’ You” and a first-ever performance of the unreleased track “What Not To.” But the full-circle moment was made even more special when UMG Nashville Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe and Back Blocks Music CEO Rakiyah Marshall surprised Wetmore onstage with two RIAA Gold plaques for his back-to-back Billboard Hot 100 charting hits “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You.”

“Before I moved to Nashville, I came here with my mom in 2020. I remember sitting out front and looking at her the very first day I had ever been to Nashville and I said ‘I’m going to play that one day’ and I’m doing it right now,” reflected Wetmore from the hallowed circle. “I’m here to tell you that if you think you can do something, if you have a dream of doing something, you can… and if you’re wondering how to do it, Philippians 4:13 says ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’”

Making his debut on Face The Fight Night to raise awareness against veteran suicide, Wetmore took a moment on stage to remove his hat and acknowledge the veterans in the audience, at home, still serving and those that have passed on, sharing that the circle was for each and every one of them tonight.

Wetmore’s debut EP, Waves on a Sunset, is due out on Oct. 4. The eight-song collection includes five brand new tracks, including “Silverado Blue,” which drops this Friday. After joining Luke Bryan’s “Farm Tour 2024” later this month, Wetmore is set to embark on his first-ever headlining tour, “Waves on a Sunset Tour 2024,” on EP release day (Oct. 4), kicking off in Statesboro, Georgia.

Hunter Hayes is set to release his new three-song EP, Lost & Found, which features remixed and remastered versions of his previously released songs.

The EP includes “In A Song,” which is set to be unveiled on Sept. 20, as well as “Still Fallin'” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak.” Announced on his birthday, the project aims to be a celebration of his musical journey so far. Lost & Found is a glimpse into Hayes’ evolving sound and what fans can expect from his upcoming work. Sticking to the songs’ original DNA and playing every instrument on the tracks, the artist reimagines how the tunes have grown with time and seeks to paint a narrative of transformation.

“Talking about being an independent artist has been liberating, empowering and inspiring,” says Hayes. “I didn’t want it to be about business, I wanted it to be about ownership of one’s life, story and narrative. That is something I have been learning a lot about in the past 10 years. These are songs that carry important messages for me, and it’s a chance for me to go back to the garden and check on things that I planted over 10 years ago so I can see how they are doing now.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host “Night Train to Lovenoise: A Generational Journey of Black Music in Nashville,” a free concert and conversation exploring the evolution of the city’s Black music scene through the point of view of musicians from different generations, on Oct. 12.

The program will include a panel discussion with music journalist and Nashville Public Radio’s Making Noise Host Jewly Hight, Lovenoise Founder Eric Holt, and musicians Frank Howard, Regina McCrary, Joey Richey and Bryant Taylorr. Following the conversation, Howard, Richey, Levert Allison, Ca$h K, William Davenport and The McCrary Sisters will perform with a house band led by Elijah “DD” Holt.

The museum’s current exhibition “Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited,” explores how Middle Tennessee’s pioneering R&B activity played a significant role in building Nashville’s worldwide reputation as Music City in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. For the past two decades, Lovenoise, a Black-owned concert promotion company, has been working to make room for R&B, soul and hip-hop in Nashville’s live music landscape. A four-part series, “Making Noise,” a joint production by WPLN and WNXP, the sister stations of Nashville Public Radio, recently chronicled Lovenoise’s story and impact.

Presented in partnership with Lovenoise and the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), the program is free, although seating is limited. For more information, click here.

Pictured (L–R, back row): Oconee Music Foundry’s Eric Dodd, Matt VanZant and Major Bob Music’s Mike Doyle; (L–R, front row): Major Bob Music’s Andy Friday, Emily Hasty, Anslee Davidson, Bob Doyle and Oconee Music Foundry’s David Davidson

Major Bob Music has signed singer-songwriter Anslee Davidson to a publishing deal.

Hailing from Greensboro, Georgia, Davidson earned a golden ticket on American Idol, before testing positive for COVID and having to leave the show. Emerging with renewed dedication, she is currently studying songwriting at Belmont University while regularly performing at The Bluebird Cafe, Whiskey Jam and Eddie’s Attic.

Davidson has shared stages with Eric Dodd, Chuck Cannon, Rivers Rutherford, Kristian Bush, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Rhett Akins, Restless Road, Deana Carter and more. She recently released her new single, “Praying In A Bar,” which she penned alongside Colin Healy, Ben Williams and Nick Boyd.

“Anslee started writing songs as a young girl and that story really stuck out to me, much like her songwriting. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear how great of a storyteller she is,” says Andy Friday, Head of Publishing, Major Bob Music. “Emily Hasty has championed Anslee from day one, and we’re excited for Major Bob to join forces in her career!”