
Marcus King. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
The Marcus King Band will hit the road this summer on the second leg of their “Darling Blue Tour” across the U.S. and Canada.
Joined by special guests Penelope Road and Willow Avalon for select dates, the “Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Telluride, Atlanta, and more, highlighted by “Marcus King Band and Friends,” a hometown show at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium on May 27.
Presale for the dates begins tomorrow (March 11), with general on-sale beginning Friday (March 13).
Ahead of the tour, King will headline a one-week residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City on March 13–19. The Marcus King Band will also make an Australian headlining run in April before festival performances at Stagecoach Music Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Gulf Coast Jam and more. The band also recently announced the “Waltz Across Texas Tour,” visiting seven cities across the Lone Star State this May. The “Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” follows the “Darling Blue Pt. 1” headline run last fall.
King closed out 2025 with the release of his new album, Darling Blue, a collection that takes listeners through King’s love for the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as his state of mind before and after he met his wife, Briley.
“Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” Dates:
May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga. at Fox Theatre *
May 27, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn. at Municipal Auditorium *^
May 29, 2026 in Panama City Beach, Fla. at Gulf Coast Jam
May 30, 2026 in Apopka, Fla. at Apopka Amphitheater *
May 31, 2026 in Boca Raton, Fla. at Mizner Park Amphitheater
June 3, 2026 in Washington, D.C., at The Anthem *
June 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pa. at The Met *
June 5, 2026 in Virginia Beach, Va. at The Dome by Rutter Mills *
June 11, 2026 in Mashantucket, Conn. at Foxwoods Casino *
June 12, 2026 in Boston, Mass. at MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
June 13, 2026 in Schenectady, N.Y. at Frog Alley Brewing Co. *
June 14, 2026 in Buffalo, N.Y. at Terminal B at Outer Harbor *
June 16, 2026 in Toronto, ON at Massey Hall *
June 19, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Salt Shed *
June 20, 2026 in Nelsonville, Ohio at Nelsonville Art & Music Festival
June 21, 2026 in St. Louis, Mo. at The Factory *
June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. at Fox Theatre *
June 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio at Agora Theatre *
June 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wis. at Summerfest
June 27, 2026 in Eau Claire, Wis. at Blue Ox Music Festival
June 28, 2026 in Carterville, Ill. at Walkers Bluff Casino
July 7, 2026 in Oakland, Calif. at Fox Theater *
July 8, 2026 in Jacksonville, Ore. at Britt Pavilion *
July 10, 2026 in Alta, Wyo. at Targhee Fest
July 11, 2026 in Garden City, Idaho at Revolution Concert House and Event Center *
July 12, 2026 in Seattle, Wash. at Marymoor Park *
July 13, 2026 in Vancouver, BC at Orpheum Theatre *
July 15, 2026 in Forest Grove, Ore. at McMenamins Grand Lodge *
July 17, 2026 in Whitefish, Mont. at Under The Big Sky Music, Rodeo & Roundup
July 19, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah at TBD, On sale TBD
July 20, 2026 in Denver Colo. at The Mission *
July 23, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. at Uptown Theater *
July 25, 2026 in Eclectic, Ala. at Lake Martin Songwriters Festival
Sept. 11, 2026 in Raleigh, N.C. at Red Hat Amphitheater *
Sept. 12, 2026 in New York, N.Y. at Central Park Summerstage *
Sept. 13, 2026 in Ithaca, N.Y. at State Theatre *
Sept. 15, 2026 in Burlington, Va. at Flynn Center *
Sept. 18, 2026 in Telluride, Colo. at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Sept. 25, 2026 in Louisville, Ky. at Bourbon & Beyond
*Penelope Road
^Willow Avalon
Wynonna Judd & Melissa Etheridge To Celebrate Summer With Co-Headlining ‘Raised On Radio Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughWynonna Judd and rocker Melissa Etheridge are joining forces and bringing the hits to their co-headlining “Raised On Radio Tour,” beginning in June.
The two will visit San Diego, Reno, Seattle, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and more on the new tour, which runs through Sept. 11. Fans can sign up for early access to tickets for the tour, including exclusive VIP packages, by visiting Wynonna.com and MelissaEtheridge.com. Artist pre-sales start today (March 10), with public on-sale beginning March 13. For every ticket sold, Etheridge and Judd will each donate $1 to The Etheridge Foundation dedicated to finding prevention and treatment for opioid use disorders via plant medicine research and more, and $1 to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life onstage, but before any of that, I was just a girl sitting close to a radio speaker, hanging on every word. That’s where it all started for me,” says Judd. “’Raised On Radio’ isn’t just a tour name—it’s my roots and wings. It’s late nights with the dial turned low, chasing distant stations through the static. It’s songs that felt like they understood me before I understood myself. The radio was my teacher, my comfort, my escape. The songs playing through that radio shaped me as a dreamer and an artist.
“This tour is about going back to that feeling and sharing it with you,” she continues. “I was literally raised on the radio, growing up in Leavenworth I listened to WHB. They played every kind of music from rock and soul to R&B and country music. It helped shape me to become the versatile writer and musician that I am today.”
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominee, Etheridge stormed the rock scene with her confessional lyrics and signature vocal rasp on hits like “Bring Me Some Water,” “Come to My Window,” “Bein’ Alive” and “The Other Side of Blue” with Chris Stapleton, from her new album Rise (2026).
Judd, a five-time Grammy winner and Country Music Hall of Fame Member, first rose to fame in the legendary country duo, The Judds. She also charted numerous solo hits in the ‘90s and 2000s, including “No One Else on Earth,” “I Saw The Light,” and “She Is His Only Need.”
“Raised On Radio Tour” Dates:
6.24.26 | Vienna, VA | Wolf Trap*
6.25.26 | Williamsburg, VA | Williamsburg Live
6.27.26 | Chautauqua, NY | Chautauqua Institution
6.28.26 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
6.30.26 | Huber Heights, OH | The Rose Music Center at The Heights
7.3.26 | Terre Haute, IN | The MILL Amphitheater
7.5.26 | Waite Park, MN | The Ledge Amphitheater
7.6.26 | Chisholm, MN | Minnesota Discovery Center Amphitheater
7.9.26 | Grand Junction, CO | Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park
7.11.26 | San Diego, CA | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park#
7.12.26 | Irvine, CA | Great Park Live
7.17.26 | Lincoln, CA | Thunder Valley Casino
7.18.26 | Rohnert Park, CA | Weill Hall + Lawn at the Green Music Center
7.19.26 | Reno, NV | Silver Legacy Downtown Ballroom
7.21.26 | Saratoga, CA | The Mountain Winery^
7.23.26 | Bend, OR | Hayden Homes Amphitheater
7.24.26 | Seattle, WA | TBA%
7.25.26 | Airway Heights, WA | BECU Live at Northern Quest
7.28.26 | Bonner, MT | KettleHouse Amphitheater
7.30.26 | Salt Lake City, UT | TBAx
8.2.26 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with the Colorado Symphony)
8.4.26 | Rogers, AR | Walmart AMP
8.5.26 | Albertville, AL | Sand Mountain Amphitheater
8.7.26 | Atlanta, GA | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
8.8.26 | Beaver Dam, KY | Beaver Dam Amphitheater
8.9.26 | West Allis, WI | Wisconsin State Fair Main Stage
9.11.26 | Allegan, MI | Allegan County Fair +
*Previously announced
%On-sale 3/23
^On-sale 3/27
+On-sale 4/10
#On-sale 4/24
xOn-sale TBA
The Marcus King Band Add 39 More Cities To ‘Darling Blue Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughMarcus King. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
The Marcus King Band will hit the road this summer on the second leg of their “Darling Blue Tour” across the U.S. and Canada.
Joined by special guests Penelope Road and Willow Avalon for select dates, the “Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Telluride, Atlanta, and more, highlighted by “Marcus King Band and Friends,” a hometown show at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium on May 27.
Presale for the dates begins tomorrow (March 11), with general on-sale beginning Friday (March 13).
Ahead of the tour, King will headline a one-week residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City on March 13–19. The Marcus King Band will also make an Australian headlining run in April before festival performances at Stagecoach Music Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Gulf Coast Jam and more. The band also recently announced the “Waltz Across Texas Tour,” visiting seven cities across the Lone Star State this May. The “Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” follows the “Darling Blue Pt. 1” headline run last fall.
King closed out 2025 with the release of his new album, Darling Blue, a collection that takes listeners through King’s love for the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as his state of mind before and after he met his wife, Briley.
“Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour” Dates:
May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga. at Fox Theatre *
May 27, 2026 in Nashville, Tenn. at Municipal Auditorium *^
May 29, 2026 in Panama City Beach, Fla. at Gulf Coast Jam
May 30, 2026 in Apopka, Fla. at Apopka Amphitheater *
May 31, 2026 in Boca Raton, Fla. at Mizner Park Amphitheater
June 3, 2026 in Washington, D.C., at The Anthem *
June 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pa. at The Met *
June 5, 2026 in Virginia Beach, Va. at The Dome by Rutter Mills *
June 11, 2026 in Mashantucket, Conn. at Foxwoods Casino *
June 12, 2026 in Boston, Mass. at MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
June 13, 2026 in Schenectady, N.Y. at Frog Alley Brewing Co. *
June 14, 2026 in Buffalo, N.Y. at Terminal B at Outer Harbor *
June 16, 2026 in Toronto, ON at Massey Hall *
June 19, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Salt Shed *
June 20, 2026 in Nelsonville, Ohio at Nelsonville Art & Music Festival
June 21, 2026 in St. Louis, Mo. at The Factory *
June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. at Fox Theatre *
June 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio at Agora Theatre *
June 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wis. at Summerfest
June 27, 2026 in Eau Claire, Wis. at Blue Ox Music Festival
June 28, 2026 in Carterville, Ill. at Walkers Bluff Casino
July 7, 2026 in Oakland, Calif. at Fox Theater *
July 8, 2026 in Jacksonville, Ore. at Britt Pavilion *
July 10, 2026 in Alta, Wyo. at Targhee Fest
July 11, 2026 in Garden City, Idaho at Revolution Concert House and Event Center *
July 12, 2026 in Seattle, Wash. at Marymoor Park *
July 13, 2026 in Vancouver, BC at Orpheum Theatre *
July 15, 2026 in Forest Grove, Ore. at McMenamins Grand Lodge *
July 17, 2026 in Whitefish, Mont. at Under The Big Sky Music, Rodeo & Roundup
July 19, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah at TBD, On sale TBD
July 20, 2026 in Denver Colo. at The Mission *
July 23, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. at Uptown Theater *
July 25, 2026 in Eclectic, Ala. at Lake Martin Songwriters Festival
Sept. 11, 2026 in Raleigh, N.C. at Red Hat Amphitheater *
Sept. 12, 2026 in New York, N.Y. at Central Park Summerstage *
Sept. 13, 2026 in Ithaca, N.Y. at State Theatre *
Sept. 15, 2026 in Burlington, Va. at Flynn Center *
Sept. 18, 2026 in Telluride, Colo. at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Sept. 25, 2026 in Louisville, Ky. at Bourbon & Beyond
*Penelope Road
^Willow Avalon
Brian O’Connell Honored With Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R): Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Lauren Alaina, Brian O’Connell, Nan Kingsley, Dan Rogers and Tyler Hubbard.
Brian O’Connell was recently honored with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award.
O’Connell serves as President of Country Music Touring and Festivals for Live Nation. Over his more than 30 year career, he has worked with artists including Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and more. He developed the Country Megaticket, and has developed festivals including Watershed, Faster Horses, Route 91 Harvest, and Seven Peaks. His Live Nation Country Nation division acquired Tortuga in 2018.
He has been honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award, is a ten-time winner of the Academy of Country Music’s Promoter of the Year award, a six-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year award and currently serves on the CMA Board of Directors. In 2013, O’Connell was named Promoter of the Year by IEBA. He earned the 2006 Bill Graham Promoter of the Year Award, as well as the 2013, 2014, and 2017 Talent Buyer of the Year Award. Faster Horses and Tortuga have both been named Festival of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
O’Connell was given the honor last night (March 9) at a sold-out event at the Opry House supporting the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund. Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley, Clint Black, Rascal Flatts, Tyler Hubbard, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban each performed at the event. Dan Rogers, Bob Roux, T.K. Kimbrell, Joey Lee, Rod Essig and Curt Motley served as speakers.
The Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award was established over ten years ago to recognize the distinguished career of the veteran country radio host. Past honorees include Joe Galante (2015), Jim Ed Norman (2016), Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase (2017), Clarence Spalding (2018), Lon Helton (2019), Bart Herbison & Erika Wollam Nichols (2023), Sarah Trahern (2024), and Scott Borchetta (2025).
Spotify Hosts Exclusive Meet & Greet With Russell Dickerson During Houston Rodeo
/by Lauryn SinkCassi DiLaura & Russell Dickerson. Photo: MC Russell for Spotify
Spotify hosted an exclusive meet & greet event with Russell Dickerson on Thursday (March 5) during the Houston Rodeo. The activation was hosted by ET Correspondent Cassi DiLaura.
Dickerson released his new EP, Worth Your Wild, on March 6 via Triple Tigers. The four-track project produced by Josh Kerr features songs including “2 Limes, 2 Coronas,” and “B.O.A.T.” alongside the title track, which is Dickerson’s latest single.
This year, Spotify teamed up with Coca-Cola for a Rhinestone Cowboy themed Houston Rodeo activation. Attendees received free samples, photo moments, and exclusive artist meet and greets.
Photo: MC Russell for Spotify
Photo: MC Russell for Spotify
Photo: MC Russell for Spotify
CRS ‘Team MCA at the Ryman’ Lineup Revealed
/by Madison HahnenCountry Radio Seminar has revealed the lineup for this year’s “Team MCA at the Ryman” luncheon. Performers set to take the stage include 49 Winchester, Kassi Ashton, Brothers Osborne, Dalton Davis, Carter Faith, Wyatt Flores, Vince Gill, Jacob Hackworth, Tyler Hubbard, Vincent Mason, Parker McCollum, Madden Metcalf, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban and Kenny Whitmire.
The show will take place on March 19 at the Ryman Auditorium. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., with the show kicking off at 12 p.m. Lunch will be served in boxed form upon entry to the Ryman.
“This is an incredibly special year for us as it marks our first Ryman luncheon as MCA. The legacy of this event runs deep at CRS and within the country music community, and we are honored to carry that tradition forward. With such an extraordinary lineup of artists representing the strength and diversity of our roster, we’re excited to celebrate this new chapter as MCA while continuing to support and champion our partners at country radio,” says Damon Moberly, Senior Vice President, Promotion and Touring, MCA.
Online registration for CRS 2026 has closed. On-site registration will be available in Nashville for $799 through the start of the event.
Megan Moroney Tops MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenMegan Moroney. Photo: Amber Asaly
Megan Moroney has taken the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. “Beautiful Things,” “Bells & Whistles,” “Change Of Heart,” “Cloud 9,” “Convincing,” “I Only Miss You,” “Liars & Tigers & Bears,” “Medicine,” “Stupid,” “Table For Two,” “Waiting One The Rain,” “Wedding Dress,” “Who Hurt You?” and “Wish I Didn’t” all off her newly released Cloud 9 album helped Moroney to the top this week. This also marks Moroney’s first time at No. 1 in chart history.
Jessie Jo Dillon moves to No. 2 with “Baggage,” “Beautiful Things,” “Cloud 9,” “Convincing,” “Liars & Tigers & Bears,” “Medicine,” “Waiting On The Rain,” “Who Hurt You?” and “Wish You Well.” Randy Montana sits at No. 3 with “Change My Mind,” “Make A Liar,” “Sleepless In A Hotel Room” and “Time’s Ticking.”
Chase McGill (No. 4) and Blake Pendergrass (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Ingrid Andress To Embark On ‘Low-Key Sessions’
/by Lauryn SinkIngrid Andress. Photo: Richard Stow
Ingrid Andress will hit the road this May on the six-date “Low-Key Sessions.”
Kicking off May 8 in Newport, Kentucky, the trek will stop in Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Des Moines and Minneapolis.
“New music is on the way, and before the world hears it, I want to share these songs — and the stories behind them — in a way that feels truly up close and personal,” Andress shares. “The Low-Key Sessions will be just me, my piano and a guitar player in an intimate setting. I can’t wait to get back out there and share what I’ve been working on with the people who’ve always meant the most — my fans.”
Andress recently released her brand-new track, “Now I Know,” which she wrote alongside Derrick Southerland and Sam Ellis. Andress is slated to release more music later this year.
Wasserman Renamed THE·TEAM
/by Madison Hahnen“For 24 years, this company has been shaped by our work, our people and our unifying belief in the power of Sports, Music and Entertainment,” THE·TEAM says in a statement announcing the new name. “That philosophy remains the foundation of who we are — and where we are going. We go forward as we always have: Together.”
This comes after Founder Casey Wasserman announced he will sell the agency following previously reported contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. Wasserman sent a memo his staff informing them of the intention to sell on Feb. 13.
The Listening Room Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Sold-Out Ryman Bash
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Blair. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The Listening Room celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last Tuesday (March 3), featuring performances by over 25 songwriters and artists and surprise guests.
Joining the venue’s Owner and Founder Chris Blair on the stage to celebrate the momentous occasion were Matt Jenkins, Rachel Thibodeau, Victoria Shaw, Jordan Feliz, Jordan Walker, Brian White, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Blessing Offor, James Slater, Old Dominion, Jo Dee Messina, Brett Young, Boyz II Men, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Brian Davis, Drew Baldridge, J.T. Harding, Phil Barton, Rob Williford, Liz Rose and Hardy.
The evening was full of special moments, including Baldridge bringing Blair to tears with an ask from the Grand Ole Opry for him to serve as a Guest Announcer on March 24. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Office also presented a proclamation officially declaring March 3, 2026, as “The Listening Room Day” in Music City.
Brett Young and Boyz II Men. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The night featured stripped down performances from over two dozen songwriters and artists including an emotional memorial tribute to Brett James, Hardy debuting an unreleased song, a Young and Boyz II Men collaboration, Harding gifting his guitar to a young concertgoer from the stage, and a sing along finale.
“20 years ago, I had this crazy dream to build a place that I could come and play songs with my friends that actually paid songwriters for what they do. If you had told me that we would be standing right here in the mother church 20 years later, to a sold-out show, I would have told you that you were crazy, but here we are,” shares Blair, whose story has been profiled recently in MusicRow, Billboard, Nashville Scene, American Songwriter, Nashville Lifestyles, and more.
Located in Nashville’s historic International Harvester building at 618 4th Avenue South, The Listening Room hosts two main stage live shows a night throughout the week along with two Saturday shows. The iconic stage has hosted talent such as Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Stapleton, Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy over the years.
Chris Blair & Drew Baldridge. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Chris Blair & Jo Dee Messina. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
HARDY. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Old Dominion. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Rob Williford, J.T. Harding and Phil Barton. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The Listening Room 20th Anniversary Finale. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Myles Morgan Signs With Red Light Management
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Ben Kline, Gaines Sturdivant, Myles Morgan and Coran Capshaw. Photo: Meagan Reynolds
Rising artist Myles Morgan has signed with Red Light Management.
Morgan’s debut single, “Nobody’s Fault But Yours,” surpassed one million streams, and was followed by additional releases including “Jon Boat or a Yacht” and “Is This Seat Taken.” His latest single, “Said to Me,” is out now, and he’ll release new music in the coming months.
The Alabama native recently completed his headlining debut “I Still Got It Tour” performing at venues across Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. He has shared the stage with artists including Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Riley Green and Muscadine Bloodline, and will make his debut at some of country’s largest festivals this summer, including Carolina Country Music Fest, Barefoot Country Music Fest and Rock the South.
“We are thrilled to welcome Myles to Red Light,” shares Ben Kline, executive at Red Light Management. “The amount of early success and momentum that he has built up makes this partnership with Gaines and the entire RLM team perfectly timed.”
“I’m incredibly grateful and excited to be joining Red Light Management,” shares Morgan. “It feels like the right team at the right time, and I’m so fortunate for the opportunity to grow with people who really believe in what we’re building. This is just the beginning!”