Cindy Watts

Veteran country music journalist Cindy Watts has joined American Songwriter as a Senior Writer, leading Nashville insider beats.

“I’m so excited to jump in with American Songwriter in Nashville and expand and continue what I’ve done my entire career, which is entrench in Nashville’s country music community, earn people’s trust, tell their stories in a variety of mediums and help artists and songwriters connect with their peers while growing their fan bases,” says Watts. If fans want to know the true story that no one else is talking about, we’ll have it. “If they want to know the trendiest—or most inside baseball—places to go in Nashville, we’ll have that, too. From the artists and their music to the genre, business and its culture, we’re going to check every box.”

Watts has spent more than 20 years reporting on country music, with the bulk of her career spent with The USA Today Network. The 2015 winner of the CMA’s Media Achievement Award, she organized and hosted USA Today Network’s award-winning podcast Country Mile, which featured artists including Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Ashley McBryde and more.

Since leaving The Tennessean/USA Today Network in 2020 for a brief stint in artist management, Watts has freelanced for CMT, People, Country Insider, USA Today and more. She is a native of Sevierville, Tennessee and a graduate of the recording industry management program at Middle Tennessee State University, where she recently spent a semester teaching journalism.

Colby Acuff with The Castellows. Photo: Aubrey Wise

Colby Acuff has teamed up with The Castellows on a new song, “How Do I Feel Alive,” out now. The track offers the newest glimpse into Acuff’s upcoming album American Son, available Aug. 23 via Sony Music Nashville.

“‘How Do I Feel Alive’ is one of my favorite songs on the entire American Son project. I had the pleasure of writing it with The Castellows and when we got done writing the tune I knew they had to be featured on the record,” says Acuff. “While the song is catchy, it’s about being stuck in a negative mindset and not knowing how to break out of it. It’s a song that asks a simple question, with an answer that can be very complex. I hope people enjoy it and I hope this song can ultimately help people.”

On American Son, Acuff and producer/engineer Eddie Spear created a robust, acoustic-forward power punch. Throughout the 16 tracks, Acuff dives deep into some dark corners, exploring the state of the union and humanity, mental health and love. He recently released the title track from the project.

Currently on Luke Combs’ 2024 stadium tour, Acuff recently announced a new round of headline dates, including a July 18 marquee show at Mercury Lounge in New York City. He will also join Midland for select dates in the fall.

American Son Track List:
1. “Nightmare”​ (Colby Acuff)
2. “Scared of the Dark” (Colby Acuff)
3. “How Do I Feel Alive​ (feat. The Castellows)” (Colby Acuff / Eleanor Balkcom /Lily Balkcom / Powell Balkcom)
4. “Starving”​ (Colby Acuff)
5. “Better Days” (Colby Acuff / Colton Venner)
6. “Ain’t So Bad” (Colby Acuff / Colton Venner / Vinnie Paolizzi)
7. “Devil That You Know”​ (Colby Acuff / Erland Wanberg / Teddy Morgan)
8. “Plastic Horses”​ (Colby Acuff / Aaron Raitiere)
9. “Bruised”​ (Colby Acuff)
10. “High Noon”​ (Colby Acuff)
11. “Man in the Paper Mask”​ (Colby Acuff)
12. “Suzanne”​ (Leonard Cohen)
13. “Hello Rain”​ (Colby Acuff)
14. “Me”​ (Colby Acuff)
15. “Heavy Hearted Man”​ (Colby Acuff / Stefan Jarocki)
16. “American Son” (Colby Acuff)

Photo: Courtesy of The Valory Music Co.

Singer-songwriter Conner Smith is set to release his latest project, Smoky Mountains Sessions, on Aug. 2 via The Valory Music Co.

This announcement comes in the midst of a big year for the breakout artist. Smith released his debut album, Smoky Mountains, earlier this year and garnered his first ACM Awards nomination in addition to hitting various stages on multiple headlining runs. The new collection, produced by Dwight A. Baker, was recorded in just four days at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, North Carolina and features fresh takes on “Roulette On The Heart (feat. Hailey Whitters)” and two new songs penned solely by Smith.

“Smoky Mountains Sessions came from a desire to get back to the core of songwriting. With these new songs, two of which I wrote by myself, I wanted to create them in a way that felt very raw and honest,” he shares. “Working with Dwight Baker for the first time on this project, we took my band up to Echo Mountain in Asheville and brought these songs to life over the course of four days. This collection is just the beginning of more new music on the way. I can’t wait to share!”

Last week, Smith dropped “Steal My Thunder (feat. Tucker Wetmore),” which he wrote alongside Matt Jenkins, Ben Johnson and Blake Pendergrass. The track is featured on the soundtrack for the new Twisters film, out this Friday (July 19).

“Having the opportunity to be a part of the Twisters movie and album is a very cool honor,” says Smith. “With such a high-caliber group of artists featured on the project and an already iconic movie, being asked to write a song for it was creatively inspiring. Adding Tucker Wetmore to the song took it to a new level and I’m glad he was able to join us in bringing ‘Steal My Thunder’ to life.”

Smoky Mountains Sessions Track Listing:
“A Thousand Miles Away” (Conner Smith)
“Song For Tennessee” (Conner Smith)
“Boys In The Picture” (Conner Smith, Rodney Clawson, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt Jenkins)
“Roulette On The Heart (feat. Hailey Whitters) (Smoky Mountains Sessions)” (Conner Smith, Jessi Alexander, Chase McGill, Mark Trussell)

Country Bear Musical Jamboree cast members with Mac McAnally, Allison Russell and Emily Ann Roberts

Walt Disney World Resort is bringing back its reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree on July 17 with a new twist—Nashville-style Disney tunes inspired by country, Americana, bluegrass, pop-country, rockabilly and more. As a beloved staple of Frontierland in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, the Country Bears have been charming audiences with their delightful country tunes for over 50 years.

This summer, the bears are back with new songs for the attraction by Mac McAnally and more. McAnally brings the tune, “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book to life along with Terrence, aka Shaker’s, version of the Frozen song “Fixer-Upper.” McAnally also produced and rearranged the new songs.

“I first saw the Country Bears as a teenage musician and it bolstered my pride in the acoustic musical heritage of the rural south,” says McAnally. “I next saw the show with my own kids and sat amongst multiple generations of families from all over and felt that common bond that lasts a lifetime. It is my great blessing to get to be a part of the continuation of the tradition and I have done my best to honor the spirit of the Bears and the great Disney songbook as well as the heart and soul that runs through the veins of country music. And just maybe it explains why I’ve been singing in a Bear voice for several decades before this opportunity came up.”

Emily Ann Roberts also joins McAnally as Trixie on a rendition of “Try Everything” from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia. Singer-songwriters Allison Russell and Chris Thile have also collaborated to create a heartwarming rendition of “A Whole New World” from Aladdin for the attraction, voicing Teddi Barra and Wendell, respectively.