Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images
Blake Shelton was honored by the Keep Memory Alive organization at its 27th annual “Power of Love” gala on May 10 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Those on hand to celebrate Shelton included Gwen Stefani, Jay Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.
The “Power of Love” gala helps generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.
The Ruvos family presented Shelton with the Lou Ruvo Philanthropic Award for his charitable work, praising Shelton for, “living a life of true generosity and giving so freely to so many causes.”
Allen delivered a moving rendition of his viral hit song “Blank Stares,” inspired by his mother’s battle with the disease during the event, and Pharaoh then treated the audience to a comedy set before the artists performed a mix of originals and covers of Shelton’s songs. The night culminated in Shelton taking the stage to perform “Sangria,” “Ol’ Red” and leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Sweet Caroline” from Neil Diamond, the 2020 “Power of Love” honoree. Stefani then joined him for the closing duet “Nobody But You.”
Other notable guests in attendance included Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Crystal Minkoff, Rob Minkoff, Meredith Marks, Deniece Williams, Tommy Thayer, Mark Davis, Elaine Wynn, Jeffrey Soffer, Steven Lagos and Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and chief visionary and strategic advisor of the new Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.
Guests also bid on once-in-a-lifetime silent and live auction items during the evening. Even Shelton got in on the action, bidding and winning a walk-on role in a Mark Wahlberg movie and later joking that he was a movie star.
Keep Memory Alive Honors Blake Shelton At 27th Annual ‘Power Of Love’ Gala
/by Lorie HollabaughGwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images
Blake Shelton was honored by the Keep Memory Alive organization at its 27th annual “Power of Love” gala on May 10 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Those on hand to celebrate Shelton included Gwen Stefani, Jay Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.
The “Power of Love” gala helps generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.
The Ruvos family presented Shelton with the Lou Ruvo Philanthropic Award for his charitable work, praising Shelton for, “living a life of true generosity and giving so freely to so many causes.”
Allen delivered a moving rendition of his viral hit song “Blank Stares,” inspired by his mother’s battle with the disease during the event, and Pharaoh then treated the audience to a comedy set before the artists performed a mix of originals and covers of Shelton’s songs. The night culminated in Shelton taking the stage to perform “Sangria,” “Ol’ Red” and leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Sweet Caroline” from Neil Diamond, the 2020 “Power of Love” honoree. Stefani then joined him for the closing duet “Nobody But You.”
Other notable guests in attendance included Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Crystal Minkoff, Rob Minkoff, Meredith Marks, Deniece Williams, Tommy Thayer, Mark Davis, Elaine Wynn, Jeffrey Soffer, Steven Lagos and Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and chief visionary and strategic advisor of the new Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.
Guests also bid on once-in-a-lifetime silent and live auction items during the evening. Even Shelton got in on the action, bidding and winning a walk-on role in a Mark Wahlberg movie and later joking that he was a movie star.
Natalie Kilgore Returns To Brown Sellers Brown
/by Liza AndersonNatalie Kilgore. Photo: Courtesy of Brown Sellers Brown
Natalie Kilgore has returned to Brown Sellers Brown as VP of Publicity.
Kilgore comes to the company after having served as VP of Publicity & Integrated Marketing from the inception of Brown Sellers Brown in 2020 through her departure in late 2022. In hew new position, she will work to build and strengthen strategic media and key industry relationships for all artists on Brown Sellers Brown’s two label imprints, Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records. Leading the overall publicity strategy and execution for the music group, Kilgore will report directly to firm partners Benny Brown, Paul Brown and Jason Sellers.
Prior to her most recent stint with Brown Sellers Brown, she served as the VP of Publicity for BBR Music Group and developed its first in-house Publicity & Media Relations department. With over two decades of industry experience, Kilgore’s previous roles also include Head of Publicity for Big Machine Label Group, Communications Director for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Owner of boutique publicity firm Dashboard Media and Head of Public Relations for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).
She is the latest industry executive to join Brown Sellers Brown amidst the company’s recent restructuring. Over the past six weeks, the company has also appointed Diana Garcia as Director of Streaming Relations & Marketing, Jessica Crans as Director of Social Media Marketing, Hannah Kennedy as Manager of Social Media Marketing and Kendra Whitehead as Director of Artist Relations.
“Natalie is an amazing person and an amazing publicist! As our restructuring continues, I am proud to welcome Natalie back to the Brown Sellers Brown family,” says Benny.
“Brown Sellers Brown is truly a special place within the modern-day music industry. I am over the moon about returning to work with Benny, Paul, Jason, the entire staff and all of the incredible artists on the roster,” says Kilgore. “There are some exciting releases and movement happening in 2024—I can’t wait to get started!”
Kilgore can be reached at natalie@brownsellersbrown.com.
Shelby Lynne Slates Special Ryman Show For September
/by Lorie HollabaughShelby Lynne. Photo: Becky Fluke
Shelby Lynne will do a special show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 26, sharing some brand new music as well as songs from her album, I Am Shelby Lynne, in its entirety.
Tickets for the show, which will feature special guests Waylon Payne and Meg McRee, are on sale now.
Lynne released a new song, “But I Ain’t,” produced by herself alongside Karen Fairchild, Ashley Monroe and Gena Johnson last month on Monument Records. The song serves as a bridge between her past and future, and interpolates “Dreamsome,” a standout track from I Am Shelby Lynne, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary.
A special reissue of the album was released last month via Monument Records in honor of its anniversary. In conjunction with the milestone, videos for album tracks “Gotta Get Back” and “Your Lies” are also now available online for the first time, after debuting on television 25 years ago.
Ace High Music Signs Lakeview
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Travis Chaney (Ace High Music), Luke Healy (Lakeview), Jesse Denaro (Lakeview), Chris Poole (Ace High Music), Abigail Wate-Ayala (Ace High Music) Matt Woodson (Majik Management). Photo: Anna Schaeffer
Ace High Music has signed country-rock band Lakeview to a publishing deal.
Comprised of Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, Lakeview hails from the northeast. Their fusion of pop-punk style rock and blue-collar country songwriting has attracted fans with songs like “Home Team,” “Son Of A” and “Loser.”
“Being a published songwriter has been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember,” Healy shares. “Writing songs is what I’m hardwired to do and what I plan on doing for the rest of my life. Partnering with Ace High made the most sense for our goals as songwriters. The best part is that I get to do it with some of my best friends.”
“Before Lakeview, Luke and I both wrote music across all genres. From metal to pop to CCM and alternative rock,” Denaro adds. “I can’t wait to tap back into those genres and dig even deeper into the country rooms. I’m pumped for Ace High and the writing culture that they’re building—it’s an honor to be part of it on the ground floor.”
The band joins Ace High following the company’s rebrand and the addition of Chris Poole as Partner and Vice President of Publishing & Artist Development. The team also includes President & Managing Partner Travis Ray Chaney and Creative Director Abigail Wate-Ayala.
“When I heard Jesse and Luke’s songs for the first time, I was blown away by their craftsmanship as artists and songwriters,” Poole says. “Not only do their songs embody the sonic uniqueness and authentically country lyric that is Lakeview, but they also both have an uncanny ability to write songs for others across multiple genres. It’s our belief that their brand of country music represents a movement defined by their blue-collar work ethic and one-of-a-kind perspective. I’m so excited to work side by side with them every day and I have no doubt this is only the beginning!”
John Berry To Play Free Concert In Gallatin, Tennessee
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Berry
John Berry is performing a free concert for his friends, neighbors and fans in Gallatin, Tennessee this weekend. His “A Night of Music at Triple Creek With John Berry & Friends” will take place on Saturday, May 18 at Triple Creek Park from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Berry, who lives in Gallatin, is bringing some of his closest friends along to perform on the show, including Mike Farris, Buddy Jewell, Elaine Roy, Bobby Marquez, Leigh Pollari and Makenzie Phipps.
“I love everything Gallatin has to offer, and I love living here,” shares Berry. “After I left Georgia, I wanted to be close to Nashville, yet in an area that still had that ‘Mayberry’ feel. Gallatin is a community-driven town, and we have the best friends and neighbors you can imagine. Music is the best way to connect people, so I am bringing some of my buddies out for a free show, and we hope you will join us!”
Berry’s career has spanned over three decades and 25 albums, including his latest release, Find My Joy. He has charted 20 singles on the charts, including six top five singles and one No. 1, and achieved numerous Gold and Platinum records. Berry’s co-written “A Mind Of Her Own” and “Kiss Me In The Car” introduced him to radio audiences in 1993, paving the way for hits including “You And Only You,” “Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye,” “I Think About It All The Time,” “She’s Taken A Shine” and his Grammy-nominated hit, “Your Love Amazes Me.”
Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Randy Travis, More Among Presenters For 59th ACM Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughLittle Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Alabama, Randy Travis and more are among the lineup of presenters appearing on the upcoming 59th ACM Awards on Thursday (May 16) at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Breland, Tyler Cameron, Jordan Davis, Sara Evans, Carin León, Dion and Rozene Pride, Noah Reid, Richard Sherman, Charissa Thompson and Clay Walker will also present on this year’s star-studded show, which will be free to stream live exclusively for a global audience across over 240 countries and territories on Prime Video.
The ACM Awards will kick off with the Official ACM Awards Red Carpet Show hosted by Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton (Co-Hosts of the Country Heat Weekly podcast), Makho Ndlovu (Host of Amazon Live) and Elaina D. Smith (Host of Nights With Elaina and ACM Award winner), with Katie Neal (Host of Katie & Company and 59th ACM Radio Award winner for National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year) serving as a correspondent from the carpet. Presented by Prime Video and Amazon Music, the Red Carpet Show will also feature a performance by nominee Megan Moroney, and air on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch starting at 7 p.m. CT.
Artists hitting the stage to perform on the show include Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson, as well as a performance featuring brand new music from this year’s host, Reba McEntire. Additionally, the awards will also feature duets from Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan; Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani and Nate Smith featuring Avril Lavigne.
Morgan Wallen Adds European Dates To ‘One Night At A Time Tour’
/by Madison HahnenMorgan Wallen will notch his first-ever European run on his “One Night At A Time Tour” with the addition of six shows across the pond. He will be joined by Larry Fleet and Lauren Watkins on the dates.
Wallen will begin his European run on Aug. 30 in Sweden, before making stops in Norway, Denmark, Netherlands and Glasgow. He will the wrap up on Sept. 7 in Ireland.
The tour is currently running through stadiums and amphitheaters across the U.S., with 2.4 million tickets already sold. Wallen will headline Gulf Coast Jam and Carolina Country Music Fest in June. He also has a one-night-only show scheduled for July 4 in London’s historic Hyde Park.
Tickets for the European “One Night At A Time” dates will be available starting May 16. A portion of every ticket sold will benefit the Morgan Wallen Foundation.
BusCall Nashville To Part Ways With Tin Roof Ahead Of New Opportunity
/by Liza AndersonLive music showcase BusCall Nashville has decided to part ways with Tin Roof after six years of residency. The last show will take place on June 5 before CMA Fest.
The news comes as the BusCall team prepares to explore a new opportunity that aims to elevate the showcase experience. Details regarding the opportunity are still under wraps.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support and partnership we’ve enjoyed with Tin Roof over the past six years,” share Justin Bralts and Jon Sepulveda, Co-Owners of BusCall Nashville. “Tin Roof has been an amazing home for us, and we will always cherish the memories we’ve made there. However, we believe that now is the time to pursue a bigger opportunity that will allow us to take BusCall to the next level.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the incredible community that has surrounded us at Tin Roof,” they continue. “We’re grateful for the memories and friendships we’ve made, and we look forward to creating many more in the years to come.”
With a commitment to supporting the local music community, BusCall Nashville seeks to provide up-and-coming artists with a platform to display their talents in front of enthusiastic audiences.
“We’re excited about what the future holds for BusCall Nashville,” add Bralts and Sepulveda. “We can’t wait to share more details with our fans very soon.”
Georgia Webster To Explore The ‘Signs’ On May 31
/by Lorie HollabaughGeorgia Webster is set to release her third album, Signs, on May 31. She shared a new track from the project, “This Ain’t A Breakup (feat. Nightly),” today (May 10).
Webster drew inspiration from artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves and Lennon Stella who all share the female perspective of broken relationships on the new track, where she expresses the “will they, won’t they” feelings she encountered while navigating young love.
Working with producer King Henry, the artist sought to develop a more mature sound on the new collection that captures her cross-genre influences and new direction she is hoping to head as an artist. The eight-song project features previously-released tracks “Attention” and “Delusional.”
“I wrote ‘This Ain’t A Breakup’ about a situationship that ended last year,” notes Webster.”This guy and I had been going on dates and doing all sorts of relationship-type things, but we never put a label on it. When he ended it with me, it felt like I was going through the worst breakup of my life. As I was feeling all the emotions, I thought of the lyric ‘if this ain’t a breakup, then why am I broken?’ and took it to the studio with some of my friends later that week.
“When the song was finished, I couldn’t help but feel as if something was missing—especially since Connor Moye, one of my cowriters on the track, sang on the original demo—so I reached out to Jonny [of Nightly] to hop on it with me,” she continues. “I have been such a fan of his for a while so I am very excited that he agreed to it and cannot wait for everyone to hear how it came out.”
Signs Track Listing:
1. “Attention”
2. “Delusional”
3. “This Ain’t A Breakup”
4. “Jupiter”
5. “Town Talks”
6. “Wedding Song”
7. “Life Before You”
8. “This Ain’t A Breakup (feat. Nightly)”
Blessing Offor & Dolly Parton Team Up For ‘Somebody’s Child’
/by Madison HahnenDove award-wining artist Blessing Offor has teamed up with music legend Dolly Parton for a new collaboration, “Somebody’s Child.”
The song, co-written by Offor, Josh Ronen and Joy Williams, begins with Offor’s vocals and piano playing before Parton joins in with a vocal choir. The lyric is a reflection on compassion and humanity.
“We’re all ‘somebody’s child,” Offor explains. “It’s such a simple concept, but I hope it’s the beginning of us all realizing that there’s always a point of empathy, there’s always common ground if we want to find it. And there’s no better embodiment of finding common ground, finding relatability, than Dolly Parton. I’m so honored and humbled to have her on this project.”
“I know it’s too easy to say it was a blessing singing with Blessing,” adds Parton. “But it was. I love the song “Somebody’s Child” and I am very proud to be a part of it.”