Multi-Platinum artist Matt Stell will release his debut album, Born Lonely, on June 7 via RECORDS Nashville.

Stell’s debut full-length project comes after the artist has garnered over half a billion global career streams and two consecutive No. 1 hits, including the double-Platinum “Prayed For You” and Platinum “Everywhere But On,” both of which he co-wrote.

Born Lonely features 10 songs that Stell co-wrote with the likes of Chris DeStefano, Joe Fox, Jon Nite, Jake Mitchell and more, with DeStefano and Fox taking on production. As far as subject matter, the album finds Stell soul-searching and delving into his past. The singer-songwriter digs deep into a life story of separation and loneliness, and shares his sense of peace through music.

Fans have gotten a taste of the project with Stell’s current radio single “Breakin’ in Boots,” the title track and the reflective “Take the Girl.” To celebrate the announcement of the album, Stell released a break-the-cycle anthem “Built by Broken Hearts” today (May 10).

Next week, Stell will perform at the ACM Country Kickoff at The Star ahead of the 59th ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas on May 15. He will also take his new music on the road this summer with a selection of upcoming shows, including an appearance at CMA Fest 2024 on the Chevy Riverfront Stage.

Matt Stell’s Born Lonely Track List:
1. “Built by Broken Hearts” (Matt Stell, Seth Alley, James McNair)*
2. “Breakin’ in Boots” (Matt Stell, Nate Cyphert, Joe Fox, Ben Stennis)*
3. “Born Lonely” (Matt Stell, Jake Mitchell, Benjy Davis)*
4. “Girl Gets Gone” (Matt Stell, Joe Fox, Jordan Minton, Travis Wood)*
5. “Into the Sunrise” (Matt Stell, Chris DeStefano, Kyle Sturrock)+
6. “Smooth” (Matt Stell, Chris DeStefano)*
7. “The Hard Stuff” (Matt Stell, Ray Fulcher, Jared Mullins)*
8. “What We Do Best” (Matt Stell, Andrew DeRoberts, Jon Nite, Kyle Sturrock)*
9. “Take the Girl” (Matt Stell, Chris DeStefano, Joe Fox, Nate Cyphert)+
10. “One Cold Beer at a Time” (Matt Stell, Jaron Boyer, John Marlin)*

* Produced by Joe Fox
+ Produced by Chris DeStefano

Growin’ Up Country Vol. Two, a collection of children’s songs featuring John Osborne of Brothers Osborne, Runaway June, Andrew Jannakos and more is set for release June 28.

The project follows last year’s Growin’ Up Country Vol. One, and aims to bring more fun and family-friendly tunes.

“I’m so excited to share that Growin’ Up Country is back with more music for the whole family,” says artist and Executive Producer Jaden Michaels. “This project is so close to my heart. Many of the artists and writers on this project are parents, including myself. I’m passionate about creating music that will empower children with songs that parents will actually enjoy listening to as well.”

Additionally, Michaels and Lucie Silvas chatted with fellow Growin’ Up Country contributor Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music’s The Kelleigh Bannen Show for a special Mother’s Day episode, discussing details about the new collection.

Growin Up Country Vol. Two Track Listing:
1. Hey Y’all Hey – Twinnie
2. Put A Smile On – Runaway June
3. Workin’ On A Beautiful Song – Lucie Silvas & John Osborne
4. Dream Up – Jaden Michaels
5. Big Feelings – High Valley
6. Raised That Way – Kasey Tyndall
7. Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Lenny Pey
8. These Are the Days – Andrew Jannakos
9. Alive – Kelleigh Bannen
10. Like A Butterfly – Sarahbeth Taite

Cameron Jaymes has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with Kobalt.

Jaymes began his career as an EMI recording artist. He later shifted to writing and production, working under his longtime friend and mentor Busbee.

He has written and produced songs across genres for Alana Springsteen, Rachel Platten, Danny Lux, Daya, Jordyn Shellhart, Nightly, Emily Reid, Sarah Reeves, For All Seasons, Robyn Ottolini, Tritonal and more. Jaymes’ work has also been featured on television shows and networks such as Gilmore Girls, Jane The Virgin, 13 Reasons Why, Good Morning America, Today, ABC, ABC Family, E! Network, Bravo and MTV as well as in Marie Claire, Seventeen Magazine and Teen People.

“Cameron is a one of a kind creative. He approaches every aspect of his career with the utmost care for not only the product, but also for the people he works with,” says Kevin Lane, Kobalt Senior Director, Creative. “His passion is infectious, and [he] has aspirations to create music that will inspire people for generations to come. It’s an honor to welcome him into the Kobalt family.”

“I’ve known Kevin from afar for the last several years and have always held great respect for how he goes about his business. When we first sat down to talk about my career, and Kobalt’s trajectory, I felt an immense sense of ease and excitement,” shares Jaymes. “Spending time with Stephanie [Cox] and Morgan [Brasfield] cemented my belief that they were the perfect creative home for me. I’m grateful and excited about being a part of what they are building, and them being a part of what I’m building.”

CMHOFM Hosts 45th Annual Words & Music Celebration

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted the 45th annual celebration of its flagship educational program, Words & Music on Monday (May 6).

Words & Music allows students ranging from third graders to high school seniors to tell their stories through original song lyrics, while developing language arts skills. The program aims to embrace and showcase country music’s legacy of songwriting while passing it down to the next generation of writers and thinkers. Participants interact with a professional songwriter paired with their class in an engaging performance workshop that seeks to transform their lyrics into finished songs. Since its inception in 1979, over 160,000 students have participated in Words & Music.

The latest participants and their families gathered in the museum’s Ford Theater along with the evening’s hosts, country duo Tigirlily Gold, to hear a selection of 13 songs written by students in Nashville and its surrounding areas. The program was recorded and will be shared on the museum’s website later this summer.

Spencer Crandall’s ‘My Person’ Goes Gold

Independent artist Spencer Crandall was surprised with a Gold plaque for his song “My Person” at Stagecoach on April 27.

SiriusXM’s Ania Hammar delivered the news and presented Crandall with the plaque during an interview.

Crandall has collected more than 375 million global career streams to date, and recently released his latest single, “See It Like You.”

MIW Names Sarah Weaver As First Mentoring And Inspiring Women In Country Radio Mentee

The nonprofit organization Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW) has named Sarah Weaver, Program Director & Morning Show Co-Host of WKML in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as the inaugural Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Country Radio mentee.

Launched earlier this year, Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Country Radio is a year-long program that exposes the mentee to the established minds in the business through personalized conversations, connections and opportunities that seek to advance their leadership and management positions in country radio. The program also gives the mentee the opportunity to attend Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2025 in Nashville.

Weaver started her radio career in 2013 at KMVN in Anchorage, Alaska before joining Beasley Media Group as the midday personality on WKML. She was named Co-Host of The Big Wake Up morning show in August 2017, and took on Music Director and Assistant Program Director duties before rising to Program Director in January 2023.