Sierra Ferrell Adds New Dates To ‘The Heavy Petal Tour’

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Sierra Ferrell. Photo: Dana Trippe

Sierra Ferrell has added four additional stops to her “The Heavy Petal Tour” this summer and fall.

Ferrell will return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 12 following a sold-out debut in 2025. Other newly announced dates include LA’s Wilternon on August 5, the Dillon Colorado Amphitheater on August 11, and Greensboro’s Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts on September 9.

Spanning nearly 50 cities across the US, UK and Europe, “The Heavy Petal Tour” features sold-out headline shows, top-billed festival appearances, dates with Mumford & Sons, (who Ferrell recently accompanied for standout performances of “Here” on Saturday Night Live and Apple Music Sessions), and The Red Clay Strays. Since the start of the tour last month, the Grammy-winner has led her musicianship, wondrous inner world and stellar sense of story to a new peak of power, further enchanting audiences through a reimagined, carnivalesque production and a setlist that pairs moments of healing with happiness and sorrow, nostalgia and immediacy.

The new shows go on sale tomorrow (June 12) here.

 

Industry Ink: Dasha, Carrie Underwood, CMHOFM, Craig Campbell, Kenny Whitmire, More

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Dasha Receives Spotify Billions Plaque

Dasha and team. Photo: Ed Rode/Getty Images for Spotify

Dasha was surprised with her first-ever Spotify Billions Club plaque during her performance at Spotify House this past weekend at CMA Fest.

The honor recognizes the success of her breakout hit, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’),” which surpassed one billion streams on Spotify last November.

 

Carrie Underwood Surprises Fans At HiNote Pop-Up Truck

Carrie Underwood. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for HiNote

Carrie Underwood recently made a surprise appearance at Nashville’s 12 South Farmers Market to celebrate her wellness brand, HiNote.

Underwood served samples of HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix, chatted with attendees and posed for photos with fans.

 

Tenille Townes Visits Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s Songwriting Camp

Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Tenille Townes recently visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s beginner-to-intermediate Songwriting Camp as a guest artist, where she answered questions about her career and performed songs including “The Acrobat” and “Somebody’s Daughter.”

 

Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge & Concert Raises $35,000 For The Kenny Campbell Foundation

Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge.

The 12th Annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge raised over $35,000 for The Kenny Campbell Foundation. Participants included Waka Flocka, Thompson Square, Allie Colleen, Lewis Brice, Gracee Shrivers and many more.

“I’m blown away by the generosity of our fans and by the incredible group of celebrities and volunteers who made this happen,” shares Campbell. “The phone kept ringing, and texts kept dinging from artists who wanted to participate. This was just incredible.”

 

Kenny Whitmire Makes Surprise Appearance At Charlie Puth’s Nashville Show

Charlie Puth and Kenny Whitmire. Photo: Emma Golden

Kenny Whitmire joined Charlie Puth this week at Ascend Amphitheatre for his Nashville headline show. They performed Whitmire’s viral breakthrough track, “I Gave Her The Moon.”

“I predict in the next year or two, y’all are going to be seeing him right over there at that Nissan Stadium because I’m blown away by this guy” Puth said from stage.

 

Parker Fuller Joins Young Guns Publishing

Parker Fuller.

Parker Fuller has joined Young Guns Publishing as Creative Coordinator.

The Little Rock, Arkansas native recently graduated from Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. She previously interned for Creative Nation and SMACKSongs and participated in BMI’s 2026 Catalog Cast program.

“We are so excited to welcome Parker into our Young Guns Publishing family,” shares Laura Alexander, EVP of Creative. “Her eagerness to grow within the publishing industry is apparent and we are thankful to add another member to our creative team.”

 

Larry Fleet Launches Little Fleet Sponsorship Program

Larry Fleet. Photo: Matt Paskert

Larry Fleet has launched his Little Fleet sponsorship program, supporting youth baseball and softball teams.

Sponsorships for this season include Canton, North Carolina’s Kingsmen Baseball Club and Newark, West Virginia’s Newark Braves Softball.

“Baseball was a huge part of my childhood, and some of my best memories were made on those fields with teammates, coaches and family cheering us on,” shares Fleet. “Not every kid gets the opportunity to play because of the costs that come with it, so if we can help take a little bit of that burden off families and give these kids the chance to make those same memories, then that’s something I’m proud to be a part of. I hope Little Fleet continues to grow and gives more young ballplayers the chance to chase their dreams.”

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Wynonna’s Comeback Single Nabs Disc Of The Day

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Wynonna. Photo: Thomas Crabtree

Kenny Sharp was in the running for the DISCovery Award, as was folkie STELLA LEFTY. But the prize was claimed by a retro-country newcomer from Down Under, Mack Geiger.

The Disc of the Day award goes to the comeback single by the always compelling Wynonna.

BRITTNEY SPENCER / “Sober Thoughts”
Writers: Brittney Spencer/Luke Laird/Sasha Alex Sloan; Producer: Jarrad K; Label: MNRK Music
– Enchanting. An echoey instrumental bed, some tasteful harmony vocals and a languid mood swirl through this meditation on tipsy romance making. Lovely work all around. If she doesn’t have a hit with this, someone should.

BRANTLEY GILBERT / “F****D ME UP”
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Brock Berryhill/Cole Taylor/Randy Montana; Producers: Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill; Label: Broken Bow Records
– Deserted, devastated and defeated. His gripping, broken vocal on this ballad grabs ahold and doesn’t let go. In the end, she saves him from his alcoholism. There is also a G-rated version titled “Messed Me Up.’ In either guise, it’s a powerful thing.

STELLA LEFTY & VINCENT MASON / “Something to Lose”
Writers: Grace Enger/Jon Decious/Luke Dick/STELLA LEFTY; Producers: Brett Truitt, Joe Reeves; Label: Atlantic Outpost
– Wistful folk-country with a spare production and softly conversational vocals.

SHABOOZEY / “Cowgirl”
Writers: Abas Pauti/Collins Chibueze/Jared Cotter/McKay Stevens/Nevin Sastry/Sean Cook/Whit Kane; Producers: Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook; Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE
– Rousing, catchy and infectious. Fiddles saw and guitars strum away on this Wild West fantasy. The track comes from a forthcoming western concept album titled The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales.

MACK GEIGER / “String By”
Writer: Mack Geiger; Producer: Jared Adlam; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia
– It looks like this Aussie newcomer is going to have a breakthrough hit with this gentle heartbreaker. His vocal style rings with country authenticity on the honky-tonk ballad. She’s trying to reel him back in, but he resists, because he’s been burned one too many times. Also check out the toe-tapping EP title tune “Walk a Straight Line.” Wildly promising. Geiger stages his Opry debut on June 23.

LAINEY WILSON & JOHN MAYER / “Phone, Keys, Wallet”
Writers: Dallas Wilson/Dan Pellarin/Jon Decious/Kid Harpoon/Lainey Wilson/Summer Overstreet/Trannie Anderson; Producers: John Mayer, Kid Harpoon; Label: Broken Bow Records
– In this groove-soaked, mid-tempo ditty, she lives in nutty chaos, but his love keeps her grounded. The guitar solos are courtesy of pop superstar John Mayer.

KENNY SHARP / “Amy”
Writers: Josh Ronen/Kenneth M. Sharpless/Tolan Shaw; Producer: Josh Ronen; Label: Brown Liquor Music
– Nashville’s Kenny Sharp calls his sound “Brown Liquor Music.” It mixes elements of funk, hip-hip, r&b and neo soul that fits easily into the Americana music mix. This bass-and-steel-backed steady thumper is a heartache moaner that’s hard to resist. Sharp is playing Bonnaroo tomorrow (June 12).

WYNONNA / “Kentucky Queen”
Writers: CACTUS MOSER/Justin Weaver/Sarah Siskind/Wynonna; Producer: CACTUS MOSER; Label: Anti/Epitaph
– Brilliantly produced. A funky, acoustic, poly-rhythmic, rump-shaking, gospel-blues-hillbilly pastiche that she sings the fire out of. This Country Music Hall of Fame member has a rootsy new sound that pushes all the audio pleasure buttons.

MAREN MORRIS / “Hard Liquor and Soft Rock”
Writers: Busbee/Maren Morris/Natalie Hemby; Producers: Jon Green, Maren Morris; Label: Columbia Nashville
– There’s something muffled and muddy about this bopping sound. It’s hooky and listenable, but her vocal is almost buried in the production.

LEE BRICE / “What You Know About That”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Brian Davis/Lee Brice; Producer: Ben Glover, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice; Label: Curb Records
– A blue-collar, rockin’ summer anthem, mostly shouted rather than sung.

VINNY TOVAR / “Tequila Told Me”
Writers: Sam Tuten/Vicente Andres Tovar/Walker Tuten; Producers: Christopher Mora, Vinny Tovar; Label: Azteca Ranch Music
– It’s a tuneful, flirtatious ditty about a barroom hook-up. The mood is jaunty with an underlying tone of loneliness, and it’s country to the core. As far as I know, the Texas-based Azteca Ranch is the only label devoted to Latino country artists.

KIP MOORE / “The Darkness”
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Kip Moore/Luke Preston; Producer: Andrew DeRoberts, Kip Moore; Label: KM
– Righteous, fiery, passionate and oh-so rocking. This steadfast individualist blazes with apocalyptic energy. Moore is booked for a Grand Ole Opry performance this evening (June 11).

KEB’ MO’ / “Fussing and Fighting”
Writers: Arthur Adams/Kevin Moore; Producers: Keb’ Mo’, Zach Allen; Label: Concord Records
– Nashville’s greatest blues man strips it down to just his voice and acoustic guitar on his forthcoming album The Breakdown. On its lead single, he swings lightly over a chunky, six-string riff while mourning a crumbling relationship. Ear tickling and addictive.

CMHOFM & University Of Illinois Press To Co-Publish Cleve Francis Autobiography

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The Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum & University Of Illinois Press will co-publish the Cleve Francis autobiography, Do My Heart Good: My Odyssey Through Country Music, Medicine, and History. The book will be available beginning Oct. 6, in bookstores nationwide and other retail outlets.

Francis will appear at the museum on Sept. 5 for a discussion with the museum’s Senior Director of Editorial Paul Kingsbury. He will also make his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry as a featured performer on Sept. 4.

The book tells the story of Francis, who was born to a poor family in the small town of Jennings, Louisiana. He rose to be a respected medical doctor and recorded three albums for Capitol Nashville’s Liberty Records during the early 1990s, which included his charting singles “Love Light” and “You Do My Heart Good,” among others. He was one of the few Black artists ever to record country music for a major record label at the time. Do My Heart Good traces three key threads throughout his life including his lifelong love of performing music, his abiding interest in science and medicine and his determination to break through racial barriers through personal achievement.

The book is available for pre-order here.

‘Songs of U.S.’ Series To Feature Amy Grant, Mickey Guyton, More

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Amy Grant. Photo: Bella Sgarlata

Amy Grant is the first artist featured in Songs of U.S., a new series marking America’s 250th Anniversary that brings together musicians from across genres to reinterpret songs that have shaped the country’s cultural identity.

Grant has launched the Salt Lick Sessions series with a reimagined performance of James Taylor’s beloved classic “Carolina in My Mind” and a wide-ranging conversation about music, memory and the evolving story of America in which she reflects on the power of music to carry history, foster connection and reveal the complexities of the American experience.

Youtube video

The series will also debut Grant’s performance of her original song “The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)” from her recent album The Me That Remains – a song that examines pivotal moments in American history.

“American music has always told the truth about who we are — the beauty, the heartbreak, the hope, the contradictions,” says Grant. “I loved being part of a project that makes room for all of that. These songs carry history, but they also keep evolving as each new voice brings their own experience and humanity to them.”

Upcoming sessions featuring Grace Potter, Old Crow Medicine Show, Mickey Guyton, Samara Joy, Tiny Habits, Brittney Spencer, Trousdale, Joy Oladokun, Corook, Raye Zaragoza and more will roll out throughout the summer via Salt Lick Sessions’ YouTube channel and social platforms. A session with Chance Emerson will begin rolling out this week.

Across the series, artists reinterpret works by writers including Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Beyoncé, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack and John Denver. Featured performances include Grace Potter’s take on “This Land Is Your Land,” Corook’s rendition of “Mississippi Goddam,” Mickey Guyton revisiting “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Tiny Habits reimagining “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Joy Oladokun performing “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and Brittney Spencer interpreting “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

Cheyana Weekley Joins BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville

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Cheyana Weekley. Photo: Kevin Grace

Cheyana Weekley has joined BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville as Head of Marketing. She will report to BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s EVP, Recorded Music, JoJamie Hahr.

Weekley will lead the label’s marketing team and support a roster of artists including Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Jelly Roll, Dustin Lynch, Parmalee, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton and Lainey Wilson. She joins the label from MCA, where she most recently served as Director of Brand Partnerships. Prior to MCA, she spent nearly six years at 615 Leverage + Strategy and also held project management and brand strategy roles at Big Machine Label Group.

“I’ve been trying to get Cheyana on our team for years as I’ve watched her growth, leadership, and effectiveness at her previous stops. She’s the perfect addition to our family and exactly what we need as we continue to elevate our roster and our team to new levels,” says JoJamie Hahr, EVP, Recorded Music, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

She can be reached here.

Farm Aid Heads To Virginia Beach For First Time In September

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Farm Aid is heading to Virginia Beach for the first time on Sept. 26 at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater.

Farm Aid 2026 will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (& The Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (& Tim Reynolds), Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Jesse Welles, Sierra Ferrell, Mon Rovîa, I’m With Her, Amythyst Kiah, Lily Meola and Chris Pierce.

The festival highlights the vital role that family farmers play in their communities – growing food, strengthening local economies and helping sustain land. Family farmers are currently facing the most serious threats to their livelihoods since the 1980s Farm Crisis, navigating economic volatility, policy uncertainty and corporate consolidation. In Hampton Roads, direct markets and local food systems are growing even as the region faces challenges, from inflation and farm policy choices to volatile weather, sea level rise, and land use pressures from development and data centers.

“Family farmers grow our food and strengthen our communities. And when farmers struggle like they are now, communities feel it too,” says Farm Aid Founder Nelson. “The challenges farmers face threaten their livelihoods and put all of us at risk. We’re bringing Farm Aid to Virginia to stand with the farmers and fishers who feed Hampton Roads and beyond – and to grow a food system that works for everyone.”

Farm Aid festival attendees will experience farmers’ contributions firsthand with HOMEGROWN Concessions, which offers a delicious and fresh menu with ingredients that are grown or raised by farmers who use ecological practices. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village features hands-on activities engaging festivalgoers with exhibits about soil, water, energy, food and farming.

Farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, advocates and movement leaders from across the country will convene at Farm Aid for pre-festival programs that explore the challenges family farmers face while advancing a shared vision for the future of agriculture, land, food and rural America and building collective power. The week will culminate in a Friday evening celebration, with additional details announced soon.

Tickets for Farm Aid 2026 go on sale to the public on tomorrow (June 12).

NMPA Unveils AI Music Deals At Annual Meeting

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The National Music Publishers’ Association held is Annual Meeting at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall yesterday (June 10).

During the event, David Israelite unveiled two groundbreaking deals with AI music companies, Udio and Klay. Israelite confirmed the Udio deal is not only the first ever industry-wide licensing deal with a major AI music company, but it is also the first that will value songs and sound recordings equally when it comes to AI training. Additionally, Klay is one of very few companies to secure licenses prior to launching its platform. Klay’s Large Music Model will be trained entirely on licensed music and the deal with NMPA will launch later this summer.

“The challenges posed by AI are massive and evolving,” explained Israelite. “However, we are taking a holistic approach to confronting them… great music will never be mass produced by machines. We are here to fight for what makes art meaningful – authentic human inspiration.”

To further address other critical AI-related issues, NMPA will host an AI Songs Summit in Nashville this fall.

The event also honored P!NK with the NMPA Songwriter Icon Award, and Julian Bunetta with the NMPA Non-Performing Songwriter Icon Award. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. received NMPA’s Industry Legacy Award.

Redferrin Readies Debut Album ‘Been There Done That’

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Redferrin will release his debut album, Been There Done That, tomorrow (June 12) via Warner Records Nashville.

“I spent over a year writing this project. We wrote about 60 songs and narrowed it down to the cream of of the crop,” says Redferrin. “I definitely took it back to my roots on Been There Done That. We wrote every song on acoustic guitar, then produced them out later. We made sure to keep the trademark Redferrin sound, but made it more traditional and I couldn’t be more proud of how this album turned out.”

Co-produced by Redferrin, the album is a culmination of his journey from a professional motocross racer to a chart-topping songwriter and artist, who has amassed 800 million global streams and sold out nearly 30 headlining dates last year. He wrote the project alongside Brinley Addington, Scott Stepakoff, Kyle Sturrock, Johnny Clawson, Jake Saghi and many others.

Redferrin has upcoming tour dates in Colorado, Utah, Washington and more.

Been There Done That Track List: 
1. “If I Was California” (Redferrin, Pete Good, Brinley Addington, Scott Stepakoff, Jake Saghi)
2. “Have You Now” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Kyle Sturrock, Dan Farber)
3. “Crazy” (Jordan Dozzi, Mark Trussell, Travis Wood)
4. “Happens Every Time” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Billy Currington)
5. “Heart A Break” (Redferrin, Jaxson Free, Jordan Schmidt)
6. “3 Day Bender” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Jacob Hackworth)
7. “Whiskey Money” (Redferrin, Jimmy Robbins, Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock)
8. “Lovin’ Me A Little” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi)
9. “Palm Trees (feat. Wiz Khalifa)” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Cameron Thomas, p/k/a Wiz Khalifa, Jeremy Kulosek p/k/a Big Jerm, Sammy Haig, Roger Jia)
10. “Betcha Won’t” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi)
11. “Address” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Brinley Addington, Johnny Clawson)
12. “Straight To The Chapel” (Redferrin, Brinley Addington, Johnny Clawson, Nate Miles)
13. “Been There Done That” (Redferrin, Jake Saghi, Brinley Addington)

Steve Wariner’s Paintings Featured In New Solo Exhibit At Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center

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Steve Wariner will have 60 of his paintings showcased in a new solo exhibit, “The Flip Side: Paintings by Steve Wariner,” at the Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee beginning this month.

The exhibit, which runs June 21-July 26, will feature Wariner’s works in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media, spanning more than 30 years. An opening reception for “The Flip Side” will take place from 2-4 p.m. on June 21 which is open to the public, and Wariner will be on site to discuss his paintings. He will also present a Heritage Music Series concert at 6 p.m. on June 25.

“We are thrilled to introduce Steve Wariner’s paintings to our community at Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “I am proud to say that this will be the most prominent display of Steve’s artworks since his 2013 exhibition at the Tennessee State Museum.

“Happy New Year, Dad”

“For me, painting has always been a kind of therapy,” says Wariner. “It’s my sanctuary and escape. I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I’ve been making music. They both go back to the beginning. I learned a long time ago that you have to write 50 songs to get 10 good ones, and the same is true of painting.”

Wariner has been painting since he was a child growing up in suburban Indiana. He was inspired to paint by his brother David, a gifted professional artist known for his book and album cover illustrations. Even as a youngster, Wariner was attracted to watercolor and his style is loose and spontaneous, resulting in images he refers to as “washy.”

His preferred subjects often reflect the people and places he has seen during his many travels as a musician, as well as rural landscapes, seascapes, portraits and guitars, and even family and musicians, like the watercolor “Happy New Year, Dad” depicting his father’s band onstage at the Noblesville American Legion, ringing in 1963. He resisted painting in oil for years, but in 2020 began to experiment, and he now works in multiple mediums, from oil to encaustic.

“Purple Presence”