Dolly’s New Cup of Ambition Coffee Available Online Now & At ‘Sip And Sample Tour’ Stops

/by

Photo: Courtesy of Dolly’s Cup of Ambition LLC

Dolly Parton‘s new coffee line, Cup of Ambition, which was a dream of the late icon’s more than 40 years in the making, is now available for purchase nationwide.

The coffee line was developed with family-owned Community Coffee, and following its debut at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, is now available for nationwide shipping on CupOfAmbition.com, CommunityCoffee.com, TikTok Shop and other major retailers including Amazon.com and Walmart.com. Available in Light, Medium and Dark Roast varieties, the collection offers a cup for every Dolly fan and coffee lover and is available for pre-order in K-Cup pods and in ground coffee, providing convenient options for a variety of preferences.

“Dolly had a warmth that made you feel like you’d known her forever,” says Donna Saurage, third-generation owner of Community Coffee. “We connected over our love of family, serving our communities and bringing people together, and it was a true joy to help make her dream of a Cup of Ambition coffee become a reality.”

As part of the launch campaign, Dolly’s Cup Of Ambition and Community Coffee are hitting the road for a special “Cup of Ambition Sip & Sample Tour,” with The Dolly Coffee Trolley and coffee carts bringing a unique Cup of Ambition experience to fans across the Southeast. Confirmed stops include an integrated activation at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum during the run of its Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker (open through Oct. 4), the Grand Ole Opry, universities including Belmont, Vanderbilt, Fisk and more, select dates of “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony,” “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol” touring productions, and more.

Every cup of Cup of Ambition coffee helps support Dolly’s Imagination Library and its mission to inspire a love of reading in children from birth to age five. Community Coffee has announced it will serve as the anchor funding partner for Lafayette Parish, expanding its commitment to early childhood literacy in its home state of Louisiana. Consumers can also join in supporting the mission by making an optional donation to Imagination Library at checkout on CupofAmbition.com.

“Cup of Ambition Sip & Sample Tour” Dates:
9/30/26 | Nashville, TN | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
9/30/26 | Sewanee, TN | Sewanee: The University Of The South
10/1/26 | Nashville, TN | Belmont University (Main Campus)
10/1/26 | Cookeville, TN | Tennessee Tech University
10/2/26 | Nashville, TN | Grand Ole Opry (Plaza Party)
10/2/26 | Clarksville, TN | Austin Peay University
10/3/26 | Nashville, TN | Grand Ole Opry (Plaza Party)
10/4/26 | Nashville, TN | Grand Ole Opry (Plaza Party)
10/5/26 | Nashville, TN | Fisk University

Tyla Rodrigues Inks With Sony Music Publishing Nashville

/by

Pictured (L-R): Alex Torrez, Val Rodrigues, Tyla Rodrigues, Matt Cottingham, Aubrey Landon, Alli Sommers and Emily Vincent. Photo: Savannah Spencer

Tyla Rodrigues has signed a global publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville.

Rodrigues has quickly made a name for herself as one of Australia’s rising country artists, with more than 10 million streams across her catalog. Her single “Can’t Keep Doing This” recently reached No. 9 on Australia’s Country Airplay chart in less than three weeks. She released an EP, Hold On Tight, earlier this year.

Rodrigues has performed at major country festivals throughout Australia and on international stages. Her recent appearances include C2C, CMA Fest, shows in New Zealand and a Canadian run as part of the CCMA International Exchange Program.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Sony Music Publishing family and to be surrounded by such an incredible community,” says Rodrigues. “There are so many artists and writers at Sony whose work I’ve admired for years, and to now be a part of that is really special. I’m so grateful for the team believing in me and my songwriting, and I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes me.”

“The first time I heard Tyla sing it stopped me in my tracks,” adds Aubrey Landon, Senior Director, Creative A&R, Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “I knew right away that she was special and was eager to be a part of her songwriting journey. She is pure country gold, and I’m so excited to work alongside her in this next chapter!”

She has also grown her profile through collaborations such as “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” with Braxton Keith and “What’s Left To Hold Onto” with The Kruse Brothers. She is now preparing her debut album, which is set for release in 2027, and will hit the road with Braxton Keith in the spring.

Clark Sweat Joins Ryan Seacrest Foundation As Sr. VP Of Partnerships & Marketing

/by

Clark Sweat

Clark Sweat has been named Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Marketing at the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit that brings interactive media studios into pediatric hospitals to help patients find joy during treatment.

A philanthropic executive with a 30-year record of scaling healthcare and nonprofit organizations, Sweat has raised more than $8 billion for mission-driven causes throughout his career, bringing top-tier brands and healthcare institutions together to solve pressing social impact issues. As the founder and CEO of Cause4Good, Sweat advised leading nonprofits and corporate brands on revenue diversification, corporate social responsibility, and donor engagement strategies that create long-term success. He built multi-million-dollar alliances with Fortune 500 companies, including Walmart, Target, Costco, Marriott, RE/MAX, Johnson & Johnson, CVS, Walgreens, and Delta Air Lines.

Before founding Cause4Good, Sweat held key leadership roles at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, where he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. Under his leadership, annual revenue grew to surpass $450 million, and corporate partnerships flourished, significantly expanding the organization’s national footprint. Earlier in his career, Sweat played a critical role at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, spearheading corporate partnerships and international development strategies that drove multimillion-dollar funding growth.

“As we look towards the next chapter of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, Clark’s industry leadership and strategic vision are exactly what we need,” says Meredith Seacrest Leach, CEO and Executive Director of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. “He has spent decades connecting corporate partners with meaningful causes, and his addition to our leadership team will play a vital role in accelerating our impact in pediatric hospitals nationwide.”

“The Ryan Seacrest Foundation is at a pivotal moment in its journey,” says Sweat. “Seacrest Studios have proven to be an indispensable part of patient care and family support in pediatric hospitals. I’m honored to join Meredith and the team as we build new strategic partners and continue to extend our reach to bring this life-changing experience to even more pediatric patients.”

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation was founded in 2009, and operates a national network of 14 Seacrest Studios where patients host podcasts, produce video content, and interview celebrity guests while receiving care. In 2025 alone, RSF delivered 8,406 hours of live programming, helped patients create 265 original shows, and reached approximately 3.1 million patients and family members across its network. New studios are slated to open in New Orleans at Manning Family Children’s Hospital in early 2027 and in Milwaukee at Children’s Wisconsin in 2028.

Brandi Carlile Burns The Setlist On New Trio Tour Launching In November

/by

Brandi Carlile. Photo: Collier Schorr

Brandi Carlile is heading out this fall on a special “Burn The Setlist (The All Request Tour),” a trio run with her longtime bandmates and collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth.

The tour will include stops in Portland, Tucson, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and more through Dec. 17. Carlile will return to some of the older theaters she loved most early in her career to reconnect with core fans and old friends on the new tour, and every show will be unique, with each setlist comprised entirely of live, in-the-moment fan requests – a format Carlile introduced during her “The Human Tour” earlier this year.

Because Carlile and the twins want to take big risks at the shows and feel free to try difficult things, make mistakes and bond with the audience, the shows will be a phone-free experience, with phones secured in Yondr pouches. Guests will maintain possession of their phones at all times. A QR code will be provided to concertgoers to download three bootlegs from the show in addition to exclusive photos and content, and the full concert bootleg will be available for purchase to attendees and Bramily members only. General on-sale for the shows begins this Friday, (Oct. 2).

Last week, Carlile released Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version), the deluxe version of her album, Returning To Myself, via Interscope Records/Lost Highway. An exclusive signed rainbow vinyl edition of the deluxe is available to those who pre-order by tomorrow (Oct. 1), with orders set to ship on Dec. 11. The special one-time pressing is only available on Carlile’s website.

Music Services Reveals Two Key Leadership Appointments

/by

Nick LaPointe and Jay Sudarma. Photo: Courtesy of Music Services

Music Services, a division of SESAC Music Group, has added Nick LaPointe as Senior Director of Business Development, and elevated Jay Sudarma to Vice President of Marketing for Music Services and CCLI Group.

In this role, LaPointe will focus on bringing new clients into the division with an emphasis on YouTube administration, publishing and label administration, and distribution for artists and labels who own their masters. Most recently, LaPointe served as Senior Director, Business Development at FUGA AVS, where he led the signing of major and independent music publishers and expanded the company’s presence in Nashville. He previously held the same title at AdRev following nearly two decades at Warner Chappell Music.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Nick to the team. Throughout his career, he has earned the trust of independent publishers and labels by helping them turn their rights into meaningful revenue,” says Rose Cook, Chief Operating Officer, Music Services. “He brings a relationship-driven approach that aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering best-in-class service to our clients.”

Sudarma steps into a new role as Vice President of Marketing for Music Services, alongside a promotion to Vice President of Marketing at CCLI Group, where he previously served as Director of Marketing. In this expanded capacity, he will lead global marketing strategy across both businesses, and guide the division’s forthcoming rebrand and roll-out of its shared services platform. He brings experience in brand development, digital marketing, content strategy, website modernization and cross-functional partnerships.

“During his tenure at CCLI, Jay has proven the value of a disciplined, data-driven approach to marketing, and this expanded role is a natural next step,” says Cook. “He will work across brands in the Music Services portfolio, including AudioSalad, Audiam, Music Services Inc., The Harry Fox Agency, HAAWK, and CCLI, bringing a unified voice to a growing collection of brands while preserving the qualities that make each one unique.”

Emma Ogier Inks With Lost Highway Records

/by

Robert Knotts, Emma Ogier and Jake Gear. Photo: Addison Hilton

Emma Ogier has signed with Lost Highway Records.

“What struck us immediately about Emma is how completely herself she is,” says Robert Knotts and Jake Gear, EVP & Co-Heads of Lost Highway Records. “Her songs are intimate and deeply human, but there’s also a restless creative spirit behind them. She isn’t interested in fitting neatly into a genre or following a prescribed path, which is exactly what we admire most about her. She’s unstoppable and is just getting started.”

The Houston-born singer/songwriter will release her debut album, Fly 1111, on Nov. 11. Today, Ogier shared her self-penned new single “Hands Tied.”

She will make her Austin City Limits Festival debut on Oct. 3 before serving as support for Hovvdy on the first leg of their North American tour. She will also open for Joshua Slone at Red Rocks in November.

Blake Whiten Signs With CAA

/by

Pictured (L-R): CAA’s Rachel Brittain, Enchntmnt’s John Turpin, CAA’s Cam Jensen, Enchntmnt’s Benny Negrin, CAA’s Jeff Krones, Blake Whiten, CAA’s Bennett Beckner, Enchntmnt’s Reid Daroff and Enchntmnt’s Alix Negrin. Photo: Sydney Chance

Blake Whiten has inked with CAA for worldwide booking representation.

Raised in Six Mile, South Carolina, Whiten started writing songs as a teenager and built an early following by posting covers online, first garnering attention for a Morgan Wallen cover that amassed more than 9 million views. His debut single, “Rollin’ Stone,” which he wrote on his own, recently received an RIAA Gold certification as his music surpasses 400 million global streams.

This year, Whiten made his Grand Ole Opry debut and released his first album, Something To Say, which debuted on the Billboard 200. Produced by Austin Shawn, the 12-song project combines Whiten’s gritty vocals and personal songwriting with an alternative-leaning country sound.

“Bet On That” became Whiten’s first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a second No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway. The track was also the most-added song at country radio when it was released, going to 46 stations and recently entering the top 40. In August, Billboard named Whiten an Up & Comer.

Whiten spent the summer opening for Morgan Wallen before launching his own “Something To Say Tour” this fall, with stops in Chicago, New York and Nashville. He is also scheduled to perform at Stagecoach in 2027.

Hudson Westbrook Unveils ‘Made You Look’ Track List

/by

Hudson Westbrook has unveiled the track list of his sophomore album, Made You Look, out Nov. 6 via River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville.

Westbrook co-wrote every song on the 16-track project alongside Joybeth Taylor, Neil Medley, Dan Alley, Nicolette Hayford, Lukas Scott, Beau Bailey and more. He has previewed the project with “One Night Wonder,” “The Joker,” “Hits Me,” “Backwards,”“Hey Dallas, ” and album title track, “Made You Look.”

“Writing songs is the thing I love most,” Westbrook shares. “Made You Look is a reflection of everything I’ve been through the last two years of my life on a record. I loved writing with my people, who I trust the most when it comes to helping me write songs my fans will love. I can’t wait for y’all to hear the rest of it.”

He is currently on his 24-date headline “Hits Me Tour.” The trek marks Westbrook’s first-ever headline shows in major markets like Los Angeles (The Novo), Washington D.C. (The Anthem), New York (Terminal 5) and Boston (Roadrunner). Kenny Whitmire and Ethan Burdick are joining as support.

Made You Look Track List:
1. “Made You Look” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Joybeth Taylor, Neil Medley, Beau Bailey)
2. “Love On The Line” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver)
3. “The Joker” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Dan Alley, Neil Medley, Beau Bailey)
4. “One Night Wonder” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Beau Bailey)
5. “All In” (Hudson Westbrook, Marv Green)
6. “Permanent” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Reid Haughton)
7. “Thin Ice” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Reid Haughton, Kenny Whitmire)
8. “Hey Dallas” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Reid Haughton, Beau Bailey)
9. “Don’t Worry Bout Me” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Neil Medley, Beau Bailey, Ryan Beaver)
10. “Hits Me” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver)
11. “Odds of Getting Even” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver)
12. “Nowhere Bound” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Neil Medley, Beau Bailey)
13. “Fienin’” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Dan Alley, Reid Haughton)
14. “Lights Out” (Hudson Westbrook, Reid Haughton, Lukas Scott, Beau Bailey)
15. “Backwards” (Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Reid Haughton, Nicolette Hayford)
16. “Texas Tear” (Hudson Westbrook, Dan Alley, Ryan Beaver)

John Morgan Adds Headline Dates To Fall Schedule

/by

John Morgan. Photo: Matthew Berinato

John Morgan is adding ten headlining shows to his fall schedule, kicking off Nov. 12 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and ending on Dec. 5 in Starkville, Mississippi.

The run will also include stops in North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. Erin Kinsey and Chris Ryan will join as support. Tickets are on sale now.

Morgan will also join Brantley Gilbert’s “Real American Tour” this fall. He recently released a new single, “Cry Baby.” The track was written alongside Lydia Vaughn, Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy.

John Morgan Fall Tour Dates:
9/25 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena*
9/26 Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino*
10/1 Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights*
10/2 Rockford, IL – BMO Center*
10/8 Savannah, GA – VyStar Pavilion
10/9 Roanoke Rapids, NC – Carolina Crossroads Amphitheatre*
10/15 Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center*
10/16 Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion*
10/17 Toledo, OH – Huntington Center*
11/5 Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater*
11/6 Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum*
11/7 Corinth, MS – Crossroads Arena*
11/12 Myrtle Beach, SC – The Boathouse
11/13 Wilmington, NC – Bowstring
11/14 Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer
11/15 Jacksonville, FL – Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair^
11/19 Nashville, TN – Odies
11/20 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
11/21 Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat
12/3 Chattanooga, TN – Barrelhouse Ballroom
12/4 Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Soundstage
12/5 Starkville, MS – Rick’s Cafe
* Brantley Gilbert’s “Real American Tour” Date
^ Support for LOCASH

Buckeye Country Superfest Unveils 2027 Lineup

/by

Chris Stapleton. Photo: David McClister.

Buckeye Country Superfest will return to Ohio Stadium on July 10, 2027.

Chris Stapleton has been set as the headliner, with additional performances from Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Buffalo Traffic Jam, Blake Whiten and Laci Kaye Booth.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. CT.

The 2026 Buckeye Country Superfest featured performances from The Red Clay Strays, Lord Huron, Sierra Ferrell, Flatland Cavalry and Kaitlin Butts, closing the night with a headline set from Tyler Childers.