Country Thunder Arizona has unveiled the lineup for the upcoming 2027 festival, which will take place in Florence, Arizona on April 8-11.

Jordan Davis joins previously announced headliners Florida Georgia Line and Megan Moroney on the bill. Newcomer Stella Lefty will headline the Thursday Kickoff, and the festival will also include a lineup of country legends, hitmakers, and fast-rising new stars including Carly Pearce, Ashley Cooke, Josh Ross, The Band Perry, Ernest, Shenandoah, Mae Estes, Just Jayne, Anna Graves, Colton Dawson, Zach John King and Kaitlin Butts. The winner of Arizona Idol will also perform.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Jordan Davis to Country Thunder Arizona for his headlining debut,” says Troy Vollhoffer, CEO of Country Thunder. “From established hitmakers like Ernest to breakout stars like Stella Lefty, we’ve put together an incredible lineup that truly has something for everyone. We can’t wait to bring it all to life this April.”

The long-running festival also includes entertainment on the Copperhead Stage, which features rising artists from Arizona, the Songwriters Showcase and the Electric Thunder tent. Last year, the festival launched Buckin’ Thunder Pro Bull Riding, a sanctioned National Senior Pro Bull Riding event. Fans can also enjoy a wide range of food, drinks, shopping and additional fan experiences.

Weekend passes, single-day tickets, and camping for Country Thunder Arizona 2027 are available now here.

Stella Lefty has signed with Make Wake Artists. She will be managed by Chris Kappy and Sophia Sansone.

Lefty notched her first No. 1 earlier this year with “Boston,” which topped both the Country Aircheck/Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts. In August, she released her debut album, Long Way Home. The project debuted at No. 1 on Spotify’s Top Albums Global and USA Charts. In January, she will hit the road on her first ever headline tour with stops in Michigan, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas and more.

“Make Wake Artists has been built on the belief that great artist management is about far more than managing what’s happening today—it’s about having the experience, relationships, infrastructure and vision to build careers that last with their fans,” said Kappy, founder and CNO (Chief Navigation Officer) of Make Wake Artists. “Stella’s connection to her fans reminds me of Luke’s fan connection very early on… It is real! When artists and fans connect in that way, magic happens. We’ve spent years proving that we know how to identify opportunities, build global strategies and surround our artists with the right team at the right time. Stella has the talent, authenticity and drive to build something truly special, and our team is committed to helping her realize that potential. We know what it takes to navigate every stage of an artist’s career, from developing the foundation to competing at the highest levels of the business, and we couldn’t be more excited of Make Wake being behind Stella as we build the next chapter of her career together.”

In addition to Make Wake for management, Lefty is represented by Sweet Talk Publicity for publicity, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for booking, Livelihood Music Company for publishing, and Sandlot/Atlantic Outpost as her record label.

Boyz II Men have signed with Warner Records Nashville to launch a country project, scheduled for release in 2027.

The band first stepped into the country music world earlier this year through their collaboration with Lady A on “I Love The One.” The track will appear on a forthcoming musical project inspired by The Chosen.

“Boyz II Men’s global influence is decades in the making,” says Warner Records Nashville Chair & President, Cris Lacy. “Every genre and culture has benefited from their original music, and their impact on artists in the current country landscape, while perhaps surprising to some, is quite profound. When I learned that growing up listening to artists like Randy Travis was seminal in their desire to collaborate with Nashville’s award-winning singers and songwriters, I knew we had to be a part of it. They were pioneers at a time when media brought fans access to all types of music. History repeats itself, and it’s the perfect time for Boyz II Men and those they inspired to make some magic together!”

Since emerging from Philadelphia with their 1991 debut, Cooleyhighharmony, Boyz II Men have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide with tracks including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “On Bended Knee,” “Water Runs Dry,” “One Sweet Day” and “A Song for Mama.” The band has amassed four Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Music Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond music, Boyz II Men have made their mark across film, television, sports and fashion.

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) held its 8th annual Gold & Platinum Gala at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville last night (Oct. 22).

The event honored over 150 Nashville songwriters whose hits have achieved RIAA Gold, Platinum, and Diamond certifications in the country genre within the July 2025 – June 2026 eligibility period.

Laci Kaye Booth opened the show with an acoustic performance of her 2025 single, “Daddy’s Mugshot.”

NMPA President and CEO, David Israelite, presented the inaugural Legacy Songwriter Icon award to Vince Gill. The award celebrates songwriters whose work has spanned generations and whose songs are still achieving Gold & Platinum certifications decades later. Gill has received new certifications in the past year for his “Go Rest High on That Mountain” and “One More Last Chance.”

“His awards are countless,” Israelite shared. “His talent is extraordinary. His humility is legendary. But perhaps his greatest achievement is that, after all these years, his songs aren’t just standing the test of time. They’re making history.”

Charlie Handsome took home the Top Songwriter of the Year award for his 35 new certifications for songs including “Wasted On You,” “Last Night,” “You Proof” and “Heartless.”

The Platinum Anthem award, which honors the highest certified song of the year, was accepted by Rob Williford, who co-wrote Luke Combs’ 2018 hit “Beautiful Crazy” alongside Combs and Wyatt Durrette. The track was certified 15-times Platinum in December 2025. Brett Young honored the writers with a rendition of the track.

In addition to these honors, songwriting plaques were presented on stage to over 80 Multi-Platinum hitmakers.