Warner Chappell Music has signed a global publishing deal with record-breaking multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Jenee Fleenor.

As the first-ever woman to be nominated and win Musician of the Year at the 2019 CMA Awards, Fleenor currently reigns as the category’s four-time consecutive winner and nabbed her fifth nomination this year. As an in-demand fiddler who has played on countless country hits, she has been honored with two ACM Specialty Instruments Player of the Year awards (2020 and 2023), three MusicRow Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards (2019, 2022 and 2023) and the CMA Touring Musician of the Year (2015).

Fleenor began her musical journey as a toddler growing up in Arkansas, taking Suzuki classical violin lessons and learning to sing. Throughout her youth, her dream of being a session fiddle player grew. After graduating high school in 2001, she moved to Nashville.

In addition to her work in Music City, Fleenor also performed in the house band for NBC’s The Voice for eight years. As a songwriter, she has collaborated with the likes of Reba McEntire and Gretchen Wilson, and written tunes such as Blake Shelton‘s “Just Getting Started” and The Grascals and Dolly Parton‘s “I Am Strong,” among others.

Fleenor made her debut as an artist in 2019 at the Grand Ole Opry following the release of her single “Fiddle & Steel.” She recently formed a new acoustic supergroup, Wood Box Heroes, who made their Opry debut a couple of months ago and will be releasing their all-original debut album early next year.

“Whether it be for her musicianship, artistry, or songwriting, Jenee Fleenor is highly respected within the Nashville community and beyond. We could not be prouder to walk alongside her and support her songs,” shares Ben Vaughn, President & CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville, of the deal.

“I am so excited to partner with Warner Chappell! Most people have probably only known me as a session fiddle player and don’t realize that I’ve been a songwriter for a long time as well,” shares Fleenor. “It feels so great to have such an amazing team of people supporting my songs, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Big thanks to Ben Vaughn and Spencer Nohe!”

Backline held its World Mental Health Day Benefit Show last week with the help of Eventric Master Tour. The non-profit organization was able to raise over $40,000 in support of mental health and wellness for music industry families through musical collaborators and their dedicated community. It costs an average of $35 to help one individual through Backline’s program, and every dollar raised focuses on the expansion of the company to help more people in need.

Last week, the “Handle With Care Benefit Show” was held at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl and included performances from some of country music’s top performers. These appearances include Lindsay Lou, Rett Madison, Derek Wells, and a headlining set from Wynonna Judd. Other stars and up-and-coming artists performed as well, including Charles Kelley, Brittney Spencer, Charles Wesley Godwin, Drake Milligan, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, Madeline Edwards, Sierra Hull, Vince Herman, Ben Chapman, Meg McRee and Wyatt Flores.

The show bookended the Harmony In Practice Clinical Training Workshop. This workshop was sponsored by Warner Chappell Music and gave practitioners the ability to receive certified continuing education credits to further help their clients.

Eventric Master Tour also announced new updates for their touring software during the event, including the Mental Health Button on their mobile app. This gives users immediate access to resources such as The Crisis Text Line and The National Suicide Hotline. Master Tour will also grant access to specific mental health features including Support Groups and free Wellness Offerings for all of its members.

“Our Events in Nashville really represented who we are as an organization, as they helped us to build impact and celebrate our growing community,” shares Executive Director of Backline Hilary Gleason. “In the four years since we built Backline, we have never had a bigger week than this – where we achieved two long-standing goals: hosting the first-ever Clinical Training Workshops on working with the music industry families, and announcing our massive awareness-building partnerships with Master Tour. We are grateful for everyone who showed up to be a part of this moment, that helps us look to the future with more clarity, conviction and hope.”

Lee Brice & Jamey Johnson Raise Funds For The Nikki Mitchell Foundation 

Lee Brice helped raise over $570,000 on Oct. 8 during a special appearance at the 10th annual Homecoming Golf & Concert event hosted by The Nikki Mitchell Foundation.

Brice took the stage at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina along with Jamey Johnson to help bring necessary funds and awareness to the organization’s fight against pancreatic cancer. The Nikki Mitchell Foundation is dedicated to providing comfort and relief for those affected by pancreatic cancer, while raising supporting research that directly and indirectly affects pancreatic patients.

Grand Ole Opry Helps Gene Watson Celebrate 80th Birthday

The Grand Ole Opry’s Dan Rogers and Grand Ole Opry member Rhonda Vincent joined The Bellamy Brothers to celebrate Opry member Gene Watson’s 80th birthday backstage on Oct. 12.

Watson has been thrilling audiences for 60 years, and has more than 75 charted titles, 23 top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles as well as five chart-topping gospel hits. He is also a member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Houston Music Hall of Fame.

Olivia Lane Inks With BEC Recordings

Olivia Lane has signed with BEC Recordings.

Having been added to the SiriusXM The Message team of hosts, alongside industry vet Al Skop earlier this year, Lane is prepping for the release of new music in 2024.

“Back in 2020 the Lord whispered to my heart to ‘make the music’ and that He would handle the rest,” says Lane. “Today I stand amazed at the team the Lord has placed in my path. I’m thrilled to be joining the BEC family as I truly feel they honor where I’ve come from as an independent artist and see the vision for where I need to grow. I can’t wait to see what else the Lord has in store!”

Lane, who documented her transformation from a non-believer to a faithful follower — or, as she calls it, “from atheist to amen” — in viral TikTok videos, joined SiriusXM’s Contemporary Christian channel, The Message as host of a new morning show in July. The Olivia Lane Show airs every weekday from 5 a.m.–11 p.m. CT, with Lane sharing faith, hope and music, along with stories of encouragement.

Chris Hillman & Bernie Leadon Talk Western Country Rock Roots With CMHOF

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted an interview with Chris Hillman and Bernie Leadon in support of the “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock” exhibit presented by City National Bank.

Hillman and Leadon discussed their time as bandmates in the Flying Burrito Brothers and their pivotal roles in the rise of L.A. country-rock. The two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members spoke about their starts as teenage bluegrass musicians and the bands in which they played. Hillman was a member of The Byrds, The Desert Rose Band, The Golden State Boys, Manassas, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and Souther-Hillman-Furay. Leadon was a member of Dillard & Clark, Eagles, Hearts & Flowers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Run C&W, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and more. The program was hosted by the museum’s Senior Writer-Editor Michael McCall, and was filmed to premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital programs series.

Nate Smith will hit the road on his 21-city “World On Fire Tour 2024” early next year.

Smith will be joined by Dylan Schneider for the first 20 stops in the tour, and Aidan Canfield will open the final show of the tour. The “World On Fire Tour” will begin on Jan. 4 in Athens, Georgia, and will include stops in Boston, New York, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Vancouver and more.

Smith has been on tour with Thomas Rhett over the summer and will join Cole Swindell in the fall. After his “World On Fire” headlining tour, Smith will join Morgan Wallen on his “One Night At A Time 2024” tour in multiple stops, including Nashville, Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas and more. He will also be making his return to Stagecoach Festival next year following his debut at the event in 2023.

After breaking into the country charts in 2023 with his multi-week No. 1 hit “Whiskey On You,” Smith’s current single “World On Fire” has reached top 20 at country radio. His debut self-titled album, released in April of 2023, became the largest album debut from a new artist this year and the largest full-length debut since 2020. The album hit No. 6 on the Billboard Country Albums chart as well as No. 30 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200.

Tickets for most shows will be available on Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. local time, with a pre-sale exclusively for Smith’s fan club beginning Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. local time.