Singer-songwriter Neil Medley has released his debut album, South End Kid.

The album features 12 tracks, 11 co-written by Medley and songwriters including the late Keith Gattis as well as Tony Lane, Randy Montana, Josh Thompson, Jessie Jo Dillon and others. Medley also included an organic take on the Bruce Springsteen classic, “Dancing In The Dark” on the project, which is his first as an artist after spending the last decade penning songs for acts such as Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Cody Johnson, Josh Abbott Band, Cody Johnson and Brent Cobb.

Medley grew up in Louisville and gravitated towards storytellers like John Prine, Guy Clark and Bob McDill. He began writing songs as a teenager, and after graduating from the University of Kentucky, packed his bags and moved to Nashville to pursue a career a as songwriter. In 2021, Medley landed his first career No.1 with Jake Owen’s “Made For You,” which he co-wrote with Benjy Davis and Joey Hyde.

“For the past 12 years, I have made a living writing songs for other artists,” he shares. “I’ve sat in writing rooms tailoring stories and melodies to fit someone else’s voice and brand, while always keeping one eye on current trends and the other on the past. South End Kid is a project void of all such compromises. It’s a wide-open highway of personal stories, told in my voice exactly how I wanted to tell them. South End Kid is an album that I would want to go out and buy.” 

South End Kid Track Listing:
1. “Two Bar Town” – (Neil Medley, Randy Montana, Dave Kennedy)
2. “Us That I Miss” (feat. Ryan Beaver) – (Neil Medley, Aaron Eshuis, Ryan Beaver, Brinley Addington)
3. “South End Kid” – (Neil Medley, Caroline Watkins)
4. “Hello, Goodbye” – (Neil Medley, Tony Lane, John Pierce)
5. “Just A Simple Man” – (Neil Medley, Steve Moakler, Andrew DeRoberts)
6. “Maliblue” – (Neil Medley, Jessie Jo Dillon, Aaron Eshuis)
7. “Hangovers & Broken Hearts” – (Neil Medley, Randy Montana, Josh Thompson)
8. “It’s Been Real” (feat. Jessie Jo Dillon) – (Neil Medley, Jessie Jo Dillon, Aaron Eshuis)
9. “Dancing In The Dark” – (Bruce Springsteen)
10. “Tucson” – (Neil Medley, Joey Hyde)
11. “Closer All The Time (feat. Keith Gattis)” – (Neil Medley, Keith Gattis) 
12. “Like Him These Days” – (Neil Medley, Neal Carpenter)

Coastal Country Jam 2023

Coastal Country Jam, the beachside music festival, returned to Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California Sept. 16-17 to close out summer with a bang.

Tim McGraw performing at Coastal Country Jam 2023

This year’s event featured headliners Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton, who surprised fans on night one by bringing his wife, award-winning artist Gwen Stefani, on stage to perform No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak.”

The star-studded roster also consisted of Brooks & Dunn, Maren Morris, Dustin Lynch, Tyler Hubbard, Scotty McCreery, MacKenzie Porter, Jameson Rodgers and more.

The fan-favorite tunes performed included Shelton’s “God’s Country,” “God Gave Me You” and “I’ll Name The Dogs”; Lynch’s “Cowboys and Angels,” “Stars Like Confetti” and “Small Town Boy” plus covers of Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” Vanessa Carlton’s “Thousand Miles” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”; and Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Neon Moon.”

Additionally, attendees enjoyed an array of other activities, such as mechanical bull riding, cornhole matches and Honky-Tonk dance classes.

Blake Shelton performing at Coastal Country Jam 2023

Maren Morris performing at Coastal Country Jam 2023

Brooks & Dunn performing at Coastal Country Jam 2023

MacKenzie Porter performing at Coastal Country Jam 2023

Pictured (L-R): Lee Greenwood, Major General (Ret.) Max Haston and David Corlew
Photo: Courtesy of Erick Anderson/Eafoto

The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project (TCDJHP) raised over $400,000 for U.S. military veterans at the fifth annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards held at the City Winery in Nashville on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

This year’s Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards were presented to country star Lee Greenwood, Hunt Brothers Pizza and Operation Song staffers Bob Regan, John Taylor and Don Goodman. Additionally, the nonprofit’s first-ever Giving Heart Award was presented to Nashville businessman Donnie Mingus. The evening featured live performances by previous Patriot Award recipients Chris Young and Darryl Worley as well as the War Hippies (combat warriors Scooter Brown and Donnie Reis).

Some of the funds that were raised came via a live auction, which included a piece of original artwork painted by the late Daniels. The painting went for $50,000.

“Sold out and what a night,” says David Corlew, Daniels’ Manager and TCDJHP Co-Founder. “We are overwhelmed by the support that we received from all of our guests who attended this year. We raised over $400,000 and couldn’t be any happier. Chris Young, Darryl Worley and the War Hippies were as outstanding as ever, and our attendees couldn’t have been more generous.”

Pictured (L-R): John Taylor, Bob Regan, Don Goodman and David Corlew.
Photo: Courtesy of Erick Anderson/Eafoto

Greenwood was honored for his decades of giving back to the U.S. military. Over the years, he’s made numerous trips overseas to entertain the troops and dedicated much of his time giving back through pro-military initiatives, including the Adopt A Vet campaign. After receiving his award, Greenwood treated the audience to an a cappella performance of his biggest hit, “God Bless The USA.”

Hunt Brothers Pizza received the Patriot Award for its unwavering support to our men and women in uniform. Over the years, the company has donated thousands to TCDJHP.

Regan, Taylor and Goodman were honored for their efforts to help heal through song. Operation Song empowers veterans, active-duty military members and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting. The trio originally introduced Daniels and Corlew to the nonprofit’s work, which ultimately led to saving the life of a personal friend of the Country Music Hall of Famer.

Special guest speakers included former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik and decorated military veterans Major General (Ret.) Max Haston, Green Beret Master Sergeant (Ret.) Joel Pruitt (a previous Patriot Award recipient), Special Forces Master Sergeant (Ret.) Steven Nisbet and Sergeant Major (Ret.) Jesse R. Horsley.

Storme Warren of The Big 615 Radio co-hosted the event with Young. This year’s dinner was sponsored by Lipman Brothers, Team Construction, Fiserv and SuperTalk 99.7.

Chris Young performing at the fifth annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards. Photo: Courtesy of Erick Anderson/Eafoto

The criteria for the Patriot Award is based on the mission of the organization, which is to support veterans in their return, rehabilitation and reintegration back into civilian life. The award honors a person, persons, or group that fulfills and exemplifies the efforts and dedication of TCDJHP’s purpose to continuously care, support and encourage the people and families who have served our great nation. Previous recipients include Young, Worley, Mike Huckabee, Mark “Oz” Geist, Jude Seale, William Horton, Donnie Mingus, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)’s Daniels Center, the Shepherd Center and more.

Since its inception, TCDJHP has raised over $2.5 million for veterans.

Brittney Spencer is set to release her debut album, My Stupid Life, on Jan. 19 via Elektra. She is sharing the first track from the project, “Bigger Than The Song,” today (Sept. 29).

Written by Spencer, Jennifer Wayne and Tofer Brown, “Bigger Than The Song” is Spencer’s tribute to artists who curated the soundtrack to her life – Reba McEntire, Aretha Franklin, Alanis Morissette, Janet Jackson, Dolly Parton, Beyonce, Britney Spears and more. It was penned as a celebration of the simple joys of good music, and the impact a great song can have on someone’s life. CMT and BET will air the song’s video, which is also out today, on the Viacom Times Square Billboard.

My Stupid Life’s 13 tracks are a culmination of Spencer’s experience during her time trying to “make it” in Music City, discovering herself in the process. The Baltimore native moved to Nashville ten years ago, and this album is her commitment to be unapologetically herself.

“This feels like a long time coming,” says Spencer. “It took me three years from the time I released my first EP Compassion to now to release my first album. These songs serve as my introduction to country music and I wanted to give them all the time and care that they (and my fans) deserve. I wrote a lot of songs from the back corners of my mind because I wanted to take a good, deeper look at myself and create something true to who and where I am at this time in my life. The more I put the pen to my feelings and thoughts, the more I realize I’ve heard similar sentiments throughout my life. Through making this album, I’ve learned we’re not alone in our heads, and I hope this album hugs the tiny, loud parts of our overthinking brains that sometimes need it most.”

The project features award-winning collaborators including Grace Potter, Maren Morris, Abbey Cone and Sarah Buxton, plus guitar contributions by Jason Isbell.

Next month, Spencer will make her Austin City Limits television debut as well as her debut at ACL Fest.

My Stupid Life Track Listing:
1. “New To This Town” (Brittney Spencer)
2. “I Got Time” (Spencer, Jessica Cayne, Nate Campany, Emily Reid)
3. “Night In (Phone Call)”
4. “Night In” (Spencer, Cayne, Summer Overstreet)
5. “Bigger Than The Song” (Spencer, Jennifer Anne Wayne, Tofer Brown)
6. “My First Rodeo” (Spencer, Cayne, Sean Douglas, Zach Skelton)
7. “The Last Time” (Spencer, Sean McConnell, Sarah Buxton)
8. “Deeper” (Spencer, Tayla Parx, Gustav Landell)
9. “First Car Feeling” (Spencer, Cayne, Kat Higgins)
10. “Desperate” (Spencer, Emily Falvey, Mikey Reeves)
11. “If You Say So” (Spencer)
12. “My Stupid Life” (Spencer, James Brock Human, McConnell)
13. “Reaching Out” (Spencer, Joe Kirkland)

Billy Strings took home the title of Entertainer of the Year for the third time in a row at the 34th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards last night (Sept. 28) at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Other big winners at the show, hosted by Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle, included The Travelin’ McCourys, who were named Instrumental Group of the Year, Authentic Unlimited, who won Vocal Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year, and Tuttle herself, who received Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year honors for Crooked Tree.

Previously announced Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame honorees Sam Bush, Wilma Lee Cooper, and David Grisman were also honored during the show, which aired on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction channel and was livestreamed on IBMA’s Facebook Live.

2023 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Winners:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Billy Strings
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR: Authentic Unlimited
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR: The Travelin’ McCourys
SONG OF THE YEAR: “Crooked Tree” – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Written by Molly Tuttle/ Melody Walker
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Crooked Tree – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “The Scarlet Red Lines” – Larry Sparks
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “Kissimmee Kid” – Jason Carter
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Authentic Unlimited
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR: “Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Patrick Sauber, Ray Legere, John Reischman, Trisha Gagnon, Claire Lynch, Pharis & Jason Romero
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Molly Tuttle
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Greg Blake
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kristin Scott Benson
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Vickie Vaughn
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Justin Moses
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jason Carter
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trey Hensley
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sierra Hull