Collen Mayer. Photo: Courtesy of The Store

The Store, a free referral-based grocery store co-founded by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in the Nashville area, has brought on Collen Mayer as CEO.

Mayer brings years of leadership experience in the non-profit space having worked with Safe Haven Family Shelter, Catholic Charities of Tennessee and United Way of Central Alabama.

“We are excited to have Collen join our team and lead our efforts to combat food insecurity in Nashville,” says John Schario, Board Chair for The Store. “Collen has a history of serving the Nashville community and we could not be prouder to have him part of our mission.”

In 2020, the Paisley’s partnered with Belmont University to spearhead The Store. Individuals and families in need are referred by nonprofit and government agencies for a term of one year. There is no charge to those referred or to the people and agencies that send them. They may shop for food to supplement their income during times of crisis and as they work toward self-sufficiency.

“I am excited to be leading The Store at such an important time in its growth,” says Mayer. “Nothing is more urgent in Nashville right now than ensuring that all of our neighbors have enough food to eat. The Store’s unique grocery store model ensures that people are able to choose the kinds of healthy, nutritious food that we all want to feed our families. The Store upholds the dignity of everyone who walks through our doors to receive food, and the agency connects caring volunteers to customers seeking healthy food.”

A philosophy of community empowerment means The Store aims to solve hunger issues in its community by developing programs to meet the needs of the community, including partnering with other organizations on issues of food security. The Store believes in cooperation and collaboration between organizations to better serve the population. With the support of additional programs at the Family Wellness Program at the Belmont Ministry Center, families can engage in therapy, counseling, cooking classes and several other services.

“Our work at The Store is just getting started,” Mayer continues. “Nashville is thriving right now but not everyone is benefiting from the city’s growth. It is morally unacceptable that in such a great city as Nashville, 1 in 7 people are still food insecure. The Store and its partners will not stop until every person in Nashville has access to the healthy food they want and need.”

Pictured (L-R): MHA’s Tatum Hauck Allsep, Lauren Daigle and MHA’s Shelia Shipley Biddy. Photo: Steve Lowry

Music Health Alliance (MHA), the Nashville-based nonprofit dedicated to providing the music industry with healthcare solutions, and Grammy-winning artist Lauren Daigle have united to establish The Price Fund, a first-of-its-kind combined senior healthcare program and fund designed specifically for industry veterans and legacy music makers.

MHA, Daigle and other special guests gathered at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for Performing Arts yesterday (Sept. 19) to address the critical healthcare needs of the industry’s senior population.

Approximately 20 percent of the 20,000 clients MHA has served over the past decade have been 55 and older, resulting in $6.5 million in senior medical savings. The seed money provided by Daigle’s Price Fund will help grow MHA’s team of trained senior care advocates and network of healthcare resources. It will also provide financial grants through The Price Legacy Fund to cover direct healthcare expenses, including those not covered by existing plans or Medicare; prescriptions, emergent rehabilitation services, and emergent short-term home healthcare or respite care.

“Any success I have comes with a deep-seated appreciation for the people who have come before me — those whose lives, hard work, creativity, and vision now serve as the bedrock upon which the music industry lies,” says Daigle. “These are the people that we honor and what I hope is the start of a long partnership with Music Health Alliance.”

“For the two years I was at LSU I lived with my grandfather, Julian Price,” she continues. “And what I noticed in that season of life was that I had someone who believed in me. And that changed everything for me. A few years after I moved to Nashville, he was diagnosed with cancer and one thing that happened that will never leave my heart, my soul, my spirit, my mind, was watching [my grandfather] pass with peace. He was privileged to pass away at home with hospice, surrounded by his loved ones, and we held his hand. There was something so pure and so peaceful about it, it changed my life forever. It was the first person I lost who was so close to my heart. Why is [The Price Legacy Fund] so important to me? It’s because I was able to see what a healthy transition looks like. I was able to see someone who had people and support all around him, whether it was medicinal needs or having resources to get from one appointment to the next, being able to pay for that X-ray or scan to see where the cancer had spread, those moments are really tender in the life of someone. Those are the moments where you find out how much you’re made of and how much you’re worth to the world.”

“Over the past 10 years, I’ve been an advocate for our aging music industry community — witnessing hardships, loneliness and the inability to pay for medical and prescription costs. I couldn’t be more excited about this fund and the impact it will have on one of the fastest growing populations of healthcare needs,” says Shelia Shipley Biddy, MHA CFO & Certified Senior Advisor. “The Price Legacy Fund will ensure that this often-overlooked population will never be alone or forgotten. Thanks to the support of Lauren and contributions through her Price Fund, there will always be a caring advocate who will help seniors find solutions to their daily health needs and provide counsel on Medicare and Social Security issues.”

MHA is celebrating 10 years of “Healing the Music,” and will kick off their annual “Heal The Music Day” campaign with a benefit dinner and auction at the Nashville restaurant Adele’s on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Renowned songwriter Luke Laird will be featured in the next installment of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s in-depth interview series, Poets and Prophets, on Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater.

The series features songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music. The interview is included with museum admission, and will be illustrated with vintage photos, film and recordings. After the program, Laird will sign commemorative Hatch Show Print posters.

A native of Hartstown, Pennsylvania, Laird moved to Tennessee after high school to attend Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). In the more than 25 years since, he has become one of country’s most sought-after songwriters. After graduating from MTSU with a degree in recording industry management in 2001, he took a job as Assistant Tour Manager for Country Music Hall of Fame members Brooks & Dunn. The following year, Laird signed his first publishing contract.

He has penned more than 20 No. 1 songs since 2007, when Carrie Underwood reached the top of the country chart with “So Small,” which she co-wrote with Laird and Hillary Lindsey. Laird’s biggest hits include Eric Church’s “Drink in My Hand,” Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Stronger,” Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins’ “Hillbilly Bone.”

As a producer, he has worked with Brett Eldredge, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and others. He co-produced Kacey Musgraves’ albums Same Trailer Different Park, which won a Grammy for Best Country Album, and Pageant Material, contributing to six songs on each album. Laird also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Space Cowboy” on Musgraves’ third major-label album, Golden Hour.

His other accolades include six CMA Triple Play Awards and ACM Songwriter of the Year. In 2011, Laird and his wife, Beth Mason Laird, co-founded Creative Nation, a music publishing, management, artist development and record company. He released his debut solo album, Music Row, in 2020.

Kane Brown. Photo: Diwang Valdez

Kane Brown has announced details for his upcoming 2024 “In The Air Tour,” kicking off in March. Artists supporting him on various dates include Tyler Hubbard, Jon Pardi, Chris Young, Bailey Zimmerman, Cole Swindell, Parmalee, LoCash and RaeLynn.

The tour will hit 29 cities including Toronto, Las Vegas, Atlanta and more before wrapping in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field on Sept. 14. Brown will play five major stadium shows during the trek, returning to Fenway Park in Boston, where he made history earlier this year as the first black artist to sell out a headlining show in the venue’s 100-plus year history.   

Earlier this summer, Brown wrapped his “Drunk or Dreaming Tour,” which included his first headlining arena show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and a massive stadium show in Boston at Fenway Park. He also wrapped the international leg of the same tour this year, which hit Sydney, London, Amsterdam and Berlin.

 The tour announcement comes on the heels of Brown receiving the ACM Honors International Award honor  for his contributions to the format on a global scale. Additionally, he will release his new single, “I Can Feel It,” tomorrow (Sept. 21).