Rascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano
Rascal Flatts returned to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Thursday night (Feb. 5) for the first time in a decade on the second leg of their “Life Is A Highway Tour.”
Pictured (L-R): Maverick’s Brian Wolf, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus, Maverick’s Clarence Spalding.
To honor their achievements in a storied 26-year career, Big Machine Label Group Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta presented the trio with a plaque to commemorate over 10 million album equivalents before the trio took the stage. Three of the band’s songs have earned new RIAA certifications, with “I Won’t Let Go” and “I Like The Sound Of That” now certified double-Platinum, and “Yours If You Want It” earning a Platinum certification.
Chris Lane took the stage first, setting the tone for the night ahead with a set that included fan-favorites “Take Back Home Girl,” “Big, Big Plans” and “I Don’t Know About You.”
Next to the stage was Lauren Alaina, who kicked off her set with a mashup of her playful “Thicc As Thieves” and Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For The Party,” before moving into “Doin’ Fine” and “Getting Good.” Alaina surprised the crowd with Chase Matthew for their current single “All My Exes.”
The crowd got quiet as Alaina shared how a conversation with her brother after the loss of their father inspired her latest single, “Little Things.” “When something really big that matters happens, it points out all of the little things that don’t matter at all. We are all so caught up in so many things, and I know for myself I need to focus more on the things that really matter,” she said before performing the grief-heavy track.
Alaina finished her set with “What Ifs,” and “Road Less Traveled” as fans lit up the Bridgestone Arena with flashlights.
Rascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano
With the crowd fired up, Rascal Flatts made their way to the stage, kicking off with “Here’s To You.” The trio kept the energy high and the crowd singing along as they moved through “Yours If You Want It,” “Fast Cars And Freedom” and “Stand.”
The band leaned into nostalgia with “Mayberry” and “Prayin’ for Daylight” before calling Alaina back to the stage for “My Wish.” The energy picked right back up with the lively “Banjo.”
The lights dimmed as Joe Don Rooney took a moment on the stage to share his gratitude for the fans. “Twenty-six years is a long time to do anything, but we are so grateful that you all still care and still like our music. What a gift it is to be able to be on stage and sing and play for you guys.” He performed a solo rendition of “I’m Moving On” before inviting the rest of the band back for anthemic “Why Wait.”
The band pressed on with their current single “I Dare You,” before inviting Lane back to the stage for a duet on “These Days.” The crowd roared as Jay DeMarcus took to the piano for the iconic “Bless the Broken Road.”
Photo: Evan DeStefano
As the night began to wind down, the group delivered a run of career-defining hits, including “I Like the Sound of That,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Me and My Gang.”
After a brief break, Rascal Flatts returned for an encore of “Summer Nights” and a crowd-wide singalong as Gary LeVox made his way into the crowd during “Life Is a Highway” to end the night.
The “Life Is A Highway Tour” continues tonight (Feb. 7) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jim Lauderdale Slates ‘Country Super Hits Volume 2’ For Spring
/by Lorie HollabaughJim Lauderdale. Photo: Jeff Fasano
Jim Lauderdale is gearing up to release a brand new project, Country Super Hits Volume 2, which is due out on March 27.
In conjunction with the album announcement, Lauderdale released a new single, “Everybody’s Got A Problem,” about one thing that is truly universal. “This song relates to the common experience of going through difficult times, and that very few of us are immune to that,” explains Lauderdale.
The single follows a previous track released from the new project, “People Get Hurt Sometimes.” Chock full of pedal steel, country piano and telecasters, Volume 2 finds Lauderdale telling universal stories in his own singular voice. Since his major label debut in 1991, the recent Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee has released a commanding 37 albums under his name, with Country Super Hits Volume 2 set to be his 38th.
Lauderdale continues to tour through the spring, and following the album release, will open and close the summer with multiple dates in Europe on tour with Emmylou Harris.
Country Super Hits Volume 2 Track List:
1. “I’ve Still Got You”
2. “People Get Hurt Sometimes”
3. “Hope Springs Eternal”
4. “You Had To Be There”
5. “Artificial Intelligence”
6. “I’m Waggin’ My Tail”
7. “Everybody’s Got A Problem”
8. “While We Learn To Break Each Others Hearts”
9. “Neighbors”
10. “I Can’t Get Around It”
11. “You’re My Honest To Goodness”
12. “Making A Believer Out Of Me”
13. “We Don’t See You Anymore”
Spotify Unveils ‘About the Song’
/by Lauryn SinkSpotify has introduced its new “About The Song” feature.
Available in Now Playing View, it uses short, swipeable cards to surface the meaning, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes details behind the track you’re hearing. The information is summarized from third-party sources.
First announced in November, the program is currently in beta, and currently rolling out on ios and Android devices in English for Premium users in the United States, U.K., Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
Chris Cagle Receives Pandora Billionaire Plaque, Signs Management Deal
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): WME’s Brian Jones, Cagle’s Manager Cole Johnstone, SiriusXM’s Trapper John Morris, Chris Cagle, SiriusXM’s Ashley Till and WME’s Lance Alleman. Photo: Parker Young
Chris Cagle was honored with a Pandora Billionaire plaque during a special SiriusXM audience event last week in Nashville celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut album, Play It Loud.
The plaque was presented by SiriusXM’s Trapper John Morris at the SiriusXM studios, acknowledging Cagle’s career catalog surpassing one billion streams on Pandora. The SiriusXM Y2Kountry event marked the official kickoff of Cagle’s “Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour,” and featured a live performance and in-depth interview with host Ashley Till. Cagle delivered a career-spanning set of his hits, including “Laredo,” “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out,” “What a Beautiful Day,” “Chicks Dig It” and “What Kinda Gone.”
The special event will be broadcast nationally on SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry channel 57 on Feb. 13 and any time on the SiriusXM app, launching a year-long celebration honoring 25 years since the release of Play It Loud.
In conjunction with the anniversary campaign, Cagle has also signed with Johnstone Entertainment for management.
ERN’s Cadillac Music Adds Three To Team
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): Dane Schmidt, Jordan Marcus and Jude Warren. Photos: Jessie Addleman
ERN’s Cadillac Music has added three new hires to its team. Dane Schmidt has joined as Senior Director of A&R, Jordan Marcus as Creative Coordinator/Executive Assistant, and Jude Warren as A&R/Executive Assistant.
“Everybody on the team at Cadillac feels like family,” shares Founder ERNEST. “I have known Dane for almost 12 years and our journeys in the business started around the same time. He has always been so great with songs and relationships and adds so much value to our team. Jordan is a lovely addition and has stepped up in her role – constantly finding songs and putting rooms together. Jude started as my intern, but I knew immediately that I should hire him full-time. His ceiling is limitless. It’s full circle and truly all in the family when it comes to the team we’ve curated.”
“Absolutely pumped to join the Cadillac family,” adds Schmidt. “I’ve been fortunate to witness the evolution of Ernest as a songwriter, artist and now publisher: his ability for finding and mentoring talent has been both exciting and inspiring to watch. Beyond grateful to work with him to champion great songs, the incredible talent behind them and push the boundaries of what a modern publishing company can be.”
In his new role, Schmidt will lead the company’s writing roster, which includes Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden, Jacob Durrett, Mark Holman, Rafe Tenpenny and Rhys Rutherford. Prior to ERN’s Cadillac Music, Schmidt led his own creative management company Daschent, which has earned over 25 No. 1s since its inception in 2022. Previous stops also include Sony Music Publishing, Tree Vibez Music and co-founding WeVolve Music.
Marcus has helped songwriters build their careers and navigate their creative journeys. Previously, she worked in live event production at Amazon as well as founded and operated her own private chef company. Prior to ERN’s, Warren held internship roles for King Pen Music and Republic Records.
Rascal Flatts Celebrates 26 Years With Return To Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena
/by Lauryn SinkRascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano
Rascal Flatts returned to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Thursday night (Feb. 5) for the first time in a decade on the second leg of their “Life Is A Highway Tour.”
Pictured (L-R): Maverick’s Brian Wolf, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus, Maverick’s Clarence Spalding.
To honor their achievements in a storied 26-year career, Big Machine Label Group Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta presented the trio with a plaque to commemorate over 10 million album equivalents before the trio took the stage. Three of the band’s songs have earned new RIAA certifications, with “I Won’t Let Go” and “I Like The Sound Of That” now certified double-Platinum, and “Yours If You Want It” earning a Platinum certification.
Chris Lane took the stage first, setting the tone for the night ahead with a set that included fan-favorites “Take Back Home Girl,” “Big, Big Plans” and “I Don’t Know About You.”
Next to the stage was Lauren Alaina, who kicked off her set with a mashup of her playful “Thicc As Thieves” and Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For The Party,” before moving into “Doin’ Fine” and “Getting Good.” Alaina surprised the crowd with Chase Matthew for their current single “All My Exes.”
The crowd got quiet as Alaina shared how a conversation with her brother after the loss of their father inspired her latest single, “Little Things.” “When something really big that matters happens, it points out all of the little things that don’t matter at all. We are all so caught up in so many things, and I know for myself I need to focus more on the things that really matter,” she said before performing the grief-heavy track.
Alaina finished her set with “What Ifs,” and “Road Less Traveled” as fans lit up the Bridgestone Arena with flashlights.
Rascal Flatts. Photo: Evan DeStefano
With the crowd fired up, Rascal Flatts made their way to the stage, kicking off with “Here’s To You.” The trio kept the energy high and the crowd singing along as they moved through “Yours If You Want It,” “Fast Cars And Freedom” and “Stand.”
The band leaned into nostalgia with “Mayberry” and “Prayin’ for Daylight” before calling Alaina back to the stage for “My Wish.” The energy picked right back up with the lively “Banjo.”
The lights dimmed as Joe Don Rooney took a moment on the stage to share his gratitude for the fans. “Twenty-six years is a long time to do anything, but we are so grateful that you all still care and still like our music. What a gift it is to be able to be on stage and sing and play for you guys.” He performed a solo rendition of “I’m Moving On” before inviting the rest of the band back for anthemic “Why Wait.”
The band pressed on with their current single “I Dare You,” before inviting Lane back to the stage for a duet on “These Days.” The crowd roared as Jay DeMarcus took to the piano for the iconic “Bless the Broken Road.”
Photo: Evan DeStefano
As the night began to wind down, the group delivered a run of career-defining hits, including “I Like the Sound of That,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Me and My Gang.”
After a brief break, Rascal Flatts returned for an encore of “Summer Nights” and a crowd-wide singalong as Gary LeVox made his way into the crowd during “Life Is a Highway” to end the night.
The “Life Is A Highway Tour” continues tonight (Feb. 7) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On The Row: Atlus Shares Stories Of Family, Loss & Resilience
/by Lauryn SinkAtlus. Photo: David McClister
Rising BBR artist Atlus recently stopped by the MusicRow office to share a few songs from his upcoming project, Art of Letting Go.
Raised in a single-parent home marked by poverty and addiction, Atlus worked as a truck driver to support his family before launching his music career. A viral TikTok moment helped propel him to wider recognition. That success led to industry connections, including Jelly Roll, who reached out and ultimately brought him to Nashville, where Atlus has continued building his career and creative team.
MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen, Lauryn Sink and LB Cantrell, Atlus, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and John Nix Arledge.
The upcoming project explores the challenges Atlus’ family faced during his childhood, the complex grief of losing his sister to addiction, the sacrifices of his mom as a single parent and the strength in breaking generational cycles.
Atlus shared “Secondhand Smoke,” “Baby Momma,” “IOD on YOU,” “Art of Letting Go” “Still Haven’t Stopped” and “Devil Ain’t Done,” all from the upcoming project.
Atlus will return to the road next month with upcoming dates in Florida, Texas and North Carolina.
MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)
/by Madison HahnenThis week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly spotlights the people, partnerships and milestones shaping Nashville and the broader music industry, from major awards recognition to key leadership announcements and career moves. Click here to see the full edition.
Ebie McFarland, Publicist and Owner of Essential Broadcast Media, has been announced as the featured speaker for MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row breakfast. Presented by City National Bank, the event will take place Tuesday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. at the JW Marriott in Nashville. McFarland will share her insights and career journey during an on-stage conversation with MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson, offering attendees a candid look at leadership, longevity and influence in today’s music landscape.
Awards season also delivered big moments for country music at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held Sunday (Feb. 1). The evening began with the Premiere Ceremony at the Peacock Theater before the televised broadcast aired live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. Jelly Roll emerged as a standout, winning Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken during the televised ceremony. Earlier in the day, Chris Stapleton claimed Best Country Solo Performance for “Bad As I Used To Be” from F1 The Movie, while Tyler Childers earned Best Country Song as the sole writer on “Bitin’ List.” Zach Top made history by taking home the first-ever Grammy for Best Traditional Country Album with Ain’t In It For My Health, and Shaboozey and Jelly Roll teamed up for a win in Best Country Duo/Group Performance with “Amen.”
Tyler Hubbard has signed with CAA. Randall King, along with his day-to-day manager Clayton Toney, has joined Neon Coast’s management roster. Additionally, Sarah Allison Turner has extended her deal with Ebach Entertainment and Kobalt Music, reinforcing a successful partnership on both the publishing and creative fronts.
SOURCE, the city’s longest-running organization dedicated to women in the music industry, unveiled its 2026 Board of Directors, Officers and new member class. The executive board for the year includes Mallory Mason Pascal as President, Michelle Goble as Vice President, Kasey Cleckler as Secretary and Beth Tyson as Treasurer. The Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) also announced its 2026 Board of Directors, naming Alannah Schwartz as President, Nina Teapot Owens as Vice President, Savannah Alday as Secretary and Eunice Hernandez as Treasurer.
This week’s edition also features a conversation with Big Loud’s Sara Knabe.
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Morgan Wallen remains in the No. 1 spot with “20 Cigarettes.” Explore more chart data here.
The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.
Chevy Collabs With Brooke Lee To Reimagine ‘See the USA in Your Chevrolet’ For New Ad Campaign
/by Lorie HollabaughChevrolet is kicking off the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary by revitalizing a number of iconic consumer campaigns, and is collaborating with rising country artist Brooke Lee to release a modern interpretation of the song “See the USA in Your Chevrolet.”
The original “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” song was recorded by singer, actress and TV personality Dinah Shore and debuted during her TV show The Dinah Shore Show in 1951. The tune went on to inspire a series of ads honoring the country’s beauty, including a bold stunt by Chevy. Both in 1964 and 1973, the team airlifted a Chevy Impala atop the 1,400-ft Castleton Tower rock to create both TV and print ads, symbolizing Chevrolet as a brand with the ambition to do big things. This year, Chevy returned to Castle Rock for the third time, and the newest imagery will appear in TV, print and digital advertisements.
More than 75 years after the original track, Lee recorded “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” with a modern country twist, which is available today on all major streaming platforms. The new TV commercial debuts today and features Lee singing from the tailgate of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 that has been airlifted to the top of Castle Rock in Utah.
“It’s surreal to collaborate with Chevrolet and put my own voice on an iconic song my grandparents know by heart,” said Lee. “It’s a dream come true to collaborate with a brand I admire on a campaign celebrating our beautiful country, and I’m having a blast driving the same Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 that appears in the spot on tour all over the US.”
Chevrolet’s connection to music and road trips dates back to the 1920s, when Chevrolet introduced the first car radio. Over the decades, Chevrolet has been mentioned in over 1,000 lyrics across genres. As viewers hear Lee’s new version of the song, they will see a variety of Chevy vehicles road tripping across the USA throughout six destinations: Mt. Shasta; Redwood National Park; St. Louis; Nashville; the Florida Keys; and New York. In addition to the Silverado ZR2 perched on the rock, the ad features the Silverado LT Trail Boss, Equinox, Equinox EV, Traverse, Corvette, and Trax.
“Chevy is inextricably linked to the cultural fabric of America,” said Chevy’s Chief Marketing Officer Steve Majoros. “As brands compete to celebrate our country’s 250th, there are few who can authentically embrace, claim, and honor America’s historical milestones in an inspiring, modern way. Chevy is one of those few.”
The commercial is part of a broader campaign that will unfold to honor America’s 250th anniversary. Announced late last year, the Stars & Steel Collection special edition leverages modernized design elements inspired by the American flag and will go into production this spring.
49 Winchester Slates New Album For May
/by Lauryn Sink49 Winchester will release their new album, Change of Plans, on May 15 via Lucille Records/MCA.
Hailing from Virginia, the band is composed of Isaac Gibson (singer/songwriter), Bus Shelton (lead guitar), Chase Chafin (bass), Noah Patrick (pedal steel), Tim Hall (keys) and Justin Louthian (drums).
Change of Plans was executive produced by Dave Cobb.
In celebration of the announcement, the band has released a preview track titled “Pardon Me.” The track follows the band’s debut release under Lucille Records/MCA, a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes.” MCA is collaborating with New West Records for the band’s upcoming release, scheduled for 2026, with all subsequent releases set to be released exclusively under the MCA banner.
49 Winchester kicked off their headline tour on Feb. 5 in Oxford, Mississippi. Along with headlining dates, the band will be supporting Eric Church and Tim McGraw throughout the year.
Change of Plans Track List:
1. “The Window”
2. “Bluebird”
3. “Changes”
4. “All Around Me”
5. “Slowly”
6. “All Over Again”
7. “Oh Savannah”
8. “Bringin’ Home The Bacon”
9. “Pardon Me”
10. “Heavy Chest”
Poets & Prophets Inks With Fair Trade Services
/by Lorie HollabaughPoets & Prophets and the Fair Trade Services team.
Singer-songwriters Rebekah White Williams, Josh Farro, Mitch Wong, and Tommy Iceland have formed a new group, Poets & Prophets, and have signed a recording contract with Fair Trade Services.
“We are so fortunate to partner with four individually successful voices that have come together with a heart to bring the body into worship as a collective,” shares Fair Trade Service’s James Rueger. “I have known and respected all four of them over the years and it’s exciting to finally get to work together!”
Poets & Prophets’ first single, “Make Room,” is set for release via Fair Trade on Mar. 13. The worship anthem was written by Williams and Farro, along with Evelyn Heideriqui and Lucas Cortazio. Simultaneously intimate and bold, Poets & Prophets’ version of “Make Room” invites listeners to clear away distractions and create space for God’s presence to dwell.
The lyricists that comprise Poets & Prophets have penned songs for some of the biggest names in the genre, including CeCe Winans, Phil Wickham, Elevation Worship, Brandon Lake, Elevation Rhythm, Chris Tomlin and Maverick City Music, among others. Between the four writers, they have 144 songs charting on CCLI in the top 2000. With a dual calling to both draw listeners into the wonder and beauty of God and to embrace the work of stirring hearts to worship, Poets & Prophets wants their music to echo the timeless truths of Scripture, reminding the Church of the transformative power of faith.