Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Cafe and producer Steve Buchanan have announced a new musical, Bluebird, celebrating Music City’s legendary songwriting scene. Grammy and Tony Awards nominee Wayne Kirkpatrick is co-writing the book, music and lyrics with Don Chaffer.

Often referred to as “the Mother Church of Songwriting,” the Bluebird Cafe is considered a nucleus of creative expression in Nashville. For the past 41 years, the world-renowned venue has been a launching pad for songwriters and artists such as Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Taylor Swift. The Bluebird’s signature in the round format provides a rare, intimate interaction between the songwriters performing and the audience in the 86-seat venue. The venue serves as a touchstone for songwriters, showcasing authentic original music.

“To have the opportunity to tell the Nashville songwriter’s story within a theatrical setting is, for me, the best of both worlds.  Don and I have created a parallel world to the real world that we know and love.  This is truly a passion project for us,” says Kirkpatrick, “We have lived the songwriter’s life for over 30 years.  It is our community and lifeblood, and we feel honored and fortunate to be a part of it.  The Bluebird is our Ryman Auditorium, our Carnegie Hall.  If you know, you know.  I can’t wait to share it with those who don’t.”

“I believe theater is the ideal vehicle to tell a vibrant and honest story about the creative community that the Bluebird inspires and nurtures,” says Bluebird General Manager Erika Wollam Nichols. “It’s incredibly exciting to watch this musical take shape.”

Buchanan states, “Wayne and Don are the perfect storytellers for this project as their lives have intertwined with characters of all ages and all walks of life that are on this journey.  They know what it means to follow your dreams.  The songs they have written for the musical are perfect for the stage and the story they tell feels timeless.”

Ashley Gorley has been honored by the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)’s Gold & Platinum Program as one of its top songwriters for the second quarter of 2023.

A Sony Music Publishing writer, Gorley was the top non-performing songwriter and earned 25 certifications during the period for songs including “Good Vibes” and “Country Again.” He’s recognized alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, who claimed the title of top artist-songwriter overall with 34 certifications.

“It’s a thrill to have our 2022 NMPA Songwriter Icon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, as our top artist-songwriter for Q2. His screen and stage hits are ubiquitous, and he has people of all ages singing along – the true mark of an incredible songwriter,” says David Israelite, NMPA President & CEO. “Additionally, it’s wonderful, but not surprising, to see our recently named NMPA Non-Performing Songwriter Icon, Ashley Gorley, honored for his certifications this quarter. Ashley continues to astound the industry with the success of his anthems. It’s a privilege to honor both of these talents.”

“I am truly thankful the NMPA honors songs and songwriters in this way,” says Gorley. “These certifications are a great reminder of how many people are impacted by our music.”

The full list of songwriters and publishers honored can be found here.

Country rockers The Cadillac Three will release their sixth studio album, The Years Go Fast, on Oct. 27. The project’s lead single “Young and Hungry” released today (Sept. 8) via Big Machine Records.

“‘Young and Hungry’ is actually a song that we’ve known since the beginning of the band,” drummer Neil Mason explains. “It was originally by The Jane Shermans, which was a band featuring the song’s producer, Angelo, and his wife, Eulene. We loved that song forever, and Jaren [Johnston] had the idea to take it and insert the story of him and his wife into it.”

“When you say, ‘the years go fast,’ it really makes sense,” adds Johnston. “We’ve been together for a long time, in some shape or fashion. We met when we were 14 or 15, in high school. I think the track kind of embodies the whole album. I’m so thankful that we came across that idea because it’s probably the most uplifting thing on the records.”

In 2020, the Nashville trio of Johnston, Mason and Kelby Ray released a pair of albums in Country Fuzz and Tabasco & Sweet Tea. What followed was a season of upheaval that left them reeling.

“We put out 31 songs in one year. It was like, ‘let’s give people a breather. Let’s give us a breather,'” says Johnston. “We were coming off COVID and then my dad passed away. It’s a whole different life now. Talk about having some shit to write about.”

The ACM-nominated group’s sixth studio album, The Years Go Fast, is the product of coming through those trials and emerging on the other side—battle-scarred, a little older, a little wiser and more willing to be vulnerable. It’s expansive in sound, reflective of the way The Cadillac Three continue to think with their brand of country-rock, but it still sounds like only the three of them can.

“This record does have a lot of growth, a lot of hurt and heartbreak,” says Mason. “We are a little more grown up now, but we’re still doing the same thing we were doing in the beginning.”

The Years Go Fast is a statement about big change, but it’s also about the ways friendship, love, and family are anchors when everything starts to fall apart.  The Years Go Fast is available now for pre-order, with the band continuing their “The Years Go Fast Tour” this fall.

Wynonna is set to host NBC’s Christmas at the Opry holiday special airing on Dec. 7,  and receive the People’s Choice Country Awards honor of Country Champion at the inaugural awards ceremony airing live on Sept. 28.

The People’s Choice Country Awards and Christmas at the Opry, both originating at the Opry, will air on NBC, and be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

“Wynonna is one of the most recognized and lauded performers in country music,” says Cassandra Tryon, Senior Vice President, Live Events, NBCUniversal Entertainment. “Not only is she incredibly talented, her selflessness and passion for putting the needs of others in the spotlight is unmatched. We can’t think of a better person to honor as our inaugural Country Champion and to celebrate the holidays with across these two major country music events.”

As the first Country Champion Award recipient, Wynonna will be celebrated for her decades-long career and heroic efforts around philanthropy and activism. She has consistently used her public platform to create meaningful change and advocate for children, military veterans and their families, disaster relief and more through her work with numerous organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project and Habitat for Humanity.

Wynonna will join previously announced People’s Choice Country Awards honoree Toby Keith, who will be presented with the Country Icon Award. The nominees for the inaugural show were also announced recently.

Featuring some of the best voices in country music, the festive two-hour special Christmas at the Opry will treat viewers to an array of Christmas favorites, holiday classics and today’s biggest hits. Wynonna will host the highly anticipated musical event featuring performances in front of a live audience of country music fans. The performer lineup will be announced at a later date.

Christmas at the Opry is executive produced by Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski for Den of Thieves along with RAC Clark and Jen Jones. People’s Choice Country Awards is produced by Den of Thieves with Ignjatovic, Prager and Bialkowski serving as executive producers, along with Clark as executive producer and showrunner. These projects are an example of collaboration resulting from NBCUniversal’s equity investment in Opry Entertainment Group alongside Atairos, which was finalized last year.

A limited number of show tickets and VIP packages for the People’s Choice Country Awards on Sept. 28 as well as tickets for the Oct. 3 taping of Christmas at the Opry are on sale now at Opry.com.

Riley Green has announced his 33-city “Ain’t My Last Rodeo Tour,” which will kick off Feb. 22. Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley will support him on arena and amphitheater stages across the country on the new tour.

The trek will visit Savannah, Lexington, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, Anaheim, San Jose, Omaha and more through June 1. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Sept. 15, with pre-sale beginning Sept. 12.

Green’s new album Ain’t My Last Rodeo is due out Oct. 13 and includes the “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”-singer’s current single with his former tour-mate, “Different ‘Round Here (Ft. Luke Combs),” and a lot more of the undeniably country sound fans have come to know and love from him. Heavily influenced by the rural, small town and slower way of life Green returns to after performing for thousands of fans, Ain’t My Last Rodeo is a window into his experiences, values, pastimes and love of family.

“Ain’t My Last Rodeo is inspired by what I know best: hard work, life outdoors and family and it’s going to be fun adding these new songs to our full set,” says Green. “I’ve been a fan of Tracy Lawrence since I was a kid so I’m looking forward to having him out with us and watching the fans singing along to all his hits. I also really love what Ella Langley is doing—it’s going to be a great time all around.”