Cody Hibbard. Photo: Brooke Stevens

For Droptine Records artist Cody Hibbard, finding success in the music industry is a different kind of hard work than he’s used to.

After farming on his family’s ranch in Oklahoma for his whole childhood, Hibbard was recruited to the US Naval Academy out of high school. He picked up guitar after sustaining a shoulder injury that cut his time at the Academy short.

Hibbard briefly attended an undergraduate pharmacy program, then headed to the oil pipeline for a lucrative summer job. That summer stint turned into a full time position for the next nine years. He carried his pawn shop guitar, three songs and deep Southern drawl from campfire to campfire as he played to friends and co-workers.

“I only knew three songs. I’d play those three songs every time that we’d all get drunk and just make up lyrics,” remembers Hibbard in a recent visit with MusicRow. When out on a job in Texas, Hibbard’s three song set grew into a side gig of playing restaurants on the weekends, and led to his first release “Half Whiskey, Half Lonely.”

Soon after, as the world slowed down in 2020, he began writing his own songs and his music career began to take off. He released his first EP Memory and a Dirt Road, that year and continued to play gigs around Texas.

In March 2021, Hibbard left his job on the oil pipeline, trading the ditches and heat for co-writes and industry meetings. His drive for hard work stuck with him as he stepped on to Nashville’s Music Row.

“These label meetings we take, everywhere we go, they always ask, ‘Do y’all have any questions?’ The only question I always ask back is, ‘Do y’all know how to work?’ Because that’s all I want to do. I want to stay busy, write musicand perform.

“This job is not a job to me after coming from where I came from,” explains Hibbard. “This is a beautiful lifestyle. Does it get stressful? Of course—it’s running your own business at the end of the day.”

While country through and through, Hibbard’s music tackles a wide variety of subjects and pulls from his experiences, and from influences of classic rock, Christian and gospel, and early 2000s country hits.

“I mean look at me—I’m an Asian guy with a redneck accent,” Hibbard says.  “There’s nothing wrong with being different. I am country to the core but there’s nothing wrong with being here or there or anywhere else.”

Industry veteran Jim Catino saw the value in Hibbard’s unique perspective and drive, and reached out. Hibbard soon signed a publishing deal with Droptine and Sony Music Publishing, and has since released tunes such as “Looking Back Now,” “We Speak Country,” “Beer Problem” and more.

His latest release, “Bend,” is Hibbard’s ode and honor to military families. It was influenced by his non-profit work with veterans who, inspired by his vulnerability, often share deep stories and emotions with him. He compares the strong, unyielding love between spouses to the strength of the willow trees in his home state of Oklahoma.

Hibbard explains, “I just kept thinking about all the songs you hear about the willows. It reminded me of those couples—how the wind can just pound that tree left and right but it never does break. Basically it’s saying, ‘You can throw whatever at me, I’ll just keep bending, and we’ll see what happens in the end.’”

Hibbard wants to take that vulnerable songwriting and spin it with some rock influences from his favorite bands, such as Avenged Sevenfold. His upcoming track, “House That He Built,” highlights those stylings.

All of Hibbard’s vulnerability is part of his hard work, bringing value to the fans. “I don’t get on stage and make myself vulnerable because I enjoy the spotlight,” Hibbard says. “I’m a guy who could live in the woods all year round if I needed to, but to hear people say, ‘Your songs got me through some heartbreak or some loss,’ means everything to me.”

Cody Alan.

Cody Alan has joined SiriusXM The Highway, hosting the new morning show, Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks.

The new show will be filled with the latest in country music, pop culture, and entertainment and feature celebrity guests, listener calls, personal stories, and much more. Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks launches today (Sept. 11) and will air weekdays from 5 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET on The Highway in the car on channel 56 or anywhere with the SXM App.

A highly regarded radio host over the last two decades, Alan has won multiple awards including being named 2021 National On-Air Personality of the Year by the CMA, as well as the ACM’s Personality of the Year twice. Additionally, he was a nine-time recipient of the Country Music Director of the Year award during his tenure in Dallas.

Alan also appears weekly on Hot 20 Countdown as TV Host of CMT’s flagship music show. His memoir Hear’s The Thing was released in 2021, which features many of Cody’s on-air adventures, his coming out story, and the lessons learned by truly listening.

Adele’s in Nashville

The popular Nashville restaurant Adele’s will help Music Health Alliance (MHA) kick off their annual “Heal The Music Day” campaign by hosting the benefit dinner and auction on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Both Adele’s and MHA are beloved Nashville institutions that share a deep-rooted commitment to Music City. With this event, the restaurant will help celebrate the nonprofit’s 10-year anniversary raising funds to support music industry professionals and their critical healthcare needs. Throughout the last decade, MHA has served over 20,000 music industry members, providing over 3,900 counseling and psychiatric sessions while saving more than $120 million in healthcare costs.

The evening will include a cocktail reception, seated farm-to-table dinner, silent and live auction as well as an intimate live performance by country artist Gary Allan. Adele’s has curated a special menu for the function, featuring a family-style selection of some of their most sought-after dishes, such as the fresh housemade focaccia, kale salad with anchovy dressing, grilled pork loin, roasted chicken with salsa verde and more.

Guests will be able to bid on over 40 items through both the silent and live auction, including luxury tropical resort getaways, a Les Paul Custom guitar, diamond jewelry and exclusive artist and concert experiences.

“As Adele’s celebrates its ninth anniversary of being an integral part of the Nashville dining scene, we’re deeply honored to contribute to the essential work of Music Health Alliance and celebrate their 10-year milestone, by positively impacting the health of the music community,” says Howard Greenstone, Founder, Red Pebbles Hospitality. “Our contribution underscores Red Pebbles Hospitality’s commitment to Music City by supporting an industry that is not only significant to Nashville, but also at the very heart of its identity.”

“We are honored to be chosen as the charity partner for Adele’s and so thankful for the support and partnership of the Adele’s team and Red Pebbles Hospitality, to kick off our annual “Heal The Music Day” campaign with this benefit dinner,” says Tatum Allsep, MHA Founder & CEO. “We’re thankful for Gary Allan’s contribution of his time and talents; the support of our sponsor partners Spotify, First Horizon, PS Business Management, Gibson Gives and Lipman Brothers; and the contributors of the amazing auction items to help raise funds to keep our music industry healthy.”

Tickets are $250 per person and available to purchase now. For more information, click here.

Photo: Courtesy of The Bluebird Cafe

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

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.