George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
Saturday night (July 29) in Nashville was a wash out, but before the torrential downpour began, fans came out in droves to Nissan Stadium to see the king of country music, George Strait.
The Country Music Hall of Famer played two nights in Music City, performing for just over two hours on Friday night (July 28) after sets from Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
The Grammy, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning Little Big Town were enthusiastic when kicking off Saturday night’s show. The foursome traveled through a selection of hits from their two decades as a band, thrilling fans with stompers like “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” “Pontoon” and “Day Drinking.”
George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
The band brought fans in close for their Grammy-winning “Girl Crush,” and they swayed along to the Taylor Swift-written “Better Man.” Little Big Town closed their set with the rousing “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” warming the Nissan Stadium crowd up for the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year to take the stage.
When Stapleton appeared onstage, he did it without bells and whistles. The talented singer kicked things off with “Nobody to Blame” and “Parachute” before letting the crowd know that he wasn’t going to spend much time talking in order to get as much music in as he could during his 90-minute set.
Fans raised their hands and danced along to “Starting Over,” “Millionaire” and “You Should Probably Leave” before Stapleton gave them a taste of his new music, playing a thrilling sample of his upcoming album with his new single “White Horse.”
After rocking out on “Cold” and taking us back to his 2015 breakthrough with “Traveller,” Stapleton created a special moment in Nissan Stadium with “Fire Away.” After he and his band got through the song, he enlisted the crowd to sing the chorus one more time with their cell phone lighters in the air.
Stapleton closed his set with “Broken Halos,” which earned one of the biggest reactions of the night, and his record-breaking cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Next up, it was time for the man of the hour. When Strait took the stage in a long-sleeved, button-down, he didn’t appear as hot as the rest of us. He was grinning ear-to-ear, ready to play the beloved country music he’s made for over four decades.
Strait started his set with “Stars on the Water” and “I Got a Car.”
The first sprinkling of rain started during the third song of his set, 1984’s “The Fireman.” Just as he sang the words “I can cool ’em down when they’re smolderin’ hot,” he did exactly that.
The rain came in increments for the next 11 songs. After getting the gals on their feet for “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls,” he lured them in with the entrancing “Run,” which made for one of the night’s highlights.
George Strait and Chris Stapleton perform at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Andy Barron
Fans stayed engaged while Strait transitioned from hit to hit, thrilling fans with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Check Yes or No,” “Ocean Front Property” and “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.”
During “The Weight of the Badge,” photos of service men and women flashed on the screens. When a photo of two of Nashville’s hometown heroes—Officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo who led the charge on stopping the shooter at The Covenant School in March—appeared on the screen, the Music City crowd roared, marking another touching moment of the evening.
Strait invited Stapleton back out on stage for a fun cover of the Townes Van Zandt-written “Pancho and Lefty,” that Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made famous. Then Strait introduced a tune that Stapleton wrote for the country icon’s 2013 album Love Is Everything, “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing.”
“Back in the day, I recorded a few of [Chris’] tunes. You may not have heard this one, it was never a single,” Strait said, to which Stapleton replied, “It still can be!”
As Strait and Stapleton sang the tune, the rain really picked up. By the end, Strait had a disappointed look on his face. With genuine sadness in his voice, he told the crowd that he had five minutes before we had to seek shelter.
As attendees turned to evacuate while the rain started pouring, Strait’s enduring country voice rang out, “Amarillo by mornin’, up from San Antone. Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on.” Fans turned and smiled at the consummate entertainer as he tried to make the most of the minute we had left in a chill-bump inducing moment.
When he was finished, the storm was raging and most concert goers were in the breezeways of Nissan Stadium. Strait’s voice could be heard for several minutes following, saying, “Be safe everyone.”
Although the night ended prematurely, Strait gave it his all for an hour of hits, new memories and country music history.
Tyler Reeve Signs With Spirit Music Group
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, front row): Kara Jackson, Spirit Music Nashville; Frank Rogers, Spirit Music Group/Spirit Music Nashville; Tyler Reeve; Scott Safford, Safford Motley PLC; (L-R, middle row): Leisl Eschbach, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC; Kennedy Murphy, Spirit Music Nashville; Andy Hodges, Spirit Music Nashville; Mike Fiorentino, Spirit Music Nashville; (L-R, back row): David Crow, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC; Brian Bradford, Spirit Music Nashville; Cole Perry, Spirit Music Nashville
Hit songwriter Tyler Reeve has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with Spirit Music Group.
Reeve, an Alabama native and graduate of Florida State University, has written some massive hits in the last few years. He co-wrote the 2018 BMI Song of The Year, Brett Young‘s “In Case You Didn’t Know,” which was certified 4X Platinum and has been streamed over 1 billion times.
He also co-wrote the multi-week No. 1 Country Airplay hit “Does To Me” recorded by Luke Combs featuring Eric Church. The song was named SiriusXM The Highway’s 2020 Song of the Year, garnered a nomination for ACM’s Musical Event of the Year category and was certified 2X Platinum. Other notable works co-written by Reeve include Love & Theft’s “Whiskey On My Breath,” Chris Young’s “Where I Go When I Drink,” Scotty McCreery’s “How Ya Doin Up There” and Luke Combs’ “I Got Away With You.”
“Spirit Music is thrilled to welcome Tyler Reeve to the family,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/Chief Executive Officer, Spirit Music Nashville. “Tyler has a unique gift of crafting career songs for superstar artists. We are honored that he has chosen to partner with Spirit and we can’t wait to help him continue to shape the sound of country music.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Frank as a writer and friend for years and I am glad we are finally working together in an official capacity,” shares Reeve. “I’m excited to be a part of the Spirit Music Nashville team, and to work with such a hungry and creative group of talented people.”
“Tyler Reeve is a dream songwriter to work with, and we are beyond excited to partner with him at Spirit,” says Kara Jackson, Senior Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville. “Tyler is an amazing talent as a songwriter and paired with his unbeatable work ethic and networking abilities he is an all-around force. I’m thrilled he’s taken the opportunity to work with the Spirit team and can’t wait to see the success this partnership brings!”
Swift, Gorley, Chapman Lead MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart
/by Caela GriffinTaylor Swift, Ashley Gorley, Tracy Chapman
Taylor Swift is entering her second week at the pinnacle of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Down from last week’s 22 tracks, Swift now has 15 currently on the charts, helping secure her the position.
Ashley Gorley, with 10 songs charting this week including hits by Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Dan +Shay, has moved up into the No. 2 spot, trading with Tracy Chapman who now sits in No. 3 with Luke Combs’ cover of “Fast Car.”
With four songs each, Jordan Schmidt and Ryan Vojtesak hold the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively for the second week in a row.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Shelby Yoder Launches Songwriter & Producer Management Company
/by LB CantrellShelby Yoder
Shelby Yoder has launched a new management company for songwriters and producers, Willo&Co.
Yoder most recently served as Head of Nashville for Milk & Honey before launching Willo&Co. At Milk & Honey, she ran publishing for ventures and managed business for the entire Nashville territory, overseeing more than 100 songwriters and producers. Yoder worked on a global level with her personal roster, serving clients based in Nashville, Los Angeles, London and Sydney.
Prior to Milk & Honey, Yoder worked at NSAI as the Director of Professional Membership & Events. She helped to book and produce the Tin Pan South songwriter’s festival as well as host quarterly No. 1 parties.
With Willo&Co, Yoder aims to take a holistic and rounded approach to management, focusing on prioritizing strategy and sustainability while building individual creatives as small businesses in an evolving modern era.
“I believe in fair pay and fair ownership of intellectual properties, and I desire to be on the forefront of the progression of the Nashville music business,” she says. “I believe that there is space for all genres and types of creators and look forward to expanding Willo&Co to be a multi-city collective of like-minded individuals in pursuit of this.”
Yoder can be reached at shelby@willoco.com.
Gerry House To Be Inducted Into National Radio Hall Of Fame
/by Lorie HollabaughGerry House
Former WSIX/Nashville morning host Gerry House will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame’s class of 2023.
He is the only country representative in this year’s class, which will also include WMGK-FM/Philadelphia’s John DeBella, SiriusXM’s Pat St. John, The Bob Rivers Show’s Bob Rivers, KMET-FM/KROQ-FM/KHJ-AM’s Shadoe Stevens, NPR’s Nina Totenberg, Radio Ink‘s Deborah Parenti and radio executive Charles Warfield.
House is a CMA and ACM award-winning radio personality, and was first heard on WSIX-AM in the ’70s. He was the voice of The BIG 98’s Gerry House and the House Foundation from 1983-2010, winning countless National Personality of the Year Honors. He is also an author and songwriter, having penned songs for George Strait, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis and more. House was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NAB Radio Hall of Fame in 2011.
House becomes the eighth country format inductee, following Lon Helton (2022), Bobby Bones (2017), Bob Kingsley (2016), Blair Garner (2013), Ralph Emery (2010), Gene Autry (2003) and the Grand Ole Opry (1992).
The National Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be honored at the 2023 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 2 at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel.
The Chicks Announce New Dates For Postponed Shows
/by Liza AndersonThe Chicks. Photo: Robin Harper
The Chicks have announced new dates for their Greensboro, Knoxville and Nashville shows, which were postponed due to illness, on their social platforms.
“We are so sorry for the inconvenience, but our priority is to put on a show you all deserve,” the group stated.
All original tickets will be accepted at the rescheduled shows.
George Strait Makes The Most Of A Rainy Night In Nashville
/by LB CantrellGeorge Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
Saturday night (July 29) in Nashville was a wash out, but before the torrential downpour began, fans came out in droves to Nissan Stadium to see the king of country music, George Strait.
The Country Music Hall of Famer played two nights in Music City, performing for just over two hours on Friday night (July 28) after sets from Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
The Grammy, ACM, CMA, AMA and Emmy Award-winning Little Big Town were enthusiastic when kicking off Saturday night’s show. The foursome traveled through a selection of hits from their two decades as a band, thrilling fans with stompers like “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” “Pontoon” and “Day Drinking.”
George Strait performs at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Dillon Sherlock/Tennessee Titans
The band brought fans in close for their Grammy-winning “Girl Crush,” and they swayed along to the Taylor Swift-written “Better Man.” Little Big Town closed their set with the rousing “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” warming the Nissan Stadium crowd up for the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year to take the stage.
When Stapleton appeared onstage, he did it without bells and whistles. The talented singer kicked things off with “Nobody to Blame” and “Parachute” before letting the crowd know that he wasn’t going to spend much time talking in order to get as much music in as he could during his 90-minute set.
Fans raised their hands and danced along to “Starting Over,” “Millionaire” and “You Should Probably Leave” before Stapleton gave them a taste of his new music, playing a thrilling sample of his upcoming album with his new single “White Horse.”
After rocking out on “Cold” and taking us back to his 2015 breakthrough with “Traveller,” Stapleton created a special moment in Nissan Stadium with “Fire Away.” After he and his band got through the song, he enlisted the crowd to sing the chorus one more time with their cell phone lighters in the air.
Stapleton closed his set with “Broken Halos,” which earned one of the biggest reactions of the night, and his record-breaking cover of “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Next up, it was time for the man of the hour. When Strait took the stage in a long-sleeved, button-down, he didn’t appear as hot as the rest of us. He was grinning ear-to-ear, ready to play the beloved country music he’s made for over four decades.
Strait started his set with “Stars on the Water” and “I Got a Car.”
The first sprinkling of rain started during the third song of his set, 1984’s “The Fireman.” Just as he sang the words “I can cool ’em down when they’re smolderin’ hot,” he did exactly that.
The rain came in increments for the next 11 songs. After getting the gals on their feet for “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls,” he lured them in with the entrancing “Run,” which made for one of the night’s highlights.
George Strait and Chris Stapleton perform at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Andy Barron
Fans stayed engaged while Strait transitioned from hit to hit, thrilling fans with “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” “Check Yes or No,” “Ocean Front Property” and “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.”
During “The Weight of the Badge,” photos of service men and women flashed on the screens. When a photo of two of Nashville’s hometown heroes—Officers Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo who led the charge on stopping the shooter at The Covenant School in March—appeared on the screen, the Music City crowd roared, marking another touching moment of the evening.
Strait invited Stapleton back out on stage for a fun cover of the Townes Van Zandt-written “Pancho and Lefty,” that Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made famous. Then Strait introduced a tune that Stapleton wrote for the country icon’s 2013 album Love Is Everything, “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing.”
“Back in the day, I recorded a few of [Chris’] tunes. You may not have heard this one, it was never a single,” Strait said, to which Stapleton replied, “It still can be!”
As Strait and Stapleton sang the tune, the rain really picked up. By the end, Strait had a disappointed look on his face. With genuine sadness in his voice, he told the crowd that he had five minutes before we had to seek shelter.
As attendees turned to evacuate while the rain started pouring, Strait’s enduring country voice rang out, “Amarillo by mornin’, up from San Antone. Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on.” Fans turned and smiled at the consummate entertainer as he tried to make the most of the minute we had left in a chill-bump inducing moment.
When he was finished, the storm was raging and most concert goers were in the breezeways of Nissan Stadium. Strait’s voice could be heard for several minutes following, saying, “Be safe everyone.”
Although the night ended prematurely, Strait gave it his all for an hour of hits, new memories and country music history.
Aidan Canfield Inks With Universal Music Publishing Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughAidan Canfield and Zach Lund (UMPG Nashville)
Singer-songwriter Aidan Canfield has signed an exclusive, global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Nashville.
A native of Westchester County, New York, Canfield grew up on influences from both rock and country including Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney and Zach Bryan. He released his debut album, We’re Young, Alright, earlier this year, penning all the songs on the project solo. He has opened for Riley Green and others on the road.
“Aidan has artistic instinct, writing chops and a cool demeanor well beyond his years,” says Zach Lund, Director A&R UMPG Nashville. “The songs he wrote before ever stepping foot in Nashville, and the sound he’s already set in motion are great testaments to his abilities. The UMPG Nashville team is completely aligned with Aidan’s vision and eager to help facilitate his music in every way we can.”
“When I first met with Zach at UMPG, our ideas for developing my sound aligned perfectly,” says Canfield. “I know I’ll be surrounded by some of the best people there and could not be more excited about working together!”
Creative Nation Extends Deal With Travis Wood
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Kelsey Granda, Abby Holcomb, Luke Laird and Alex Tamashunas; (L-R, front row): Emily Furman, Travis Wood and Beth Laird
Creative Nation has extended its deal with songwriter/producer Travis Wood.
Wood started his career as a songwriter in Canada, where he has notched nine No. 1 hits and over a dozen top 10 Canadian singles. He made the move to Nashville in 2019 and after signing his publishing deal, secured cuts with Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Jordan Davis, Corey Kent, Matt Stell, Scotty McCreery and more.
Wood currently has two singles climbing the Billboard Country Airplay chart with Parmalee’s “Girl In Mine” and Kassi Ashton’s “Drive You Out Of My Mind.”
“Since the first time we heard Travis’s music, Luke and I loved his unique style of songwriting and knew he would fit right in at Creative Nation. It’s so exciting to see our community recognize his talent and his hard work is paying off. We are excited to continue working together and building on these past four years,” shares Creative Nation Founder & CEO, Beth Laird.
“Beth and Luke, along with everyone at Creative Nation, have been such champions of me and my songs. I’m grateful to continue our work together and excited to share more success with this team moving forward,” says Wood.
Reyna Roberts Shares Taste Of Her Debut Album
/by Lorie HollabaughReyna Roberts has released her new single, “One Way Street,” from her upcoming debut album Bad Girl Bible: Vol. 1, via EMPIRE Nashville. She partnered with The General through its new The General Sound Studio program.
The General is collaborating with Epic Records to provide national exposure to give up-and-coming artists their big break, and Roberts decided “One Way Street,” a haunting ballad written by Roberts, Natalie Stovall and Aaron Wagner, was perfect for her venture with the company.
“Recording ‘One Way Street’ in The General Sound Studio was such an incredible experience because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” says Roberts. “The recording process was one of a kind! The single is about unrequited love, being in a one-sided relationship, getting mixed signals, and not knowing which direction to go in.”
“One Way Street” follows “Country Club,” the first single from Roberts’ upcoming debut album, Bad Girl Bible: Vol. 1, set to release on Sept. 8.
“Vol. 1 of Bad Girl Bible is my Old Testament. I’ve been preparing for this my whole life, and I am grateful to finally share the stories that have impacted me along this journey,” says Roberts. “My mission is to change the world one song at a time, and to inspire others the way my favorite artists have inspired me.”
The fiery singer-songwriter also recently partnered with Amazon Prime, the Grammy Museum, Amazon Music, Bud Light, the Tennessee Titans, Stella Rosa and NASCAR, and has created songs for ESPN, Apple TV +, NFL and Hallmark Channel.
CAA Signs Jordana Bryant [Exclusive]
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Jonas Group Entertainment’s Phil Guerini, Riser House’s Alex Goodman, Jordana Bryant, CAA’s Sabrina Butera, Rod Essig and Riser House’s Jennifer Johnson.
Country singer-songwriter Jordana Bryant has signed with CAA for booking representation.
The Riser House artist is set to release her new single “Best Friend” on Friday, Aug. 11. Written by Bryant alongside her longtime collaborators Zach Kale and Seth Mosley, the song has already amassed 6.6 million views online from only previews. Social media has proven to be a massive driving force in her career, as the 18-year-old has racked up multiple viral moments and 88 million combined streams and views to date.
She made her radio debut on SiriusXM’s The Highway with single “Can I Get It Back” and the release of her self-titled debut EP, which reached No. 10 on the iTunes Country Album charts. The EP features fan-favorite track “Penniless and Broke,” which was added to Spotify’s New Boots playlist. Bryant’s ability to tap into emotions and situations that resonate with people across all walks of life demonstrates her songwriting skills.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible opportunity to work with CAA. It’s a dream come true to have such a dedicated team supporting my journey, and I’m so looking forward to getting to play my music live,” she says. “‘Best Friend’ is a song that holds a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with fans who have been asking for it and patiently waiting for a while now. I’m truly so excited for what lies ahead in this next chapter.”
Additionally, Bryant will serve as support for Girl Named Tom on tour from September to October.