Photo: Zack Knudsen

Four years after surviving his own traumatic brain injury, country soul singer Drake White has announced his “Benefit For The Brain” charity concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Aug. 28.

White will share the stage with Randy Houser, Riley Green and Jamey Johnson as well as more special guests from the country, rock, and Americana worlds that will be announced soon.

Through his Big Fire Fund 501(c)(3) charity organization, White seeks to advance research and support networks in the field of brain and mental health. Brain health became important to the acclaimed entertainer after suffering a stroke and collapsing onstage in 2019, being subsequently diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM).

After undergoing a series of operations to repair his AVM and months of physiotherapy, White relearned how to do almost everything – including playing guitar and singing.

“This will be a night of music and conversation shining light on brain and mental health,” explains White. “Through music and community, our goal is to raise awareness and resources to foster innovation in adolescent brain health, empower veterans and their families and bridge the gap between alternative medicine and public perception. Together, we hope to inspire a community of understanding, improve quality of life and give courage to face the battle between your ears.”

All proceeds raised will be gifted to a handpicked slate of benefit partners representing three pillars: military personnel and their families with a focus on PTSD and other related issues; child and adolescent brain health; and progressive research into alternative brain and stroke treatments. For more information, click here.

News of the empowering benefit concert comes at the start of a brand-new creative chapter for White, who released his heartfelt single “Spirit” at the end of June. Co-written by White with Leslie Satcher and Phil Pence, this marks the first taste of his upcoming project.

Cesar Gueikian. Photo: Courtesy of Gibson

Gibson Brands has confirmed Cesar Gueikian as President and CEO of Gibson Brands after he received an interim appointment of the role in May.

“I have had the opportunity to work closely with Cesar as we have rebuilt Gibson over the past five years,” says Nat Zilkha, Chairman, Gibson Brands. “He has established a remarkable track record at Gibson, shaping our product, our marketing, our artist relationships, and many of our important growth initiatives. In addition, Cesar has an extraordinary personal passion for music, and for Gibson guitars in particular. He is an accomplished leader, a musician, and a self-professed guitar nerd. We are confident that Cesar is the ideal person to serve as Gibson’s next CEO and to build on the great momentum we have as a company.”

Gueikian adds, “I am honored and humbled to take on the permanent CEO role! Gibson is a passion project for me. Our board of directors, chaired by Nat Zilkha, has been incredibly supportive over the last five years, giving me an opportunity to merge my biggest passion, which is not just music and guitars, but Gibson guitars with my business background, and I don’t take this for granted.

“The support from our board, team, artists, and fans has been overwhelming and I look forward to continuing the work we started with our leadership team, who always challenge me to be better. We have an epic history in music, which comes with responsibility, and we are constantly asking ourselves how to be more relevant and leverage our iconic past to be more creative the older we become as a brand. Our future depends on our team’s passion and pride in the work they do, and on creative collaboration with our artists around the world across genres of music. When music is at its best, the spirit of the fan merges with the spirit of the artist, and that transcendent experience is special. I can’t wait to get started, keep momentum, and press ahead.”

Gueikian joined Gibson in 2018, merging his business background with his lifelong passion for music and guitars. He has been instrumental in the resurgence of Gibson, setting a successful new strategy centered around instruments and sound, relaunching the portfolio of brands, shaping a new portfolio architecture, creating Gibson Media, launching Gibson TV, and securing partnerships with Gibson artists to bring their music to the world​ and keep the brand culturally engaged and connected to music​.

Gueikian earned a B.A. in Business from Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago focused on Analytic Finance and Economics.

An accomplished musician, guitarist and songwriter, Gueikian has performed with and recorded alongside artists spanning an eclectic range of music genres, such as Mana, Kirk Hammett, Rob Trujillo (Metallica), Rex Brown (Pantera) and more.

Pictured (L-R): Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson and Elle King. Photo: CMA/ABC

The Country Music Association has announced the performers for the upcoming CMA Fest primetime television special, airing July 19 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

Hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King and Lainey Wilson, the three-hour concert event features can’t-miss collaborations and special performances from last month’s 50th anniversary of CMA Fest in Nashville.

Featured performers include Bentley, King, Wilson Alabama, Jason Aldean, Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Hardy, Tyler Hubbard, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker and Keith Urban.

CMA Fest will also be available July 20 on Hulu. Leading up to the CMA Fest special on July 19, viewers can watch the broadcast debut of CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair, airing July 18 at 8 p.m. CT on ABC. The CMA-produced documentary celebrates the unique history of the largest and longest-running country music festival, including exclusive artist interviews and never-before-seen archival content.

Jelly Roll. Photo: Ashley Osborn

Jelly Roll has been announced as a headliner of next year’s 12th Annual Gulf Coast Jam, presented by Jim Beam.

He will headline the Jam on Friday, May 31, with Morgan Wallen set to headline the Sunday night event, set in Panama City Beach for May 30 – June 2, 2024.

“Jelly Roll is absolutely exploding, and he was one of the top artists our Jammers kept raving about when we started putting our lineup together,” shares festival Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady. “We can’t be more excited to have him as one of our headliners next year.”

This year’s Gulf Coast Jam was headlined by Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown and Hardy. The event drew 30,000 fans to the Florida Panhandle and recorded its first-ever sellout.

Four-day general admission, first responder/medical personnel, military and college passes are available at GulfCoastJam.com. Additional headliners and the full lineup will be released in the coming weeks.