Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced legendary country music artist Barbara Mandrell as the 2023 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award recipient. Mandrell will be honored during the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 10 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville.

The CRB Artist Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act who has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country radio and country music through their leadership, engagement, and creativity. Past recipients include Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, George Strait and The Judds, among others.

The Texas native’s exceptional music talents were evident with her early adoption of the accordion and steel guitar, which caught the attention of Joe Maphis. She joined Maphis’ show in Las Vegas before touring with The Johnny Cash Show and her family band. After her marriage in 1967, Mandrell returned to the stage as a solo artist, and went on to become one of the most-awarded country acts in history. She also had a celebrated television career with the NBC variety show Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.

Mandrell officially retired from the music industry in 1997 and has since been inducted into multiple halls of fame for her remarkable career.

“We are honored to present the Artist Career Achievement Award to Barbara Mandrell, a true icon in the music industry. Her incredible talent, dedication and passion have inspired generations of artists and fans alike. It is a privilege to recognize her outstanding contributions and celebrate her remarkable career,” says CRB/CRS Board President Kurt Johnson.

Those of us on Music Row have a new neighbor. Jonas Group Entertainment officially opened its doors at 1600 17th Avenue South this week, and welcomed industry friends and partners to take a peak inside at an open house.

The historic bungalow home will be a space for creativity and community, with its writer rooms, sitting rooms, kitchen and studio.

The opening is another step towards Jonas Group Entertainment’s further integration into the Nashville community. The company’s founder, Kevin Jonas, Sr., established the firm while managing his sons, the multi-Platinum selling Jonas Brothers.

Now, JGE is led by Chief Executive Officer, Phil Guerini, who has amassed more than 25 years of experience across three divisions and five businesses at The Walt Disney Company, multiple major market radio stations and record labels. In April JGE announced the hiring of Music Row veteran Leslie DiPiero, who now serves as President of Jonas Group Publishing.

Housing entertainment management, artist brand development, film and television and music publishing, JGE works with artists such as Darby, Franklin Jonas, Harper Grace, Hayley Orrantia, Hello Sister, Levi Hummon, LIVVIA, MaRynn Taylor, Mallary Hope, Mandy Harvey and The Band Light.

Eric Church‘s life and career is the focus of a brand new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit, “Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul,” presented by Gibson and opening in July.

The exhibit will chronicle Church’s unique path to stardom, from his early years playing in bars and writing songs in Nashville to his current prominence as one of country’s most authentic voices and revered rule-breakers. The exhibit, which opens July 13 and runs through June 2024, is included with museum admission.

Items displayed in the exhibit include the Harmony H-303 three-quarter-size acoustic guitar that belonged to Church as a child; his Ray-Ban Aviator Mirror sunglasses; the Von Dutch trucker hat Church bought at a Mississippi truck stop in the late 2000s and began wearing onstage; a Gibson Eric Church Hummingbird Dark guitar used on his “Double Down Tour” (2019), and more.

In support of the exhibit’s opening, the museum will host a public program, “Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church” featuring Luke Laird, Jeremy Spillman and others, on July 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. The writers will perform and share the stories behind the songs they have crafted with Church. To reserve tickets to the program or learn more about the exhibit, visit the museum’s website.

Having long eschewed industry norms with a sound and approach uniquely his own, Church has held tight to his artistic identity throughout his more than two decades in Nashville, earning a devoted audience and amassing a list of accolades including 10 Billboard No. 1s and over 50 million units sold across multiple Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum-certified albums. Church has also written or co-written almost all of the songs he has recorded and released, and continues to fill sold-out venues with his live show and challenge his own musical approach with every new level of success he achieves.

“Eric Church has done it his way completely,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His steadfast artistic vision and authenticity resonate deeply with audiences, and he continues to serve as an important collaborator and renegade role model for generations of country music artists.”

The exhibit’s announcement comes ahead of Church’s CMA Fest performance at Nissan Stadium this Saturday, June 10 and the kick off of The Outsiders Revival Tour on June 22.

Zac Brown Band performed a post-game benefit concert for the Hop On A Cure Foundation at the Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers game on June 2.

The game and show set a Great American Ball Park regular-season attendance record of 44,073. The previous record of 44,063 was set at this year’s Opening Day game on March 30.

A portion of the proceeds from every ticket sold benefited the Hop On A Cure Foundation, which supports research helping to prevent, reverse and cure ALS. The foundation was started by band member John Driskell “Hop” Hopkins after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. During post-game ceremonies, the Reds presented a check to Hop On A Cure for $125,000. Fans interested in learning more about Hop On A Cure can visit hoponacure.org.

The special evening was MLB’s third annual Lou Gehrig Day, honoring the Hall of Famer’s legacy, raising awareness and funds for research of ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), and celebrating the groups and individuals who are leading the pursuit for cures. During pregame ceremonies, the Reds recognized the Lou Gehrig Day Committee, the Central & Southern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and I Am ALS.

Multi-Platinum Curb Records artist Rodney Atkins has partnered with Curb | Word Music Publishing on a new joint venture. The first songwriter to join Atkins’ roster is Daniel Ethridge, a member of the trio Troubadour Blue.

Ethridge began playing guitar at 11, and after high school, attended Belmont and began pursuing songwriting. After winning the 2018 Texas Songwriter U program, judged by Jack Ingram and Liz Rose, Ethridge spent years post-graduation on the road playing for other artists while continuing to write for himself and others. In 2020, Ethridge reconnected with old friends and mentors from his college days to co-found Troubadour Blue. Atkins first met Ethridge through songwriter and Rod + Rose member Rose Falcon, who was writing with Ethridge.

“I am thrilled to see Curb | Word Music Publishing and Rodney Atkins come together in this exciting partnership,” shares Curb|Word Chairman Mike Curb. “Daniel Ethridge is a wonderful addition to our roster and we look forward to great things from him.”

“I’m excited to see what the future has in store for Daniel,” shares Atkins. “I’m so proud to have him as my first signed writer in my partnership with Curb | Word Music Publishing.”

Ethridge adds, “I feel incredibly fortunate to be one of the few who get to refer to themselves as a professional songwriter. Joining the talented team at Curb | Word Music Publishing while also being signed as part of this partnership with Rodney is nothing short of a dream come true.”

Fans can catch Ethridge playing with Troubadour Blue at CMA Fest this Saturday, June 10 at 3:35 p.m. CT at the Hard Rock Café stage.