The Academy of Country Music Honors celebrates the ACM’s Special Awards, Songwriter of the Year Award, Artist-Songwriter of the Year Award, Studio Recording Awards and Industry Awards from the 58th ACM Awards cycle.

The 16th iteration of the ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at the Ryman Auditorium. It is the 13th time the ceremony has taken place at the beloved Nashville venue.

This year’s winners, host, performers and general event information will be announced in the coming weeks and months. Winners will be chosen in the following categories:

– The ACM Icon Award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader who has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, George Strait and Conway Twitty.

– The ACM Milestone Award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader with an outstanding achievement in the genre during the preceding calendar year. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Merle Haggard, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen.

– The ACM Lifting Lives Award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Rascal Flatts, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood.

– The ACM International Award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the growth of country music throughout the world. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift.

– The ACM Lift Every Voice Award recognizes a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader in recognition of their dedication to fostering, promoting, and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion both in and beyond the music industry. This award will be presented at the 16th ACM Honors for the first time.

– The ACM Service Award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group, or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music. Notable winners from the past 16 years include RAC Clark, Bob Kingsley, Duane Clark, Reba McEntire and Keith Urban.

– The ACM Spirit Award is presented to a singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy of country legend and 20-time ACM Award Winner Merle Haggard by following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle’s spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling. Past winners include Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton.

– The ACM Poet’s Award is presented to a country music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Bill Anderson, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Hank Williams and Shania Twain.

– The ACM Film Award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music. Notable winners from the past 16 years include Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, Nashville, A Star Is Born, Ken Burns’s Country Music and Yellowstone.

In addition to the Special Awards honorees, the 16th Annual ACM Honors will recognize and celebrate the achievements of this year’s Songwriter of the Year, Ashley Gorley, and the winner of the newly added award category Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Hardy.

The Academy’s Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music, with categories including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Piano/Keys Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year, Electric Guitar Player of the Year, Audio Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year.

ACM Industry Awards recognize venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a set number of country concerts (number varies based on category), is in good standing with all agents/vendors, and helps promote country music ticket sales. The various categories honored include Casino of the Year – Theater, Casino of the Year – Arena, Fair/Rodeo of the Year, Festival of the Year, Club of the Year, Theater of the Year, Outdoor Venue of the Year, Arena of the Year, Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year and Promoter of the Year.

SOURCE Celebrates 2023 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Pictured (L-R, back row): Janice Jackson, Denise Stiff, Jackie Patillo and Valerie Summers; (L-R, front row): Renee Bell, Becky Shanks and Marcie Allen. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

SOURCE Nashville held their monthly luncheon at Historic Columbia Studio A in Nashville on Tuesday (May 16). The event, moderated by industry veteran Judi Turner, honored seven prominent female industry leaders who will be inducted into the SOURCE Nashville Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Presented by Springer Mountain Farms, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the SOURCE Nashville Hall of Fame Awards, which will be held at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in the Historic Municipal Auditorium. The annual awards inducts a select group of “Women Behind The Music.”

The 2023 inductees include Marcie Allen, Renee Bell, Janice Jackson, Jackie Patillo, Becky Shanks, Denise Stiff and Valerie Summers.

Ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.

Lauren Watkins Named SiriusXM The Highway’s ‘Highway Find’

Pictured (L-R): SiriusXM The Highway’s Kathleen Shea, Lauren Watkins and SiriusXM The Highway’s Buzz Brainard. Photo: Brayln Kelly

Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters artist Lauren Watkins was selected as SiriusXM The Highway’s latest “Highway Find” on Friday (May 12).

Watkins was surprised with the news by host Buzz Brainard while performing at SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour at Margaritaville in downtown Nashville. Brainard put the cherry on top of the big moment, treating listeners nationwide to “Shirley Temple,” a single featured on Watkins’ debut EP Introducing Lauren Watkins

The “Highway Find” program is part of SiriusXM The Highway’s commitment to spotlighting new talent in the country space. Watkins nows joins a group of power players, including Parker McCollum, Luke Combs, Griffen Palmer, Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay and more.

Big Timber Entertainment Signs Multi-Genre Artist Mia Brown

Pictured (L-R): Big Timber Entertainment’s Troy Brown, Mia Brown and Big Timber Entertainment’s Mark Oliverius. Photo: Vitalii Garbulinskii

Big Timber Entertainment (BTE), the full-service entertainment company founded by Troy Brown and Mark Oliverius, has signed multi-genre artist Mia Brown.

Brown mixes today’s midwest pop, club bangers, ’70s FM rock, jazz and country to create her own unique sound. She is also a part of BTE’s live production “That’s 70s Music!” where concert-goers can relive the best of times with her and The Nashville Hitmen. Under the musical direction of Oliverius, the cast performs iconic hits from the ’60s and ’70s.

“Big Timber Entertainment believes in my multi-genre style of music and I couldn’t be more excited to be signed with them! I write about whatever I’m feeling at that time and from a genre standpoint, that can be anywhere between country, pop, jazz or rock,” reflects Brown. “Mark Oliverius and I have been working on my debut project for about two years. It will be released later this year. We’ve written the majority of the songs together, and most of the songs come from raw emotion and my real-life situations. I have had the honor and pleasure of co-writing with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters for this project and can’t wait to share my new music with the world!”

“When I first started working with Mia I was blown away by the velvet smooth texture and the agility of her voice! She handled her lead and background vocals effortlessly with speed, precision, soul and power! Her attitude, work ethic, kindness and intelligence are first-rate,” adds Oliverius. “Big Timber Entertainment is excited to sign her and we look forward to igniting her career!”

We Are Messengers Score Gold Certification

Pictured (L-R): Curb | Word’s Chris Collins, Giovanna Randolph, Trevor Mathiesen, Samantha Shelby, Bryan Stewart, Jen Allen, Proper Management’s Kelcey Wixtrom, Eryn West, Heidi Mulligan, Curb | Word’s Jeri Cooper, Darren Mulligan, Curb | Word’s Joseph Prielozny, Proper Management’s Mike Jay, Katie Mohre, Curb | Word’s Blair McDermott, Jeff Tuerff, John Clore, Doris Bratcher, Brian Thiele and Jonathan Mason

Christian group We Are Messengers‘ single “Maybe It’s Okay” has earned RIAA Gold certification.

Band member Darren Mulligan recently celebrated the Gold-certified single alongside members of Curb | Word Entertainment and Proper Management.

The MLC Hosts Nashville Artist Julia Cole

Pictured (L-R): The MLC’s Ellen Truley, Julia Cole and The MLC’s Kris Ahrend

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) hosted Nashville-based independent artist and television host Julia Cole at their office in Music City on Thursday (May 11).

Cole, a dedicated supporter of The MLC, performed and helped them celebrate their one billion dollar milestone.

T.G. Sheppard has been honored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development with the unveiling of a Tennessee Music Pathways marker in his hometown of Humboldt, Tennessee.

On the day of the unveiling of the marker, Sheppard served as Grand Marshall in the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. After both events, the country hitmaker and SiriusXM host was also presented by the City of Humboldt’s Mayor, Marvin Sikes, and President of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and Humboldt Alderman, Shane Lynch, with a proclamation declaring May 12, 2023 as T.G. Sheppard Day in Humboldt, Tennessee and announcing that Eastend Drive would be named “T.G. Sheppard Way.”

“Being from Humboldt, Tennessee is something I am very proud of and always have been,” shares Sheppard. “Some of my fondest memories are from growing up there. When I left home to chase this crazy dream, I always knew Humboldt was my home. It’s such an honor to have the Tennessee Music Pathways marker unveiled at Downtown Green Space Park and to have Eastend Drive named T.G. Sheppard Way. It was an additional honor to be the Grand Marshall in the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and to be a guest speaker at the Governor’s Luncheon, and to top it off, Mayor Sikes proclaimed May 12, 2023, as T.G. Sheppard Day. What an incredible day that I will always remember.”

“I am honored and excited to have T.G. Sheppard be our Grand Marshall for the 85th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, receiving the much-deserved recognition from his hometown for his major accomplishments in the music industry,” says Lynch, 85th West Tennessee Strawberry Festival President.

Sheppard continues to bring some of the hottest names in country as his special guests on The T.G. Sheppard Show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Airing weekly, he curates some of the biggest hits from the ’80s and ’90s and shares behind-the-scenes stories with the most recognizable names in country from that era. With a different guest each week, Sheppard has recently shared exclusive interviews with Reba McEntire, Lee Greenwood, Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Barbara Mandrell, The Bellamy Brothers, Travis Tritt and more. Upcoming guests will include Aaron Tippin, Lee Roy Parnell, Sonny LeMaire of Exile and more.

Chapter 670

When Dolly Parton beckons, we respond.

Hundreds of media and industry folks filled two sound stages at CTK Enterprises, the site of manager Danny Nozell’s offices, on Tuesday evening (May 16) for Dolly’s listening party. Billed as the superstar’s “Rockstar Album Launch Event,” the bash was a throwback to the kinds of parties that Music Row used to have in the pre-COVID days. And who can unite the community better than Dolly? Believe me, it was packed.

“How’d they get this many people in this little, bitty room,” quipped Miss Dolly as she took the stage. “I didn’t have this many people at my last concert!”

She confessed she was uncomfortable standing there and talking about the project. It is her hugely ambitious step into rock music.

“I hope you enjoy it,” she said. “Thanks for all of your help. I look forward to working with all of you.” The album isn’t due until Nov. 17, and she is planning an extensive publicity blitz about it, which will presumably include many of the media folks assembled there.

In the meantime, we got a healthy preview at the bash. To the accompaniment of “Rockstar,” her self-penned title tune from the collection, we gazed at a massive video screen showing a dazzling, behind-the-scenes documentary of her many rock-themed photo sessions. Dolly’s Creative Director Steve Summers garbed her in leather, fringe and sequins, posing on a motorcycle, a giant silver-glitter star and a leopard-print luxury car and smashing a guitar while smoke machines belched. Eye patch, pastel hair extensions, platform heels, sunglasses, rock/model glances, the works. Nozell’s newly famous brindle French bulldog Billy (Dolly’s “god-dog”) makes a cameo appearance.

Everyone applauded. That included such fabulons as Belmont’s Sarah Cates, Brittany Schaffer and Greg Jones; BMI’s David Preston, Clay Bradley and Leslie Roberts; Leslie Fram, R.J. Curtis, Marcus Dowling, Brian Mansfield, the Opry’s Dan Rogers and Gina Keltner; Sony’s Rusty Gaston and Dale Bobo; the ACM’s Damon Whiteside, Country Hall of Fame’s Michael Gray and Lisa Purcell; John Zarling, Robert Deaton, Tom Roland, the RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Jessica Nicholson, Alicia Warwick, Phyllis Stark and our own LB Cantrell.

A superb sound system blasted out such tracks as “Purple Rain,” “We Are the Champions,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (Dolly with Elton John), “Wrecking Ball” (Dolly with Miley Cyrus), “Open Arms” (with Journey’s Steve Perry), “Night Moves” (with Chris Stapleton), “Let It Be” (with Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr) and “Free Bird” (with Skynyrd vets), among others.

The event had a timetable, so not all the tracks on the album could be showcased. Make that “albums.” The eventual “Rockstar” collection will be 30 songs on four vinyl discs or two CDs. There are nine Dolly originals and 21 rock oldies. The whole thing has a ‘70s-rock vibe, which is fine with me, since rock bands have now been obliterated from the charts by hip-hop and teen pop.

The black-walled, video-ready, jumbo sound-stage rooms were flanked by lit display cases containing white and silver Dolly costumes, and the stage featured a big silver signature Dolly logo. Catering was spare, but there were fully stocked bars. And the planners of the out-of-town party provided bus transportation to and from the Music City Center, so relax.

I am told there were party-favor Dolly gift bags. I didn’t get one.