Marty Stuart’s 20th Annual Late Night Jam Returns To The Ryman June 7

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Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

Marty Stuart is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his annual Late Night Jam this year, which returns to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, June 7.

Presented by Stuart’s Congress of Country Music, the Late Night Jam features a lineup curated by Stuart that will include performances by Joe Walsh, John Oates, The Del McCoury Band, Sierra Ferrell, Chapel Hart, Connie Smith, Gary Mule Deer, Jake Worthington, The Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers and Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. In the spirit of all Late Night Jams’ past, surprise guests are to be expected. Late Night Jam tickets go on sale this Friday, April 21.

“It’s hard to believe this is the 20th Late Night Jam,” Stuart reflects. “This year is no different than all the rest. The Ryman will be filled with Country Music Hall of Famers, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Musician’s Hall of Famers, Songwriter Hall of Famers, Bluegrass Hall of Famers, up and comers and lots of laughter. And to top it all off, the Grand Ole Opry Square dancers will perform! It is the pirate ship show of the week. It is a one-of-a-kind event. Not to be missed.”

Stuart has also released the new video for his latest single “Country Star,” from his forthcoming album Altitude due out May 19. The clip is filled with rhinestone sparkling fun, according to Stuart, who says, “My favorite video director in Nashville is Reid Long. We’ve done several videos together and Reid directed ‘Country Star.’ Consider this, the nation’s most superlative band, go-go dancers, Clarence White’s guitar, a jangling Rickenbacker twelve string guitar, full blown rhinestone suits, and groovy shades all wrapped up in a great song. We did our part. Your turn: watch it. I promise I can make you smile.”

Stuart is currently in the midst of a nationwide headlining tour that resumes on April 27 in Tucson, Arizona before performing at Stagecoach on April 29 and hitting the road with Chris Stapleton this summer.

Stuart will also host “The Love of Dogs” Benefit Concert for PEDIGREE on Wednesday, May 17th at 6:00 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. The event will hosted by syndicated country radio personality Shawn Parr and will include a cocktail reception, dinner, and live/silent auction that will be followed by a performance by Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives. The PEDIGREE Foundation is a philanthropic organization that helps dogs find their forever homes.

Americanafest Announces First Round Of Performers

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Dom Flemons, Mipso and Amythyst Kiah. (L-R, bottom row): Yasmin Williams, Chris Shiflett and Mary Gauthier

Americanafest has announced the first 50 acts slated to perform in showcases during the five-day event set for Sept. 19-23 in Nashville.

The festival and conference event will bring together more than 200 award-winning legends, trailblazing mainstays and buzzworthy new artists for its 23rd year. This year’s lineup includes Amythyst Kiah, The Band of Heathens, Chris Shiflett, Dan Tyminski Band, Dom Flemons, Parker Millsap, Mipso, The Panhandlers, SUSTO, Yasmin Williams and more.

In partnership with Americanafest, Rufus Wainwright will also make his Nashville Symphony debut on Sept. 19 for one night only. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Want One and Want Two—the two albums that fueled his meteoric rise in the U.K. and across Europe—he will perform both albums in their entirety, song for song, with orchestral arrangements performed by the Nashville Symphony.

Americanafest will also feature an industry conference, bringing together the top tier of the music business to discuss current industry topics and issues through panels and workshops. The week of festivities will kick off with the Americana Honors & Awards, which celebrates luminaries and welcomes the next generation of trailblazers while offering one-of-a-kind performance pairings at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets will be available for purchase at a later date.

Colt Ford Announces New ‘Must Be The Country’ Album, Tour

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Colt Ford enlisted the help of a bunch of friends for his new album, Must Be The Country, out on May 19 via Average Joes Entertainment. In conjunction with the announcement, Ford is sharing a taste of the album with the title track featuring Dillon Carmichael, “Must Be The Country,” out now.

The 24-song collection features previously-released hits as well as brand new tracks with Vince Gill, Matt Stell, Brantley Gilbert, Tracy Lawrence, Sam Grow and more.

The album is Ford’s first full length project in three years, and took shape while he was battling eye cancer and recovering from an intensive surgery to remove the tumor. Following his successful fight against cancer, Ford has been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disorder that destroys neuromuscular connections and affects the muscles in the face.

Despite his recent struggle with personal health, Ford continues to tour as well as write and record new projects slated for release later this year. He just launched his next North American tour with over 30 shows across the U.S. The “Must Be The Country Tour,” will include stops in Nashville, Flagstaff, Virginia Beach, Springfield and more, with additional dates to be announced.

Must Be The Country Track Listing:
1. “Must Be The Country” feat. Dillon Carmichael (Michael Ray Carter, Cole Taylor, Chase McGill)
2. “Paint The Town Redneck” (Colt Ford, Cole Taylor)
3. “Raised ‘Round Here” feat. Brantley Gilbert (Brock Berryhill, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Phillips)
4. “Nights In Trucks” feat. Noah Gordon (Jaren Ray Johnston, Neil D. Mason, Jonathan David Singleton)
5. “Busted” (Connie Rae Harrington, John Thomas Osborne, Thomas John Osborne)
6. “Running This Country” feat. Tracy Byrd & Tracy Lawrence (Brandon Calvin Good, William Michael Morgan, Jeffrey Steele)
7. “Carhartt Kids” (Josh Phillips, Heath Sanders)
8. “Brooks & Dunn” (Noah Gordon, Colt Ford)
9. “Break Out The Rowdy” (Ira Dean, Jamie Owen Grooms)
10. “Boys Will Be Boys” feat. Tim Montana (Colt Ford, Taylor Phillips, Brock Berryhill, Jay Brunswick)
11. “Don’t Forget Where You Came From” feat. Sam Grow (Jaren Johnston, Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon)
12. “Want One” (Ira Dean, Robert W. Terry, Chris Allen Wallin)
13. “My Girlfriend’s Got A Girlfriend” (Ira Dean, Eddie Montgomery, Kim Tribble)
14. “Something I Can Get Behind” (Michael Wilson Hardy, Michael Joseph Reaves, Jake Mitchell)
15. “Cooter Huntin’” (Timothy A. Smith, Julian Collin Bunetta)
16. “When Country Comes Back” (Monty Criswell, Derek George, Taylor Phillips)
17. “Hood” feat. Kevin Gates & Jermaine Dupri (Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Brad Tursi, Kevin Gates)
18. “Keys To The Country” feat. RVSHVD, Vince Gill & Dan Tyminski (Colt Ford, Taylor Phllips, Josh Mirenda)
19. “If I Don’t Know Better” feat. Meghan Patrick (Taylor Phillips, Tebey Ottoh, Adam Doleac, Jeremy Bussey)
20. “Bad Beer” feat. Matt Stell (Taylor Phillips, Jay Brunswick, James Greylan, Jody Scott Stevens)
21. “My Town” feat. Josh Mirenda (Brock Berryhill, George Birge, Tommy Cecil, Evan Coffman, Cody Cooper)
22. “Country As Truck” (Derek George, Monty Criswell, Ricky Young, Taylor Phillips)
23. “Slow Ride” (GVTSBY Remix) (Colt Ford, Taylor Phillips, Josh Mirenda, Jared Sciullo, Justin David Bertoldie)
24. “In The End” feat. Josh Mirenda (Chester Bennington, Robert Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda)

Red Light Management Ups Allison Laughter To VP Of Marketing, Digital & Streaming

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Allison Laughter

Allison Laughter has been promoted to VP of Marketing, Digital & Streaming at Red Light Management Nashville. Laughter previously helmed the Digital Marketing & Streaming department and will now direct efforts for Marketing as well.

Prior to joining Red Light Management in 2013, Laughter worked in digital marketing and publicity for Capitol Records Nashville and Universal Music Group Nashville.

In addition, Madison Jelks and Chad Meholic rise to the position of Director of Digital Strategy & Partnerships and Director of Audience Development & Growth, respectively.

Paramount+ To Unveil ‘Wynonna Judd: Between Hell & Hallelujah’ On April 26

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Paramount+ will exclusively premiere Wynonna Judd: Between Hell & Hallelujah, a feature-length documentary following the legendary artist as she navigates the next phase of her life and career, in the U.S. on Wednesday, April 26.

Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and Hello Sunshine in partnership with Sandbox Productions, the documentary will also debut internationally in Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria on Wednesday, July 19.

Wynonna Judd: Between Hell & Hallelujah gives viewers a raw, first-hand glimpse into Wynonna’s life as she bravely embarks on her next chapter following her mother Naomi Judd’s untimely passing. Beginning with the decision to honor Naomi’s legacy by continuing on with “The Judds: The Final Tour,” the documentary captures candid on-stage and behind-the-scenes moments as part of the sold-out nationwide tour, along with personal anecdotes from Wynonna’s friends and fellow artists Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood as well as moving and intimate footage of her spending quiet, reflective time on the farm with her beloved family and animals, as she continues to process her grief.

“Hello Sunshine is so honored that Wynonna trusted us, and our cameras, to join her on this tour and during this time. We hope that Wynonna’s strength and vulnerability help others experiencing grief. We also hope that her humor, her heart and her powerful voice inspire viewers as much as they did us. This is a very special story,” says Sara Rea, Hello Sunshine Head of Unscripted.

Wynonna served as an executive producer of the film alongside Rea, Reese Witherspoon, Cactus Moser, Jason Owen, Bruce Gillmer, Margaret Comeaux, Leslie Fram and director Patty Ivins Specht.

“It’s real and it’s raw. It’s celebration and sadness. It’s all of the people who I leaned on during one of the toughest seasons of my life. I wanted the opportunity to tell my story in my voice. If doing so helps one person out there choose life, then I am grateful,” she shares.

“The Judds will forever be one of country music’s most iconic and storied duos. Their original 1991 farewell concert was entertainment at its finest and being able to recreate that concert with Wynonna and so many talented artists is something I will cherish forever,” says Owen, Sandbox Productions CEO. “Watching Wynonna fully embrace this tour to honor The Judds’ legacy was beyond inspiring, and I can’t wait for others to witness her strength in Between Hell & Hallelujah.”

Lady A Launches ‘Request Line Tour’ With Two Sold-Out Ryman Shows

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Lady A kicking off their “Request Line Tour” at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Hodges Usry

Lady A kicked off their “Request Line Tour” with back-to-back sold-out nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium over the weekend. The shows marked the trio’s longest sets to date, consisting of their greatest hits, a spontaneous medley of cover songs and personal performances, which earned standing ovations both nights. They also played voicemail requests from fans attending each night’s show, forming an entirely unique fan connection.

“Over the past year, planning this tour has kept me awake countless nights dreaming up how we could show the fans that we’ve been profoundly impacted by them,” shares Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “This tour is about our fans’ connection to these lyrics and melodies. It’s about how we all love and want to be loved. I believe live music communicates that better than most anything else. I hope every person who steps foot in one of our shows feels seen, feels part of this moment that we’ll never forget and knows they are welcome. Let’s sing, let’s laugh, let’s let the light in!”

Pictured (L-R): RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Lady A’s Hillary Scott, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Lady A’s Dave Haywood and RIAA’s Morna Willens. Photo: Hodges Usry

From deep cuts to cover songs, Lady A followed each with a performance of a requested song including “Bartender” from a fan who had traveled from Australia for the show as well as one for “All We’d Ever Need,” the first song the three had ever written together, from a fan from New Orleans attending his 11th Lady A show. Another request came for “Hurt” from an anonymous fan who’d lost their partner to ALS, and for their hit “What A Song Can Do” from a group of friends who camp together. It was a request for “Hello World” during Saturday’s show (April 15) that inspired band member Charles Kelley to go into the crowd to hug a fan who was celebrating over a decade of sobriety.

“The stories we’ve heard and read through the requests are the reason we do what we do,” adds Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “We’ve been deeply touched.”

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) surprised Lady A with Diamond certification for “Need You Now” on Friday night (April 14), making it the highest certified single by a country group and marking only the fifth time a country song has reached the benchmark.

The “Request Line Tour” will make its way to Chicago, Louisville and Indianapolis this week.

Tortuga Music Festival Celebrates 10 Years With Star-Studded Weekend

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Kenny Chesney headlining the Tortuga Music Festival.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival wrapped its 10th anniversary last weekend with a star-packed three days of music featuring headliners Kenny Chesney, Eric Church and Shania Twain.

Friday night kicked off across all three stages with acts including Deana Carter, Lukas Nelson + POTR, Pillbox Patti and more. Leading up to Church headlining the first night festivities on the main stage, fans sang along as Cole Swindell bought up surprise guest Lauren Alaina for a rendition of his chart-topping track “Never Say Never.” Highlights from the Sunset Stage also included sets from Wiz Khalifa with special guest Ty Dolla Sign, as well as Brett Young, Tyler Braden and Pecos & The Rooftops.

Kylie Morgan performs during the Tortuga Music Festival.

The feel-good energy continued on Saturday with performances for a sea of fans, as Brittney Spencer, Tyler Booth, Dylan Marlowe, Carly Pearce, The Wallflowers and more took the stage. Twain closed the night with a hit-packed set. The stacked Sunday lineup included Nate Smith, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Ashley Cooke, Shane Profitt, Kylie Morgan and more. Additionally, despite a weather delay, Chesney brought out special guest Cooke to wrap the weekend celebration.

The weekend also showcased up and coming stars from the festival’s first year of the Next From Nashville stage, giving attendees a chance to discover the genre’s new acts including George Birge, Mackenzie Carpenter, Frank Ray, Alana Springsteen and Megan Moroney.

The Tortuga Music Festival raises funds and promotes awareness of the issues that the world’s oceans currently face and supports marine conservation and research. The festival has raised almost four million dollars for the cause to date, and festival goers were given the opportunity to learn more about where a portion of the proceeds from their passes go onsite at Rock The Ocean’s Conservation Village featuring exhibits, games, interactive touch tanks, cooking exhibitions, ocean technology and more.

Nate Smith Announces Deluxe Version Of Upcoming Self-Titled Debut

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Nate Smith will release a deluxe version of his self-titled debut album featuring six additional tracks, due to fan demand on his socials. Both Nate Smith and Nate Smith (Deluxe) will be available on April 28.

The expanded edition will include the anticipated track “World On Fire” and five other new songs penned by writers including Ashley Gorley, Emily Weisband, Jessie Jo Dillon, Hardy, Seth Alley and more.

“It has been so much fun making this album, and I really believe in every one of these songs,” says Smith. “Releasing an album has always been a goal of mine, but at the end of the day it’s really not about me. It’s about being able to reach other people with music that means something. I’m not trying to be cool, or reinvent the wheel, or chase musical trends…I’m going after the heart of the matter.”

Smith was just announced as a nominee for New Male Artist of the Year at the upcoming 58th ACM Awards. In addition to his album releases, Smith will also perform at Stagecoach for the first time on April 28. He then joins Thomas Rhett on his “Home Team Tour 23,” which kicks off May 4 in Des Moines, Iowa, and will hit a total of 40 cities this summer.

CMT & Mtheory Reveal New Members Of Equal Access Program

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Denitia, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Mtheory’s Cameo Carlson, Alex Evelyn and Angie K. (L-R, front row): Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere, Roberto Martinez and Camille Parker. Photo: 353 Media Group

Six candidates have been chosen to participate in this year’s Equal Access Development Program, an artist and management training initiative helmed by CMT and management services company Mtheory.

Artists chosen for the year-long program include Angie K, Camille Parker and Denitia. The music management professionals selected to participate consist of Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere, Alex Evelyn and Roberto Martinez.

The program offers funding and training, and provides the rising artists and management professionals with access to industry leaders, helping to ensure a multi-faceted pipeline of diverse, creative talent in country music.

Launched in April 2022, Equal Access is one of the first collaborative efforts to address inequities in country music – both on and off the stage – by creating opportunities for commercial success. Spearheaded by an all-female team, including Mtheory’s Cameo Carlson and Tiffany Provenzano alongside CMT’s Leslie Fram, the program aims to proactively influence the continued disparity of underserved groups in country music.

Carlson says, “Research continues to show the enduring racial and gendered hierarchy within the industry, and its ripple effect throughout every facet of the business: radio airplay, songwriting, publishing, streaming, record label signings, artist development, touring and more.”

She continues, “Only through deliberate, consistent efforts like Equal Access, will we begin to see stronger representation of underserved groups in the format, and we’re committed to helping this new group of exceptionally talented individuals successfully prepare for careers in country music, particularly in this current legislative environment that has become an increasingly prohibitive place for creativity to grow and flourish. Thank you to all of our supporters for making this program possible, particularly our title sponsors at CMT and across the Paramount companies.”

Fram adds, “CMT, along with Paramount Global and its Content for Change initiative, is proud to partner with Mtheory once again and is committed to leading the industry in igniting systemic change. Equal Access accentuates our roster of groundbreaking initiatives including CMT Equal Play and CMT Next Women of Country, and contributes significantly towards leveling the playing field in country music. We look forward to collaborating with this amazing new group of artists and managers to amplify their work to CMT audiences and beyond.”

Drake Milligan & Band Set To Resume Touring Next Week

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Drake Milligan & Band

Drake Milligan and his band were involved in a collision on the road yesterday (April 17) while traveling between Fort Worth and Georgetown, Texas, according to Milligan’s manager and his label Stoney Creek Records.

Between 9-10 a.m., Milligan and his team were en route to the Two Step Inn when a tire flew into their van, causing it to collide into the concrete median. Milligan and several members of his band sustained injuries during the crash and were treated at the hospital, but all have since been released.

The former America’s Got Talent finalist will resume his tour schedule next week on April 28, when he returns to the Stagecoach Music Festival to perform on the main stage.