Jelly Roll, Riley Green & Ashley McBryde To Headline Country To Country Festival 2027

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Ashley McBryde, Riley Green and Jelly Roll are set to headline the Country To Country Festival when it returns in March for three days of live music across the United Kingdom.

The Country To Country Festival 2027 will feature a revolving lineup of country music’s biggest stars and exciting newcomers traveling between London, Glasgow and, for the first time, Manchester between March 12-14. The lineup includes Cooper Alan, Midland, Cole Swindell, Jackson Dean, Dasha, Chase Matthew, Carter Faith, Emily Ann Roberts, Kashus Culpepper, Blake Whiten, Mack Geiger and Laci Kaye Booth.

The CMA Spotlight Stage will now appear in all three cities, marking further expansion of the festival. The C2C and the CMA have announced Late Night Thoughts, Colin Lynch, Chandler Walters, Benny G, Owen Riegling, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Greylan James, Lanie Gardner and Belles will all be performing in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The Country Music Association continues as a key festival partner, while BBC Radio 2 continues as the broadcast partner for the event.

“Bringing the CMA Spotlight Stage to all three cities this year is a wonderful reflection of C2C’s continued growth and the appetite UK fans have for what’s next in Country music,” says Brittany Schaffer, CMA’s Incoming Chief Executive Officer. “This lineup shows just how global our genre has become, with artists from around the world sharing the stage. As a trade association, CMA works year-round, well beyond our awards show and festival, to support the people who power this industry. Part of that work is helping artists build careers beyond the US and supporting our growing community of international industry members, and it’s a joy to see it come to life at C2C.”

“Radio 2 have been broadcast partners with C2C since the festival’s launch in 2013, and it’s been a privilege to have witnessed the festival and country music rocketing in popularity during this period,” adds Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2. “Radio 2’s commitment to such a wide range of specialist music is unrivalled in UK radio, and the station’s Country show continues to be the most popular country music programme in the UK.  We’re very much looking forward to broadcasting from the 2026 event in March, to once again introduce the Radio 2 and BBC Sounds listeners to the best of both new and established country artists.”

C2C has also recently announced a new partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library UK. The partnership will raise funds to provide books for young children across the UK. A donation of £1 for every day ticket, and £2 for every weekend ticket will be added for C2C 2027 with all proceeds going to the Imagination Library UK to provide children with access to a new, age-appropriate book every month through age 5.

Tickets will be available via the C2C 2027 Official Presale, powered by AXS, from Sept. 30, with general on-sale beginning Oct. 2.

Wyatt McCubbin Enters Top 15 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Wyatt McCubbin. Photo: Nathaniel Maddux

Wyatt McCubbin has moved into the top 15 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Jon Pardi’s “Boots Off,” Cody Johnson’s “Horseback” and Riley Green’s “Think As You Drunk” push the singer-songwriter to No. 12 this week.

Ella Langley remains at No. 1 with “Be Her,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Jaded” and “Loving Life Again.” Chase McGill moves to No. 2 with “Carry On,” “Hands Up,” “Last Thing You Need,” “McArthur” and “Water At A Wedding.”

Jordan Schmidt (No. 3), Dolly Parton (No. 4) and Ernest (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.

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.

NSAI Hosts Songwriter Awards After Party

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NSAI staff gather at House Of Cards for the Official After Party for the 9th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards. Photo: Jason Davis

Following last week’s ninth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, NSAI continued the celebration with the Official After Party at House of Cards, presented by General Motors and Loeb & Loeb.

The event featured magicians, photobooths, a beverage menu courtesy of Jack Daniel’s which featured cocktails themed as the “10 Drinks I Wish I Drank” and more.

This year’s Nashville Songwriter Awards honored Vince Gill, Paul Williams, Riley Green and Blake Pendergrass, as well as awarded the highly-coveted 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written Awards. See the full list of winners here.

The Nashville Songwriter Awards will return to the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 21, 2027.

Pictured (L-R): Jahan Wang (City National Bank), Diane Pearson (City National Bank), Lyndsie McClure (NSAI), Mandy Morrison (City National Bank) and Kelly Russell (City National Bank). Photo: Savannah Grimm

Photo: Savannah Grimm

Riley Green Slates 2027 ‘That’s Just Me Tour’

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Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs

Riley Green will hit the road next year on the “That’s Just Me Tour.”

The 29-date trek will make stops in Seattle, Chicago, Knoxville, Toronto and more. Muscadine Bloodline, Randy Houser, Jake Worthington and Hannah McFarland will join as support.

Tickets go on sale Friday (Oct. 2) following various pre-sale opportunities this week. More information about tickets can be found here.

The tour comes on the heels of Green’s fourth studio album, That’s Just Me. Green recently earned his seventh No. 1 at country radio, was announced as a 2027 Stagecoach headliner and was crowned NSAI’s 2026 “Artist Songwriter of The Year.” He is nominated at this year’s CMA Awards for Musical Event of the Year for his collaboration “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”

“That’s Just Me Tour” Dates:
April 1st, 2027 – Spokane, WA – Numerica Veterans Arena*+•
April 2nd, 2027 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*+•
April 3rd, 2027 – Eugene, OR – Matthew Knight Arena*+•
April 8th, 2027 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place*+•
April 9th, 2027 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome*+•
April 10th, 2027 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre*+•
April 29th, 2027 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek^+•
April 30th, 2027 – Knoxville, TN – Food City Center^+•
May 1st, 2027 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena^+•
May 6th, 2027 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena^+•
May 7th, 2027 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena^+•
May 8th, 2027 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP^+•
May 20th, 2027 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center^+•
May 21st, 2027 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion^+•
May 22nd, 2027 – Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME^+•
June 3rd, 2027 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater*+•
June 4th, 2027 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater*+•
June 10th, 2027 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino*+•
June 11th, 2027 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre*+•
June 18th, 2027 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion*+•
June 25th, 2027 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre*+•
July 15th, 2027 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview*+•
July 16th, 2027 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center*+•
July 22nd, 2027 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion*+•
July 23rd, 2027 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts*+•
July 24th, 2027 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center*+•
July 29th, 2027 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*+•
July 30th, 2027 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater*+•
July 31st, 2027 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater*+•
*Muscadine Bloodline
^Randy Houser
+Jake Worthington
•Hannah McFarland

Alive Hospice Honors Bluebird Café At Inaugural Alive And Legacy Breakfast

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Amy Kurland, Kent Blazy, and Erika Nichols. Photo Credit: Howard Ezell

Alive Hospice, Middle Tennessee’s only nonprofit hospice organization, recently honored the Bluebird Café for more than 30 years of support with its Inaugural Legacy Legend Award at the first-ever Alive and Legacy Breakfast.

Celebrating 50 years of care, Alive Hospice honored the longtime partner and Nashville music institution with its inaugural Legacy Legend Award at the special event, which was co-chaired by Alive board member C.T. Stevens and his father Turney Stevens and brought together community members to celebrate the individuals and organizations whose philanthropic contributions have helped advance Alive’s mission. Since 1994, the Bluebird Café has donated proceeds from its January shows to Alive, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the organization through economic booms and busts, wars, a pandemic, multiple owners and countless rounds of winter weather. More than three decades later, the Bluebird remains a dedicated partner in supporting Alive’s care for patients and families across Middle Tennessee.

The inaugural Legacy Legend Award was accepted by Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland and Erika Nichols, who now manages the operation on behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Kent Blazy presented the award, reflecting on the impact of Alive’s care for his wife during her battle with cancer. Blazy also performed “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” the song he co-wrote with Garth Brooks, in a moving tribute to the organization and its mission.

Throughout the breakfast, attendees heard from Alive board members about the organization’s expanding services and continued commitment to meeting the needs of Middle Tennessee patients and families. This includes Alive’s comprehensive grief support services, which are available to adults, teens and children regardless of whether their loved one received care from Alive.

Amir Hamad, President and CEO of Alive proudly shared with attendees of the breakfast, “For over fifty years, we’ve been guided solely by purpose—never by profit. And because of that, it means we show up fully, for as long as we’re needed, in every moment that matters. We’re growing and caring for more and more hospice patients. And we’ve recommitted ourselves to the reason we exist in the first place—to transform lives by honoring the harmony between life and death.”

Johnny Mike Walker Joins Country Music Hall of Fame And Museum Circle Guard

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Pictured (L-R): President of the Museum’s Board and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, Circle Guard initiate Johnny Mike Walker, Country Music Hall of Fame members Brenda Lee and Emmylou Harris and Commander General of the Circle Guard and Museum CEO Kyle Young. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has named Johnny Mike Walker as the newest initiate to the museum’s Circle Guard.

The Circle Guard unites and celebrates individuals whose highest-level contributions of time, talent and treasure to the museum safeguard the integrity of country music and make it accessible to a global audience. Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris, Brenda Lee and Vince Gill helped welcome Walker during an intimate luncheon on Friday (Sept. 25) on the museum’s CMA Theater stage.

Walker, from northwest Arkansas, has contributed to a variety of critical museum initiatives over the past 12 years. Through gifts from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, he was instrumental in the museum permanently preserving Leonard Kamsler’s historically significant photographs of the 1970s and ’80s; securing Cowboy Jack Clement’s Gibson J-200 guitar — one of country music’s most recognizable instruments; and providing vital support to the museum during COVID-19.

A multi-year Walker Foundation grant funded the preservation and digitization of Country Music Hall of Fame members Boudleaux and Felice Bryant’s complete songwriting ledgers, including the manuscripts for “Rocky Top,” “Love Hurts” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” In 2024, at Johnny Mike’s direction, the Walker Foundation made the largest non-capital campaign gift in the museum’s history, enabling the Marty Stuart Collection and its more than 22,000 items to join the museum’s permanent collection. The gift helped transform the museum’s library and archive, forever shaping how country music’s narrative is preserved and shared for generations to come.

Walker joins fellow Circle Guard initiates David Conrad, Bill Denny, Ken Levitan, Mary Ann McCready, Mike Milom, Jay Orr, Ken Roberts (1932-2022), Seab Tuck, founder Steve Turner (1947-2025), Jerry B. Williams, Jody Williams and Commander General of the Circle Guard Kyle Young.

Warren Zeiders, Jon Pardi, Tucker Wetmore Among Gulf Coast Jam 2027 Lineup

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The 2027 Gulf Coast Jam has unveiled the full lineup for its 15th annual festival set for June 3-6 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach.

Along with headliners Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Zach Top and Bailey Zimmerman, the 2027 edition will feature Warren Zeiders, Jon Pardi, Tucker Wetmore, Ian Munsick, Ty Myers, Graham Barham, Laci Kaye Booth, Dylan Marlowe, Chase Matthew, Myles Morgan, Carly Pearce and Emily Ann Roberts. 

The Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam is also partnering with the World Famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge for the first time in 2027, presenting four of the venue’s most popular artists from Nashville. Representing Tootsie’s each day will be Deltona, John Stone, PJ Ferguson and the Tennessee Strange and Timmy McKeever.

Local hotspot Ms. Newby’s will also present four artists who call Panama City Beach home and who have created significant followings in the Panhandle area. Kicking off each respective day of the Festival for Ms. Newby’s will be Will Thompson Band, Chandler Flint, Sons of Saints and Mitch Pierson. 

“This lineup includes some of the heaviest hitters in music,” says Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady. “From established artists to the top new artists in the business, we have something for all of our Jammers!”

Four-day passes are currently available at GulfCoastJam.com.

Kenny Chesney Celebrates ‘Silver Sands Marina’ With Nashville Release Show

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Kenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann

Kenny Chesney celebrated the release of his 21st album, Silver Sands Marina, last week with a special Nashville release show at The Pinnacle.

The 22-song set featured iconic Chesney tracks including “Summertime,” “Save It For A Rainy Day,” “Somewhere With You” and “I Go Back.” He gave fans a taste of the new album with “Goldfish,” “Silver Sands Marina,” “Remember Me That Way” and “Carry On.”

“Country music runs on dreams,” Chesney shared after the show. “And life runs on music. Over the years, it’s about how do you put the positivity, the philosophy, the hard stuff and the sheer joy into the world without preaching. Wherever people are, whatever people need – whether it’s a good time, a postcard to remember or somebody laughing about the gossip – I hope that’s what we’re putting out there. It’s what drew me to town, and it’s what keeps me seeking songs and taking this pirate ship out on the road.”

Outside the venue, HEY NOW Records’ hosted an activation with a replica of the Silver Sands Marina that inspired the track, a massive plexiglass fishbowl with two giant goldfish, pier carnival games, food trucks, a limited edition vinyl store and more.

Chesney will return to stadiums next year on the “Original Vibe Room Tour 2027.” The 19-date run kicks off April 24 for his eighth appearance at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium with stops planned for Arlington, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and more.

Photo: Allister Ann

Photo: Allister Ann

NEEDTOBREATHE To Release Deluxe Edition Of ‘The Long Surrender’ In November

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NEEDTOBREATHE is releasing The Long Surrender and The Fellow Passengers of Pain, a deluxe edition of their album The Long Surrender, on Nov. 19 via MCA.

In conjunction with the announcement, the band is releasing the first track from the deluxe album, “Can’t Apologize” featuring Jonah Kagen. 

“We’re in a time of overflow in the band and there are some new songs that we are really proud of that we wanted to put out during this season of The Long Surrender,” says NEEDTOBREATHE’s Josh Lovelace. ‘Can’t Apologize’ is one of those songs, and we’re really excited to have our friend Jonah Kagen feature on it. It’s just the band in a room playing together, trying to be present and inspired. We hope you take a listen.”

“As a longtime fan of NTB and the world they’ve built around their music, this was such an amazing experience for me. I’m honored to be a part of this song and can’t wait for everyone to hear it,” adds Kagen.

The new deluxe collection expands on the personal themes of surrender, transformation and renewal. The Long Surrender and the Fellow Passengers of Pain includes six new songs with guest appearances from Kagen, Evan Honer, Ann Wilson, Conner Smith, Bre Kennedy and The Jack Wharff Band.

The Long Surrender and the Fellow Passengers of Pain Track List: 
1. “The Long Surrender”
2. “Say It Now”
3. “Highlands”
4. “Sing To Me Savannah”
5. “Where You Call Home”
6. “Strangeness Of It All”
7. “Take Me Dancing”
8. “The Door”
9. “Growing Slow”
10. “Momma Loves Me”
11. “Take The Blame”
12. “Spread The Ashes”
13. “Last Drink (feat. The Jack Wharff Band)”
14. “Can’t Apologize (feat. Jonah Kagen)”
15. “Past The Gates (feat. Anne Wilson)”
16. “Never Gonna Deserve Ya (feat. Evan Honer)”
17. “Free Fall (feat. Conner Smith)”
18. “Sparrow (feat. Bre Kennedy)”

‘Opry NextStage Live’ Show To Highlight Class of 2026 In December

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The Grand Ole Opry’s upcoming “Opry NextStage Live” show will showcase country’s top emerging talent from the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 on Dec. 7.

The one-night-only show presented by Tecovas will feature several members of this year’s Opry NextStage class, including Hudson Westbrook, Emily Ann Roberts, Alexandra Kay, Carter Faith, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Vincent Mason and Willow Avalon, with additional performers to be announced at a later date.

The Opry NextStage program champions a new class of emerging artists each year through original content, Opry performances, and brand-wide support designed to amplify their stories and expand their reach. Since its launch in 2019, Opry NextStage alumni have gone on to chart numerous No. 1s, headline arena tours, earn CMA, ACM, and Grammy awards, and more. NextStage alum Lainey Wilson’s name now hangs proudly on the Opry member wall.