Pam Lewis
Pamela Lewis, a native of upstate New York, graduated from Wells College with a B.A. in Economics/Marketing and a minor in French and Communications, including a year studying in Paris through COUP, affiliated with The Sorbonne. In New York City, she worked at MS Magazine and pursued graduate coursework at Fordham University and The New York School for Social Research.
From 1980 to 1984, Lewis was part of the original publicity/marketing team that launched MTV, also working with Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel, and A&E. She left as National Media Director to join RCA Records in Nashville, helping shape the careers of Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, The Judds, and Alabama. In 1985, she founded the award-winning PLA Media, and in 1987 formed Doyle/Lewis Management with Bob Doyle. Her first client was an unknown crooner named Garth Brooks, whom she guided to superstardom while also co-managing Trisha Yearwood’s early career.
Reinventing herself in 2003, Lewis won a four-year term as alderman-at-large in Franklin, Tennessee, serving as vice mayor and the board’s only female member for two years. She is a graduate of UT’s Local Government Leadership Program and Belmont University’s Scarlett Leadership Institute, and an alumna of Leadership Music and Leadership Middle Tennessee.
In 2023, Lewis was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year, joining the ranks of Benjamin Franklin, Charles Dickens, and Helen Keller. She also serves as a U.S. Ambassador for The Unity of Faiths Foundation.
Her charitable work spans historic preservation, women’s advocacy, and animal rights. Lewis has authored three books, including Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Rockstar and Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day, and delivered a TEDx Talk in Franklin, Tennessee, in March 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
In a small town in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley; beautiful country with dairy farms and apple orchards along the Hudson River. My dad was a teacher who became a school superintendent, so I couldn’t get away with anything. He wasn’t my principal, but he did pick all my teachers.
What were you like as a kid?
Nerdy. If the teacher said “read 500 pages,” I’d read all 500 because I knew the test would be on the one page I skipped. I talked a lot—got in trouble for that—but it’s served me well. I was in every club, sang in All-State Choir, and loved biology and traveling. My first trips were to Canada and France, and that started a lifelong travel bug. I’ve been to 130 countries and all 50 states.
When did you realize you wanted to work in music?
I always loved music. My parents took me to concerts at Lincoln Center and Tanglewood. As a kid, I begged to see Earth, Wind & Fire at Madison Square Garden. My parents actually dropped us off there, which is crazy in hindsight. I loved The Beatles, too. I remember dragging my mom to four record stores to find Abbey Road.
But it never clicked that people could work in music. There wasn’t a Belmont or MTSU then, at least that I knew of. So I got a marketing degree in economics and marketing, with minors in communications and French. I always liked the written word. I read a lot and thought it would be really cool to work at an advertising firm or a marketing company, or maybe in television. My first job was in cable television, and that was right when MTV launched. So literally, right out of school, I was convincing people to watch a 24-hour cable music channel. Nobody believed anyone would!
I had to send what we called “air checks” to reviewers and programmers because MTV wasn’t even available in Manhattan yet. The two main centers for entertainment were Los Angeles and New York, but MTV wasn’t in New York City. It was in Omaha, Nebraska, of all places. That’s why the “I Want My MTV” campaign started. It was such an exciting time. I got to meet a ton of people, learned how media works, and it really gave me the foundation for what came later.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
How did that lead you to Nashville?
I was dating a photographer who shot artists for RCA—everyone from Alabama to David Bowie. I’d tag along to shows, hang backstage and meet people without realizing who they were. That’s how I met Joe Galante, Tony Brown, Randy Goodman and Cynthia Spencer. Cynthia handled PR and marketing and would often call me for contacts. One day she said, “Pamela Sue, I’m leaving RCA to marry a golfer, and you’d be perfect for my job.”
I laughed it off. I was living on the Upper East Side, making $11,500 a year, scraping by but happy. Then she called again: “This is serious.” Next thing I knew, RCA flew me to Nashville for an interview. I didn’t even know how publishing worked. I thought if your name was next to a song like “Islands in the Stream,” that meant you wrote it.
I read Billboard on the plane, memorized a few chart names and bluffed my way through the meeting. They offered me the job, a car, an expense account and a hotel stay downtown. I wasn’t even 30. I said, “Make me an offer I can’t refuse,” and they did.
So I moved to Nashville. Within a year, RCA fired me, and my boyfriend dumped me.
Ouch. What came next?
That was my “dark night of the soul.” I was angry, hurt and feeling sorry for myself, until I got bored of my own pity party. I tried to move back to New York, but there wasn’t a job that made sense. So I hung out my own shingle and started doing marketing, PR and artist development.
At first, it was pure desperation, but I thought, I know how to do this. I had good instincts, I could write and I already owned an IBM Selectric typewriter. The only real difference was that now I had to pay for my own insurance. I started small, made enough to live on and eventually hired a couple of people.
Tony Brown gave me work, CMA brought me on as a consultant and things grew from there. That’s when I bought my first house.
How did you meet Bob Doyle?
Bob was from St. Louis—his dad was a principal, too. We were introduced by a mutual colleague. Bob was about to leave Capitol and wanted to start a management company. He needed someone with my skill set, so we became 50/50 partners and launched Doyle Lewis Management.
Bob said, “I’ve got this boy I want you to meet,” and in walked Garth. He was sitting on this Haitian cotton sofa with his guitar, singing and I just thought, “There’s something about this guy.” He had these piercing blue eyes and a calm confidence.
We were bootstrapping everything. I had my PR company by then, so Bob told me I could move into his building if I paid rent, something like $400 or $500 a month, which felt like a fortune. I was doing Garth’s PR and marketing out of a tiny cubbyhole with one employee. Eventually, I hired more people and opened my own office, PLA: Pam Lewis & Associates.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
Did you ever consider closing your PR business once Garth took off?
Oh, they both told me to: Bob and Garth. They’d say, “Close that PR company! You don’t need it.” But I didn’t know if I’d get kicked out of the circle one day. I kept saying, “I need something that’s mine.” Tammy Wynette never gave up her nursing license, you know? Everyone has a backup.
So I renamed it PLA Media, hoping people wouldn’t notice “Lewis” on both companies. That gave me a little separation, and peace of mind.
When did you realize Garth’s career was going to be massive?
It didn’t feel meteoric at first. There were lean times, especially for me. I remember crying in the office because my credit cards were maxed out. There was no such thing as “work-life balance.” I’d work all day, change clothes in the office bathroom, slap on deodorant and head to the CMA Awards. It was the most money I’d ever made, and the least balance I’d ever had. I didn’t date for 10 years. But that’s what it took.
Busy doesn’t begin to cover it. I was completely immersed, and there was definitely an unspoken message at the time: Little lady, stay in your sandbox.
How did things change after that?
By the time everything settled, the business was completely different. 360 deals had arrived, labels were consolidating, and the culture had shifted. But I’ll always say that era was something special. Nashville then felt like a campus…tight-knit, competitive, but collaborative. Everyone knew each other. Country music had an inferiority complex compared to New York and L.A., so when Garth started breaking records, it felt like the whole town was winning.
We threw a big party to celebrate—not to boast, but to say, “This is all of us.” Dolly, Kenny and Alabama had all crossed over too. It was a collective pride moment for country music.
When you look back on that whirlwind chapter, what stands out as one of your proudest moments?
Probably Garth’s first CMA Award, and his first Grammy. I remember the Grammy night vividly: freezing New York, gold stiletto heels and no limo to get us there. I finally took my shoes off on the walk there. It’s funny now, but at the time, not so much.
There were plenty of mishaps like that, but they make for great stories now. Watching Garth win, seeing the pride on his family’s faces, that’s what mattered most.
What was the next chapter for you like?
The next chapter was the dissolution of a partnership and, honestly, a divorce. When you go through that, the phone doesn’t ring. It was another dark night of the soul. But I kept PLA Media going, signed new clients and started asking myself what I was really supposed to do next.
I’d had a near-death experience earlier in life, and I’ve always felt that meant I was here for a reason beyond the music business. I’d always done charity work, so I decided to run for office. I served as an alderwoman and then vice mayor, working on local legislation and making national news a few times. It was baptism by fire, just like MTV and Garth had been.
That’s quite a career arc.
I always say I’ve worked on two cultural phenomena: MTV and Garth Brooks. Then politics became my third. It changed my life. Buying my historic home changed me, too. It grounded me.
Now I just want to do meaningful work. I don’t have human children, but I believe we’re all here to give back: to spread kindness and help others. To whom much is given, much is expected. That’s the motto I live by.
What’s your favorite part of what you do now?
I’m working on a few legacy projects that aren’t directly tied to the music industry, and that’s really exciting. Just recently, I gifted a life-size statue of Benjamin Franklin by renowned sculptor George Lundeen. The statue, titled “Ben on the Bench,” was unveiled on Franklin’s 320th birthday, January 17, 2026, and presented as a gift to the City of Franklin and Williamson County. I wrote two books to commemorate the event, “Benjamin Franklin: Amercia’s First Rockstar,” a whimsical take on America’s most-influential polymath and a children’s book titled “Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day.” And now I am helping tell other people’s stories—whether that’s through music, art, or community projects.
We work with clients across a range of industries, including authors and professors Don Cusic and Mary Ellen Pethel; the SuperFan Diaries sports-related podcast; Nashville Sites, a free digital platform offering more than 40 walking and driving tours of Nashville; the historic Two Rivers Mansion; and the Tina Turner Museum in West Tennessee, which recently unveiled a statue in her honor.
Our music roster continues to thrive as well, featuring country songwriting and producing legend Brent Maher; rock and roll icon Jim Messina; Wes McClelland, a Texas-based artist with his new single “What I Know Now” currently at Music Row radio stations; rising alternative artist Anour from Canada; and Nashville-based On The Rhodes Entertainment.
What I love most is helping people fulfill their dreams. It’s not always about record deals anymore—it’s about storytelling and impact.
My Music Row Story: PLA Media’s Pam Lewis
/by LB CantrellPam Lewis
Pamela Lewis, a native of upstate New York, graduated from Wells College with a B.A. in Economics/Marketing and a minor in French and Communications, including a year studying in Paris through COUP, affiliated with The Sorbonne. In New York City, she worked at MS Magazine and pursued graduate coursework at Fordham University and The New York School for Social Research.
From 1980 to 1984, Lewis was part of the original publicity/marketing team that launched MTV, also working with Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel, and A&E. She left as National Media Director to join RCA Records in Nashville, helping shape the careers of Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, The Judds, and Alabama. In 1985, she founded the award-winning PLA Media, and in 1987 formed Doyle/Lewis Management with Bob Doyle. Her first client was an unknown crooner named Garth Brooks, whom she guided to superstardom while also co-managing Trisha Yearwood’s early career.
Reinventing herself in 2003, Lewis won a four-year term as alderman-at-large in Franklin, Tennessee, serving as vice mayor and the board’s only female member for two years. She is a graduate of UT’s Local Government Leadership Program and Belmont University’s Scarlett Leadership Institute, and an alumna of Leadership Music and Leadership Middle Tennessee.
In 2023, Lewis was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year, joining the ranks of Benjamin Franklin, Charles Dickens, and Helen Keller. She also serves as a U.S. Ambassador for The Unity of Faiths Foundation.
Her charitable work spans historic preservation, women’s advocacy, and animal rights. Lewis has authored three books, including Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Rockstar and Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day, and delivered a TEDx Talk in Franklin, Tennessee, in March 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
In a small town in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley; beautiful country with dairy farms and apple orchards along the Hudson River. My dad was a teacher who became a school superintendent, so I couldn’t get away with anything. He wasn’t my principal, but he did pick all my teachers.
What were you like as a kid?
Nerdy. If the teacher said “read 500 pages,” I’d read all 500 because I knew the test would be on the one page I skipped. I talked a lot—got in trouble for that—but it’s served me well. I was in every club, sang in All-State Choir, and loved biology and traveling. My first trips were to Canada and France, and that started a lifelong travel bug. I’ve been to 130 countries and all 50 states.
When did you realize you wanted to work in music?
I always loved music. My parents took me to concerts at Lincoln Center and Tanglewood. As a kid, I begged to see Earth, Wind & Fire at Madison Square Garden. My parents actually dropped us off there, which is crazy in hindsight. I loved The Beatles, too. I remember dragging my mom to four record stores to find Abbey Road.
But it never clicked that people could work in music. There wasn’t a Belmont or MTSU then, at least that I knew of. So I got a marketing degree in economics and marketing, with minors in communications and French. I always liked the written word. I read a lot and thought it would be really cool to work at an advertising firm or a marketing company, or maybe in television. My first job was in cable television, and that was right when MTV launched. So literally, right out of school, I was convincing people to watch a 24-hour cable music channel. Nobody believed anyone would!
I had to send what we called “air checks” to reviewers and programmers because MTV wasn’t even available in Manhattan yet. The two main centers for entertainment were Los Angeles and New York, but MTV wasn’t in New York City. It was in Omaha, Nebraska, of all places. That’s why the “I Want My MTV” campaign started. It was such an exciting time. I got to meet a ton of people, learned how media works, and it really gave me the foundation for what came later.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
How did that lead you to Nashville?
I was dating a photographer who shot artists for RCA—everyone from Alabama to David Bowie. I’d tag along to shows, hang backstage and meet people without realizing who they were. That’s how I met Joe Galante, Tony Brown, Randy Goodman and Cynthia Spencer. Cynthia handled PR and marketing and would often call me for contacts. One day she said, “Pamela Sue, I’m leaving RCA to marry a golfer, and you’d be perfect for my job.”
I laughed it off. I was living on the Upper East Side, making $11,500 a year, scraping by but happy. Then she called again: “This is serious.” Next thing I knew, RCA flew me to Nashville for an interview. I didn’t even know how publishing worked. I thought if your name was next to a song like “Islands in the Stream,” that meant you wrote it.
I read Billboard on the plane, memorized a few chart names and bluffed my way through the meeting. They offered me the job, a car, an expense account and a hotel stay downtown. I wasn’t even 30. I said, “Make me an offer I can’t refuse,” and they did.
So I moved to Nashville. Within a year, RCA fired me, and my boyfriend dumped me.
Ouch. What came next?
That was my “dark night of the soul.” I was angry, hurt and feeling sorry for myself, until I got bored of my own pity party. I tried to move back to New York, but there wasn’t a job that made sense. So I hung out my own shingle and started doing marketing, PR and artist development.
At first, it was pure desperation, but I thought, I know how to do this. I had good instincts, I could write and I already owned an IBM Selectric typewriter. The only real difference was that now I had to pay for my own insurance. I started small, made enough to live on and eventually hired a couple of people.
Tony Brown gave me work, CMA brought me on as a consultant and things grew from there. That’s when I bought my first house.
How did you meet Bob Doyle?
Bob was from St. Louis—his dad was a principal, too. We were introduced by a mutual colleague. Bob was about to leave Capitol and wanted to start a management company. He needed someone with my skill set, so we became 50/50 partners and launched Doyle Lewis Management.
Bob said, “I’ve got this boy I want you to meet,” and in walked Garth. He was sitting on this Haitian cotton sofa with his guitar, singing and I just thought, “There’s something about this guy.” He had these piercing blue eyes and a calm confidence.
We were bootstrapping everything. I had my PR company by then, so Bob told me I could move into his building if I paid rent, something like $400 or $500 a month, which felt like a fortune. I was doing Garth’s PR and marketing out of a tiny cubbyhole with one employee. Eventually, I hired more people and opened my own office, PLA: Pam Lewis & Associates.
Photo: Courtesy of Lewis
Did you ever consider closing your PR business once Garth took off?
Oh, they both told me to: Bob and Garth. They’d say, “Close that PR company! You don’t need it.” But I didn’t know if I’d get kicked out of the circle one day. I kept saying, “I need something that’s mine.” Tammy Wynette never gave up her nursing license, you know? Everyone has a backup.
So I renamed it PLA Media, hoping people wouldn’t notice “Lewis” on both companies. That gave me a little separation, and peace of mind.
When did you realize Garth’s career was going to be massive?
It didn’t feel meteoric at first. There were lean times, especially for me. I remember crying in the office because my credit cards were maxed out. There was no such thing as “work-life balance.” I’d work all day, change clothes in the office bathroom, slap on deodorant and head to the CMA Awards. It was the most money I’d ever made, and the least balance I’d ever had. I didn’t date for 10 years. But that’s what it took.
Busy doesn’t begin to cover it. I was completely immersed, and there was definitely an unspoken message at the time: Little lady, stay in your sandbox.
How did things change after that?
By the time everything settled, the business was completely different. 360 deals had arrived, labels were consolidating, and the culture had shifted. But I’ll always say that era was something special. Nashville then felt like a campus…tight-knit, competitive, but collaborative. Everyone knew each other. Country music had an inferiority complex compared to New York and L.A., so when Garth started breaking records, it felt like the whole town was winning.
We threw a big party to celebrate—not to boast, but to say, “This is all of us.” Dolly, Kenny and Alabama had all crossed over too. It was a collective pride moment for country music.
When you look back on that whirlwind chapter, what stands out as one of your proudest moments?
Probably Garth’s first CMA Award, and his first Grammy. I remember the Grammy night vividly: freezing New York, gold stiletto heels and no limo to get us there. I finally took my shoes off on the walk there. It’s funny now, but at the time, not so much.
There were plenty of mishaps like that, but they make for great stories now. Watching Garth win, seeing the pride on his family’s faces, that’s what mattered most.
What was the next chapter for you like?
The next chapter was the dissolution of a partnership and, honestly, a divorce. When you go through that, the phone doesn’t ring. It was another dark night of the soul. But I kept PLA Media going, signed new clients and started asking myself what I was really supposed to do next.
I’d had a near-death experience earlier in life, and I’ve always felt that meant I was here for a reason beyond the music business. I’d always done charity work, so I decided to run for office. I served as an alderwoman and then vice mayor, working on local legislation and making national news a few times. It was baptism by fire, just like MTV and Garth had been.
That’s quite a career arc.
I always say I’ve worked on two cultural phenomena: MTV and Garth Brooks. Then politics became my third. It changed my life. Buying my historic home changed me, too. It grounded me.
Now I just want to do meaningful work. I don’t have human children, but I believe we’re all here to give back: to spread kindness and help others. To whom much is given, much is expected. That’s the motto I live by.
What’s your favorite part of what you do now?
I’m working on a few legacy projects that aren’t directly tied to the music industry, and that’s really exciting. Just recently, I gifted a life-size statue of Benjamin Franklin by renowned sculptor George Lundeen. The statue, titled “Ben on the Bench,” was unveiled on Franklin’s 320th birthday, January 17, 2026, and presented as a gift to the City of Franklin and Williamson County. I wrote two books to commemorate the event, “Benjamin Franklin: Amercia’s First Rockstar,” a whimsical take on America’s most-influential polymath and a children’s book titled “Ben Franklin Visits Franklin for a Day.” And now I am helping tell other people’s stories—whether that’s through music, art, or community projects.
We work with clients across a range of industries, including authors and professors Don Cusic and Mary Ellen Pethel; the SuperFan Diaries sports-related podcast; Nashville Sites, a free digital platform offering more than 40 walking and driving tours of Nashville; the historic Two Rivers Mansion; and the Tina Turner Museum in West Tennessee, which recently unveiled a statue in her honor.
Our music roster continues to thrive as well, featuring country songwriting and producing legend Brent Maher; rock and roll icon Jim Messina; Wes McClelland, a Texas-based artist with his new single “What I Know Now” currently at Music Row radio stations; rising alternative artist Anour from Canada; and Nashville-based On The Rhodes Entertainment.
What I love most is helping people fulfill their dreams. It’s not always about record deals anymore—it’s about storytelling and impact.
Kyle Schuesler Inks Publishing Deal With Liz Rose Music
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R): Liz Rose Music’s Scott Ponce, Gracie Glass, Liz Rose; Kyle Schuesler; American Recordings’ Michael Goldberg; Liz Rose Music’s Kate Shirley and Dave Pacula.
Kyle Schuesler has inked a publishing deal with Liz Rose Music.
Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Schuesler first gained national attention as a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. Since then, he has amassed more than 10 million streams across platforms.
He recently opened for Vance Joy on the 2025 North American Tour and headlined his own 10-date West Coast college tour. This fall, Schuesler will join Alana Springsteen on her “I Hope This Helps Tour.”
“Kyle Schuesler is a superstar!” shares Gracie Glass, Creative Manager at Liz Rose Music. “It’s so rare to find an artist and songwriter whose talent is equally matched by his character and work ethic. We’re incredibly proud of everything he has already accomplished independently and are so excited to be a part of his bright future as we welcome him into the Liz Rose Music family!”
“The Liz Rose crew is THE best,” says Schuesler. “Signing a deal in music has always been a dream of mine, but I didn’t expect the team to also become some of my best friends and favorite people to hang out with outside music. So HYPED for this journey.”
JUST IN: Tucker Wetmore Inks With Sandbox Entertainment
/by Lauryn SinkTucker Wetmore. Photo: Chase Foster
MusicRow has confirmed Tucker Wetmore has signed with Sandbox Entertainment for management, as first reported by Billboard.
Jason Owen will serve as Wetmore’s manager.
The Kalama, Washington moved to Nashville in 2020, kicking off his career with back-to-back Platinum tracks, including “Wine Into Whiskey” and the double-Platinum debut No. 1 “Wind Up Missin’ You.” He was recently named ACM’s New Male Artist of the Year and notched his third No. 1 at country radio with “Brunette.” Wetmore’s catalog has amassed more than 2.4 billion global streams.
Wetmore is currently amidst his “The Brunette World Tour,” selling out shows in New York, Boston, three consecutive nights in London and more, and he will also make his Red Rocks debut later this year.
Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop To Host Grand Opening Week Celebration
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton. Photo: Courtesy of Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital
Dolly‘s Tennessean Travel Stop has revealed details for its Grand Opening Week celebration June 24-July 3.
Located at Exit 22 off I-65 in Cornersville, Tennessee, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop will open its doors to the public on June 24, at 2:30 p.m. with a week of food, live music, giveaways and Tennessee hospitality. From 2:30- 8 p.m., guests are invited to celebrate with food samplings from DLY BBQ, including new and returning favorites from the restaurant; samples of Cup of Ambition, Dolly’s new coffee brand; live music on the main stage featuring Alison Nichols, Taylor Ocano, Lovella, and local acoustic duo Songbird; and giveaways throughout the afternoon.
Every day through July 2, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop will be serving up live music on the main stage, giveaways, and surprises all week long. The Travel Stop will close out Grand Opening Week with a full-scale community celebration on July 3 starting at 5 p.m., and is a Cornersville tradition. The evening will feature live music from Escape Band, a cornhole competition, bounce houses, raffle prizes, food truck, ice cream, and a fireworks display for a send-off into the 4th of July holiday.
Dolly Parton will not be in attendance for Grand Opening events. Fans can RSVP for the Grand Opening event here to stay in the loop with updates and reminders.
Eli Winders Inks With Big Loud Publishing
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): Sara Knabe (SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records), Kimberly Gleason (SVP, Big Loud Publishing), Katie Flynn (Senior Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing), Eli Winders, Layne Lindroth (Artist Manager, Track Record MGMT/C3 Management), Sydney Burdette (Creative Manager, Big Loud Publishing) and Michael Giangreco (President of A&R, Big Loud Publishing). Photo: Jessie Addleman
Singer-songwriter Eli Winders has signed with Big Loud Publishing.
Before signing his deal, Winders worked at a feed mill in North Carolina. He started posting his original music online and quickly built a strong fan base, which gave him the opportunity to leave his job and move to Nashville to focus on songwriting full time.
“I am so grateful and excited to have signed my first publishing deal with Big Loud,” Winders shares. “Since coming to Nashville for the first time in early 2023 I knew it was where I wanted to be. The opportunity to work beside so many writers that I’ve looked up to and a team that cares so much is a dream come true.”
“When we first met Eli, he played us a great song he wrote on his own at just 18 years old,” adds Katie Flynn, Senior Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing. “I was immediately impressed. Eli is an exceptional songwriter and is very competitive with himself, consistently writing better songs every week. His work ethic, instincts and raw talent make him an amazing addition to the Big Loud team. We are lucky to have him, and I can’t wait for this next chapter of his artistry and songwriting career.”
Born and raised in Pikeville, North Carolina, Winders was inspired by artists such as Eric Church, John Mayer, ERNEST and Ben Burgess. He picked up a guitar at 16 and began writing and performing his own songs. After moving to Nashville in 2024, Winders released his debut EP, From Pikeville, produced by Eric Arjes. The project featured standout tracks including “Carolina Blue,” “Pack My Hometown,” and “Famous for a Heartache” featuring Vincent Mason.
Since then, Winders and his band have toured across the country, opening for Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore, Dylan Scott and Conner Smith.
Elizabeth Nichols Plots ‘I Don’t Kiss And Tell, I Kiss And Tour’ Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughElizabeth Nichols
Elizabeth Nichols will embark on her first-ever headlining trek, the “I Don’t Kiss and Tell, I Kiss and Tour” Tour, beginning in September.
Kicking off Sept. 29 in San Diego and running throughout October, the tour will include stops in Phoenix, Minneapolis, Louisville, Fort Worth and more, with a Nashville date at the Exit/In on Oct. 9. Tickets go on sale on Friday (June 19), and fan presale begins today (June 17).
“It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that my first performance ever was in 2025 and now I’m getting ready to head out on my first headlining tour,” says Nichols. “My absolute favorite part of playing shows is talking to people so I cannot wait to come meet you all! All I ask is that if one of my exes lives in your city, you’re extra loud…I will love you forever.”
The tour marks a major milestone for Nichols, whose rapid rise began in 2025 after stepping away from law school. Her breakthrough year was highlighted by her first-ever headlining show in London this past March. which sold out within minutes, prompting an immediate upgrade to a larger room, which also sold out within minutes. Since pursuing music full time, she has released her first EP, Tough Love and played several bucket list stages across the globe including the Kentucky Derby, The Bluebird Cafe, CMA Fest, Stagecoach, the Grand Ole Opry and more.
Nichols was also just announced as a performer on Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash, a celebration hosted by Ryan Seacrest featuring star-studded performances and one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the U.S., airing live coast-to-coast July 4, at 7 CT on ABC, Disney+, Hulu, FX, Freeform and NatGeo.
“I Don’t Kiss and Tell, I Kiss and Tour” Dates:
September 29 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego (Voodoo Room)
October 1 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
October 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar (Music Hall)
October 4 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
October 6 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
October 7 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
October 9 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
October 10 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
October 13 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage (Vinyl)
October 16 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
October 17 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips
October 21 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
October 23 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
October 24 – Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy
October 25 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East (Sonia)
Museum of Christian & Gospel Music Hosts Special We The Kingdom Pop-Up Exhibit
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Museum of Christian & Gospel Music is hosting a special We The Kingdom Pop-Up Exhibit now through June 20 in downtown Nashville.
The exhibit coincides with the release of We The Kingdom’s new album, Everything I Thought Was Pleasure, which released last week via Capitol Christian Music Group. The limited-time exhibit offers fans an up-close look at the band’s journey through memorabilia, stories, and career highlights while connecting their impact in Christian and Gospel music, and provides a unique opportunity to experience the music, message, and moments that have shaped the band’s remarkable rise.
Since their debut, the multi-generational family band has become one of the leading voices in Christian music, earning Grammy nominations, Dove Awards, Platinum and Gold singles, and more than one billion global streams. Their breakout hit, “Holy Water,” spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Christian radio and remains one of the genre’s defining songs of the past decade.
The We The Kingdom Pop-Up Exhibit is included with museum admission and will be available through June 20. Museum hours and admission information is available here.
Charlie Worsham Slates First Independent Album For August [Exclusive]
/by Lauryn SinkCharlie Worsham will release his first full-length album as an independent artist, Once Upon A Second Time Around, on August 7.
Recorded at Sound Emporium, Sony Tree Studio A, Pinebox Studios, Querencia Sound, and The House, the album features writing credits from John Osborne, Jon Nite, Andrew DeRoberts, James McNair and more. Josh Van Valkenburg served as Executive Producer and Jaren Johnston joined as Co-Producer. Musicians feature on the album include percussionist Jerry Roe, bassist Rich Brinsfield and guitarist Kris Donegan.
Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr. and The Travelin’ McCourys each join Worsham for a track on the project.
“At its core, Once Upon A Second Time Around is an album about relationships,” shares Worsham. “It’s about my relationship as a husband and father and adult son. It’s about my relationship to an ever-changing industry. It’s about my relationship to longtime friends and mentors. And it’s about my relationship to my younger self.”
Alongside the announcement, Worsham released “Powers That Be,” a track that introduces listeners to the record’s central theme of self-awareness, authenticity and perspective.
“’Powers That Be’ takes my rock and roll influence to the next level,” he says. “I modeled the dynamic shift from verse to chorus after my favorite Led Zeppelin track, ‘Ramble On.’ And you might hear a Jimi Hendrix lick or two in the solo. I joke that ‘Powers That Be’ is my hillbilly version of the Stones’ ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want.’ Cause if you try sometimes, you do get what you need.”
As a songwriter, Worsham has earned cuts with Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs and Dierks Bentley. He earned the 2024 CMA Musician of the Year and CMA Touring Musician of the Year, and is two-time ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year.
Worsham has upcoming tour dates in Nashville and the UK.
Once Upon A Second Time Around Tracklist:
1. “Powers That Be” (Charlie Worsham, Jaren Johnston, James McNair)
2. “Whiskeysippi” (Jon Nite, Andrew DeRoberts, Drew Parker)
3. “Wrap My Porch Around” (Charlie Worsham, Jesse Frasure, Jaren Johnston)
4. “Blue Collar And A Purple Heart” (Charlie Worsham)
5. “They Never Do (feat. Lainey Wilson)” (Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Dallas Wilson)
6. “Grass” (Charlie Worsham, John Osborne, Jesse Frasure)
7. “Family Man” (Matt Rogers, Ben Stennis, Josh Jenkins)
8. “Years Go By (feat. Stephen Wilson Jr.)” (Charlie Worsham, Stephen Wilson Jr.)
9. “Once Upon A Second Time Around” (Charlie Worsham, Jay Knowles)
10. “Good Hurt” (Jon Nite, Walker Hayes)
11. “Pencil ‘raser”
12. “Wrap My Porch Around (feat. The Travelin’ McCourys)”
Industry Ink: Ian Munsick, Koe Wetzel, Tyler Braden, Skillet, Lee Greenwood, PBS Member Pledge
/by Lauryn SinkIan Munsick & Schaefer Outfitter Unveil Capsule Collaboration Collection
Ian Munsick. Photo: Ben Christensen
Ian Munsick has partnered with Schaefer Outfitter for the brand’s first-ever capsule collaboration collection, launching Aug. 18. The collection with Munsick will include custom pearl snap shirts, outerwear, hats and graphic tees.
“Located in the heart of Texas but originating in Wyoming, Schaefer puts quality and functionality over everything,” Munsick shares. “With roots dating back to the 1980’s, their product continues to stand the test of time. Caroline and I knew that with their mission and material, and our branding flair and vision, the ideal western shirt line would be born. And finally, that line will be all yours.”
Koe Wetzel Partners With Rock & Roll Denim for New Summer Collection
Photo: Courtesy of Rock & Roll Denim
Koe Wetzel has partnered with Rock & Roll Denim for a new summer collection. The collection will include caps, t-shirts, polos, Tek Western shirts and Rock & Roll Denim’s signature pearl snap shirts, and will be available online and in select retailers, including Cavinder’s and Boot Barn.
“It’s very important for us to be able to move around the way we do, and Rock & Roll Denim is what I want to be in whenever I’m on stage,” says Wetzel. “Moving around as much as we are, making sure we can do the splits if we need to. It’s very vital to what we do on stage. I don’t think we could just stand in place and play the music that we do. Acting crazy on stage kind of goes with the sound that we have.”
“Aside from his East Texas roots, Koe’s personal and musical style allowed this collection to come together seamlessly,” adds Jamison Hochster, President at Rock & Roll Denim, “Koe Wetzel embodies our brand’s ethos. We’ve both cultivated engaged fans and an authentically Western style, and it’s exactly the kind of creative partnership that we pride ourselves on at Rock & Roll Denim.”
Tyler Braden Joins Savannah Bananas For Performance Of ‘More Than A Prayer’
Tyler Braden recently joined the Savannah Bananas and The Firefighters at the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium on June 13. He performed “More Than A Prayer” from his debut album devil and a prayer for a crowd of more than 85,000 fans.
Skillet’s “Monster” Surpasses 4 Billion Streams
Skillet.
Skillet’s 6x-platinum track “Monster” has surpassed four billion streams, earns a place in Spotify’s Billions Club, and solidified its status as one of the most-streamed rock songs of all time.
The song is the only Christian song in history to cross 1 billion Spotify streams. The milestone arrives on the heels of the band’s completely sold-out European headline tour, which sold 90,000 tickets across 23 cities and brought SKILLET in front of the largest international crowds of their career.
Lee Greenwood Partners With Allied Flag To Launch Limited-Edition Flag
Lee Greenwood has partnered with Allied Flag to introduce a limited-edition American flag presented in a custom-designed package featuring Greenwood’s name and likeness. These exclusive collector’s editions will be available only at Bass Pro Shops.
“I’ve always believed that the American flag represents the very best of who we are as a nation, our freedom, our faith, and the sacrifices made to protect it,” shares Greenwood. “Partnering with Allied Flag to create something that’s proudly made in the USA and honors that spirit means a great deal to me. I hope this flag serves as a reminder of our unity and the pride we share as Americans.”
Terry McBride & Lisa Harless Host Nashville PBS Member Pledge Drive
Photo: Lisa Harless, Terry McBride, Nashville PBS CEO/President Becky Magura
Terry McBride and Lisa Harless co-hosted the Member Pledge Drive for Nashville PBS on June 4.
The “Country Classics” show featured performances honoring the careers and music of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers.
Robert Earl Keen Unveils Lineup For 5th Annual Homecoming Weekend
/by Lorie HollabaughRobert Earl Keen. Photo: Patrick Dunn
Robert Earl Keen has revealed the lineup for his 5th Annual Homecoming Weekend Sept. 5-7, which includes the Fan Appreciation Day at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas.
On Sept. 5 a 30th anniversary full-band celebration set of Keen’s seminal recorded-at-Floore’s, #2 Live Dinner album will take place. On Sept. 6, Keen gathers some of his favorite writers for a “Songs & Stories” guitar pull indoors at Floore’s, featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Poltz, Suzy Bogguss, and Keen.
Fan Appreciation Day’s doors will open at 2 p.m. on Sept. 7, and will end with Keen and the band’s headlining set. The all-day event will be free, featuring yet-to-be-announced guests and a Robert Earl Keen Band. The Fan Appreciation Day ticket lottery for the Sept. 7 show is live now and fans can enter here. All other tickets including VIP packages, are on sale now, and can be found here for Saturday and here for Sunday.
In addition to his summer tour, Keen is linking up with Lost Highways Records for the 25th anniversary reissue of Gravitational Forces. Out on July 10, this new pressing will feature a special-edition forest green colored vinyl, along with new album notes courtesy of Keen’s daughter, Clara Rose.