Nick Steele & Kristen Flowers To Receive Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award During CRS 2026

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Nick Steele and Kristen Flowers, morning show hosts on Audacy’s 99.5 The Wolf (KWJJ-FM) in Portland, will receive the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award during CRS 2026.

The award is named for broadcast veteran Tom Rivers, honoring his legacy by recognizing individuals in the country radio industry who exemplify a spirit of caring and generosity through hands-on community service. Recipients demonstrate a deep personal commitment of time, talent, and resources to meaningful causes. Rivers passed away in 2004 at the age of 38. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the CRB Board of Directors and served as Operations Manager at WUSN (99.5 FM) in Chicago. His career also included time at WQYK (99.5 FM) in Tampa.

Steele and Flowers are being honored for their philanthropic leadership through Nick & Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff, an annual initiative now in its sixth year. During the most recent campaign, held Nov. 17–21, 2025, the duo raised enough funds to eliminate $2.17 million in local medical debt across the Pacific Northwest. The effort was conducted in partnership with national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. Since its inception, Nick & Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff has raised more than $18 million, fully relieving medical debt for over 10,000 individuals and families throughout the region.

Past recipients of the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award include Mark “Hawkeye” Louis, Tim Leary, Storme Warren, Heather Froglear, Lon Helton, Bill Lawson, Dan Halyburton, Peter Smyth, Jeff Smulyan, Mary Quaas, and George G. Beasley.

CRS 2026 will take place March 18–20 at the Omni Nashville Hotel, and registration is available now.

Josh Miller Moves Into Top 20 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Josh Miller

Josh Miller has entered the top 20 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. With Morgan Wallen’s “20 Cigarettes” and Tucker Wetmore’s “Brunette,” the songwriter sits at No. 19 this week.

Riley Green remains at No. 1 for the 13th consecutive week with “Change My Mind” and “Don’t Mind If I Do.” Chase McGill stays at No. 2 with “20 Cigarettes,” “Brunette,” “Happen To Me,” “I Got Better,” “It Won’t Be Long” and “the hell you are.”

Blake Pendergrass (No. 3), Ty Myers (No. 4) and Charlie Handsome (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.

Applications For MusicRow’s 2026 InCharge Directory Open Now

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Applications for MusicRow‘s 2026 InCharge print directory are open now through Friday, Feb. 6.

Now in its 39th year, InCharge is an annual guide highlighting some of the most influential industry executives in the Nashville music business. This year’s issue is slated for an April release.

Applications are now closed.

All submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee to determine the candidates chosen for this year’s issue.

Note: Executives listed last year will be receiving an email from MusicRow to invite them to apply for this year’s consideration.

For advertising opportunities, please contact Sherod Robertson at srobertson@musicrow.com.

For questions regarding the directory, please contact the editorial team at directory@musicrow.com.

Megan Moroney Notches Third No. 1 Hit

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Megan Moroney. Photo: Amber Asaly

Megan Moroney has notched her third No. 1 track with the Gold-certified “Six Months Later.”

“Thank you so much to my country radio friends! It feels surreal to have another number one and I’m thankful country radio embraced this song as much as my fans and I,” shares Moroney.

Written by Moroney, Ben Williams, David “Messy” Mescon and Rob Hatch, “6 Months Later” premiered in June and marked her highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100. The track will appear on her Cloud 9  album, which is due Feb. 20.

This song follows her first two chart-toppers with the double-Platinum “Am I Okay?” and four-times Platinum “Tennessee Orange.” Moroney will kick off her “The Cloud 9 Tour” May 29 in Columbus, with 43 dates internationally.

Chris Cagle To Launch ‘Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour’ In February

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Chris Cagle. Photo: Charlie Kriak

Chris Cagle is set to launch the first leg of his “Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour” with an exclusive performance and interview in front of a live audience at the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville on Feb. 5.

The special event will be broadcast Feb. 13 on SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry channel 57, marking the start of a year-long celebration honoring 25 years since the release of Cagle’s debut album, Play It Loud. The SiriusXM event will feature live music and an in-depth conversation reflecting on Cagle’s career, the impact of Play It Loud, and the songs that helped define early 2000s country.

Following the Nashville kickoff, the first leg of the “25th Anniversary Tour” will take Cagle across Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, the Midwest, and more, with additional dates and special appearances to be announced.

“This record changed my life,” says Cagle. “Twenty-five years later, it still means everything to me. This tour is about celebrating where it all started and the people who’ve been there every step of the way.”

Released in 2000, Play It Loud introduced Cagle to country radio with the breakout hit “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out” and quickly established him as a major new voice in the genre and has generated over two billion career streams.

“Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour” Dates:
Feb 5 – Nashville, TN – SiriusXM Studios
Feb 13 – Tampa, FL – Boots on the Water
Feb 20 – Mt Vernon, KY – Renfro Valley
Feb 21 – Medina, OH – Thirsty Cowboy
Feb 27 – Orlando, FL – Private
Mar 6 – Hockley, TX – 2920 Roadhouse
Mar 7 – Baton Rouge, LA – Texas Club
Mar 19 – Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass
Mar 20 – Benson, AZ – Cochise Music Festival
Mar 21 – Temecula, CA – Temecula Stampede
Mar 22 – San Diego, CA – Music Box
Apr 10 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC
Apr 11 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon
June 19 – Oswego, IL – PrairieFest
June 25 – Brainerd, MN – Lakes Jam
July 4 – Hillsboro, OH – Hillsboro Festival of Bells
July 17 – Cuba, MO – Crawford County Fair
July 24 – Lewistown, MT – Central Montana Fair
Aug 1 – Wahoo, NE – Saunders County Fair
Aug 8 – Gail, TX – The Coyote Store
Aug 21 – Plainview, TX – Sunset Pointe Event Center
Aug 22 – Denton, TX – North Texas State Fair
Sept 4 – Schaghticoke, NY – Schaghticoke Fair
Sept 12 – Kenton, OH – Hardin County Fair
Sept 19 – Beaumont, TX – Beaumont Civic Center
Oct 11 – Suffolk, VA – Suffolk Peanut Festival

Dolly Parton & Belmont University Launch Five Spring Dolly U Courses

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Belmont University has collaborated with Dolly Parton and CTK Enterprises on the latest semester of Dolly U, a slate of immersive coursework and community initiatives inspired by Parton’s life, artistry and entrepreneurial spirit.

The partnership launched in 2025, and this semester will expand opportunities for students to engage in hands-on projects that bridge entertainment, business, communication and community outreach. Dolly U courses span three colleges, Entertainment & Music Business, Business and Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and students across entertainment, marketing, communications and business disciplines will collaborate on real-world projects.

Community Programs include the Billy the Kid Makes It Big Touring Production, in which Belmont’s Department of Theatre and Dance Repertory Company will bring Dolly Parton’s children’s book to life with a stage performance. Following its creation in fall 2025, the production will tour elementary schools across Davidson and Williamson Counties in spring 2026.

“Dolly’s career is a masterclass in character, creativity and innovation, and our spring Dolly U courses give students the opportunity to apply those same principles,” says Sarah Cates, Belmont’s vice president for imagination, strategic initiatives & partnerships. “From marketing the Broadway soundtrack to designing guest experiences for the SongTeller Hotel, they’re learning how Dolly’s artistry and entrepreneurial vision continue to shape culture and community. This dynamic curriculum doesn’t just teach about excellence but invites students to be part of creating it.”

Following the sold-out run of Dolly: A True Original Musical at Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, University President Greg Jones presented Dolly with a commemorative gift celebrating both the production’s remarkable achievement and Dolly U’s inaugural year on campus. The custom ceramic bowl, featuring a butterfly motif and sculpted by Audry Deal-McEver, symbolizes transformation and the creative spirit central to Dolly’s partnership with Belmont.

“Watching 49 consecutive sold-out audiences experience Dolly: A True Original Musical at the Fisher Center was nothing short of magical for Belmont, for Nashville and for the entire entertainment community,” says Jones. “Dolly’s partnership has brought unprecedented creative energy to our campus, and this commemorative gift symbolizes our deep gratitude for the transformative experiences she’s creating for our students.”

Spring 2026 Academic Coursework:

  • Entertainment Marketing and Promotion | Dr. Stephen Rush – Students will design marketing strategies for the “Dolly: A True Original Musical” soundtrack, applying real-world promotional techniques to a landmark Broadway launch.
  • Partnership Marketing in Music | John Zarling & Jackie Campbell, chief marketing officer and chief operations officer, Results Global, Dolly Parton’s marketing agency. Students will explore sponsorships, strategic alignments and nonprofit collaborations, with projects centered on Dolly’s Life Of Many Colors Museum.
  • Emerging Dolly Initiative | Dr. Anna Grace Usery – Students will develop integrated communication strategies for Dolly U programming focused on educational outreach or community engagement.
  • Dollyology: Branding, Leadership & Strategic Communication in the Dollyverse | Dr. Kevin Trowbridge – Students will examine Dolly Parton’s career as a blueprint for building purpose-driven brands, emphasizing authenticity, creativity and cultural intelligence
  • Customer Relationship Management and Experience Strategy | Dr. Angela Sebby – Students will design customer experience strategies tied to Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, part of the forthcoming Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel opening in 2026

Drake Milligan Slates Additional ‘Tumbleweed World Tour’ Dates

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Drake Milligan. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

Drake Milligan has added 23 additional dates to his “Tumbleweed World Tour,” kicking off Feb. 22 in Hampton, Georgia.

The new round of dates will begin March 27 in Fort Myers, with stops in Birmingham, Chicago, Salt Lake City and more. The new dates will also include three Australian dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Over the course of the year, Milligan will also make appearances at C2C, Cattle Country Music Festival, Monterrey Country Festival, High Chaparral Country Fest, Lasso Country Music Festival, Headwaters Country Jam and YQM Country Fest, among others.

Tickets for all dates are available now.

“Tumbleweed World Tour” Dates:
Feb. 22- Hampton, GA
Feb. 27- Calgary, AB
Mar. 6- Rotterdam, NL
Mar. 7- Berlin, DE
Mar. 10- Paris, Fr
Mar. 11- Leuven, BE
Mar. 13- Belfast, UK
Mar. 14- Glasgow, UK
Mar. 15- London, UK
Mar. 27- Fort Myers, FL
Mar. 28- Sarasota, FL
Mar. 29- Sanford, FL
Apr. 2- Birmingham, AL
Apr. 3- Chattanooga, TN
Apr. 4- Knoxville, TN
Apr. 11- Royse City, TX
Apr. 12- Gonzales, TX
Apr. 17- San Antonio, TX
May 7- Lexington, KY
May 8- Chicago, IL
May 9- Milwaukee, WI
May 12- Buffalo, NY
May 14- Chittenango, NY
May 15- Binghamton, NY
May 16- Brooklyn, NY
May 17- Asbury Park, NJ
May 23- Santiago, MX
May 29- Hillerstorp, SE
June 13- Fort Collins, CO
June 14- Salt Lake City, UT
June 17- Nampa, ID
June 19- Seattle, WA
June 20- Portland, OR
July 8- Melbourne, AU
July 9- Sydney, AU
July 11- Brisbane, AU
July 25- Cardwell, MT
Aug. 29- Dieppe, NB
Sep. 11 & 12- Gstaad, CH

Rock Nashville, New State-Of-The-Art Live Production Facility, Officially Opens

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Rock Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of Merus

Rock Nashville, the live entertainment rehearsal and production campus, has officially opened its doors on its 610,000-square-foot property on Whites Creek Pike.

Located less than 10 miles from downtown, the 55 acre, state-of-the-art live production facility was developed through a partnership between Rock Lititz and Merus, with Soundcheck serving as an anchor tenant. Rock Nashville is now actively welcoming artists, production teams and industry vendors to the campus. The facility is already supporting rehearsals, technical production and tour preparation across multiple stages and studios.

Rock Nashville team members gather to celebrate the facility opening. Photo: Mallory Holcomb/Huckleberry

Key features of Rock Nashville include large-scale rehearsal facilities, including two arena and amphitheater-sized rehearsal spaces designed to support full-scale tour production; 13 state-of-the-art band and production studios of varying sizes serving both emerging and established artists; industry vendor hub with space for more than 30 companies specializing in audio, lighting, transportation, special effects and crew support, along with lifestyle services including a café, barbershop, spa, medical concierge and more; and shared resources including backline rental, artist relations offices and collaborative workspaces designed to foster creativity and connection across the live entertainment ecosystem.

The Rock Nashville campus employs approximately 50 local staff members, with an additional 500 on-site employees from partner vendors, including Clair Global, Gallagher and The RockIt Company. The facility will also support between 200 and 400 temporary local workers daily, such as labor crews, runners and seamstresses, as well as an estimated 200 to 400 touring crew members.

Suzy Bogguss Becomes Newest Opry Member, Reba McEntire Celebrates 40th Opry Anniversary

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Suzy Bogguss becomes the newest Opry member. Photo: Danielle Piazza for Grand Ole Opry

Suzy Bogguss officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry Friday night (Jan. 16) and was inducted into the Opry family by friend and fellow member Reba McEntire.

Bogguss kicked off the night performing her signature songs “Someday Soon,” “Aces” and “Outbound Plane,” the top 10 hits from her 1991 album Aces, which earned her the CMA Horizon Award in 1992. Her friend Trisha Yearwood then surprised the audience when she walked on stage to congratulate her friend, saying, “I love this woman. It’s really an honor to be here on such a special moment. To get to be here on the night you were invited and to be here tonight is just amazing. Suzy Bogguss is one of those artists who doesn’t just sing songs, she lives them. Her voice, her heart, her commitment to the music have inspired so many, including me.”

Trisha Yearwood, Terri Clark, Suzy Bogguss Kathy Mattea and Reba McEntire after Bogguss’ Opry induction. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Yearwood then introduced their friend McEntire, who was also celebrating her milestone 40th Opry anniversary, to the stage. “This is so special, Suzy,” said McEntire. “This family is incredible. They are loving. Everybody in this building. This stage is very important to all of us dating many, many generations back. To be able to give you this trophy is very special to me, to everyone sitting here, and to everybody in this building watching. Suzy Bogguss’s voice is like an angel’s voice. When she sings you know it. You know it when you hear it on the radio. I am so proud to give you this trophy that tells you that you are the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Congratulations!

“I can’t even express it to you. And you know me – I talk a lot and I can’t even find words,” said Bogguss about the honor. “This place is so special. Honestly, I have always been nervous up here. Tonight, sitting in the circle, I feel so calm. It’s like being in the eye of the hurricane or something. I am so proud to be a part of [the Opry]. Thank you for including me in this amazing cast, and the past cast. I feel a lot of pretty special spirits in this room right now. I was lucky enough to get to be here with some of the real greats starting here in 1989 and feeling welcome from the very first time of stepping into the circle.”

Bogguss wrapped her induction night by welcoming Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea, McEntire and Yearwood to join her on a memorable performance of “Hey Cinderella.” A Platinum-selling CMA Award winning singer-songwriter, Bogguss has been a frequent favorite at the Grand Ole Opry for over three decades, and first made her Opry debut on May 12, 1989.

In celebration of her 40th Opry anniversary, McEntire closed the show with “I’m A Survivor,” “Happy’s Place” and “Back To God” before bringing her friends and fellow Opry members Bogguss, Clark, Mattea and Yearwood back out for a fun performance of “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” to wrap the special evening.

Jenna Paulette Readies Deluxe Album, Slates Spring Tour

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Jenna Paulette will release the deluxe edition of her sophomore album, Horseback, on Jan. 30 via Leo33.

Consisting of 20 tracks, Horseback (Deluxe) contains all 13 tracks off the original album along with seven new tracks, including new versions of “The Dirt,” “Chasin’ Whiskey” and “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)” featuring John Morgan, Jake Worthington and Ashley McBryde, respectively. The album features cuts from Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Rodney Clawson, Will Bundy, Dallas Davidson and more.

Paulette is currently amidst her 26-date “Back In The Saddle Tour,” with dates in Texas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, South Carolina and more. Tickets are available now.

“This tour is appropriately named. At the end of 2025, I finally felt like I was finding my footing again after becoming a mom and getting through the first year of parenthood,” Paulette reflects. “A lot of last year was spent figuring out how to get back in the saddle in every area of my life. I can’t wait to be on the road again and a lot more in 2026. It’s gonna be a ride.”

Horseback (Deluxe) Tracklist:
1. “Wild Is Her Favorite Color” (Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey)
2. “3 Kings” (Jenna Paulette, Parker Welling, Casey Brown)
3. “The Devil’s an Angel” (Jenna Paulette, Parker Welling, Casey Brown)
4. “Run The Damn Ball” (Rodney Clawson, Casey Michael Beathard, Hunter Phelps)
5. “The Dirt” (Jenna Paulette, Will Bundy, Hillary Lindsey)
6. “Chasin’ Whiskey” (Joe Fox, Tony Lane)
7. “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song)” (Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg, Lori McKenna)
8. “Outside” (Kelley Lovelace, Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson)
9. “Prairie Primrose” (Jenna Paulette, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)
10. “Darlin’” (Jenna Paulette, Jess Cayne, Matthew Morrisey)
11. “Horseback” (Jenna Paulette, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan)
12. “Hang Your Hat” (Jenna Paulette, Smith Ahnquist, Jim Beavers, Rhett Akins)
13. “A Hill To Die On” (Jenna Paulette, Smith Ahnquist, Lynn Hutton)
14. “The Dirt (ft. John Morgan)” (Jenna Paulette, Will Bundy, Hillary Lindsey, John Morgan)
15. “Chasin’ Whiskey (ft. Jake Worthington)” (Joe Fox, Tony Lane)
16. “The Prophet (Grandaddy’s Song) ft. Ashley McBryde” (Ashley McBryde, Matraca Berg, Lori McKenna)
17. “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” (Jenna Paulette, Parker Welling, Casey Brown)
18. “Steady” (Jenna Paulette, Will Bundy, Rhett Akins)
19. “Cowboy In Me (Live)” (Jeffrey Steele, AI Anderson, Craig Wiseman)
20. “Texas (When I Die) [Live]” (Bobby Borchers, Ed Bruce, Patsy Bruce)

“Back In The Saddle Tour” Dates:
Jan 24 // New Braunfels, Texas // Gruene Hall *co-headlining with Jesse Raub Jr.
Jan 31 // Tulsa, Okla. // Mercury Lounge
Feb 1 // Kansas City, Mo. // Knuckleheads
Feb 3 // Venice, Neb. // Buck’s Bar and Grill
Feb 4 // Davenport, Iowa // Raccoon Motel
Feb 5 // Yorkville, Ill. // Law Office Pub & Music Hall
Feb 6 // Milwaukee, Wis. // Shank Hall
Feb 7 // Clinton, Wis. // BOXCARS Pub & Grub
Feb 14 // Dunn, N.C. // Bird’s Nest Listening Room
Feb 15 // Greenville, S.C. // Doc’s Tavern
Feb 19-21 // Alpine, Texas // Lonestar Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Feb 26 // Fort Worth, Texas // Rhinestone Saloon
March 7 // Conroe, Texas // Table at Madeley
April 1 // Decatur, Ga. // Eddie’s Attic
April 2 // Nashville, Tenn. // Chief’s on Broadway *co-headline with Sammy Arriaga
April 11-16 // Galveston, Texas // Rock the Coast
April 23 // Corpus Christi, Texas // Brewster Street Icehouse
July 11 // Woodland Park, Colo. // America’s Mountain Festival