Kelsea Ballerini will make her debut on Saturday Night Live on March 4 as the musical guest. Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce will serve as the night’s host.

Ballerini surprise-dropped a six-song EP earlier this week on Valentine’s Day. The project, titled Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, finds Ballerini grappling with her divorce and the recent transitions in her life.

“I was writing by myself for most of the project, and it was nice to trust myself again,” Ballerini says of the EP. “The only way I’ve been able to handle my life since I was 12 was to write about it. Ironically, I started writing music because my parents got divorced; that was my therapy. Rolling Up The Welcome Mat was how I processed everything. It’s the way I got my feelings out of my body and heart and put them to music, which is the purest way I could’ve handled it.”

Rolling Up The Welcome Mat was set to visuals with a short film that also released on Valentine’s Day. Ballerini wrote and directed the film alongside co-director Patrick Tracy.

The intimate collection follows Ballerini’s 2022 album Subject To Change. The country star will launch the second US leg of her exclusive “Heartfirst Tour” in March.

Sara Evans is planning to commemorate her 2003 Platinum album Restless, with “Sara Evans Still Restless – The 20 Year Celebration,” which will include a special performance of the album in its entirety on Aug. 17 at the Ryman Auditorium.

In addition to Evans performing the Restless album plus other career hits, fans can look forward to special surprise guests appearing throughout the evening. Restless included three top 20 singles including “Backseat of a Greyhound Bus,” “Perfect,” which peaked at No. 2, and the smash single “Suds In The Bucket.”

“I’ve never performed the full album from start to finish before, so this will be a special treat to sing these songs that I love so much on the Ryman stage, along with many of my other hits,” says Evans. “I love all of my albums and each one has a special place in my heart, but I’ve always said that Restless is my favorite. There was magic in the studio when we were making the record that brought life into these songs, some of which I wrote and some that were written by many of the best songwriters in the world.”

Ticket pre-sale for the celebration will begin Tuesday, Feb. 21, with public on sale starting Friday, Feb. 24. To sign up for pre-sale, visit saraevans.com/tour.

Evans appeared on season nine of The Masked Singer on Fox this week. Her character “The Mustang” was revealed on the first episode and performed “Here I Go Again.” With enduring hits such as “Born To Fly,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” “Perfect” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” Evans has earned recognition as the fifth most played female artist at country radio.

Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Chrissy Metz and songwriter Bradley Collins have teamed to create a new children’s picture book about faith, prayer, and the loving bond between parent and child in When I Talk to God, I Talk About You, out now from Flamingo Books.

The rhyming book features illustrations by Lisa Fields and introduces families to the power of faith, love, and confidence from the perspective of animals. From bears and otters to rabbits and raccoons, each animal family describes the many things they pray to God for as their little ones grow before their eyes.

Inspired by the love and faith shared by Metz’s late grandmother, as well as her experiences as a preschool teacher, the authors create a meaningful opportunity for young readers to learn how to have a conscious connection with God.

“My grandmother instilled my conscious contact with God,” says Metz. “She really bolstered my self-confidence and was always so encouraging and loving.When I Talk To God, I Talk About You is this journey through the dream of raising a child and watching them grow right before your eyes all while supporting their unique path with love and guidance through a tender introduction to prayer.

“I taught preschool and have nine nieces and nephews,” she continues. “I have always understood the value of being heard and loved. That starts early with fostering confidence and self-love. It creates the foundation in which children walk through this world. My partner, Bradley, and I wanted to connect the dots in our book between the foundation of self and a relationship with a higher power. And what Lisa Fields captured in the eyes of these beautiful woodland creatures – it’s so sweet and so tender.”

A companion album inspired by the book, Prayed For This Day, was released Feb. 10.

Nashville Soccer Club has unveiled their brand-new Man in Black Kit, honoring one of the most influential songwriters of all time, Johnny Cash.

Created in collaboration with the estate of Johnny Cash, Sandbox Succession and Wasserman Music, the Man in Black Kit was inspired by The Backline Supporters Collective, the club’s fans. On Feb. 29, 2020, Nashville SC inaugurated its journey in Major League Soccer in front of 59,069 fans, a state record for a soccer match. Prior to kickoff, The Backline unveiled their first ever MLS TIFO, featuring the Man in Black alongside the Nashville SC logo. Inspired by that moment, Nashville SC and Cash’s estate began collaborating to tell the story of the life and legacy of Cash.

“From the first day we started Nashville Soccer Club, we talked a lot about being ‘uniquely Nashville,’” says Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “This city is steeped in music history and icons of that industry. None more so than the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.”

From our opening match on Feb. 29th, 2020 when our supporters, The Backline, unveiled a Tifo with that famous Johnny Cash image, there has clearly been a strong connection between both The Cash Family and the NSC family. I don’t think there can be a greater tribute to Johnny’s place in music history or Nashville than to have a team full of Men in Black take the field on behalf of Nashville SC.”

The all-black ensemble is embellished by dark graphite and iron metallic accents including a jocktag of Cash’s iconic photo at Folsom Prison, Cash’s autograph on the back of the neck, the Nashville SC crest, and an iron metallic Renasant Bank logo as well as an Adidas logo. The left sleeve celebrates the Apple and MLS partnership by featuring the Apple TV and MLS logos, and the right sleeve features the Hyundai logo.

Nashville SC will don the Man in Black Kit for the very first time on Saturday, Feb. 25 as it hosts New York City FC as the first match of the MLS Is Back weekend. Scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT, the match will honor the collaboration with a special ‘Man in Black’ match.

“Nashville meant so much to my father, both as a historical music community and a welcoming home,” says John Carter Cash son of Cash and country legend June Carter. “Connecting the Cash legacy to Nashville Soccer Club and Major League Soccer, and the joy it’s bringing to Nashville residents, would have made him proud. I’m delighted to see the Man in Black celebrated alongside the Boys in Gold.”

To celebrate the launch of the Nashville SC Man in Black Kit, now featured on the official Nashville SC Apple Music playlist, fans can enjoy an exclusive pair of Johnny Cash singles: “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” a rendition performed by breakout country artist Bailey Zimmerman and a take on the classic “Man in Black” by Mexican singer-songwriter and guitarist Carín León.

Following its debut, the Man in Black Kit will be featured throughout the 2023 and 2024 MLS seasons, and will be available for purchase on the club’s website. In addition to the kit, the partnership will include special collaborations, which will be offered exclusively through Fanatics, the clubs official retail partner, throughout both seasons.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 18, Nashville fans have the opportunity to see and purchase the Man in Black Kit during a public event at the Walk of Fame Park (across from the Country Music Hall of Fame). The festival-like celebration will kick off at 11:30 a.m. CT with a live performance fromLeón as well as two other guests, a DJ, player appearances, photo ops and much more. Other activations include a hospitality area and Heineken Silver Beer Garden where fans can purchase four dollar Heineken products, Nashville SC player autograph tent, a stage photo opportunity, Fanatics servicing and order pickup, and Tempo the Coyote’s Band Kids Club registration, among others.

This article also appears in MusicRow‘s sister publication, The Sports Credential.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the historic Ryman Auditorium are gearing up for the inaugural “Rock The Ryman” concert happening March 1. The two recently announced that performers Little Big Town, Caitlyn Smith, and The Cadillac Three have joined the lineup that already includes The War and Treaty, Gavin DeGraw, Maddie & Tae, and Charlie Worsham. Worsham will also host the evening.

Little Big Town are on an arena tour bringing their tight harmonies to audiences across the country. The hitmakers are excited to pay homage to their icons and inspirations on stage at the Ryman.

“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Ryman hold so much music and so much history, it’s exciting to be part of bringing these places together for one special night. So many of the Rock Hall members are the soundtrack of everyone’s life,” shares LBT’s Karen Fairchild.

Smith is a genre-defying artist in her own rite, having written for Miley Cyrus, Aviici, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, as well as the No. 1 “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” for Meghan Trainor and John Legend

“Being part of such a special evening, honoring so many of the Rock Hall members’ influences on all of us is just such an incredible honor,” says Smith. “And to do it at the historic Ryman Auditorium adds a whole other level of highlighting what makes Nashville’s music community so special.”

The Cadillac Three has always produced rock-driven country hits with Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray, and Neil Mason forming the powerful trio.

Together, they will all take the stage to celebrate the intersection of rock & roll and country music. For this one-night concert experience, each artist will perform songs Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees who have performed at the Ryman to honor their legacies.

“More than 100 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees have performed on the Ryman’s hallowed stage throughout its 130-year history,” says Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Ryman by bringing together artists and fans for one incredible night to experience the power of rock & roll through some of Nashville’s great talent.”

The Ryman joined 11 other rock & roll institutions across the country as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in May of 2022. In November, the legendary auditorium opened an interactive exhibit, Rock Hall at the Ryman, to celebrate the venue’s influence on rock & roll history.

Tickets for “Rock The Ryman” are on sale now at ryman.com and the proceeds will go to the further preservation and celebration of the rich history of rock & roll.