Mitchell Tenpenny performs at the Ryman Auditorium.

Mitchell Tenpenny took over the Ryman stage this past weekend for two sold-out nights.

Friday night’s show featured Tenpenny owning his lane in the sub-genre he affectionately calls “Farm Emo.” Armed with a drum set featuring a bird finger flashing the crowd and plenty of loud guitar moments, he thrilled the crowd with his fusion of country and punk on songs such as “Good Place,” “Happy and I Hate It,” “We Got History” and “Good And Gone.”

The Nashville native was joined by several surprise guests throughout both evenings.

Tyler Braden and Mitchell Tenpenny

On Friday night, Steven Curtis Chapman made a surprise appearance and joined him on stage to perform their new version of the Christian music icon’s hit, “Don’t Lose Heart.” The song, about never giving up and not losing hope, has special meaning to Tenpenny, as his mother is currently battling breast cancer. The tune is set for release on Feb. 17.

Tenpenny’s wife, singer-songwriter Meghan Patrick, made guest appearances during the two shows to sing “Long As You Let Me.” Alana Springsteen was also in attendance both nights to perform soon-to-be-released track featuring Tenpenny, “Goodbye Looks Good On You,” that the two co-wrote.

Tenpenny was also joined by opener Tyler Braden to perform Seaforth’s parts on their 2019 collaboration, “Anything She Says.” Braden served as the perfect act to get the crowd ready for Tenpenny, rocking hard throughout his rousing set.

Mitchell Tenpenny with Sony Music Nashville team.

In addition to some tracks from his recently released album This Is The Heavy, Tenpenny made sure to play his hits. The Ryman crowd sang along loudly to “Bucket List,” “At the End of a Bar,” “Alcohol You Later,” “Truth About You” and his breakout smash, “Drunk Me.”

At one point during the Friday night show, Sony Music Nashville Head Randy Goodman and some select staff joined Tenpenny on stage to present an RIAA Platinum certification plaque for his No. 1 song “Truth About You.”

Tenpenny will continue his “This Is The Heavy Tour” on Feb. 10 in Columbus, Ohio before wrapping with another sold-out show in Atlanta at the end of the month.

Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves is throwing a benefit show she’s dubbed Markland Fam Jam to raise money to support Steve and Deb Markland, who lost their Nashville home in a fire recently.

Taking place at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville on Feb. 13, Musgraves will be joined by Brothers Osborne, Randy Houser, Allison Moorer, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Caylee Hammack, Fancy Haygood, Hayes Carll, Jeffery Steele, Jillian Jacqueline, Kendell Marvel, Kimberly Kelly and Brett Tyler, Lucie Silvas, Madi Diaz, The Brummies and more. Tickets are available here.

In a social media post about the event, Musgraves writes, “Nashville is a very tight-knit community and we are coming together to sing some songs and raise some help for these wonderful people as they start to rebuild their lives. If you can’t make it in person maybe you could snag a ticket and be there in spirit.”

A nearly 30-year veteran of the music business, Steve Markland is VP of Nashville Operations at Utopia Music. Prior to his current role, he served as Executive Vice President, Creative in the Nashville office of Downtown Music Publishing for over seven years. He also spent time as VP of A&R at Warner Chappell Music, as well as stops at Windswept Music Publishing and Patrick Joseph Music.

Deb Markland helped establish Thirty Tigers alongside David Macias in 2002. In addition to Thirty Tigers, she spent time at Arista Records Nashville, Thistle Farms, and other philanthropic organizations in marketing roles. Deb now serves as a Life Coach & Recovery Coach, as well as a marketing consultant.

There is also a GoFundMe set up for the Markland family.

Pictured (L-R): Chris Oglesby, Drew Kennedy and Kelsey Niccoli (Worley)

Drew Kennedy has extended his global publishing deal with BMG Publishing.

A lyricist versatile in both the pop and country spaces, Kennedy’s ever-expanding circle of collaborators and the list of artists who have recorded his songs includes Keith Urban, RaeLynn,Callum Beattie, Forest Blakk, The Wolfe Brothers, King Calaway, Ben Chapman, Patrick Droney, Nate Smith, Canaan Smith and more.

Additionally, Kennedy has released nine albums as an artist, penned a novel and created two annual songwriter festivals.

“Drew is a songwriter in every sense of the word,” says Chris Oglesby, BMG VP, Creative. “The way he approaches a lyric gives a listener a beautiful picture filled with emotion. He does it in a way that all of us have to engage. I could not be more excited to continue our relationship with Drew Kennedy.”

“BMG has been an incredible place for me to learn and grow as a songwriter, and I’m thankful that journey will continue,” shares Kennedy. “BMG loves songs and the people who write them, and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to work with them. Whether we’re talking shop or just life in general, they are two important and trusted voices in my life. BMG feels like family.”

Pictured (L-R): Janaye Roberson, Adam Craft and Kieran Trask

Nashville-based advertising and marketing firm Grayscale Marketing has added Adam Craft, Janaye Roberson and Kieran Trask to their team.

Craft joins the firm with more than 15 years of operations experience. Prior to Grayscale, Craft served as the Vice President of Platform & Success at UpPurpose, a global technology SaaS platform that partners with nonprofits, foundations, CSR organizations and social enterprises to increase digital awareness.

Roberson joins Grayscale Marketing as a Media & Marketing Specialist, bringing with her over 10 years of experience in booking logistics, social media marketing, audio recording and event production. Her previous roles include Agent Assistant at New Frontier Touring, and most recently, a Marketing Strategy Coordinator position at Outback Concerts.

With over 15 years of experience, Trask joins Grayscale Marketing as Digital Communications Manager. Throughout her career thus far, she has built digital communities for entertainers, nonprofits and solo-preneurs with experience at Crowd Surf, Draft.dev, and as Director of Social Media for RFD-TV.

“We are thrilled to welcome three exceptional individuals to our team who bring a wealth of talent and experience to the table. Their proven ability to provide digital transformation, strategic solutions and in-depth analysis to help their clients multiply their revenue is undeniable. Their additions further solidify our position as a leader in our industry and bring us one step closer to achieving our ambitious goals. I am confident that they will be invaluable assets and will make a significant impact on both our clients’ and our company’s continued success,” states Grayscale Marketing CEO Tim Gray.