Pete Huttlinger

The fourth annual “For Pete’s Sake” concert, benefiting The Pete Huttlinger Fund for Adult Congenital Cardiac Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is set for Feb. 5 at City Winery Nashville.

Huttlinger was a renowned guitarist and composer based in Nashville who, throughout his life and career, dealt with rare complications from a congenitally defective heart. He passed away on Jan. 15, 2016 at the age of 54.

On hand to perform and honor their late friend will be John Oates, Jim Messina, John Cowan, John Berry, Guthrie Trapp, Bryan Sutton, Teea Goans, Jim “Moose” Brown, Christie Lenee, Jack Schneider, Mark Sganga and Don Sampson.

The Pete Huttlinger Fund for Adult Congenital Cardiac Research supports the training and research of cardiologists specializing in the care of adults with congenital heart disease. The fund was created by Huttlinger’s wife, Nashville publicist Erin Morris Huttlinger, and his long-time cardiologist, Dr. Frank Fish.

“This fund was launched not long after Pete passed away,” Erin comments. “So many of his fans followed us through several years of health issues and they were always eager to offer of themselves emotionally and financially. I wanted to create a home where those donations could be directed and put to a very specific use.” She continues, “Pete was an incredibly generous guy and often gave of his time and money. I know that he would want to give back to help further research for treatments of an affliction that plagued him since birth.”

Tickets for the event are available here.

Jimmie Allen & Callista Clark. Photo: Alexa Campbell

Callista Clark has released a deluxe edition of her debut album, Real To Me: The Way I Feel, via Big Machine Records. The expanded set features four new versions of previously-released songs, including a duet featuring Jimmie Allen, “Wish You Wouldn’t.”

“Having Jimmie Allen on ‘Wish You Wouldn’t’ is a literal dream come true,” shares Clark. “He was the only person I wanted for that song—he brings such an effortlessly smooth charm to the song. I’m still ecstatic he said ‘yes!’”

“I love diving into all types of projects and experimenting with different artists so I was honored Callista asked me to jump on this song—I’m grateful to be a part of her journey,” Allen adds. “We met out on the road years ago and she has become like a little sister to me. She is an incredible talent and I loved getting to play with the variation between the fast and slow vocals—it’s a fun song to sing.”

Produced by Nathan Chapman, Clark co-penned every track on the expanded project and collaborated with top songwriters, including Laura Veltz, Emily Shackleton, Liz Rose, Chris DeStefano and Jimmy Robbins.

Real To Me: The Way I Feel (Deluxe Edition) Track List:
1. “It’s ‘Cause I Am” | Callista Clark, Cameron Jaymes, Laura Veltz
2. “Gave It Back Broken” | Callista Clark, Emily Shackelton
3. “Change My Mind” | Callista Clark, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton
4. “Worst Guy Ever” | Callista Clark, Jordan Reynolds, Emily Weisband
5. “Brave Girl” | Callista Clark, Ben Johnson, Emily Landis
6. “Wish You Wouldn’t” | Callista Clark, Emily Falvey, Lalo Guzman
7. “Heartbreak Song” | Callista Clark, Chris DeStefano, Liz Rose, Emily Shackelton
8. “Don’t Need It Anymore” | Callista Clark, Cameron Jaymes, Melissa Peirce
9. “Sad” | Callista Clark, Sarah Buxton, Jimmy Robbins
10. “Real To Me” | Callista Clark, Casey Robert Brown, Laura Veltz
11. “Wish You Wouldn’t (featuring Jimmie Allen)”
12. “Gave It Back Broken (Piano Version)”
13. “It’s ‘Cause I Am (Live At Vevo)”
14. “Real To Me (The Vocals)”

Dierks Bentley will release his 10th studio album, Gravel & Gold, on Feb. 24.

The 14-track album offers 20 years of perspective and self-awareness both personally and professionally for the artist, and was four years in the making.

“It’s been four years since I put out an album, and part of the reason for that is that I wrote and recorded two records that I didn’t feel were good enough and had to start over…twice,” explains Bentley. “I’m going to be able look back on it for the rest of my life and be like, ‘Yeah, that was harder than I thought it would be, but zero regrets.’ I had to get it right. That’s the Gravel & Gold of it all.”

Bentley produces the new project himself for the first time, and on the album’s opening track, “Same Ol’ Me,” out today, he recognizes those inescapable midlife adjustments and adaptations while nurturing the inner fire of the 18-year-old country music fanatic who arrived in Nashville in the 1990s.

Other tracks include “Heartbreak Drinking Tour,” which calls on country’s capacity for telling stories, while “Something Real” reasserts the importance of integrity and self in a world of pressures, and “Still” is a meditation on staying grounded through the power of nature. “Cowboy Boots” features Ashley McBryde, while “Beer At My Funeral” offers a shot of Roger Miller humor for the 21st century.

“Gold,” the album’s first single, touches on the theme of perspective with wisdom earned only by putting in the years of work, and “Walking Each Other Home” recognizes gratitude for connection and life’s gentle gifts. The final track gathers some of Music City’s greatest pickers trading licks and laughs on “High Note,” which features Billy Strings alongside Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, Charlie Worsham on guitar and Bryan Sutton on guitar and banjo.

“Selfishly I’ve always wanted to have my cake and eat it too,” says Bentley. “I’m in the bluegrass space. I’m in the traditional country space. It’s always been important to me to have the love and support of this community in Nashville, particularly the older establishment and the Opry–and to know that I’m able to do that but also get out on the road and play the big venues too?  It doesn’t get any better than that for me.”

Gravel & Gold Track List:
1. “Same Ol’ Me”
2. “Sun Sets In Colorado”
3. “Heartbreak Drinking Tour”
4. “Something Real”
5. “Still”
6. “Beer At My Funeral”
7. “Cowboy Boots” (Featuring Ashley McBryde)
8. “Gold”
9. “Walking Each Other Home”
10. “Roll On”
11. “All The Right Places”
12. “Ain’t All Bad”
13. “Old Pickup”
14. “High Note” (Featuring Billy Strings)

David Friedman and Miranda McDonald

MCA Nashville has named David Friedman as the new Vice President of Promotion, and Miranda McDonald has been promoted to Vice President of National Promotion.

The promotions come as Katie Dean, who has led the label’s promotion team since 2015, is leaving to pursue new opportunities after a two-decade career with UMG Nashville.

Friedman brings 25 years of experience in radio promotion to his new role, including his starting major label experience at Capitol Records Nashville and time spent at Arista Nashville and Columbia Nashville. For the past seven years, he has served as VP of National Promotion at UMG Nashville where he worked radio promotion across the full UMG Nashville artist roster. Friedman now leads the MCA Nashville promotion staff and spearheads strategies for its artist roster, which includes Kassi Ashton, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Kacey Musgraves, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Catie Offerman, George Strait, Josh Turner and Ya’Boyz.

“Having David move to run MCA’s promo department is one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in a long time,” says UMGN EVP of Promotion Royce Risser. “He has been ready for this position for years, and I have been selfishly keeping him in his former role because I loved having him there. He will be an incredible asset to MCA’s iconic roster, and I have every bit of confidence that he will continue the building success story at MCA Nashville.”

“Like Lynyrd Skynyrd once said, I’m ‘Workin’ For MCA!’” boasts Friedman. “I’m beyond excited to transition within the UMGN family to the MCA promotion team and look forward to working alongside these flamethrowers in breaking new artists and growing the careers of this phenomenal roster. Thank you, Royce, Mike Dungan, and Cindy Mabe, for this amazing opportunity.”

McDonald joined MCA Nashville in 2012 as its Southwest Regional Director following time as a radio regional with Valory Music, and as a radio host and reporter for CMT Radio. She has contributed to the success of a multitude of MCA artists and hit songs. In her new role, McDonald will work alongside Risser on radio initiatives across the label group’s four imprints, including Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville.

“Miranda McDonald has been our secret weapon for years,” adds Risser. “Not gonna be so secret anymore. Her intuitive nature and deep relationships are some of the best I’ve ever seen in radio promotion. She is also a true ‘creative’ and now I will have the ability to utilize her skills for all four of our labels. I am so excited for her to begin ripping it up for UMG Nashville.”

“MCA has been my beloved chosen family for over a decade now,” McDonald shares. “So, to be given the opportunity to not only continue working alongside MCA, but also with my extended family at each of the imprints, their incredible artists, and an entirely new group of partners in radio, is an honor. I am so fortunate to continue to grow my career with the best team in the industry. Answer my calls please.”