Pictured (L-R): Jim Crawford (for Pete Goble), Micah and Marie Yandell (son and wife of Paul Yandell), Marty Brown, Carly Pearce, Tee Dee Young, Norah Lee Allen, and Tommy White. Photo: Sarah Cahill.

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inducted seven new members during its 20th anniversary ceremony at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center New Barn in Renfro Valley, Kentucky on Friday (Oct. 28).

The 2022 inductee class included country star and Taylor Mill native Carly Pearce. Pearce was inducted by artist Ricky Skaggs, who she recently performed with during her headlining Ryman Auditorium debut. Other inductees consisted of Grand Ole Opry background vocalist Norah Lee Allen, Steel Guitar Hall of Famer Tommy White, blues guitarist and singer Tee Dee Young, “I’m From the Country” hit songwriter Marty Brown, bluegrass songwriting legend Pete Goble (posthumously), and Chet Atkins Certified Guitar Player Paul Yandell.

Pictured (L-R): Kentucky Music Hall of Fame’s Neal Sluder, Ricky Skaggs, Carly Pearce, and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame’s Jessica Blankenship. Photo: Alexa Campbell.

Additionally, the Karl Shannon Legacy Award was presented to radio legend Jack Pattie, and Friends of the Hall of Fame Awards were presented to Mr. & Mrs. Fred Gretsch of Gretsch Guitars, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Harris of Valley High Farms, Mayor Michael Bryant, Avery Bradshaw, Paul Martin, and Ann Henderson. The event also included special performances and appearances by Steve Wariner, Skaggs, Connie Smith, Rockland Road, Sydney Adams, and Parker Hastings.

After the ceremony, a case showcasing various artifacts donated by the inductees was unveiled. The case featured an over 100-year-old acoustic guitar that Paul Yandell learned to play on, the boots Carly Pearce wore as a child as well as the outfit her mother made for a talent show performance, a handwritten letter by Tommy White’s mom, and more unique items that represent each of their musical journeys.

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Pictured (L-R, front row): Spirit Music Nashville’s Michelle Davey, Derek Wells, Joy Williams, Spirit Music Nashville’s Hannah Hall and Frank Rogers. (L-R, back row): Spirit Music Nashville’s Brian Bradford and Red Light Managements Clay Hunt. Photo: Courtesy of Spirit Music Nashville.

Spirit Music Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Joy Williams to a worldwide co-publishing deal.

Williams’ songwriting credits include The Civil Wars‘ albums Live at Eddie’s Attic; Poison & Wine; Barton Hollow, which won a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2011; and The Civil Wars. Her other Grammy-winning works consist of “Barton Hollow” (Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2011), “Safe & Sound” with Taylor Swift (Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2012) and “From This Valley” (Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2013). She also penned “Stand By You,” which was recorded by Rachel Platten and peaked at No. 37 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard‘s Adult Top 40.

Last year, the four-time Grammy winner entered into a multi-faceted agreement with Spirit that included the acquisition of compositions from her various song catalogs, including her award-winning work as part of the duo The Civil Wars, as well as several masters that she controls. Additionally, Spirit announced it would administer Williams’ most recent solo album, Front Porch, as well as her compositions going forward. Through this new deal, Spirit Music Nashville will also publish her works on a go-forward basis.

“Joy Williams is a gift to music. She is an incredibly talented singer and songwriter,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “We are thrilled to have her as a part of the Spirit Music family and look forward to continuing this wonderful partnership.”

“I’m thrilled to continue to partner with the talented team at Spirit for all my writing adventures,” says Williams. “Whether it’s writing with other artists, writing music for TV/film, or for my new project, their support is a major asset in helping me level up along my creative path.”

While everything near the peak of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart remains nearly the same, Gavin Lucas shoots up seven spaces into the No. 10 position. Lucas is credited on three of Bailey Zimmerman’s five currently charting songs, including “Never Leave,” “Waiting” and his breakout hit “Fall In Love.”

Up towards the top, Zach Bryan adds another week in the first position, tallying six consecutive weeks. Bryan has four songs on the chart, including “Something In The Orange,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Burn, Burn, Burn” and “Starved,” all of which he is the sole writer. Because he is the only writer on the tracks, all of the points earned from airplay, digital download track sales, and streams go entirely to Bryan on the Songwriter Chart.

Filling out the remainder of the top five are Ashley Gorley (No. 2), Morgan Wallen (No. 3), Ernest Keith Smith (No. 4) and Bailey Zimmerman (No. 5).

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.

Zach Bryan

At the top of this week’s country charts are the familiar cast of characters, with Zach Bryan‘s “Something In The Orange” leading the pack on the top country streaming songs chart for a sixth consecutive week. Notching a stellar 14.5 million streams, the Warner Music artist’s breakout hit now boasts 286 million cumulative streams.

Bryan’s American Heartbreak also rises one spot to No. 2 on the top country albums chart. The project racks up 27K in total consumption this week, according to Luminate data.

Elsewhere on the top country albums chart, you can find Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 1 with 43K (1.2K album only/53 million song streams). Newcomer Bailey Zimmerman‘s debut project, Leave The Light On, drops one spot to No. 3, adding 23K in total consumption, while Taylor Swift‘s Red (Taylor’s Version) keeps its spot at No. 4 with 17K. Luke Combs‘ This One’s For You rounds out the top five, gaining 15K in total consumption.

On the songs side, Wallen holds the No. 2 position with “You Proof,” as well as the No. 4 spot with “Wasted On You.” The tracks earned 9.7 million and 7.5 million streams, respectively. Zimmerman’s “Rock And A Hard Place” falls one to No. 3 with 9.2 million streams, and Combs’ “The Kind Of Love We Make” takes fifth at 7.5 million streams.