Pictured (L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Joe Galante, Lorrie Morgan and Judith Lewis attend the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
A record-label genius and two of the finest honky-tonk singers who have ever lived entered the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (Oct. 16) during a star-studded ceremony.
RCA’s Joe Galante, tragically departed singer Keith Whitley and legendary Jerry Lee Lewis were lauded as the 2022 inductees at the Medallion Ceremony in the Hall’s CMA Theater. The capacity crowd in attendance was entertained by compelling video bios of the three honorees and tribute celebrity performances, all of which were surprise appearances.
“Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley and Joe Galante changed country music in ways that will be felt long after tonight’s ceremony,” said CMA chief Sarah Trahern in greeting the audience. “In very individual ways, they rewrote the rules.”
Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young presided. He noted Galante’s accomplishments in gaining more autonomy for Nashville’s major labels, in directing star-making marketing and promotion, in becoming noted for his visionary artist signings and team building as the youngest label head on Music Row.
Pictured: Joe Galante inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, presented by Kix Brooks (left) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (right). Photo” Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“He recalibrated the commercial possibilities of country music,” Young noted. He cited the dramatic increase in the number of Gold and Platinum selling country artists during Galante’s 30 years as a label chief.
The careers of The Judds, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, K.T. Oslin, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, Earl Thomas Conley, Charley Pride, Clint Black, Aaron Tippin, Alan Jackson, Restless Heart and Alabama were all impacted by Galante’s leadership.
Galante and each of the other inductees were saluted with a video bio that featured rare footage and stills. Young then spoke at length, often repeating the same biographical information. Then came the star surprises.
Pictured: Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama perform onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama took the stage to sing “My Home’s in Alabama” for the man who made them stars. Miranda Lambert scored her first No. 1 hit when Galante became involved in her career. With just her own solo guitar accompaniment she sang it, “White Liar.” Then Galante-signee Kenny Chesney sang “The Good Stuff.”
Kix Brooks presented the Medallion to Joe Galante while Young unveiled the bronze plaque. These acts mark a person’s official Hall of Fame induction. “It’s really humbling when you get to this place,” Brooks said. “He loves music the same way that we do.”
“This has been a spectacular feeling for me,” said Galante. “I was their record-label head, but I was a huge fan of their music… Business became friendship, and friendship became family. I am both humbled and honored to be here.” He spoke movingly of his late wife Phran, who accompanied him on his journey to greatness.
The Keith Whitley video featured the star’s early singing as a child and as a strikingly accomplished Kentucky teen. Young extolled Whitley’s extraordinary vocal talent.
Pictured: Lorrie Morgan accepts Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Keith Whitley presented by Garth Brooks (left) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (right). Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“Not many singers could so inhabit a song,” he said. “He was a singer fo the ages. This was a once-in-a-generation singer.” He also noted the irony of Whitley’s album title when he was the lead singer for J.D. Crowe & The New South, My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame.
Mickey Guyton saluted Whitley with “When You Say Nothing at All.” Ricky Skaggs, who was Whitley’s singing partner when they were Kentucky teens, performed “Tennessee Blues” alongside Molly Tuttle and Justin Moses. “This is a bittersweet night for all of us,” Skaggs said. Whitley succumbed to alcoholism in 1989 at age 33.
Young pointed out that Whitley’s influence pervades current country, citing Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton and Chesney as disciples. This led to the introduction of another disciple, Garth Brooks.
Pictured: Mickey Guyton performs onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“For all country-music fans, this night in long overdue,” Brooks said.
“The guy could out-sing 99% of us.” Brooks performed “Don’t Close Your Eyes” as a solo-acoustic gem. He also did the Medallion honors, presenting it to Whitley’s widow, Grand Ole Opry star Lorrie Morgan.
When he died, Whitley “was three weeks away from being a member of the Grand Ole Opry — he didn’t know it,” Morgan shared. “He loved all of these Hall of Fame members — he was such a fan. He would feel so undeserving.”
The Jerry Lee Lewis video illustrated his triumphs as the 1950s rocker of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless,” followed by a decade in musical exile. His 1968-81 comeback was as the peerless country stylist of more than 30 top hits, including “Another Place Another Time,” “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous,” “She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye,” “There Must Be More to Love Than This” and “Thirty Nine and Holding.”
Young said of Lewis, “There is no entertainer like him — a genius of rare musical spontaneity….an unquestioned pillar of rock & roll and country music.” “The Killer,” as he is known, was a charter inductee into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Pictured (L-R): Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams Jr. accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Jerry Lee Lewis presented by CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Youn. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Lee Ann Womack saluted Lewis with her version of his 1977 hit “Middle Age Crazy.” The McCrary Sisters had everyone on their feet and clapping to a rollicking, rousing treatment of “My God Is Real.” Lewis was expelled from Bible college for similarly rocking the song. Chris Isaak was joyous and charismatic on “Great Balls of Fire,” supported by Jen Gunderman’s piano pyrotechnics.
Hank Williams Jr. inducted Lewis. “Jerry Lee was one of my teachers,” he recalled. “It was then that I realized I was ‘Born to Boogie.’ Jerry Lee doesn’t ask for your attention, he demands it….He will be The Best as long as people listen to recorded music.”
Lewis, 87, was planning to attend, despite being wheelchair bound and increasingly frail. But doctors advised him on Sunday morning that he should not travel from his Mississippi home to Nashville. So Williams read a statement from the legend.
“I was so looking forward to it,” Lewis wrote. “Country music has always been the genre where I feel most at home. To be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor… Thanks to God for allowing me to experience this honor while I’m still here.”
Kris Kristofferson, who wrote Lewis’s hits “Once More With Feeling” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” accepted the Medallion from Williams. Then Bill Anderson led the crowd in singing the traditional ceremony closing song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” He got a big assist via the fiddle filigrees of Deanie Richardson.
Kenny Chesney performs onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Anderson, Kristofferson, Williams, Skaggs, Owen, Gentry, Kix Brooks, Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Bud Wendell, Charlie McCoy, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill, Ray Stevens, Wynonna Judd, Randy Travis and Oak Ridge Boys William Lee Golden and Duane Allen were among the Hall of Fame members in attendance. The new inductees are the 147th, 148th and 149th members.
The three-hour ceremony began with an audio entertainment, the 1930 Jimmie Rodgers hit “Blue Yodel No.9.” On it, country music’s first superstar was accompanied by jazz legends Louis Armstrong and Lili Hardin Armstrong.
Young’s ceremonial title is Commander General of the Circle Guard. Mary Ann McCready introduced their fellow Circle Guard members David Conrad, Steve Turner, Bill Denny, Mike Milom, Seab Tuck, Jerry Williams, Ken Levitan and Ken Roberts.
Also prior to the inductions, Trahern offered a eulogy for American music icon and Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn, who died at age 90 on Oct. 4.
The evening’s performances were accompanied by the Medallion All-Star Band. Richardson and Gunderson were members of the group, led by bandleader Bifff Watson. Their instrumental confederates included Russ Pahl, Rachel Loy, Jeff White, Mark Beckett and young guitar virtuoso Charlie Worsham.
Following the ceremony, guests attended a cocktail supper. Morgan, Galante and Lewis’s wife Judith Lewis mingled with a crowd that included singers Sharon & Cheryl White, The Isaacs, Jeannie Seely, Paul Overstreet and Ranger Doug Green of Riders in the Sky.
Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Rises On Top Country Albums Chart Ahead Of ‘Midnights’ Release
/by Lydia FarthingTaylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant
Taylor Swift has been slowly moving back up the top country albums chart over the last few weeks in anticipation of her new record Midnights, releasing this Friday (Oct. 21). Her re-recorded Red (Taylor’s Version) has risen two spots to No. 3 this week, adding 17K in total consumption (2.7K album only/18 million song streams), according to Luminate.
Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album keeps its spot atop the country albums chart with 46K in total consumption (1.2 K album only/56 million song streams). Wallen’s If I Know Me also comes back into the fold in the No. 5 spot with 16K. Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak remains in second with 28K, and Kane Brown‘s Different Man fills in the fourth spot with 16K.
On the country streaming songs chart, Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” notches a fourth week at the top, gaining 16 million streams this week. For another week Wallen’s “You Proof” follows at No. 2 with 11 million, Luke Combs‘ “The Kind Of Love We Make” takes No. 3 with 9.9 million, and Bailey Zimmerman‘s “Rock And A Hard Place” keeps the No. 4 spot with 9.4 million streams. Rounding out the top five songs is Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown‘s “Thank God,” which racked up 8.2 million streams.
Russell Dickerson Signs With Concord Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, top row): John Dennis, Grace Schoper, Legina Chaudoin, David Crow, Matt Turner, Ashley Nite, Shawn Thompson, Duff Berschback. (L-R, bottom row): Courtney Allen, Brad Kennard, Russell Dickerson, Melissa Spillman, Jen Hubbard
Russell Dickerson has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing.
The deal includes Dickerson’s full catalog and future works, and Concord has additionally acquired an interest in his back catalog, including titles such as “Yours,” “Every Little Thing,” “Blue Tacoma” and more.
A Tennessee native, Dickerson’s breakthrough hit “Yours” arrived in 2015 and is triple Platinum. He followed that up with three more Platinum chart toppers: “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing” and “Love You Like I Used To.” Dropping two albums –Yours (2017) and Southern Symphony (2020) – his streaming numbers have hit 2.2 billion across platforms and led to tours with Thomas Rhett, Lady A, and Kane Brown.
Dickerson is the first artist to release four consecutive singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since Luke Combs. He also joins Combs as the second solo artist and fourth act overall to have four or more singles reach No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart since its inception.
His latest single, “She Likes It” with Jake Scott, already reached Platinum status with over 170 million streams to date. His 15-track, self-titled third album will be released on November 4, and he co-wrote all 15 tracks, including “I Wonder,” his newest single released on September 30. Dickerson also collaborated with Cheat Codes on the crossover hit “I Remember,” which dropped this summer. He is currently embarking on a sold-out tour in the UK and will headline a U.S. tour starting next month.
“Russell is a bona fide country music super-star! From the writing and recording of his albums, to the incredibly energetic performances in his live shows, he leads every facet of his career with true passion and intense emotion,” shares Brad Kennard, SVP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Nashville. “We could not be more thrilled to represent his incredible catalog and work alongside him in the years to come!”
“I’m excited to be joining the Concord family,” shares Dickerson. “I love that they are an independent company with worldwide reach. They value songwriters and today I’m humbled to be joining their roster of incredible talent.”
Industry Ink: Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Bailey Zimmerman, The Outlaws
/by Lydia FarthingLuke Bryan Expands Jockey Partnership With New Outdoors Collection
Luke Bryan. Photo: Courtesy of Schmidt Relations
Jockey has launched its Jockey Outdoors Collection by Luke Bryan. The collection features long sleeve woven, corduroy and flannel shirts and shackets; a long-sleeve performance fishing shirt with vertical ventilation, rod holder tab on the left chest and a hidden microfiber cloth for easy sunglass cleaning; long-sleeve henleys and crews; graphic tees; and convertible, utility and flannel-lined pants.
“When my friends at Jockey first brought this up it was an easy yes for me,” Bryan explains. “One, they are just a wonderful company with values that align with mine and two, I have always been an advocate for the love of outdoors, so it was a no brainer. Once I got my hands on the product and felt the quality, I became even more fired up for this to show up in the stores.”
“As an avid outdoorsman and already a Jockey brand ambassador, Luke was the perfect fit for this next step for Jockey, allowing us to step back to our roots, incorporate our base layer expertise and develop the Jockey Outdoors Collection, which we think will be a hit with our consumers,” notes Jockey President and COO Mark Fedyk. “Luke was highly involved in the design and painstaking quality standards of the line. His attention to detail, demand for quality, and expectation of performance and comfort aligned perfectly with our brand pillars.”
The Jockey Outdoors Collection is available now. Through the end of 2022, Jockey will donate a portion of the collection’s sales to support adoptive and foster families across the United States.
Maren Morris Celebrates Some New RIAA Gold
Maren Morris. Photo: Rachel Deeb
Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris headlined Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Bowl last Thursday (Oct. 13) with special guest appearances from John Mayer and Hozier. During the stop, she also received an official plaque for her newly Gold-certified track “Circles Around This Town,” the lead single from her latest album Humble Quest.
Humble Quest, released in March via Columbia Nashville and nominated for Album Of The Year at this year’s CMA Awards, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and broke the record for most first day and first week streams globally on Amazon Music for a country album by a female artist.
The Hollywood Bowl show came in the midst of Morris’ “Humble Quest Tour,” wrapping up in December with a headline date at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Bailey Zimmerman Plays Sold Out Album Launch Show In Nashville
Pictured (L-R): Kevin Liles (Chairman & CEO, 300 Elektra Entertainment), Cris Lacy (Co-President, Warner Music Nashville), Bailey Zimmerman exuding pure joy, Mike Easterlin (President, Elektra Music Group)
Ahead of the release of his debut EP, Leave The Light On, last Friday (Oct. 14), Bailey Zimmerman made a pit stop in Nashville for a special launch party and his first-ever Nashville headlining show.
The celebrations began with a MAXXED Diesel Custom Lifted Truck Show block party that featured vendor giveaways and games for attendees. Fans filled the performance space at Yee-Haw Brewing Co. for the evening’s main event where Zimmerman performed his mega hits “Rock And A Hard Place,” “Where It Ends,” current top 10 single “Fall In Love” and more.
The Outlaws Donate $25,000 To MusiCares
Henry Paul & Alicia Warwick
Henry Paul of The Outlaws recently continued the band’s annual tradition of donating to MusiCares, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance for medical expenses to uninsured musicians. Paul presented a $25,000 check to Alicia Warwick, Senior Executive Director of the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter.
“Our commitment to this cause has raised over $100,000 in the past six years and we will continue to support MusiCares as we move forward,” explains Paul. “We’d like to thank the Robert E. & Marie Orr Smith Foundation for their generous support, our charity manager, Lori Eyler and friends for their hard work, the Four Horsemen Society for their ongoing contributions and Outlaws fans everywhere. Together we are making a difference.”
Mayor John Cooper, Titans Announce Deal For New Domed Stadium In Nashville
/by Steven BoeroNissan Stadium. Photo: by Gabriel Tovar
The Tennessee Titans and Nashville Mayor John Cooper have officially announced a deal between the organization and city to build a new, enclosed stadium that would cost over $2 billion without burdening the Nashville taxpayers.
This new stadium will open up a world of possibilities for Nashville as the planned stadium will fit between 55,000 to 60,000 spectators. A brand new, state-of-the art stadium will attract events such as the Super Bowl, NCAA College Football Playoffs, the Grammys and create an atmosphere for CMA Fest that has never been seen before. An enclosed arena will guarantee an inclement weather-free experience for Titans fans and concert-goers.
This monumental deal will be paid for by a sales tax in Nissan Stadium, marking a 130-acre radius around the stadium’s campus, and with a 7 percent hotel occupancy tax in Davidson County. No money from the city’s general fund will go towards the stadium’s construction.
“This new stadium proposal protects Metro taxpayers by not spending a single dollar that could be spent elsewhere on our core priorities like education and public safety,” Cooper noted in his press conference. “Doing nothing was not a legal option for us, and renovating the current stadium proved to be financially irresponsible, so we are proposing a new stadium paid for by the team, the state, tourists and spending around the stadium–not by your family.”
Funding for the new stadium comes from four separate revenue sources, described in detail below. The Titans, the NFL, and personal seat license (PSL) sales represent the largest source of funding for the new stadium. General obligation bonds are not a part of the proposal, and zero dollars are required from Metro’s operating budget.
Sources of Funding For the New Stadium:
The remaining $760 million will come from revenue bonds issued by the Metro Sports Authority to be repaid through the revenue streams described above, all of which, per state statute, can only be used for this project or other stadium-related costs.
“I’m grateful to Amy Adams Strunk, Burke Nihill and the entire Titans organization for their commitment to Nashville,” Cooper added. “Residents’ tax dollars can go to core city services because the Titans have stepped up to cover future ongoing maintenance on the new stadium. I’d also like to thank Governor [Bill] Lee and our partners at the state legislature for recognizing the Titans’ enormous economic contributions. Together, we are making sure that the Titans stay in Tennessee for generations to come.”
The proposed stadium would be built directly east of Nissan Stadium on land that is currently parking lots. As part of the proposal, Metro would regain control of over 66 acres of land, including the existing Nissan Stadium site. Land that would have remained surface parking for the next 17 years can now serve Nashville with a large park, greenways, affordable housing, a multi-modal boulevard, local businesses and more–all without selling any public land.
The Titans have agreed to maintain and backstop upkeep over the life of the lease, and Metro will own the stadium when the lease expires–creating a multi-billion dollar asset for the city.
“Nashville’s new stadium will be a game changer for the community, enhancing the national and international reputation of our great city and state and delivering world-class events to our doorstep that we could never have dreamed of 25 years ago,” says Titans President and CEO, Burke Nihill. “We couldn’t be more appreciative of Mayor Cooper’s commitment to prioritizing the taxpayers of Nashville and his vision for a bold future on the East Bank. We look forward to the discussion of these terms with Metro Council and the Sports Authority, and hearing from our neighbors in the community as this process continues.”
The new lease will run for a minimum of 30 years, and the new stadium could be ready as early as the 2026 NFL season.
Jason Aldean’s ‘Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour’ Shakes Up Bridgestone Arena
/by Lydia FarthingJason Aldean plays Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Chris Owyoung
Jason Aldean‘s “Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour” lit up Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night (Oct. 14), bringing 100 minutes of action to a packed house.
John Morgan, Chase Rice and DeeJay Silver warmed up the stage for the multi-Platinum artist, who opened the night with the fitting “Lights Come On.” With the crowd audibly showing their excitement, the Georgia native and his five-piece band ripped right into “Girl Like You” and took it all the way back to his first album with “Amarillo Sky.”
“It’s been about four years since we played here at Bridgestone,” Aldean shared with the hometown audience. “We’ve had this one circled on the calendar for quite a while so I have a feeling tonight’s gonna be a good time and that we might be here for a while. You guys settle in.”
Promising a stacked show of new songs from his recently released double album, Macon, Georgia, as well as familiar songs from past albums, Aldean went into his most recent No. 1 single, “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” before rolling through some of his nearly 20 years of hits. The entertainer gave lively performances of his ode to Nashville in “Crazy Town,” his essentially evergreen “Big Green Tractor,” “Take A Little Ride” and more.
Jason Aldean plays Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Chris Owyoung
After taking a temp check with the crowd, Aldean set the stage for his newest single to country radio, “That’s What Tequila Does,” and brought the tempo down a tick with “Got What I Got” and “When She Says Baby,” which proved to be a crowd favorite as they screamed it back to the cowboy hat-donned singer.
“One thing I notice is that whenever artists play their hometown show, we kind of like to call up some friends and bring them on stage,” he noted, starting a string of musical guests who would take the stage. John Morgan returned to the mic first, accompanying Aldean on the Ashley Monroe and Brett James-penned smash “The Truth.”
Next, the crowd was surprised by Miranda Lambert walking on stage as her hit “Kerosene” blasted through the speakers. “Miranda and I go back a long way. I always said if I wanted to be a chick in country music, I’d want to be her.” The pair broke out into their 2018 hit, “Drowns The Whiskey,” marking only the second time they’ve been able to perform it live.
Aldean unveiled the final guest to grace the stage: country star Morgan Wallen. Accompanied by deafening screams from the audience, Wallen broke out solo into “Whiskey Glasses.” As the crowd erupted and chanted their praises, Aldean shared the story behind his monster hit “You Make It Easy.”
“A lot of people may not know this, but before Morgan really started to have some hits of his own, we recorded a song that he wrote and it was a pretty big song for us. I thought maybe I would get him to stick around. We’ve never done this song together before so I thought [we might do it tonight],” he said before the two entertainers swapped verses to the tune.
Pictured (L-R): Jon Loba, President BMG Nashville; Clarence Spalding, Maverick; Kevin Neal, WME; Jason Aldean; Chris Parr, Maverick; and Brian O’Connell, Live Nation. Photo: Chris Owyoung
The decorated vocalist then took his turn at the keyboard for “If I Didn’t Love You,” which featured Carrie Underwood delivering her lines on Aldean’s massive video wall. He fired off into “Tattoos On This Town,” “We Back” and “Dirt Road Anthem,” all of which earned roaring background vocals from the crowd.
“If you’ve ever been to one of our shows then you know that we do things a little differently. A lot of times, somewhere toward the end of the show, you guys think the show is over, the artist goes backstage, and you guys sit out here and clap for 5-10 minutes trying to get them to come back out and play a couple more songs. It’s called an encore, but I call it bullshit,” Aldean stated. “I just want to play you guys everything we got and when the show’s over, it’s just over.”
Aldean explained that this was his favorite part of the show and that it was time to kick it into overdrive for the last blast of songs. Starting with “My Kinda Party,” which showed off his band’s impressive musicianship, the award-winning artist delivered a one-two punch to close the nearly two dozen-song set with “She’s Country” and his breakout 2005 hit “Hicktown.”
The “Rock N Roll Cowboy Tour” will take a break this coming weekend for the Country Thunder Festival in Florida, but will pick back up with shows in Iowa (Oct. 27), Missouri (Oct. 28) and Kansas (Oct. 29).
Tenille Townes To Embark On ‘Side A+B Tour’ In 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughTenille Townes
Tenille Townes will explore both her reflective songwriter side and her rock star energy on the upcoming “Side A + B Tour,” kicking off in January.
The trek starts Jan. 18 in Portland, Oregon and visits Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary and more through Jan. 29. Tickets are available beginning Oct. 21.
“We’re going to be doing something a little different on this tour, creating a show that reflects both sides of who I am and the music I make: the reflective songwriter and the rock and roll entertainer all in one setlist,” Townes explains. “I can’t wait to see everybody at these clubs, singing these songs and coming together as our community!”
Townes co-hosted the CCMAs alongside Blanco Brown, and earned trophies for Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year (“Girl Who Didn’t Care”), her fourth consecutive Female Artist of the Year award, as well as Entertainer and Album of the Year honors (Masquerades).
Roots N Blues Festival Honors Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Celebrates Attendance Record
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Tracy Lane, Shay Jasper, Jeff Tweedy. Photo: LG Patterson
The 15th annual Roots N Blues festival, the only entirely women-owned major music festival in the U.S., wrapped up another successful year. The attendance for this year’s event, hosted Oct. 7-9, nearly doubled from last year, and Saturday marked the largest attendance day in the event’s history with over 10,000 attendees.
Held at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Missouri, the three-day festival took over two stages and featured headlining sets from Wilco, Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Chaka Khan, Tanya Tucker, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
On the first night of Roots N Blues, Grammy award-winning vocalist and guitarist of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy, was presented with the 2021 Missouri Roots Songbook honor before his band took the stage. The honor was presented by festival co-owners and co-producers, Tracy Lane and Shay Jasper, who founded the Missouri Roots Songbook in 2018 to encourage the people of Missouri to take pride in the musical heritage of their home state. Previous honorees have included Chuck Berry (2018), John “Blind” Boone (2019), and Sheryl Crow (2021).
Tanya Tucker. Photo: LG Patterson
“The Missouri Roots Songbook tradition, now in its fourth year, is a celebration of musicians with Missouri roots who have altered music history and culture on a global scale,” says Lane. “Jeff Tweedy is a midwesterner whose childhood was spent just across the river from St. Louis, listening to a broad array of musical influences spanning from The Carter Family to The Replacements, and some of us stood alongside him in our teenage years, seeing heavy metal bands on The Landing in the summer. Jeff Tweedy’s compelling and communal storytelling combined with his songwriting genius has resulted in more than 30 years of songs that sound and feel like us.”
“Over 10,000 people participated in a collective celebration of American Roots Music and wholeheartedly supported live music in mid-Missouri throughout the weekend,” adds Jasper. “In hearing the accounts of our patrons and looking at the data collected, we are providing a more inclusive, safe and positive experience for the community and its visitors. Tracy, myself and our incredible team are looking forward to further expanding our featured genres in 2023 while continuing an evolution into the best version of ourselves.”
Next year’s festival will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2023.
Brittney Spencer. Photo: LG Patterson
Carrie Underwood Launches ‘The Denim & Rhinestones Tour’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellCarrie Underwood performs at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
Eight-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood launched “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” Saturday night (Oct. 15) with a sold-out show at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
The tour, named after Underwood’s new album of the same name, will make stops in 43 U.S. cities, including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena before concluding in Seattle, Washington on March 17.
Underwood’s two-hour show features hits that span the star’s 17-year career. It also includes Underwood performing aerial acrobatics within a suspended sphere-shaped apparatus.
Carrie Underwood performs at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
“I always want to be sure every tour is a new and unique experience for the fans,” Underwood tells MusicRow. “We’re always looking at different ways to perform the hits that everyone knows and loves and, of course, it’s fun to get to bring the new music to life on stage. The challenge is always figuring out how much we can fit into a show and we like to get creative with different ways to represent as many songs as we can, even if we aren’t able to perform entire versions of every one.”
The trek follows Underwood’s first portion of shows from her “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” at the Resorts World Theatre, which will pick back up in 2023 following “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour.”
“I feel so blessed to have gotten to start my ongoing ‘Reflection’ residency at Resorts World Las Vegas at the end of last year—we’ve all been missing live performances and it was so great to get back on stage in front of an audience,” Underwood shares.
As for what she’s brought from her Vegas residency to her traveling show, Underwood says she’s learned some new musical arrangements of some of her hits.
“We’re able to do a lot of big set pieces with that show that we could never pack up and take on the road, so a lot of those moments will continue to be unique to that show,” she shares. “That said, we are definitely having fun with new versions of the hits on this tour and are really excited about the new songs that weren’t in the ‘Reflection’ show in Vegas, which we’ll resume next year after ‘The Denim & Rhinestones Tour’ ends. I love being able to do both!”
Jimmie Allen and Carrie Underwood performs at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
Joining Underwood on “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” is breakout star Jimmie Allen. Underwood says one of her favorite moments of the show is when she gets to bring him out.
“A really fun moment for me is bringing Jimmie Allen on stage to perform ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ together—we just had to do it, and even incorporated a little of his Dancing With the Stars magic. He is literally as much denim and rhinestones as I am.”
Performing new songs from Denim & Rhinestones is another highlight of this tour for Underwood.
“I’m most excited about performing new music from Denim & Rhinestones—it’s such a fun, energetic album, which I think we all need right now, and we definitely bring that upbeat, party vibe to the stage,” adding that every song on the new album is represented in some way at the show.
“We have some really exciting effects throughout the show. And I love performing ‘Ghost Story’ and ‘Crazy Angels’—it’s such a thrill to be singing those songs live up in the air and getting closer to all the fans.”
For a full list of dates on “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour,” click here.
Country Music Hall Of Fame Inducts A Trio Of Greats
/by Robert K OermannPictured (L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Joe Galante, Lorrie Morgan and Judith Lewis attend the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
A record-label genius and two of the finest honky-tonk singers who have ever lived entered the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (Oct. 16) during a star-studded ceremony.
RCA’s Joe Galante, tragically departed singer Keith Whitley and legendary Jerry Lee Lewis were lauded as the 2022 inductees at the Medallion Ceremony in the Hall’s CMA Theater. The capacity crowd in attendance was entertained by compelling video bios of the three honorees and tribute celebrity performances, all of which were surprise appearances.
“Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley and Joe Galante changed country music in ways that will be felt long after tonight’s ceremony,” said CMA chief Sarah Trahern in greeting the audience. “In very individual ways, they rewrote the rules.”
Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young presided. He noted Galante’s accomplishments in gaining more autonomy for Nashville’s major labels, in directing star-making marketing and promotion, in becoming noted for his visionary artist signings and team building as the youngest label head on Music Row.
Pictured: Joe Galante inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, presented by Kix Brooks (left) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (right). Photo” Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“He recalibrated the commercial possibilities of country music,” Young noted. He cited the dramatic increase in the number of Gold and Platinum selling country artists during Galante’s 30 years as a label chief.
The careers of The Judds, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, K.T. Oslin, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, Earl Thomas Conley, Charley Pride, Clint Black, Aaron Tippin, Alan Jackson, Restless Heart and Alabama were all impacted by Galante’s leadership.
Galante and each of the other inductees were saluted with a video bio that featured rare footage and stills. Young then spoke at length, often repeating the same biographical information. Then came the star surprises.
Pictured: Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama perform onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama took the stage to sing “My Home’s in Alabama” for the man who made them stars. Miranda Lambert scored her first No. 1 hit when Galante became involved in her career. With just her own solo guitar accompaniment she sang it, “White Liar.” Then Galante-signee Kenny Chesney sang “The Good Stuff.”
Kix Brooks presented the Medallion to Joe Galante while Young unveiled the bronze plaque. These acts mark a person’s official Hall of Fame induction. “It’s really humbling when you get to this place,” Brooks said. “He loves music the same way that we do.”
“This has been a spectacular feeling for me,” said Galante. “I was their record-label head, but I was a huge fan of their music… Business became friendship, and friendship became family. I am both humbled and honored to be here.” He spoke movingly of his late wife Phran, who accompanied him on his journey to greatness.
The Keith Whitley video featured the star’s early singing as a child and as a strikingly accomplished Kentucky teen. Young extolled Whitley’s extraordinary vocal talent.
Pictured: Lorrie Morgan accepts Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Keith Whitley presented by Garth Brooks (left) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (right). Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“Not many singers could so inhabit a song,” he said. “He was a singer fo the ages. This was a once-in-a-generation singer.” He also noted the irony of Whitley’s album title when he was the lead singer for J.D. Crowe & The New South, My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame.
Mickey Guyton saluted Whitley with “When You Say Nothing at All.” Ricky Skaggs, who was Whitley’s singing partner when they were Kentucky teens, performed “Tennessee Blues” alongside Molly Tuttle and Justin Moses. “This is a bittersweet night for all of us,” Skaggs said. Whitley succumbed to alcoholism in 1989 at age 33.
Young pointed out that Whitley’s influence pervades current country, citing Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton and Chesney as disciples. This led to the introduction of another disciple, Garth Brooks.
Pictured: Mickey Guyton performs onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
“For all country-music fans, this night in long overdue,” Brooks said.
“The guy could out-sing 99% of us.” Brooks performed “Don’t Close Your Eyes” as a solo-acoustic gem. He also did the Medallion honors, presenting it to Whitley’s widow, Grand Ole Opry star Lorrie Morgan.
When he died, Whitley “was three weeks away from being a member of the Grand Ole Opry — he didn’t know it,” Morgan shared. “He loved all of these Hall of Fame members — he was such a fan. He would feel so undeserving.”
The Jerry Lee Lewis video illustrated his triumphs as the 1950s rocker of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless,” followed by a decade in musical exile. His 1968-81 comeback was as the peerless country stylist of more than 30 top hits, including “Another Place Another Time,” “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous,” “She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye,” “There Must Be More to Love Than This” and “Thirty Nine and Holding.”
Young said of Lewis, “There is no entertainer like him — a genius of rare musical spontaneity….an unquestioned pillar of rock & roll and country music.” “The Killer,” as he is known, was a charter inductee into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Pictured (L-R): Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams Jr. accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Jerry Lee Lewis presented by CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Youn. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Lee Ann Womack saluted Lewis with her version of his 1977 hit “Middle Age Crazy.” The McCrary Sisters had everyone on their feet and clapping to a rollicking, rousing treatment of “My God Is Real.” Lewis was expelled from Bible college for similarly rocking the song. Chris Isaak was joyous and charismatic on “Great Balls of Fire,” supported by Jen Gunderman’s piano pyrotechnics.
Hank Williams Jr. inducted Lewis. “Jerry Lee was one of my teachers,” he recalled. “It was then that I realized I was ‘Born to Boogie.’ Jerry Lee doesn’t ask for your attention, he demands it….He will be The Best as long as people listen to recorded music.”
Lewis, 87, was planning to attend, despite being wheelchair bound and increasingly frail. But doctors advised him on Sunday morning that he should not travel from his Mississippi home to Nashville. So Williams read a statement from the legend.
“I was so looking forward to it,” Lewis wrote. “Country music has always been the genre where I feel most at home. To be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor… Thanks to God for allowing me to experience this honor while I’m still here.”
Kris Kristofferson, who wrote Lewis’s hits “Once More With Feeling” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” accepted the Medallion from Williams. Then Bill Anderson led the crowd in singing the traditional ceremony closing song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” He got a big assist via the fiddle filigrees of Deanie Richardson.
Kenny Chesney performs onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Anderson, Kristofferson, Williams, Skaggs, Owen, Gentry, Kix Brooks, Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Bud Wendell, Charlie McCoy, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill, Ray Stevens, Wynonna Judd, Randy Travis and Oak Ridge Boys William Lee Golden and Duane Allen were among the Hall of Fame members in attendance. The new inductees are the 147th, 148th and 149th members.
The three-hour ceremony began with an audio entertainment, the 1930 Jimmie Rodgers hit “Blue Yodel No.9.” On it, country music’s first superstar was accompanied by jazz legends Louis Armstrong and Lili Hardin Armstrong.
Young’s ceremonial title is Commander General of the Circle Guard. Mary Ann McCready introduced their fellow Circle Guard members David Conrad, Steve Turner, Bill Denny, Mike Milom, Seab Tuck, Jerry Williams, Ken Levitan and Ken Roberts.
Also prior to the inductions, Trahern offered a eulogy for American music icon and Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn, who died at age 90 on Oct. 4.
The evening’s performances were accompanied by the Medallion All-Star Band. Richardson and Gunderson were members of the group, led by bandleader Bifff Watson. Their instrumental confederates included Russ Pahl, Rachel Loy, Jeff White, Mark Beckett and young guitar virtuoso Charlie Worsham.
Following the ceremony, guests attended a cocktail supper. Morgan, Galante and Lewis’s wife Judith Lewis mingled with a crowd that included singers Sharon & Cheryl White, The Isaacs, Jeannie Seely, Paul Overstreet and Ranger Doug Green of Riders in the Sky.
Kane Brown Receives Boys & Girls Club’s Champion Of Youth Award
/by Lorie HollabaughKane Brown. Photo: Courtesy of 1220 Entertainment
Kane Brown was honored Friday night (Oct. 14) at the Beverly Hills Hilton with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2022 Champion of Youth Award at the 75th National Youth of the Year celebration.
The Champion of Youth Award is bestowed to individuals for exhibiting above and beyond service to Boys & Girls Clubs. Previous recipients include NBA star Lebron James, entertainer Jennifer Lopez, Olympic champion Michael Phelps, and the late former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Kane Brown receives the Boys & Girls Clubs of America 2022 Champion of Youth Award. Photo: Courtesy of 1220 Entertainment
Other attendees and advocates included Emmy-winning actor Courtney B. Vance, Entertainment Tonight co-host Nischelle Turner, singer-songwriter Miguel, WWE superstars Titus O’Neil and The Miz, and Oscar award-winning costume designer and Boys & Girls Clubs alumna Ruth Carter.
Additionally, Asha H-R. was named the 2022-2023 National Youth of the Year. She was selected among six finalists to receive the prestigious honor, representing over 4 million youth in Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation.
Typically held in Washington D.C., this year marked the organization’s first debut in Los Angeles, gathering honorable Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, staff, partners and celebrity supporters at the celebration of teens awarded on the local, state and regional levels throughout the year.