Martina McBride took time to discuss with MusicRow her recent projects including a new deal with Nash Icon. The move marked her rejoining the Big Machine Label Group fold after stepping away to independently release her Everlasting soul and R&B cover album.

“I learned you have a lot of responsibility in releasing your own album,” McBride said on the red carpet of the Music Biz awards in Nashville last Thursday (May 14). “It’s important to surround yourself with great people and I’m super excited about the Nash Icon deal because of that—being surrounded by the best in the business. They think outside the box, have passion and positive energy. That’s half the battle and feels really good.

“There are quite a few differences between this Nash Icon deal and my old deal with Republic Nashville. Nash Icon has a string of radio stations with Cumulus. They’ve signed us to make new music for that format. So it’s a great opportunity to create and have a place for our fans to hear our music. And to be apart of something innovative, groundbreaking and a whole new format in country music.”

The first release on the label, headed by Jim Weatherson and Scott Borchetta, was Reba McEntire’s Love Somebody. Ronnie Dunn, McBride and most recently Hank Williams Jr. have been tapped to record new music for the Cumulus partnership of 26-operating Nash Icon radio stations, which is also distributed to stations nationwide through Westwood One.

McBride also discussed building her brand outside of music. In October of last year she released a book about hosting and entertaining titled, Around the Table (William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishing).

“The most successful way to build your brand is to be yourself,” McBride continued. “I love to cook and entertain and really wanted to write a book that made it easy for people who are overwhelmed or have never done it before.”

Another way McBride spends her time is with philanthropic efforts. Those include countless domestic violence projects, such as work with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Tulsa Domestic Violence as well as Loveisrespect and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline to create the “My Time to Shine.” She also lends support to Middle Tennessee’s annual YWCA Celebrity Auction, Kids Wish Network, and Stand Up 2 Cancer Telethon.

“Philanthropy for me is all about using this platform to do some good and raise awareness and make a difference,” McBride summed of her efforts that earned her the Music Biz’s Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award last week.

McBride has sold over 18 million albums, which have included 20 Top 10 singles and six No. 1 hits. As she preps her next project, she recently invited songwriters to the Big Machine Label Group offices to discuss her upcoming work.

One of country music’s biggest stars displayed an aw-shucks reaction when honored with his own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame last night (May 20).

“Curators: I’m not even sure I knew what that word was, except maybe it was something in Las Vegas,” said Luke Bryan. “But now that I do, I thank you.

“To have such a wonderfully done exhibit is pretty amazing. To see it laid out in front of you is very amazing.”

Bryan was speaking at the preview party for Luke Byran: Dirt Road Diaries. The CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year’s exhibit opens to the public on Friday, May 22.

“Luke Bryan is as country as they come,” said the museum’s Kyle Young. “He grew up on a peanut farm. He sang in the church choir…He loves to fish and hunt.

“He encourages his fans to enjoy themselves. When he hits the stage, he’s the happiest guy in the world. He chooses to celebrate life. The way he finds joy in life is why he is where he is today.”

Luke concurred. “We just wake up every day and figure out how to smile and make other people smile,” he said. “Thank you for letting me having a place in this magical world here in Music City.”

As their remarks suggested, the exhibit emphasizes Luke Bryan’s prowess as an entertainer. Posters, t-shirts, ball caps, guitars, magazine covers, stage props, show clothes and the like are all displayed.

Representing his early life in Leesburg, Ga., are his childhood piano (a Wurlitzer spinet), kindergarten diploma, school backpack, Little League uniform, first guitar and the script from the high-school production of Annie Get Your Gun, in which he co-starred.

Want to know his lifestyle? The exhibit includes his Remington shotgun, bow and arrows (used on the reality TV series Buck Commander), fishing reel and trophy-size mounted bass caught in Brazil. There you have it, plus gowns his wife wore to awards shows and the awards he won at them.

Taking it all in were Mike Dungan, Mike Vaden, Mike Sisted. Charlie Cook, Charlie Monk, Royce Risser, Lisa Lee, Troy Tomlinson, Seab Tuck and Sarah Trahern.

The cocktail hors d’oeuvres featured black-eyed pea salad, candied bacon, crostinis, cheese dip, ham roll-ups, veggies and mini hoe cakes. We schmoozed and vogued in the Hall of Fame rotunda before perusing Luke’s displays.

Luke Bryan has sold nearly seven million albums and had 12 No. 1 country singles. His Crash My Party CD has sold two million units and spawned six consecutive No. 1 smashes. In 2014, more than 1.7 million fans attended his concerts.

Celebrating his accomplishments were such figures as Jeff Stevens, Cindy Mabe, Diane Pearson, Eric Parker, Dave Pomeroy, Vince Santoro, Andrew Kintz, Chris Horsnell, country historian Tony Russell (visiting from London), Kate Richardson, Teresa George, Bob Paxman, Heath Owen, Steve Hodges, Lois Riggins-Ezell, Earle Simmons, Rebecca Walls, Cindy Watts and CMT’s Jennifer Danielson, Jordan Stevens and Jen Morrison.

“I moved here in 2001, just knowing a handful of people,” said Luke. “I just thank you guys for being here….So many amazingly important people in this room have made this happen…I love y’all.”