Jamey Johnson and Ronnie Dunn Release "Never Gonna Be" on Friday, Sept. 12

When Jamey Johnson and Ronnie Dunn recorded “Never Gonna Be,” which will be released on Friday, Sept. 12, the lyrics had special meaning to Johnson because Dunn co-wrote the song about him. 

The recording is a poignant full-circle moment because Dunn and co-writer Terry McBride wrote the song about Johnson 15 years ago, just as the Alabama native’s career was taking off.

“It makes me think of my early days in Nashville, bringing my guitar downtown to play,” Johnson says. “Once I was playing Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and came back out and my 1986 Dodge had been towed. It reminds me of those days when everybody out there was working hard and trying to get noticed and write a better song and perform a version of it live.” 

The song is not only a snapshot in time of Johnson’s early solo career, but a powerful description of the steady stream of countless aspiring artists that have been coming to Nashville for decades, “riding on high hopes, living on dreams,” as the song says, hoping to make it in a town full of “them that are and has beens, and never gonna be.”

Pre-save “Never Gonna Be” HERE.

What did it mean to Johnson to have Dunn write a song about him? He says, “It was awesome! I never ever really knew what to do with it because I don’t think I knew he was pitching it to me to record. I don’t know what I thought at the time.

“I thought he nailed the concept as far as everybody coming to Nashville and it chews them up and spits them out. I guess I never did know which of those categories I fell into. Now I think I do: I’m a ‘never gonna be,’ and I’m OK with that,” he says with a laugh. 

Johnson and Dunn first crossed paths in 2005-06, when Johnson opened shows for Brooks and Dunn. In 2010, Dunn and McBride wrote the song in Saskatchewan, Canada, during a break in Brooks & Dunn’s tour there. 

“It was back when Jamey was just coming on strong, maybe just before he’d had ‘In Color,’” Dunn says of Johnson’s award-winning hit. “We were just looking at the new wave of outlaws coming into town.

“It’s like, ‘Oh boy! This is going to be fun!’ We just took off, thinking, ‘What would it be like?’ Listening to him in interviews, you’d get insights into people and what was going on with him. Man, we were excited! 

“I came from a conservative place in West Texas, where you couldn’t have your hair over your ears in school. I thought, ‘Oh man, we’re gonna get to meet hippies finally!”

Messina Touring Group Elevates Rachel Powers to Vice President

Messina Touring Group (MTG) has elevated Rachel Powers from Vice President of Marketing to Vice President, reflecting her expanding role within the company and her continued impact on the live entertainment industry.
 
“It’s an absolute honor to continue growing with a company known for its unwavering commitment to artists, always putting them and their best interests first,” shares Powers. “I’m fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented professionals in the business, many of whom have helped pave the way for me. It’s been a privilege to support some of the best artists and their incredible teams. I’m especially grateful to Louis for his mentorship and for believing in me – this opportunity means the world.”
 
In addition to prior responsibilities of co-leading the marketing department and overseeing tour marketing for Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band, this new role expands Powers’ focus beyond marketing to include broader oversight and more deeply involved in high-level decision-making, cross-functional leadership and driving overall growth for the business
 
Powers has been a driving force behind some of country music’s most successful tours. Since 2017, she has overseen tour marketing for Shelton, from his Doing It to Country Songs Tour to his upcoming 2026 Live in Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum.
 
She leads marketing for Church’s highly anticipated Free the Machine Tour launching this weekend, following her work on his The Gather Again Tour, which sold over 860,000 tickets, grossed $100 million, and earned Top Country Tour at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards and Church’s record-breaking Double Down Tour in 2019, which sold more than 770,000 tickets, grossed nearly $72 million and made history as the first solo headliner at Nissan Stadium.
 
Her contributions have been widely recognized throughout the industry. She has been named to Billboard’s Country Power Players list (2024, 2025) and Women in Music Executive list (2023, 2025). She was selected for the second cohort of the Country Music Association’s Women’s Leadership Academy, recognized as an inaugural honoree on Pollstar’s Impact: NextGen list in 2019, and invited to join the first class of the American Express Women in Music Leadership Academy.

Photo Credit: Chris Zebo

Brantley Gilbert Releases New Single "Want You Back" + 'Greatest Hits...So Far' Available 12/12

Multi-Platinum country rocker Brantley Gilbert returns to Country radio with a clever twist on heartbreak in his single, “Want You Back,” out now via The Valory Music Co. The track made its global premiere yesterday exclusively on Country radio, before going wide across all digital platforms today. Listen to “Want You Back” Below.
 
With its 90s-meets-modern-country sound, pedal steel woven into his signature rock edge and a hook that's instantly addictive, “Want You Back” finds Gilbert leaning into tongue-in-cheek humor, wishing his ex had done him dirty so he’d have a reason to move on. Written by Gilbert with HARDY, Hunter Phelps and Will Weatherly, and produced by Gilbert, Weatherly and Brock Berryhill, the single proves even heartache can come with a grin:

Today’s release will be found on Gilbert’s forthcoming Greatest Hits…So Far, available December 12 via The Valory Music Co., along with previously unreleased songs “Real American” and “Ride With Me.” Pre-save/pre-add Greatest Hits…So Far HERE.

The Tattoos Tour continues this weekend with shows in Allen, TX and Kinder, LA, with additional stops in Franklin, TN on October 3 and Colorado Springs on October 11 among additional dates through February 2026. Tickets are available at BrantleyGilbert.com.
 

The Tattoos Tour 2025 Dates
 
Sept. 6             Coushatta Casino Resort || Kinder, LA
Sept. 11           Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom || Hampton Beach, NH
Sept. 12           The Great Frederick Fair 2025 || Frederick, MD
Sept. 13           Portsmouth Pavilion || Portsmouth, VA
Oct. 3              FirstBank Amphitheater || Franklin, TN
Oct. 4              Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary || Petros, TN
Oct. 10            Rio Rancho Events Center || Rio Rancho, NM
Oct. 11            Ford Amphitheater || Colorado Springs, CO
Oct. 12            Blue FCU Arena || Loveland, CO
Feb. 26            Pensacola Bay Center || Pensacola, FL
Feb. 27            Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena || Jacksonville, FL
Feb. 28            Donald L. Tucker Civic Center || Tallahassee, FL

Jenna Paulette Releases “Steady,” Readies CowboyGirl Fall Collection for 9/15 Launch

Leo33’s rising country artist Jenna Paulette, who teased new music in 2026 in a recent COWGIRL Magazine profile, is previewing her upcoming project with the release of “Steady,” available everywhere now. Listen Below. 
 
“Ross and I were working cattle one day and I looked over at him, his handle on his horse looked so light and good, and I thought, 'he holds my hand like he holds the reins…steady.' I put that into my phone and ended up talking about the idea with Rhett Akins and Will Bundy on a writers retreat,” Paulette recalls of the writing process. “The song was way slower when we work taped it. My manager said on a call with the label, what about “Steady,” but think of it as more uptempo with soaring steel guitar. I’m so glad he could hear the potential through a rough version of the song.”
 
Written by Paulette, Will Bundy and Rhett Akins, and produced by Bundy, “Steady” is a testament to the understated strength of a dependable partner. 

Alongside new music, Paulette is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her CowboyGirl women’s range wear collection, in partnership with Ely Cattleman, with the launch of the CowboyGirl fall line on September 15. The fall drop introduces fresh seasonal details, including new autumn-oriented colors, a seasonal plaid and an expansion of the line to include the Little CowboyGirl collection — designed with the same fabrics in a “mommy down” style for mothers and daughters to wear together.
 
Reflecting on this chapter in her life, Paulette shares, "I feel like I'm getting into the groove of motherhood while being a touring musician, things are picking up in all aspects of my life. It’s feeling more like a moving train that I'm riding. It's picking up speed—I’m excited for the momentum of it all, with the way the music and Cowboygirl work together.” 
 
The Fall line builds on CowboyGirl’s focus of functional fit, with classic tone-on-tone styles available in both seasonal colors and classic solids of white and black — designed for dressier occasions or for rodeo competitors in need of dependable gear. CowboyGirl’s fall collection will be available at local retailers or elycattleman.com. 

CowboyGirl Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Fall Collection Launch on
Monday, September 15

California Cowgirl: Annie Bosko’s Debut Album Arrives October 3

Working with producers Trent Willmon and David “Messy” Mescon, and writing alongside the likes of Mescon, Jeffrey Steele, Bridgette Tatum, Danny Myrick, Terri Jo Box and more, Bosko co-wrote over half the songs found on California Cowgirl, including the already released title track, “God Winks, “Tequila Time,” “Country Girls! (Who Run the World)” and “Heartburn” featuring Dwight Yoakam. The project also features tracks penned by Lainey Wilson, Garth Brooks and Hannah Dasher.
 
Bosko will join Dolly Parton for Dolly: Live in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace on December 10, following her album release party on October 3 at Desert 5 Spot in Los Angeles. She is also set for a headlining performance at Nashville Dance Fest this Sunday, September 7 and a date supporting Jessica Simpson at Genesee Theatre on Saturday, September 20.

Rising singer/songwriter Annie Bosko is stepping into a new chapter with her debut album, California Cowgirl, arriving October 3 via QHMG/Stone Country Records. Growing up a farmer’s daughter, the collection reflects her West Coast roots that run deep in the heart of California’s agricultural country while blending her love of timeless storytelling with a sound that’s equal parts confident and catchy. Pre-save/pre-add California Cowgirl HERE.
 
“California Cowgirl is a colorful tapestry woven from the threads of my life — with a fabric for everyone,” shares Bosko. “From the grit of growing up a farmer’s daughter to the faith that’s kept me chasing my dreams, this album reveals both the tender and the tough sides of who I am. It carries the pioneer spirit of the West, the heartbeat of the American dream and a Golden State glow with country soul.”
 
To accompany today’s announcement, Bosko also releases a new studio version of “Honky Tonk Heartbeat,” a track fans may recognize from Ariat’s buzzed-about “Line-Men Dancing” campaign, featuring fellow Ariat ambassador and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
 
Penned by Bosko specifically for the campaign, Purdy leads his center Jake Brendel, retired tight end Bear Pascoe and a squad of Stanford University linemen in a choreographed line dance, bringing “Honky Tonk Heartbeat (Football Line-Men Dance)” to life:

Annie Bosko Upcoming Shows
Sept. 7             Nashville Dance Fest || Nashville, TN
Sept. 12           Wine & Country || Sam Simeon, CA
Sept. 20           Genesee Theatre || Waukegan, IL
Sept. 27           Get Down Downtown || Searcy, AZ
Oct. 3              Desert 5 Spot || Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 9              WhiskeyJam || Nashville, TN
Oct. 10            Four Peaks Oktoberfest Tempe Town Lake 2025 || Tempe, AZ
Jan. 31             REHAB Telethon & Auction || Abilene, TX
Feb. 20            Los Fresnos Rodeo || Los Fresnos, TX         

Rising Country Trio Lost Saints Release Debut EP 'Emotions,' Out Now

Built on the soul-piercing simplicity of three-part harmony, country trio Lost Saints arrive today with their debut EP, Emotions (Two Hats Music Group), available everywhere now. Featuring members Afton Addington, Chris Biano and Derrick Casteel, the new project showcases a group poised to bring timeless harmony back to the modern country landscape. Listen to Emotions Below.

Hailing from East Texas and East Tennessee, the members of Lost Saints first met in Nashville. What began as casual harmonizing between friends quickly revealed a rare, magnetic blend – three voices fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. With roots in gospel, bluegrass and classic country, their sound carries both contemporary polish and an authentic, 90s-inspired edge.

“I think it is a little bit of a lost art, and our goal is to bring that thing back,” says Biano. “That mix of voices that was here since the beginning of music.”

“We want to bring harmony back into the country music scene, and there’s a space for that,” Addington explains. “Look back at the ‘90s and you had all those great vocal groups like Diamond Rio, Restless Heart and Lonestar.”

Produced by studio legend Ilya Toshinskiy, Emotions builds on the trio’s early singles, including 2024’s “I Wanna Let You” and 2025’s “The One,” expanding their sonic world into a heartfelt collection of stories. With a mix of outside cuts, covers and a track co-written by Biano as well as the trio's sweeping choruses and seamless vocal interplay, the EP embodies Lost Saints’ belief that harmony is both timeless and deeply human.

“It’s like there’s a huge hole in modern country, and honestly, there might not be anything fitting what we’re doing,” Biano adds. “When we hit that chorus, it’s almost indistinguishable who’s leading.”

With Emotions, Lost Saints open a bold new chapter – reclaiming one of country’s most cherished traditions for a new generation of listeners.

About Lost Saints:
Built on the soul-piercing simplicity of three-part harmony, The Lost Saints are a country power trio for a new era – but one with undeniably timeless instincts. Featuring Afton Addington, Chris Biano and Derrick Casteel, three voices fit together like a puzzle, revitalizing one of country’s core tenants. Sourcing their own musical beginnings from East Tennessee (Casteel) and East Texas (Addington and Biano), The Lost Saints met by grace and began exploring an easy, all-natural vocal blend. Fusing the silky sheen of contemporary country with grassroots ‘90s authenticity and the rich, vivid harmony of the classic format, they began turning heads through a series of self-styled singles – set apart by their true-trio status (with each member on equal vocal footing). Yet after signing with Two Hats Music Group, and partnering with ace producer/studio legend Ilya Toshinskiy, a new chapter sees The Lost Saints finding their way. Beginning with the 2024 single “I Wanna Let You,” thick, textured voicing and near-weightless harmonies show a long-loved piece of the country tradition reclaimed, after being absent too long. Meanwhile, 2025 sees the band follow up their heartfelt power ballad “The One” – a better-late-than-never tribute to soulmates finding one another – with the release of their debut EP, Emotions, available now. 

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song To Sing” Gets Dreamy Disco Treatment

Country music giants Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton deliver a 70s-inspired music video for their first true duet collaboration, “A Song To Sing,” praised by Rolling Stone for “its dreamy disco groove and lovestruck devotion.”
 
Directed by Running Bear and produced by James Stratakis, the video features the pair of visionaries, clad in matching terracotta suits (with cameos from Morgane Stapleton in gold lamé), taking the stage at Brentwood Skate Center to perform the Stereogum-dubbed “slinky arrangement” with “the two singers’ enormous, intertwined vocals.” A callback to an era of music epitomized by Ronnie Milsap, Waylon Jennings, and especially the classic Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers duets, the collaborators borrowed jewelry from Rogers’ and Parton’s estates, with Lambert wearing a pair of Parton’s gold clip-on hoop earrings and Stapleton donning a lion necklace of Rogers’.
 
The music video for “A Song To Sing” arrives on the heels of the biggest streaming debut of Lambert’s career, racking up more than 3.3 million U.S. streams and over 4.3 million streams globally in its first week. The track also topped 27,000 in U.S. track consumption. Co-written by the pair along with Jesse Frasure and Jenee Fleenor, and produced by Dave Cobb, the song also arrived at No. 1 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.
 
Lambert and Stapleton boast a combined 14 GRAMMY, 33 Country Music Association and 59 Academy of Country Music awards and have each influenced generations with their singular artistries and distinctive creative points of view.

About Miranda Lambert
Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multifaceted career as an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. Current single and duet “A Song To Sing” with Chris Stapleton arrived as the biggest streaming debut of her career, with Rolling Stone praising its “dreamy disco groove and lovestruck devotion.” Her 10th solo studio album, Postcards from Texas, available everywhere now via Republic Records, continued her unbroken streak of 10 consecutive Top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, she has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”
 
A multi-dimensional superstar, she’s earned seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 80 prestigious awards and countless RIAA certifications; conquered Las Vegas with her twice-extended Velvet Rodeo residency; blurred genres with Leon Bridges, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Enrique Iglesias, Sheryl Crow and Elle King; and delivered her LGBTQ+ inclusive anthem “Y’All Means All” for Netflix’s “Queer Eye.” Lambert has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. She is also a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection exclusive to Walmart and her Idyllwind clothing and boot line at Boot Barn. Her passion for rescue animals inspired the creation of her MuttNation Foundation, which has raised over $11 million since inception to promote adoption, support shelters across the country, advance spay & neuter and assist with the transport of animals during times of natural disaster.
 
MirandaLambert.com | Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
 
About Chris Stapleton
Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is an 11x GRAMMY, 19x CMA and 21x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians.
 
In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Stapleton recently won the ACM Award for Male Artist of the Year as well as Best Country Solo Performance at the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards for his song “It Takes A Woman.” These accomplishments celebrate Stapleton’s album, Higher, which includes break-out songs “White Horse” and “Think I’m In Love With You.” Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton, the record landed on several “Best of” lists including Billboard, Esquire, Los Angeles Times, Vulture and Rolling Stone, who praises, “dazzling…the best evidence yet for the way one man’s voice has become synonymous with the very idea of a musical genre.” Additionally, The New Yorker declares, “Stapleton is the rare country star with both traditional bona fides and broad commercial appeal. He has an outlaw soul and a pop star’s capacity for inescapable hooks,” while GQ proclaims, “In an age rife with division, he’s maybe the only thing Americans all agree on.”
 
Known for his electric live performances, Stapleton will continue his extensive “All-American Road Show” through this summer including two upcoming shows at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Stapleton has recently collaborated with Post Malone (“California Sober”), Dua Lipa (“Think I’m In Love With You (Live from the 59th ACM Awards)”), Slash (“Oh Well”) and George Strait (“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame”), released a version of Tom Petty’s “I Should Have Known It” for the new Tom Petty tribute album and returned to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for the third time as musical guest. He also performed the National Anthem at 2023’s Super Bowl LVII and has worked in recent years with Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Santana and many more.
 
Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, are founders of the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund, which supports a variety of causes that are close to their hearts.

Photo Credit: Andy Barron

Kaitlin Butts Releases Official Music Video for Viral Hit "You Ain't Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)"

Rising country/Americana singer/songwriter Kaitlin Butts has released the official music video for her viral anthem, “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” a track that has taken on a life of its own across TikTok and streaming platforms. Recently spotlighted in Variety for its runaway virality, the song has become a favorite for fans and artists alike, amassing over 123 million TikTok views, 8 million global streams, and inspiring thousands of fan-created videos that showcase its biting lyrics. Watch the video Below.  

The track is featured on her critically lauded album Roadrunner!, which Holler described as “something worthy of the silver screen.” The new video written and conceived by Butts and directed by Chris Beyrooty delivers on that cinematic promise. It harkens back to a classic western tale where the woman declared “unafraid to test boundaries,” by Rolling Stone, is the one administering her own brand of wild west justice offering a striking and comedic take on the track.

“Making this music video was something I’ve wanted to do since I put out this album,” shared Butts. “I’ve had the treatment for it since January 2024, when I was writing the videos for ‘Wild Juanita’s,’ ‘Hunt You Down’ and ‘Other Girls.’ When ‘You Ain’t Gotta Die’ started to have its viral moment, I was so excited to create something I’ve had in my head for so long. We looped in director Chris Beyrooty to help me bring it all to life and I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. I took some inspiration from some of my favorite movies, Holes, Django Unchained and Chicago. Expect a little dance with a side of blood, lipstick and justice.”

The video follows the breakout success of Butts’ 2024 album, Roadrunner!, which solidified her as one of the most inventive songwriters in modern country. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. It was praised as “epic, involved, entertaining, and thought-provoking” by Saving Country Music and hailed as “a brilliant showcase of what happens when you believe in yourself so much – and so well – that the world is left with no other purpose than to bend to your desires, whatever they may be,” by The Tennessean while No Depression called Butts “one of the more creative songwriters making country music right now” the much buzzed about troubadour is showing no signs of slowing down.
 
With a fearless songwriting style that blends humor, vulnerability, and theatricality, Butts has earned a reputation for music that pushes creative boundaries. “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)” has quickly become a defining moment of her career, bridging the acclaim of Roadrunner! with the viral energy of a new fan-favorite anthem.

This year, Butts will bring her live show to stages across the country, joining some of the genre’s biggest names. She will open for Lainey Wilson on her worldwide Whirlwind Tour, hit the road with Molly Tuttle on The Highway Knows Tour and join Ella Langley on her Still Hungover Tour. She will also reunite with Flatland Cavalry as part of their Flatland Forever(more) Tour, while making appearances at major fairs and festivals, including a highly anticipated set at AmericanaFest 2025.
 
For the latest news and tour dates visit kaitlinbutts.com, and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and X @kaitlinbutts and on TikTok @kaitlinbuttsmusic.

About Kaitlin Butts: 
“Unafraid to test boundaries” (Rolling Stone), Kaitlin Butts fearless approach to country music is helping her reach new heights. In 2024, Butts released her acclaimed album Roadrunner!. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which ended up on numerous best-of year-end lists. “With the last album I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” Butts explains. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.” Butts also hit the road hard in 2024, making her Lollapalooza debut, opening for Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Flatland Cavalry, and trekking across the U.S. on her first-ever coast-to-coast headlining tour.
 
In 2025, the Tulsa-born, Nashville-based Butts is gearing up for another banner year. Butts will join Lainey Wilson on her Whirlwind Tour this Summer, and will also be featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s latest American Currents exhibition. In the exhibit, Butts is featured alongside artists like Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and others. Butts has also joined the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class alongside Kashus Culpepper, Tigerlily, Tucker Wetmore, Dasha, Avery Anna and Chayce Beckham, as well as the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2025.

‘Band Together Texas’ Rallies Over $8.5 Million in Funds for Central Texas Flood Relief

Notable Texas artists, actors and athletes joined Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas Sunday night for their “Band Together Texas” benefit concert, honoring the lives lost in the Central Texas floods, and celebrating the every day heroes and first responders who saved countless others. The event, which benefitted The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas Community Foundation, raised over $8.5 million and counting.
 
The sold-out evening spanned nearly three hours and was livestreamed via iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, YouTube, Facebook and nugs.net, with a call to action directing fans to donate to continued relief efforts. 
 
Actor Matthew McConaughey opened with a monologue underscoring the importance of the event: “The devastating floods that took so many lives, businesses and homes last month broke a lot of hearts. As that day gets further away into the distance of our rearview mirror, it’s only natural that our concern and attention recede just like those flood waters—but we must remember, for the families who suffered, they are just beginning the lengthy journey to rebuild their lives.
 
​​"Tonight is about restoration… we are here to revive--Because even in the hardest times, we have to believe in the power of joy. So while we honor the heavy truths that brought us here, we will also celebrate the light that must continue to shine.”
 
“Thank you Austin, Texas for showing up tonight. Thank you, everybody, for tuning in and showing up for us. We are banding together as Texans tonight,” Lambert addressed the audience following her duet with McCollum on the George Strait classic, “True,” marking the first live performance of the evening. “It’s going to be a magical night of music, and for an amazing cause. My buddy Parker and I, we called each other right away and we asked, ‘What can we do? We can sing, so let’s go sing.’ And that’s what we’re doing tonight!”
 
Following Lambert’s performance of “Bluebird” and “The House That Built Me,” she introduced her friend, Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen, for a touching in memoriam honoring victims lost in last month’s floods. As Bowen sang an acoustic rendition of “A Beautiful World,” names, images and videos of flood victims flashed across the screen as the crowd remained silent, in a powerful moment that could be felt by viewers at home and in the arena alike. 
 
“I’d like to give a shout out to Miranda Lambert, she’s the whole reason all of this is going on,” McCollum shared as he took the stage to perform “Solid Gold Country” and “Handle On You.” “She texted me right away and asked, ‘What can we do?’ I said, ‘I’ll do anything I could ever possibly do to help these people.’ So, good on all of y’all for being here on a Sunday night. I’ve never been more proud to be born and raised in the great state of Texas than I am tonight.”

The full lineup of Texas talent joins together on-stage at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday night, Aug. 17, for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again” | Photo Credit: Jeff Johnson

Between the 29 songs played throughout the night, actor Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott took pause to reflect on moments of remembrance, bravery and resiliency in the Hill Country.
 
Acho, who spoke with camp counselors from Camp Mystic on a recent episode of Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, brought 19-year-old counselor Ainslie Bashara on-stage in a touching moment celebrating her heroic actions which saved 16 lives.
 
Honoring first responders, Scott paid tribute to public information officer for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, Razor Dobbs, and the Fire Chief, Charles Holt; while Harrison acknowledged the Texas Game Wardens in attendance. 
 
Reigning ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean, who performed at the Moody Center on Saturday, Aug. 16, extended his stay, joining as a surprise guest after generously donating his stage and production crew. Taking the stage with an uptempo performance of “She’s Country,” Aldean then welcomed Lambert on-stage for a duet of “Amarillo Sky.”
 
“Thank you guys so much. Yeah, I had to stay an extra day here in Austin, I can’t think of a better cause to be here for than this,” Aldean shared. “Huge thank you to Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum for doing this tonight.”
 
“Jason was here last night, as you already know, but he left all of his stuff for us to use, and stayed an extra day to sing a song for us, so you’re an honorary Texan tonight, friend,” Lambert added.
 
Later, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn let music speak where words failed. “I tried to come up with something to say earlier. It was profound, it would do what it needs to do, but I don’t think there’s a song on Earth – no words, no rhyme, no reason – that can heal the pain, the suffering, the sorrow brought on by what’s happened here. So, I’m just going to share a story with you,” he concluded, before delving into his show-stopping performance of faith-based “I Believe” with The Levites Music Group, a choir comprised of members Shedrach Rowry Jonathan Davis, Kevin Overton-Hadnot, De’Juana Shaw, Kraven Rowry and Agnes Henry.
 
After Cody Johnson’s performance of his No. 1 hits “Dirt Cheap” and “Til You Can’t” – as well as a cover of “How Great Thou Art” –  the all-star roster of Texas talent including Lambert and McCollum, Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers joined together on-stage for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again.”
 
Band Together Texas was made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, John Paul & Eloise DeJoria Family Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber and Whataburger.

The Wall Group Expands to Nashville, Morgan Feldman Joins as Managing Director

The Wall Group today announced it will open a Nashville office, with Morgan Feldman joining as Managing Director.
 
The agency will continue to identify and represent leading artists at the forefront of culture, while bringing forth unique opportunities for them to collaborate with the many diverse talents, musicians, and influential brands in Nashville.
 
“Nashville continues to grow as a leading destination for music, culture, and live entertainment, generating a demand for artists who can bring creative visions to life like never before,” said Kate Stirling, SVP and Co-Head of Fashion Representation at WME Fashion.
 
“Under Morgan’s leadership, we’re excited to expand our Nashville roster and collaborate with our WME colleagues to create new opportunities for clients across The Wall Group,” said Jeni Rose, SVP and Co-Head of Fashion Representation at WME Fashion.
 
Feldman joins The Wall Group with nearly 16 years of industry experience, having started her career at WME as an agent trainee. From there, she spent ten years in artist management at Vector Management before continuing her career at SB Projects, Scooter Braun’s artist management company, in Nashville. Feldman moved to Forward Artists in 2024, where she opened and launched their Nashville office as Director.
 
Clients joining The Wall Group roster in Nashville upon launch include Amber Cannon, Ashley Whaler, Cherie Kilchrist, Chris Bear, Jessica Candage, Jessica Miller, Kelly Henderson, Lindsey Dupuis, Mari Brown, Marz Collins, Oliva Rose, Stef Colvin, and Tarryn Feldman.
 
In addition to Nashville, The Wall Group has offices in Los Angeles, New York, and London. Since 2000, The Wall Group has driven the careers of fashion and beauty’s foremost artists including fashion stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists and groomers, manicurists, and content creators. Clients include Ash K Holm, Chris Appleton, Gucci Westman, Hung Vanngo, Karla Welch, Kate Young, Matt Rez, Naeemah Lafond, Shiona Turini, Taylor McNeill and Zola Ganzorigt to name a few.
 
The Wall Group is a part of WME Fashion, whose diverse and robust global portfolio includes Art + Commerce and IMG Models.
 
Congratulate Feldman at mfeldman@thewallgroup.com.

Morgan Feldman, Managing Director of The Wall Group Nashville | Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

Jamey and Brittney Johnson Create the Give It Away Fund to Help Those in Need

Award-winning country singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson and his wife, respected attorney Brittney Johnson, have launched the Give It Away fund to provide help to those in need by supporting well-managed charities. 

The fund focuses on charities that do work that is close to the couple’s hearts and assist communities experiencing natural disasters and other tragedies.

“We love helping people in need,” Jamey says. “This will allow us to direct money to certain places where there is considerable need.”

Adds Brittney, “Volunteer work has always been an important part of my life. One of the things I admired most about Jamey when we first met was his massive and generous heart. We share a love for helping people, and I think that has been an important part of our relationship from the beginning.” 

The fund’s name came from the 2006 George Strait No. 1 hit, “Give It Away,” which Jamey co-wrote with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon. The song won Song of the Year at both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

“I laughed when we were talking about what the name of our foundation was going to be,” Jamey says. “At first, we thought it should be the In Color fund, and then I thought, ‘Wait a minute! I have a better song than that!’ Give It Away is the perfect name for any fund. It is exactly what we are doing with the money.”

Johnson will donate a dollar for every ticket sold at participating shows to his fund. In addition, he will donate all proceeds from the sale of a special T-shirt to his fund. It is available at his shows and online HERE.

Jamey is known for being among the first to help in times of need, whether it’s performing in a charity concert, making calls or donating money. For instance, he performed at George Strait’s “Strait To The Heart” benefit concert last month that raised more than $6 million for those affected by the flooding across Texas’ Hill Country. He will also perform at Robert Earl Keen's RFK and Friend's Applause for the Cause on Aug. 28 in New Braunfels, TX. More information on that event can be found HERE. 

He is also known for his support of the Nikki Mitchell Foundation, which he co-founded in 2013 to help those who have pancreatic cancer. The Marine also works with Toys for Tots and other organizations that help veterans, military members and their families. 

Brittney has been focused on helping others around the world years before she became an attorney. She taught in a school for women in Kenya, volunteered in an orphanage in Nairobi and participated in activism in a politically displaced persons camp in Kenya.

While attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, she was student coordinator of the school’s Pro Bono Initiative. While living in Mississippi, she was a member of the Junior League of Jackson. She also worked with therapy animals and helped provide hygiene services to the unhoused. 

Now married and living in Nashville, the couple have unified their philanthropic hearts into one generous effort to create Give It Away so that they may continue stronger what they began apart.

For more information on the Give It Away fund, please visit https://www.jameyjohnson.com/give-it-away.html.

About Jamey Johnson:
The 10-time GRAMMY nominee has been called “one of the greatest country singers of our time,” by The Washington Post. His music has garnered international acclaim and is embraced by fans of classic and contemporary country, as well as Americana and mainstream rock.

The Grand Ole Opry member is also widely regarded as one of the greatest country songwriters of his generation. He is one of only two people in the history of country music (along with Kris Kristofferson) to win two Song of the Year awards in the same year – for “Give It Away” and “In Color” – from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. 

A consummate storyteller, his songs have been recorded by George Strait, Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, James Otto, Joe Nichols and others. He is “a first-rate preservationist of classic country songwriting…,” says The New York Times.

His 2024 album, Midnight Gasoline is a musical continuation of his last two solo studio albums, That Lonesome Song, which was certified double platinum for 2 million in sales, and the gold-certified 2010 album, The Guitar Song, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart. Rolling Stone and Spin named The Guitar Song to their all-genre Top 5 Best Albums of the Year. (He also released a 2012 duets project, the Grammy-nominated Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran.)

“In Color” has received a 5X-Platinum certification for sales/streams of five million, and “High Cost of Living” was certified platinum. “Between Jennings and Jones” and “That Lonesome Song” have been certified gold for sales/streams of 500,000.

Tape Room Music Puts a Dozen+ Singles on the Country Charts at One Time

Building on its reputation for country-chart dominance, Tape Room Music continues to make waves this summer. The Nashville-based independent publisher celebrates back-to-back No. 1s, while more than a dozen of its songs climb the charts – simultaneously.
 
Founded by record-setting songwriter Ashley Gorley in 2011, Tape Room Music has celebrated over 50 No. 1s and counting. Its current tag-team of hits from Gorley and roster writers include this week's No. 1 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart, Nate Smith's "Fix What You Didn't Break,” and last week's No. 1, Tyler Hubbard's "Park.”
 
"Fix What You Didn't Break" was written by Smith, Gorley, Taylor Phillips and Lindsay Rimes. It marks Taylor Phillips’ 10th career chart topper, and fourth No. 1 in the last 12 months, joining Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” and “Liar” and Dylan Scott’s “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us.” Phillips is  the fourth Tape Room writer to achieve the feat along with Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps and Zach Crowell. “Fix What You Didn't Break” marks the sixth No. 1 shared between Phillips and Gorley. 
 
"Park" was written by Hubbard with Jesse Frasure, Gorley and Canaan Smith.

Meanwhile, 15 songs penned by Gorley and Tape Room writers are currently on airplay charts, including:

• Nate Smith's "Fix What You Didn't Break" (co-written by Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips)

• Tyler Hubbard’s “Park” (co-written by Ashley Gorley)

• Jordan Davis's "Bar None" (co-written by Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)

• Jelly Roll's "Heart Of Stone" (co-written by Zach Crowell)

• Dierks Bentley's "She Hates Me" (co-written by Ashley Gorley)

• BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman’s “All The Way” (co-written by Ben Johnson)

• Zach Top's "Good Times And Tan Lines" (co-written by Wyatt McCubbin)

• Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney's "You Had To Be There" (co-written by Ben Williams)

• HARDY's "Favorite Country Song" (co-written by Ashley Gorley, Beau Bailey)

• Blake Shelton's "Stay Country Or Die Trying" (co-written by Beau Bailey)

• Chris Janson's "Me & A Beer" (co-written by Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Andy Sheridan)

• Dasha's "Not At This Party" (co-written by Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson)

• Megan Moroney's "6 Months Later" (co-written by Ben Williams)

• Sam Barber & Avery Anna's "Indigo" (co-written by Andy Sheridan)

• Dustin Lynch's "Easy To Love" (co-written by Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)

Past the charts, Tape Room writers across the roster have kept busy this summer. Ben Johnson, who co-wrote BigXthePlug and Bailey Zimmerman’s summer smash “All The Way,” is featured in Netflix’s brand new Hitmakers, which follows hit songwriters across genres writing for top artists. Wyatt McCubbin joined shows on Riley Green’s Damn Country Music tour alongside Green, Ella Langley and Vincent Mason. McCubbin was featured on Chase Rice’s “Two Tone Trippin’,” the lead release from the singer’s upcoming album that includes many songs co-written by McCubbin. Tape Room writers and producers have kept busy working on exciting new projects and collaborations to come. Earlier this summer, Gorley, Phillips, Ben Johnson and Hunter Phelps received CMA Triple Play Awards.
 
In related news, Gorley was inducted into the National Songwriters Hall of Fame in June, yet the Grammy, CMA and ACM Award winner is not slowing down.

Ashley Gorley | Photo Credit: Katie Kauss

Morgan Wallen Foundation Celebrates Re-Opening of Historic Parkwood Ballpark

Morgan Wallen, through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, along with Major League Baseball & MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA YDF) and other local funders, partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville to unveil the newly revitalized historic baseball and softball complex, Parkwood Community Club, in north Nashville on Wednesday (Aug. 13). The renovation project for the ballfields includes new field turf, Musco lights, fences, dugouts, scoreboards, parking, concrete and roadways for two youth fields.
 
The project has been a two-year-long effort following MWF’s $500k donation in 2023. This ballfield renovation is part of a broader community effort led by Habitat for Humanity, which encompasses the creation of a 59-acre Metro Park and the construction of 26 Habitat homes.
 
“Growing up, I spent countless hours out on the diamond. Those hours taught me life lessons I still hold close today and helped me realize the value baseball can have on youth,” said Wallen. “Being a part of this project and revitalizing these Parkwood fields - right here in Nashville - to ensure the kids have a place to play for many years to come is something I am really proud of.”
 
“Revitalizing these ballfields was a massive team effort led by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, and we couldn't be more thrilled to see them in fighting form for hundreds of kids to enjoy and play ball. It's a dream come true,” adds Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director of MWF. “This was the foundation’s first field restoration grant and we couldn’t be happier with the results.”
 
To commemorate MWF’s donation, two of the fields have been named in Wallen’s honor: Boots Field, named after his Mamaw Boots, who he was extremely close to; and Norris Field, named for Norris Lake in Norris, Tennessee, where Wallen spent time growing up.
 
The Parkwood Community Club has produced notable athletes, including Mookie Betts and Golden Tate. It was the site of Nashville’s first integrated baseball games in the 1970s, and in the 1980s, Parkwood became Tennessee’s first athletic club to be owned and operated by a minority Board—one of only five in the U.S.
 
This year, the revitalized fields inspired three Parkwood teams to reach state competitions. Several teams competed in the Dixie Youth World Series, including The Parkwood All Stars, who placed third out of 42 teams.

Photo IDs L to R: Danny Herron, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville; Sherry Stinson, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville; Kyonzte Toombs, Metro Councilmember District 2; Lesli Wallen, MWF; Kathleen Flaherty, MWF; Mayor Freddie O’Connell; Thurman Bryant, Parkwood Board Chair; Sophie Speer, Speer Foundation; Christi Speer, Speer Foundation; Adam English, Nashville Sounds; Charles White, (Reggie White’s father) | Photo Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville

About Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF)
Morgan Wallen Foundation supports programs for youth in the areas of sports and music, both a constant presence in Morgan Wallen’s life. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of team, discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the artist, songwriter and entertainer he is today. MWF is also committed to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help. Wallen donates a portion of every concert ticket sold to MWF.  More information at www.MorganWallenFoundation.org.

Myles Morgan Signs with WME for Global Representation

Rising country artist Myles Morgan has signed with WME, the world’s leading entertainment agency, for global representation across all areas.

A Birmingham, Alabama native, Morgan blends heartfelt storytelling with Southern grit and charm. Morgan builds a grassroots following by playing bars and festivals across the Southeast, including performances at Flora-Bama, Iron City and the Carolina Country Music Festival. His self-penned songs “Nobody’s Fault But Yours” and “Jon Boat or a Yacht” have earned over a million streams, with more on the way as he readies his debut EP.

“Signing with WME is a dream come true,” shares Morgan. “I’ve been grinding it out on the road and in the studio, and to now have a team behind me that believes in where I’m headed – it means everything. I’m just getting started.”

“Myles has that winning combination of authenticity, work ethic and natural talent that resonates immediately,” adds WME’s Kevin Meads. “He’s already built something special from the ground up, and we’re thrilled to be part of the team helping take it to the next level.”

Morgan recently took the stage at Losers during CMA Fest 2025 and released “I Still Got It” in advance of his debut EP, which will arrive later this year.

From L to R: WME’s Joey Lee, Myles Morgan and WME’s Kevin Meads | Courtesy of WME

Sticks Management Adds Gavin Adcock & Manager Saxon Curry

Sticks Management, an artist management firm founded by Morgan Wallen and his longtime agent, Austin Neal, in 2024 is expanding, announcing today the signing of Warner Music Nashville recording artist Gavin Adcock. With this addition Adcock’s manager, Saxon Curry, joins Sticks.
 
Adcock and Curry both hail from Georgia; the former from Watkinsville, the latter from Augusta. Each attended Georgia Southern University (GSU). While Adcock attended GSU for four years, playing football and graduating in 2022, Curry transferred to Belmont his junior year to complete his degree in Music Business. 
 
During his last semester of college, Curry interned at Make Wake, where he assisted management coordinators across the company’s roster. 
 
It was during his time at Belmont that Curry was first introduced to Adcock after an invite from Adcock’s guitar player, Bennett Bosewell – whom Curry went to high school with – sparked a road trip to Georgia to catch the singer’s set at a small bar in Statesboro. Captivated by Adcock’s stage presence and organic following he had built in Georgia, the two kept in touch. 
 
Immediately after graduation in 2022, Curry began working at WME, where he assisted three agents in his year and a half with the company. Eventually, in August of 2023, Adcock officially hired Curry as his Manager, while Curry was still working at WME. This led to Adcock signing his booking deal with the agency in Fall 2023.
 
Since officially partnering together in 2023, the duo have built an impressive resume. Adcock signed with Warner Music Nashville in spring 2024, and has since released multiple singles that have now amassed over 1.2 billion US streams collectively. His recent release, “A Cigarette,” has over 150 million streams and counting, and earned a RIAA Platinum certification. 
 
Adcock’s sophomore album, Own Worst Enemy, arrives this Friday, Aug. 15, and follows his debut major label album, Actin’ Up Again, which was released in August of 2024 and was the most streamed country debut album of the year with over 500 million streams to date. Own Worst Enemy spans 24 tracks and includes Adcock’s current single “Never Call Again,” which just charted on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
 
Pre-save Own Worst Enemy HERE.
 
Adcock will open for Wallen this weekend in Cleveland, Ohio as part of Wallen’s 2025 I’m The Problem stadium tour, before kicking off his own headlining Need To Tour on Thursday, Aug. 21. Tickets Are Available at GavinAdcockMusic.com.
 
In addition to Sticks Management, Adcock is represented by WME for booking, Kella Farris with Farris, Self & Moore for business management and is signed to Warner Music Nashville. 

Sons of Habit Signs with WME for Global Representation; New Single “Fools Gold” Out Now

Rising indie folk band Sons of Habit has signed with WME, the world’s leading entertainment agency, for exclusive global representation across all areas.

Formed just a year ago in the small community of Habit, KY, Sons of Habit brings together lead singer Mitchell Douglas, writing partner Hagan Edge and bandmates Dalton Daniels, Jeffrey Parish and Noah Patrick – all childhood friends from Owensboro, KY. The group’s name comes from the trailer in Habit where they first began making music, blending country grit, rock edge and heartfelt storytelling into a sound all their own.

“Sons of Habit’s authenticity, musicianship and undeniable chemistry make them one of the most exciting new acts on the scene,” says WME’s Adam Fisher. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to WME and look forward to helping them bring their music to audiences worldwide.”
 
“We’ve been chasing this dream since those first nights in the trailer back in Habit, Kentucky,” says Sons of Habit. “To have WME in our corner means we can take the music we love to even more people, in more places, than we ever imagined. This is just the beginning.”

Last week, the band released “Fool’s Gold,” a brand new song written by band members Dalton Daniels, Hagan Edge and Mitchell Douglas. The new song comes on the heels of their debut EP, Nostalgia, which was released earlier this year. Fans can hear the music and more as the band continues their A Long Way From Corydon Tour. Since their first single “Madeline,” Sons of Habit has earned millions of streams, played headline shows nationwide and shared stages with Ole 60, Shane Smith & The Saints, The Revivalists and Dustin Lynch.

Front Row (L to R): Hagan Edge, Dalton Daniels, Mitchell Douglas, Jeffrey Parish and Noah Patrick
Back Row (L to R): WME’s Adam Fisher, Champ Management / Red Light Management’s Evan Miller and Matt Musacchio and WME’s Janelle Flint
 Photo Credit : Dakota DeGraw

Comedian, Singer/Songwriter Matt Mathews Signs with WME

Comedian and singer/songwriter Matt Mathews has signed with WME for global representation.
 
Mathews has become one of comedy’s most in-demand rising stars. His raw, relatable humor—drawn from life as a boudoir photographer, barrel racer, farmer, proud Alabamian and LGBTQ+ trailblazer—has earned him acclaim including Deadline’s “Future of Comedy” inclusion and a fiercely devoted fanbase 12 million strong who have accounted for over 1 billion-views-and-counting across social media. 
 
The man The Advocate opines “has truly paved his own unique path in the world of comedy and entertainment,” is currently on his Live Nation promoted Boujee On A Budget Tour, which launched earlier last year. The blockbuster tour has now expanded to 89 shows and counting and is on track to be one of most successful comedy runs of 2025 with over 150,000 tickets already sold. 

The multi-hyphenate entertainer is also readying his debut self-titled music album with Producer Stanton Edward (The Wallflowers, Jewel) to be released next year, following the success of tracks, “What a War” and “Joke’s On Me,” which were released earlier this year. 

“I’m beyond excited to be joining the team at WME,” shares the Alabamian. “I’ve built so much from the ground up with a small but mighty crew, and now it’s time to level up with a whole new team of people who believe in the vision just as much as I do.  It’s equal parts surreal and overdue— we’re just getting started.”

Mathews kicks off the second leg of his Boujee On A Budget Tour on Sept. 12 in Knoxville, TN and will trek across the US through the end of the year. The second leg of the tour will include multiple shows at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and a special homecoming show in Birmingham, AL on Dec. 29, at Legacy Arena at The BJCC, marking the comedian’s first-ever arena show. For the latest news and tour dates visit mattmathews.com.

In addition to WME, Mathews is represented by Oscar Peterson for management; Jeff Jones of FBMM, for business management and Ebie McFarland and Joseph Conner of Essential Broadcast Media for public relations. 

About Matt Mathews:
Matt Mathews has become one of comedy’s most in-demand rising stars. His raw, relatable humor—drawn from life as a boudoir photographer, barrel racer, farmer, proud Alabamian and LGBTQ+ trailblazer—has earned him acclaim including Deadline’s “Future of Comedy” inclusion and a fiercely devoted fanbase 12 million strong who have accounted for over 1 billion-views-and-counting across social media. 
 
About WME:
WME is the world’s preeminent talent agency. With over 125 years of experience, WME enables artists, athletes and brands to grow their businesses, leverage the full potential of their intellectual property and bring projects to life that define the cultural landscape. WME’s expertise spans books, comedy, digital media, fashion, film, food, licensing, music, sports, television, theater and more.  Headquartered in Beverly Hills, WME’s office locations include Australia, Chicago, China, London, Miami, Nashville and New York. WME is part of WME Group, a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property and brands. For more information, please visit www.wmeagency.com.

Miranda Lambert & Parker McCollum Announce Livestreams for “Band Together Texas” Flood Relief Benefit Concert

Band Together Texas, the star-studded benefit concert spearheaded by Texas natives Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, will now deliver the show’s powerful message and all-star lineup to fans unable to join in person via livestreams across iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, YouTube, Facebook and nugs.net. Set for Sunday, August 17 at Moody Center in Austin, the event supports Central Texas flood recovery efforts with proceeds benefiting The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas Community Foundation. 
 
The full show will be available to listen to live on all 150 iHeartRadio country stations as well as SiriusXM’s The Highway and Outlaw Country channels, while fans can also tune in to a video livestream on YouTube via Lambert and McCollum’s official channels, on Facebook via Lambert and McCollum’s pages and on nugs.net. At-home streaming is made possible through the support of H-E-B, bringing the event to audiences across Texas and beyond.
 
Band Together Texas will feature performances from an all-star roster of Texas talent in addition to Lambert and McCollum – including Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Cody Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers Band. 
 
In addition to the musical performances, notable Texans lending their support to the event include actors Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott. 
 
The evening will also feature tributes to first responders and flood victims, including stories of rescue and resilience.
 
Band Together Texas is made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber and Whataburger.

Kenny Chesney Celebrates FINALLY Finishing HEART LIFE MUSIC on No Shoes Radio

When Kenny Chesney agreed to write a book about his journey from a kid in the Smoky Mountains to dominating America’s football stadiums for the past 20+ years, he applied himself to the mission with the same commitment he does everything else. Hundreds of hours talking, going through pictures, thinking about what it all means, the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame invitee wanted to capture the joy of chasing what was often far beyond his reach, but never his imagination.
 
“What they don’t tell you,” Chesney says laughing, “is how much goes into polishing, how many times you’ll read it… orhow many moments you’ll have to leave out. But for me, I really wanted to send a love letter to all the places and characters along the way that made this journey such an incredible ride. When I look back, I can’t believe the people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard and the music I’ve been able to hear from songwriters, other artists, as well as all the songs I’ve been fortunate enough to cut.
 
“And now, finally, my co-writer Holly Gleason and I can exhale – knowing the book truly is done, we grabbed the moment for No Shoes Radio. For anyone who sees Heart Life Music sitting somewhere, not only is it a whole lot of love, adventure and things I loved thinking about all over again, it’s a huge chunk of my last year. So if you were wondering, now you know.”

Hand curated, Heart Life Music takes anyone with a dream on a voyage of so many unlikely destinations, opportunities and discouragements to show: if you don’t give up, if you just keep working, amazing things can happen. But even more than the work, it’s the friendship and laughter along the way.
 
“We were trying to create snapshots of my journey, vignettes of my soul,” Chesney offers, “and lots of my friends since I started on this magic carpet ride. I moved to Nashville in January 1991, and here we are, talking about it in this book. Sitting here looking at the ocean, hearing these waves crashing, we can’t wait. Especially if you’ve been part of this journey, I can’t wait for you to relive it…and for those who weren’t part of this journey, we hope you take something from this and apply it to your life, we can’t for you to hear it, errr, read it.”
 
Known for commanding the largest stages nationwide, Heart Life Music ventures to places long gone, makes unexpected music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifts across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Beyond meeting and collaborating with heroes, forging transcendent friendships in the islands and beyond, Chesney’s introspective look at the songs and sound that defined No Shoes Nation offers the intimacy of sharing a slow afternoon on the water.

About the Book
Heart Life Music
by Kenny Chesney
with Holly Gleason
On Sale: Nov. 4, 2025 | William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Hardcover ISBN: 9780063423107 | $32.50
E-book ISBN: 9780063423114 | $14.99
Digital Audio ISBN: 9780063423121 | $27.99
Preorder HERE
 
About The Authors
One of contemporary American music's biggest names, Kenny Chesney was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year and was named Billboard’s No.1 Country Artist of the 21st Century. Selling out America’s major stadiums for two decades and playing to over a million fans every summer since 2002, Variety pronounced him “country music’s only true long-term stadium act.” The East Tennessee songwriter/superstar has over 105 platinum certifications, won the prestigious Entertainer of the Year eight times, as well as holding Billboard's record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 36 chart-topping songs that define coming of age in the flyover in the 21st Century. This year, the game-changing superstar became the first country artist to perform at the groundbreaking Sphere, taking No Shoes into a whole new dimension. Creating a space to work hard, play hard, love hard and come together in the spirit of celebrating all the moment offers. Heart Life Music is his first book.
 
Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, the Library of Congress’ National Registry of Sound Recordings, among other outlets. She was the LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Association’s Independent Journalist of the Year.  A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line, and co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet as well as  Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.”

Annie Bosko Drops Coastal Breakup Anthem “Tequila Time”

As she continues to build to her forthcoming debut LP, rising singer/songwriter Annie Bosko releases “Tequila Time,” a coastal break-up anthem available now via QHMG/Stone Country Records. The California native partnered with Código 1530 to bring the song’s “spirit” to life, featured in the “Tequila Time” visualizer. Watch the visualizer Below.
 
“I wanted to explore adding Latin influences into my music,” shares Bosko. “Growing up out West, I’ve always loved Latin culture, and we were intentional about making this one feel like an escape to a beach in Mexico, with accordion, maracas and a guiro.
 
“Seeing as many of us have needed a little liquid courage to get through tough times,” she adds, “I hope this song brings a smile — and maybe a toast — to anyone who’s been there.”
 
Written by Bosko alongside David “Messy” Mescon and Bridgette Tatum, “Tequila Time” pairs a laid-back groove with a dose of humor, turning a tough moment into a reminder that sometimes the best course of action is to let go:

Today’s release follows “Country Girls! (Who Runs The World),” which arrived with an original line dance brought to life in a surprise flash mob at CMA Fest, where Bosko joined forces with a group of line dancers from Nashville Dance Fest at the Ariat storefront in downtown Nashville. Watch the flash mob HERE and watch a tutorial for the original line dance HERE.
 
Bosko also recently released “God Winks,” a tribute to faith and divine timing during moments of uncertainty. The California native brought the song to RFD-TV’s “On the Record” and Fox 11’s “Good Day LA” in Los Angeles.
 
Bosko is set to perform at Backstage Access Presents Heartland 2025 on Aug.29, Nashville Dance Fest on Sept. 7 and Genesee Theatre with Jessica Simpson on Sept. 20, among additional dates throughout 2025.
 
For more information, visit AnnieBosko.

About Annie Bosko
With a voice that beams like a ray of California sunshine, singer-songwriter Annie Bosko returns to the studio, channeling fresh inspiration into a new chapter of music. Writing alongside David ‘Messy’ Mescon, Jeffrey Steele, Bridgette Tatum, and more, and collaborating with producer Trent Willmon, Bosko is crafting songs that reflect her upbringing as a farmer’s daughter. With fresh releases such as “Tequila Time,” “Country Girls! (Who Runs the World),” “God Winks” and “California Cowgirl,” Bosko embraces her west coast roots that run deep in the heart of California’s agricultural country. Her forthcoming debut album on Stone Country Records showcases a sound shaped by ‘90s country twang and raw, heartfelt storytelling. Her self-titled EP saw the Golden State native making her late-night debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with a performance of “Neon Baby” – a track that also marked her first charting single at Country radio. Bosko followed her acclaimed EP with stunning collaborations featuring country icons including Vince Gill on the reflective ballad “Higher Ground” and Dwight Yoakam on the Bakersfield-rooted “Heart Burn.” Top 40 duet “Better Than You” with Joe Nichols hit the Country radio airwaves as a top five most-added song for five consecutive weeks, including one week before impact. Bosko broke out in 2014 with the SiriusXM/CMT hit “Crooked Halo,” which has amassed more than 3 million streams, earning her a title as an Artist to Watch from Rolling Stone Country. She went on to write songs recorded by Willie Nelson and Jessica Simpson, tour alongside Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, sell out the famed Troubadour and perform on the Grand Ole Opry and at Ryman Auditorium while also becoming an in-demand studio vocalist. Fresh off a Mane Stage performance at Stagecoach and her Rodeo Houston debut, Bosko is set to perform at Backstage Access Presents Heartland 2025, Nashville Dance Fest and Genesee Theatre with Jessica Simpson, among additional dates throughout 2025.For more information, visit AnnieBosko.com or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, X @AnnieBosko and Facebook.com/AnnieBoskoMusic.