Guitars, Tiki Bars Meets Very Vibe @ Kenny Chesney's SPHERE 26 Residency

When Kenny Chesney became the first solo headliner and first country artist to headline the groundbreaking Sphere, he knew he wanted to make it a full immersion experience for the people who love his music. Beyond a sensory immersive performance that featured surprise guests ranging from Grace Potter and Megan Moroney to David Lee Murphy and Mac McAnally, songs that are never or rarely played live and production that delivered a whole new way to look at his music, Chesney curated Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love at the Venetian where fans could see artifacts and visuals from key moments in the Country Music Hall of Famer’s career, hit the merch superstore with several vintage designs, see some special No Shoes Radio programming and enjoy a cold grown-up beverage or soft drink.
 
It was so popular, the lines started an hour or two before opening and the fire marshal might’ve checked in a time or two. As Chesney marveled, “Who knew people would come to look at that stuff, or load up on t-shirts? But it made me feel incredible knowing that No Shoes Nation actually cared about that. When it was time to go back, I wanted to figure out how to make it something different, but deliver the same kind of fun.”
 
Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love is making a big – and better located – move to the top of the Venetian’s walking bridge to Sphere. From Wednesday through Sunday, once Kenny kicks off, the area will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on non-show days and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on show days. The space will feature multiple bars, No Shoes Radio set-up, dedicated merch shop, photo ops and high-top tables to pause and take it all in.
 
For the VIP package holders, Very Vibe is your very special take on Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love. Not only is it a dedicated space to check in, cocktail up, enjoy activations and have your own merch mall, it offers both a Chesney island feel and a more streamlined experience picking up your credentials, getting questions answered and starting your weekend.
 
Even better, when the show’s over and you want to keep rolling, Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love will be opening up for after-hours cocktailing for anyone who’s not ready to go home. “Out Last Night”? “When the Sun Goes Down”? No problem, as you’re heading out on the walkway, make a turn and you’re right back in the heart of No Shoes Nation.
 
“What could be better than hanging out after the show with all the rest of the people who just shared that experience?” Chesney marveled. “In a world where the community drifts apart after the concert, this seemed like a great way to let people hang out, talk about life, love, the lack thereof – or some song they couldn’t believe we played.
 
“Sometimes the show is just getting you started, so now I can help people keep the party rocking… keep them in the zone and let everybody really maximize their time in Vegas. To me, Sphere has been a whole other way to do this thing we all love. Who knows? Getting together at Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love may spark a whole other thing to do around our shows.”
 
For more information, visit KennyChesney.Vibee.com.

Kenny Chesney Live at Sphere Las Vegas
June 19, 2026
June 20, 2026
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JOAN OF ARC STUDIOWORKS ANNOUNCES FIRST TELEVISION PROJECT WITH ALAN JACKSON

Joan of Arc StudioWorks has announced its inaugural television project co-producing with EverWonder Studios: Alan Jackson: The Last Show. Executive produced by Cindy Mabe, Dawn Gates and Harper Grae.  The primetime television event will be directed by Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Sam Wrench (Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special) and will air on NBC.

The special will celebrate the country music icon's extraordinary career and his final concert performance. Filmed at Jackson's sold-out "Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale," presented by Edward Jones and Silverbelly Whiskey at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, the special will capture a once-in-a-generation farewell from one of country music's most beloved and influential artists.
 
Featuring an unforgettable night of music and heartfelt moments, the telecast will honor Jackson's enduring legacy and profound impact on generations of fans and musicians alike as he takes the stage one final time. The special will spotlight Jackson's remarkable catalog of hits spanning more than three decades, including the songs that helped define modern country music and cemented his place as one of the genre's all-time greatest performers.
Alan Jackson: The Last Show will air later this year on NBC and stream the following day on Peacock.
 
"Alan Jackson represents the heart and soul of country music,” shares Cindy Mabe, Founder and CEO of Joan of Arc Music. “We are honored to capture this historic moment in his career. Partnering with EverWonder Studios and having Sam Wrench direct this special ensures that Alan's final show will be presented with the artistry and reverence it deserves. This project perfectly embodies Joan of Arc Music’s mission to preserve country music's legacy while creating compelling content for new audiences."
 
“Alan Jackson is one of the most iconic and defining artists in country music history, and his final show deserves to be captured with the same care and craft he has brought to every performance of his career,” added Micheal Antinoro, President and Founding Partner of EverWonder Studios. “We are so proud to partner with Joan of Arc StudioWorks and collaborate with Sam Wrench to capture and honor a historic moment like this.”
 
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to capture such a seminal concert for country music royalty,” said Director Sam Wrench. “The scale of the stadium show is matched only by Alan’s impact on American music and it’s going to be quite the evening.  I can’t wait to bring it to the screen alongside Joan of Arc StudioWorks and EverWonder for more fans around the world to enjoy.” 
 
Joan of Arc StudioWorks is one of Joan of Arc Music's four integrated pillars, alongside Joan of Arc Entertainment, Joan of Arc Ventures, and Joan of Arc Music Preservation Foundation. Joan of Arc StudioWorks focuses on multi-platform content creation, including television and film production, audio content, and digital monetization strategies. Joan of Arc Music plans to announce additional partnerships, ventures and label and management signings in the coming weeks.

WME LOSERS LIVE's Roaring Return

WME once again kicked off CMA Fest Week with Losers Live, a free, two-night outdoor concert series at Losers Bar & Grill in Midtown. Losers Live featured an exciting mix of country icons, chart-toppers and rising stars on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2.
 
On Monday night, WME's Braxton Keith headlined the 2026 Losers Live series. Monday’s show also included Ava Hall, Cassidy Daniels, Dalton Davis and Rhett Akins. Rhett Akins brought Myles Morgan and Riley Green to the stage for two surprise performances. On Tuesday, June 2, the hits continued with a powerhouse lineup of country favorites, including A.R. Simmons, Abbie Callahan, Colby Lee Swift, Colton Dawson, Dawson Steagall, Deltona, Ethan Garner, Highway Home, Myles Morgan, Presley Barker, SJ McDonald, Spencer Hatcher, The Kruse Brothers, Timmy McKeever, Trey Pendley and Tyler Booth, in addition to a surprise performance by Jon Pardi.

Presented by WME in partnership with Losers Bar & Grill and Duck Blind, Losers Live offered fans a chance to see some of Country music’s best and brightest in an intimate outdoor setting right in the heart of Midtown Nashville.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Plarr, WME

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.

DARIUS RUCKER’S ANNUAL “DARIUS AND FRIENDS” SURPASSES $6.2 MILLION RAISED FOR THE KIDS OF ST. JUDE

Multi-GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker welcomed friends and fans to a sold-out Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 1, for the 17th annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert, which was paired with a corresponding celebrity golf tournament yesterday, June 2, and kickoff event headlined by Walker Hayes on Sunday, May 31, raising a massive $1.1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. The 2026 effort brings the all-time fundraising total to more than $6.2 million, helping ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
 
The annual event once again combined unforgettable music with a shared commitment to supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. This year’s sold-out show featured performances from Rucker alongside Jason Aldean, Lauren Alaina, Carter Faith, Randy Houser and Mark Wills.
 
“Every year it amazes me how quick my friends are to say ‘yes’ to joining us here at the Ryman – and then you guys sell out the show without even knowing who’s going to come sing with us,” mused Rucker. “It’s incredible. I can’t thank everyone enough for the generosity and the eagerness to come out and support the wonderful work St. Jude is doing.”
 
The spirit of generosity was evident from the opening moments of the evening. Fundraising efforts got off to a remarkable start, with an intense bidding war for a guitar signed by all participating artists setting the tone for the night as it topped out at a $20,000 winning bid during the live auction hosted by the Big 98’s Wayne D and Tay. Additional auction moments – including signed items and premium seating opportunities – continued to inspire enthusiastic support from the crowd. 
 
Throughout the night, the historic Ryman Auditorium felt more like a gathering of friends than a concert venue, with the audience remaining an active part of the show from the opening notes through the final encore. The sold-out crowd was on their feet as soon as Rucker opened the evening with his own hits before welcoming Carter Faith to the stage for a performance of her own songs as well as a crowd-pleasing country remix of Britney Spears’ “Oops!... I Did It Again.”
 
From there, Rucker mixed his own songs with collaborations and special moments. Mark Wills earned a standing ovation with a rousing rendition of “Dixieland Delight,” while Lauren Alaina joined Rucker for a playful cover of the legendary Johnny & June duet “Jackson” and Jason Aldean thrilled fans with his own chart-topping hits.
 
One of the night’s most memorable moments came during Randy Houser’s set, with both a high-energy cover of Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time” and a powerhouse performance of “Like A Cowboy” that drew one of the evening’s biggest standing ovations. Following the performance, Rucker laughed as he told the crowd, “I know I can sing… But there’s only been four people I’ve ever been jealous of in my life: Luther Vandross, Steve Perry, Chris Stapleton and Randy F*cking Houser.”
 
As the evening reached a fever pitch, Rucker led the audience on a nostalgic trip through the ’90s with a Tim McGraw meets TLC meets Bell Biv DeVoe medley that had fans nearly drowning out the stage with their own voices. The evening then ended according to tradition, with a massive “Wagon Wheel” singalong concluding another unforgettable night in support of St. Jude.
 
This year’s milestone fundraising event adds yet another successful page to the nearly two-decade history of “Darius and Friends.” Prior guests have included Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, John Daly, Dan + Shay, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, Tommy Thayer of KISS and Morgan Wallen, among many others.
 
In addition to the concert, Jason Aldean, Drew Baldridge, Brandon Bauman, Chayce Beckham, George Birge, Priscilla Block, Tyler Braden, Kane Brown, Captain Keith Colburn, Dax, FILMORE, Wyatt Flores, Mack Geiger, Vince Gill, Cole Goodwin, Randy Houser, Austin Mahone, Jeff Marino, Kameron Marlowe, Drake Milligan, John Morgan, Will Moseley, Todd Nichols, Dylan Schneider, Dan Tyminski, Blake Whiten, Mark Wills and Warren Zeiders joined Rucker for the corresponding golf tournament.
 
The annual fundraising event was made possible with support from generous sponsors AMD and The Law Office of Jennifer McCoy.
 
For more information, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (22x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and he won his third career GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. His latest album Carolyn’s Boy (featuring recent single “Never Been Over” with Jennifer Nettles) is available everywhere now as is his New York Times bestselling memoir “Life’s Too Short,” released via Dey Street in 2024.
 
As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $6.2 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics line of NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA and WWE apparel available via Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.
 
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

ASHLEY GORLEY NAMED TOP SONGWRITER IN BILLBOARD COUNTRY SINGLES CHART HISTORY BY RECORD RESEARCH

Songwriters Hall of Fame member Ashley Gorley has been named the No. 1 songwriter on Billboard’s Country Singles charts from 1944-2025 by Record Research, Inc., the authority on music industry chart performance. The list is determined by a formula that accounts for each songwriter’s compositions that peaked at No. 1, within the weekly Top 40, or elsewhere on the Country singles charts from January 8, 1944, through December 27, 2025.

Gorley is also set to join “The Songwriters Behind Country’s Biggest Hits” panel at CMA Fest, alongside Record Research CEO Vinnie Freda and Shane McAnally, and moderated by Billboard Country Update Editor Tom Roland. The panel is set to take place on Saturday, June 6 at the CMA Close Up Stage inside Music City Center.
 
The Kentucky native was also honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Poets and Prophets program on Saturday, May 30. Moderated by Allison Moorer, Gorley discussed getting his start as a songwriter, his writing process, his work ethic and affinity for mentoring songwriters, the founding of his independent publishing company Tape Room Music, his partnership with Onsite to create songwriter-specific therapy programs and more.
 
With over 85 No. 1 singles (Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase combined), Gorley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last year, and in recent years, he has held the number-one spot on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 Songwriter chart for multiple weeks, earned GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award honors, including Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year, and was named Songwriter of the Decade for 2010-2019 at the Nashville Songwriter Awards.
 
Gorley will be featured in Record Research’s new book, Joel Whitburn’s History of Top Country Singles 1944-2025, which will be officially released on June 4, 2026. The book is available for preorder now at recordresearch.com.

Ashley Gorley speaks with Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Allison Moorer during the Poets and Prophets program on Saturday, May 30, 2026. | Courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Kinsley Signs with MCA + New Song "Pieces of Me" Available Now

Rising singer-songwriter Kinsley officially begins a new chapter today with the announcement of her signing to MCA and the release of her powerful new single and performance video, “Pieces of Me,” available now on all streaming platforms – listen Below.
 
Written by Kinsley, David DeVaul and Jack Hummel and produced by Ryan Kohn, Kinsley creates music rooted in honesty, healing, and human connection.
 
“I started writing poetry as a way to process what I was feeling. My family was dealt many cards over the years, both good and bad, and poetry had a way of making it all make sense. The silver lining became easier to find when I wrote it all down,” the 22-year-old reflects.
 
“I once heard someone say that ‘the past is a map of how to love you,’ and the more people I met the more I realized that truth. We are all just echos of fragmented pieces and there’s beauty in the way it binds us all together.”
 
Anchored by soulful vocals and striking imagery, the track explores heartbreak, identity, and the lasting impact of love and loss.
 
“Music is what saved my life, and so I tend to meet it at a place of confession, hoping it saves others along the way. With ‘Pieces of Me’ I finally get to admit that at times I was searching for something I can’t remember anymore, and that in and of itself is freeing,” Kinsley reveals. “I encourage you to think of this song as a letter to time, that’s the truest way these lyrics are meant to be heard.”
 
Kinsley first connected with audiences through her “Midnight Sessions” on YouTube — intimate performances that offered an early glimpse into her deeply personal songwriting. Watch HERE.
 
From growing up in California, to learning music on her family’s land in North Carolina, to moving to Texas in high school before eventually settling in Tennessee with her family, each chapter has left its mark on both Kinsley’s perspective and her sound. With “Pieces of Me,” her story is just beginning.

ABOUT KINSLEY
MCA singer-songwriter Kinsley creates music rooted in honesty, healing, and human connection. Having grown up across California, Texas and Tennessee, her music reflects the many places, experiences, and perspectives that have shaped her. Blending vivid storytelling, poetic lyricism, and raw, soulful vocals, the Nashville-based artist writes the kinds of songs that make listeners feel seen and understood. An “old soul” with a lifelong passion for poetry and songwriting, Kinsley approaches music as both emotional refuge and personal expression — creating deeply human songs that live at the intersection of vulnerability and healing. Online at officialkinsleymusic.com.

Photo Credit: Hannah Gray Hall

Kaitlin Butts Offers First Taste of New Music with "Never Really Mine" via Republic Records

Boundary-pushing Tulsa-born fiery artist Kaitlin Butts continues her breakout year with the release of her new song “Never Really Mine,” available everywhere today via Republic Records. Listen to “Never Really Mine” Below. 

“At a festival in Austin, my husband and I were walking through the crowd to get backstage, and someone essentially catcalled my husband as I was holding his hand. It actually made me laugh out loud because she was right – he is ‘foiinneeee,’” said Butts.
 
“When we got backstage, my friend Fernando asked me if that ever bothered me, and I said, ‘a man that can be taken from me was never really mine.’ I thought about how much I wish other women felt that way and that they had that same security as I do. He doesn’t have a wandering eye, and if someone ever took his attention away, I wouldn’t be tugging at him to stay with me. I would want him to go on and get her.”

Written by Butts alongside Maggie Antone and Lola Kirke, the track captures the sharp-witted humor and fearless honesty that have become signatures of Butts’ songwriting.

“I brought the song to my friends Lola Kirke and Maggie Antone on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Nashville,” shares Butts. “I had the first couple lines to the song and that hook, and I just knew they were the perfect women to write it with. I can feel their wisdom and their heartbreak alongside mine weaved in every line.”

Built around a devastatingly simple realization, “Never Really Mine” delivers one of Butts’ most cutting choruses to date:

The release follows a whirlwind 2026 for Butts, who joins on Willow Avalon’s new song “Hypothetically Speaking” and its official video and she’s continued expanding her own creative footprint both onstage and behind the camera. Earlier this spring, Butts starred in Ella Langley’s music video for the award-winning hit “Choosin’ Texas” and co-directed and wrote the treatment for Flatland Cavalry’s “Unglued.”

Next week, Butts makes her CMA Fest debut with performances on the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Saturday, June 6 at 4 p.m. and the Nissan Stadium Platform Stage at 9 p.m. She’s also slated for Billboard Country Live at Category 10 on Friday, June 5 during the festival weekend.

The release arrives as Butts wraps her sold out headlining European Cowgirl Experience and an appearance at Highways Festival at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall as well as stops across the UK including Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin, bringing her captivating live show overseas once again.

The new track is Butts’ first new music since the release of The Yeehaw Sessions last year, her first project since signing with Republic Records in October 2025. The fan-favorite EP featured her genre-bending takes on songs including Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova,” Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” The Chicks’ “Sin Wagon” and Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time,” alongside her viral anthem “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” which has amassed more than 157 million TikTok views and 67 million global streams.

In 2024, Butts earned widespread critical acclaim for her album Roadrunner!, a bold reimagining inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! that landed on numerous year-end best-of lists. She also recently joined Lainey Wilson on her Whirlwind Tour, was featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s latest American Currents exhibition for the second year in a row. She was named to both the 2025 Opry NextStage class and the CMT Next Women of Country class.

For the latest news and tour dates, visit kaitlinbutts.com and follow @kaitlinbutts on Instagram and Facebook and @kaitlinbuttsmusic on TikTok.

Corey Kent's 'Heartland Rock and Roll' Album Arrives Sept. 25; New Track "Cigarette Burns" Out Now

Multi-platinum Sony Music Nashville recording artist Corey Kent today announced his new album Heartland Rock and Roll will arrive Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Marking a defining moment in Kent’s career, the 16-track project finds the Oklahoma native fully embracing the gritty, genre-blurring sound he’s spent years carving out – one that fuses country, rock and soul into what he calls Heartland Rock and Roll.

“Heartland Rock and Roll is my third major label album, and it’s really the first time I’ve been able to finally name the sound I’ve been working towards my entire career,” shared Kent. “These songs sound like where I’m from. The lyrics span from nostalgia, to honest regrets and gratitude for the simple things I value most in life. From top to bottom, this is me. Every artist wants to leave their mark in music… a way to say, ‘I was here and I did it my way.’ This feels like mine. This is heartland rock and roll.”

Alongside the album announcement, Kent released his newest song “Cigarette Burns,” available everywhere now. The smoldering new track follows recent releases “Rocky Mountain Low” featuring Koe Wetzel, viral fan-favorite “Empty Words” and the stripped-down “Wannabe,” continuing to give listeners a taste of Kent’s next chapter. Listen to “Cigarette Burns” Below and pre-save Heartland Rock and Roll HERE. 

Written by Zach John King, Ben Stennis, Lauren Hungate and Jameson Rodgers, the new track pairs Kent’s smoky vocal with a unique melodic haze as he reignites the feeling of a snuffed out love. A slow-burning ballad with a mellow flavor all its own, “Cigarette Burns” is rich, reflective and rolled up in a no-filter blend of premium grade desire, savoring the sting of a love that was bad for his health, but ultimately hurt so good.

“This song has such an infectious pulse and a perspective I’ve never heard before, which is why I gravitated towards it. One of my favorite records ever is Come Around Sundown by Kings of Leon,” Kent said. “There’s a few songs on there that have a very country western feel to them while keeping all of the laid back, beach town rock elements. This song feels like it would fit right into that record which is why I think I love it so much. I can’t wait for people to hear this because to me it feels like a fresh soundscape in country music. Timeless, yet new.”

“If you’re an artist, you hope to have that record – the one that when people think about you, they think about that record,” shared Kent. “For the first time in my career, I feel like I do.”

Infusing Oklahoma roots with the untamed energy of a rebel rocker, Kent has built his career on doing things his own way. From dancehalls and dive bars in Bixby, Oklahoma to earning two No. 1 singles at Country radio, over 1 billion career streams and multiple RIAA certifications, Kent’s rise has been steady, hard-earned and fueled by conviction. But with Heartland Rock and Roll, he leans fully into the differences that once made him feel like an outsider.

“I’ve been fighting my differences for so long, but now it’s like, ‘Let’s just use those,’” Kent explains. “I’m not trying to be anybody else. Bigger fades, ‘better’ lasts.”

Produced primarily by Austin Goodloe, with additional production from Jon Randall and Chris Farren, Heartland Rock and Roll captures golden-hour nostalgia, rugged honesty and the peace that comes with staying true to yourself. Across 16 tracks, Kent delivers vivid small-town soundtracks steeped in warm distortion, raspy country soul and heartland rock grit.

Fans first got a glimpse into the album’s sonic direction with “Rocky Mountain Low (feat. Koe Wetzel),” which is Top 10 on the chart and continues its climb at Country radio, followed by “Empty Words,” which was released early due to fan demand with more than 20 million social media views. Most recently, “Wannabe” showcased the project’s stripped-back emotional core with Kent describing the song as a “cowboy campfire ballad” about finding fulfillment in life’s simplest moments.

Now, “Cigarette Burns” adds another layer to the album’s emotional depth, delivering a smoky, slow-burning anthem about a love that lingers long after it’s gone.

The forthcoming album follows Kent’s breakout projects Blacktop and Black Bandana, which established the singer-songwriter as one of country music’s most compelling and unconventional rising voices. To date, Kent has earned Platinum certification for “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” Gold certification for “This Heart” and a Triple-Platinum certification for his No. 1 breakthrough hit “Wild As Her.”

Next week, Kent is set to bring his high-energy live show to Nashville, performing across three stages on Thursday, June 4: Billboard Country Live at Category 10, Gibson Garagefest Sony Nashville Takeover at Gibson Garage Nashville and Spotify House at Ole Red Nashville.

Rolling Stone has praised Kent for giving “the region’s signature sound a shot of mainstream sensibility,” while CMT and the Opry NextStage program have recognized him as an artist to watch. He has also toured alongside Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Parker McCollum, Jon Pardi and Koe Wetzel.

For the latest news and information about Corey Kent, visit coreykentofficial.com.

2026 LAS VEGAS SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL AT MANDALAY BAY IN LAS VEGAS REVEALS OPENING NIGHT LINEUP

Las Vegas Songwriters Festival (LVSF) today revealed the opening night lineup for its 2026 event scheduled Thursday, Aug. 20 – Saturday, Aug. 22 at multiple venues throughout Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Popular country songwriters/singers David Lee Murphy, Craig Campbell and Jerrod Niemann will kick off the three-day event presented by MGM Resorts International, Entersong Entertainment and Mountain Dew, and co-founded by Rob Hatch, Mike Every and Matt Warren.
 
Tickets are now on sale, with the “Early Bird” (Friends & Family/first-year event purchasers) pre-sale available until Tuesday, June 30 at 10 p.m. PT.  Fans can purchase General Admission or VIP tickets, as well as exclusive room-and-ticket packages, making the Las Vegas Songwriters Festival an ideal event to blend live music and a vacation getaway.
 
Additionally, single day tickets starting at $45 (not including taxes and fees) go on sale Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. PT. For room and ticket packages, visit LVSF at Mandalay Bay. For additional event information, visit Las Vegas Songwriters Festival.
 
Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member David Lee Murphy has helped shape modern country music with songs recorded by Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, among many others, including hits such as “Big Green Tractor,” “Living in Fast Forward” and “Anywhere With You.” He’s also a chart-topping artist, best known for his iconic hits “Dust on the Bottle, “Party Crowd” and “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”

With RIAA Gold-certified hits “Fish” and “Keep Them Kisses Comin’,” and more than 50 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, Craig Campbell has built a loyal fan base through his authentic country sound and energetic live performances. The Georgia native has performed at CMA Fest and toured alongside Luke Bryan.
 
Jerrod Niemann first rose to national prominence with his RIAA Platinum-certified hit “Lover, Lover” and RIAA Gold-certified top five single “What Do You Want.” In addition to his success as an artist, he is an acclaimed songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Lee Brice, and many more.
 
Throughout the weekend, a wide array of songwriters are scheduled to deliver an intimate, immersive experience to fans. As the masterminds of the world’s most beloved songs, each writer will mix an entertaining live performance with captivating storytelling, revealing the inspiration behind the work – and even hosting select Q&A sessions.

2026 Las Vegas Songwriters Festival Lineup (subject to change)
 
Anthony L. Smith
Anthony Smith
Ayron Jones
Billy Montana
Bob DiPiero
Bobby Pinson
Brian Davis
Brian White
Brice Long
Bridgette Tatum
Brinley Addington
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Clint Daniels
Craig Campbell
D. Vincent Williams
Dave Pahanish
David Lee Murphy
Dean Dillon
Dylan Altman
Earl Bud Lee
Elisha Hoffman
Eric Paslay
Jamie Floyd
Jared Mullins
Jerrod Niemann
Jim McCormick
Jimmy Yeary
Justin Wilson
Keith Stegall
Lance Miller
Liz Rose
Mark Irwin
Marla Cannon-Goodman
Marti Frederiksen
Matt Warren
Paul Jenkins
Phil Barton
Rachel Thibodeau
Ray Fulcher
Rebecca Lynn Howard
Rob Hatch
Shane Minor
Steve Bogard
Tyler Reeve
Wynn Varble

THE ARCHIVES NASHVILLE RETURNS FOR THIRD ANNUAL ARTIST CLOSET SALE AT CMA FEST

The Archives Nashville, a premium digital archiving and storage company specializing in musicians’ wardrobes, will host the third annual Artist Closet Sale during this year’s CMA Fest, running June 4-7 and providing fans an exclusive opportunity to shop their favorite artists’ closets. A portion of the proceeds will support the CMA Foundation’s mission to provide students with access to high-quality music education and equip educators with the resources needed to sustain thriving programs.
 
The Artist Closet Sale will be held at Fan Fair X, located in Nashville’s Music City Center, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, with this year’s activation featuring a record number of participants with 23 artists. Fans will have the chance to browse and purchase wardrobe items from a star-studded lineup including Alana Springsteen, Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman, BunnieXO, Carter Faith, Ella Langley, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kassi Ashton, Little Big Town, Luke Combs, Maddie & Tae, MaRynn Taylor, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Terri Clark, The Band Perry, Tucker Wetmore and Wynonna Judd.
 
“We’ve been blown away by the response that’s allowed us to raise over $62,000 thus far in support of the CMA Foundation’s important work, and we’re so thankful to all of these artists for being so generous with their incredible items,” shares The Archives founder and longtime celebrity stylist Tiffany Gifford, “It’s an honor to give fans a chance to own a piece of their favorite artists’ wardrobe while contributing to a cause that nurtures the next generation of musicians and educators.”
 
With the vast wardrobe that musicians acquire over the years, Gifford realized there were no viable wardrobe archiving solutions, so she created The Archives to help clients not only store their wardrobe safely and securely, but to offer a digital solution to keep all things organized, searchable and accessible to her clients and their respective teams. The Archives functions by taking inventory and digital photos of the desired wardrobe to be archived, giving teams the option to store pieces in their facilities or integrate their system into current storage locations. RFID tracking technology programmed into each piece allows for tracking movement of each garment with the online inventory showing all pieces and their location while allowing movement as needed. 
 
Clients are able to see specific movement of wardrobe between closets to take current inventory in case of loss or damage; ensure proper storage of all garments and accessories to preserve valuable and noteworthy pieces; quickly search and filter wardrobe from garment attributes, events worn, and style details; more easily curate garment displays for museums and private companies or personal showings; and monetize select pieces by making them available for rent through the platform.
 
For more information, please visit TheArchivesNashville.com and follow on Instagram @thearchivesnashville.

CHASE RICE TRIBUTES HIS MOM, “CONNIE LOU,” WITH NEW SONG OUT AT MIDNIGHT

For the man who paid tribute to his late father on the cover I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, showcasing the cowboy proudly holding two Coors Banquets during a Wyoming adventure, it was only a matter of time before the woman on the other side of the camera earned her own homage. With “Connie Lou,” arriving at midnight, Chase Rice honors his mother while leaning into the story of his parents’ early days together. Pre-add / pre-save HERE.

Written by Rice alongside Dan Couch and producer Oscar Charles, the nostalgic track inspired by the real-life romance of his parents captures a coming-of-age love story set against rodeo nights, dance halls and small-town America, pairing vivid storytelling with the stripped-back authenticity that continues to define Rice’s recent creative chapter.
 
Built around lines like “Connie fell for a felt hat and Wranglers / On that Friday sippin’ Coors Banquets,” the song nods to the brands and culture woven throughout Rice’s life and music, leading naturally to a creative collaboration with Coors Banquet and Wrangler surrounding the release. 
 
“Coors Banquet has been part of my story for a long time – from my dad holding two Banquets on the cover of the Cowboys record to writing songs like ‘Mr. Coors,’ it’s always represented something real in my music. That’s why this collaboration felt natural,” shares Rice. “‘Connie Lou’ is inspired by my parents’ story and the kind of life I grew up around – rodeos, small towns, hard work and cold beer at the end of the night – which is exactly the kind of life Coors and Wrangler represent, too.”
 
In celebration of the collaboration, Rice will debut “Connie Lou” during a surprise pop-up concert in Nashville tonight (May 28) as the brands take over the parking lot of Midtown hotspot Loser’s Most Wanted Bar & Grill for a celebratory block party launch event. Admission is free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
To further bring “Connie Lou” to life, the brands launched a limited-edition apparel collection including “Beer Chords,” a first-of-its-kind release that turns a country song into a wearable piece. The jeans feature the actual chords from “Connie Lou” printed directly onto the denim using Coors Banquet beer-based ink.
 
Blending Wrangler’s timeless feel with Coors Banquet’s Western heritage, the full collection features a range of apparel designed to make the perfect country festival season outfit. Alongside the hero “Beer Chords,” the Coors Banquet x Wrangler Collection features 32 unique pieces, including men’s and women’s apparel and co-branded caps. Highlights include the Denim Jersey, Brushpopper Cowboy Cut Work Shirt, Men’s Wrangler 13MWZ Cowboy Cut® Jeans, Women’s Reworked Short and Women’s Printed Vest and Bailey Flare Jeans. The limited-edition Coors Banquet x Wrangler collection, including 250 total pairs of Beer Chords, will be available through drops of 125 pairs on shop.coors.com starting at 12 p.m. CT on May 28 and June 4 while supplies last.
 
“Wrangler has been the unofficial uniform of country music for decades, seen on the legends on stage as well as the fans in the front row,” said Holly Wheeler, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Kontoor Brands. “Our partnership with Coors Banquet honors that heritage, blending festival style with rugged functionality. This collection is for those who live for the music and the Western lifestyle, designed to withstand the energy of a summer crowd and the grit of the open range alike.”
 
“Coors Banquet has always been deeply rooted in the moments and stories that shape country culture,” notes Matt Carpenter, Vice President Marketing, Coors Family of Brands. “This collaboration with Wrangler and Chase Rice brings that spirit to life, turning an authentic personal story into something fans can connect with on a deeper level, from the music itself to the craftsmanship behind the ‘Beer Chords.’”
 
The Coors Banquet x Wrangler collection is the latest iteration of Coors Banquet’s creative platform “Start Your Legacy,” which is rooted in the brand’s Western values and 150-year history. The ‘Start Your Legacy’ platform is all about inspiring people to take the first step toward something bigger. That spirit is brought to life through the “Connie Lou” cover contest, giving one up-and-coming artist a real shot at the spotlight by inviting them to perform the song live onstage with Rice. Fans can follow @CoorsBanquet on social media for updates on the collection drop and details on how to participate in the “Connie Lou Cover Contest.”
 
For more information, visit ChaseRice.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter/X and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

KOE WETZEL RETURNS TO COUNTRY RADIO WITH “HURTS LIKE YOU” AHEAD OF JUNE 12 ALBUM, THE NIGHT CHAMPION

Koe Wetzel charges back to Country Radio this week with “Hurts Like You,” the lead single from his highly anticipated sixth studio album, The Night Champion, arriving June 12 via Columbia Records. “Hurts Like You” follows a landmark radio run for Wetzel’s Double-Platinum certified “High Road” featuring Jessie Murph, which spent five consecutive weeks at No. 1 and became the most-played song at Country Radio for all of 2025. 
 
Written by Wetzel alongside Ashley Gorley, Steph Jones, Carrie K and producer Gabe Simon, the jaggedly propulsive “Hurts Like You” offers the raw intensity fans expect, but with a vulnerability and surrender to desires that cut you open.

“‘Hurts Like You’ was one of the first songs that we wrote for the record,” Wetzel recalls. “It’s kind of about a toxic relationship; whenever you get into those situations, you know it’s not good for you, but there’s just something about it that keeps bringing you back. It’s hard to get away from. I feel like a lot of people go through that, so I hope people can relate to the way that we felt about it.”
 
Critics are already embracing the track’s sharp-edged energy and crossover appeal, with VICE praising the song as “an alt-rock revival… the Texas-born rocker blends Country & Western with post-grunge in a way that scratches so many itches. ‘Hurts Like You’ has grit, but never sacrifices melody. It’s relentlessly catchy, but it still has balls.”
 
Set for release June 12, The Night Champion captures the aftermath of a wild run, delivering all the signature force, punch and ragged details people expect, tempered by the clarity that comes with surviving it. Turning chaos, excess and hard-earned perspective into something built to endure, The Night Champion fuses all that’s happened since Wetzel first hit the road with a van and the drive to see how far he could take it.
 
“It’s a continuation of 9 Lives, from that record to now,” Wetzel offers of the follow-up to his globally connecting release. “Really, it’s everything that’s happened – because you don’t go from kids playing for beer to headlining Red Rocks, arenas all over the country, partying and trying to make sense of it all and not shift. My head space is clearer now. I can look back, see how it fits together. It doesn’t make sense, exactly, but it all happened. That search for what it all means keeps bringing me back.”
 
Whether fans were there from those first nights in Texas, the wake of his indie breakout Noise Complaint or found the music during last year’s radio rush, The Night Champion is built to offer a sense of all the phases as it brings the disparate audiences together. “I’m not torn between the worlds,” Wetzel notes of the convergence. “This is where all the fans meet. No matter when they got here, this is that moment.”
 
Pollstar’s “firebrand live sensation” is also bringing the new music to fans across the globe with The Night Champion World Tour, having recently wrapped his Australia run with dates across the U.S. and Canada to come. Shane Smith & The Saints, Ole 60, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Wade Bowen, Bayker Blankenship, Kolby Cooper and Logan Jahnke join as support in varying combinations.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com. Follow on TikTok@Koe_Wetzel and on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic.

The Night Champion World Tour Dates
Support Details Available via KoeWetzelMusic.com
July 8 | Edmonton, Alb. (Canada) | Rogers Place
July 10 | Penticton, B.C. (Canada) | South Okanagan Event Center
July 11 | Abbotsford, B.C. (Canada) | Abbotsford Centre
July 23 | Nampa, Idaho | Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
July 24 | Stateline, Nev. | Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic
July 25 | Las Vegas, Nev. | The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
July 30 | Airway Heights, Wash. | Northern Quest Casino
July 31 | Bend, Ore. | Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Aug. 1 | Tacoma, Wash. | Dune Peninsula
Aug. 6 | Bonner Springs, Kan. | Azura Amphitheater
Aug. 7 | Evansville, Ind. | Ford Center
Aug. 8 | Nashville, Tenn. | Bridgestone Arena
Aug. 12 | New York, N.Y. | Pier 17
Aug. 13 | Reading, Pa. | Santander Arena
Aug. 14 | Gilford, N.H. | BankNH Pavilion
Aug. 19 | Boston, Mass. | Leader Bank Pavilion
Aug. 20 | Washington, D.C. | The Anthem
Aug. 21 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Petersen Events Center
Aug. 26 | Buffalo, N.Y. | Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
Aug. 27 | Cleveland, Ohio | Wolstein Center
Aug. 28 | Rochester Hills, Mich. | Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Sept. 3 | Austin, Texas | Moody Center
Sept. 4 | Baton Rouge, La. | Raising Cane’s River Center
Sept. 5 | Bossier City, La. | Brookshire Grocery Arena
Sept. 10 | Knoxville, Tenn. | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Sept. 11 | Greensboro, N.C. | First Horizon Coliseum
Sept. 12 | Wilmington, N.C. | Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Sept. 17 | Alpharetta, Ga. | Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Sept. 18 | Columbia, S.C. | Colonial Life Arena
Sept. 19 | Richmond, Va. | Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
Sept. 24 | Pikeville, Ky. | Appalachian Wireless Arena
Sept. 25 | Huntsville, Ala. | The Orion Amphitheater
Sept. 26 | Brandon, Miss. | Brandon Amphitheater
Sept. 30 | Rogers, Ark. | The Walmart AMP
Oct. 1 | North Little Rock, Ark. | Simmons Bank Arena
Oct. 2 | Tulsa, Okla. | BOK Center
Oct. 3 | Wichita, Kan. | INTRUST Bank Arena
Oct. 8 | Chicago, Ill. | Salt Shed Fairgrounds
Oct. 9 | Fishers, Ind. | Fishers Event Center
Oct. 10 | Milwaukee, Wis. | Fiserv Forum
Oct. 28 | Morrison, Colo. | Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Oct. 30 | Lubbock, Texas | Cook’s Garage
 
Additional Live Shows
May 30 | Panama City Beach, Fla. | Gulf Coast Jam  
June 12 | Del Mar, Calif. | San Diego County Fair  
June 14 | Santa Rosa, Calif. | Country Summer Music Festival
June 20 | Lewisburg, W.Va. | Wild Trails Festival  
June 27 | Ashland, Neb. | Country Drive Music Festival  
July 3 | Winnipeg, Man. (Canada) | Country Thunder Winnipeg  
July 16 | Eau Claire, Wis. | Country Jam USA  
July 17 | Manchester, Iowa | Delaware County Fair  
Aug. 15 | Montreal, Que. (Canada) | Lasso  
Aug. 22 | Lima, Ohio | Allen County Fair  
Aug. 29 | Lucknow, Ont. (Canada) | Lucknow’s Music in the Fields 
Oct. 16 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Red West Music Festival
Oct. 18 | Tucson, Ariz. | Boots in the Park
Nov. 20 | St. Petersburg, Fla. | St. Pete Country Fest  

Kenny Chesney Carries On: FINAL Album Mixes Happening Now

Kenny Chesney has always believed in investing the time to get things right, whether his 2025 history-making Sphere residency, No. 1 New York Times best-seller Heart Life Music or creating an internet radio station for No Shoes Nation that’s now a stronghold at SiriusXM. With all of that, Chesney never stopped writing, seeking and recording music, knowing he was on the verge of creating something very special.
 
“Carry On,” his first new music in two years, hit radio hard. Beyond closing the panel of 158 reporting radio stations in its first week – only the third time in history, and the first time for an independent record label, the shuck-what-weighs-you-down anthem of empowerment and joy jumped to No. 30 with a bullet in its second week. 
 
That kind of response requires some real attention, something the East Tennessee songwriter-superstar is good at providing. Beyond dropping the charming, locals-only peek at Key West clip, featuring the iconic David Wegman, for “Carry On” today, the man the Los Angeles Times called “the People’s Superstar” has become very serious about finalizing mixes for his 21st studio project.
 
“A lot has happened over the last year, but the truth is I’ve been collecting some of these songs for over a decade,” Chesney says of his upcoming project. “I knew when we decided to do the next album, I wanted a record that leaned into being an album, not a concept, but a collection of songs that took you somewhere emotionally or mentally.
 
“I never stop listening, or writing, or recording. But a few of these songs started pulling towards each other – and this album started to take shape. When you’re competing with yourself, what you’ve already recorded, it sets a pretty high bar. I don’t think I realized how really strong this collection was until I stepped back and looked at everything we’ve got.”
 
For Chesney, who was just named the Los Angeles Press Club’s Public Service Award honoree, “Carry On” eliciting such a powerful reaction meant locking down what his next record will be. His 100th entry on both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, “Carry On” speaks to the momentum inherent to living – and making albums.
 
“Unlike Heart Life Music, there was no hard deadline,” Chesney mused. “Now I feel like there is some real hunger for this music. The world is in such a divided place, I think music that brings people together, that reminds them of their actual feelings is what they’re looking for – and that’s always been what holds my music together.
 
“For anyone who’s looking to fill their days with light and joy, without pretending tough stuff doesn’t exist, this record’s gonna be for you! We’ve got all songs – I think – picked, and now it’s just a matter of making them sound as good as we can. It’s a lot of great guitars, different rhythms and pretty amazing songs from some of my friends, some emerging writers and a few of Nashville’s most iconic writers ever.”
 
As the song says, “If it feels good, do it…,” and Kenny Chesney is. Just wait.

HEY NOW Announces Marketing Team: McGreevy, Kane and Brown

After Closing Out Radio Panel in First Week with “Carry On” 
HEY NOW RECORDS ANNOUNCES MARKETING TEAM
Melissa McGreevy as Sr. Director, Digital Marketing
Samantha Kane as Director, Marketing
Aidan Brown Serves as Digital Marketing Coordinator
“Person-by-person, we are building HEY NOW with intentionality.
We’re trying to create a dream team who super-serves each aspect of our artist needs
…and in this rapidly evolving business, this is a team who understands artists first.”
-- Kris Lamb, HEY NOW President + Co-Founder

Photo Credit: David Bradley , Photo Credit: Zach Wesner  , Photo Courtesy of HEY NOW Records

About HEY NOW Records
HEY NOW is an independent record label founded by Clint Higham, Kenny Chesney, John Esposito and Kris Lamb. With an artist forward focus, the boutique label stresses individuality, development and creating a bridge between people seeking music that reflects their lives and artists seeking to connect from the inside out. Based in Nashville, HEY NOW deploys a team across all disciplines, including a promotion staff who work from passion and super serve the hand selected roster at radio, a streaming and digital marketing team focused on driving discovery and audience growth across platforms, and A&R executives who operate from their strengths and bring a diverse spectrum of musical influence. www.heynowrecords.com

About Melissa McGreevy, Sr. Director/Digital Marketing
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, McGreevy’s digital marketing excellence at the CLEVER Influencer Marketing Agency, where she worked on key campaigns for global brands, including Amazon, Dove and the NFL Shop. Joining Warner Records in 2018, she created and executed data-driven campaigns across social media, fan engagement platforms, and direct email to expand artist connection; GRAMMY winner Ashley McBryde, Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis and Academy of Country Music New Female Artist of the Year Avery Anna are all beneficiaries of her work. She has been named a HITS Magazine Noisemaker and selected for MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2026.
 
About Samantha Kane, Director/Marketing
Kane began her career in 2019 at the Country Music Association. She joined Big Machine Label Group as Promotions Coordinator, rising through the organization to become their Marketing & Events Manager. Her ability to create marketing initiatives and events for the label’s artists attracted the attention of the Opry, who hired the Florida State graduate for their high-profile Artist and Industry Relations Manager role. At the Opry, Kane was tasked with driving and maximizing partnerships and engagement as well as creating new opportunities for the historic institution, its members and artists who play there.
 
About Aidan Brown, Coordinator/Digital Marketing
Aidan is a native of Philadelphia, Pa. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami in December 2025 with a degree in Communication Studies and minors in Music Business and Cinematic Arts. Prior to graduation he interned with Big Machine Label Group (in Streaming) and PLAYDATE Management (with an emphasis on digital marketing).

MOODY CENTER DEDICATES NEW BACKSTAGE LOUNGE “THE TROUBADOUR” TO COUNTRY MUSIC ICON GEORGE STRAIT

Moody Center unveiled a new backstage lounge dedicated to George Strait at a private ceremony during his historic final weekend at the arena. Dubbed  “The Troubadour” in homage to Strait’s GRAMMY-winning album and title track, the lounge reflects both the spirit of his music and his enduring legacy as one of Texas’ most prolific and influential musicians, songwriters and entertainers.

As a nod to Strait’s early career, The Troubadour captures the feel of a classic Texas honky-tonk, featuring a refurbished vintage jukebox programmed with his extensive catalogue, a burnt orange pool table, a restored neon sign, and carefully curated décor. At its heart, The King of Country’s iconic boot prints are permanently enshrined in a bronze plaque embedded in the floor.

Moody Center recognizes Strait for his contributions to music and his role in shaping the arena’s early history. Strait performed two nights at Moody Center’s grand opening celebration in April 2022 alongside Willie Nelson. This Spring, he made his triumphant return for a four-night, sold-out series of shows that attracted over 60,000 fans.

The Troubadour dedication, marked by a toast of Codigo tequila shots, was attended by Strait, his close friends and family, Moody Center executives and representatives from Messina Touring Group. In keeping with Moody Center’s commitment to elevating the backstage experience, the lounge is reserved exclusively for artist and industry hospitality.

“This lounge is more than just a space—it’s a tribute to an artist whose music and presence helped define the Moody Center from day one,” said Jeff Nickler, President of Oak View Group Austin, and General Manager of the arena. “We’re proud to honor him in a way that will be experienced for years to come.”

Strait added, “I’ve played a lot of places over the years, and to have a space like this honoring the music, the memories, and the fans—it means a lot to me. Thank you, Moody Center and Messina, for such a thoughtful dedication.”

“So many touring artists look up to George and aspire to model their career after his, but there’s only one King George. Thank you Moody Center for recognizing his unique contributions with this lounge,” shared Louis Messina.

The Troubadour stands as a lasting fixture, reflecting George Strait’s legacy and long-standing connection to Moody Center.

Photo Credit: Justin Cook

"Carry On" to Key West: Kenny Chesney Makes A Video

Beyond the obvious, there’s the essence of old Key West – a place where poets, pirates, painters and passionistas live and dream. For Kenny Chesney, infused with the magic of the writers’ haven by no less than Jimmy Buffett, it’s the characters, old bars, dusty streets and often unseen places that have drawn him to the storied town for years.
 
And after locking down the entire country radio panel in its very first week, “Carry On,” a sweeping single that invokes Schooner Wharf, an open-air bar on William Street’s historic Harbor Walk, needed an equally historic video. So, the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee decided to show people seeking freedom, joy or just an escape what makes classic Key West so magnetic. Working alongside longtime collaborator Shaun Silva, the pair created a set of performance “Polaroids” intercut with those side streets and disappearing moments.
 
“Key West isn’t about who you are,” Chesney explains, “but what’s in your soul. It’s the great equalizer, with wisdom to be found just about anywhere if you listen. I knew I wanted this video to show people that heart – beyond what tourists see – and give them a sense of what this song’s really reaching into in terms of how to live.”
 
Whether on his bicycle, making his way through local neighborhoods, a boat out on the ocean or holding down the bar at Schooner Wharf, Chesney delivers a to-the-camera performance that creates a link to every dreamer playing for tips in a city where Ernest Hemingway, Shel Silverstein, Thomas McGuane, Jerry Jeff Walker, Tennessee Williams and, yes, Jimmy Buffett drew inspiration. As much an homage to the young man he once was as a reminder to not miss the lessons that are scattered in your daily journey, “Carry On” was shot to double down on the shoot your shot, savor the moment approach to life that’s defined Chesney and No Shoes Nation.
 
“It’s a different kind of freedom,” Chesney offers. “People here aren’t running after anything, but letting go of all that – and hanging onto what makes them happy. That’s the deal, really. It’s what I wanted this video to represent, and what I think reflects how this song hits me.”
 
Three minutes of feel good groovage that offers some bartender wisdom over moments of reggae undertow, bluegrass harmonies and a summer anthem chorus, “Carry On” became only the third single in Mediabase history to close out the panel in its first week. It celebrates noted artist/sailor and musician David Wegman, who first captured people’s imaginations in Heart Life Music, Chesney’s No. 1 New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction and Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction debut.
 
“If you want to understand making the most of every day, of filling your time with creativity and laughter and adventure, David Wegman is all of that, and more,” Chesney enthuses of his special guest star. “When we started filming, I wanted him to be part of this, so people could see what ‘Carry On’ draws from. We had the best day shooting at his place, where you never know if you’ll find painters, musicians on tour or just friends from somewhere around the world… But that’s what makes it so awesome. Open your arms and just welcome what life brings you.”
 
With 158 stations out of 158 stations buying in, “Carry On” embodies everything great about who and what Kenny Chesney is. After all, if it feels good, do it… feels like a full-tilt summer refrain.

ELI YOUNG BAND HEADLINES SIRIUSXM AND PANDORA SALUTES THE UNIFORM STUDIO SESSION AIRING TODAY, MAY 15

Eli Young Band headlines SiriusXM and Pandora Salutes the Uniform Session, a special full-band performance and conversation with SiriusXM host Ashley Till. The special, recorded live at SiriusXM’s Nashville studios, is airing across SiriusXM’s Y2Kountry channel and Pandora’s Music City station starting today, May 15 at 11am ET with replays throughout the weekend. Presented by Navy Federal Credit Union and part of Military Appreciation Month, 30 active-duty servicemembers joined the special taping earlier this month at SiriusXM studios in Nashville.
 
Life At Best, the band’s third studio album, also celebrates its 15th anniversary today with a limited edition vinyl, available for purchase now, alongside a digital release on all streaming platforms. Life At Best (15 Years Deluxe) is available HERE.
 
Featuring No. 1 singles such as 5x Platinum and CMA Song of the Year “Crazy Girl” and 3x Platinum “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” Life At Best was a career-defining album that cemented the band’s longevity in country music. The new release expands on the original album, adding demos and alternate versions that have never before been released in physical format.
 
The Texas country-rockers also recently celebrated 25+ years of being a band, releasing a short-form documentary titled “This Is Eli Young Band.” Watch the 26-minute YouTube film Below.

Eli Young Band launched a new era with their latest album Strange Hours, available now. As the band’s first independently released album via UnLevel Records, Strange Hours comprises 13 songs, all co-written as a band or with long-trusted collaborators, and introduces a new chapter driven by experience and a million miles of wisdom, from a band of brothers who grew from hometown heroes into globe-trotting, chart-topping pioneers still very much in their prime. Eric Arjes and Jimmy Robbins produced 12 of the 13 tracks, while “Bad Luck” was produced by Julian Raymond and Scott Borchetta.
 
Seeking both a fresh start and a return to their roots with this project, the never-changing lineup of Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson sought out Panhandle House Studio in their hometown of Denton, Texas – the birthplace of the college friends-turned-bandmates’ 2005 debut album Level, which spawned fan-favorites such as “Small Town Kid” and set the stage for the numerous hits that have followed in the 20 years since.
 
With their Strange Hours Tour underway, the band has tour dates through the fall on sale now. For tickets and additional information, visit EliYoungBand.com.

Eli Young Band Upcoming Tour Dates
 
May 15            Brewster Street Ice House || Corpus Christi, TX
May 16            Mo’s Place || Katy, TX
May 21            Kansas City Live! || Kansas City, MO
May 22            Lazy Gators || Lake Ozark, MO
May 23            Castle Ridge Event Center || Centralia, IL
May 24            Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel || Murphy, NC
May 29            The Refinery || Charleston, SC
May 30            The Coves Amphitheater || Union Hall, VA
June 5              Surf Ballroom || Clear Lake, IA
June 6              Chingawassa Days || Marion, KS
June 10            The Pub Station || Billings, MT
June 12            Roadhouse at the Mill || Emmett, ID
June 13            The Old Saloon || Emigrant, MT
June 19            Enable Utah || Ogden, UT
June 20            Gruner Brothers Brewing || Casper, WY
June 24            Robins Theatre || Warren, OH
June 26            Westfield River Brewing Company || Southwick, MA
June 27            The Stephen Talkhouse || Amagansett, NY
June 28            The Cabot || Beverly, MA
June 30            Main Street Crossing (Mike Eli Acoustic) || Tomball, TX
July 25            Nashville Nights (Mike Eli Acoustic) || Lahaina, HI
Aug. 14           Umatilla County Fair || Hermiston, OR
Aug. 15           Red Truck Brewery || Vancouver, CAN
Aug. 27           Latitude 39 || Truckee, CA
Oct. 1              Quarry Park Amphitheater || Rocklin, CA
Oct. 10            Nite Lite || Alva, OK
Feb. 7-Feb. 11 Boots On The Water || Miami, FL

Jenna Paulette Releases “High Noon” Following ACM Whiskey Jam Performance

After releasing her 20-track Horseback (Deluxe) album earlier this year,  Leo33 rising singer/songwriter Jenna Paulette continues to tee up new music with the release of “High Noon,” available now. Paulette debuted the song at “The Academy of Country Music Presents: Whiskey Jam Welcome Party” last night ahead of the 61st ACM Awards. Listen Below.
 
“‘High Noon’ is a two-stepper that I’ve had, tucked away,” Paulette recalls. “When it was played recently for a small circle of people I trust, it became clear how special it was by the way they rallied around it, which tells me it’s time to share it.”
 
Written by Paulette alongside Jordan Reynolds, Jordan Minton and Mark Trussell, and produced by Will Bundy, “High Noon” underscores the state of peace and contentment that comes with a stable relationship. 

“High Noon” arrives on the heels of Paulette earning her first No. 1 at Texas radio with “Steady” – which she credits her husband, Ross, for inspiring. Together, when she’s not on tour, they ranch in south west Texas. 
 
In 2025, Paulette launched her Sunrise and Sunset Boots collection with Justin Boots, and continued to expand her women’s rangewear line with Ely Cattleman, CowboyGirl. To learn more, visit JennaPaulette.com.

Miranda Lambert Slathers “Crisco” – ACM Awards Get Country & Disco’d

When it comes to music, Miranda Lambert isn’t playing. The fierce songwriter from Lindale, Texas has always leaned hard into Lone Star traditions, while moving what country music can be forward with a strong set of roots. Leave it to the woman who co-wrote and co-produced Ella Langley’s tsunami of a song “Choosin’ Texas” to return with music that takes a whole new spin on what dance hall cowboys can embrace with a strong sense of retro and a whole lot of fun.
 
Expanding on “A Song To Sing,” one of her two ACM Music Event of the Year nominations, Lambert takes the Chris Stapleton duet’s roller rink innocence – and deep dives into a pair of distinctive retro dancefloor sounds. Drawing on the good timing two steppery of “Urban Cowboy” and the sleek, disco urbanity of “Saturday Night Fever,” Lambert pioneers of a whole new sound with her first release with MCA, “Crisco.” 
 
Literally, country and disco twisted together by luxurious strings and a melody that twirls around listeners. With lyrics that invoke in a real life way Starland Vocal Band’s “Afternoon Delight,” Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights” and Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s “Islands in the Stream,” as well as outright name-checking Conway (Twitty), Loretta (Lynn) and the Seventies, one can’t help but feel brighter, lighter and ready to kick up their heels. 
 
“We wanted something that feels familiar but also fresh, which is really hard to do,” Lambert enthuses. “We leaned into all the things I grew up loving about country music – Glen Campbell, Kenny and Dolly; very ’70s and ’80s. It’s a fun mix of all these sides of country music that I’ve never fully explored before, even down to using strings in a bigger way. I almost can’t believe I’ve made this many records without really going there, but it was magical to hear how much strings can transform a song.” 

To really bring that recipe home, the song co-written with Aaron Raitiere, Jesse Frasure and Chill Fellacheck boasts a chorus that breaks it down: 
        Baby, we’ve been cooking with Crisco
        Ain’t we mixin’ country and disco
        Stir it around, give it a spin
        And it’s a rhinestone world we’re livin’ in…
 
Further paying homage to the era and the influences, Lambert will debut the ebullient confection at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards this Sunday, May 17, streaming live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Beyond her pair of Music Event nods – the second for “Trailblazer” with Lainey Wilson and Reba McEntire – plus both Song and Visual Media of the Year with Stapleton, Lambert is nominated for Female Artist of the Year and for Song and Single as co-writer and co-producer of Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” As a strong advocate for females, new artists and Texas, the 2022 Entertainer of the Year rides into the 2026 ACM Awards strong.
 
“There’s nothing that makes me happy like music,” Lambert says. “Going to Vegas, nominated with old friends, new friends and on my own, as an artist, but also a producer and writer, that makes me feel like we’re just getting started. With ‘Crisco,’ it’s gonna be a great time seeing where it’s all gonna go.”

Photo Credit: Robert Ascroft

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT VETERAN JOAN VANCE LAUNCHES VANCE & CO ADVISORY, LLC

Business management veteran Joan Vance announces the launch of Vance & Co Advisory, LLC, an independent bookkeeping and financial advisory firm serving individuals and small to mid-sized businesses across industries. 
 
Vance & Co Advisory fills the gap between basic bookkeeping and business management, offering services that span monthly reconciliation, financial reporting, systems and process documentation, and strategic advisory support. The firm works with clients on an ongoing basis, providing consistent financial oversight tailored to each business.
 
“So many creatives find themselves in a position where they aren’t quite ready yet for business management and don’t think about the financial side until tax time,” shares Vance. “This causes undue stress and a mad rush to provide information to their tax accountant. I want to relieve that burden so songwriters, artists, and other businesses can focus on what they excel at. 
 
“I am grateful to have been mentored by some of the best in the business at Wiles + Taylor and carry those experiences with me each day,” she adds. “I leave with nothing but respect and appreciation for the firm and those who helped shape my career and am excited for the journey ahead!”
 
Originally from New Jersey, Vance holds an MBA from Belmont University, along with dual undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Writing Arts. That foundation shaped the way she works today: organized, thoughtful, and deeply intentional in how she communicates and simplifies complexity.
 
Vance began her career at a law firm before moving to Nashville, where she joined Wiles + Taylor. Starting as a receptionist, she quickly grew within the firm, where she worked closely with high-net-worth clients and developed her strong operational and financial management skillset that blends precision with relationship-building. Vance believes good bookkeeping is more than numbers: it’s peace of mind, transparency, and a strong foundation for decision-making.
 
Her goal is simple: to make your finances feel less overwhelming and more empowering—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
 
Congratulate Vance at jvance@vanceandcoadvisory.com. For more information, visit vanceandcoadvisory.com or follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Photo Credit: Createurs Sarah Reynolds