HUNTERGIRL MAKES GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT, EARNS LIVELY STANDING OVATION

First Female Country Artist in Over 30 Years to Write her Debut Radio Single By Herself, “Ain’t About You” Is Currently Climbing the Country Radio Charts

Opening for Luke Bryan on his “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour”

Starting June 22 in Bristow, Virginia

Over the weekend, Wheelhouse Records/19 Recordings' vocal powerhouse HunterGirl made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, invoking an impassioned, lively standing ovation from the packed-out Opry house - a bucket list wish she’s been dreaming of her whole life. For a glimpse into her debut, WATCH HERE. Delivering a raw, emotional and star-making performance of her debut radio single “Ain’t About You” and the heart-stirring unreleased track “Clockworks,” the American Idol runner-up is “...transcending from talented aspiring artist, to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard). Just named to CMT’s esteemed Next Women of Country, the “Artist to Watch” (Country Now, Wide Open Country) is proving she’s a “major, major new talent” (MusicRow). 

“I have dreamed of playing at the Grand Ole Opry since I was a little girl,” says HunterGirl. “It was a full circle moment getting to step into the circle that night. Singing on that stage felt like becoming a part of something greater than myself.” 

Additionally, Retired Army Lt. General Keith Huber along with Dr. Hilary Miller, Veterans Center Director, and Beverly Keel, Dean College of Media and Entertainment, from HunterGirl's alma mater of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), surprised her onstage with a customized blue flight jacket to celebrate her MTSU honorary professorship and everything she’s done for the university’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Center, as Charlie Daniels Jr. watched from the audience as she was honored for her vast contributions. Having first been connected to the center from her extensive work with veterans through Operation Song, Hunter continues to help veterans tell their stories through songs - a creative therapy she’s very passionate about coming from a military family.

“The rising country star has continued to work hard and put herself out there on incredibly sincere and emotionally-charged levels” (Country Now), which includes her critically acclaimed single “Ain’t About You” climbing the country radio charts. 

Photo credit: (c) Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo

“one of those personal songs with universal relevance.” - Billboard

“Empowering and loaded with character and charisma. The ballad swells with positive vibes, and her vocal delivery has immense depth. This is a major, major new talent.” - MusicRow


Vulnerable, Emotional” - CMT 

“HunterGirl’s ‘Ain’t About You’ rises above toxic comparison and insecurity” – Taste of Country

unbridled honesty” – American Songwriter

The raw track is full of chilling conviction. The striking and painfully relatable lyrics truly fall out of the Tennessee girl in the most honest and humble of ways.” All Country News

 “The track is exactly what country music needs more of.” – Country Swag 

Up next, the talented songstress will be joining Luke Bryan on his 2024 “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” this summer as well as making her debut at Tortuga Music Festival on April 5 and Faster Horses Festival on July 21.

About HunterGirl:

America’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and esteemed songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was nine. In her teens, she honed her craft by performing at venues across the United States and working with veteran non-profits such as Operation Song, Freedom Sings and A Soldier’s Child, using music therapy to help numerous vets transform their stories into songs. After high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Lower Broadway’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Recently, she competed and placed second on the star-making competition series American Idol, where she delivered standout performances and won the hearts of millions across the country including Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan who proclaimed her the “new age Miranda Lambert” and his “favorite female Country voice.” After topping the iTunes All Genre and Country charts with her wistful “Red Bird,” HunterGirl has been a guest on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly & Ryan as well as shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Now, with the release of “Ain’t About You” that’s currently climbing the country radio charts, HunterGirl - who was just named to CMT’s esteemed Next Women of Country, made her Grand Ole Opry debut that earned her a lively standing ovation and will hit the road on Luke Bryan’s “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” this summer - becomes the first female country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single by herself. Praised by People for her “incredible voice” and CMT for her “soaring vocals and superstar potential,” “Ain’t About You” “rises above toxic comparison and insecurity” (Taste of Country) “with universal relevance” (Billboard). Chronicling “her current moment of transcending from talented aspiring artist to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard), HunterGirl - “a major, major new talent” (MusicRow) - is poised to become Country’s next big female artist.

Photo ID (L-R): Mike Terry (Opry), Beverly Keel (MTSU), HunterGirl, Retired Army Lt. General Keith Huber, 
Dr. Hilary Miller (MTSU) 
Photo credit: (c) Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo

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CHAYCE BECKHAM MAKES GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT

Solo-Written Hit Single “23” Earns RIAA-Platinum Status,
 Surges toward Top 15 at Country Radio

Photo Credit: © Grand Ole Opry, photos by Chris Hollo

Vocal powerhouse, prolific songwriter and American Idol winner Chayce Beckham made his Grand Ole Opry debut last night (10/18), performing his now RIAA-certified PLATINUM single “23” that's entirely self written and currently Top 20 at radio, along with the tender ballad “Till The Day I Die” to a packed-out audience. After his performance, Beckham was then surprised on stage with the song's platinum plaque by his mom, Windie Peterson, and manager, Kerri Edwards. 

"Last night, so many dreams came true because of music," said Beckham. "It’s been a long, long road, and I’d like to thank everyone who has been on it with me. It’s hard not to be emotional when something you have been working so hard at comes to fruition, and the people who got you there can hand you the award for it on the biggest stage in Country music. Because of my family, my team, and my fans, I got to step foot into the Circle and sing at the Grand Ole Opry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."  

Don’t miss the latest buzz on Beckham.

“Next Big Thing Artists Class Of 2023” 
– MusicRow

“a full-fledged country star” 

- CMT

 

“One of the most buzzed-about newcomers in country music today” 

- Parade

 

“This is a real bonafide musical artist and I see you all over Grammys, everywhere, wherever you want to go” - Katy PerryABC’s American Idol

 

 “Beckham translates television, viral success to the stage…a former American Idol winner and a polished entertainer and vocalist further bolstered his career surge thanks to his viral hit ’23.’” 
- Billboard

 

That ‘way’ he sings could be described in a multitude of ways, from gritty to powerful to achingly relatable. And when words don't do his talent justice, the music does.” 
- People

 

“He’s well on his way to finding a permanent spot in the ranks of Nashville’s best and brightest.” 
American Songwriter

 

“Beckham is a powerful, soulful singer, and his gritty style gives his songs a real authenticity.” 
- Songwriter Universe

 

“…Chayce Beckham is a full-blown country music phenom that you need to have on your radar.”
- All Country News 

About Chayce Beckham:

American Idol winner and “Artist to Watch” (Country Now, Country Swag, Music Mayhem Magazine, Sounds Like Nashville) Chayce Beckham is “no doubt a force to be reckoned with, while proving he will leave a scorching mark on the Country music genre for years to come” (PopCulture). “One of the most buzzed-about newcomers in Country music today” (Parade), Beckham’s debut EP Doin’ It Right skyrocketed to No. 1 on iTunes All Genre and Country charts and received critical acclaim from E! News!, Billboard, People, CMT, PopCulture, American Songwriter, Sweety High and more. The first to ever win the competition show with an original song, his semi-autobiographical, self-written track “23” instantly shot to the top of numerous viral charts. Currently surging toward Top 15 at Country radio, Beckham’s “23” resonated so deeply with fans that it is now RIAA-certified PLATINUM and has continuously banked over 1 million on-demand streams per week since its 2021 release, amassing over 330 million thus far. A triple threat artist, Beckham is an incredibly captivating performer, powerhouse vocalist and talented songwriter who just made his Grand Ole Opry debut and is currently out on the road with country superstar Luke Bryan for his 2023 Country On Tour. The rising country star, whose voice Katy Perry said “sounds like the heart of America,” went from working as a fork-lift driver to winning American Idol to appearing on Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel, and Live with Kelly & Ryan to becoming a truly prolific songwriter in the room with some of Nashville’s best. Recognized as one of 10 new Country artists “destined for killer careers” (Country Swag) and the “Next Big Thing” by MusicRow, the “full-fledged Country star” (CMT) just released the whiskey-soaked ballad “Till The Day I Die” and the heart-pulsing “Little Less Lonely,” continuing his rise as “one of the best new country artists to watch out for” (PopCulture).

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Chase Rice Pays Tribute to His Late Father With "For A Day," Available Everywhere Now

Previously Available Only as a Hidden Track on Physical Versions of
I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, “For A Day” is Available Everywhere Now
in Honor of the 15th Anniversary of Daniel Rice’s Passing

Previously available only as a hidden track on physical versions of Chase Rice’s critically acclaimed album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, powerfully emotional song “For A Day” is available everywhere today, May 18, as Rice marks the 15th anniversary of his late father’s passing.
 
Written alone by Rice and recorded on the final day of the immersive two-week session at his rural home-turned-studio with producer Oscar Charles, “For A Day” was captured in its purest form, with just Rice and a guitar, once the live band was gone and the bulk of the studio setup had been torn down.
 
“This is as raw as it gets,” the man praised by Sports Illustrated for “his wild ride to redemption” explains. “I miss my dad every day, and if I could have one more with him here’s just a couple things I’d do with him. My favorite part would be seeing him with my niece and two nephews. I did three takes on this, one for each one of them, and I couldn’t hold it together for any of ’em.” 
 
“We’d hop in your F-250. I’d tell you to tell me about how you met mom when you was on your way to pick up your second to last first date. We’d pour out Black Velvet Whisky, the first one you ever drank with me. I’d trade my Chevrolet, every dollar made, every song I ever sang… for a day,” sings Rice in what Billboard celebrates as “most vulnerable recording to date” emblematic of “his open-hearted approach to his new music.”
 
Rice first debuted the song ahead of the album’s release on the Grand Ole Opry stage, where he reflected on the sudden loss of Daniel Rice in 2008 and the impact that had on his musical journey, including at his 2014 Opry debut where he looked out to see his mom, Connie, next to an empty seat in his dad’s honor. Watch the moving performance and Rice’s heartfelt intro 
HERE.
 
The song’s digital release follows this week’s premiere of a 10-part docuseries chronicling the full recording process of I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, with the first three episodes available now and additional installments dropping each Tuesday. Watch 
HERE.
 
Rice’s 
Way Down Yonder Tour also continues to visit sold-out venues across the country, as summer anthem “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer” is impacting Country radio now. For all the latest news on his music as well as upcoming tour dates, visit ChaseRice.com and follow Rice on FacebookTwitter and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

About Chase Rice
With more than 2.4 million albums sold and over 2.5 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With the critically acclaimed album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell crafted in his rural Tennessee home-turned-studio available everywhere now, Rice’s sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life; from emotional reckoning to an admiration of the Western way of life. The new music serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, featuring his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. (feat. Florida Georgia Line)” and Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.” This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better, freer; unbeholden and uninhibited. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the triple-Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career. Lambs & Lions followed Platinum-certified Ignite the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, producing a pair of Top 5 hits; Platinum-certified “Gonna Wanna Tonight” and double-Platinum “Ready Set Roll.” In addition to guesting on sold-out arena tours with Kane Brown and Jason Aldean plus stadium shows with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice consistently sells out venues on his own headlining tours, including the Way Down Yonder Tour underway now in support of his new music.

Tigirlily Gold Make ACM Awards Pre-Show & Opry Debuts on the Heels of Releasing "Hometown Song" off Upcoming EP

TIGIRLILY GOLD ARRIVE WITH 
A “HOMETOWN SONG
 

Debut EP BLONDE Set for JUNE 23, 2023; Pre-Save 
HERE

The Sister Duo Made ACM Awards Pre-Show Debut on May 11, 
Performing for the Official ACM Awards Red Carpet Show,
Followed by Their Opry Debut on May 13

Photo Credit: Robert Chavers

Sister duo Tigirlily Gold took the internet – and country radio – by storm with the release of rowdy single “Shoot Tequila,” which to date has garnered over 50 million views across social media and arrived at country radio in March as the second-most-added song upon impact. Building on that momentum, the North Dakota natives release their latest, song, “Hometown Song” – along with the official music video – and make their ACM Awards pre-show and Opry debuts in the same week. Listen to “Hometown Song” HERE and watch the official music video HERE.
 
Written by Krista and Kendra alongside Alex Kline and Scott Stepakoff, “Howtown Song” highlights the push and pull of both loving and hating where you come from.
 
“Every song about hometowns usually goes one of two ways, you either love it and it’s perfect or you hate it, and we could never relate to either of those exact feelings,” Kendra explains, “so we wanted to write a song that hints at both. It’s the emotion of when you are in a place for so long, wanting to leave and try something new, but when you’re gone, there’s nothing that can replace that feeling of home.”
 
On May 11, the girls from North Dakota took their biggest stage yet, performing on the official ACM Awards Red Carpet show, which aired on Prime Video leading up to the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards. On Saturday, May 13, Tigirlily Gold once again reached a career milestone as they made their Grand Ole Opry debut.

"This past week has been a dream come true. We’ve spent ten years working towards moments like these, and we’d do it all over again to feel the magic we felt this past week," the sisters share. "It’s a truly amazing feeling to be living out the wild dreams us small town girls have had for so long. There were many specials moments, but the most special part about all of it was sharing these milestone moments together as sisters and as best friends." 
 
The duo’s forthcoming debut EP Blonde is due via Monument Records on June 23, and incorporates inspiration from their greatest musical influence, Dolly Parton. Pre-save the EP 
HERE

Ready to bring girl group energy back to country music, stay tuned for more from Tigirlily Gold throughout 2023. For the latest information visit, tigirlily.com  and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @tigirlily and on TikTok @TigirlilyGold.
 
About Tigirlily Gold:
Sister duo Tigirlily Gold has been playing music together since they could walk, and officially formed their band in high school. Growing up, they crisscrossed the mid-west, growing a fierce fan base and selling out amphitheaters across their home-state of North Dakota. After moving to Nashville, they landed a weekly residence at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway. Playing four-hour sets, three to four nights a week, the sisters developed a performance style that’s not only captivating and fun but shows just how much entertaining is in their blood.
 
After releasing their original song “
Somebody Does,” in 2021, the track topped the iTunes chart and Tigirlily Gold was signed to Monument Records. They released their self-titled, debut EP in July 2021, working with multi-Grammy Award Winner Shane McAnally, and hit the road with artists Walker Hayes and Ashley McBryde. 

Conner Smith Named Opry NextStage Artist for October

Photo Credit: Danielle Piazza

Today, the Grand Ole Opry announced the latest addition to its Opry NextStage Class of 2022 with rising singer-songwriter Conner Smith. Smith is the sixth act to join the 2022 class that includes BRELAND, Callista Clark, Restless Road, Elvie Shane and Morgan Wade. Smith will return to the Grand Ole Opry to make his NextStage artist debut on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Tickets are available to purchase HERE.

Watch HERE for Smith’s exclusive NextStage interview discussing his love for songwriting and the Grand Ole Opry visit that led him to writing his first song. Smith also performs his brand new single “Take It Slow,” which has already amassed nearly 60 million global streams to date. Watch the performance HERE.

On being named the Opry NextStage Artist of October, Smith said, “I have been so blessed to see a lot of my dreams come true this year but there has not been a moment comparable to my Grand Ole Opry debut. Standing in that circle, as a kid from Nashville, I truly felt the weight and history of the Grand Ole Opry in all its depth. To be even more accepted by the Opry as a NextStage Artist means more than I can say.”

Signed to BMI at the age of nine, Smith has penned most of his songs including five of the six songs on his debut collection DIDN’T GO TOO FAR. The release features his first top 40 hit “Learn From It” and virial smash “I Hate Alabama.” Named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch for 2022 and Amazon Music’s 2022 Amazon Artists To Watch, the 22-year-old artist was the only Country act named to Pandora’s prestigious all-genre accolade, Artists To Watch 2022: The Pandora Ten list.

For more information on Opry NextStage, visit opry.com/nextstage.

About Opry NextStage
Developed by Opry Entertainment Group in 2019, Opry NextStage, presented by Geico, invests in the discovery of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month with featured original content, an Opry performance and support across the brand’s platforms, which include the Opry, Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, Ole Red and Circle Network. With a pulse on what is next in the Country music format and a deep commitment to supporting burgeoning talent, NextStage has cemented a strong track record in just three short years. The two previous NextStage classes have featured artists such as Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green and Tenille Townes who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies following their Opry NextStage debuts.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE:RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.

About Conner Smith
Conner Smith was born to write songs. His mother interviewed songwriters as part of her work when he was a small child; he remembers being in her office, transfixed, listening to the tapes of the people most music lovers never saw telling the stories of where the songs came from. By the time he was 6, he was writing his own. By the time he was 9, he’d signed to BMI as a writer. Being so immersed in songs and where they came from, the 22-year-old rising artist is the rarest of all things: a songwriter from the inside out. Smith penned five of the six songs from his recent debut DIDN’T GO TOO FAR via The Valory Music Co. Produced by Zach Crowell, the collection features his first top 40 hit “Learn From It” and fan-favorite new single “Take It Slow,” which has already amassed nearly 60 million global streams to date. Continuing to feed his growing fanbase with new music, the Tennessee native fittingly released new song “Orange And White” in time for football season. Considered the sequel to his viral hit “I Hate Alabama,” Smith delivers a love story that could end up in the hall of fame. Smith has been giving fans a behind the scenes look at his meteoric rise, while showcasing his “wide vocal range and contagious pipes” (CMT) on Thomas Rhett’s BRING THE BAR TO YOU TOUR, with a five part video series available now on YouTube + Instagram. Named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artist to Watch for 2022 and Amazon Music’s 2022 Amazon Artist To Watch, Smith is the only Country act named to the Pandora’ prestigious all-genre accolade, Artists To Watch 2022: The Pandora Ten list.

Restless Road Named Opry NextStage Artist for August

First Band To Join NextStage Program

New Performances and Interviews Featured All Month on Opry Channels

Today, the Grand Ole Opry announced the latest addition to its Opry NextStage Class of 2022 with breakthrough trio Restless Road, who will be the first band to be part of the NextStage program. Restless Road is the fourth act to join the 2022 class that includes Elvie Shane, Morgan Wade and BRELAND. Restless Road will make their NextStage debut with an Opry performance on August 20.

Developed by the Grand Ole Opry, NextStage is an artist discovery program that spotlights Country music’s rising talent and highlights one artist per month with featured original content created by Opry Entertainment Groups award-winning team, an Opry performance and support across the Opry Entertainment platforms, which include the Opry, Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, Ole Red and Circle Network. Additional artists will be announced in the coming months to complete the year with a total of seven artists.

Made up of three different but complementary voices, Restless Road is a powerhouse country band with one of the most auspicious breakout stories of 2020. Capturing the ear of country superstar Kane Brown, he signed the trio to his own label imprint, 1021 Entertainment. Praised by People, Taste of Country, Billboard and more, the trio’s powerhouse harmonies and soul-baring lyrics put them on numerous 2021 “Ones to Watch” lists, as members Zach Beeken, Colton Pack, and Garrett Nichols continue to rack up millions of on-demand streams.

Restless Road said, “We’re are beyond grateful to be chosen as an Opry NextStage Artist. Growing up we watched our country music heroes perform on the Opry stage, and that inspired us to keep going and chase our dreams even when it felt impossible. It means the world to us to be recognized by the Grand Ole Opry family, and we couldn’t be more excited to be a small part of Opry history.”

With a pulse on what is next in the Country music format and a deep commitment to supporting burgeoning talent, the program has cemented a strong track record in just three short years. The two previous NextStage classes have featured artists such as Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green and Tenille Townes who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies following their Opry NextStage debuts.

NextStage launched in 2019 with an inaugural class that included Green, Tegan Marie, Townes and Travis Denning. Last year’s class included Priscilla Block, McCollum, Niko Moon, Jameson Rodgers, Hailey Whitters, Wilson and Yola. For more information on Opry NextStage, visit opry.com/nextstage.

About Opry NextStage
Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage, presented by Geico, invests in the discovery of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month with featured original content, an Opry performance and support across the brand’s platforms to tell their stories and expand their audiences. For nearly a century, the Grand Ole Opry has created opportunities for artists throughout the Country music spectrum to make strong connections with fans and fellow artists – on its stages and across its channels – from terrestrial radio to network television to the digital universe and to Circle Network. Audiences around the world look to the Opry to showcase the very best in Country music.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE:RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.

About Restless Road
Made up of three different but complementary voices, country band Restless Road is “one of the most intriguing and exciting acts of the year” (Wide Open Country). Praised by People, Taste of Country, Billboard, and more, the trio’s powerhouse harmonies and soul-baring lyrics put them on numerous 2021 “Ones to Watch” lists, as members Zach Beeken, Colton Pack, and Garrett Nichols continue to rack up millions of streams. As NBC’s Today Show host Hoda Kotb put it: “That harmony…you feel it in your soul.” Since Zach and Colton joined forces after meeting on a singing competition (where they met future collaborator Kane Brown), Restless Road has stood out as one of the genre’s premier vocal forces. When Garrett came onboard in 2015, they knew they had something special. In February 2020, the trio unveiled their debut self-titled EP, which includes “Take Me Home,” featuring Kane Brown. A short year later, they dropped their track, “Took One Look At Her Momma,” which American Songwriter praised for its “captivating melody and lyrics that those in a relationship could benefit from hearing.” They recently released their tracks “Bar Friends,” “Hometown Tonight,” and “Headlights.” On January 21, 2022 they released “Growing Old With You” which topped the U.S. iTunes Country Charts for over 1 week, which they also performed as a feature on ABC’s The Bachelor. 2021 saw Restless Road on the road with Kane Brown as support on his “Blessed & Free Tour,” and their first headline tour, the “Bar Friends Tour” will commence on April 6, 2022. With all signs indicating Restless Road is a contender for best new vocal group, its members continue to write, sing, and perform together as they take the next steps down country music’s long and winding road.

Grand Ole Opry Announces Initial Artists for Opry NextStage Class of 2022

Lineup Includes Elvie Shane, Morgan Wade & BRELAND

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, the Grand Ole Opry announced its initial artists for its Opry NextStage Class of 2022, an artist discovery program that spotlights Country music’s rising talent and highlights one artist per month with featured original content, an Opry performance and support across the Opry Entertainment platforms, which include the Opry, Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, Ole Red and Circle Network. Breakthrough artists Elvie Shane (May), Morgan Wade (June) and BRELAND (July) are the first three featured artists, with more to be announced throughout the year to complete the class with a total of seven artists. The artists shared their thoughts on the honor exclusively with the Tennessean.

“My Boy” singer Elvie Shane, who Billboard notes is “making the case for a new mainstay in country music,” made his Grand Ole Opry debut just over a year ago. He will return to the historic Opry stage on May 7 to mark his inclusion in the NextStage Class of 2022.

“The Opry has been at the forefront of keeping Country music alive and well since its inception,” says Shane. “I came from a place both literally and musically built on the same values and experiences. To be recognized by the Country music congregation that is the Opry is a huge honor.”

With a pulse on what is next in the Country music format and a deep commitment to supporting burgeoning talent, the program has cemented a strong track record in just three short years. The two previous NextStage classes have featured artists such as Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, Riley Green and Tenille Townes who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies following their Opry NextStage debuts.

“Opry NextStage truly represents the depth of Country music and the future of the genre, and you’ll see that reflected in the composition of this year’s class—starting with these first three extremely talented artists who all come with their own unique artistry, perspectives, and backgrounds,” says Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy for Opry Entertainment Group. “We are so excited to invest in this next generation of Opry performers who will help to shape the future of Country music and the Opry for many years to come.”

NextStage launched in 2019 with an inaugural class that included Green, Tegan Marie, Townes and Travis Denning. Last year’s class included Priscilla Block, McCollum, Niko Moon, Jameson Rodgers, Hailey Whitters, Wilson and Yola.

The Opry has helped launch the careers of countless artists, including Roy Acuff, Garth Brooks, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and Dolly Parton, to name just a few. Award-winning group Little Big Town made its very first public appearance as a group on the Opry stage in 1999, and Carrie Underwood cemented a place in Country music with her first Opry appearance less than two weeks after having been named American Idol in 2005. It was with this grand tradition of artist investment that Opry NextStage was created.

For more information on Opry NextStage, visit opry.com/nextstage.

About Opry NextStage
Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage, presented by Geico, invests in the discovery of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month with featured original content, an Opry performance and support across the brand’s platforms to tell their stories and expand their audiences. For nearly a century, the Grand Ole Opry has created opportunities for artists throughout the Country music spectrum to make strong connections with fans and fellow artists – on its stages and across its channels – from terrestrial radio to network television to the digital universe and to Circle Network. Audiences around the world look to the Opry to showcase the very best in Country music.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE:RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.

About Elvie Shane
A native of small-town Kentucky, early touchstones like Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle and John Fogerty joined Wheelhouse Records’ Elvie Shane’s Gospel roots to form the bedrock of his taste – along with R&B classics like The Temptations and modern superstars like Eminem. Shane’s new single “County Roads” is officially available at country radio now, and was one of the most added songs at country radio upon release. Co-written by Shane with Dan Couch and Oscar Charles, the new single is full of untamed energy, flying like an unguided missile of passion down “County Roads” and paints a picture of Shane’s early days in Grayson County, KY. Shane just celebrated multiple milestones with his hit single “My Boy” topping the charts at country radio and being certified GOLD by the RIAA. “My Boy” is taken from Shane’s just-released debut full length album BACKSLIDER. Shane co-wrote the set that embodies the crunchy hooks of classic rock, the nostalgia of country music as well as the emotional electricity of Gospel and R&B. Critics have already been quick to praise the cohesive set with the album landing on 2021 “Best Of” lists including Billboard, Rolling Stone and Nashville Scene. "If you listen to just one major-label debut by a dude this year, consider Elvie Shane’s” declared Rolling Stone, while Stereogum noted the record “forces you to rethink anything you think you know, or assume, about the genre’s Music Row bros.” Billboard also determined Shane is "making the case for a new mainstay in country music.” The singer/songwriter just announced he will launch his first-ever headlining run, with his MY KINDA TROUBLE TOUR set to kick off on 2/17 in Chattanooga, TN. The multi-city stint will see Shane play major cities including Chicago, IL, Nashville, TN and more, and will mark some of Shane’s first live performances of BACKSLIDER. Shane's picture-based lyrics and knack for storytelling lead to his signing with UTA and he has since opened for Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Brothers Osborne Brett Young and Lady A, to name a few. Shane also just wrapped a stint on the road opening for Brooks & Dunn on their 2021 Reboot Tour.

About Morgan Wade
With a commanding voice -- raspy and earthy, yet bearing bruises and scars that convey vulnerability -- Morgan Wade cut a striking figure when she emerged with her debut album Reckless in 2021. Pitched partway between Americana and arena rock -- a distance she navigated with collaborator Sadler Vaden, the guitarist in Jason Isbell's 400 Unit -- Wade blended her influences in a distinctive, emotionally candid way. A native of the small Appalachian town of Floyd, Virginia, Morgan Wade was drawn to music as a child. She wrote songs in secret, never attempting a public performance until she was 19, after she suffered a breakup during her freshman year at Roanoke's Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2013. Assembling a band via Craigslist, Wade cut her teeth performing in Virginia, eventually getting sober by the time she led her supporting group the Stepbrothers through the Puppets with My Heart album in 2018. Not long afterward, she received a lucky break. Wade played her hometown FloydFest in 2018, joining a roster that included Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. There, she met Isbell's guitar tech, who gave one of her CDs to Sadler Vaden, the guitarist in the 400 Unit. The pair started a collaboration, adding Paul Ebersold as co-producer, and worked on material for an album. The single "The Night" appeared in 2019, followed by "Don't Cry" in 2020, with the Billboard-charting full-length debut Reckless appearing on Thirty Tigers in early 2021.

About BRELAND
With his PLATINUM debut “My Truck,” singer / songwriter / producer BRELAND has emerged as a bold new force on today’s music landscape. The newly named Breakthrough Artist by Amazon Music first popped off when the Hip-Hop and Country hybrid hit #1 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 in 2019, and a remix featuring Sam Hunt landed on best-of-the-year lists from NPR to The New York Times. Debuting his brand-new song “Praise The Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett)” at the 2022 ACM Awards, the “symbol of Country music’s ongoing evolution” (Rolling Stone) will be featured on his highly anticipated debut album CROSS COUNTRY slated for release this summer. Featured on Dierks Bentley’s Top 5 and rising single with HARDY, “Beers On Me,” BRELAND also teamed up with Keith Urban for the buzzy track “Throw It Back.” Since signing to Bad Realm Records / Atlantic Records / Warner Music Nashville, he has collaborated with heavy-hitters such as Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Blanco Brown, Lauren Alaina, and Chase Rice, and scored high profile looks on The Kelly Clarkson Show, ABC’s 2021 CMA Awards, ABC’s CMA Summer Jam, CMT Crossroads, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, YouTube’s Artist on The Rise, and a Chevy campaign that launched during NFL’s season opener. Coined “1,000 percent the whole package” by Rolling Stone, he has three nominations for the upcoming fan-voted 2022 CMT Music Awards. He just wrapped Russell Dickerson’s ALL YOURS, ALL NIGHT TOUR and will hit the road this summer in addition to high-profile stages such as Tortuga Music Festival (4/9), Stagecoach Country Music Festival (4/29), Hangout Music Festival (5/21), and Tidalwave Festival (8/12). BRELAND is also recognized in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s brand-new exhibit, American Currents: State of the Music.

Eli Young Band Surprised with Pandora Billionaire Plaque During Grand Ole Opry Performance

Multi-Platinum Band Surpasses Streaming Milestone as “Love Talking” Impacts Country Radio

Photo Credit: Chris Hollo, Grand Ole Opry

Multi-Platinum hitmakers Eli Young Band were surprised with a Pandora Billionaire Plaque following their Grand Ole Opry performance last night, Feb. 22. The moment commemorates over 2 billion streams on the platform, and the band has been added to Pandora’s Country Billionaires Radio in celebration of the honor.

“Sometimes these moments sneak up on you and refill the gas tank,” reflected lead singer Mike Eli in response to the surprise presentation. “We love to play music and when something like this comes along and reminds you that people are listening, it just feels so good. The first and last time someone will call us billionaires!”

Last week, the musical band of brothers delivered new single “Love Talking” to Country radio, earning early praise from American Songwriter for its “silky smooth” delivery showcasing “the fruits of the band’s recent creative explosion.” All Access concurred, “In this two minute and 50 second smash, lead singer Mike Eli’s voice embraces listeners like a warm hug,” with MusicRow remarking that “the echo gives the sound some extra juice, and the band is as proficient as ever.” Billboard also named the song among the best of the week upon its release, noting that “this ultra-romantic new release from the group swirls with an irresistible melody and propulsive rhythm.”

“Love Talking” is the lead single off the band’s forthcoming sixth studio album, planned for release later this year via The Valory Music Co.

Fans will have a chance to see the new single performed live, along with the band’s multi-decade catalog of chart-topping hits, as EYB returns to the road for their 51-city Love Talking Tour. Tickets are available at EliYoungBand.com.

For more information and to see all upcoming tour dates, visit www.eliyoungband.com and follow on social media @EliYoungBand.

“Love Talking” Lyrics & Credits Available HERE

Love Talking Tour Dates:
March 4 College Station, Texas | Hurricane Harry’s
March 5 Kyle, Texas | Down South Railhouse
March 8 Modesto, Calif. | Gallo Center for the Arts
March 9 San Diego, Calif. | Moonshine Beach
March 10 Tucson, Ariz. | Rialto Theatre
March 11 Chandler, Ariz. | Wild Horse Pass – Motor Sports Park
March 24 Athens, Ga. | Georgia Theatre
March 25 Richmond, Va. | The National
March 26 Rocky Mountain, Va. | Harvester Performance Center
March 28 Nashville, Tenn. | Assembly Food Hall
April 1 Katy, Texas | Wildcatter Saloon
April 2 Oklahoma City, Okla. | Beer City Music Hall
April 7 Green Bay, Wis. | EPIC Event Center
April 8 Clear Lake, Iowa | Surf Ballroom
April 9 Fargo, N.D. | Sanctuary Event Center
April 13 Cincinnati, Ohio | Bogart’s
April 14 Columbus, Ohio | The Bluestone
April 15 Bloomington, Ind. | Bluebird Nightclub
April 21 Gulf Shores, Ala. | The Hangout
April 22 Tampa, Fla. | Dallas Bull
April 23 Fort Myers, Fla. | The Ranch
April 28 Hampton Beach, N.H. | Wally’s Pub
April 29 Manchester, N.H. | The Pub
April 30 Portland, Maine | Aura
May 6 Providence, R.I. | Fete Music Lounge
May 13 Fayetteville, Ark. | George’s Majestic
May 20 Helotes, Texas | Floore’s Country Store
May 21 Amarillo, Texas | Big Texan Starlight Ranch
June 2 Dewey Beach, Del. | Bottle & Cork
June 3 Washington, D.C. | The Bullpen
June 10 Kamas, Utah | DeJoria Center
June 11 Burley, Idaho | King Fine Arts Center
June 17 New Braunfels, Texas | Whitewater Amphitheater
June 18 El Campo, Texas | Greek Brothers
June 22 Aspen, Colo. | Belly Up
June 25 Santa Fe, N.M. | Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder
June 29 Lincoln, Neb. | Bourbon Theatre
July 14 Little Rock, Ark. | The Hall
July 16 Beaufort, S.C. | Beaufort Waterfront Park
July 19 Washington, Pa. | Wild Things Park
July 21 Brooklyn, N.Y. | Brooklyn Bowl
July 22 Huntington, N.Y. | The Paramount
July 23 Philadelphia, Pa. | Brooklyn Bowl
August 5 Minneapolis, Minn. | Fine Line Music Cafe
August 7 Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | Crystal Grand Music Theatre
August 11 Petaluma, Calif. | McNear’s Mystic Theatre
August 13 Fontana, Calif. | Tailgate Fest
August 26 Denver, Colo. | Grizzly Rose

About Eli Young Band
The musical band of brothers – Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson – play their own instruments, write their own songs and cling fast to their Texas roots. The trailblazing group has come a long way since their formation in 2000 at the University of North Texas, with the multi-Platinum hitmakers’ dynamic career thus far producing four chart-topping singles; 3x Platinum “Crazy Girl,” 2x Platinum “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and Platinum “Love Ain’t” and “Drunk Last Night.” “Crazy Girl” also landed as Billboard's No. 1 Country Song of the Year and won the ACM Award for Song of the Year, with EYB also earning multiple GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Award nominations. They have performed on national television shows such as TODAY, Conan, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and FOX & Friends. While selling out venues from coast-to-coast as strong headliners, EYB has also shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Chris Young, Darius Rucker and Dave Matthews Band. EYB offers the first glimpse at a forthcoming project later this year via The Valory Music Co. with lead single “Love Talking” and a headline tour of the same name. For more information and to see all upcoming tour dates, visit eliyoungband.comand follow on social media @EliYoungBand.

About Pandora
Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. Pandora provides consumers a uniquely-personalized music and podcast listening experience with its proprietary Music Genome Project® and Podcast Genome Project® technology. Pandora is also the leading digital audio advertising platform in the U.S. Through its own Pandora service, its AdsWizz platform and third party services, such as SoundCloud, the Company connects brands to the largest ad-supported streaming audio marketplace in the country. Pandora is available through its mobile app, the web and integrations with more than 2,000 connected products.