Rochelle Mills

Ryman Auditorium unveiled the latest addition to its Icon Walk this morning with a statue honoring American music icon Charley Pride. The detailed bronze likeness was added to the permanent outdoor exhibition on the historic venue’s grounds ensuring the country music trailblazer will forever remain part of the Soul of Nashville. Created as a way to honor those who have made significant contributions to the historic venue and Music City, Pride’s statue joins likenesses of beloved legends Loretta Lynn, Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Monroe, three of the most profound musical innovators in country and bluegrass music.  Pride’s beloved wife of over 60 years Rozene Pride and Charley’s son Dion Pride were in attendance for the unveiling. “He has often been called the Jackie Robinson of country music,” Rozene shared with the crowd gathered for the statue unveiling. “The only difference was Jackie Robinson was picked for the role. Pride picked country music because he loved it and that was his life.” Addressing the large group of fans in attendance Dion added, “He loved his fans – in fact, his fans drove him. All of you drove him. You are the reason why he was the success he was. Everything he did was for you.” The Ryman team collaborated once again with artist Ben Watts, the talent behind the existing three statues for the tribute to Pride which took a year to create.  “Charley Pride broke barriers and defied stereotypes, becoming one of the most successful and beloved country music artists of all time,” said Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed. “The Ryman Icon Walk honors not only his contributions and the groundwork he laid for countless other artists in country music, but also to the Ryman, where he performed many times throughout his career. Charley’s influence will always be felt throughout the entire Nashville community, and his addition to the Ryman Icon Walk is our way of paying tribute to his incredible talent and enduring legacy.” Visitors can find Pride standing at the northwest corner of the building near the venue’s driveway on Fifth Avenue next to the likeness of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn and Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music. Country music’s Little Jimmy Dickens stands atop the Ryman’s main steps facing Fourth Avenue, greeting each and every ticket holder and tour-taker as they arrive. Monroe’s likeness is flanked by a Tennessee Historical Commission marker describing the night Bluegrass Music took the stage at the Ryman for the first time in 1945. During his 50+ years as a recording artist, Pride enjoyed one of the most successful careers in country music history and is credited with helping break color barriers by becoming the first black superstar within the genre.A global sensation, he sold tens of millions of records worldwide with his large repertoire of hits. A three-time GRAMMY® award and Recording Academy “Lifetime Achievement Award” winner, Pride garnered 41 chart-topping country hits, including “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” a massive No. 1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles and helped Pride land the Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” award in 1971 and the “Top Male Vocalist” awards of 1971 and 1972.A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride performed concerts worldwide and toured the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand over the course of his career. In recent years, he received the Crossroads Of American Music Award at the 2019 GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi Gala and the Country Music Association’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award one year later in November 2020.On December 12, 2020, Pride died at the age of 86 from complications due to COVID-19. In 2021, CMT celebrated his life and impact as a musical pioneer with CMT Giants: Charley Pride. His memory and storied legacy continue to live on through his vast library of stories and songs, with forthcoming plans for a number of posthumous projects.

COJO Music / Warner Music Nashville Platinum recording artist Cody Johnson received three nominations for the upcoming 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, making this the most ACM nominations he has ever received and the most-nominated Texas-born male artist this year.   “What a great way to start a morning!” said Cody. “We are back on tour this weekend and I’m happy to be with my band and team who helped propel this song to such success. Thank you COJONation fans and country radio for embracing this song. And a big congrats to songwriters Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers. I will never be more in awe of the power of a great country song!”   The ACM Music Awards will be hosted by global superstars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, “Country Music’s Party of the Year,” will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ territories on Prime Video on Thursday, May 11 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The full rebroadcast of “Country Music’s Party of the Year” will stream the next day for free on Amazon Freevee.   Today’s nominations come on the heels of his recent wins at the CMT Music Awards, where he took home Performance of The Year for his performance of “’Til You Can’t” in the pouring rain in downtown Nashville last year, and being named Best New Artist in the country genre at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Dustin Lynch’s history-making “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)” has earned the Broken Bow Records MULTI-PLATINUM star his first Academy of Country Music Awards nomination for MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR. Marking Porter’s first nod as well, fans can tune in on May 11 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT, as the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards streams live exclusively on Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX.“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be sharing my first ACM nomination with MacKenzie [Porter]. We’ve had quite the journey with this song, and it’s been such a thrill to do it with a great new friend,” shares Lynch. “‘Thinking ‘Bout You’ being the most-played song of 2022 at Country radio, and now scoring an ACM nomination is icing on the cake for a chapter that has already been so good to us.”Featured on his fifth studio album BLUE IN THE SKY, the PLATINUM, six-week #1 collaboration penned by Lynch, Andy Albert, Hunter Phelps, and Will Weatherly is the longest-running Top 10 single in Billboard Country Airplay chart history at 28 weeks and Broken Bow Records’ longest-reigning single at Country radio. Marking his eighth U.S. and second Canadian #1 at Country radio, as well as his third career chart-topper as a songwriter, the Zach Crowell-produced headline-making track wrapped 2022 as the #1 song on the Mediabase 2022 Year-End Chart Country and #2 on the Billboard 2022 Year-End Country Airplay Songs chart. Garnering nearly 465 MILLION global on-demand streams to date, the adjoining Justin Nolan Key-directed music video has also surpassed 17 MILLION views.Promising new music with Crowell later this year, Lynch is bursting up the charts with current Top 40-and-climbing single “Stars Like Confetti.” Now on the road as main support for Kane Brown’s DRUNK OR DREAMING TOUR, click here for a complete list of tour dates and ticketing information.

As a global ambassador for UNITED24 and their Rebuild Ukraine program, country music superstar Brad Paisley visited Ukraine for the first time today and saw with his own eyes the plight of its people in the war-stricken country. During the trip Paisley had his first in person meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and on the way to Kyiv, he greeted and played for American troops in Poland as part of a U.S. congressional delegation. While in Ukraine, Paisley performed “Same Here” in St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv, Ukraine. Watch the performance HERE. During a press conference held by the congressional delegation Brad commented, “It’s an emotional experience seeing all of this firsthand. For me looking around this city and being here for the first time, I’m absolutely struck by the resilience of life and the beautiful nature of the way this city is trying to thrive in the middle of conflict. And also trying to be as free as they can be in this hard time. I think as an American it is one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen and I’m absolutely honored to be here.” On February 24th, Paisley released “Same Here” with special appearance by Pres. Zelenskyy to mark the first anniversary since the war in Ukraine began. “Same Here” was written by Paisley, Lee Thomas Miller and Taylor Goldsmith, and produced by Luke Wooten. Proceeds from the song are going to UNITED24’s Rebuild Ukraine program launch by Pres. Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations to rebuild and restore homes damaged by the current war. This reconstruction plan is the largest rebuilding project in Ukraine since the second World War. Paisley’s relationship with Pres. Zelenskyy grew from his participation in the ‘Ukraine: Answering the Call’ charity telethon in 2022 which was broadcast in prime time in the USA.

Long hailed as a champion of small-town communities, MULTI-PLATINUM entertainer and TV/film actor Trace Adkins stopped by NBC’s TODAY this morning (4/12) to share with anchors Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer, Sheinelle Jones, that he will bring FREE “SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA: A Concert For Mayfield” presented by KIOTI Tractor to the Tornado-devastated Western Kentucky region. Taking place at Mayfield High School’s CFSB War Memorial Stadium in Mayfield, KY, on May 20 – the site of a 2021 tornado that leveled the town as it ripped across Western Kentucky, claiming more than 50 lives and displacing thousands in the process – the big-hearted show is open to the public as Adkins and KIOTI Tractor seek to remember, honor and rebuild … not just the town of Mayfield, but the spirit of all those who call it home. “We were looking for a place to do a video for this song on our new album, called ‘Somewhere In America,’ and the song just talks about how somewhere in America there’s still people that have that indomitable spirit, that resilience, and we could think of no place better that exemplified that than Mayfield, KY,” Adkins explains in exclusive interview on NBC’s TODAY. “So now I’ve spoken with Mayor O’Nan, and she’s been wonderful to work with, and so we’re going to go to Mayfield and give them a pat on the back.” The city of Mayfield’s Mayor, Kathy O’Nan, is overjoyed and adds, “There are no words big enough to explain how thankful the people of Mayfield, KY are to Trace Adkins for coming here on May 20 for the filming of the video for his song ‘Somewhere In America.’  In December 2021, an EF4 tornado tore through and devastated our small town, and we are just like the people in one of the first lines of this song – ‘The whole town comes with their work boots on, and they raise it right back up.’  That is Mayfield – and we are so excited to be able celebrate our resilience with a Trace Adkins concert!” Named for the unifying song “Somewhere In America” from Adkins’ widely acclaimed 25th anniversary, 25-song album, THE WAY I WANNA GO (Verge Records), the day of music and support was inspired in part by small-town America, written by Jon Nite, Hunter Phelps, Michael Hardy, and Zach Crowell. An up-tempo anthem, produced by Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, dedicated to the resilience of small-town America, its lyrics celebrate the unshakeable hope of dreamers everywhere, with Adkins and his booming baritone paying tribute to those who will gladly give what they have, to others in need. That giving impulse has already brought hope to the Western Kentucky region, but there is more to do. According to The Lexington Herald-Leader, more than $52 million has been donated through the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund – mostly in a wave of support that followed closely after the devastating storm. Along with support from KIOTI Tractor, Adkins hopes to reinvigorate the recovery effort, and lift up those who’ve stood tall in the face of trouble for so long. “We are proud to collaborate with Trace and the city of Mayfield to bring a moment of hope to its residents. Following what has been a difficult recovery, this concert offers an opportunity to reflect and look ahead to the future,” said Peter Dong-Kyun Kim, president and CEO of Daedong-USA, Inc. KIOTI Tractor Division. “A commitment to giving back is at the core of our brand, from our corporate initiatives down to the work of our equipment owners through KIOTI’s Dirt Brigade initiative, which empowers and celebrates people using heavy machinery to give back to those in need. The concert is another way we can honor that commitment and celebrate the Mayfield community.” The “SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA: A Concert For Mayfield” presented by KIOTI Tractor is part of Adkins’ ongoing nationwide SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA 2023 TOUR, which finds him headlining in cities all across the U.S. through the end of the year. With an initial batch of shows announced in February, the tour takes Adkins from California to New York, and from Wisconsin to his home state of Louisiana, with more dates to be announced. Check out a complete list of tour dates and ticket information here.

With a run of six sold-out shows solidifying his international foothold, Morgan Wallen kicked off his One Night At A Time World Tour on March 15 at New Zealand’s Spark Arena, leaving the New Zealand Herald proclaiming “the atmosphere was electric.” Wallen’s presence in Oceania was met with ecstatic fans screaming his name well before the first verse, as he traversed them through a 26-song setlist opening with his first career No. 1, “Up Down,” before diving into new music off his recently released third studio album, One Thing At A Time (Big Loud/Mercury/Republic) – which reached No. 1 on the New Zealand Top 40 Albums chart following the show. With additional stops at CMC Rocks in Ipswich, QLD; two shows at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney NSW; and two back-to-back nights at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, VIC; Wallen gave 90,653 fans abroad a first glimpse of his massive tour which will span a total of 65 shows and 30 stadium-plays this year. The milestone kickoff was met with another first for Wallen – as One Thing At A Time landed atop the ARIA charts, earning the superstar his first Australian chart crown. One Thing At A Time arrived March 3 as Spotify’s largest streaming debut of any genre in 2023 and the most streamed country album in a single day by a male artist, instantly claiming the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, where it has remained for five consecutive weeks and counting. Hailed by New York Times as a “hit-stuffed streaming blockbuster,” the album broke multiple records upon its release, as Wallen surpassed Drake to become the artist with the most songs simultaneously charting on the Billboard Hot 100, with all 36 songs atop the chart. The streaming success of the album once again launched Wallen to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Artist 100 all-genre chart for his 11th career week, becoming the only core country artist to simultaneously rule the Artist 100, Hot 100 & Billboard 200 charts. One Thing At A Time has already yielded two No. 1 hits with 10-week No. 1 “You Proof” – the longest No. 1 in Country radio history – and “Thought You Should Know,” which remained at the top of country airplay charts for three consecutive weeks. Current singles “One Thing At A Time” and “Last Night” remain in the top-20-and-climbing on country radio, while “Last Night” continues to see success on pop charts, becoming Wallen’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 all-genre chart. Internationally, the album continues to soar, as it reaches its fifth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, with “Last Night” sitting at No. 1 on the Canadian Top 200 Songs chart. Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour is produced by Live Nation in North America/United Kingdom and Frontier Touring for Australia/New Zealand. It kicked off overseas March 15-25 with shows in New Zealand and Australia with HARDY, and is set to continue stateside beginning April 14 at Milwaukee’s American Family Field with HARDY; hitting New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Boston’s Fenway Park with Parker McCollum. The tour will return overseas this fall with stops in Canada before heading to The O2 in London on Dec. 3. ERNEST and Bailey Zimmerman will support across U.S. and international dates.

The Grand Ole Opry revealed the newest lineup of artists in its Opry NextStage program, which spotlights country music’s rising talent on the Opry stage and across Opry Entertainment Group platforms. The Opry NextStage Class of 2023 features eight acts: Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, ERNEST, Chapel Hart, Corey Kent, Kameron Marlowe, Megan Moroney and Ian Munsick. The Opry will officially introduce the new NextStage class with an “Opry NextStage Live” concert at Lava Cantina on May 10 at 2:30 p.m. in The Colony, Texas, preceding the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11 in neighboring Frisco, Texas. Tickets will be available through an exclusive pre-sale this Thursday, April 13 at 10 a.m. CT. General public on-sale will begin Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m. CT HERE. “Opry NextStage is a testament to the Grand Ole Opry’s longstanding reputation as a trusted curator in Country music and its commitment to nurturing and showcasing exceptional new talent, as it has done for almost a century” said Jordan Pettit, director of artist relations & programming strategy of Opry Entertainment Group. “This year’s new artist class, much like previous classes, showcases exceptional creativity across various musical styles, and we are excited to carry on the Opry tradition by introducing this exciting group of rising artists to fans.” For the remainder of the year, the new NextStage artists will receive dedicated support through featured original content, Opry performances and support across select Opry Entertainment platforms, including the Opry, WSM Radio and Circle Network. Since 2019, the NextStage program has introduced new talent to the country music fan base and featured artists such as Riley Green, Parker McCollum, Tenille Townes and Lainey Wilson, who all went on to earn ACM New Male and New Female Artist of the Year trophies the year following their NextStage inclusion. Other NextStage alumni include Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Callista Clark, Travis Denning, Tegan Marie, Niko Moon, Restless Road, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane, Nate Smith, Morgan Wade, Hailey Whitters and Yola.

founding father of the alt-country scene and roots music icon, Robbie Fulks releases his new 12-track album, Bluegrass Vacation, via Compass Records. Arriving on a wave of praise from the likes of Bluegrass Today, Holler and No Depression, Fulks’s clever, insightful and irreverent musicianship is ever present on this record. While bluegrass music has always been a part of Fulks’s musical vision, Bluegrass Vacation marks his first full-length bluegrass endeavor. The album combines Fulk’s brilliance with some of bluegrass’ greatest names including Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Ronnie McCoury, Tim O’Brien, Alison Brown, John Cowan, and Jerry Douglas resulting in one of the most remarkable bluegrass albums of the century. Bluegrass Vacation proves that this is much more than a musical detour for Fulks. Fulks gained immediate recognition from Bluegrass Today and No Depression for the upbeat lead single “One Glass Of Whiskey.” Driven by Wes Corbett’s banjo, powered by Ronnie McCoury’s mandolin, along with Chris Eldridge’s guitar—the track is worthy of becoming a standard in the bluegrass genre. Written shortly after his move to Los Angeles in 2019, the song is a “contradiction of the stereotypical view of LA,” says Fulks, ditching the common pre-conceived notion of palm trees, beaches, and traffic for Fulks’s more serene reality of porch side mornings, mountain vistas, and running horses. Robbie Fulks offers a witty and autobiographical take on the bluegrass festival scene of the mid 1970s with the second single from the record, “Longhair Bluegrass,” its release being spotlighted by Grateful Web. Reminiscing about the newgrass festivals of his youth, Fulks writes: “While Mom and Daddy were gettin’ fried, I was sittin’ there with my eyeballs wide,” describing the music as a “Hypno-ray, stealin’ my mind away.” Original Newgrass Revival members Sam Bush (mandolin/harmony vocals) and John Cowan (vocals) join Fulks on the track as well as banjoist Alison Brown who channels John Hartford for good measure. In the end, Fulks plants his flag firmly in the bluegrass tradition, a genre that built the stepping stones Fulks walks on today. He muses, “Electric guitars might give way to computers, as seems to be happening now, but the mountains will still be right there.” It’s abundantly clear that Bluegrass Vacation is more than just a musical dalliance for Fulks. He owns the music as much as it owns him and the listener is left hoping that this bluegrass vacation will end up becoming a staycation. TRACKLIST:1. One Glass Of Whiskey2. Molly And The Old Man 3. Lonely Ain’t Hardly Alive 4. Angels Carry Me5. Longhair Bluegrass6. Backwater Blues7. Sweet Li’l Cora Mae  8. Silverlake Reel9. Momma’s Eyes10. Nashville Blues11. Let The Old Dog In12. Old Time Music Is Here To Stay