COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME MEDALLION CEREMONY 2026

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The 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony took place Oct. 18 at the CMA Theater in Nashville, bringing together legends, rising stars, and industry icons for the museum’s 31st annual Medallion Ceremony. The star-studded, invitation-only event formally inducted the Class of 2026—bluegrass pioneers the Stanley Brothers, prolific songwriter Paul Overstreet, and modern superstar Tim McGraw—as the 159th, 160th, and 161st members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Produced by the staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the emotional evening featured unforgettable musical tributes, personal reflections, and formal inductions by current Hall of Fame members before an audience that included young virtuoso Wyatt Ellis and countless friends of the genre.

Honoring the Bluegrass Roots: The Stanley Brothers

Hailing from mountainous southwestern Virginia, brothers Ralph and Carter Stanley served as a foundational act in bluegrass whose high-lonesome harmonies influenced generations of creators, including Bob Dylan, Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs, and Keith Whitley. Introduced as the 159th members, their traditional mountain sound was celebrated through electrifying musical performances.

Phenom Billy Strings kicked off the musical tributes with a high-energy rendition of “How Mountain Girls Can Love,” followed by Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs combining their talents for a poignant performance of “Rank Stranger.” The First Ladies of Bluegrass—a supergroup featuring acoustic powerhouses Sierra Hull and Molly Tuttle—delivered a stirring performance of “Bound to Ride.” Vince Gill then returned to the podium to present the official medallion, honoring the brothers’ enduring legacy in American roots music.

Celebrating the Hitmaker: Paul Overstreet

Mississippi-born songwriter Paul Overstreet was inducted as the 160th member in the Songwriter category, honoring a career defined by timeless storytelling. Overstreet crafted hits that shaped modern country music, penning beloved classics for legends such as Kenny Chesney, George Jones, The Judds, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, and Keith Whitley.

Fellow Hall of Fame songwriter Dean Dillon opened the tribute section with “If I Could Bottle This Up,” followed by Jamey Johnson delivering a soul-stirring rendition of Travis’s signature smash, “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Blake Shelton brought humor and energy to the stage with Overstreet’s comedic hit “Some Beach.” Country Music Hall of Fame member Tanya Tucker took the stage on Sunday evening to present Overstreet with his medallion, officially welcoming him into the hallowed Hall.

A Modern Icon: Tim McGraw

Closing out the individual inductions was Louisiana native Tim McGraw, who became the 161st member. Since his first charting hit in 1992, McGraw has built a catalog defined by emotional resonance and thought-provoking anthems. Surrounded by his family, including wife Faith Hill, their daughters, and his mother Betty Trimble, McGraw watched three contemporary artists pay homage to his life and career.

Parker McCollum opened the McGraw segment with a tender performance of “Don’t Take the Girl.” Country trio Lady A then took the stage to offer a powerful rendition of “Live Like You Were Dying.” Minutes into their performance, the emotionally charged delivery left everyone in tears throughout the theater. Lainey Wilson kept the momentum going with a vibrant performance of McGraw’s classic “Just to See You Smile.” Alabama front man and Hall of Fame member Randy Owen had the honor of officially presenting McGraw with his medallion, prompting a standing ovation as McGraw reflected on his journey to country music’s highest honor.

A Lasting Legacy

During the ceremony, bronze plaques bearing the likenesses of the Stanley Brothers, Paul Overstreet, and Tim McGraw were unveiled for the first time before taking their permanent places in the Museum’s iconic Rotunda. The acceptance speeches balanced humor with deep gratitude, touching on the hard work, sacrifice, and community that define country music.

To wrap up an unforgettable night in Nashville, Country Music Hall of Fame member Patty Loveless led the entire star-studded lineup—including Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Tanya Tucker, Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson, Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle, Lady A, Parker McCollum, and Lainey Wilson—in the traditional closing performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

LAUREN ELIZA RELEASES NEW SINGLE “THE GIRL FROM NOWHERE” AND ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP, OUT NOW

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Independent country artist Lauren Eliza releases her new single and debut EP title track, “The Girl From Nowhere.” The song previews her debut EP, The Girl From Nowhere, arrived October 16.

Rooted in candid storytelling, soaring vocals, and pop-influenced melodies, The Girl From Nowhere reflects Lauren’s experience growing up as a military kid and moving frequently throughout her childhood. Lauren grew up without one permanent hometown, an experience that shaped her understanding of identity, belonging, and what it means to call a place home.

The newly released title track serves as the EP’s emotional centerpiece, capturing the longing and uncertainty that can come from constantly starting over while ultimately embracing the journey.

“The focus track is the title track, ‘The Girl From Nowhere,’ which was inspired by growing up without one place I could truly call home,” shares Eliza. “I’ve always had scattered roots, and for a long time, I wondered what it meant to have a home and a hometown. This song is about that longing, but it’s also about learning to embrace the uncertainty, to have a little faith, and believe that home is something you find on the journey.”

Across The Girl From Nowhere, Lauren explores themes of movement, identity, uncertainty, and self-discovery. She contributed as a songwriter on every track, collaborating with Nashville writers including Heather Morgan, known for co-writing Brett Eldredge’s No. 1 hits “Beat of the Music” and “Lose My Mind”; Chase McDaniel, who has written songs for Billy Currington, Vincent Mason, and Tucker Wetmore; and Ava Suppelsa, co-writer of Max McNown’s viral, RIAA-certified hit “Better Me for You (Brown Eyes).”

Inspired by artists including LeAnn Womack, Sheryl Crow, and Kacey Musgraves, Lauren pairs vivid personal narratives with soaring vocals and memorable, pop-influenced melodies to create a sound rooted in country and distinctly her own.

Lauren has earned more than 642,000 combined streams on Apple Music and Spotify and has performed at venues and events including the Bluebird Cafe, 3rd & Lindsley, The Listening Room, GEODIS Park, and the Key West Songwriters Festival. She has also shared stages with Ronnie Milsap, Ryan Hurd, and Summer Overstreet.

ABOUT LAUREN ELIZA
Born in Alabama and raised around the world as a military kid, the rising country artist turns a life of constant movement into candid, deeply relatable storytelling. With soaring vocals, a sharp lyrical point of view, and just enough pop instinct to make every melody linger, Eliza writes songs that feel both personal and universal. Her sound draws inspiration from artists like LeAnn Womack, Sheryl Crow, and Kacey Musgraves while carving out her own lane.

At the heart of Lauren Eliza’s music is the emotional honesty of a twenty-something finding her way, learning how to belong, love, let go, and build a life without one permanent hometown. Her upcoming debut EP, The Girl From Nowhere, arrives October 16 and reflects that journey. The project nods to the experiences that shaped her, including moving from place to place, starting over, and discovering that home can be found in the stories we carry with us.

Built entirely independently, Eliza has already created a growing audience of more than 46,000 social media followers, reached 15.9K monthly listeners on Spotify, and earned more than 642,000 combined streams across Spotify and Apple Music. Her momentum has taken her to some of Nashville’s most respected stages, including the Bluebird Cafe, 3rd & Lindsley, The Listening Room, and GEODIS Park, as well as the Key West Songwriters Festival, where she has performed for two consecutive years.

Eliza has shared the stage with country legends and contemporary favorites, including Ronnie Milsap, Ryan Hurd, and Summer Overstreet. She has also performed at the American Airlines Sky Ball and continues to build momentum as one of country music’s promising independent voices.

DREW PARKER RELEASES “FAMILY TREE”

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Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum songwriter Drew Parker releases “FAMILY TREE” today, a reflective new single about the redemptive power of the cross and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

“FAMILY TREE” is the latest example of how Parker is bringing his faith into his songwriting. The acclaimed songwriter, who has penned hits for Luke Combs, Jake Owen, and Blake Shelton, now turns that same craft toward a message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Rooted in his familiar country sound and shaped by the story-driven writing, the song examines how faith can reshape what is handed down from one generation to the next. It follows his recently released single “BLAME JESUS,” featuring Grammy-winning Christian music icon Steven Curtis Chapman, and together the two songs mark a meaningful new direction for an artist long respected for his honesty and heart.

“‘FAMILY TREE’ is about the cross and how Jesus can change what gets passed down,” Parker said. “We can’t rewrite the generations before us, but through faith in Him, we can be forgiven, made new, and begin living a different story. As a dad, that means more than my own life changing. It means showing my kids what it looks like to follow Jesus and praying they’ll come to know Him for themselves. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.”

​About Drew Parker
Drew Parker is a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum country songwriter whose words have been sung on stages from honky-tonks to stadiums. Since moving to Nashville in 2015, he’s penned some of the biggest modern country hits, including Luke Combs’ “Forever After All” and “Doin’ This,” Jake Owen’s “Homemade,” Blake Shelton’s “Stay Country Or Die Tryin’,” and had songs recorded by Zac Brown Band, HARDY, Kamerone Marlowe, and many more.

As an artist, Drew has toured nationally with Luke Combs, earning multiple charting singles, made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and built a loyal fan base with his powerhouse voice and honest, small-town storytelling. His songs have topped charts, won awards, and connected with millions through their storytelling, heart, grit, and relatability.

Now, without setting down the pen that’d brought him country music success, Drew is also writing songs that blend the same storytelling and authenticity he’s known for with a message of hope in Jesus Christ.

“MARTY AND ME” – THE LATEST EP IN YEAR-LONG 50 YEARS FROM HOME SERIES

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Vince Gill met—and became friends with—Marty Stuart more than 50 years ago. Stuart was a teenager touring with Lester Flatt at the time, while Gill was playing in one of his teenage bluegrass bands. To call them kindred spirits is an understatement.

“We’ve been good, tight buddies ever since then,” says Gill, who played on Stuart’s first solo single, “Arlene,” back in 1985. Both subsequently became members of the Grand Ole Opry and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Both have won multiple Grammy Awards, along with honors from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

“We’re so much alike in our deep love for what genuinely matters in this world of music,” Gill explains. “I see Marty as one of the folks, like myself, who’s respectful and reverent of the past, and knows a lot about it. We have so much of our history intertwined. It’s a great friendship.”

Stuart returns his admiration: “I was in New York City once and witnessed a high wire artist walk a tightrope that was stretched between two Manhattan skyscrapers. A crowd of us stood below, held our breath and hoped for the best for the daring man who was up in the air following his dreams. When he was safely across, everyone cheered. The person standing next to me said, “Why would he do such a thing?” Someone answered and said, “Because he can.” The same could be said of Vince and this grand undertaking of a project. First and foremost, he has the heart for the job. And then there’s his talent. It’s otherworldly. Regardless of what’s trending in Music City, Vince can always be depended on to deliver state-of-the-art, integrity-based music to the forefront. This project confirms that yet again.”

So, it only makes sense that Gill’s 50 Years From Home series would eventually lean into that relationship.

Marty And Me, the eleventh EP in the series, does just that, featuring five new songs the pair of iconic music veterans wrote together, including one, “Praying Like Hell For Rain,” that features Stuart dueting on vocals and guitar. Conceptually, it’s different from the ten 50 Years From Home volumes that preceded it, celebrating their long association by bringing the two together in a writing space.

“It was fun to finally hook up with Marty and write some songs. It seems silly we never did before,” says Gill. “We’re so similar in what we love that it’s fun to sit down with somebody you know, who feels the same way about feels and all those kinds of things that come up when you’re writing. He loves it really, really country, like I do, and that shows up in all the songs.”

 “Regardless of what’s trending in Music City, Vince can always be depended on to deliver state-of-the-art, integrity-based music to the forefront. This project confirms that yet again.” MARTY STUART
 
Marty And Me also celebrates their musical kinship on the EP’s cover, which features a Fender Telecaster guitar owned by Stuart and a custom Mark Whitebook acoustic model that belongs to Gill. Both were owned by the late guitar hero Clarence White, a onetime member of the Byrds who is revered worldwide as a musician. “Clarence had a brother named Roland,” Gill explains, “and when I first met Marty, he was playing in Lester Flatt’s band, as was Roland. Roland was playing that very guitar that had once belonged to Clarence. He was so kind to me, so encouraging. He would give me guitar strings—just the best guy ever. We stayed friends from then until his passing, at which point his widow Diane sold me that guitar—the guitar that was not only Roland’s but also Clarence’s. It’s an important piece of history. So, these guitars are in good hands with me and Marty.”

“Vince and I share many of the same musical heroes,” Stuart adds. “When a family member of any of those heroes trusts you with one of their family treasures, I view it as an honor, but it also can be seen as a responsibility. It’s profound to be entrusted as the keeper of someone’s legacy. Vince and I both have rooms that are filled with musical treasures with great stories attached. Clarence is one of the most revered guitarists of all time. He sadly lost his life at age 29, leaving behind a family and a great unfinished musical masterpiece in the making. Clarence’s widow Suzy entrusted me with Clarence’s storied electric guitar. It’s been in my keeping since 1980.”

ABOUT VINCE GILL:
One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill achieved his big breakthrough in 1990 with “When I Call Your Name,” which won both the Country Music Association’s (CMA) Single and Song of the Year awards as well as a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male. In total, Gill has won 18 CMA Awards, 22 Grammy Awards, and 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, and in 2025 was presented with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1991, Gill was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and in 2007 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2012 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A gifted songwriter, Gill’s compositions earned him entry into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the prestigious BMI Icon award in 2014. Throughout his career, he has released 21 albums, sold over 30 million albums, and charted 45 singles. In 2022, Gill was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Always considering himself a musician above all else, Gill has over the years been a part of some iconic bands, including Pure Prairie League, The Notorious Cherry Bombs, and The Time Jumpers. In 2017, Gill was asked to join the Eagles on the road, and he continues to be a part of that historic band’s tour. 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Gill leaving home to pursue a career in music. To honor that milestone, he signed a lifetime contract with his record label MCA, and is releasing an EP series of brand-new music every month for a year, titled 50 Years from Home. In 2026 Gill received both the NSAI Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize.

TENILLE TOWNES RELEASES NEW TRACK “THE LONG HAUL”

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Acclaimed singer-songwriter Tenille Townes released new single “The Long Haul” off of The Acrobat: A Place to Land, the recently announced expanded edition of her critically-acclaimed first independent album, The Acrobat, arriving November 6. Featuring four new recordings, the deluxe edition extends the deeply personal story of an album born from Townes’ leap into independence and the community that ultimately gave that leap a place to land.

The four new recordings expand on the themes of love, longing, surrender and perseverance at the heart of The Acrobat. “The Long Haul” and “Wish I Was in Love” look at what we carry with us: the dreams we keep choosing and the loves we’re still learning to leave behind. Townes also reimagines “She Plays the Piano” with piano and strings for an intimate “heartstrings version,” while her rendition of Patty Griffin’s “Let Him Fly” offers a nod to her musical hero and the song that inspired the record’s title track.

Originally conceived as simple work tapes, The Acrobat took shape in quiet moments of solitude, with Townes writing, performing, producing, and mixing the album herself in the spare room of her home. What began as an attempt to make sense of uncertainty became an act of reclamation. By leaving the songs largely as they were first written, Townes captured a raw honesty that reflects both loneliness and freedom, grief and resilience. The independently released album carries a renewed sense of creative autonomy, with a more singer-songwriter and folk-leaning approach that lets the stories lead, leaving room for unguarded emotion and unhurried reflection. At its core, the record reflects on the preciousness of time, the fear that comes with change, and the resolve required to hold on to what matters while learning when to let go.

For Townes, the expanded album also gives a new meaning to the leap represented by its original title. “I didn’t know when I sat in front of one mic in my spare room next to my dog, that the music I was working on would go from feeling like the scariest leap of my life, to becoming a place to land,” she shares. “This album has shown me what can happen when you just keep creating even when you feel like giving up. That carrying on is the bravest way to bet on yourself again.”

Written during a period of profound personal and professional transition, the record finds her standing at a crossroads between who she has been and who she is becoming. Relationship endings, career shifts, and the overwhelming noise of the world around her pushed Townes to begin peeling back long-held patterns of people-pleasing and self-sacrifice. What emerged is this beautifully crafted body of work rooted in honesty, courage, and the quiet tenacity it takes to keep moving forward when certainty falls away. The record’s sparse production places an emphasis on Townes’ incomparable storytelling ability and powerhouse vocals, creating a resonance that leaves the listener feeling like they’re in the room with the artist.

The Acrobat includes a feature with recent Grammy winners I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan) on “grey like Emmylou” and other tracks written with Grammy winning writers Lori McKenna, Amy Wadge and Daniel Tashian. The collection also includes several songs penned solely by Townes, who recorded, produced and mixed the album herself.

Commitment to emotional honesty has defined Townes’ career from the beginning. The Canada-born, Nashville-based artist has earned two JUNO Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and 19 Canadian Country Music Association Awards, while touring alongside artists such as Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Reba, Zac Brown Band, George Strait, and Dierks Bentley. Across every chapter, she has built a devoted global audience drawn to her empathy, lyrical precision, and willingness to sit with difficult truths.

The Acrobat has gained media attention with first single “enabling” featured on SiriusXM On The Horizon as well as The Bobby Bones Show’s Top 30 Weekend Countdown. The song also gained support from media with Holler describing the tune as “a quietly devastating song that confronts the emotional cost of loving someone at the expense of yourself.” PopMatters praised “we could use a little more,” stating how the track’s “uncompromising quietude demonstrates how loud the world has become” and on title track “the acrobat” featuring Lori McKenna, Music Row applauded the “starkly compelling artistry where you hang on every line.” No Depression has already dubbed the record “a terrific act of creative transformation.”

Townes will spend the fall on the road, first joining Patrick Droney for a 10-date U.S. run beginning October 14 in Los Angeles before continuing her intimate Living Room Tour across Canada. Additional dates extend into 2027, including two performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in March.

BAYLEE LYNN FINDS GRATITUDE IN GOODBYE ON NEW SINGLE “HAPPY THAT WE MET”

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Country riser Baylee Lynn shares “Happy That We Met,” out now via The Core Records/Capitol alongside an official lyric video. The bittersweet new single captures the feeling of knowing a relationship is over without wishing it never

“‘Happy That We Met’ is about loving the wrong person so much that even when it’s time to say goodbye, you can still be grateful for the time and memories shared. I hold this song close to my heart and it’s my favorite to perform live. I hope you love it just as much as I do,” says Lynn.

Written by Baylee, Madison Kozak, Sam Sumser and Sean Small, and produced by AJ Pruis, “Happy That We Met” finds its heart in a simple admission: “I can never wanna see you again / And still be happy that we met.” Following July’s “Lucky To Be Loved,” the song has already drawn 300,000 views across social posts previewing the release.

A Greeneville, Tennessee native, Baylee introduced her candid country-pop sound with her 2025 debut “Cautiously Optimistic” and this year’s debut EP Heart On My Sleeve, earning attention from Billboard and Country Now. Following shows supporting Maddox Batson and Redferrin, she’ll perform at a Backstage Nashville writers’ round on October 24 and The Listening Room Cafe on November 21.

About Baylee Lynn:
A powerhouse talent with girl-next-door charm, singer/songwriter Baylee Lynn is one of country’s most promising new voices. Growing up in the small Tennessee town of Greeneville, the now Nashville-based artist taught herself guitar at six and soon took up piano. Hailing from a long line of musicians, she began singing in church with her parents and penned her first song at 13, drawing inspiration from country queens like Dolly Parton. She made her debut in summer 2025 with “Cautiously Optimistic,” hailed by Billboard as “an incredibly charming opening statement that…harkens back to the turn-of-the-century country-pop stylings of Faith Hill and the Chicks.” Her soulful country-pop sound and candid storytelling shine throughout her debut EP Heart On My Sleeve, released in March 2026 and expanded in May, while “That’s What I’ll Be” earned a spot on Nobody Wants This Season 2: The Soundtrack. Named to Country Now’s “Country Next” series, Baylee has brought her live show to audiences across North America supporting Maddox Batson, followed by recent dates opening for Redferrin. Her latest singles—the self-assured “Lucky To Be Loved” and bittersweet “Happy That We Met”—showcase an artist equally at home celebrating her worth and wearing her heart on her sleeve.

CHOSEN ROAD GARNERS BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR TROPHY

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From the mountains of West Virginia to the stage of this week’s 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville, Thoroughbred Records artist Chosen Road comes full circle, garnering the trophy for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year for American Morning: Side A. Celebrating faith, family and freedom, the newly minted Dove Award-winning project was produced by Dave Clark and executive produced by Chosen Road’s Jonathan Buckner.

Accepting the honor on behalf of the group, Chosen Road founding member Zachary Alvis said, “Seventeen years ago Jonathan and I, when we started this thing, it’s something we never even dreamed of. We were just two country boys picking banjos and guitars on the front porch in West Virginia… I want to thank our whole team at Daywind; I want to thank GMA; our agent; and this guy right here, Dave Clark, the producer of this record, who pushed us to do this. Thank you so much man, what an honor. This is for you.”

“And most importantly I want to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for persevering in us and giving us this opportunity,” Alvis continues. “I also need to thank all of our wives. They’re our rock…our wives are the steel in our spines, and they push us and support us and do such a great job as mothers—they’re the best in the world. We love you.”

With their signature Appalachian harmonies on full display, Chosen Road took the Dove Awards stage at Bridgestone Arena following their Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year win to deliver a stirring performance of “A God Thing.” The single, written by Lee Black and Gina Boe, is featured on American Morning: Side A and was nominated for a Dove Award for Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year.

The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards were presented Tuesday, October 6 in Nashville and the show premiered exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ app.

ABOUT CHOSEN ROAD
With two Billboard #1 bluegrass albums to their credit—2023’s It Never Gets Old and 2022’s Appalachian Christmas—Chosen Road is not only recognized as Christian music’s top roots ensemble, but one of the most respected bands in all of bluegrass. Founded in the mountains of West Virginia nearly two decades ago, the group’s traditional bluegrass sound is uniquely hallmarked by country, Gospel and Americana influences. With seven Top 10 bluegrass radio singles, including two #1 hits, Chosen Road has performed on stages alongside such genre greats as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Daily & Vincent, and The Isaacs, as well as Christian music luminaries Steven Curtis Chapman, Phil Wickham, and Zach Williams, among many others. Comprised of Jonathan Buckner, Zachary Alvis, Tyler Robertson, Christopher Stockwell, and Bradly Parsons, Chosen Road takes their music to churches, festivals, and concert halls across the country each year, driven by a clear ministry purpose: to honor Christ, strengthen families, and offer hope.

ABOUT THOROUGHBRED RECORDS
Today Thoroughbred Records is home to Chosen Road and The Chuck Wagon Gang. The label emerged in 1995 as a premier outlet for bluegrass Gospel music featuring such artists as The Lewis Family, Easter Brothers, and Chigger Hill Boys and Terri. The Lewis Family, hall of famers in both bluegrass and Gospel, recorded for the label from 1995 until shortly before their retirement in 2009. The Easter Brothers—a Mt. Airy, North Carolina-based mainstay in the genre featuring brothers Ed, Russell, and James Easter—followed and were later joined by Chigger Hill Boys and Terri, who signed with Thoroughbred in 2003. Directing attention to the Gospel side of bluegrass during the genre’s resurgence in the wake of the box office blockbuster O Brother, Where Art Thou, Thoroughbred Records released the two-volume collection O Lord How Great Thou Art, featuring cuts from Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Bluegrass Cardinals, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, and many more. The label culminated its successful initial run with an audio and video collaboration featuring Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Lewis Family, and the Easter Brothers aptly titled We Are Family.

SHANIA TWAIN RELEASES DELUXE EDITION OF ACCLAIMED SEVENTH STUDIO ALBUM LITTLE MISS TWAIN – THE PLACES I’LL GO

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Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning global icon Shania Twain releases Little Miss Twain – The Places I’ll Go, the deluxe edition of her acclaimed seventh studio album, Little Miss Twain. The expanded record features six additional songs, including three brand-new, never-before-heard tracks and three previously available only as retail exclusives, led by new focus track “Who Do You Love” featuring critically acclaimed folk duo The Milk Carton Kids.

Released this July, Little Miss Twain marked a significant and deeply personal chapter for Shania. After more than three decades as one of the most successful and influential artists in music, the global superstar turned back to the beginning, revisiting the experiences, sounds and memories that shaped her before the world knew her name. Drawing from her childhood and teenage years growing up in Canada, the acclaimed album traces the roots of her singular sound across country, pop, rock, soul and bluegrass, offering a revealing portrait of the influences behind an artist who would go on to reshape the boundaries of country and pop music. The album also features an exceptional lineup of collaborators, including Tanya Tucker, T Bone Burnett, Ronnie Wood, Josh Homme, Ray Parker Jr., and Toto’s David Paich. With Little Miss Twain – The Places I’ll Go, Shania expands that story, offering an even deeper look at the formative experiences and musical influences behind both the artist and icon she would become.

The deluxe album arrives just days after the release of the newly recorded audiobook edition of Shania’s New York Times bestselling memoir, From This Moment On, through Simon & Schuster Audio. Narrated in full by Shania for the first time and featuring an exclusive new foreword, the audiobook sees her revisit her extraordinary journey in her own voice, from her childhood in rural Canada through the experiences, triumphs and tragedies that defined her life and career. Together, the audiobook and Little Miss Twain – The Places I’ll Go offer a uniquely personal look at Shania’s story, told through the memories and music at the heart of her remarkable journey. From This Moment On read by Shania Twain is available wherever audiobooks are sold.

Shania’s influence remains as far-reaching as ever. In 2027, she will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Come On Over and the 25th anniversary of Up!, two era-defining albums that transformed country and pop music, broke barriers around the world and cemented her status as a global icon. With more live dates to be announced for 2027, and a biopic chronicling her life and career also in development, Shania continues to look ahead while celebrating the music and milestones that have defined her extraordinary career.

About Shania Twain:
Globally celebrated songwriter, artist and performer Shania Twain is a five-time GRAMMY Award winner, multi-award-honored trailblazer, and one of music’s most iconic and influential voices. Bold, boundary-pushing, and unapologetically original, Twain helped redefine country music for a global audience, opening the door for the genre-blending sound and cultural crossover shaping country and pop music today.

With seven studio albums and more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, Twain remains the top-selling female country-pop artist of all time. Her era-defining catalog includes timeless hits such as “Any Man of Mine,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “You’re Still the One,” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” She also made history as the first artist ever to release three consecutive Diamond-certified albums.

After a decade-long break from releasing new music, Twain made a triumphant return with NOW in September 2017, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making it the first female country release in more than three years to top the all-genre chart. The album’s success was followed by her year-long, sold-out NOW World Tour. In 2021, Twain launched her second Las Vegas residency, “Let’s Go!”, which sold out completely and ran through September 2022. In July 2022, Netflix released Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl, a career-spanning documentary on her life and legacy, with an accompanying Highlights album. Most recently, Shania released her sixth full-length album, Queen of Me, on February 3, 2023, via Republic Nashville, receiving glowing reviews. In April 2023, she kicked off her sold-out global Queen of Me Tour, which ran through November 2023 and ranked among the Top 10 highest-grossing country tours of the year. In 2024, Twain returned to Las Vegas for her third sold-out residency, “Come On Over!”, which concluded with a grand finale in February 2025. Continuing her reign as one of music’s most enduring live performers, Twain joined Harry Styles in 2026 as a special guest for his historic sold-out 12-night run at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Most recently, Twain released her seventh studio album, Little Miss Twain, a deeply personal record that revisits the experiences, sounds, and memories that shaped her before the world knew her name. Blending country, pop, rock, soul, jazz, bluegrass, and Motown-inspired influences, the album features a remarkable lineup of collaborators including Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Wood, Josh Homme, The War And Treaty and more.

A renowned fashion icon and enduring cultural force, Twain continues to influence generations across music, style, and pop culture. Through her fearless artistry, genre-defying approach, and continued creative evolution, she remains a singular force in entertainment, with ongoing projects spanning music, television, and film.

Through The Shania Twain Foundation, Twain also supports causes close to her heart, including food insecurity, youth empowerment, and access to mental health resources for children and families in need. Please visit shaniatwainfoundation.com for more information.

8X GRAMMY®-WINNING SUPERSTAR KACEY MUSGRAVES RE-RELEASES “UNCERTAIN, TX”

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On the heels of her critically-acclaimed album, Middle of Nowhere, 8x GRAMMY® winner Kacey Musgraves rereleases “Uncertain, TX”, a re-recording of the original track, now fully in Spanish and featuring legendary Musica Mexicana group, Intocable. The collaboration brings a new dimension to the fan-favorite song, which became an instant classic in Texas, reaching #1 at Texas Radio, and continues Musgraves’ exploration of sounds that have a longstanding kinship with Texas and Country music.

“Having a song with the legends of Intocable is such a thrill for me,” says Musgraves. “As a Texan, I am proud of the cultural melting pot that makes our state so great and this collaboration is such a fun example of that.”

Musgraves is currently on her Middle of Nowhere Tour, which continues tonight at Houston’s Toyota Center before heading to Austin’s Moody Center for two nights and Dallas’ American Airlines Center for two nights. The 34-date tour kicked off August 21, Musgraves’ 38th birthday, with a sold-out show at Chicago’s United Center and has since included two sold-out nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Produced by AEG Presents, the tour continues across North America through October.

The career-spanning show features songs from Middle of Nowhere alongside favorites from throughout Musgraves’ catalog. In true Kacey fashion, one of the night’s biggest moments comes when she takes to the air above the arena seated atop a pair of giant, anatomically correct mirrored disco balls, telling the crowd, “This is what happens when no one tells me no.”

Released in May, Middle of Nowhere debuted at #1 on the Top Album chart and has been named one of the year’s best albums by Billboard, ELLE, Esquire, FLOOD, Rolling Stone, NPR and Variety, among others. The New Yorker praised Musgraves as “…the genre’s greatest crossover success…,” while Pitchfork praised the album’s “expertly written” songs and The Wall Street Journal hailed its “smart musical storytelling.” Produced by Musgraves alongside longtime collaborators Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, the album draws from Texas dance halls, traditional Country and the musical borderlands that shaped her, with ribbons of Norteño, Tejano, Zydeco, bluegrass and pop throughout.

Musgraves heads into this year’s CMA Awards with five nominations, including Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Dry Spell” and Musical Event of the Year for “Horses and Divorces” with Miranda Lambert. The 60th Annual CMA Awards broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 18 at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+, and will be available the following day on Hulu.

Musgraves also recently took the stage at the MTV VMAs for a moving tribute to Dolly Parton, performing “I Will Always Love You” in honor of one of her longtime musical heroes.

57TH ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS: LIST OF WINNERS

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From a show-stopping country-gospel collaboration to tributes honoring two music legends, the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards celebrated the artists, songs and stories shaping Christian and Gospel music held on Oct. 6, 2026, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Hosted by Tauren Wells, the broadcast aired exclusively on TBN earlier this evening, the TBN+ app and was simulcast on SiriusXM The Message.

Phil Wickham was named Artist of the Year, and Jamie MacDonald took home New Artist of the Year. Wickham, Brandon Lake and Josiah Queen led the night with three Dove Awards each. Josiah Queen’s “Dusty Bibles” won Song of the Year, and Brandon Lake was named Songwriter of the Year.

Gospel music shone throughout the evening. Tasha Cobbs Leonard won two awards, including one for “Church,” her collaboration with John Legend. CeCe Winans won Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year for the second year in a row. Veteran Southern Gospel artist Karen Peck earned her ninth career Dove Award.

PERFORMANCES & HIGHLIGHTS
Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson performed their award-winning collaboration “The Jesus I Know Now.”
Amy Grant & Natalie Grant paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Maurette Brown Clark & Ted Winn joined together to celebrate Gospel legend Richard Smallwood.

Faith-based film and TV took the spotlight: the animated feature David won two Doves, and The Chosen was named Television Series of the Year for its fifth season. Recognition reached around the world, with wins for Andrea Bocelli, Daddy Yankee and Sarai Rivera.

To watch the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards CLICK HERE.

57TH ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS WINNERS (FULL LIST)

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Dusty Bibles”
Writers: Josiah Queen, Zac Lawson, Dylan Thomas, John Michael Howell
Publishers: Josiah Queen Publishing, Capitol CMG Genesis, John Michael Howell Publishing, ZVC SONGZ, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, Dylan Thomas Publishing Designee

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST)
Brandon Lake

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-ARTIST)
Jacob Sooter

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Phil Wickham
Record Label: Fair Trade Services

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jamie MacDonald
Record Label: Capitol CMG Label Group

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Smith

RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“ROB HELL”
indie tribe, nobigdyl., Torey D’Shaun (ft. Jon Keith)
Writers: nobigdyl., Torey D’Shaun, Jon Keith

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“No Survivors”
Jeremy Camp (ft. Skillet)
Writers: Jeremy Camp, Jordan Sapp, Paul Duncan, Emily Weisband

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Dusty Bibles”
Josiah Queen
Writers: Josiah Queen, Zac Lawson, Dylan Thomas, John Michael Howell

INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Blessing”
Andrea Bocelli, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe
Writers: Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick

SOUTHERN GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“No Rock”
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Writers: Sheri Easter, Jason Cox, Kenna Turner West

COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Jesus I Know Now”
Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson
Writers: Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson, Emily Weisband, Luke Laird

BLUEGRASS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Broken Angels”
The Grascals, Dolly Parton
Writers: Dolly Parton, Jamie Johnson

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Still (Live)”
Jonathan McReynolds, Jamal Roberts
Writers: Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson, Orlando Joel Palmer, David Lamar Outing II, Britney Delagraentiss

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Church”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend
Writers: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kenneth Leonard Jr, Brunes Charles, Jonas Myrin, ANTHNY, Annatoria Chitapa

GOSPEL WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“More Than This [Radio Edit]”
CeCe Winans (ft. Todd Dulaney)
Writers: CeCe Winans, Todd Dulaney, Kyle Lee

SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Tu Voz”
Sarai Rivera
Writer: Sarai Rivera

SPANISH LANGUAGE WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Solo Hay Uno”
Joel Rocco, Enoc Parra
Writers: Andreu Pradas, Marcos Andrés Salice, Joel Rocco

WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“God I’m Just Grateful”
Elevation Worship, Chandler Moore
Writers: Chandler Moore, Pat Barrett, Steven Furtick, Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr, Joshua Coleman

CHILDREN’S RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Follow The Light”
Brandon Engman, Phil Wickham, Angel
Writers: Brock Monroe Baker, Molly Kate Kestner

CHRISTMAS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“We Three Kings”
We Are Messengers
Writer: Traditional

RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
COULD BE TONIGHT
Hulvey
Producers: xander., Micah Palace, Zac Lawson, Michael Howell, Ace

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Plastic Wine
Strings & Heart
Producers: Angelo Espinosa, Emmanuel Espinosa, Scott Mills

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
King Of Hearts
Brandon Lake
Producers: Hank Bentley, Jacob Sooter, Micah Nichols, Rodrick Simmons, Pete Mol

SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Good Answers
Karen Peck & New River
Producers: Wayne Haun, Kris Crunk, Cliff Duren, Johnathan Crumpton

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
American Morning: Side A – EP
Chosen Road
Producer: Dave Clark

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
TASHA
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Producers: Kenneth Leonard Jr., Zaytoven, Juberlee, B.A.M., Adale Jackson, Alexandria Dollar

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Revival: Live in Dallas
Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers
Producers: Lisa Knowles-Smith, Frederick Perry Jr

GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Live at Redemption Church
Red Worship
Producers: Terrance White, Adale Jackson, Elijah Humphries

SPANISH LANGUAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Lamento en Baile
Daddy Yankee
Producers: Daddy Yankee, OMB, XOUND, La Companioni, Nando Pro, OBRINN, Subelo NEO, Sergio George, JBD JBD, Abel Xanders, Nekxum, Nayhlo, Orlan Navarro

WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Song Of The Saints
Phil Wickham
Producers: Jonathan Smith, Shane Becker, Micah Nichols

CHRISTMAS/SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
DAVID (Soundtrack from the Angel Original Film)
Various Artists
Producers: Chad Carouthers, Joseph Trapanese, Jonathan Smith, Bryan Lawson

MUSICAL/CHORAL COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
We Shall Behold Him: A Tribute to Dottie Rambo
Creators: Bradley Knight, Dusty Wells, Johnathan Crumpton
Arranger/Orchestrator: Bradley Knight

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Mt. Zion
**Josiah Queen
Art Director: Aaron Stearns
Graphic Artists: Aaron Stearns, Nathan Blaine, Trent Nicholson
Photographer: Rashun Ludgood

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (CONCEPT)
“World On Fire”
for KING & COUNTRY, Taylor Hill
Director: Kadin Tooley
Producers: Katie Babbage, Fadwa Ward, Patrick Tohill, Crashbang

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PERFORMANCE)
“Have Your Way”
Katy Nichole
Directors: Greg Fromholz, Joey von Meding
Producer: Joshua Wurzelbacher

LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
The Resurrection Of A King
Tommee Profitt
Director/Producer: Tommee Proffit

FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
DAVID
Directors: Brent Dawes, Phil Cunningham
Producers: Jacqui Cunningham, Phil Cunningham, Tim Keller, Rita Mbanga, Steve Pegram, Timothy Hoffman, Nikky Kho, Edelgard Slabbert

TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR
The Chosen
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Producers: Jamie Elliott, Adam Drake, Kerri Navarro

SELECT QUOTES FROM THE 57TH ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS:
“God took me on a journey over the last year and a half where He just wanted to spend time, personal time with me, and I have seen sides of Him that I have never seen before. The goodness of God and who He is is just absolutely amazing…And so the day that catches all the moments, with this amazing man, He walked me through every moment, and I am so grateful.” – TASHA COBBS LEONARD, TASHA Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year

“I wrote this song during a season where I really needed His voice to be louder than the fears, louder than the uncertainty, louder than the lies. And today, I’m the living testimony that His voice keeps echoing much louder and louder.”- Sarai Rivera, Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year for “Tu Voz”

“I’m so excited just to be here. I will say this: I feel like I’ve learned so much from the people I get to sit and write songs with. And I remember that day, I walked in, and immediately we were just talking about our relationship with Jesus, and I said, ‘I feel like that Jesus that I know now is not the one that I grew up knowin,’ the one shakin’ his fists and the one I was scared of.’ And it’s because of folks like that who continue to pour into me that I feel like I am finally starting to have an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ….I’m learning a lot about identity, and there’s a line in the song that says, ‘He says who I am and its not what I do,’ and so I just want to remind all y’all creators in this room, we’re not just singers, we’re not just songwriters; we are connectors, and that’s what we’re supposed to be doing. Just like Dolly Parton, we’re supposed to be loving on people and lifting them up and, you know.”- Lainey Wilson, Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year, “The Jesus I Know Now”

“I’m in this crazy season of just, like, God opens another door and walking through it and just trying to give Him glory in every single room. And I’m thankful that you wanted to write, and it’s just cool to see people connecting with this song, especially for those that have had church hurt or maybe had this wrong picture of who Jesus is…And I even know that there was some trolls on the internet that were hating this whole ‘grace, grace, grace’ thing. But what I love about grace is that it’s not an excuse to sin; it’s what makes us want to be more like Him when you experience grace.”- Brandon Lake, Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year, “The Jesus I Know Now”

About Gospel Music Association & Foundation:
Since 1964, the Gospel Music Association has existed to expose, promote and celebrate the Gospel through music, believing a song can carry that message as far and as wide as any sermon. The GMA serves the Christian music community by equipping artists and industry professionals at every stage of their calling through education, advocacy and connection. The organization also honors the legacy of those who paved the way while championing the next generation of creators carrying the Gospel forward. Through broadcasts like the GMA Dove Awards, now in its 57th year, the GMA puts that mission on stage, celebrating excellence across the Christian music genre while reaching millions around the world with music that points to Christ.

About TBN:
TBN is the World’s Most Watched Faith Network, reaching over 175 nations with inspirational programming 24 hours a day in 17 languages and on over 30 global partner networks. TBN continues to lead the way in expanding the impact of faith-based television across the earth through the creation of uplifting content designed to inspire all demographics, including sermons, worship music specials, talk shows, documentaries, and Christian films.