Governor Bill Lee Declares July 17 as “Bill Anderson Day” in the State of Tennessee

Mayor John Cooper Declares July 17 as “Bill Anderson” Day in the City of Nashville

(l-r): Scott Bailey, President, Opry Entertainment; Bill Anderson; Gina Keltner, Talent Director, Grand Ole Opry; Dan Rogers, Vice President/Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry © Grand Ole Opry / Photos By: Chris Hollo

The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® honored Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson on his 60th anniversary as an Opry member Saturday evening. Anderson made his Opry debut just a few weeks before his 21st birthday and became an official Opry member less than three years later on July 15, 1961 at 23-years-old, the youngest member at the time. Sara Evans and Opry members Mark Wills and Vince Gill joined other artists on stage congratulating Anderson on his milestone 60th Anniversary. The performances aired as part of Opry Live on the Circle Network.

In celebration of the Grammy-nominated and ACM Poet Award honoree, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an official proclamation that July 17 is “Bill Anderson Day.” Nashville Mayor John Cooper also proclaimed July 17 as “Bill Anderson Day” in Music City. Backstage after the Opry performance, the country legend celebrated with friends, family members, and fellow artists in the Opry House’s backstage Studio A. Longtime friend and Opry member Vince Gill presented the State of Tennessee proclamation to Anderson on behalf of Governor Lee, while 54-year Opry member Jeannie Seely was on hand to present Anderson with a framed proclamation from the City of Nashville on behalf of Mayor Cooper.

“First of all, it’s really hard to imagine I’ve been at the Grand Ole Opry for 60 years,” shared Anderson. “It seems like yesterday they asked me if I wanted to be a part of this great family, and of course I couldn’t wait to tell them yes and be a part of this wonderful family. Because that’s what it is, a wonderful, wonderful family. I feel so blessed to have been a part of it for 60 years. I tell people all the time that the Grand Ole Opry is like Yankee Stadium to a baseball player, or Broadway to an actor, or Hollywood to someone in film. It’s the highest rung on the ladder. It’s as high as you can go in country music and I’m just thankful that I’ve gotten to be here for 60 years.”

Anderson’s music career started in 1958 when Ray Price recorded his song, “City Lights” and it stayed at the top of Billboard magazine’s country charts for 13 weeks. Soon after this success, he signed with Decca Records and began to have hits of his own such as “Po’ Folks,” “Mama Sang a Song,” “Still” and “Bright Lights and Country Music.” By now he had affectionately been nicknamed “Whisperin’ Bill” because of his soft-spoken delivery and recitations. Through the years Anderson has written hit songs for numerous artists, including Lefty Frizzell’s “Saginaw, Michigan,” Conway Twitty’s “I May Never Get to Heaven” and many more including Kenny Chesney’s “A Lot of Things Different,” George Strait’s “Give It Away” and Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss’ “Whiskey Lullaby,” with the last two hits winning CMA Song of the Year honors.

On October 30, 2021, the Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, will mark a historic, record-breaking milestone with its 5,000^th Saturday night broadcast.

ABOUT BILL ANDERSON:
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry titan Bill Anderson is the rare songwriter whose first major label cut went to No. 1 on the charts, was named Song of The Year and sparked a writing career that is currently in its seventh decade. The song, “City Lights,” was written when Anderson was a 19-year old Georgia disc jockey and became a career-defining hit for Ray Price in 1958.  The song opened doors for him in Nashville, leading him to signing with BMI and Tree Publishing. Anderson was far from a one-hit wonder. He followed “City Lights” with country standards like “Tips Of My Fingers,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Once A Day,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome,” “I Missed Me,” “Cold Hard Facts Of Life,” which earned him another GRAMMY nomination, “Mama Sang A Song,” the crossover smash, “Still,” and countless others. He was voted country Songwriter of the Year six times during his first decade in Music City. His success continued into the 1970’s with award-winning hits like “Slippin’ Away,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” “I May Never Get To Heaven,” and the disco-flavored, “I Can’t Wait Any Longer.” The 1980’s saw Anderson’s chart-topping career take a hiatus as he became a TV network game show host, spokesman for a national restaurant chain and a nonstop touring Grand Ole Opry performer. In the 1990’s he came roaring back with a vengeance, however, as he seriously turned to co-writing for the first time. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, his collaborations with the newer generation of Nashville tunesmiths resulted in hits like “Wish You Were Here,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Two Teardrops,” “A Lot Of Things Different,” for Kenny Chesney, “Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn),” for Vince Gill and two CMA Song Of The Year trophies for “Whiskey Lullaby,” with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and George Strait’s “Give It Away,” in 2005 and 2007 respectfully.  He continues to write today with songs like Brad Paisley’s “Dying To See Her.” For more information, visit BillAnderson.com.

ABOUT THE GRAND OLE OPRY:
The Grand Ole Opry^® is presented by Humana^®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday Night Opry shows running February 16 – December 13. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 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.

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Hannah Bell describes heartbreak with a depth and maturity that exceeds her age in her new single available now, “Collecting Dust.” This heartbreaker, written solely by Bell, touches on the relatable feeling of being stuck after a breakup and the reminders of the relationship that seem to be everywhere. Bell’s clear tone, talent for storytelling and beautiful melody will strike a chord with anyone who has struggled to break free from heartbreak – and wondered if they were the only one. Stream the song now here.

“The stage of heartbreak that hits me the most is how hard it is to get over someone when everything around me reminds me of them. With “Collecting Dust,” I sat down on my bedroom floor and created the most honest song from this rollercoaster of emotion,” says Hannah Bell.  

She may be young, but Bell is already making a place for herself in the country music scene, releasing more than six songs before the age of 20. Before starting her Junior year at Belmont University, and keeping up the momentum following her previous singles “The Butterfly Song” and “Get Rid Of It,” Bell is looking forward to meeting and playing for fans this summer. With her organic talent and storytelling ability, Hannah Bell is making her mark as a name to get used to.

About Hannah Bell
In the four short years Hannah Bell has been in Nashville, she has made quite an impact. Since moving to Nashville, she has groomed her writing abilities and invested in her music, with more than six released songs under her belt before her twentieth birthday. She continues to grow and improve with each one. Hannah quickly made connections, with her initial introduction into the music industry was from Renee Martin (Faith Hill), who has been with her every step of the way. From writing to booking and everything in between. Now attending Belmont University to study Music Business and Audio Production, Hannah knew music was her calling. Growing up in Arlington, TX, Hannah struggled with being shy. As she began writing music in middle school, she was able to find her voice and now enjoys meeting new people and getting to know them. Find more information on Hannah at hannahbellmusic.com.

McConnell Rounds Out 2021 with The Wood Brothers in November

Sean McConnell will kick off a 23-city headlining fall tour on August 5th in Nashville, delivering performances from his “fabulous” (BBC2 Radio) forthcoming album, A Horrible Beautiful Dream, due out August 6th via Soundly Music.

The GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer’s tour will hit clubs and theaters in markets including New York, Nashville, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Philadelphia. Taylor McCall (whose upcoming debut album, Black Powder Soul, was produced by McConnell) will serve as opener for seven Texas dates, October 21-29.

Following McConnell’s headlining tour, the revered songsmith will round out 2021 by joining The Wood Brothers — featured on A Horrible Beautiful Dream’s first single “The 13th Apostle” — on the GRAMMY-nominated band’s tour for eight dates in November (denoted by an asterisk in full date and market list below).

“I can’t believe I’m staring at all these tour dates, where I will be in actual venues in front of actual human beings,” says McConnell. “My heart is full. I’m also thrilled to have my young compadre Taylor McCall out supporting some of the dates, as well as getting back out on the road with the sweetest and most talented musicians on the planet, The Wood Brothers.”

“A jack-of-all-trades is too cheap a title for the sought-after songsmith… the 13-track collection is an edification incited by the often crippling stillness of an era of unknowns,” notes American Songwriter, while Medium raves, “Without a doubt, A Horrible Beautiful Dream is one of the best yet-to-be-released albums of the year.”

The “lyrically brilliant” (Americana UK) record — which features guests including Natalie Hemby, Fancy Hagood, Dan Tyminski, Audra Mae and more — was produced by McConnell, who penned 11 of the of the album’s 13 tracks on his own (and co-wrote the two others).

Tickets for all dates are on sale now at www.seanmcconnell.com.

Pre-order/Pre-save now at https://CY.lnk.to/FamousFriends

Multi-platinum entertainer Chris Young and global entertainer Kane Brown have topped the Mediabase country radio chart this week with their hit song, “Famous Friends.” The feat marks Chris’s 12^th career No.1 single and the 6^th for his RCA Records Nashville labelmate, Kane.

On learning the news, Chris shared to socials: “Finding out you have the number one song in Country Music is such a crazy feeling. My career started with a #37 #52 #37 in that order. If you had asked me if I ever thought I’d be celebrating my 12th number one… just wow… no words. @kanebrown_music so proud to share this one with you brother! Thank you to anyone reading this, @coreycrowder @carybarlowe (my co-writers and CC is my coproducer) , and all of Country Radio for sending this one to the top!!! #FamousFriends  #numberone.”

Written by Chris with Cary Barlowe and Corey Crowder from a headline tour stop in Tampa in 2018, the autobiographical song mentions Rutherford County, where Chris grew up in Tennessee, and Kane’s hometown of Hamilton County along with Nashville’s Davidson County – a.k.a. Music City. In addition to the Mediabase No. 1 this week for “Famous Friends,” the song took home the trophy for Collaborative Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards and is already a No. 1 smash on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Music Row’s CountryBreakout radio chart and a 3-week No. 1 on Canadian country radio.

An anthemic tribute to the names, faces, and legendary stories that make up each hometown, “Famous Friends” is Chris and Kane’s first collaboration since working together on Kane’s 2017 song “Setting the Night On Fire.” Additionally, the song reunites the former tour mates from Chris’s 2018 Losing Sleep Headlining Tour — which included a sold-out hometown show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena — and is a full-circle moment since Kane’s first live concert experience as a young Country fan was a Brad Paisley and Chris Young tour stop.

With nearly five billion career streams in addition to his twelve No. 1 singles, Chris is also getting ready to release his highly anticipated 8^th studio album – Famous Friends – on August 6.  Led by the chart-topping title track with Kane Brown, the 14-song project features several more of Chris’s famous friends, including collaborations with Lauren Alaina and Mitchell Tenpenny, plus background vocals from Sarah Buxton and Hillary Lindsey. Chris Young’s upcoming Famous Friends album is available at https://CY.lnk.to/FamousFriends and starting this Friday, you can listen to new song “One Of Them Nights” when you pre-order/pre-save the record.

 As parts of the world re-open after more than a year under COVID-19 restrictions, entertainment icon Billy Ray Cyrus and emerging Australian artist FIREROSE deliver their new collaboration, “New Day,” available everywhere today just in time for the 4th of July holiday. To celebrate the launch, Cyrus appeared on CNN’s “New Day” morning broadcast and FIREROSE joined him on Australia’s “Today Show.”

Cyrus and FIREROSE co-wrote “New Day” virtually on Zoom, which is captured in a cinematic music video. Click HERE to watch.

“I learned a long time ago, persistence is to the quality of character of a human being, as carbon is to steel. FIREROSE is the very definition of persistence, combined with a tremendous amount of talent as a songsmith, vocalist and producer. Her persistence has paid off, she’s getting her chance. That’s all you can ever ask for in this business. She earned it. She never gave up. I admire that,” Cyrus shared.
FIREROSE shared her thoughts on the collaboration, “Cyrus always says ‘nothing is as powerful as a song whose time has come.’ That really sums up this moment for me. I always believed my purpose would be fulfilled through music. I’m so excited for the release of New Day and this timely song Cyrus and I wrote and recorded together.”

ABOUT FIREROSE:
Australian-born singer/songwriter FIREROSE has a fuse to captivate and transfix listeners with her distinctive, stylistic voice and stage presence. Most recently, FIREROSE co-wrote the mesmerizing “New Day” single with Billy Ray Cyrus. Throughout her career, FIREROSE has performed regularly at The Viper Room, The Rainbow Room as well as South by Southwest® (SXSW®), gaining a loyal following of passionate fans.
 FIREROSE moved from Sydney to Los Angeles when she was 19 and since then has gained respect and recognition for previous releases, including “Fragile Handling,” “Way Out” and “No Holding Fire.” FIREROSE is a storyteller, infusing her soulful vocals with unforgettable melodies and fiercely personal lyrics. Be sure to follow FIREROSE on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Spotify.

ABOUT BILLY RAY CYRUS:
Throughout his nearly three-decade career of Billboard chart success that put him in the same company as Carlos Santana and Louis Armstrong, Billy Ray Cyrus has achieved global success as a singer, songwriter, actor, producer and philanthropist. Most recently, he celebrated the highest RIAA® 14x Diamond-certified song in recorded music history with Lil Nas X on the worldwide smash, “Old Town Road (Remix ft. Billy Ray Cyrus).” When asked about his genre-bending approach to music, Cyrus recently shared, “My philosophy to making music is no limitations. No rules, no limits, no preconceived notions. Don’t try to think inside the box or outside the box, just think like there is no box.” The critically and commercially acclaimed superstar has established himself as a household name across multiple areas of the entertainment landscape, including music, television, theater and more. When one scopes out Cyrus’ trophy case, the awards are represented across all genres: GRAMMY® Awards, Billboard Music Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, MTV VMA Moonmen, Country Music Association Awards, American Music Awards and Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Juno Awards, among many other accolades. The Flatwoods, KY native exploded onto the music scene when his first album, Some Gave All, debuted on the all-genre Billboard album chart at No. 1 and stayed there for a record-breaking 17 weeks in 1992. The lead single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” became a phenomenon and went multi-platinum. After “Achy Breaky Heart,” Cyrus followed up with back-to-back hits “It Could’ve Been Me,” “She’s Not Crying Anymore,” “Wher’m I Gonna Live When I Get Home?” and the anthemic “Some Gave All.” Cyrus knocked himself out of the top Billboard position with his second No. 1 album, It Won’t Be The Last, featuring smash hits “In the Heart of a Woman,” “Words By Heart” and “Somebody New.” His success continued with dozens more singles that redefined country music. He also enjoyed a successful career as an actor in the series Doc and Still The King, as well as the hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley. To keep up with Cyrus, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and visit billyraycyrus.com.