WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE INTRODUCES JORDYN SHELLHART

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Warner Music Nashville introduced new and upcoming artist, Jordyn Shellhart, at a special industry showcase held at the Electric Jane venue in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday night, February 8.

Hailed by Billboard as “an introspective, mature writer and a skilled vocalist,” Shellhart performed an arrangement of self-penned songs that will appear on her forthcoming full-length Warner debut due this spring. Her “charismatic” (MusicRow) first track, “Who Are You Mad At” (LISTEN HERE) was released on January 27, and has been called “equal parts dreamy and haunting, with Shellhart’s mesmerizing vocals taking center stage as she implores her livid ex to sort his emotions” (The Boot).

Pulling foundational inspiration from artists such as Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson and modern sensibilities of Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, Shellhart has country music in her blood. Born in Wyoming and ultimately ending up in Nashville at the age of 10, Shellhart was thrown into the scene with a publishing deal, record deal, Grand Ole Opry debut and on a country-wide tour all by the age of 16. In an anti-climactic, heartbreaking plot twist, she lost her voice in the midst of it all.

Through a good number of twists, turns and worldview shakeups, she found herself singing again and racking up credits as a songwriter, including Little Big Town’s Grammy-nominated “Sugar Coat” and songs recorded by Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson, Don Williams and more. Now, Shellhart is ready to share her music through her own voice. “Who Are You Mad At” is just the beginning for this dreamer, with more original music set to release this year.

NICOLE WITT’S “EVERYWHERE I WANNA BE,” FIRST TRACK FROM UPCOMING SOLO ALBUM, OUT NOW

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Stunning music video directed by Witt’s 17-year-old daughter, Ashlyn

 Nicole Witt, creator and founding member of Nashville’s Six One Five Collective, releases “Everywhere I Wanna Be” today — her first-ever solo effort.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter wrote the “pedal down, open road, drive time cruiser” with Skip Black and Aaron Goodvin, her longtime friends and collaborators. The track’s picturesque music video was directed by her 17-year-old future-film-student daughter Ashlyn Witt (@filmedbycash), capturing Witt’s love of the desert, driving fast, and the breathtaking Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas.

“Filming the video for ‘Everywhere I Wanna Be’ is one of my favorite memories ever,” Witt shares. “We got up that morning before sunrise and drove about an hour out of the city.  We ended up filming the majority of the video in Red Rock Canyon. Getting to watch Ashlyn in action and see her vision come alive for this song was pure magic.”

Releasing “Everywhere I Wanna Be” marks a major dream-fulfilled milestone for Witt, who was previously signed to Curb Records but never released. A self-described “late bloomer,” she promised herself that she would, one day, release a solo project. Through writing and recording this project, she has found her most authentic, creative self.

Nashville producers Gabe and Gideon Klein collaborated with Witt on the album, titled Clear, which is slated for release later this year.

Witt is currently recording new music with Six One Five Collective and will set out on a solo European tour next month, before hitting the road with the Collective for the Six One Five “Good Vibes” summer/fall 2023 tour.

RUNAWAY JUNE TO HEADLINE THE ENCORE ENTERTAINMENT AT ST. JUDE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUNNING SERIES NASHVILLE

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The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series Nashville announces today that country music group, Runaway June, is the 2023 Encore Entertainment for the post-race concert on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon at the newly announced finish line location outside of Nissan Stadium. Runaway June is comprised of Stevie Woodward (lead vocals/guitar/harmonica/piano), Natalie Stovall (vocals/fiddle/guitar), and Jennifer Wayne (vocals/guitar). The trio’s “inescapable talent” (AXS.com) is multiplied by their seamlessly rich, organic harmonies and fiery, western-rooted bluegrass sound, earning them recognition as Billboard’s “Next Hot Trend in Country Music” and CMT’s “Next Women of Country” just to name a few. Additional musical artists for event week will be announced soon.

Drew Wolff, Regional Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series states, “The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville is thrilled that Runaway June will perform as the Encore Entertainment. The race uniquely unites the amazing music community with fitness enthusiasts.”

With Runaway June’s career triumphs, including earning nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards, bringing their electrifying live set to spots on tour with Country icons, and scoring a major radio hit with their GOLD-certified breakthrough single “Buy My Own Drinks,” the Nashville-based trio will bring their effervescent sound shine to the delight of race participants.

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville will take place April 22-23, 2023 and it combines live music and entertainment with scenic routes that highlight Nashville’s historic and natural beauty. Nashville has long been a favorite stop on the best-in-class running series tour, welcoming global visitors amidst a strong hometown contingent who know how to show a good time. Participants will experience everything that Music City has to offer, including a legendary running tour of Nashville’s most famous locations such as Broadway, Music Row, The Gulch, 12 South, Nissan Stadium, and much more.

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville offers distances for everyone including 1-Mile, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon, plus a Doggie Dash and KiDS ROCK® event. Registration for the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville is open by visiting, www.runrocknroll.com/nashville-register.

For more information or to register for an event for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, please visit RunRocknRoll.com. Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series media inquiries may be directed to [email protected].

CHASE RICE RELEASES EMOTIONAL NEW SONG INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY: “BENCH SEAT” AVAILABLE NOW

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Anticipation Continues to Build Ahead of I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, Out February 10

When Chase Rice’s longtime friend came to him with an idea for a song about “a guy and his dog driving around together,” the Diamond-certified songwriter laughed. “That cliché was exactly the type of thing I was trying to avoid on this album,” Rice remembers. And yet, once he sat down with his acoustic guitar to craft what would become one of three solo writes on the forthcoming project, the result was anything but cliché. With “Bench Seat,” available everywhere now, Rice pays tribute to that friend – and the dog that saved his life.

“My buddy was in a really dark place – to the point where he was ready to end his own life. It took a lot for him to take me back to that moment, but when he told me what stopped him it stopped me in my tracks: his dog came and laid his head on his lap, and that connection saved him,” Rice explains. “I wrote this song by myself with the point of view from the dog’s perspective – which might not be obvious right away – and what that moment might have meant for the two of them if not for that intervention.”

Building upon the emotional backstory of the song, the official music video directed by Kaiser Cunningham offers a seven-plus-minute short film spotlighting the mental health struggle that affects countless people. The video’s intention is to encourage viewers to feel comfortable talking about the topic and seeking the assistance they need, with its conclusion pointing to available resources via wannatalkaboutit.com and encouraging anyone in crisis to call/text 988.

“For the first time in my career, I could envision the whole video as I was writing the song,” notes Rice. “I wanted to shine a light on the topic of mental health because this is something that makes way too many people feel alone and especially when addiction becomes part of the picture, one bad moment can have horrible consequences. I personally know how hard it can be to ask for help when you need it, but I hope this helps start a few more conversations and lets people know they really aren’t alone.

“When my friend was in that moment, it was impossible to see anything but the heaviness. He was able to get the help he needed, though, and now he’s living a beautiful life and starting a family. That’s what this video is really about – showing you the potential for a happy end to the story if you are able to find a way to get help through the dark times.”

The powerful song is one of 13 tracks on Rice’s forthcoming album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, set for release Feb. 10 and showcasing a more raw, vulnerable side of the man praised by Sports Illustrated for “his wild ride to redemption” than on any of his previous studio projects. Recorded during an immersive two-week period at Rice’s farm outside Nashville with producer Oscar Charles and a live band using a makeshift recording setup, the album ranges from admiration of a Western way of life in recent releases “I Hate Cowboys” and “Way Down Yonder” to emotional reckoning in “Key West & Colorado” and today’s “Bench Seat.”

Soon, fans will get to hear the new music live on Rice’s Way Down Yonder Tour, set to visit iconic venues such as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Boston’s House of Blues and Athens’ Georgia Theatre beginning March 3.

JO DEE MESSINA ANNOUNCES HEADS CAROLINA, TAILS CALIFORNIA: THE BEST OF JO DEE MESSINA, FIRST-EVER VINYL RELEASE

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Jo Dee Messina announced today that Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best of Jo Dee Messina will be released in March on Curb Records. The album features 11 of her timeless hits, including “Bye, Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson In Leavin,’” ”Heads Carolina, Tails California” and more. This marks Messina’s first-ever vinyl release on a limited-edition, 180 gram clear vinyl with wisps of color throughout – mirroring the artist’s authentic and colorful personality. The project will be available on March 10 and can be pre-ordered here: https://jodeemessina.lnk.to/BestOf

“It’s amazing to look back over a catalog and have so many songs with so many memories attached,” said Messina. “Now, to have them come out on vinyl? Wow! It’s a new way to hold those memories. It’s very exciting!”

Jo Dee Messina’s illustrious catalog – which includes nine Number One hits and 16 Top 40 smashes – has racked up more than 700 million on-demand streams and millions of albums sold with multiple RIAA certifications. She’s enjoyed a major resurgence over the past few years as the ’90s country craze has swept the nation, paving the way for a big year in 2023.

Messina had a monumental 2022, selling out multiple venues and breaking festival attendance records with her high-energy show. She wrapped up the year opening two shows for Country Music Hall of Famer, Reba McEntire, and the packed arena crowds sang along to every word of Messina’s timeless hits. Watch a highlight here: lnk.to/jo-dee-rebaPR. For more info and to purchase tickets, please visit jodeemessina.com/tour.

MORGAN WALLEN’S THIRD ALBUM: ONE THING AT A TIME OUT MARCH 3

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Deeply Personal Album Combines Wallen’s Musical Influences – Country, Alternative & Hip-Hop

OUT NOW:  Three NEW Songs: “Last Night,” “Everything I Love” and “I Wrote The Book”

Morgan Wallen took to social media earlier today to share official details about his third studio project, One Thing At A Time, set for release on Big Loud / Mercury / Republic worldwide on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Opening with confessional “Born With A Beer In My Hand” and closing with poignant “Dying Man,” Wallen takes the listener on a very personal journey throughout the expansive project.

“This record represents the last few years of my life, the highs and the lows,” Wallen shares. “It also brings together the musical influences that have shaped me as an artist – country, alternative and hip-hop. There are 36 songs on this album because we just kept exploring with fresh lyrics, music and production ideas and these are the songs that felt right to me. It was a blast to create, and I was so grateful to be back in the studio to lay this out for my fans.”

Showcasing his wide-ranging influences and creativity – he interpolated The Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider” – showcased on “Everything I Love;” a sample of Young Thug’s “Lifestyle” interpolated on “180 (Lifestyle);” collaborations with Eric Church on “Man Made A Bar,” HARDY on “In The Bible,” and “Cowgirls” with ERNEST; finishing with “Dying Man” (Codeine it got Elvis / Whiskey it got Hank / I always thought somethin’ like that / Might send me on my way) – the prolific album runs the gambit.

“I just try to tell it how it is – the good, the bad, the love, the heartbreak. That’s all I know how to do,” says Wallen. “My hope is that this album makes my fans proud; makes ‘em laugh, smirk, cry, and think – just like it did for me.”

Furthering the connection to his roots, Wallen’s sister, Ashlyne Wallen, sings harmony on “Outlook.” He recalls, “I grew up in church singing three-part harmonies with my two sisters. That’s how I learned to sing, so this was a full-circle moment for Ashlyne and me.” The cover art also holds family significance for Wallen – photographed at the home of his Mamaw (Grandmother) Boots, who is no longer with us. “My Mamaw Boots helped raise me. I had such a special bond with her, so I wanted to honor her with this new record.”

Three new songs off the album arrive tonight to start the countdown to One Thing At A Time; “Last Night,” “Everything I Love” and “I Wrote The Book.”

Wallen has continually released music since 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album, which remains Billboard’s longest running Top 10 album in history for a solo artist with 104-and-counting total weeks spent in the Top 10 (eclipsing Adele’s 21 and Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA).

With so much new music, the stage is set for his One Night At A Time World Tour. Produced by Live Nation in North America and Frontier Touring in Australia/New Zealand, his 63-date/30 stadium show tour kicks off overseas March 15-24 in New Zealand and Australia with HARDY before returning stateside on April 15 at Milwaukee’s American Family Field, then hitting New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and Boston’s Fenway Park with Parker McCollum, and wrapping on Oct. 7 at Tacoma Dome in Washington. ERNEST and Bailey Zimmerman support across U.S. and international dates.

DOLLY PARTON IS CERTIFIED GOLD

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RIAA Surprises Iconic Entertainer with New Certifications

L-R: RIAA SVP Artist and Industry Relations Jackie Jones, CTK Management Danny Nozell, Dolly, RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier | courtesy of Dolly Parton

One can imagine most days for beloved icon Dolly Parton are “fine and dandy,” but recently the Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) added a little extra sparkle. RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier and SVP Artist and Industry Relations Jackie Jones recognized more milestones in her illustrious career during a surprise moment in Nashville. Dolly was presented with plaques commemorating Gold certification of “Hard Candy Christmas” and “Faith” with Galantis featuring Mr. Probz. Watch here. 

“Thank you for creating music that continues to inspire generations and cultivates a culture of community. On behalf of the RIAA, it’s incredible to be able to personally congratulate you, Dolly!” said Mitch.

“Well, this is a great day and these will sure look pretty in my music room,” said Dolly, “Of course I owe a lot to my manager Danny and our whole crew around here for moments like this.”

Since 1958 the RIAA has been committed to celebrating the pinnacle of musical success through its Gold & Platinum Program. Explore certified titles throughout the last six decades here.

MUSIC HEALTH ALLIANCE CELERRATES TEN YEARS OF HELPING TO HEAL THE MUSIC

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Over 100 million dollars saved in healthcare costs, providing free healthcare advocacy
to over 20,000 music industry professionals in all 50 U.S. states

Dierks Bentley joins celebration as celebrity ambassador

In its tenth year, Music Health Alliance launches the Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund and The Visionary Circle

Music Health Alliance (MHA), the music industry’s critical non-profit healthcare resource, is marking major milestones in its mission to provide free healthcare advocacy and resources to music industry professionals. As the non-profit celebrates its first decade of providing free healthcare advocacy and support to a largely self-employed industry, MHA is uniquely positioned to continue to heal the music in the decades to come.

Music Health Alliance’s mission is to create a safe and confidential place for the music community to gain the very best healthcare and health insurance solutions through defined and transparent advocacy services, with an emphasis on the prevention of illness and overall wellness. Since 2013, MHA has:

  • Saved more than $100,000,000 in healthcare costs

  • Provided free advocacy and support to over 20,000 music industry clients in 50 states

  • Facilitated more than 3,200 counseling sessions through MHA’s Mental Health Fund

  • Saved nearly 2,500 families from bankruptcy due to medical bills

  • Provided life-saving diagnostic care to 57 clients through the Ben Eyestone Fund

  • Aided 31 individuals in securing life-saving heart, liver, kidney and lung transplants

  • Provided access to more than 1,000,000 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic

“In ten years MHA has gone from just an idea to a thriving organization that has served tens of thousands and saved over $100 million in healthcare costs to keep the music playing across this country,” says Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance Founder and CEO. “MHA’s success is possible because we have a fierce staff, dedicated Board of Directors and encouraging donors and community who sincerely believe in our mission to Heal The Music. Thank you all and cheers to 10 years!”

The 15 person team at MHA continue the non-profit’s mission to provide free healthcare advocacy, access and resources to the music industry, more than 75% of whom are self-employed. Songwriters, musicians, performers, producers, engineers, venue operators, artist managers, agents, publishers, business managers, and more have had access to critical medicine, mental health resources, diagnostic tests, lifesaving transplants, end of life care and many other necessary services.

MIKE GOSSIN RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR “LET’S RIDE,” FEATURING CHEYENNE KIMBALL

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Award-winning singer-songwriter Mike Gossin teamed up with former Gloriana bandmate Cheyenne Kimball for a brand-new single entitled “Let’s Ride” that has been garnering critical praise by fans and media alike. The single, which was released October 21st, has been racking up streams. The single is true Gloriana sound with the video getting over 96K views in about 3 months with little to no marketing.

The video, which was shot at Onyx Hall in Lawrenceburg, TN, was directed and produced by the Bolo Brothers. The video pays homage to longtime music industry sound technician Rick Reith, who suddenly passed away at the beginning of the year. Rick worked for many years with Gloriana and became like family. Mike, who wrote the treatment for the video, wanted to do something special by having Rick’s initials carved into a table featured in the video. “If it wasn’t for Rick, I wouldn’t be back in Nashville doing what I love and releasing the new music, so it felt fitting to honor him in some way in the video,” said Mike.

Mike goes on to explain, “I’m a fan of performance videos that also have a story element to them, so I wanted to incorporate the unexplainable gravitational pull for Cheyenne and I to come back together. After I had the dream with us performing together and she called out of the blue we decided to jump in and see where we can go. That’s what I wrote the song about, dropping everything, hopping in the truck and driving away together regardless of what’s happening around us and getting back to what we love, making music. I think we captured that in this video and I hope that fans enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

“Let’s Ride” will be a part of Mike Gossin’s upcoming solo project slated for release in 2023. As a founding member of the former powerhouse group Gloriana, Mike has toured internationally with superstars including Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, and Sheryl Crow. During their time as a group Gloriana was on top of the charts with massive hits including “Wild at Heart,” “Kissed You Goodnight” and “Can’t Shake You.” They were nominated for numerous honors, winning AMA, CMT, and ACM Awards, and even played at the White House at the request of the President.

Rising Country Star Conner Smith Hits the Road for the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour

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Tickets on Sale this Friday, January 27th at 10:00am Local

College students, buckle up as 22-year-old rising Country star Conner Smith is hitting the road to headline the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour in the Midwest & Southeast this Spring. Smith’s If I Went to College tour featuring special guests Mackenzie Carpenter and Jonathan Hutcherson will make its first pitstop in Rosemont, IL on February 9th. Country fans will be buzzing about this tour, as Smith has already earned 2023 recognition from MusicRow’s Next Big Thing, CMT Listen Up, and more.

“I’m pumped to partner with the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour for my first headlining run in 2023,” said Smith. “We’ll be hitting college towns all throughout the Midwest and Southeast. It’s gonna be a ton of fun, and I’m stoked to have Monster Energy taking it to the next level.”

Smith is quickly becoming Country’s hottest new artist on the rise, yet he is already considered a seasoned veteran within the elite Nashville songwriting community. Scoring his first publishing deal at only 16 years old, Smith has since toured alongside Thomas Rhett and accumulated over 90 million global streams to date on his hit single “Take it Slow.”

Headlining the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour is a momentous step forward in Smith’s career, who CMT calls “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.”

Tickets for the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour featuring Conner Smith will go on sale to the general public this Friday, January 27th at 10am local, with pre-sale starting on Tuesday.

ABOUT CONNER SMITH:

Just 22 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has become one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated new artists – an uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective. After penning his first song at 6 and scoring a publishing deal at 16, the Country prodigy wrote five of the six songs on his Zach Crowell-produced 2022 debut collection DIDN’T GO TOO FAR (The Valory Music Co.). The charismatic effort laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith 2022 Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only Country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and securing 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing, CMT Listen Up, and more. Often hiding deep-thinking themes in plain sight, Smith scored his first Top 40 hit with the young-at-heart “Learn From It,” and followed up with a love-savoring new single “Take It Slow,” which has quickly racked up over 90 million global streams to date. Tracks like “I Hate Alabama,” “Orange and White” and “Summer On Your Lips” mine unexpected insight from vivid everyday stories, and as Smith continues to grow up in full view of his fans – both on the page and the stage – CMT calls him “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.” That momentum will keep building in 2023, as Smith follows a year of touring alongside Thomas Rhett, Parker McCollum and Ryan Hurd with upcoming select dates opening for Chase Rice, and promises a new batch of “next level” music, further mixing in-the-moment energy with timeless meaning. For a full list of tour dates and more, visit ConnerSmithMusic.com.