Month: January 2023

Colton James new EP, America, puts “Ring On Her Finger”

Launches Land4Heroes, a lodge for Veterans

By Preshias Harris

Colton James is one busy guy.  But he’s not complaining. As the saying goes, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ Colton is passionate about his music, about helping veterans and about his lovely wife Cassie.

Colton James talks about his new 7-song EP titled America and plans for Land4Heroes

Colton and I caught up in January to talk about what’s new and exciting in his life, including his new EP, titled America, released January 20, 2023. The seven-track project includes “Ring On Her Finger” that will certainly be played at a LOT of weddings in the months and years ahead. The song has a special poignance for Colton who co-wrote it with Kim Tribble.

“’Ring On Her Finger’ was the very last song that me and Kim wrote together,” Colton recalled, “And it was the last time I saw him alive.  I told that story at his Celebration of Life and Kim’s wife Patti wanted me to play it. I think about him every day.  Not only were we writing buddies, we fished together, we hunted together, we hung out together. He was like family.”  See the official music video for “Ring On Her Finger” here.

Another track on the EP has a unique backstory: “I Miss America” co-written with Rick Dawson, the owner of Rich Strike, the 80-1 outsider that came from behind to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. 

Continue reading “Colton James new EP, America, puts “Ring On Her Finger””

January ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ posted now

Tour info, new releases, artist news and more

by Preshias Harris

New year… new music column! The January 2023 edition of my Inside Track on Music Row column is a mix of the good news from 2022 so we can reflect on happy times and also look ahead to some wonderful things coming up as we move into 2023.

You can read the entire column, along with photos, graphics and video links, at Nashville Music Guide here. The new year marks another milestone for Inside Track on Music Row... still the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA. My eternal thanks to you, the reader, for your support… and the artists, songwriters and publicists who alert me to music news that I can share with you!

Here is a taste of just some of the news items you can find in the January column…

  • ERNEST celebrated his fifth, sixth and seventh Number One as a songwriter in 2022 while his debut single (feat. Morgan Wallen) reached Platinum certification. Now his ‘Deluxe” album is due February 10…
  • Cole Swindell racked up two Platinum multi-week Number Ones and received a Pandora Billionaire plaque for surpassing 3 billion lifetime spins. He’ll be joining Thomas Rhett for his Home Team Tour 23…
  • The Cadillac Three have announced their upcoming Bandana Tour as they take their country-fuzz spirit on the road with Koe Wetzel joining TC3 on select dates…
  • Miranda Lambert was surprised with $5,000.00 from Tractor Supply Company, in honor of her MuttNation project, to donate to area animal shelters to help senior pets and pets with special needs…
  • Springer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman returns to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium starting on Thursday, June 22 and continuing each Thursday night through July 27…
  • Eddie Montgomery has released the deluxe edition of his debut solo album Ain’t No Closing Me Down via Average Joes Entertainment saluting his lost Montgomery Gentry bandmate, Troy Gentry, who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 2017…
  • George Jones will be remembered and celebrated – by fans and fellow artists – at a concert, titled Still Playin’ Possum, set to take place April 25 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL, one day before the tenth anniversary of Jones’ passing…
  • Willie Nelson and Family, the first authorized work exploring the life and career of the Country outlaw icon, will debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 19–29, 2023, in Park City, Salt Lake City…
  • Plus so much more about The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Rogers Band, The lineup for New Faces of Country Music at the 2023 Country Radio Seminar, Craig Campbell, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan, upcoming music festivals, Opry news and more.

Read the entire Inside Track on Music Row column at Nashville Music Guide here! 

Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available here.  Follow her blog and read her regular ‘Preshias On The Row’ news stories at Center Stage Magazine.