Nashville Music Archives - Page 6 of 29

Darius Rucker celebrates TEN No. 1s and Diamond cert

“Wagon Wheel” biggest + “Beers and Sunshine” latest

by Preshias Harris

*Darius Rucker reacts to comments from UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan. Photo credit: Preshias Harris*

Darius Rucker was the focus of a triple celebration October 27 as friends and peers joined him for a private party at the Electric Jane in Nashville, hosted by UMG Nashville.

During the event, Darius and record producer Frank Rogers were presented with an RIAA Diamond award for the hit song “Wagon Wheel.” The party also recognized Darius’ achievement of ten Number One singles. Particular focus was on his latest chart topper, “Beers and Sunshine” that he wrote together with Ross Copperman, J.T. Harding and Josh Osborne. Copperman also produced the hit single.

Read the full report, including my Q&A with Darius, under the “Preshias On The Row” tab at Center Stage Magazine here.

“Beers and Sunshine” apparently made history as the first Country No. 1 to have been not only written but also entirely recorded via Zoom. Darius told me that the process was ‘nervy’ for him.

“It was crazy and I love the song and it sounds great, but I never want to do it again!”
— Darius Rucker, on recording a song via Zoom

Brett Kissel’s new project touches all points of the compass

“Watch It” single available now

By Preshias Harris

Country music is alive and well north of the border. If there was any doubt about that, check out the dynamic Brett Kissel, whose boots carried him through the grass and mud of the family cattle ranch in northeastern Alberta, Canada, long before they took him onto a stage.

Amazingly, at the still-young age of thirty-two, he is already two decades into a music career, having released his first album, Keepin’ It Country, when he was twelve. Now he is gearing up for the release of his latest project, a four-part album set to drop in January 2023.

The new project will follow five albums released by Warner Music Canada, three of which (Started With a Song, Pick Me Up, We Were That Song) were certified Gold in Canada and included eight Gold and three Platinum singles. In 2020 Brett signed his first American record deal with Verge Records, the Nashville-based partner of ONErpm.

Fans both south and north of the border are getting a taste of what to expect from the new album with the release of the track “Watch It” (play / stream / download the track here).

“Watch It” follows the release earlier this year of the single “Ain’t The Same” featuring the American pop vocal group 98°.

Brett talked to me about the release of his new project in 2023 and the unique concept behind it.

See what’s new at Center Stage Mag

Center Stage Mag features ‘Preshias On The Row’

Have you seen my new feature titled Preshias On The Row? You can find the feature at CenterStageMag, along with a whole lot more such as ‘Track by Track’ music reviews, info on artists and live shows, and video conversations with the amazing Missy Wolf!

Here’s a quick digest on some recent Preshias On The Row stories posted at #centerstagemag …

Here’s an opportunity to see some historical artifacts from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame without going to Cleveland. Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium announced its newest major exhibition Rock Hall at the Ryman will open on Wednesday, Nov. 2 as part of a multi-year partnership with Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The interactive exhibit will be housed in the venue’s newly transformed 5th Avenue vestibule … Find the full story here.

Tracy Lawrence is gearing up for his 17th annual Mission Possible: Turkey Fry & Concert, set for Tuesday, November 22. Multi-Platinum artist Gary Allan and rising star Travis Denning will join Tracy onstage at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. Prior to the concert, Tracy and volunteers aim to fry 1,200 turkeys, providing meals for the homeless… Here’s the link to the story at Center Stage Mag.

Tears the Size of Texas, the new album from Ben Burgess, features eight classic cowboy songs as well as two murder ballads, all co-written by Ben alongside some of Nashville’s finest writers such as Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Brandy Clark. Josh Kerr, Randy Montana, Kevin Kadish and more. The collection has been described as “songs that were too risky, too original for anyone else to sing.” The full story is here.

And there’s more: An auction of unique handwritten song lyrics auctioned to benefit Music Health Alliance … My red carpet interviews at the 5th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards … Dolly Parton‘s Mountain Magic Christmas set for Holiday season TV … News about albums from Randy Huston and Wade Bowen … Chris Young and Kane Brown celibate Double Platinum … and more!

So hop on over to #centerstagemag to find out what’s going on in the world of music and entertainment! I will be posting more stories as they happen under the Preshias On The Row tab.

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 at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com #preshiasharris

Drew Green growing from good ol’ boy to “Good Ol’ Man”

Drew Green ‘working hard, staying passionate’

by Preshias Harris

Write your way to a record deal. That’s the advice often shared with aspiring singers. It’s based on the concept that by songwriting you are honing your skills, widening your music industry network and proving both your talent and work ethic to industry insiders.

These were words taken to heart by Drew Green. Born just 86 miles from Nashville, Drew grew up in McMinnville, Tennessee, known as ‘the Nursery Capital of the World.’ Country was the favoured music of Drew’s father and it was with his dad that Drew first heard the music of artists such as Alan Jackson, Eric Church and Sammy Kershaw. However, along with school friends, Drew began expanding his musical interests to encompass pop, hip-hop and R&B, including songs by artists such as Dr. Dre, Usher and Matchbox Twenty.

*Click/tap graphic to listen at Spotify*

October’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

Ready to read now at Nashville Music Guide

Hard to believe it’s October already! Lots of acts have just announced Fall Tours or added dates and you can catch up with them – along with plans for Holiday shows and music – in my column Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA. The October edition is ready to read right now here at Nashville Music Guide. Among the many news items…

Conner Smith‘s acoustic version of “Take It Slow” features co-writer Ryan Hurd and gives the song a fresh, intimate vibe…
Ashley McBryde invited some of her favorite collaborators to a week-long songwriting retreat in a rural cabin and the result is her new album, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville…
HARDY says he’s “stoked” to take his Wall To Wall Tour out on the road. Find links to tour dates and ticket info…
Essex County proves country is alive and well in their native England with their new five-song EP…
Newsboys, the Contemporary Christian powerhouse, are serving up Stand (Deluxe), with three new recordings for a total of 14 tracks on the enhanced album, ahead of their tour…
Luke Bryan is inviting fans to join him for his annual concert vacation, Crash My Playa, for four nights in Cancun, January 19 – 22. We have the link for ticket info…
Trisha Yearwood, Easton Corbin and The Oak Ridge Boys are among the stars set for Opry Goes Pink, October 14 to benefit Susan G. Komen in the fight against breast cancer …
Marty Brown, Carly Pearce and Pete Goble are among the 7 inductees set to be honored at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, October 28. Ticket info and details in the column…
News items, tour alerts, new release info on albums and singles, stories about Breland, Tracy Lawrence, Lauren Reno, Jacob Bryant, Kasey Tyndall, Cole Swindell, Gene Watson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Craig Morgan, The War And Treaty and more in the October Inside Track on Music Row.

Read the column in its entirety here at Nashville Music Guide where you can also catch up with columns from previous months.

Nashville Songwriter Awards at a sold-out Ryman

On the Red Carpet with Preshias

by Preshias Harris

*Taylor Swift and Ashley Gorley on the Red Carpet. Photo: Catrina Engelby*

Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift and Ashley Gorley were among the recipients at the fifth annual Nashville Songwriter Awards. The gala event was presented by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with City National Bank on September 20 at the Ryman Auditorium.

It was an occasion to shine the spotlight on the songwriters but many recording artists took the opportunity to show their appreciation during the evening. These included Sam Hunt, Chris LaCorte, Josh Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini, Nicolle Galyon, Parmalee, HARDY, Alana Springsteen, Walker Hayes, Tigirlily, Thomas Rhett, Babyface and more.

The honorees included Garth Brooks (receiving the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award), Ashley Gorley (Songwriter of the Decade) and Taylor Swift (Songwriter-Artist of the Decade). The Song of the Year Award was presented to Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins for “Buy Dirt” (recorded by Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan).

Read my full report on the Awards at Center Stage Mag here.

“Buy Dirt” – 2022 Song of the Year
Pictured L-R: Josh Jenkins, Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI), Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Steve Bogard (Board President, NSAI), Matt Jenkins, Lindsay Glover (NSAI). *Photo credit: NSAI*

All Horses Firin’ for American Blonde

These blondes love having fun!

by Preshias Harris

Sisters Nata and Tinka Morris are American Blonde. They were previously a trio known as Southern Halo, but when sister Hannah moved on to follow other interests, the two remaining siblings – both blondes – emerged with what now seems the perfect name.

They dropped by a few days ago for a fun visit and we talked about their new single (“All Horses Firin‘”), their current album, making music videos, their musical influences and upcoming tour dates.

Read the full story and my interview with Nata and Tinka here at Center Stage Mag. “There’s Somethin’ in the Water” for American Blonde!

*Nata and Tinka shared this fun pic on social media!*

More about American Blonde here and be sure to follow this link to our interview posted at Center Stage Mag.

August ‘Inside Track’ posted now

This month’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’

Catch up on all that’s happening in the world of music from Nashville and beyond by checking out the August 2022 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, now posted and ready to read at Nashville Music Guide here!

Among this month’s news items…

Callista Clark’s debut full-length album, Real to Me: The Way I Feel, to be released Oct 14 on Big Machine…
Kip Moore’s music video for his new track “Fire on Wheels” sees him trying some ‘risky business’ at a bowling alley…
Raucous southern rockers, Six Gun Sally, release “Redneck White and Badass Blue” following up on “Drunk Text” …
Michael Ray expresses pride and gratitude to fans over multi-week No. 1 “Whiskey and Rain” …
Rising songstress Mikayla Lane releases single and music video for cowgirl-themed “Ambush” …
Travis Denning releases six-song EP, Might As Well Be Me and single “Buy A Girl A Drink” …
Legendary Kentucky music duo, The Everly Brothers, honored by Gibson Guitars with limited-run Everly Brothers SJ-200 guitar…
Garth Brooks to be honored by NSAI with Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award at Nashville Songwriter Awards in September…
CJ Solar releases his first full-length album The Future’s Neon with all 9 songs co-written, co-produced by CJ…
Dierks Bentley’s “Gold” is a song about gratitude, presence and the treasures to be found in the moment…

…and more! All in the August 2022 edition of Inside Track on Music Row, America’s longest continuously-running country music column. Find it here at Nashville Music Guide, and share it with your friends!

Chris Young, co-writers celebrate 2X Platinum “Famous Friends”

Surprised with Platinum award for “Drowning” too!

By Preshias Harris

What could better than being honored at a party with a Double Platinum Award? For Chris Young, it was being surprised with a second Platinum Award, this one for his single “Drowning.”

*Chris Young expresses his heartfelt thanks upon receiving his 2X Platinum Award. Photo credit: Preshias Harris*

Multi-platinum, global entertainer Chris Young took some time to celebrate this week as his award-winning collaboration “Famous Friends” with Kane Brown scored Double Platinum status by the RIAA. Chris’s co-writers Corey Crowder and Cary Barlowe joined for the celebration, where Chris was also surprised with a Platinum plaque for his “soul-shattering” (People) song “Drowning,” which was co-written by Corey Crowder and Josh Hoge. “Famous Friends” and “Drowning” can be found on Chris’s recently released Famous Friends (Deluxe Edition). Chris’s newest single, “At The End Of A Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny, is approaching Top 5 on the country radio charts this week, adding to the celebration.

*(L to R): “Famous Friends” songwriters Corey Crowder, Cary Barlowe and Chris Young with their 2X Platinum RIAA Awards. Photo: Jeff Johnson*

“Any day I get to celebrate big milestones with my co-writers and friends is a good day,” says Chris. “I’m really proud of how hard everyone has worked on this entire project and excited about playing all of the new music live and the rest of 2022.”

July ‘Inside Track’ ready to read

‘Inside Track on Music Row’ posted at NMG

Here’s a heads-up to check out the July edition of my column, posted and ready to read here at Nashville Music Guide. Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA.

Among the news items this month:

Check out 52 – In the Key of Summer, the new solo album from Sugarland’s Kristan Bush. It’s volume 2 of his four-volume project…
Powerhouse vocalist Danielle Bradbery has created a series of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to offer fans access to limited edition content and unreleased material from “Stop Draggin’ Your Boots.”…
Chris Lane and Lauren Alaina are combining for the very first time on all new duet “Dancin’ In The Moonlight,” available everywhere now…
Country newcomer Maddye Trew is celebrating the release of her new single, “Dear Loretta,” honoring her idol Loretta Lynn, written by Josh Helms, Faren and Matt Willis and produced by Luke Buishas…
Little Texas perform for the first time at The Great Texas Balloon Race in front of 5,000 fans singing along to “God Blessed Texas…
Luke Bryan is on the road with his Raised Up Right Tour and has added extra dates to his headlining engagement, Luke Bryan Vegas at Resorts World Theater…
Cole Swindell launches his headlining Back Down To The Bar Tour on Sept. 23, 2022 Joining Swindell on his tour are special guests Ashley Cooke and Dylan Marlowe….

Find the full stories of all the above items and more, along with photos, music links and more here at Nashville Music Guide.