Rising Stars Archives - Page 2 of 7

Lainey Wilson brings pure-as-honey vocals to Bell Bottom Barn Dance

Lainey Wilson headlines TSC Emerging Artists Program showcase

By Preshias Harris

Lainey Wilson continues to prove that she is among the undisputed leaders of a new generation of country artists with her appearances during the 50^th CMA Fest, June 8 – 11, 2023.

*Lainey Wilson wows the fans at her Bell Bottom Barn Dance. Photo: Roxy Moure*

Lainey is the reigning CMA Female Artist of the Year and the ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and is one of most nominated (and awarded) artists at the recent Award shows for the CMA, the ACM and CMT.

During CMA Fest, Lainey seemed to everywhere from an early Thursday show at Riverfront Stage to a Friday night appearance at Nissan Stadium, sharing the stage with Tanya Tucker and Elle King.

It’s hard to keep up with a ball of energy like Lainey Wilson but I managed to catch her Bell Bottom Barn Dance, a showcase for the Tractor Supply Emerging Artists Program, joining the crowd of fans that filled the Bell Tower Event Space.

The talent search program was created to discover and support emerging country artists who live and love what TSC calls “Life Out Here.” The program partnered with country stars Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Dustin Lynch, Lauren Alaina, and Kat & Alex, along with Opry Entertainment Group.

Mitchell Tenpenny has a real good month

Tenpenny joins cowriters at “The Truth About You” No. 1 party

By Preshias Harris

Mitchell Tenpenny will probably look back on April 2023 as a pretty special time in his life. He could certainly be living proof of the old adage, “good things come in threes.”

An ACM Award nomination
A Number One party for a Platinum single
His first full-band performance at Nissan Stadium

Almost silhouetted against the beautiful backdrop of the Nashville skyline on the rooftop of BMI, (L to R) Mitchell Tenpenny, producer Jordan Schmidt and songwriters Matt Alderman and Thomas Archer discuss “The Truth About You”. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

On Friday, April 14, it was 74° and sunny on BMI’s rooftop patio. It was the ideal place for an early spring celebration that BMI hosted in honor of Mitchell Tenpenny’s hit song “The Truth about You” that he co-wrote with Matt Alderman and Thomas Archer.

As was noted during the presentations, the platinum-selling song made chart history with the shortest span between #1 songs since 1982 with just three weeks since his last chart topper. “Truth About You” followed Mitchell’s co-penned No. 1 collaboration with labelmate Chris Young, “At The End Of A Bar”.

Alex Miller says, “Girl, I Know a Guy”

New single from American Idol alum

By Preshias Harris

For Alex Miller, it all began with his fan-favorite appearance on American Idol. But it was a beginning that was a decade in the making for an artist who had been performing since he was nine years old.

Now with a new single – “Girl, I Know A Guy” – impacting radio April 21 and a new EP scheduled for later this year, Alex is on the way up. In March, Alex and I sat down at Country Radio Seminar (CRS) to catch up on what’s going on in what he calls his “crazy” life. Read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

The new single follows previous releases, “When God Made the South”, “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me”, “Don’t Let the Barn Door Hit Ya” and “Through With You” – the latter peaking in the Top 35 of the Billboard Indicator Chart and at No. 1 on The Country Network.

*Alex Miller and his grandfather GB Miller visiting the Ernest Tubb Record Store in Nashville.*

In our interview, Alex shared a touching story about the unflagging support he received from his grandfather. “He’d say, ‘You’re gonna play at the Grand Ole Opry someday. I’m gonna make that happen,’” Alex told me.

Juna N Joey interview with Preshias

Juna N Joey “Slip Out the Side Door” on new single

By Preshias Harris

Brother and sister duo, Juna N Joey, caught the world’s attention as viral sensations. They chalked up around 8.5 million collective views on YouTube and a viral 10 million views on Tik Tok; their rendition of Mariah Carey’s Holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” landed them on Instagram’s Best Covers of the Year list for 2022.

Then came two singles and a debut EP ahead of their current single “Slip Out the Side Door” that takes full advantage of their peerless sibling harmonies.

During Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Juna N Joey sat down with me to talk about the new single and their upcoming EP. You can read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

In the interview we talked about their songwriting process and their experience of being in the studio recording “Slip Out the Side Door.” All their previous recording had been during Covid. “With this record,” Joey told me, “I felt that everybody was together and had ideas while we were in the same room so there was more of a connection.”

Read my full interview with Juna N Joey at Center Stage Mag.

Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a 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 #PreshiasHarris

Bryan Ruby singing in “Baseball Country”

Combines twin passions with new single, upcoming EP

by Preshias Harris

Bryan Ruby grew up with two passions that have stayed with him to this day: baseball and country music, as we discussed in my interview posted at Center Stage Mag.

An outstanding athlete, he played baseball throughout his school years in Pennsylvania. But when he went on to higher education it was on a vocal music scholarship at Vassar College in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Even so, Bryan led his college team to First Team All-Conference honors and went on to play pro baseball in the USA and overseas.

Now he makes Nashville his home as a singer-songwriter, and we met up during Country Radio Seminar (CRS). He talked about his new, just-released single, “Baseball Country”, his musical influences and his 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, Proud To Be In Baseball, that supports LBGTQ kids who want to play baseball.

Read my full interview with Bryan Ruby at Center Stage Mag here.

Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a 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 #PreshiasHarris

Dallas Remington: the story behind “Steal Your Dad”

Dallas and co-writer honor “Uncommon Man” farmer dads

By Preshias Harris

Dallas Remington and her co-writer Courtney Bumbacher both grew up in farming families and they know farmers are often America’s ‘unsung heroes.’ Together they wrote “Uncommon Man” – even calling their farmer dads while in the writing session to be sure they captured the right phrasing.

I caught up with Dallas during this year’s Country Radio Seminar and you can read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.

Dallas also told me the story behind the song “Steal Your Dad” and how it racked up thousands of views almost instantly on Tik Tok. “A lot of people like the goofy songs,” she told me.

In the interview, she also shares the reason she decided to record a ‘countryfied’ version of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Check out the “Preshias On The Row” section at CenterStageMag.com for more stories and interviews.

David Adam Byrnes gotta “Keep Up With A Cowgirl”

Scores SEVEN No. 1 songs on Texas radio charts

David Adam Byrnes came to Nashville from his native Arkansas seeking success as a singer-songwriter. But it wasn’t until he left Nashville that he found success.

That success came to him in Texas where it felt “just like a glove that fit perfectly,” as he said, in an interview with me during Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March. He found a true connection with the culture and the music in the Lone Star State – and an audience that embraced his genuine love of traditional country music.

In the interview, Byrnes told me that, as a songwriter in Nashville, he seemed to be on the edge of success when five songs he had penned were on hold or about to be released by recording artists. But all those potential cuts evaporated, forcing him to reevaluate his career path.

You can read my full interview with David Adam Byrnes at Center Stage Mag here. He talks about how that potential career-end became a golden opportunity with a string of No. 1 hits in Texas and a new album, Keep Up With a Cowgirl. #DavidAdamByrnes

Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a 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 #PreshiasHarris

Alannah McCready raises the bar with her new EP, ‘Back To Me’

Reveals her “twin passions”

By Preshias Harris

Alannah McCready is a unique artist in so many ways. She is a dynamic performer in her live shows with skills honed during her years on the road. She is also a remarkable songwriter and found a new energy in her writing when the Covid pandemic brought personal appearances and touring to a screeching halt.

Another unique aspect to Alannah: she is a skilled hockey player. As she told me recently, “I’m from Minnesota, so we’re in the state of hockey and you basically get hockey skates when you get shoes!”

Read my entire interview with Alannah about her new EP at Center Stage Mag here.

Andy Pursell serves up “Right Amount of Wrong”

Twangy honky-tonker blends ’90s country with contemporary sound

By Preshias Harris

How about a song with a vibe and storyline that feel like Dukes of Hazzard meets Urban Cowboy? Intrigued? Well, that’s how Andy Pursell describes his new single.

Pursell, a Florida-based singer-songwriter and indie country recording artist (Southern Dreams Ent.) has announced the scheduled release of his newest tune “Right Amount of Wrong.” Written by Ryan Griffin and Terry Dennis, and produced by Mark Dreyer, the track will be available via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms Friday, March 17, 2023. (Presale/pre-save event begins March 3, 2023. Presale / Pre-save here. )

Recorded at Studio 23 Lakeside Recording in Nashville, the single features instrumental performances by award-winning, A-list musicians, including four-time ACM “Steel Guitarist of the Year,” Mike Johnson (Jason Aldean/Carrie Underwood/Jon Pardi/George Strait/Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard), Kevin Grant (Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard/Colt Ford/Josh Turner) and Mike Rojas (George Strait/Tim McGraw/Brett Eldredge).

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 148^th running of the Kentucky Derby.