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Inside Track on Music Row July 2024

Inside Track on Music Row July 2024… right here and ready to read!

Due to a technical glitch, Nashville Music Guide was unable to publish my column this month. So… here it is in full! Apologies to my readers and to the labels and artists’ representatives who share their news with me so I can bring it to you in this, the longest continuously running country music column in America!

Scroll down for news about George Strait, Morgan Waller, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, HARDY, Brantley Gilbert, Phil Vassar, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Jelly Roll and many more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I didn’t know if it would be a successful one, or what the stages would be, but I always saw myself as a lifetime musician and songwriter.” – Bruce Springsteen

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly, I will sing your praises. – Psalm 22:22

ACOUSTIC VERSION NEWS: After putting fans first with the social media-driven Find Another Bar Tour: College Edition, multi-Platinum artist Chris Lane delivers another surprise with the release of From Where I’m Sippin’ (Deluxe) (Red Street Records/Voyager Records). Listen to From Where I’m Sippin’ (Deluxe) here. Watch Chris Lane’s performance video for “Mistake (Acoustic)” here. “I’ve always been a big fan of stripped-down versions of songs, and how the track can take on a new life while also giving me a new connection to it,” shares Lane. “I’m excited to add three acoustic versions to the From Where I’m Sippin’ EP, and hope y’all enjoy them.”

Lauded by Billboard as “veering slightly from hip-hop infused, polished pop-country to a sound with a ragged rock edge, while still residing squarely in his musical wheelhouse” with his new music, From Where I’m Sippin’ poured five fresh-Country concoctions – four of which were co-written by the top-shelf hitmaker – produced by Derek Wells with additional production from Michael Lotten. Now serving up three brand-new acoustic versions with the 2023 EP release, Lane adds an intimate element to stripped-down renditions of fan-favorites “Mistake,” “Way to Go Girl,” and current chart-rising single “Find Another Bar” – that’s nearing Top 35 at Country radio. Music and tour info at Chris Lane’s website. #ChrisLane

ALBUM NEWS: Country superstar Luke Combs’ new full-length album, Fathers & Sons, is out now on Columbia Nashville. Stream/purchase here. A collection of 12 poignant tracks, Fathers & Sons was recorded entirely live and features Combs most personal songwriting to date, as he reflects on his own experiences being a dad to his two sons and the unique bond between parents and their children. Ahead of the release, Combs unveiled new song, “The Man He Sees In Me,” which The Tennessean says is “redefining his level of superstardom.”

The album adds to yet another landmark year for Combs, who recently released his new radio single, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” which will be featured on the soundtrack for the new Twisters movie (out July 19) and is the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening July 11. The exhibit, entitled Luke Combs: The Man I Am, will feature a variety of photographs, childhood memorabilia, instruments, set lists and more from throughout Combs’ life and career. Combs has also partnered with Opry Entertainment Group to open a massive multi-level entertainment complex in downtown Nashville later this summer. Music and tour updates at Luke’s websiteand socials. #LukeCombs

“Inside Track on Music Row” ready to read now

May 2024 edition posted now!

ICYMI: The May ’24 edition of my monthly music column, Inside Track on Music Row, is now posted and ready to read. The longest continuously-running country music column in America is posted at Nashville Music Guide here.

Among the news items in this month’s column:

Elvie Shane took a test-drive in a hybrid Corvette E-Ray and talked to Rolling Stone magazine about his widely-praised new 13-track album Damascus…

Sturgill Simpson’s landmark 2014 album, Metamodern Sounds In Country Music, will be reissued May 10 celebrating its 10th anniversary ahead of his headlining slot at Outside Lands fest Aug 9-11…

Johnny Cash‘s album, Songwriter, will be released June 28, consisting of previously-unreleased, newly rediscovered tracks from some 30 years ago…

Terri Clark: Take Two is the title of an 8-song project from Country icon Terri Clark, arriving May 31, featuring duets with Lauren Alaina, Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBride and more…

ERNEST has released Nashville, Tennessee, a 26-track tribute to his hometown, following his 2021 debut Flower Shops (The Album) building on his billion+ on-demand streams…

T. Graham Brown will release a new studio album August 2 titled From Memphis to Muscle Shoals, featuring duets with icons such as Eddie Floyd, Bettye Layette, Little Anthony, Tanya Tucker, Dwight Yoakam and more…

Lacy J Dalton has released “What Don’t Kill Ya,” from her album, For the Black Sheep, set to drop June 21. Outlaw country icon Dalton will join the Country Music Cruise Jan 19-25, 2025…

Clay Walker is now a Pandora Billionaire: in addition to 11 No. 1 singles, 6 Platinum and Gold albums, Clay received the award marking his music being streamed over 1 billion times on Pandora…

“Hometown Home,” the new single from LOCASH on their new label, Galaxy Label Group, will impact Country radio May 13 as they announce a bunch of new tour dates, a mix of festivals and standalone dates…

Brantley Gilbert is extending his Off the Rails Tour into the fall, announcing 15+ additional dates where he will be joined by Adam Calhoun and Demun Jones…

Moe Bandy is celebrating the 45th anniversary of “Just Good Ol’ Boys,” his hit single with Joe Stampley as he talks about his current album, Thank You Lord, featuring special guests…

Plus many more news items including: Chris Stapleton‘s track on the the new Tom Petty tribute album… “The World’s Most Notorious Rock Band,” Mötley Crüe signs with Big Machine Records… Chart Toppers is an album of No. 1 songs recorded live at The Wildhorse Saloon… shows celebrating the late John Prine set for October… K-Love Fan Awards weekend set for May 24-26… news about Rick Monroe & The Hitmen, Molly Lovette, Chris Lane, Maddie Tree, Ashley Cooke, Colton Dixon, Randall King, Sam Grow and more.

Find the entire May 2024 edition (and previous editions) of my monthly column Inside Track on Music Row at Nashville Music Guide 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

Ashley McBryde premieres ‘The Devil I Know’

New album set for release September 8

By Preshias Harris

Ashley McBryde brought her band to Analog at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel on August 30 to play her new album in its entirety. The project, titled The Devil I Know, is set for release September 8 via all digital platforms.

The Hutton was packed with friends, family and music industry people at the event hosted by Warner Music Nashville.

In her opening remarks, WMN Co-Chair & Co-President Cris Lacy mentioned just some of Ashley’s notable achievements and recognitions, including two CMA Awards, and two ACM Awards and nominations for six Grammy Awards, and a win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” with Carly Pearce in 2023.

*Ashley McBryde at Analog at The Hutton Hotel. Photo credit: Preshias Harris*

“The New York Times calls her Country’s most down-to-earth songwriter,” said Lacy. “The LA Times [calls her] ‘one of Nashville’s most reliable and sophisticated songwriters’ and Billboard magazine has dubbed her ‘one of Country’s greatest storytellers without ever compromising.’ The Devil I know has already been named one of the most anticipated albums by New York magazine and the LA Times, while ‘Light On In The Kitchen’ landed on Rolling Stones all-genre Best Songs of 2023 so far.”

Country music roundup: Mid July ’23

Catch up on some new releases

by Preshias Harris

The weather is hot and there’s plenty of music to bring the heat – or to keep the cool! Here’s a quick roundup of new music from Kristian Bush, Lewis Brice (with brother Lee), Molly Tuttle, The Swon Brothers and teen phenom Mason Ramsey. The August edition of my monthly column, Inside Track on Music Row, will be here in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, scroll down and keep reading…

Kristian Bush says “Take me with you” on your summer soundtrack

Kristian Bush is back with new summertime music just in time to be the soundtrack of summer.

Kristian, beloved for hot weather bops including “Bar With A Pool In It” and “Flip Flops,” has released his newest sunshiny smash, “Little Umbrellas”. The song is the first from his forthcoming summer-themed seven-song EP, Drink Happy Thoughts, available July 14.

Pre-add and pre-save Drink Happy Thoughts here, listen to “Little Umbrellas” here and watch “Little Umbrellas” lyric video here.

Kristian wrote the song alone, starting it on the voice memo function on his phone during a drive between Nashville and Atlanta. When he arrived in Atlanta, he wrote and recorded “Little Umbrellas” in one hour.

“I recall being confused about which part was the chorus and which was the verse but decided not to pay too much attention because it felt so good,” he says. “I love the tightrope I imagine this guy walking, knowing that if he starts thinking of his old love, he will fall apart and that the little umbrellas he is collecting as he keeps drinking to forget her will never stop his tears or a storm if it rolls in.”

“I hope you put it on and listen all summer long, in a boat, by a pool, in the ocean, or by a beach,” he says. “Take me with you.”

More at Kristian’s website and Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@kristianbush). #KristianBush

Lewis Brice’s “Product Of” is a family affair

Country-rocker Lewis Brice “brings fans home to meet the family” (People.com) in his video for “Product Of” featuring brother Lee Brice.

Inside Track on Music Row

Your music news roundup for July 2023

by Preshias Harris

Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com Google “Preshias” (TN/USA)

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: With a little more love and a lot less hatin,’ be who you want to be, ’cause everybody else is taken.” – Lainey Wilson, ACM Awards 2023.

Scroll down to read about new projects, tour updates and music from Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bailey Zimmerman, Gabby Barrett, Michael Ray, Chris Janson, Elvie Shane, Scotty McCreery, Alabama, Lauren Alaina, Craig Campbell, RaeLynn and much more!

ALBUM NEWS: Multi-Platinum recording artist Jake Owen delivered his seventh studio album, Loose Cannon, June 23. Owen brings his fan-trusted sound to the 16-song collection just in time for the official summer season. Produced by Joey Moi, Loose Cannon is available everywhere now. Listen here. “Loose Cannon has been a long time coming and I’m so excited my fans can finally experience it with me,” shares Owen. “I hope the album makes it into your summertime memories and I can’t wait to see y’all on the road this fall.” Loose Cannon is a collection of summertime staples with sunshine-soaked lyrics that tip their hat to feel-good classic Country sounds and nostalgia a little over four years since his last full-length album, Greetings From…Jake. The album boasts tracks from songwriters Ashley Gorley, Brent Cobb, Rodney Clawson, Jessie Jo Dillon and Luke Laird, to name a few. Additionally, Owen enlisted reputed artist-writers including ACM Male Artist of the Year nominee Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Jordan Fletcher and Hunter Phelps. Owen kicks off his nationwide Loose Cannon Tour Sept. 7. Tour info, music and more at Jake’s website and on Facebook. #JakeOwen

ANNIVERSARY NEWS: Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Darryl Worley recognizes the power of a song. It’s been two decades since his biggest hit “Have You Forgotten?” took Country Music and the nation by storm. Penned alongside Wynn Varble, the pair poured their hearts into the lyrics and created a post-9/11 anthem ensuring people would never forget those lost. Its message quickly resonated with millions, topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in only its fifth week – marking the fastest rise to the top in more than five years – and reigned for seven weeks. Now, 20 years later, Worley revisited his career-defining song with a fresh modern-day perspective on its original themes for a reimagined version titled “Have We Forgotten,” available now via The Valory Music Co. here. “We recently decided to sit down and write a new lyric for the song that’s appropriate for this day and time with what’s happening in our country today. For the new version ‘Have We Forgotten,’ we wanted to be certain we said what we were truly feeling in our hearts and didn’t compromise what we believe in, which is exactly how it went down with the original. I’m very proud of the message of the song.” More at Darryl’s website. #DarrylWorley.

Walker Montgomery’s whiskey has some “Work To Do”

“Lonely For a Livin'” arrives June 23

by Preshias Harris

Walker Montgomery has some “Work To Do,” but the song of that same title is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for him as it impacts fans following its recent release.

However, Walker co-wrote “Work To Do” back in 2021. “Some buddies of mine, Adam Wood, Mark Irwin and me,” Walker told me when we met up during the 50^th annual CMA Fest in Nashville. “We just got in the writing room and Adam had this idea which was, ‘whiskey’s got some work to do’ and he already had some stuff worked up. I was like, ‘dadgum, that’s cool!’ We knew we wanted to write it, but we didn’t know the angle which we wanted to write it as.”

It quickly became apparent, as the write progressed, that “Work To Do” would be a ‘breakup’ song with lyrics such as: “Yeah tonight this bottle better roll up its sleeves / Cause neither one of us is gonna get any sleep / I’m on the rocks / So he’s on the clock / Until the job gets through / When the weekend rolls around I get to missing you / So this whiskey’s got some work to do.”

Play / stream / download “Work To Do” here. And… Pre-add / pre-save Walker’s new song “Lonely For a Livin'” (released June 23) here.

*Click image to pre-add / pre-save* *“Lonely For a Livin'”*

Jeff Carson’s final album: ‘448’

Album features Craig Morgan, Michael Ray, Darryl Worley

By Preshias Harris

When Jeff Carson passed away suddenly from a heart attack on March 26, he was working on a new project alongside producer (and former Toto member) Buddy Hyatt. Jeff is known for ‘90s hits such as “The Car” and “Not On Your Love” among the fourteen singles on the Billboard country charts.

Prior to that success, he had paid his dues, playing guitar with bands in Branson, Missouri and – after moving to Nashville – at the Opryland Hotel before signing with Curb Records in 1994. And now comes a bittersweet moment in Jeff Carson’s story: the posthumous release (on May 12, 2023) of his final album, 448, originally intended to be the next chapter in his musical life. Read my article about the album at Center Stage Mag here.

Disenchanted with the music industry, he withdrew from the business and changed direction, joining the Franklin, Tennessee, police department as a full-time officer in 2009. But he could not entirely distance himself from the music and he signed with Encore Music Group in 2021.

The album is poignantly titled 448 which was Jeff’s badge number as a serving police officer. 448 includes nine re-recordings of Jeff’s favorite songs and features friends Darryl Worley, Michael Ray and Craig Morgan. Find 448 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

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.

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