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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.

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 @preshiasharris

Loretta Lynn

April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022

Deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fans of the First Lady of Country Music. There will never be another like her.

Loretta Lynn performs “Coal Miner’s Daughter” at “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, on ABC.
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA

“It is not enough to say today that Country Music has lost Loretta Lynn, but rather the world has lost a true music legend. Loretta was a woman whose contributions and impact inspired countless artists and transformed the Country genre into a universal art form. She was a Country Music Hall of Fame member and the first woman to receive a CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year. As a trailblazing songwriter, she bravely wrote about socially and culturally relevant topics that came to define a generation. I’ll personally remember Loretta for her spirit, artistry and genius that rivaled contemporaries like Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.” –Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association CEO

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.

Preshias Harris joins Center Stage Magazine as featured contributor

Note: The following is a media release prepared and distributed by Kat Atwood and the team at Music City Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country music industry vet and entrusted music columnist, Preshias Harris, has announced she will team with Center Stage Magazine extending her reach to a broader audience. Now, in addition to her existing presence in Nashville Music Guide,country music enthusiasts can enjoy up-to-the-minute music news and commentaries at Center Stage Magazine, under the dedicated “Preshias On The Row” header.

A mainstay among prominent media forums, outlets and entertainment writers in the Nashville music scene, Harris has been the author of “Inside Track on Music Row” (one the longest-running monthly country music columns in America) for more than twenty-seven years. Published in Nashville Music Guide since 1995, “Inside Track” appears in print and via digital editions of Nashville Music Guide.

Harris is also a regular contributor to Country Music News International (CMNI). CMNI caters to millions of readers, viewers and radio listeners across the globe; the Germany-based multimedia source provides country music news and information in print, via radio and video broadcasts. She acts as the international CMNI representative at renowned industry events and forums such as Country Radio Seminar and CMA Fest.

Wade Bowen album is traditional country for the 21st century

Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth buzzes like a neon sign

By Preshias harris

Wade Bowen is back with a new album titled Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth, with twelve tracks co-written by Wade alongside writers such as Eric Paslay, Lori McKenna, Randy Montana, Heather Morgan and more.

He premiered the album – playing all the tracks with a full band – at a pop-up album release show August 15 at Analog in Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. Before the show, Wade and I sat down to catch up with what’s new in his world and how he dealt with the pandemic that brought his (and everyone else’s) touring to a dead stop.

Wade Bowen on stage during the pop-up album release concert. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Initially, he told me, the shutdown and the terrible circumstances that surrounded it hit him like “a punch in the gut.” It caused him to go into what he called a writer’s drought.

“I felt I couldn’t write a song because I didn’t know what to say or how to say it or why,” he admitted. “I couldn’t make sense of it all.”

However, he came out of it and says that he started writing a lot. “I think that shutdown helped me to just stop and focus on what matters, and I came out of the other side with a brand new sense of self and a brand new sense of my career and what I wanted to do and what’s important in my life. I think you can hear that in my new stuff, specially with this new record.”

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!

BMI unveils Dolly Parton Music Fund

Dolly Parton Songwriter Award also launched

By Preshias Harris

There’s good news for both aspiring songwriters and students in public school music programs. BMI recently announced the two newly-revised associated programs, both of which have a common connection: the music industry’s most beloved entrepreneur and benefactor, Dolly Parton.

Clay Bradley, BMI Foundation Board Member and BMI’s VP, Creative, has announced that the Foundation’s annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship will be revised and renamed The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award in honor of the legendary artist. Additionally, the new program will establish The Dolly Parton Music Fund, which will underwrite the annual awards to emerging songwriters as well as initiatives to provide or supplement music programs in public schools, ensuring a new generation of music creators, and a well-rounded education for all.

The awards can be used as a career grant for study, instrument purchase, recording costs, or other professional expenses and are not restricted to tuition costs. Founding endowments include a lead gift from Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston as well as a contribution from country superstar Luke Combs, who donated proceeds from the recent BMI Parking Lot Party, celebrating his nine #1 hit songs.

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.