Interprets rock classics plus originals in 30-track project
By Preshias Harris
Nobody can deny that Dolly Parton has conquered Country. Co-hosting the 58th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, May 11 with Garth Brooks, Dolly even poked a little fun at being call a GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – pulling a pink wagon onto the stage with a live goat sitting in it!
So yeah, Dolly’s a Country GOAT… but Rock? You might remember that when her name was put forward as a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she initially declined the nomination saying, “I don’t feel that I have earned that right.” However, Dolly was persuaded to accept the nomination and was inducted into the Rock Hall in November 2022.
So, what’s a country girl to do when she is officially recognized as a rock star? Well… record an album titled Rockstar, of course. The 30-track project will be available November 17, 2023 in effectively all media from vinyl to streaming via Butterfly Records. (Find links and more details in my article posted here at Center Stage Mag.)
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.
Garth Brooks tells the story behind the song at CRS
by Preshias Harris
Garth Brooks became the inaugural recipient of the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Garth Brooks No Fences Award, named after Brooks’ ground-breaking No Fences album. It recognizes an individual in the country music industry who boldly demonstrates innovation, creativity and tenacity.
During this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Brooks was interviewed by CRB’s RJ Curtis. Read my full report of the in-depth interview at Center Stage Mag here.
Garth Brooks talks with Country Radio Broadcasters at CRS 2023. Photo: Preshias Harris
At one point, Curtis put up a screenshot showing a string of Garth Brooks hit songs in a thirteen-month period across 1989 and 1990. The songs were: “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “Not Counting You” and “The Dance”.
However, Brooks was not among the rising artists selected to appear at the New Faces of Country Music show at the 1990 CRS. To the amazement of the ‘standing room only’ audience, Brooks never played the New Faces show.
In the interview, Brooks frankly described how his monumental hit “Friends in Low Places” very nearly became Mark Chesnutt‘s hit single, rather than his. Brooks had actually cut the demo for the songwriters while he was a shoe salesman in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, moonlighting as a demo singer.
He went on to explain his prolonged absence from music to be with his family and how: “it was probably the most selfish move I ever made in my life.”
Read my full report of the in-depth Garth Brooks interview in the ‘Preshias On The Row’ section of Center Stage Mag here. #CenterStageMag
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
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
Seasoned road warriors talk about their new single
by Preshias Harris
Southbound 75have been described as “Old Dominion meets Maroon 5” which may be true but does not quite encompass their wildly popular live shows.
As seasoned road warriors – hence the band’s name – they entertain audiences all across the country. They stood still long enough to talk to me in Nashville during Country Radio Seminar (CRS).
We talked about their just-released single, “That Summer” (Brown Lee Ent/Sony Orchard) — an upbeat song about living in the moment — and about their life on the road. They even revealed their “gotta-go-to” eatery when they are burning up the miles between gigs!
Read my full interview with Southbound 75 in the Preshias on the Row section of Center Stage Magazine 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
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates Sam Phillips’ 100th birthday
by Preshias Harris
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the most influential people in the realms of virtually all popular music – country, blues, R&B, rock n’ roll and pop. Sam Phillips was born January 5, 1923 in Florence, Alabama, but made his indelible mark on music in Memphis, Tennessee.
It was there, in 1950, that he set up the Memphis Recording Service and then Sun Records that would launch the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more.
(L to R) Jay McDowell, Jerry Phillips talk at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Preshias Harris
In February, The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum honored the legendary Sam Phillips at a special event marking what would have been his 100th birthday. In attendance was Sam’s son Jerry Phillips who took the podium for an informal Q&A, led by the Museum’s multimedia archivist Jay McDowell.
Read my full story and interview at Center Stage Mag here.
Now it’s really beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Music will always be part of Christmas and certain songs instantly conjure up childhood memories that stay with us throughout our lives. Here’s a roundup of some Christmas music news that might create some new memories for you and your family. Scroll down for info on Opry Country Christmas, O.N.E. The Duo, Mikayla Lane, Craig Campbell, Drew Aldridge, Chris Isaak and Opry NextStage.
Opry Country Christmas returns to Grand Ole Opry House
The Grand Ole Opry® has kicked off Nashville’s newest holiday tradition with the return of Opry Country Christmas at the Grand Ole Opry House. Hosted by Grammy®-winning Opry member Larry Gatlin, Opry Country Christmas will showcase songs of the holiday season, running on select dates through Dec. 22. Each show features Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Riders In The Sky, Mandy Barnett and Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy. Other Opry members, special guests, and spotlight artists will round out the shows made up of artists’ original songs and timeless Christmas favorites. Spotlight Artists for this year’s run include Lauren Alaina (Dec. 1), Scotty McCreery (Dec. 4), Steven Curtis Chapman (Dec. 8); Chris Janson (Dec. 11), Josh Turner and Chris Young (Dec 15), Lorrie Morgan (Dec. 21), and Ricky Skaggs (Dec. 22). Additional artists scheduled for various Opry Country Christmas shows include John Berry, Jason Crabb, Louise Mandrell, Kathy Mattea, Jeannie Seely, and Rhonda Vincent. Tickets are on-sale now here starting at $55.00.
“Happy Holiday With Me” from mom/daughter duo
O.N.E. The Duo
O.N.E The Duo, Music City’s own mother-daughter Country/Americana duo (Tekitha and Prana Supreme), are ringing in the Christmas spirit with “Happy Holiday With Me,” via a new music video out now. Inspired by Mariah Carey’s iconic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” video, the clip is reminiscent of a vintage candid home video. The song can also be found on their new holiday EP O.N.E Very Merry Christmas, available here. “Christmas, and the holiday season in general, is my favorite time of year and that’s really what I wanted to capture for this video. Growing up, my family didn’t really celebrate Christmas in the traditional way, so it was fun to create those moments for this song,” says Prana Supreme — daughter of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Wu-Tang vocalist Tekitha — who wrote “Happy Holiday With Me” with her mom, Nash Overstreet, and Shane Stevens. Directed by Brandon Vestal, the festive clip features the duo celebrating some of their favorite Christmas traditions like baking apple pie together, while Ron Zamber (Chairman and Founding Partner, Visionary Media Group and Private Equity Group Partner) makes a cameo as Santa Claus. More info here.
Included in Nashville Music Guide’s 2022 Holiday issue
It’s that time again! Where did 2022 go?! Check out the current edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, now posted as part of the 2022 Holiday Guide at Nashville Music Guide. Inside Track on Music Row is the longest continuously-running country music column in America. Read the entire issue and find the column on pages 33 through 39.
In the column you’ll find news items on Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Randy Rogers Band, Chris Tomlin, Jason Crabb, Christmas 4 Kids, CMA Country Christmas, Caylee Hammack, Cole Swindell, Flat River Band, Billy Strings, Jacob Bryant, Average Joe’s, Eddie Montgomery, Elvie Shane, Cody Johnson, One Spark Entertainment, Jeannie Seely, Graciela, Allie Colleen, William Lee Golden, Kentucky Headhunters, Mandy Barnett, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Drew Aldridge, Ashley Cooke, Tucker Beathard, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Paulina Jayne, Jenny Tolman and more!
Find the 2022 Holiday issue of Nashville Music Guidehere.
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.
A chilly morning didn’t stop Tracy Lawrenceand around 250 volunteers from cooking up 1,200 turkeys at the seventeenth annual Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry two days before Thanksgiving.
Volunteers at work with one of the many turkey fryers. Photo: Tracie Moore
Those 1,200 turkeys – the most ever in the annual event’s history – provided 9,600 meals to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. This year, the Turkey Fry moved to the Nashville Fairgrounds from its original location at the Nashville Rescue Mission’s parking lot, allowing the team to set up even more fryers.
Tracy told me, “I’m just happy we haven’t set anything on fire today,” when I caught up with him as the first turkeys were coming out of the fryers. He admitted it was a big undertaking, but added, “We’re going to reach hundreds more people in need around the Greater Nashville area this year than we’ve ever been able to do in the past.”
“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!”
