Dylan Scott Archives - Nashville Music Line

Inside Track on Music Row: all new music for May ’26!

New albums and singles, tour news, CMA Fest updates, Opry news and more

By Preshias Harris

It’s May on Music Row and here’s your Inside Track with everything you need to know about the new and upcoming Country album and single releases and tours from Dylan Scott, Southall, Keith Urban, Brian Kelley & Niko Moon, Kacey Musgraves, Russell Dickerson, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Brandy Clark, Ryan Bingham, Lauren Rismiller, Aaron Tippin and many more! Plus news and updates about CMA Fest, the ACM Awards, Grand Ole Opry and more. Scroll down and catch up!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I started being a songwriter pretending I could do it, and it turned out I could.” – singer-songwriter James Taylor

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen. – Isaiah 60:22

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part One: The Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced additional performers and new event details for this year’s ACM Awards Week lineup, which will take place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 61st ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17th at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

2025 ACM Triple Crown Award recipient and 14-time ACM Award-winning Country superstar Keith Urban will headline “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach, Saturday, May 16. Urban joins previously announced performers including Flatland Cavalry, Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Braxton Keith, and Tucker Wetmore, as well as members of the Opry NextStage Class of 2026 – Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Tickets are available starting at $150 for VIP and $75 for General Admission at AXS.com.

Additional ACM Awards Week performers, as well as ACM Awards’ presenters, performers, and host, will be announced in the coming weeks. #ACMawards

ACM AWARDS WEEK NEWS Part Two: Additionally, Avery Anna, The Band Perry, Jenna Paulette and Caroline Jones have been announced as performers for the “Whiskey Jam Welcome Party.” A long-standing Nashville staple for live music, Whiskey Jam, is headed to Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14, from 8–11 p.m. for a free ACM Awards welcome party open to both fans and industry alike held at Ole Red Las Vegas. Additional performers to be announced.

“Whiskey Jam Welcome Party” joins the previously announced ACM Awards Week events including the aforementioned “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” (see above) and “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15th. The event will feature an unforgettable, up-close concert experience with headliner Riley Green, alongside Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser.Tickets are available at $200 for VIP Early Access to General Admission doors and $150 for General Admission at AXS.com. Proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans will also be able to watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as in the Amazon Music app.

ALBUM NEWS

ERNEST

ERNEST: On May 1^st, Nashville-native, Grammy-nominated tastemaker and triple threat talent ERNEST released his third full-length studio album, Deep Blue – listen here. Inspired by the sounds and spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Deep Blue takes the listener out to sea on a nostalgic, sentimental trip, full circle and reminiscent of ERNEST’s 9-song, 2019 entry Locals Only.

February ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ brings the love!

Inside Track on new albums, singles and tour updates

By Preshias Harris

February is for lovers… music lovers that is! And there’s plenty to love. Touring updates from Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Oak Ridge Boys, Dylan Scott and more. Read about hot singles from Lee Brice, Kane Brown, Larkin Poe, LOCASH and Walker Montgomery among others. There are new albums from LANCO, Craig Morgan, Tyler Rich, Six Gun Sally, Mary Chapin Carpenter… Keep reading for all that and more!

ALBUM NEWS

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER: “A Heart That Never Closes,” the new song from Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart, is out now. Listen/share here. The track is the latest unveiled from the trio’s first collaborative album, Looking For The Thread, released January 24 via Thirty Tigers (pre-order/pre-save here). In celebration of the project, the trio will play six shows in the U.K. in March including sold-out dates in Sunderland and Edinburgh. “An Evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, and Karine Polwart” will feature tracks from the new album, as well as songs from across their respective catalogues, accompanied by their transatlantic band. Full details can be found at www.marychapincarpenter.com.

Conceived in the remote west of Scotland and recorded at the renowned Real World studios, Looking For The Thread is a rich, resonant and unique record, one that supports and illuminates the core characteristics of each artist while bringing forth a powerful collective identity.

Produced by Bonny Light Horseman’s Josh Kaufman, Looking For The Thread is grounded in mutual respect stretching back decades, as Polwart and Fowlis are dedicated fans of Carpenter, while Carpenter, in turn, has long admired the pair. After first setting up a Dropbox to share ideas remotely, the three convened in January 2023 then headed north to a writing retreat at Kinlochmoidart House, where Looking For The Thread was born. #MaryChapinCarpenter

LANCO

LANCO: Good things come to those who wait. After seven years of anticipation, multi-Platinum selling band LANCO released their long-awaited sophomore album, We’re Gonna Make It, on Friday, January 17, 2025, via Riser House Records. The 14-track album features fan favorites such as “Low Class Lovers” and “Sound of a Saturday Night,” along with the recently released “We Grew Up Together,” featuring Grammy-nominated artist Cory Asbury. Get the album here.

Produced by Jay Joyce, Jared Conrad, and LANCO, We’re Gonna Make It follows the band’s award-winning debut album Hallelujah Nights (2018). Over the past seven years, the band has experienced significant personal and professional growth, which is reflected in the introspective and deeply relatable themes found throughout the new album. The number seven, often associated with insight, intuition, and wisdom, feels like a fitting symbol for this milestone in the band’s journey.

“We’ve poured our experiences, lessons, and emotions from the past few years into this album,” says lead vocalist Brandon Lancaster. “Life isn’t always sunny … but it’s all worth it for the sense of resilience that comes from making it through those tough times and creating an album that reflects our truth. Fans have been so patient with us while we crafted something that truly captures who we are today—fathers, husbands, sons, friends, and so much more.” Music, tour and ticket info at lancomusic.com. #LANCOmusic

CRAIG MORGAN

CRAIG MORGAN: Some people just know innately who they are and what they stand for. Within a few minutes of any interaction with Craig Morgan, it’s readily apparent God, family and country are his foundation. The Country Music hitmaker will continue to celebrate those pillars on his new EP, American Soundtrack, releasing February 28 on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Pre-add/pre-save Craig Morgan’s American Soundtrack EP here. Morgan co-wrote all but one of the EP’s six tracks, and each song on American Soundtrack is infused with the singer and soldier’s faith and patriotism. The EP was produced by Phil O’Donnell and Craig Morgan.

‘New Faces of Country Music’ set for CRS

Stars on the rise at Country Radio show

Jimmie Allen, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, LANCO, Dylan Scott will strut their stuff for radio honchos

The 2019 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is just around the corner, set for Feb. 13-15, 2019 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. CRS is an annual convention that brings together thousands of Country radio air personalities, program directors and consultants. They are joined by record label executives, A&R staff and artist management teams, eager to expose their acts to radio’s decision makers.

A highlight at every CRS is the New Faces of Country Music® show. The ‘Class of 2019’ will consist of: Jimmie Allen (Stoney Creek), Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), Lindsay Ell (Stoney Creek), LANCO (Arista), and Dylan Scott (Curb). The annual new artist showcase event officially closes out the seminar and remains one of the most anticipated events each year at CRS.

I have attended CRS for many years and always look forward with excitement to the New Faces show. Here is an overview of the artists that will be part of the ‘Class of 2019.’

Jimmie Allen

With such an amazingly successful 2018 in his rearview mirror, we have to keep reminding ourselves that Jimmie Allen is still technically a newcomer. But he’s definitely not new to Nashville. Reinforcing the maxim that ‘Nashville is a ten-year town,’ Jimmie arrived in Music City in 2007 at the age of 22 with a bank balance of $21.00. Virtually broke, Jimmie was reduced to sleeping in his car at first, so he could send money from paychecks back to his mom in Delaware.

Working a variety of jobs over the years, he was determined to follow his dream in music. Developing his skill as a songwriter, he signed a publishing deal with Wide Open Music in 2016. Then, in 2017, he was signed to Stoney Creek Records by Jon Loba, Executive VP of BBR Music Group. Jimmie’s debut album, ‘Mercury Lane,’ was named after the street he grew up on in Delaware. The album’s lead-off single, “Best Shot,” topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. With that song, Jimmie made history as the first black artist to launch their career with a No. 1 at Country radio.

In an interview with The Tennessean in December, Jimmie said he always carries $2.00 in his pocket every day with the promise that he must have given it away before bedtime. The reason: back when he first came to Nashville, someone gave him a dollar. He bought a chicken sandwich at McDonalds that he tore in half to make it last for two days.

“It made every sacrifice worth it. I got to look my son in the eyes and tell him, ‘If you work hard and are good to people, eventually you’ll get an opportunity to make your dreams happen.” – Jimmie Allen, speaking of his success in an interview with the Tennessean, December 28, 2018

Music and tour dates at Jimmie Allen’s website and on Facebook.

Russell Dickerson

It’s also been a good year (or two) for Russell Dickerson. A fan favorite, he currently has over 200 million streams on Spotify and approximately 30 million YouTube views. He graduated from Belmont University with a degree in music and signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2010, releasing an EP, “Die to Live Again,” the following year. Continue reading “‘New Faces of Country Music’ set for CRS”

CRS ‘New Faces’ 2019 revealed

Jimmie Allen, LANCO, Lindsay Eli and more slated

Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019 is only weeks away, and now we know which artists will be featured in the New Faces show. CRS, billed as ‘the Only Country Industry Convention,’ is organized annually by Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB).

The acts scheduled for New Faces of Country Music® Class of 2019 are: Jimmie Allen (Stoney Creek), Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), Lindsay Ell (Stoney Creek), LANCO (Arista), and Dylan Scott (Curb). The acts were chosen from a slate of 13 nominees by radio station employees. The New Faces show, staged for music industry decision makers, has proved to be a major career boost for featured artists in previous years. The audience consists of radio programmers, air personalities, station executives, music media and label bigwigs. The February 15 show is an ‘industry only’ event, not open to the public.

The other nominees were: Jordan Davis, Morgan Evans, Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Chris Lane, Mitchell Tenpenny, Morgan Wallen and Aaron Watson. Lindsay Eli was the only female act on the slate of nominees.

CRB is a non-profit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, created to promote the growth of country radio and the country music industry through educational programs. The New Faces of Country Music® Dinner and Show is co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Performances powered by Live Nation. More about CRS here. https://www.countryradioseminar.com

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

It’s a bloomin’ boom in babies for country music moms and dads to be

‘Country’ babies on the way

Something in the water? Something in the air? Whatever it is, there will soon be several additions to the families of country artists in Music City. Baby bottles and diapers are in the future for these folks:

Dylan Scott had a chart-topper with “My Girl” but the Curb Records artist and his wife Blair are expecting their first child and nope, it won’t be a girl. The couple held a ‘reveal’ party, pulling poppers that showered out blue confetti. So the new addition will be … a boy!

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and wife Hayley announced that they, too, have Baby Number One on the way. The baby – a boy – is due in December. Hayley told People magazine that it’s something they’ve been looking forward to for a while, but “It’s all about God’s timing.”

Brantley and Amber Gilbert will also be shopping for baby clothes. They are expecting their happy event in November. Again, People magazine made the announcement (back in May) about the Gilberts’ good news after almost two years of trying.

Jason Aldean and wife of two years Brittany Kerr also found the path to parenthood threw them a few curves along the way. But former American Idol contestant Brittany took to social media to post: “Surprise! We are pregnant!” It’s blue bootees for the newest Aldean as the couple announce their first child will be a boy.

Chris Lucas – one half of the duo LOCASH – and his wife Kaitlyn are expecting their third child – a girl – in September. The new baby will join six-year-old brother Caden and one-year-old sister Remi. Lucas told Nash Country Daily, “I think I’m done after that. My wife is done for sure!”

Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum is staging a one-band baby boom of their own. Hillary Scott and husband Chris Tyrrell are expecting baby number two in February next year.

And Lady A’s Dave Haywood and wife Kelli will welcome their second child (a girl) in December. So, congrats and best wishes to all those proud parents to be and their babies.