Hardy Archives - Nashville Music Line

February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ is here!

New music for lovers – country music lovers, that is!

By Preshias Harris

February is the month of love so we’ve got love songs, break-up songs, make-up songs and everything in between. New music from Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Frankie Ballard, ERNEST, Ashley McBryde, HARDY, Struggle Jennings, Megan Moroney, Jon Pardi and lots more for you and your Valentine, plus the Musicians Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees, a new IMAX movie, Bluegrass news and more. Scroll down for your Inside Track on Music Row!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a different person before I started to write. When I realized I could be a songwriter and that people would listen – that was when I started feeling good in my life.” – Gwen Stafani

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – I Corinthians 13: 13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH will release the album Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on February 13, 2026, via MCA Nashville. Pre-save / pre-order here. Recorded at The Pinnacle in Nashville in May 2025, this 19-track live album accompanies an exclusive IMAX concert film of the same name releasing on the same day, featuring performances of his 2025 studio album in its entirety, alongside live versions of some of his hits such as “Desperate Man,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Sinners Like Me,” and “Springsteen”.

The release coincides with the second leg of his “Free the Machine” tour, which resumed in early 2026. Find tour and ticket info here.

Scroll down to MOVIE NEWS for information about the Eric Church IMAX movie of Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive and where/when you can see it.

LAKELIN LEMMINGS

LAKELIN LEMMINGS: Rising country artist Lakelin Lemmings releases her new EP, Get Around Boy, on February 6, 2026, via QHMG/Quartz Hill Records. Produced by Ash Bowers the five-track project captures the emotional push-and-pull of small-town roots, restless ambition, faith, and modern country storytelling.

Anchored by title track, “Get Around Boy,” a contemporary-tinged road anthem that explores the personal cost of chasing dreams. With vivid, coast-to-coast imagery and a soaring sing-along chorus, the song finds Lakelin reflecting on love left behind while life keeps moving forward.

The EP balances high-energy autobiographical moments with thoughtful, heart-led storytelling. From the playful uncertainty of modern romance to songs rooted in faith and hometown memory, Get Around Boy showcases Lakelin’s growth as both a writer and an artist who is grounded, authentic and emotionally significant.

Wise beyond her 19 years, Lemmings’ faith and her tenacity lead her confidence as she sets out to tackle the wild and often beautiful business of music with an arsenal of talent. She signed her first Nashville publishing deal at just 17 years old and has since amassed more than 120,000 followers on TikTok. Connection and communication with her audience is what drives her songwriting. She strives to let listeners—especially girls her own age—know that they’re seen and heard. More at lakelinlemmings.com and on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

BLUEGRASS NEWS

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK

BEACHLEY and WINDBECK: Huckleberry Records has released “My Delilah,” a new single from Darren Beachleyand Kyle Windbeck that blends heartfelt storytelling with traditional bluegrass power and harmony. The song is at country radio now and is available for streaming from all digital music platforms here.

Inside Track on Music Row – Fall special!

Inside Track on new albums, singles, videos, songwriter awards and more!

By Preshias Harris

It’s finally Fall – and here’s what you need to know about new music from Drew Baldridge, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Matt Cooper, Daniella Cotton, Colt Ford, Charles Wesley Godwin, Vince Gill, HARDY, Joy Holden, Trace Nixon, Kody Norris, Thomas Rhett, Runaway June, Lauren Watkins, Tucker Wetmore – plus ‘listen/play’ links to the albums and singles and more. It’s all here, so keep scrolling!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I wrote [Every Rose Has Its Thorns] in a mini-Winnebago outside a honky-tonk in Dallas, where we had played to maybe 50 or 100 people. I came back to the bus, me and my girl at the time had broken up and it just sparked me. Music saved my life.” -Bret Michaels of Poison, speaking of the group’s 1988 Number One hit in an interview with USA Today.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

ALBUM & EP NEWS

DIERKS BENTLEY

DIERKS BENTLEY: Following a summer packed with standout performances and fan-favorite collaborations, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley is expanding his 11th studio album with Broken Branches Extended, released October 3. Bentley continues to grow his signature blend of against-the-grain creative courage, offering two brand new tracks, including the rowdy standout “IYKYK” and the driving, dobro-laced “All Night to Figure It Out.” Listen/save Broken Branches Extended here.

The punchy foot-stomper “IYKYK” comes out swinging with a spirited mandolin riff, courtesy of Charlie Worsham, that hits like a honky tonk anthem on overdrive. With lyrical nods to fiddle, steel guitar, Natty Light and Friday nights, Bentley leans into a defiant celebration of the country way of life—one that doesn’t need explaining if you already live it. Meanwhile, “All Night to Figure It Out” sets the (acoustic) mood for a little romantic research. Burning with slow-grooving, stomp-and-clap desire, the dobro-drenched jangle rocker features a loose, casual sway, with Bentley’s easy vocal in no hurry for the moment to end.

The two new tracks join Broken Branches’ original 11. Rooted in raw honesty and storytelling, the album embraces life’s outliers and underdogs with songs about resilience, change, and connection. Praised for its “distinctive and daring sound” (Esquire), the original collection features a cross-generational lineup of collaborators—including John Anderson, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, and Stephen Wilson Jr. More at Dierks.com, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS: Global superstar Luke Combs released The Prequel, a new 3-song EP, October 3 via Sony Music Nashville— listen-save here. Produced by Combs and Chip Matthews, The Prequel features “My Kinda Saturday Night,” which is already highly anticipated by fans after being teased online, as well as “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These.”

Of the project, Combs shares, “Still working on my new album that’ll be out early next year, but 3 songs from it are ready now and I couldn’t wait to get y’all some new music, so I’m releasing them this Friday, October 3 as The Prequel. Songs will be ‘Days Like These,’ ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘My Kinda Saturday Night,’ which next year’s tour will be named after. I’ll have more news on that very soon.”

The release adds to yet another monumental year for Combs, who recently made history as the first country artist ever to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Additionally, Combs released his latest single, “Back in the Saddle,” earlier this summer, which is currently #8 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and rising. Combs is a multi-diamond, award-winning artist from Asheville, NC. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Combs is nominated for three awards at the 2025 CMA Awards. Tour updates at LukeCombs.com and TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

COLT FORD

COLT FORD: Country music trailblazer Colt Ford has announced the release of his brand-new album, Little Out There, available everywhere on November 7, 2025 (pre-save here) via Average Joes Entertainment. The project marks Ford’s first full-length release since his near-fatal heart attack in April 2024 – a powerful comeback story underscored by resilience, passion, and a renewed creative fire.

Along with the album announcement, the multi-platinum artist dropped a new single, “Country AF” featuring Jay Webb, available now on all streaming platforms. The rowdy, unapologetic anthem channels Ford’s signature country swagger, blending hip-hop energy, Southern grit, and sharp lyricism––penned by Michael Hardy, Jaren Johnston, and Jesse Frasure.

Country music fans: here’s your ‘Inside Track on Music Row’!

September 2025 ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ with new albums, singles, tour updates and more!

By Preshias Harris

This September is a real treat for Country fans! Keep reading for news about new music from Kevin Denney, Russell Dickerson, Janie Fricke, Marcy Grace, Riley Green, HARDY, Walker Montgomery, The Band Perry, Margo Price, John Rich, Tyler Rich, Scott Teasley, Zach Top, Maddye Trew, Stephen Williams Jr., Wynn Williams, duet releases from Colbie Caillet & Lee Brice and Carín León & Kacey Musgraves, Noah Thompson’s tour update, John Michael Montgomery’s farewell concert, Old Dominionin Las Vegas, Reba McEntire’s new video… it’s all here in this edition of America’s longest-running monthly country music column, Inside Track on Music Row!

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

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him. – Psalm 147:1

ALBUM & EP NEWS

THE BAND PERRY

THE BAND PERRY has released their remastered self-titled debut album The Band Perry (Play/download here). The album, originally released in 2010, went Platinum and sold over one million copies in the United States.

Rising to fame with multi-platinum hits like “If I Die Young,” “Better Dig Two,” and “DONE.,” the Grammy-winning trio earned critical and commercial acclaim, selling two and a half million albums, 12 million singles, racking up over 1 billion streams, earning multiple CMA, ACM, and CMT Music Awards, and six No. 1 Country singles.

“If I Die Young” is 9X Platinum, won 2011 CMA Song and Single of the Year awards respectively, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Song, spent 53 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and topped both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Hot AC charts.

Recently, the band announced their official return to Country music. The new lineup for the family band is Reid Perry, Kimberly Perry, and Johnny Costello. Last month, The Band Perry re-signed to original label home, Big Machine Label Group via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, launching their next chapter with the team who started it all. The band also announced a new management partnership with Make Wake Artists. Tour dates, music and more at TheBandPerry.co; follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTubeand Spotify.

RUSSELL DICKERSON

RUSSELL DICKERSON: Multi-Platinum chart-topper and entertainer Russell Dickerson has spent the last decade chasing the dream of becoming a household name—while never losing sight of what matters most: being “famous” within the four walls of his own home. Now, with the release of his fourth studio album, Famous Back Home (stream/play here), Dickerson sets his sights even higher. Co-produced with longtime collaborator Josh Kerr, and featuring contributions from Casey Brown and Chris LaCorte, the project blends the heartfelt authenticity fans have always embraced with the raw, electric energy of his live shows—marking a bold new chapter in one of country music’s most dynamic careers. Showcasing his fearless evolution as both an artist and storyteller, Famous Back Home captures who Dickerson is at his core: a hitmaker, husband, father, and proud hometown hero.

“This album means so much to me,” explains Dickerson. “I poured my heart into every song, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. In many ways, it’s a thank-you letter to the people who believed in me from the very beginning. I hope it serves as a reminder that no matter how far you go, the truest kind of ‘famous’ is found in those who’ve known you all along.”

Dickerson was recently honored with an RIAA Gold certification for his recent chart-topping single “Happen To Me.” More at RussellDickerson.com, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

JANIE FRICKE

JANIE FRICKE: Two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year, Janie Fricke, has made three rare albums available for streaming for the first time ever through StarVista Music: Bouncin’ Back (2000), Tributes to My Heroes (2003) and Roses & Lace (2008). Fricke originally recorded these albums as limited pressings to take on tour, and is now releasing them digitally to adapt to the way music is shared. For the first time, fans can stream these songs that were never previously available digitally. Stream Bouncin’ Back here; stream Tributes to My Heroes here; stream Roses & Lace here.

Inside Track on Music Row – May 2025

SO much music news! Hot country singles and albums, tour updates, and more!

By Preshias Harris

SO much music happening in May!! Here’s where you’ll find info on new music from Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Donna Fargo, HARDY, Tayler Holder, Sierra Hull, Cody Jinks, Cody Johnson, LOCASH, Onoleigh, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Tomlin, Tucker Wetmore and The Wildmans… tour updates on road warriors Brian Kelley, Dylan Scott, Shaboozy, HARDY (again!), Dustin Lynch and Scotty McCreery… Number One news (Cole Swindell), music video info (including Luke Bryan), plus news about NSAI, The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, and more. Scroll down and catch up! #PreshiasHarris

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I was a pretty good imitator of Roy Acuff, but then I found out they already had a Roy Acuff, so I started singin’ like myself.” – Hank Williams

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. – Psalm 147:7

ALBUM & EP NEWS

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH: The new album from Eric Church, titled Evangeline vs. The Machine, (pre-save here) is set for release May 2 via EMI Records Nashville, his first new album since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album.

“An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares about the new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art—I think it’s important.

“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next—and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that’s not what I thought.’ I think that’s my job as an artist.”

Evangeline vs. The Machine features the previously-released “Darkest Hour,” a track Church used to support relief efforts in his home state of North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, donating all of his publishing royalties to the cause. The album’s lead single, “Hands Of Time,” shipped to country radio March 24. #EricChurchMusic

HARDY

HARDY: Country rock superstar HARDY’s next round is in the chamber with a new EP, COUNTRY!, set for release on May 2 via Big Loud. Two new songs from the EP, his first new music of 2025, debuted April 11 – listen/add “Favorite Country Song” and “Buck On The Wall”. Pre-save/pre-add COUNTRY! here.

“Two new songs—I’m extremely excited,” says HARDY. “Both songs remind me of a very special place, the place where I grew up, the place where I became who I am—my deer camp. It’s now the only place I have to go home to since somebody lives in my childhood home. I feel like it’s been a long time coming to put out some music that gets back to my roots.”

Additionally, HARDY made his first ever appearance on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage on April 29.

His 2023 breakout the mockingbird & THE CROW and its 2024 follow up Quit!! have topped countless Billboard charts, including a top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, and racked up 6 billion streams. HARDY has written 16 #1 singles including his own two-times Platinum chart topper “ONE BEER” featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, the platinum Dierks Bentley and BRELAND collaboration “Beers On Me,” and more. Also check out HARDY’s upcoming shows under the TOUR NEWS heading. #HARDY

SIERRA HULL

SIERRA HULL:

With A Tip Toe High Wire, (listen here) her first new album in five years, songwriter, singer, and award-winning mandolinist Sierra Hull has perfected the daring act of stepping into a new, progressive sonic territory while never straying too far from the bluegrass and Americana roots she’s cultivated in her two-decade-plus career. While joined on the album by world-class friends like Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife O’Donovan, Hull self-produced A Tip Toe High Wire with her highly skilled touring band in the center ring—something she was able to make the call on as this is also her first album to be released entirely independently.

It’s August! Here’s this month’s Inside Track

Inside Track on Music Row for August 2024

by Preshias Harris

Scroll down to read a LOT of news about HARDY, Reba McEntire, Megan Moroney, Jake Owen, Opry Country Christmas, Chris Tomlin, Nu-Blu, Lauren Watkins, Bobby Marquez, Ashley McBride, Alex Miller, Morgan Wallen, Allie Colleen, Justin Moore and much more!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “I’ve ended up as a songwriter. This is my job. How did I get this lucky? What a great job!” – Paul McCartney, in an interview with Annie Clark (St. Vincent) on Instagram Live. [reported in American Songwriter, April 16, 2021]

BIBLE VERSE OF THE MONTH: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! – Psalm 100: 1-2

ALBUM NEWS: Acclaimed singer-songwriter Amos Lee will release his eagerly awaited new album, Transmissions, available Friday, August 9 on his own Hoagiemouth Records via Thirty Tigers. Lee’s 11th studio album and first new collection of original songs in more than two years, Transmissions is heralded by the premiere of the graceful first single, “Hold On Tight,” available everywhere now. Listen now at Play MPE and watch the official video here.

Transmissions sees Amos Lee continuing to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. Self-produced by Lee for only the second time in his chart-topping, RIAA Gold-certified career (following 2013’s Spirit), the Philadelphia, PA-based artist returned to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, NY, built by drummer Lee Falco and his dad out of reclaimed wood from an old church. Playing live on the floor for long hours in close quarters, Lee and his fellow musicians were able to capture the album’s twelve songs in less than a week. Lee augmented his band’s soulful, folk-funk sound with arrangements that extend the scope of songs, from autobiographical to upbeat and jam-powered. Music, tour dates and more at Amos Lee’s website. Pre-order Amos Lee’s Transmissions here. #AmosLee

ALBUM NEWS Part Two: Megan Moroney’s Am I Okay? debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 — the definitive all-genre chart for U.S. album sales. Released on July 12 to widespread acclaim, the Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records singer/songwriter’s sophomore LP also shot to the No. 3 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart — a feat that makes Am I Okay? the fifth-biggest Country debut of 2024 and the year’s third-biggest debut from a female Country artist (after Beyoncé and Kacey Musgraves). Go here to stream/download Am I Okay? now. With nearly 43K in consumption units in its first week — including 37.6 million streams — Am I Okay? has earned massive praise from many of the music world’s leading publications, including Rolling Stone, Variety, The Tennessean and the print editions of American Songwriterand The New York Times.

Also lauded by Billboard, MusicRow, and more, Am I Okay? turned up on coveted lists like “New Music Friday: The best albums out July 12” from NPR’s All Songs Considered. In addition, Associated Press declared that “[y]ou’d be hard-pressed to find a more relatable voice in contemporary country music for young women” and hailed Am I Okay? as “a heartbreak-filled rollercoaster ride of a sophomore album, filled with quotable kiss-offs and evolved compositions.” Moroney has earned nearly 1.5 billion total global streams to date. More at Megan Moroney’s website and on social media. #MeganMoroney

AMERICANA NEWS: The Americana Music Association has announced its performers for the 23rd annual Americana Honors & Awards, taking place in Nashville on Sept. 18 at the famed Ryman Auditorium. This year’s Honors & Awards will deliver performances from award-winning legends, buzzworthy new artists, and longtime fan favorites including Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandy Clark with SistaStrings, Charles Wesley Godwin, Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakam, Fantastic Negrito, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jobi Riccio, Kaitlin Butts, Larkin Poe, The Milk Carton Kids, Noah Kahan, Sarah Jarosz, Shelby Lynne, Sierra Ferrell, Turnpike Troubadours, The War And Treaty, Waxahatchee with MJ Lenderman, and Wyatt Flores.

In addition to the annual “Of the Year” awards presented during the program (view the nominees here), the 2024 Honors & Awards will include this year’s Lifetime Achievement Honorees: Blind Boys of Alabama, Dave Alvin, Don Was, Dwight Yoakam, Rev. Gary Davis, and Shelby Lynne. Rev. Gary Davis (honored posthumously) will receive the Legacy Award in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music and will be recognized with a performance by Fantastic Negrito. Additionally, the program will be filmed for broadcast on PBS in the Austin City Limits time slot in November. Tickets to the Americana Honors & Awards are on sale now here. For more information on the association or to purchase passes to AMERICANAFEST, visit www.americanamusic.org.

February ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ posted now!

40+ items of music news you can use

The February 2024 edition of my column Inside Track on Music Row is ready to read right now here at NashvilleMusicGuide.com! It’s the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA, thanks to readers like you!

Among the 40+ music news stories you can read in this month’s column:

Chris Young is readying his upcoming album for release March 22 and you can pre-save now from a link in the story…
Tracy Lawrence, David Adam Byrnes and Rodney Carrington are encouraging you to let loose and take chances with their new single, “Kick A Little,” from their upcoming Little Texas tribute album…
John Michael Montgomery is giving fans advance notice of his upcoming retirement from touring after 30+ years on the road, 16 million albums and seven No. 1 hits…
BRELAND will return to the Ryman Auditorium for a third time with his BRELAND & Friends 2024 concert in March 2024. Tickets are available now…
Brooks & Dunn, the best-selling duo of all time, have announce the dates for their upcoming REBOOT 2024 Tour and we have a link to the tour and ticket info…
Moe Bandy is celebrating the 45th anniversary of his hit single “It’s A Cheating Situation,” a duet with Janie Fricke, released in January 1979…
John Berry has re-released three of his most popular albums in partnership with StarVista Music, saying, “This will give some of my favorite songs a breath of new life”…
Springer Mountain Farms “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman” is returning to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for its 30th year and tickets are available now…
Cody Johnson is now out on the road on The Leather Tour with a string of dates through September while his current single “The Painter” has scored more than 95 million global streams…
Plus much more, including news about new singles from Spencer Crandall, Lacy J. Dalton, Waylon Hanel, Jessie G, Walker Montgomery, Mitchell Tenpenny, HARDY, and more…

Find the February 2024 Inside Track on Music Row column 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 here Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris

Nashville Songwriter Awards honor year’s best songs and writers

Bobby Braddock receives Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award

By Preshias Harris

The 6^th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards took over the hallowed stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, September 26, 2023. The glittering event honors and recognizes the extraordinary men and women who are the driving force behind the songs usually associated with the artists who perform them. The Awards show was produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and presented by City National Bank.

Front row L-R: David Israelite (2023 NSAI Advocacy Award recipient), Sonya Isaacs, Steve Bogard (NSAI, Board President), Bobby Braddock (2023 NSAI Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient), Nicolle Galyon, Emily Shackelton, Ashley Gorley (2023 NSAI ‘Songwriter of the Year’ recipient), Megan Moroney, Trannie Anderson (NSAI 2023 ‘Song of the Year’ recipient), Ben Burgess, Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI, Chief Operating Officer).

Back row L-R: Jimmy Yeary, Bart Herbison (NSAI, Executive Director), Ben Johnson, Dallas Wilson (NSAI 2023 ‘Song of the Year’ recipient), Ben Williams, Mark Holman, Hunter Phelps, David Fanning, Paul Jenkins. Photo credit: Jason Davis

Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley. Photo: Tori Perry Photography

Kentucky’s own Ashley Gorley seems to be setting an unmatchable level of achievement, receiving the Songwriter of the Year Award for a record seventh time. As of this writing, Ashley has notched up a record-breaking sixty-four Number One hits, a score that has probably increased by the time you read this.

Morgan Wallen was honored with the Songwriter-Artist of the Year and the NSAI Advocacy Award went to David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association. Tim McGraw was NSAI President’s Keystone Award recipient.

The Song of the Year Award went to Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson for “Heart Like A Truck” recorded by Wilson.

CMA Fest 2023 in pictures

CMA Fest brought out the stars – and the fans!

by Preshias Harris and photojournalist Tori Perry

*Lainey Wilson rocks the Stadium. Photo: Tori Perry*

The 50th CMA Fest took over Nashville June 8 – 11, 2023 and set attendance records with visitors from all fifty states and more than fifty countries. The stars and the artists-on-the-rise certainly did not let the fans down!

In addition to nightly shows at Nissan Stadium, fans enjoyed shows at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Maui Jim Reverb Stage, and the Hard Rock Stage.

Fans also experienced one-of-a-kind programming at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center, along with several brand activations and partners that took over Lower Broadway.

*Jason Aldean thrills the CMA Fest crowd. Photo: Tori Perry*

*Keith Urban brings his high energy to the Nissan stage. Photo: Tori Perry*

What’s new in country music?

It’s February’s ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ with Preshias

Lots to catch up on in this month’s Inside Track on Music Row, the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA, written and presented by Preshias Harris.

Read the full column, along with links to music, videos, photos and more here at Nashville Music Guide. Among this month’s stories…

Adam Sanders’ new album, Adam Sanders Live, and links to the tracks
On the 20th anniversary of releasing his first single to radio, Tim McGraw duets with Tyler Hubbard on “Undivided”
HARDY says “Give Heaven Some Hell” to a departed friend in new single…
Check out the tracks on Lee Brice’s latest album, Hey World
The 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels, scheduled for February 22, has been moved to a new date
On “Freedom Was A Highway,” Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley reminisce about the nostalgia and simplicity of more carefree, youthful days
Kip Moore shares the track and video of “How High” from his 17-track Wild World Deluxe project, set to drop Feb 12
Eric Church’s 3-part project Heart & Soul includes a special part just for Church Choir members
Loretta Lynn is Still Woman Enough with new album due in March plus a PBS documentary
Thomas Rhett is the latest country artist to get into the wine & liquor business with Dos Primos tequila
Parker Millsap teases upcoming album Be Here Instead with single, “The Real Thing”
Plus… Chris Janson, Ashlyn Grayce, Gene Watson, Opry News, Brett Young, Tin Pan South 2021 update, Buck Owens, Clay Walker and more in the February 2021 Inside Track on Music Row posted here at Nashville Music Guide now!

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

Luke Combs tops Airplay chart, Morgan Wallen’s album debuts at No. 1

Country update from Preshias

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s happening this week on Music Row and in Country Music!

Luke Combs logs his tenth No. 1
Morgan Wallen debuts on both Billboard’s Top 200 and Top Country Album charts
HARDY set to “Give Heaven Some Hell”
Parker Millsap is “The Real Thing”
Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson roll up their sleeves for vaccine
GigTours™ wants you to say “I’m With the Band”
Plus an “I Know Country” Q&A and more. Scroll down to read all these country music news items

Luke Combs does it again. Luke has logged his tenth consecutive No. 1 song atop the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of Jan 23. Titled “Better Together,” the song was co-written by Combs with Dan Isbell and Randy Montana and is the fifth single from Luke’s album What You See Is What You Get.