GET WELL WISHES:
Best wishes to Mark Chesnutt who requires immediate back surgery and has been forced to cancel all show dates set for July and August as well as several September dates. The honky-tonk legend has been suffering from severe back pain that will require a nine to ten-week recovery period. In a statement posted on his website and social media, Chesnutt said, “I’ve been suffering with this for a very long time and postponed as long as I could. When the doctor says: ‘you have no choice,’ you have no choice! I hate to get off the road, just as the venues opened back up. I was really looking forward to this year! I appreciate the support and understanding from my fans, and I ‘ll see you all real soon.” Fans who purchased tickets for dates that have been canceled should contact the venue, the venue’s website for information about rescheduled show dates or refund info. Chesnutt is a true country road warrior playing 100+ shows every year and, like most touring acts, sat out most of 2020. For a full list of canceled dates, see https://markchesnutt.com.
GIBSON MUSIC NEWS:
For 127 years, Gibson has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brands around the world. In mid-2019, Gibson launched the Gibson Generation Group (G3), a powerful two-year program that exhibits Gibson embracing a wildly diverse new generation of guitar players, songwriters, and music creators, across the globe. The 2021 Gibson Generation Group includes talented young musicians spanning many genres of music from China, France, India, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, England, Spain, and the USA. Watch the first-ever Gibson Generation Group class graduated in a virtual ceremony airing on Gibson TV.
The Gibson Generation Group (G3) is a global collective of talented musicians who receive one-on-one career growth opportunities, mentoring and develop lasting connections in the music industry from the Gibson Leadership and Cultural Influence teams. G3 members receive global, one-of-a-kind performance opportunities with music superstars and brand partners, participate in global advertising campaigns, create, and receive quality content and promotion to build their audience to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. More about Gibson Guitars at https://www.gibson.com.
GRAND OLE OPRY NEWS:
BILL ANDERSON 60th OPRY ANNIVERSARY
Legend of The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® honored Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson on his 60th anniversary as an Opry member. Anderson made his Opry debut just a few weeks before his 21st birthday and became an official Opry member less than three years later on July 15, 1961 at 23-years-old, the youngest member at the time.
Sara Evans and Opry members Mark Wills and Vince Gill joined other artists on stage congratulating Anderson on his milestone 60th Anniversary.
The performances aired as part of Opry Live on the Circle Network. In celebration of the Grammy-nominated and ACM Poet Award honoree, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an official proclamation that July 17 is “Bill Anderson Day.” Nashville Mayor John Cooper also proclaimed July 17 as “Bill Anderson Day” in Music City.
Longtime friend and Opry member Vince Gill presented the State of Tennessee proclamation to Anderson on behalf of Governor Lee, while 54-year Opry member Jeannie Seely presented Anderson with a framed proclamation from the City of Nashville on behalf of Mayor Cooper.
More at https://billanderson.com/wired/.
LAINE HARDY OPRY DEBUT
Buena Vista Records / Industrial Media’s 19 Recordings artist Laine Hardy will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, August 28, revealing the news via his socials, paying homage to Hank Williams with his cover of the country classic, “Jambalaya.”
“Growing up listening to country music, playing the Grand Ole Opry has always been a dream of mine,” says Laine. “Stepping into that circle where so many artists I’ve loved my whole life have been, it’s really going to be a crazy and special moment for me.”
Tickets for Laine Hardy’s Grand Ole Opry debut may be purchased at https://www.opry.com/calendar/.
Laine dropped a brand-new acoustic video of his hit song, “Memorize You,” which he performed on a July episode of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” See the official video at https://www.lainehardymusic.com.
Laine is now on the road with the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour, headlining shows coast to coast spanning the fall. Tickets for the tour are available now at www.outbreakpresents.com. Join his journey @TheLaineHardy.
INDIE MUSIC NEWS:
Breakout indie country recording artist Mikayla Lane (Mikayla Lane Entertainment, Tulsa, OK) is set to release her original tune titled “Wild Like The Wind.” The telltale song will be available via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms on Friday, August 13, 2021. (Pre-sale/Pre-save event begins August 6; distribution by ONErpm Nashville.) Penned and co-produced by the 16-year-old songstress (alongside John Conrad), the track is Mikayla’s twelfth release since the launch of her recording career and serves as fitting to her blossoming talent, in both signature style and passions, and as an introduction to her forthcoming EP, Miles From Nowhere, anticipated in September. Simulating an old-time western movie, spaghetti western guitar and whistle blows draw the curtain to render the opening scene of “Wild Like the Wind.” “The idea for the song came about because of my involvement in rodeo,” said Mikayla Lane “It’s a classic romanticized idea of the cowboy riding away… leaving a love behind to chase a dream that he loves.” “Wild Like The Wind” carries the momentum of Mikayla’s recent release “Drive” (Jan. 2021). Videos, music and more at https://www.mikaylalanemusic.com.
INDUSTRY NEWS:
Singer, songwriter and guitar slinger Tom Yankton has entered into an exclusive distribution deal with Red Street Records, it was announced today by label owner and CEO Jay DeMarcus and President/GM Mark Lusk. The new deal already has the Arkansas native in the studio with producer Jimmy Ritchey (Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Clay Walker, Mark Chestnut), and new music is planned for an August release.
“I met Jay at an event in San Antonio Texas when I was 14 years old, and we got to jam out and play some music that night,” said Yankton. “I never dreamed I’d get to work with Jay, Mark, and the Red Street family on sharing my own music with the world. This is incredible!”
Yankton’s story starts as the son of a working-class family in a mobile home in the hills of Hot Springs. A guitar prodigy from a young age, his talent led to tours and recording with legendary artists like Chicago, Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, RaeLynn and others – all while growing his career as a solo artist. His extensive resume includes performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, TODAY Show, The Grand Ole Opry, Academy of Country Music Awards, The Rolling Stones Zip Code Tour and more. His constant touring and reputation for delivering one of the best live shows on the road recently landed Yankton a sweet residency at the Resorts World Casino complex in Las Vegas, which began July 20. His Wild West Honky Tonk Tour will land in Sin City regularly over the coming months and will also see him all over the west and midwest. See https://tomyankton.com.
INTERNATIONAL TOUR NEWS:
Matt Stell spent his July 4th holiday making his inaugural trip overseas to entertain U.S. Servicemembers. The visit included several live shows at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi in the Persian Gulf with RECORDS Nashville/Arista Nashville Platinum-selling artist Matt performing his back-to-back No. 1 songs “Prayed For You” and “Everywhere But On,” and brand new hit, “That Ain’t Me No More.”
“This doesn’t happen to me often, but I really can’t find the words to express what this trip has meant to me,” says Stell. “I am so thankful for the opportunity and I will never forget the experience.”
As one of only eight debut country artists in the last six years to have their first two singles top the charts, Matt celebrated this success as one of Country Radio Seminar’s 2021 New Faces of Country Music class and will join Old Dominion, Toby Keith, and Miranda Lambert on tour later this year. Music, tour updates and videos at https://www.mattstell.com.
LABEL NEWS:
BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP (BMLG)
Multi-Platinum entertainer Brett Young continues to celebrate his new collection Weekends Look a Little Different These Days (BMLG Records). Quickly climbing at Country radio and serving as the follow-up to seven consecutive No. 1s, Brett and his wife Taylor recently invited Entertainment Tonight inside their home, sharing a behind-the-scenes look into his new musical chapter and their expanding family. Boasting nearly 270 Million streams since release, Weekends Look a Little Different These Days continues to rack up accolades. Brett was recently surprised during tour rehearsals in Nashville with a Pandora Billionaire Plaque, an honor bestowed for surpassing 1 billion streams on the platform. Brett will also now be added to the recently launched Pandora Country Billionaires station. Brett has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound, aptly dubbed “Caliville” style. With an undeniable string of hits, he has cemented his status as Country’s master over matters of the heart and with two albums defined by a transcendent romantic spark. For additional information, visit https://www.brettyoungmusic.com.
VANNER/SONY RECORDS
Miranda Lambert is back on the road with a tour that kicked off July 17 and will take her through the summer and into the fall, wrapping up November 14 at the ilani Casino Resort’s Cowlitz Ballroom in Ridgefield, WA.
Twenty dates have been announced so far, including a two-night stop in Durant, Oklahoma and a three-night set in New Braunfels, Texas.
Recently, Lambert released “Tequila Does (Telemitry Remix),” her first official remix, along with a music video for the song featuring the summer fun inspired by the lyrics and the beverage. “Tequila Does (Remix)” received a nomination for “Artist of the Year” at the 33rd annual MusicRow Awards. Winners will be revealed on August 19th
Lambert’s current single, “Settling Down,” continues to impact Country radio.
In her new music video for “Settling Down,” directed by Trey Fanjoy, Lambert shows off her impressive farm outside of Nashville and her impressively ripped husband, Brendan McLoughlin. Lambert’s horse Gibson and one of her rescue dogs, Delta Dawn, also make appearances.
“The ‘Settling Down’ video is very personal to me because it was filmed at my farm and my husband got to be in the video with me,” Lambert said in a statement. “My mom always called me a wild child and a homing pigeon. I always have an itch to find a new adventure, but I’m also always ready to walk through my front door. I feel like a lot of people feel that way, and ‘Settling Down’ tells the story of being caught between those two feelings.”
Tour updates and ticket info at https://www.mirandalambert.com/tour/.
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