Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

During Keith Urban‘s early career, he got the chance to be the opening act on Brooks & Dunn‘s Neon Circus Tour, which also featured Montgomery Gentry on the bill, as well as Toby Keith. He loved being out on the road with those guys, and he recalls riding Toby’s tour bus when they had to make an urgent pit stop at 2am at one point.

“The Neon Circus Tour with Brooks & Dunn – I was the opening, opening, opening act going on at, I don’t know, four in the afternoon (laughs) and you know playing my 20-minute set, and then Montgomery Gentry came out and played a set and then Toby came out and then Kix and Ronnie came out and killed it,” recalls Keith. “It was an amazing tour. I have a lot of stories from that tour. I rode on Toby’s tour bus on his 40th birthday, which was surreal, and there we are rolling down some interstate and he gets hungry at two in the morning, so we pull in to a Steak ‘n Shake, sat in the booth and ordered Steak ‘n Shake.”

The entire tour lineup decided to make after-show stops at local bars and take over for the house band.

“We would always do it unannounced, and it would be almost all of us – Montgomery Gentry, me, Toby, Kix and Ronnie, when they finished, we’d all end up there playing,” says Keith. “It was amazing because some of the clubs would only have six people in them because everybody’s at the concert. These people couldn’t go to the concert, so we show up, jump up and start started playing songs and then the club would fill up. And then people would have you signing all their shirts and stuff like that, and for whatever reason, I thought, ‘I’m just gonna sign Keith instead of both of my names. It’ll cut my signing time in half.’ So, I’m writing Keith (laughs) on all these shirts, and then at the end of the night, I noticed these people whose shirts are signed, and it’s like, it’s got more writing on it. And I went over and looked. Toby just started writing his name first, but he put it right in front of mine. (laughs) So, he got a full signature, and I got nothing.”

Toby Keith passed away February 5th from his battle with stomach cancer. He was 62 years old.

UMG Nashville reveals the signing of artist/songwriter/ producer Hueston to newly created Silver Wings Records. Silver Wings Records is a distribution arm and independent artist services, powered by Virgin Music Group’s global distribution network created to support independent artists and creators.  Silver Wings Records creates custom campaign services for independent artists offering a variety of options for developing and enhancing campaigns.

“The independent artist community has rapidly grown and been a driving force in expanding the creative growth culture in Nashville’s music and entertainment,” says UMG Nashville Chair & CEO, Cindy Mabe. “Universal Music Group Nashville has seen the need to provide resources to grow, sustain and support the independent creator community. Once I met Hueston and felt his music and what he was striving to do as an independent artist, I knew it was time to build the investment. Hueston and his team of collaborators have vision and direction and are building their own path around his soulful emotional voice and his ability to mix darkness and light into his gift of music. It changes people. Like Hueston’s music, Silver Wings Records is intended to bridge and open the world of creativity to Nashville collaborators and country music artists.”

“I’m looking forward to starting this next chapter of my career with the team at UMG Nashville,” shares Hueston. “Cindy, Charlene, Chelsea and Hannah saw the vision from the very first meeting and I automatically knew it was going to be a great fit.”

Cory Hueston has lived music success as the front man of indie/alternative-duo, The Blancos, but he felt a call pulling him in a different direction. Now, via his own label Young Hueston, LLC and distribution by Silver Wings Records, he shares his emotional storytelling, skilled guitar, and soul-stirring vocals as solo artist Hueston. His music translates easily to audience interpretation while still speaking so directly to Hueston’s own professional and personal journeys overcoming depression and addictions, and turning over a new chapter in life. Hueston is an artist who leans on his songwriting and uses his music to speak his emotions, sometimes dark, sometimes provocative, always soulful. New music can be expected from Hueston in the coming weeks.

Silver Wings Records has its own staff overseen by Charlene Bryant, UMGN’s SVP of Business Development & Strategy. With Bryant’s track record of success spanning across Country, Hip-Hop, and Christian music, and her understanding of both the artists’ needs and the industry’s ever-changing landscape, she and her team are set to help merge worlds and cultures, and to help further UMG Nashville’s commitment to growth and expansion.

Parker McCollum and his wife Hallie Ray Light revealed the gender of their first child on socials this week. The slow-mo video shows the couple walking and holding a baby pair of cowboy boots between them. Hallie Ray wrote in the combined post on Instagram, “Baby BOY McCollum!
we love you, little cowboy.”

Parker responded by throwing out several baby names for his wife and mother-to-be to choose. “Keaton Cadillac McCollum
King Cowboy McCollum
Yancey Tyler McCollum
Walker Yancey McCollum
Major Yancey McCollum
Pick from those when you get a chance Hallie will ya?”

Parker is sitting inside the Top 10 on the country charts with his latest single, “Burn It Down.”

Dierks Bentley has announced over 30 new dates for his summer GRAVEL & GOLD TOUR, Presented By Jersey Mike’s, with Chase Rice and Lee Brice for direct support and a diverse lineup of special guests including Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Kaitlin Butts, Mae Estes, Ella Langley, Randy Rogers Band, Zach Top, Tanner Usrey, Bella White and more. Produced by Live Nation, tickets will begin to go on sale this Friday (February 16th) at 10am local time at Dierks.com.

The #GravelAndGold Tour is hitting the road this year with @ChaseRiceMusic, @leebrice and so many more! We can’t wait to see y’all.
Fan Club Presale: 2/13 at 10am (LOCAL) – 2/15@Spotify Presale: 2/13 at 10am
Public on sale: 2/16 at 10am LOCAL pic.twitter.com/RxJF23Zos4

— Dierks Bentley (@DierksBentley) February 12, 2024

“The Gravel & Gold tour has been the best of my career, and I’m not ready to leave it behind,” explains Bentley. “We are so locked in with this production that it allows me to be living right in the moment with the fans, and that’s the magic!  I’m bringing along some old friends and some newer artists who are all putting their own unique spin on country, bluegrass and Americana music.   I can’t wait to watch their shows and hopefully sing with them too. Those collaborations are a highlight of my summer every year.”

GRAVEL & GOLD TOUR 2024 Dates:
6/07 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena *
6/08 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP *
6/13 – Toledo, OH – The Huntington Center *
6/14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
6/15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center ^
6/27 – Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME*<
6/28 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater*
7/18 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC *
7/19 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain *
7/20 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater +
8/04 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
8/08 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *’
8/09 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center *
8/10 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena  *
8/15 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion *
8/16 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview*
8/17 – Camden, NJ- Freedom Mortgage Pavilion *
8/22 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL*
8/23 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center *
8/24 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center *
8/29 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater *
8/30 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunset Amphitheater *’
8/31 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *\9/06 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *
9/07 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena *
9/12 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park ^
9/13 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium ^
9/14 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park^
9/19 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena * >
9/20 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena *
9/21 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater^

* Chase Rice + Check Local Listings
^ Lee Brice + Check Local Listings
+ On sale to be announced
> On sale March 1st
< On sale March 8^th
‘ Not a Live Nation Date

Dierks Bentley released his tenth studio album Gravel & Gold in 2023, again “proving why he’s one of Country’s biggest stars” (TODAY) whose unique 21st-century career has had a rare consistency fueled by longevity. He landed his first publishing deal in 2001 and released his debut album in 2003, producing an instant number one single. In the two decades since, Bentley has achieved success with eight more albums that reached the top of the Country sales charts, resulting in 22 number one songs, eight billion streams, three CMA Awards, 15 GRAMMY® nominations and membership into the Grand Ole Opry. Trendy sounds have ebbed and flowed around him over these two decades, but Bentley “has been a mainstay on the country charts since releasing his debut single ‘What Was I Thinkin’ nearly 20 years ago” (Forbes). He also has created professional endeavors outside of music with his Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection Desert Son, along with his four “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” locations. For more information, visit www.Dierks.com.

Reba McEntire delivered a soaring rendition of the National Anthem prior to this year’s Super Bowl on Sunday (February 11th). Wearing a Ralph Lauren-designed outfit, which included a tan/  gold blazer, a black top with beaded fringe black pants, she also added her own personal and sentimental touches — her Daddy’s belt buckle and her mother’s bracelet.

Reba previously said her boyfriend, actor Rex Linn, helped her decide to say yes to the NFL’s offer to sing the National Anthem. She followed Andra Day‘s emotional performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Post Malone‘s stripped-down rendition of “God Bless America.”

Reba was accompanied by actor Daniel Durant (CODA, Chicago Med), who performed the National Anthem in ASL (American Sign Language).

Reba was discovered by Red Stegall 50 years ago singing the National Anthem at the National Finals Rodeo, and he brought her to Nashville less than a year later and helped get her signed to a major record label.

The Country Music Hall of Famer will be the fourth country artist in a row to sing the anthem. Eric Church with Jazmine Sullivan did the honors in 2021; Mickey Guyton performed the anthem in 2022; Chris Stapleton (who many are hailing as one of the best renditions since Whitney Houston in 1991) in 2023 and now Reba in 2024. Other country artists who have performed the National Anthem include Garth Brooks (1993), Faith Hill (2000), The Chicks (2003), Carrie Underwood (2010) and Luke Bryan (2017).

Reba is set to return as a coach for Season 25 of NBC’s The Voice, which is set to premiere February 26th. Coach John Legend returns with Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay (replacing Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan).

Darius Rucker was performing in Las Vegas after the Madden Bowl — and prior to the Super Bowl — for several NFL executives and members when Miami Dolphins’ Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa jumped on stage with guitar on hand to perform the multi-platinum “Wagon Wheel.”

Keith Urban will perform during this summer’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend, taking place July 6th-7th. The Black Keys and The Chainsmokers will also perform.

Mickey Guyton performed at the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration on Saturday night (February 10th). The concert special, which aired on CBS and Paramount+, brought together musical artists and NFL players to celebrate the Big Game. Robin Thicke, Kirk Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, T-Pain and many others also performed.

Chris Stapleton and The War And Treaty join an all-star lineup for a special concert event honoring the iconic Mavis Staples. Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert, which takes place April 18th at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, will also feature performances by Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, plus many more to be announced. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday (February 16th) at 10am PT at http://ticketmaster.com.

Looking forward to celebrating my friend Mavis Staples on her 85th Birthday on April 18th, 2024.

Use code MAVIS85 for presale tickets on Tuesday, February 13th at 10am PT at https://t.co/vBKsKBG5Bj. pic.twitter.com/LNNJNNYiwH

— Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) February 12, 2024

Carrie Underwood and Toby Keith connected on numerous levels, besides both being big country stars. They were fellow Oklahomans and proud to show it.

Carrie says one of the biggest things she respected most about Toby is his love for Oklahoma.

“There are so many things that can be said about Mr. Toby Keith. I mean, obviously, he has had such a monumental career. He has some of the biggest songs that ever, ever were or probably ever will be in country music, and obviously, has built up that legacy for himself that will live on,” says Carrie. “But I think one of the best things about Toby is his love for Oklahoma. He’s a proud Okie, and I feel like that’s something that always connected us. We’d talk about it. He’s one of the ones, he never left. No matter how big and famous he got, he was gonna stay in Oklahoma, and he was always the first one there when disaster would strike – tornado or whatever it was. He was the first one like trying to rally the troops or raise money or help out in any way he could. I feel like that’s one of the things that I respect the most about him, he never forgot where he came from and has been such a stellar example to the rest of us to do the same. He, of course, will be missed, but I know full, full well where he is right now. He’s with Jesus, and I for one look forward to hearing him sing again someday. So, prayers and comfort to his family. We’re gonna miss ya, buddy, but we’ll see ya on the other side.”

Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!! Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir! We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See… pic.twitter.com/9a2RauHo5p

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) February 6, 2024

Toby Keith (Covel)passed away on Monday night (February 5th) from his battle with stomach cancer. He announced his illness in June 2022 and revealed he’d been diagnosed in October 2021, and had undergone radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. He was 62 years old.

Eric Church toured with Toby Keith in 2011 on the Locked & Loaded Tour, and he has a lot of stories about the Big Dog Daddy. The one he remembers most fondly is actually the first time he met him at a local Nashville bar.

“So, I have a thousand Toby Keith stories – some I can share and some not – but my first time I met Toby, we both frequented a bar in Printer’s Alley in Nashville called The Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar,” recalls Eric. “And I remember walking in my first time and apparently some of the patrons had been harassing a bartender behind the bar and as I walked in, Toby had taken the guy harassing the patrons and had drug him by his shirt collar all the way down the bar. And as I walked in the door, the guy dropped in front of me, and I look up and there’s Toby Keith, and I kinda stuck out my hand and said, ‘Hi,’ and we met, you know. (laughs) Toby was always a guy that did things his own way, and I think of that (laughs), I think of that fondly now when I think of him. We got to be friends later and toured with him, but that’s how I met him. He laid a guy out at my feet at the Fiddle and Steel.”

Toby Keith (Covel) passed away on Monday night (February 5th) from his battle with stomach cancer. He announced his illness in June 2022 and revealed he’d been diagnosed in October 2021, and he had undergone radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. He was 62 years old.

Rising Nashville stars Sam Williams and Carter Faith are adding their modern flair to a country classic for their cover of Tammy Wynette’s “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own,” out now on Mercury Records Nashville – listen HERE. Fans can also hear the heartbreakingly beautiful cover live tomorrow night at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry.  The new song will also be featured on Williams’ upcoming project expected later this year.

On the significance of recording the cover, Williams shares, “This release is simply surreal in several ways. My new album was completed when this idea came about and this record became the cherry on top. I have always adored Carter Faith, from her music to her style and free-spirited personality. As we became closer, it was clear we should make some music together. I think we are very much cut from similar cloth. We’re from small towns and had big dreams that led us to a city that’s hard to cut through. I believe we’re making our mark now. Tammy Wynette being the legend she is, it was an honor to reinvent her beautiful words. It’s also very heartwarming to know she lived in Hank and Audrey, my grandparents’, home for a long time. Tammy purchased their home on Franklin Road after Audrey passed. History seems to tip its hat at me nowadays and I embrace the nod. I am so excited for everyone to hear what comes this year.”

“Recording ‘Til I Can Make It On My Own’ with Sam Williams was one of the most special moments of all time to me,” Faith says of the collaboration. “Tammy Wynette is a musical hero of mine and a major influence, and when my dear friend Sam—whose voice just hits me all the way to the heart every time I hear it—asked me to sing on a new version of this song, I was so honored and excited. I have always adored the honesty that Tammy wrote with and this song is such a beautiful example of that, heartbreaking and hopeful at the very same time. One of my favorite parts of the recording process was when we were all sitting around and getting ready before starting the session, we talked about what the song meant to us and how we wanted to honor it. More than anything, I just hope we made Tammy proud.”

Originally released in January 1976, “‘Til I Can Make It On My Own” was Tammy Wynette’s 15th No. 1 song at Country Radio, staying on the charts for 11 weeks. The song, which Wynette deemed her favorite composition she had written, perfectly captures the devastation of the end of a relationship. Last week, Wynette was honored with the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, which praised her impact on the music industry.

As two of Nashville’s most exciting new talents, Williams and Faith pay homage to the iconic ballad while blending it with their uniquely contemporary perspectives. The accompanying music video exemplifies their ability to mix the past and present, seamlessly combining 70s-inspired silhouettes and vintage pieces with modern touches that reflect the artists’ identities.

Williams and Faith’s collaboration proves that although the country music scene is ever evolving, its legacy rests in extremely capable hands.

About Carter Faith:
Born and raised in North Carolina, Faith relocated to Nashville after college to pursue her dream of becoming a country musician, learning the ropes from seasoned professionals who saw her massive potential. Fast forward a few years, and Faith has solidified her place in an ever-changing country music scene with over 75 million global streams on tracks like “Wild,” “Greener Pasture” and “Already Crazy.” Her soaring vocals and authentic storytelling, paired with a delicate delivery and breezy confidence, have captivated audiences and led to stages shared with Little Big Town, Keith Urban and one of her biggest influences, Willie Nelson. She recently inked a deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, closed a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium and was featured in CMT’s LISTEN UP 2024 campaign highlighting rising country artists.

About Sam Williams:
Grandson of country pioneer Hank Williams and the son of outlaw legend Hank Jr., Sam Williams is the latest in a long line of American originals, who sings with his own singular voice and writes in his own singular style, fusing gut-wrenching honesty and plainspoken poetics with raw vulnerability and deep empathy. In 2021, Williams released his debut album, Glasshouse Children, which was a testament to his brilliant lyricism and soulful vocals and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Music Row, Associated Press, and so much more. In October 2022, Williams also unveiled a deluxe edition of the record, which featured “Tilted Crown,” a reflective track about navigating his legacy in life. Williams followed up his debut with a string of powerful singles in 2023, along with multiple shows at the Grand Ole Opry and show-stopping performances at Nashville’s CMA Fest and the UK’s Country 2 Country Fest. With more music coming in 2024, Sam continues to prove that he is making a legacy for himself that is completely his own.

Anne Wilson, the PLATINUM-certified, GRAMMY-nominated artist, has seen an overwhelming surge in ticket demand for her forthcoming hometown album release show in Lexington, Ky. The one-night-only event to celebrate her upcoming album REBEL has officially sold out during exclusive fan presale. First announcing the sought-after event on Monday (2/5), Wilson will treat her hometown audience by performing REBEL in its entirety on April 21st at 7pm ET at the iconic Lexington Opera House.

The springtime concert will find Wilson treating her hometown audience by performing REBEL in its entirety. As a co-writer on each of the album’s 16 tracks, the Ky. native teamed up with some of Music Row’s most in-demand songwriters for a revolutionary project firmly rooted in both Country and Christian music, produced by Jeff Pardo and Jonathan Smith.

Reflecting on the upcoming event, Wilson expressed her excitement saying, “I cannot wait to share these new songs with you live from my hometown. To be releasing an album I’m so proud of is a dream in itself, but to perform it from top to bottom from the Lexington Opera House — where I spent 11 years doing ballet with the Lexington Ballet Company — will be such a full circle moment. This venue holds so many cherished memories for me, and I can’t wait to make another one with you all!”

Wilson’s latest release, “God & Country” further highlights her “Kentucky twang and country-leaning songcraft sensibilities” (Billboard). The track beautifully encapsulates the essence of REBEL, intertwining Wilson’s commanding vocals with themes deeply rooted in her Kentucky upbringing. From church pews and Sunday morning choirs, to mud tires and Friday night lights, Wilson shares what it’s like to grow up in the heart of the heartland, boldly declaring “I’ve got a good life down here, but a better one waiting up above me.”

ANNE WILSON LIVE ALBUM RELEASE SHOW DETAILS:

Date: April 21, 2024

Time: Doors 5:30 p.m. ET, Show 7:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Lexington Opera House

The 21-year-old songstress has been making waves with her current Country radio single, “Rain In The Rearview,” co-written with Matthew West, Jaren Johnston and Zach Kale. The transformative music video for the track exclusively debuted on CMT/Paramount Times Square billboards, CMT, CMT Music and CMT.com on Jan. 26 just days after Wilson was revealed as a member of the coveted 2024 CMT Next Women of Country class. Meanwhile, “Strong” continues to stand firm at Christian radio – reaching the Top 15 at Billboard Christian Airplay and Mediabase Audience charts and climbing each week – marking two simultaneous radio singles for the “specifically gifted” (The Tennessean) artist.

Ever since embarking on her new journey in September with REBEL (The Beginning), praise has poured in for the groundbreaking new venture. MusicRow underscores her vocal prowess stating “she’s got the goods” while Billboard highlights her “ceiling-scraping vocal capabilities” and Holler proclaims it “clearly outlines Wilson’s new Country-leaning mission statement.”

Adding to her list of accolades, Wilson was also tapped as one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch 2024, further solidifying her rising status from Music Mayhem, Pandora and more. Wilson will continue to share her new music on the road as she captivates cities nationwide as direct support on Scotty McCreery’s Cab In A Solo Tour. Come summer, Wilson will grace the stages of both Country and Christian music’s most sought after festivals such as Tortuga Festival, Big As Texas Fest, Country Concert, Alive Music Festival and Kingdom Bound. For dates and more information, visit www.annewilsonofficial.com and keep up with her on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube