Inside Music Row

10th Ave North has been hard at work in the studio, polishing up a brand new album.  The  group has been at the top of the Christian music charts for some time, but they are also  incredible story tellers… writing and producing all of their music right in Nashville.  Jennifer Vickery caught up with the guys in the studio. 

Twenty years ago… James House had a top 10 hit with “This is Me Missin’ You”…  The  song spoke to millions here in the states and resonated with his fans.  Fast forward to  November of 2013 when that same song hit #1 on the UK Charts!  James found out  about it an in a very unique way and it prompted him to get back in the studio to produce  a new album.  Kelly Lynn has more. 

Jarrod Niemann now has two number one songs.  His first number one, “Lover, Lover”  hit the top of the charts back in 2010.  His latest single to hit number one is a bit different.   Drink to That All Night is much more of a rockin’ dance song.  So which does he prefer?   Both!  Kelly Lynn recently caught up with Jarrod at his celebration for “Drink to That All  Night”.

 Get ready for another episode of “Inside Music Row!”  This week we find out more  about the writers behind the hot song “Chillin’ It”,  Jarrod Niemann celebrates another  number one hit.. plus we find out how one Christian group is making a name for  themselves in the country circles, and Miranda Lambert makes history…when we go  “Inside Music Row”.  The Broken Bow artist is set to release his sophomore album “Where It’s At” September  9th.  He recently told Rolling Stone Country that this is a highly personal  album…showcasing his life over the past two years.  Of course Dustin has had an  incredible time opening for superstar Keith Urban on his “Light the Fuse” tour in 2013  saying he learned a lot from watching Keith’s energy on stage.  Listen for the lead single  “Where It’s At” currently out on radio.  It is the end of an era.  The last edition of the Ladies Home Journal was published for  July/August and guess who was on the cover?  Miranda Lambert!  She talks about how  she lost weight and got fit, but also admits she is not a good role model.  She says she  likes to drink and cuss and get tatoos.  But of course that is why so many fans love her  and clearly Blake doesn’t mind either.  Grand Junction, Colorado was the place to be for this year’s Country Jam!  Brantley  Gilbert, Lady A, Eric Church and Jake Owen were a part of the festivities and it was just  announced that Tim McGraw will be a headliner for Country Jam 2015.   Speaking of Tim, he released his new single “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”… a duet with  his lovely bride Faith Hill.  The song is one that talks about his life on stage versus his  life on his quiet farm in Franklin, TN.  Tim’s 13 studio album “Sundown Heaven Town”  will be released September 16th.  He is currently out on the road promoting that upcoming  album with Kip Moore and Cassadee Pope. 

The Oak Ridge Boys put on one heck of a live show, and it’s amazing that they just released their very first live album earlier this year.  We caught up with the “boys” to talk about their favorite memories on the road, and trust me… they’ve got some funny stories to share.

Rick Monroe has been tied in with Jagermeister for several years, performing on every single country tour the brand has staged.  Now Rick is out on the road with the Eli Young Band as the Jager tour has grown to become the “Ultimate Summer of Music Tour.”  Rick is also celebrating the release of new music, which is a cool blend of traditional country, pop country, and southern rock.  We caught up with Rick during a quick trip home to Nashville in the middle of the new Jager tour to talk about his recent experiences.

In 2008, Frankie Ballard won Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star” competition in the state of Michigan, then made the most of his opportunity to open up for Kenny at a few venues near his hometown.  Frankie’s self-titled debut album did pretty well with singles like “Tell Me You Get Lonely” and “A Buncha Girls.”  However…when he released his second project “Sunshine and Whiskey” last year, the lead single “Helluva Life” raced up to the top of the charts.  We caught up with Frankie and writers Rodney Clawson, Josh Kear, and Chris Tompkins at a party to celebrate that song’s success.

Hey there!  I'm Kelly Sutton.  We are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of entertainment news for you this week, so let’s get started!  Even though Kenny Chesney is taking some time off, he’s still hard at work, now co-producing his 16th studio album.  He’s working hard collecting great songs and pushing the boundaries without betraying his true self.  You can see part of that in the new single “American Kids,” written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally.  Kenny says the song ‘just grabs you and holds on, but even more importantly…it feels really good.”  Look for Kenny to hit the road again in 20-15 with tons of new material.   Randy Houser recently helped open a new Operation Homefront Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  He helped cut the ribbon for the facility, which helps wounded military service members and their families.  Randy also performed for the group and visited with them before a special cookout.   Thomas Rhett teamed up with his father Rhett Akins to support a charity in their hometown.  Their performance together raised over 40-thousand dollars for Great Strides Valdosta in honor of their cousin Sophie, who has been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.    Sammy Kershaw is honoring his late friend and mentor George Jones with the release of a new album dedicated entirely to the “Possum.”  The project includes a total of fourteen tracks, including renditions of some of George’s biggest hits like “White Lightning” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”  Also included are two new tracks that were inspired by the legend, plus a special “Near You” duet with Georgette Jones.  Look for “Do You Know Me? – A Tribute to George Jones” to hit stores July 22nd.    Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  John Oates met his songwriting match when he was teamed up with hit writer Craig Wiseman.  John recently shared a fun story about how they wrote “Lose It In Louisiana” together, which is on his latest “Good Road To Follow” project.

In the summer of 2009, Mickey Gilley was helping a friend move some furniture when he fell and crushed four vertebrae, paralyzing him from the neck down.  Fortunately, through intense therapy and a will to perform again, Mickey is now healthy enough to pursue his musical passions.  Kelly Lynn caught up with Mickey to hear about his accident and how the original ‘urban cowboy’ is taking the stage once again.

The storied history of Lonestar includes the incredible crossover hits “Amazed” and “Smile” from the late 19-90s and early 2000s.  Since lead singer Richie McDonald returned to the group in 20-11, they’ve certainly had a lot to smile about.  The foursome released “Life As We Know It” about a year ago, and they’ve just done a music video for the single “Just The Rain” off that album.  We were able to go behind-the-scenes with the group to check out the concept for this new release.

Randy Houser has come a long way since writing the hit “Honkeytonk Badonkadonk,” which was featured on Trace Adkins’ 2005 album “Songs About Me.”  Since moving over to Stoney Creek Records about two and a half years ago, Randy’s career has taken off.  He first hit number one with “How Country Feels” and then followed that up with “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” last year.  Now he’s celebrating again with “Goodnight Kiss,” a track he wrote with Jason Sellers and Rob Hatch.  We caught up with them at a party at Nashville’s label home of Broken Bow Records to celebrate.

We are so glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of news for you this week, so let’s get started!  When Miranda Lambert released her “Platinum” album just before CMA Music Fest, she felt like she put her best music forward and kept the creative process fresh.  That hard work in the studio has paid off, as “Platinum” took the top spot on the all-genre Billboard 200.  She also became the very first country artist in the history of Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart to have each of her first five albums debut at number one.  Each of her first four have now been certified platinum, so it shouldn’t be too long before “Platinum” is certified platinum, as well.   Kellie Pickler is riding the resurgence of vinyl’s popularity with a re-release of her latest album “The Woman I Am.”  The new limited-edition vinyl version of the project features exclusive cover art, which is different from the C-D version.  Orders placed from Kellie Pickler dot com just started shipping, so make sure to get yours before they’re gone!   Kimberly Perry has had a whirlwind of a month!  Between fan club parties and CMA Music Fest, she still found time to tie the knot.  She and her new husband pro baseball player J-P Arencibia were wed in Greenville, Tennessee right after CMA Music Fest between gigs and games.    The second annual “Taste of Country” music festival proves there is a huge market for country music in the state of New York.  More than 40-thousand fans crowded the Hunter Mountain Resort to hear the likes of Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, and more.  Next year could be even bigger, as Tim McGraw was just announced as the headliner for 20-15.  For ticket info…check out Taste of Country Festival dot com.   Craig Morgan is treating many of America’s troops stationed overseas to a little bit of Tennessee.  Craig has teamed up with MoonPie to send over special packages of the Chocolate Double-Decker Moonpies with his likeness all over it.  He took a few with him to Afghanistan on his eleventh overseas tour for the troops, but fans can get in on the action helping to send up to 50-thousand marshmallow sandwich treats to our service members by visiting Moonpie dot com slash Craig Morgan.   Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  Rachele Lynae’s new self-titled debut album is full of great tracks like the lead single “Touch The Stars.”  We caught up with her to hear all about the Alaskan inspiration for that song. With this week’s Independence Day holiday, we have plenty to celebrate here in America.  There are tons of artists out on the road, putting on incredible shows all over the world.  Let’s take a quick look at who’s going where and when.   It’s time for us to take a quick little break, but there is still a lot more music up ahead.  We do have a special album up for grabs this week from Mickey Gilley.  You’ll hear more from the original Urban Cowboy up ahead, but you may want to go ahead and enter this week’s drawing right now.  Head on over to Inside Music Row dot com to get signed up.  Don’t forget to check out Zuus dot com for all the best music videos.  Celebrate the holiday with some great music, plus you can download the free app to take us with you on the go.  Now for that break, but make sure to come on back right after this.  We’ll celebrate a new number one hit, when we return.

The highlight of C-M-A Music Fest is usually the set of shows each night at L-P Field.  Almost every single major artist in country music performs, plus a few special guests.  We headed backstage during the nightly shows to see why the artists enjoy C-M-A Music Fest so much.  Check it out.

The City of Hope puts on the annual C-M-A Fest softball game, which matches up celebrity artists and guests on the Opry team against their counterparts on the i-Heart radio side.  This game is always a blast, even when the competitive juices really get flowing.  We headed out to Nashville’s Greer Stadium for the annual classic.  Here’s Kelly with more.

After the floods that devastated downtown Nashville in May 20-10, Rodney Atkins knew he had to do something to help his community recover.  In 20-11, he launched his first “Music City Gives Back” show to continue the healing process.  Now celebrating four years, the show has grown to include other top notch talent, this year donating funds to the W-O Smith School of Music, which gives lessons to children that might not otherwise have access to music.  We had a chance to hook up with Rodney to talk about this year’s special show.  Here’s Jennifer with more.

We are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row!  We have an amazing show in store for you today.  This is our annual C-M-A Music Fest episode!  We covered lots of cool acts in and around town during one of the craziest weeks in country music, and we’ve got it all right here just for you.  We’ll kick things off with Darius Rucker.  He hosted his fifth annual “Darius and Friends” show at the Wildhorse Saloon.  This is an extremely popular event that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  We headed backstage at the Wildhorse to check in with Darius and a few of his friends.

In 2008, at home in New Jersey, Sherry Lynn was invited to open a show for one of her musical heroes.  Since that time, she's been hard at work pursuing a career in country music, which is now paying off.  Last year, she debuted at the Grand Ole Opry singing her duet "A Beautiful Life" with Crystal Gayle, and now she's celebrating the success of her most recent track "Girls Will Be Girls" off her latest album.  Kelly caught up with Sherry Lynn during a visit to Nashville to learn all about her new music.

Cole Swindell has come a long way since he started out selling t-shirts and other merch for Luke Bryan on tour.  With a musical style that fits in with Luke’s audience, and Luke’s unwavering support, Cole has managed not just a label deal and album, but his very first number one hit.  We headed over to BMI to celebrate that chart-topping hit with Cole and his co-writer Shane Minor.  Here’s Kelly with more.

This time of year, tens of thousands of country music fans descend on Nashville for the annual C-M-A Music Festival.  Along with those fans come hundreds of media outlets.  So when it’s time for an artist to make a big splash in the music industry…this is a perfect time.  We headed out to the Ford Theatre at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for the latest news from Alan Jackson.

Hey everybody!  I'm Kelly Sutton!  We are so glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of entertainment news for you this week, so let’s get started!  In looking back at Billboard’s list of Top Live Acts of the past 25 years, it seems there is only one country artist in the Top Ten.  Up there with acts like the Rolling Stones, U-2 and Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney ranked number nine, in spite of taking two of the last five years off the road.  Since becoming a full-fledged headliner in 2002, Kenny has sold close to 13 million tickets.  Even though he’s not touring this year, he just can’t wait to hit the road again.   Country rocker Aaron Lewis is gearing up for his fourth annual “It Takes A Community Foundation” benefit concert next week.  Aaron and his wife founded the organization to work with local leaders to strengthen, engage and enrich their communities.  Look for a rare acoustic performance from Staind to complete the night in Florence, Massachusetts June 27th.  For more info, check out the foundation’s website.  (Graphic ITACF.org)   Kenny Rogers has been instrumental in changing the lives of kids across America through the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Missouri.  Kenny doesn’t just lend his name to the organization, but fights for funding for the center and lends a hand with benefit shows to raise money.  He’s been supporting the center now for almost forty years, and for him…the chance to help over 450 special needs children each month is something that will never get old.   Bad Company has more to celebrate this summer than just another tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd.  They are reissuing their first two classic albums on vinyl beginning July first.  Both “Bad Company” and “Straight Shooter” will contain all the original packaging.  Many of the tracks from these two albums have become staples of classic rock radio stations around the world.  Check out the tour through the month of July, but keep up with them online at Bad Company dot com.   Zac Brown Band’s “Southern Ground Music and Food Festival” will return to Charleston, South Carolina this fall for their fourth annual celebration.  Look for Ashley Monroe, Blues Traveler and more to join in the fun October 11th and 12th.    Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  Songwriters are always keeping an ear open for potential hits, no matter the time nor the place.  John Oates was on a working vacation when he came across the inspiration for “Six Men,” which is featured on his latest “Good Road To Follow” project.

Gene Watson has been making music professionally for over fifty years, and in that time, he’s achieved major success, even being inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.  His signature song “Farewell Party” was released in the late 1970s, which is the namesake for his Farewell Party Band.  Gene knows that not much classic country gets played on the radio anymore, but there is still a large fan base hungry for traditional country music.  His latest album “My Heroes Have Always Been Country” hits stores this week, and Kelly Lynn had a chance to sit down with him to talk about this new project.

John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin have been tapped by E-S-P-N for the weekly Game Day openings for the upcoming football season.  While it’s just June, it’s a little hard to think about kicking off another season.  For the network, though, it’s always a challenge to keep things fresh.  We caught up with Big and Rich on the set between takes to talk about taking their music to the fans in a different way.

Hitting number one with a song is a great thing for any artist, but it’s even more special when it’s a song you also wrote.  Dierks Bentley co-wrote “I Hold On” with his good friend Brett James, and as luck would have it…the song took the number one spot on the charts earlier this year.  This became the 11th career number one for Dierks as an artist and a songwriter, while it marked the 16th chart topper for Brett.  Kelly Lynn caught up with the writers at a party at Nashville’s Pour House to celebrate.

Hey there!  I'm Kelly Sutton.  We are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row!  We've got lots coming up on today’s show, so let’s get started!  Willie Nelson will release new material with Sony and Legacy Recordings next week.  “Band of Brothers” features 14 performances, plus nine brand-new songs.  Since October’s release of his last project “To All The Girls…”, which was Willie’s first top ten album in more than thirty years, fans have been anxious for more.  “Band of Brothers” is Willie’s first album of mostly new original material in almost twenty years.  Willie says “it’s good to be writing again,” and I’m sure his fans will agree.   Alan Jackson might be somewhat used to being at the top of the country charts, but his latest gospel album “Precious Memories Volume Two” was named Top Christian Album at the Billboard Music Awards.  This album was a follow up to his 2006 almost double platinum “Precious Memories” project, and is a collection of traditional hymns that Alan just wasn’t able to fit on the first album.  More than a year after its release, the new volume remains in the Top 50 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.   Average Joe’s Entertainment is now more than just a record label.  The premiere issue of “The Average Joes” full color comic book will hit stores July first.  The comic book features Colt Ford and his friends as superheroes selflessly saving the world and fighting crime in the name of justice.  Look for the new material available at Wal-Mart in Colt’s new album “Thanks For Listening” as well as other select outlets and live shows.   Lee Ann Womack has waited almost seven years to release new music, but that wait is almost over!  “The Way I’m Livin’” will arrive in stores September 23rd as her first release on Sugar Hill Records.  The high impact title track was just released to radio last week.   Now it's time to go Inside The Song.  Lee Anna Culp’s latest single is “Big Love,” which she came up with almost by accident.  Here is Lee Anna talking about that song, which asks some tough questions.

Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson have grown up in the music business.  As two-thirds of the group The Wilkinsons, they had plenty of success in the late 1990s with hits like “26 Cents” and “Fly.”  After following their dreams with other projects for a while, they are back together as a duo under the name Small Town Pistols.  We were able to hook up with them at a recent showcase in town to hear all about their new sound.  Here’s Kelly Lynn with more.

Twenty-five years after Roy Orbison celebrated the release of his final masterpiece “Mystery Girl,” Roy’s sons have put together a new package commemorating that special project.  Now “Mystery Girl Deluxe” brings together the album’s original ten songs, plus nine previously unreleased studio and work tape demos.  Also available in the set is a new one-hour documentary which includes rare archival footage of Roy in the studio.  Jennifer Vickery caught up with Roy’s boys Alex and Roy, Junior to talk about the amazing new project.

The Eli Young Band celebrated their very first number one hit in 20-11 with “Crazy Girl,” which went on to become the year-end number one song on the Billboard charts for that year.  They’ve since followed that up with a number one for “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and now their most recent chart-topping hit “Drunk Last Night.”  We caught up with the guys along with songwriters Laura Veltz and Josh Osborne at a party to celebrate that song’s success.

We are so glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of entertainment news for you this week, so let’s get started!  Miranda Lambert releases her new “Platinum” album this week, just in time for CMA Music Fest.  In just a few short weeks, she’ll hit the road on her new “Platinum” tour, presented by Crystal Light.  The new show will glitter with a platinum theme, and include hits from all five of her albums.  Miranda will hit up 30 cities across North America before wrapping September 20th in Honolulu.  I can just imagine the wrap party there!  Look for Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett to join her on select dates.   Brad Paisley will be all over the road this summer, and all over your television, too!  Brad is spending the summer out on tour on the new Country Nation World Tour, presented by Kraft Cheese.  He also has a new album set to launch August 26th, which includes his hit single “River Bank.”  Brad will also join Kesha and Ludacris along with host Josh Groban on the new ABC “Rising Star” singing competition series.  Look for the program to premiere Sunday, June 22nd, which is the first interactive music competition with the audience giving the final say in real time.  No matter where you look…Brad will be there.   Construction is coming along very well on the new Dreammore Resort at Dollywood in the Great Smoky Mountains.  The new resort will open next summer while the theme park celebrates its 30th anniversary.  Dolly recently released new renderings of the project, which has been a dream of hers for many years.   Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  Jo Dee Messina’s latest project shows off her versatility as an artist and as a writer, from country to rock to a little R-and-B.  We had a chance to talk to her about that new album, which includes the more soulful “Take It.” CMA Music Fest is in full swing this week here in Nashville, but be on the lookout for tons of artists to hit the road again next week after spending a few days here in Music City.  Let’s take a quick look at who’s going where and when.

Jamie O’Neal took the country world by storm when she released “There Is No Arizona” back in the year 2000.  Since then, she’s expanded her experiences as a songwriter, producer, and record label owner, but she always kept that love of performing.  She’s back now with “Eternal,” her first new album in five years, which is a collection of songs that infuses country classics with fresh energy.  Kelly Lynn hooked up with Jamie to learn all about the new project, which hits stores this week.

Songwriters Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins have tons of number one hits between the two of them, so when you add Jason Aldean to the mix…you’re almost guaranteed to have another big hit.  “When She Says Baby” is the latest single written by Ben and Rhett that was picked up by Jason, and sure enough…it took the top spot on the charts in no time.  We caught up with them at a party to celebrate that song’s success.  

Rascal Flatts has been entertaining fans now for over fifteen years, and they’ve accumulated tons of awards, number one hits, and platinum albums.  It’s refreshing to see they are not taking their previous successes for granted.  They are still doing everything they can possibly do to give back to their current generation of fans, while also appealing to a new generation.  We were able to hook up with the guys to talk about the new “Rewind” album, which went on sale earlier this month.  Here’s Kelly with more.

Hey there!  I'm Kelly Sutton.  We are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row!  We've got lots in store for you today, so let’s get started.  While Jake Owen is out on the road “Beachin’” this summer, he’ll also be recording documentary-style videos for “Days Of Gold” tour sponsor Discover Boating.  These personal stories will show how boating affects his life and music, and will be featured throughout the tour as “Stories of Discovery.”  As a native of Vero Beach, Florida, much of Jake’s life has been spent out on the water, so this seems to be a natural fit.   One year after the death of country music icon George Jones, the scholarship fund at Middle Tennessee State University bearing his name has raised over 170-thousand dollars.  The fund was established shortly after his passing, and will help many students get a quality college education.   Country star and television host Craig Morgan has set July 20th as the date for his eighth annual celebrity off-road trail ride and outdoor concert.  The family-friendly event will start with an autograph session with celebrity riders, and include a riding exhibition, group trail ride, lunch, and an outdoor show in Craig’s hometown of Dickson, Tennessee.  Proceeds will benefit the Dickson County Craig Morgan Foundation, which helps assist foster children in the area.   Kristian Bush, otherwise known as one half of the platinum-selling duo Sugarland, has reunited with longtime producer Byron Gallimore for his first-ever solo album.  Kristian is currently out on the road with his “Put Your Soul In It” tour, so time is quite limited to work on the new project, but look for the lead single to hit radio this summer on Byron’s own Streamsound Records.   It’s a little early to be thinking about holidays, but the Christmas For Kids charitable organization works throughout the year to bring Christmas joy to children throughout the Midstate.  The third annual Celebrity Golf Tournament brought out plenty of participants to raise money for the group, which helped over 400 children have a brighter holiday last year.   Now it's time to go Inside The Song.  Logan Brill has a track on her latest “Walking Wires” album called “Write It On Your Heart.”  We thought that was a great title, so we asked her where she got the idea for that song.

Savannah Maddison is determined to make a difference in the world.  As a young teenager, she is working full time on a career in country music, but her heart is full of love for America’s soldiers.  Initially inspired by her best friend, Savannah created a program designed to bring a little love from home to soldiers deployed to all corners of the world.  “Savannah’s Soldiers” is closing in on one hundred-thousand letters sent to our military forces overseas.  We caught up with Savannah to talk about that exciting program.

The Country Music Hall of Fame will soon have three new additions.  The Country Music Association announced the latest class of inductees as Ronnie Milsap, Mac Wiseman, and Hank Cochran, bringing the new total of honorees to 124.  Later this year, the three will be formally inducted in a special Medallion ceremony, which serves as a rite of induction into the hallowed hall.  We had a chance to visit with the honorees to talk about this amazing experience.

Dolly Parton’s 42nd studio album hit the top of the charts when it was debuted in New Zealand, which coincided with the Australian leg of her tour earlier this year.  Now “Blue Smoke” is available in the U-S, and it’s a project she’s very excited to promote.  Dolly is continuing her “Blue Smoke” tour here in America this week, before heading across the pond again for more than 20 shows in Europe.  We caught up with her at a rehearsal in Nashville before the new U-S leg of her tour.

Hey everybody!  I'm Kelly Sutton!  So glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of entertainment headlines for you, so let’s get started!  Country music legend Crystal Gayle has a new exhibit open now at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  The “When I Dream” exhibit features plenty of fashion statements, awards, letters, family photos, and more from her incredible career.  Look for the exhibit to run through November.   The Grand Ole Opry group member Old Crow Medicine Show is set to release a new album full of catchy melodies and humorous lyrics.  “Remedy” will hit stores July first, although the group will hit the road this week for their largest ever tour.  Look for the tour to hit up plenty of North American dates this summer before heading over to Europe in October.   Alan Jackson is still making incredible music, and his latest release is now the title track on a movie soundtrack.  “A Million Ways To Die” will be available next week both physically and digitally, just before the movie hits theatres May 30.  The film stars Seth MacFarlane, who also directed, produced, and co-wrote the project, along with Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Neil Patrick Harris, and more.   Willie Nelson was presented with his fifth degree black belt last month in Austin, Texas.  Willie has been into martial arts and kung fu since coming to Nashville many years ago.  He believes this is a good form of exercise, especially as you get older.  Willie just turned 81 years young.   The popular “America Icons” campaign is returning to Macy’s stores across America, this time with a little bit of a country spin.  Look for Brett Eldredge, Jana Kramer, and Lucy Hale to join others as the face of the brand in the second annual campaign.  The initiative benefits “Got Your Six” and its non-profit partners, which support military families and veterans.  “Got Your Six” is a military phrase that means “I’ve Got Your Back” and the organization is one of the nations’ most innovative veteran empowerment initiatives.   Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  On his latest “Headlights, Taillights and Radios” project, Tracy Lawrence has a track called “Butterfly,” which came from a very inspirational place.  Here is Tracy to tell us where he got the idea for that emotional song.

As a young artist, Mary Sarah has amassed a wealth of experience in country music.  Her debut album “Bridges” hits stores this week, which includes twelve duets with some of country’s biggest traditional stars, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and many more.  Her career as a singer started about ten years ago, when she started posting all of her performances on youtube.  Now she counts roughly 80-thousand followers on her Twitter account.  We wanted to learn more about this amazing young woman, so we caught up with her at the Country Music Association headquarters on Music Row.

“Out Among The Stars” was initially recorded in the early 1980’s by Johnny Cash, with legendary producer Billy Sherrill at the helm.  The album was almost complete when Columbia Records placed them in a vault and Johnny moved on to other projects.  The tracks were soon forgotten, and just recently re-discovered after Johnny’s death by his son John Carter Cash.  We had an opportunity to sit down with John to see how those previously unreleased recordings were found and finished.

Contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith has sold more than 15 million albums, hit number one on the charts 28 times, and earned three Grammy Awards in his incredible music career.  Now he can head out for Grandma’s Pancake Breakfast at Cracker Barrel and check out his latest C-D in the Old Country Store music collection.  His album “Hymns” contains 15 classic Christian songs, many of which he grew up singing in church with his family.  Fans have flocked to Cracker Barrel restaurants to pick up the new exclusive “Hymns” project, propelling the album to number two on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart the week it debuted.  Kelly Lynn caught up with Michael to talk about the new project.

Hey there!  I'm Kelly Sutton.  We are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row!  We've got lots in store for you today, so let’s get started.  Toby Keith’s eleventh annual golf classic tees off this weekend in his home state of Oklahoma.  Toby created the event to help raise money for the O-K Kids Korral, a cost-free home away from home for children battling cancer.  The event includes a huge auction, plenty of fabulous food, incredible entertainment, a celebrity-filled round of golf, plus… someone will walk away with a new Ford truck.  After a decade of planning and fundraising, The O-K Kids Korral opened earlier this year and has already seen more than 75 families with visits from one day to eight weeks.  What an incredible way to help families during extremely difficult times!   Eric Church is set to hit the road this Fall when he launches “The Outsiders World Tour.”  The party kicks off September 11th in Bossier City, Louisiana, and will hit up at least 31 arenas across North America.  Look for Dwight Yoakam as the special guest for the tour, with opening acts Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, and Halestorm to split opening sets.  Eric’s last tour featured plenty of specially-designed backdrops for the show, so he’ll have a completely new look for this tour, which will have a high-tech design and a 360-degree view of Eric and the band.  For ticket info…check out Eric Church dot com.   After one of the most successful summer tours of 20-13, Bad Company and Lynryd Skynyrd are teaming up again for more co-headlining shows this summer.  The groups have about ten dates together in the Northeast in the month of July.  For the most up to date tour information, check out Bad Company dot com or Lynyrd Skynyrd dot com.   Jerrod Niemann has established a new non-profit called “Free The Music U-S-A.”  The new organization is dedicated to collecting used instruments and giving them to children in need.  Jerrod holds a deeply rooted belief that every child deserves the opportunity to explore music, so he is doing his part to get instruments in the hands of children that otherwise would not be able to afford them.  Jerrod is currently celebrating the launch of his latest album “High Noon” and the success of the lead single “Drink To That All Night,” which just hit number one on the charts.   Now it's time to go Inside The Song.  Austin Webb’s debut single on Streamsound Records did quite well for him and earned a lot of praise from the critics.  We had a chance to ask him what the track “Slip On By” is all about.

This next artist received her very first singing lesson from “Uncle Frank” Sinatra, and has received encouragement, direction and support from Sammy Davis, Junior.  Growing up as the daughter of the iconic entertainer Dean Martin, Deana Martin has found success as a musician, author, actor, radio personality, and more.  Her fourth studio album “Destination Moon” even includes a duet with her father called “True Love.”  We had a chance to hook up with Deana on a swing through Nashville to talk about her latest endeavors.

Red Bow artist David Fanning can be described as a musical triple threat.  As an artist…he’s gaining fans each and every week.  As a songwriter…he’s written tons of hits for some of today’s top artists.  As a producer, he has three number one hits under his belt.  David’s latest single is a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Drink You Away,” and we caught up with him to hear about his country spin on the original.

Jeffrey Steele is well known in Nashville as one of today’s hottest songwriters, but many don’t know about his huge heart.  Seven years after his son’s untimely death, Jeffrey still hosts a benefit concert in his honor.  We caught up with Jeffrey and a few of his friends before an incredible show at the Franklin Theatre.  Here’s Kelly Lynn with more!

Hey everybody!  I'm Kelly Sutton!  So glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row!  We’ve got plenty of entertainment headlines for you, so let’s get started!  After a wild weekend in the southwest that saw almost five-thousand funnel cakes eaten, seventeen-thousand t-shirts bought, and 67-thousand bottles of water consumed…organizers of the Country Thunder Arizona music festival deemed it a success with their highest attendance to date.  The record setting crowd was treated to performances from Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, and many more.  Fans can now look forward to the 20-15 festival, which is set to kick off April ninth of next year.   When a New York fine jewelry designer comes to Nashville…you know there will be a country spin on it.  Country artist Dustin Lynch was on hand at Nashville’s Green Hills Mall to celebrate the launch of the David Yurman “Frontier” collection.  Guests were invited to preview the new jewelry and timepieces, with a portion of the proceeds from the night benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.   Jesse Whitley is honoring his father’s memory this week by bringing back the Keith Whitley Homecoming Concert.  When Keith first achieved major success in the early 1980s, he began returning to his hometown of Sandy Hook, Kentucky with a show to give back to the people he loved and cherished.  The new show date will mark the 25th anniversary of Keith’s passing.   Sara Evans has partnered up with the makers of Hidden Valley Original Ranch products for “Crunch Time.”  This is a new program to help get kids involved in making dinner through games and activities.  Sara even helped design the “Twist On Tonight” activity box, available for a limited time through Surprise Ride.  With a blended family of nine…she knows about crunch time all too well.   Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  Jo Dee Messina’s latest single “Me” is all about living up to our individual responsibilities in life.  We talked with Jo Dee a little about how that can be a scary feeling at times.

     Ashliegh Lisset has always enjoyed music, and her father encouraged her to follow her dreams.  She never took that advice very seriously until after he was killed in action while serving in the U-S Army deployed to Iraq.  Six months later, music started bringing her world back together…a little at a time.  Now this Texas native has released her first single “Kill The Headlights” from her forthcoming E-P.  We were able to visit with Ashliegh to learn more about her musical journey.

     John Rich has done a little bit of everything in his career.  From putting out great albums with Big Kenny Alphin to commanding the board room on Donald Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice,” John really has an incredible business sense to him.  When he started a new lifestyle brand called “Redneck Riviera,” we headed over to Mount Richmore to learn more about it.

With a legacy that stretches across six decades, you might assume that the Oak Ridge Boys have released plenty of live projects.  We were quite surprised ourselves that they’ve never before done that.  With classics like “Elvira” and “American Made”… it’s easy to sing along at one of their live shows.  After selling over forty million albums, they’ve finally circled back and decided to put out a live album.  Kelly Sutton caught up with the “Boys” to talk all about that new project.

Hey there!  I'm Jennifer Vickery… we are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row.  We've got lots in store for you today, so let’s get started.  Country comedian Ray Stevens has been called lots of things in his career, but this is the first time he’s been referred to as a ‘rayality star.’  He just launched the first ‘webisode’ of his new web sitcom ‘Rayality TV.’  In the debut episode, he gets a speeding ticket and is sentenced to serve time at The Encore…a retirement home for entertainers.  Check out Ray Stevens dot com for the latest episodes.   If more artists keep getting added to the 2015 Country Music Cruise…they just might have to get a bigger boat!  Martina McBride, Charley Price, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, The Roys, and many more artists have been added to the seven-day cruise through the Caribbean.  To book your cabin, which gives you access to all the main stages, activities, and gourmet meals, check out Country Music Cruise dot com.   One year after the death of country music legend George Jones, a new book about his life is now available.  “The Legend of George Jones” is a collection of stories spanning many decades, five marriages, and an unequaled career in country music.  Written by family friends Charlene and Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery, the stories are told without excuse, documenting the real heart and soul of an icon.  Peanutt wrote a total of 73 songs for George, including some of his best loved number one hits.    “Mystery Girl Deluxe” is the 25th anniversary edition of Roy Orbison’s final album masterpiece.  The original “Mystery Girl” included the hit “You Got It,” which was a worldwide smash for Roy.  Many incredible artists and musicians performed on the original project, and you’ll see rare archival footage in this anniversary DVD, including clips with Roy and Tom Petty, Barbara Orbison, George Harrison, Bono, T Bone Burnett, Steve Cropper, and many more.  Several versions of the new package will be available on Legacy Recordings May 20th, which include some unreleased studio and work-tape demos.     Chet Atkins once bestowed the title of “Certified Guitar Picker” on his good friend Steve Wariner.  Steve has held close to that through the years, and is releasing a special version of his instrumental album “Steve Wariner C-G-P…My Tribute to Chet Atkins” in Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores.  In an interesting twist…Chet was also an early investor in Cracker Barrel, so this brings the project full circle.   Now it's time to go Inside The Song.  “Until I Met You” is a cool new track from Kentucky duo Sundy Best.  We caught up with Kris and Nick to learn what that song is all about.

Texas and Nashville don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to country music, but I think we can all agree on great music when we hear it.  Ross Cooper recorded his unique sound at a studio in Lubbock, Texas, which you can find on his soulful new album “Give It Time.”  The project includes eleven tracks, all of which he wrote or co-wrote.  We hooked up with Ross to hear how his life experiences are reflected in his music.

Rachele Lynae is a brand new young country artist, originally from the state of Alaska.  Many aspiring singers travel a long road to get to Nashville, but not quite that long.  From the sound of her voice and her commanding stage presence, it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot from her in the coming years.  Rachele’s debut album was produced by her mentor Jamie O’Neal, and hits stores this week.  We caught up with Rachele in the studio to talk about that self-titled project.

The 49th annual A-C-M Awards was a blast out in Vegas, with lots of amazing fan opportunities to see their favorite artists throughout the weekend.  We were able to hook up with tons of artists making their way into the M-G-M Grand Garden Arena for the main event.  Here’s Kelly Lynn on the red carpet.