Ben Gallaher has released his newest EP, Bullet, a five-song collection that covers love, loss, heartbreak, lessons learned, and hope.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Ben Gallaher
Category: Entertainment
Fender and Brad Paisley Release ‘Lost Paisley’ Telecaster
A few years back, I learned that Fender made Telecaster guitars with a paisley design specifically for Brad Paisley. I did not know that Fender had been making Telecaster guitars with a paisley design long before the country superstar was even born. Those with extra cash can purchase one of these vintage 1968 beauties for around $4,000. It was pinkish/red on silver cling foil. Elvis’ guitar player, James Burton, played one.
Fast-forward to 2022, when Alan Cross found an ammo case covered in the same paisley cling foil, except it was bluish-green. He recognized the pattern immediately and purchased the hand-decorated case for $20 from Craigslist.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Rebecca Lynn Howard
Country music singer and songwriter Rebecca Lynn Howard grew up in Salyersville, Kentucky, a stone’s throw from Loretta Lynn’s beloved Butcher Holler. Like so many I’ve interviewed, she got her start singing in church and “for the lack of anything else to do.”
“There wasn’t a lot going on there. All my family was musically inclined. They either sang or played guitar, banjo, mandolin, or piano. Everyone gravitated toward music because what else was there to do?”
Read the full storyExclusive: Moe Bandy Premieres ‘Six Days On The Road’
Moe Bandy brings us his favorite classic country songs with his new album, ‘Songs I Missed.’
Read the full storyTucker Wetmore Releases Debut Album, ‘What Not To’
Tucker Wetmore’s rise to fame has been rapid and a little unexpected. Born and raised in the forest of Kalama, Washington, Wetmore grew up immersed in music. His grandfather was a pastor, and gospel songs soundtracked Wetmore’s formative years, reggae played at large family barbecues, and the soft rock of the Eagles, Jim Croce, and Billy Joel.
Wetmore is of Samoan heritage on his father’s side. He grew up in a Samoan family and has spoken about the strong musical traditions within his family. His family’s love for singing influenced his passion for music. At the age of 11, he began taking piano lessons and also dabbled in guitar and trumpet.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Josie Sal
One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting rising artists and knowing that great things are in store for them. I was blown away when I first heard 13-year-old Josie Sal and was surprised to learn that she is relatively new to the music scene.
Sal never aspired to be a singer. At just 10 years old, Sal took a dare from her father to sing in front of a crowd in Florida, sparking a passion for music that quickly transformed into a promising career. After her impromptu performance of “Dance Monkey” captivated the audience, Sal began taking vocal and guitar lessons and performing at venues across Pittsburgh and Florida. Being the youngest of four children, she was always entertaining her family.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: KC Johns
When I met KC Johns at CRS 2025, I was instantly drawn to her energy. More importantly, her music matched her electrifying can-do attitude.
Johns was born in Memphis and raised in Hernando, Mississippi, a small town along the Tennessee-Mississippi line. Most of her family hails from Florida. Her mother and stepfather met on the rodeo circuit, where her mother participated in barrel racing, and her stepfather was a bull rider. While neither of her parents was a musical performer, she was always surrounded by it and was even named after KC and the Sunshine Band.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Ira Dean
Ira Dean comes from a musical family. His brother is Billy Dean, but not that Billy Dean. “It’s a joke because Billy Dean’s royalty checks used to go to my brother,” Ira Dean said. But his brother and father were both very much in the business. His father played guitar, sang, and even had his own radio show when he was 13, so the music business is all Dean’s ever known.
“It was either make it or wear a hairnet and say, ‘Do you want fries with that?'” he joked.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Lane Smith
The leap from rodeo bullfighter to country music singer may not be as vast as you think. Lane Smith was raised in Branch Springs, Texas, just north of San Antonio. The tough, unpredictable nature of rodeo culture mirrors the challenges of building a country music career from the ground up. He soon realized he couldn’t be a bullfighter forever.
Country music and rodeo go hand in hand, with concerts following most rodeos. Smith saw them and thought, “I really want to be an artist.”
Read the full storyAnnie Bosko Embraces Her Roots With New Single, ‘California Cowgirl’
Music Spotlight artist Annie Bosko hails from California, not from San Francisco or Los Angeles, but from a farm near Thousand Oaks. While people often associate country music with Nashville and the South, real cowboys come from the western U.S., where they tend ranches and have cattle drives.
Bosko explained, “I know California has its issues. I almost used to hide that I was from California because it meant I couldn’t be country. But when I lived in Nashville, I lived on 8th Avenue South which was way less country than when I go home to California.”
Read the full storyGap Year After High School: Is It a Good Idea?
Around 200,000 to 250,000 school leavers decide to take a break from their studies every year. Taking a gap year after high school is stubbornly rising in popularity, and it doesn’t seem to fade away anytime soon.
Read the full storyHarper Grace and Franklin Jonas Release ‘IDK’
Curb Records newcomer Harper Grace and rising artist Franklin Jonas risk heartbreak with haunting country duet “IDK.”
Read the full storyLewis Brice Releases ‘She Loves My Country’
Lewis Brice releases fun remake of Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me” with the reimagined, “She Loves My Country.”
Read the full storyRob Mayes Releases New EP ‘Can You Hear Me Now’
One of the hardest-working individuals I’ve met since writing my column is actor, model, composer, and singer Rob Mayes. While he gladly accepts various acting jobs as opportunities arise, his heart is in music, and most often, country music.
And occasionally, his worlds collided, as he played a country singer in the Netflix hit movie The Neon Highway and a pianist (where he really played) in the Hallmark movie The Road Home For Christmas.
Read the full storyPat Boone Releases Multi-Artist Anthem, ‘ONE – Voices for Tanzania’
Pat Boone World Missions presents ‘ONE – Voices for Tanzania’ as all-star musicians unite their voices and hearts to provide clean water for Tanzania.
Read the full storyLuke Combs Receives Star on Music City Walk of Fame
Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and Columbia Nashville artist Luke Combs was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame this week.
The day after Grand Ole Opry member Combs performed at their 100th-anniversary show that aired on NBC, he was recognized with the 109th star on Music City’s Walk of Fame.
Read the full storyOnoleigh Releases Debut EP, ‘First Rodeo’
After residing in Nashville for more than six years, Onoleigh, who has released multiple hit singles, including “Ghost Stories,” “Beautifully Broken,” and “Make it Hurt,” has finally released her debut album, First Rodeo.
With Onoleigh’s powerhouse vocals and vivid storytelling, Onoleigh takes the listeners from heartbreak to empowerment in this modern country saga.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Six Gun Sally
When I first heard a few Six Gun Sally songs, I knew immediately that this band was meant to be heard live.
The members, who have various musical pursuits, remind me of a supergroup bringing the best of what they do together to create the rowdy, eclectic southern rock band Six Gun Sally.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Kelsey Hart
Kelsey Hart never had the goal of being a country music singer. Right out of high school, the Kentucky native went to barber school and got his license. His friend who lived right down the street had a guitar and often stopped by the shop where the pair would sing together to pass the time. This led to them starting a hometown band.
For a year, Hart was the frontman for their local band, but by age 20, he decided he needed to learn the guitar. The hometown band eventually fizzled out, but by then, Hart knew enough songs on guitar that he could play solo at bars or wherever they would have him.
Read the full storyTennessee TV Station WSMV 4 Reportedly Claims Patriotic Song by Dugger Band Too ‘Politically Biased’ for Public Airwaves
Nashville television station WSMV-4 reportedly told the Greeneville-based band, The Dugger Brothers, that it would be forbidden from performing its patriotic song, “True Colors,” due to the station’s concerns about the composition’s pro-America lyrics being “politically biased.”
The Dugger Brothers band, composed of brothers Jordan and Seth Dugger, shared the email they reported receiving from a WSMV-4 employee in a post to social media on Tuesday. They added that the email was only sent after they were invited by WSMV-4 to perform the song on the station’s morning program.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Tyler Rich Releases Sophomore Album, Hello California
Country singer-songwriter Tyler Rich last week released his sophomore album, Hello California. This 10-track independent project tells the story of a California native who found his voice in Nashville. It’s the first half of a double album, with the second half set to be released later this year.
I first became aware of Rich when Sirius XM’s The Highway played his debut song, “The Difference,” in 2019. A few months later, the singer released “Leave Her Wild,” which went to No. 1, and I went out of my way to get an interview with him.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Taylor Hughes Releases Old Fashioned You
I have long been a fan of Taylor Hughes since I first interviewed her in 2021.
Her rich contralto adds a unique depth to her songs, making them resonate with listeners who enjoy the blend of truth and grit, all with an authentic Southern drawl.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Lily Rose
Lily Rose came across my radar in 2021 when her mega-hit “Villain” hit the airwaves. She was soon named to the 2022 CMT Next Women of Country.
Rose hails from Atlanta, Georgia. At age nine, she first became interested in music when she asked her parents for a drum set. Then she picked up the guitar and piano and realized she was passionate about music. By age 14, she was composing her songs.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Lily Rose
Lily Rose came across my radar in 2021 when her mega-hit “Villain” hit the airwaves. She was soon named to the 2022 CMT Next Women of Country.
Read the full storyLANCO Announces Sophomore Album and Tour for 2025
LANCO is a multi-platinum-selling country band founded by Brandon Lancaster in 2015. The band consists of Lancaster (lead vocals), Chandler Baldwin (bass guitar), Jared Hampton (keyboards, banjo), Tim Aven (guitar), and Tripp Howell (drums). The band’s name is short for Lancaster and Company.
LANCO has cemented itself as one of country music’s most dynamic acts. The first song I heard from the band around 2017 was a jamming song, “Troublemaker,” which I instantly put on my workout playlist.
Read the full storyKasey Tyndall Releases Self-Titled Album
Released on February 28th, Kasey Tyndall’s self-titled debut album on MNRK Music features her most vulnerable songwriting yet, with each song introducing a different layer that makes up who she is today.
Read the full storyOscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman, Wife, Family Dog Found Dead in Santa Fe Home
Oscar-award winning actor Gene Hackman and wife have been found dead in their home in New Mexico, authorities reported early Thursday morning.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Country Radio Seminar 2025
Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2025 wrapped up last week after three days of unforgettable musical performances, insightful panels, and dynamic industry sessions.
This year’s event was a resounding success, offering attendees a dynamic lineup of showcases and events, including the Amazon Music Presents: “Country Heat at CRS 2025” showcase, Warner Music Nashville’s Luncheon, Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley, “Team UMG” at the Ryman, BBR Music Group Decades Party, Big Machine Label Group’s Luncheon, and the highly anticipated New Faces of Country Music Show and Dinner.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Garrett Bradford
When I heard the title track of Garrett Bradford’s new album, “Honkiest of Tonkers” (Part 1), I knew he played music I wanted to listen to. It turns out he is a bonafide cowboy who writes and sings songs.
Bradford is a fourth-generation Texan and grew up in the western worlds of ranching and rodeo. His formative years were spent on the ranch, where he developed a profound appreciation for livestock, hunting, and fishing. But as many in country music can attest, Bradford started singing in church.
Read the full storyExclusive: Corey Congilio Premieres ‘She’s Like The Weather’
Nashville songwriter and guitarist Corey Congilio releases playful, new single, “She’s Like the Weather.”
Read the full storySmithField Celebrates Love with New EP, ‘Love You to the Moon’
SmithField Celebrates Love with a New EP, Love You To The Moon, a collection of heartfelt songs, including two written for their spouses on their wedding days.
Read the full storyU.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty Advocate for WNBA Franchise to Be Created in Nashville
Tennessee U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) are voicing their support for Nashville’s bid to host a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Attends Super Bowl LIX With President Trump
Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was among a group of senators who traveled with President Donald Trump to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday aboard Air Force One.
Read the full storyRunaway June Release ‘To Be Yours’
Runaway June releases “To Be Yours,” a heartfelt tune for those hopelessly in love or wishing they were.
Read the full storyU.S. Rep. Andy Ogles Leads Coalition in New Role on Homeland Security Committee to Survey Safety Measures in New Orleans Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday
Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to New Orleans on Monday to survey the security measures in place ahead of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.
Read the full storyTennessee Filmmaker Robby Starbuck’s Documentary ‘The War on Children’ Unbanned from Amazon Streaming Service
Robby Starbuck, Tennessee political commentator and documentary filmmaker, announced Monday that Amazon’s streaming service, Prime Video, unbanned his 2024 documentary “The War On Children” nearly six months after the film was removed from the platform due to “offensive content.”
Starbuck’s documentary features conversations with the likes of “whistleblowers, leftists caught on camera, survivors of child mutilation, trafficking victims, corporate executives exposing the plan to sexualize children” and others surrounding different issues facing children in today’s world, including human trafficking and gender mutilation.
Read the full storyDolly: An Original Musical to Make Its World Premiere at Belmont’s Fisher Center
Ahead of Dolly’s highly anticipated original musical memoir that will run on Broadway, New York, in 2026, the world premiere is scheduled to run July 18 – August 20th in Nashville at Belmont’s Fisher Center this summer.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Tori Rose
Rising singer/songwriter Tori Rose toasts an ex with new single, “If Drinking Were a Sport.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Cecilia Castleman
Cecilia Castleman captivates audiences with her introspective songwriting and versatile guitar playing. Her debut album is out Friday.
Read the full storyArizona’s $125 Million Film Subsidy Faces Legal Challenge Over Alleged Constitutional Violation
Representing two taxpayers, the Goldwater Institute (GI) filed a lawsuit last week against the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) challenging the use of taxpayers’ money to provide subsidies to the movie industry. The Arizona Motion Picture Production Program (AMPPP) hands out up to $125 million annually to films made primarily in Arizona.
State Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), who voted against the bill that established the
AMPPP, expressed her support for the lawsuit to The Arizona Sun Times. “Government should not pick winners and losers,” she said. “Goldwater Institute is right in line with how President Trump is hearkening back to our country’s ethos, which is merit-based, market-driven awarding success to those who earn it on a level playing field… instead of according to who you know, but what you know. We’re done with elitist backroom deals crushing the middle class.”
The Imaginaries Release New Music
The Imaginaries, one of my favorite musical couples, are comprised of blues rocker Shane Henry and pop singer and pianist Maggie McClure. I featured them in September of 2022 and explored how they, coming from two different musical backgrounds, combined their efforts to bring us the unique folk/pop-rock duo, The Imaginaries.
Besides the music they create together, they have long been part of the Sync World, writing music for TV and movies and occasionally starring in them. You can catch them in the Reagan movie singing Frankie Vallie’s “My Eyes Adored You.”
Read the full storyReview: Norm Grant’s ‘Tales of Young Patriots’
P. Norman Grant has written “Tales of Young Patriots,” a delightful collection of 12 short stories of historical fiction celebrating the story of America, and the virtues that made our people great, through the eyes and ears of young participants in key moments in our country’s history.
From the ocean passages of the 1600s to our modern desert wars, Young Patriots contains lessons in virtue driven by action. The stories are written in a style and with language to appeal to middle or high school students of social studies or history.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Noah Thompson
The one word that came to mind when I heard Noah Thompson for the first time was “unexpected.” And I believe that is part of why Thompson won American Idol in 2022. No one, including himself, expected that he could sing so well and then win the competition.
Even though he had a “tumultuous childhood” in rural Western Kentucky, where he was raised, he can always remember music being part of his life. Thompson’s dad was a musician growing up, and he instilled music in him literally from the time he was in his mother’s belly.
Read the full storyThe United Football League Announces Its 2025 Season
The United Football League (UFL) announced its full 2025 game schedule on Thursday, adding that league’s media partners – FOX, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FOX Deportes, and ESPN Deportes – will broadcast all 43 games.
“We are thrilled to have exceptional partners like FOX and ESPN, who share our passion for celebrating the game and telling our story to a wide audience,” Russ Brandon, UFL President and CEO said in a statement. “With the launch of FOX UFL Friday, we’re excited to invite new fans to experience the incredible talent and heart that our players bring to the field.”
Read the full storyLegendary Tony and Emmy Award-Winning Actress Linda Lavin Has Died
Linda Lavin, whose career spanned more than sixty years, died Sunday of complications from a newly-found lung cancer, a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. She was 87.
Read the full storySeven SJSU Women’s Volleyball Players Will Transfer amid Controversy over Male Teammate
Nearly half of San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball players intend to transfer after a season marked by controversy over the inclusion of a male player on their team.
The seven athletes who have entered the transfer portal include Nayeli T’ia, Mari Lawton, Ava Martin, Laurel Barsocchini, Kiyana Faupula, Jade Epps, and Teya Nguyen. None of the players have given a specific reason for transferring, according to Outkick.
Read the full storySinger Keith Urban to Host Nashville’s Live New Year’s Eve Event
Country singer and songwriter Keith Urban is set to host next week’s live New Year’s Eve five-hour event in Nashville airing on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Taylor Austin Dye
Taylor Austin Dye hails from Booneville, Kentucky, where she first discovered her passion for singing at age five.
She said, “My mother said I learned to sing before I even learned to talk. I just babbled along with the songs. Then, in kindergarten, I had severe anxiety, and I didn’t get better until I started taking music lessons.”
Read the full storyTime Wellness Tennessee Launches Residential Treatment Facility in Taft, Now Accepting Clients
by Allie Hinchman TAFT, Tennessee – Time Wellness Tennessee has officially opened its state-of-the-art residential treatment facility in Taft. Designed to offer a structured and supportive environment, the center provides comprehensive care for individuals seeking recovery and personal growth. Since its launch earlier this year, the facility has begun accepting clients, marking a significant step forward in providing innovative, client-focused treatment solutions in the region. Time Wellness Tennessee’s Comprehensive Approach to Recovery Time Wellness Tennessee’s residential treatment facility offers a unique approach to recovery by combining compassionate care, structured support, and innovative therapies. Designed to provide a safe and personalized environment, the center focuses on helping clients achieve lasting recovery through evidence-based methods and holistic practices. 24/7 Medical Care and Support Around-the-clock medical care forms the backbone of recovery at Time Wellness Tennessee. Clients benefit from constant access to skilled professionals who address their physical and emotional needs. The medical team works closely with each individual to guide them through every stage of recovery, helping them stay on track and build confidence in their progress. Having medical support available day and night gives clients peace of mind. It also allows them to focus fully on their recovery journey without…
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Wendy Moten
Not long after I started writing my Music Spotlight column, I came across one of the greatest voices I’d ever heard in Nashville, Wendy Moten. I even gave her a shoutout when Heidi Newfield released her Barfly Sessions record in 2020.
After Moten rose to fame as the runner-up on NBC’s The Voice in 2021, the rest of the world saw how fabulous she was, and I knew getting an interview would be more of a challenge.
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