Chapel Hart has released Hartfelt Family Christmas album and tour just in time for the upcoming holiday season.
Read the full storyChapel Hart Releases Hartfelt Family Christmas
Tag: Songwriting
Music Spotlight: Robby Johnson
Robby Johnson is a Canadian transplant who has fallen in love with country music. Hear his latest single, “Road I’m On.”
Read the full storyPreston James Releases Debut EP
Preston James was the second person I ever interviewed for my Music Spotlight column. I saw him open for the iconic Tim Akers and The Smoking Section when he was just 15 years old at 3rd and Lindsley. I interviewed him when he was 16 years old and then featured him again when Preston James’ Band opened for Brian Seltzer in December of 2017.
My writing “hobby” has become a job, and I have interviewed over 500 artists. James is 24 years old, and I had no idea it had been seven years since I had followed up with him. We had to catch up before I could talk about his music.
Read the full storyHeartland Releases ‘What Happened?’
Inspired by their conversations with friends, family, and neighbors, Heartland felt called to write “What Happened?,” a song they hope will help Americans come to their senses.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Noelle Toland
Noelle Toland describes her music as modern, old-school country. Although she didn’t come from a musical family, her family were huge music fans.
Toland said, “My mother introduced me to Patsy Cline. She loved singer-songwriters, and my dad loved soul music.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: John PayCheck
Because John PayCheck is the son of the renowned Johnny Paycheck, you may think his path to country music was automatic, but nothing could be further from the truth. Because he grew up around “the business,” initially, he was keen to avoid it as a career path.
“I knew so much about it; that’s pretty much why I didn’t go into it,” John Paycheck confirmed.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Colonel Cobalt
Music Spotlight artist Austin Moody was the first to tell me about Colonel Cobalt. Then, when B! Noticed PR messaged me about him, I decided to check him out.
The first song they sent me was “Phatt.” Their sound reminded me a little bit of the lowkey rock music my uncle used to listen to, but I don’t think “phatt” was a word back then.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Madeline Merlo
I met Madeline Merlo at the 2024 CMT Next Women of Country event in Nashville in January. As is the norm, the women perform an acoustic set, and I specifically remember Merlo’s introspective song, “Make Up.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Connor Daly
Rising Americana artist, Connor Daly, released his new album, Colors Fade in July with twelve original tracks that showcase his storytelling prowess and musical versatility.
Read the full storyHippies and Cowboys Release New EP: Fork in the Road
With their latest EP, Fork in the Road, Hippies & Cowboys keep the sounds of the past alive with modern lyrics and emotions.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Them Dirty Roses
Them Dirty Roses is a southern rock band from Gadsden, Alabama. Brothers James Ford and Frank Ford, along with their hometown friends Andrew Davis and Ben Crain, taught themselves to play music by learning how to bend a string and break a heart like Skynyrd and Hank.
In 2014, the foursome piled into a van with their belongings, instruments, and plenty of whiskey on ice and made their way to Nashville, Tennessee.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: The Great Divide
Nearly 30 years after their inception, The Great Divide is bringing Red Dirt Country to the Grand Ole Opry on July 10, 2024.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Britnee Kellogg
Britnee Kellogg grew up listening to all the good stuff: Waylon, Willie, Dolly, and 90s country. But it was when she was just six years old that her life was profoundly impacted. She attended a Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash concert. Smitten from the first note, the young girl knew she had found her chosen career.
“I knew that [singing] was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she recalled.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Jordan St. Cyr
Jordan St. Cyr is from a small town of around 1,200 people located outside Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As a child, he remembers his dad showing him a few chords on a guitar, and then he took it from there. He attended a youth group at his church, and they asked if anyone was interested in singing and playing guitar. He was soon enlisted to lead worship.
St. Cyr recalled, “My competitive nature took over and I’d spend three, four hours a night just learning these songs and singing. It’s really what helped me learn my craft.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: High Mountain Breezes
Nashville has no shortage of super-talented singers, songwriters, and musicians. For every hit song you hear, somebody somewhere had to write and play the music, engineer and produce it, and somehow get it to radio or streaming services.
Without these studio musicians, we wouldn’t have the quality of music we have today. High Mountain Breezes (HMB) is a collection of Nashville’s finest studio musicians who create music for other artists. But sometimes, these musicians want to make music for themselves, not just to accompany a famous lead singer.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Scotty McCreery
To say 2024 has been a banner year for Scotty McCreery would be an understatement. From his beloved North Carolina State making it to the NCAA Final Four to recently being added to the prestigious roster of Grand Ole Opry members, you would think that there wasn’t much left for the 30-year-old to accomplish.
In 2011, 17-year-old McCreery beat out Lauren Alaina to win American Idol. In June 2018, McCreery married the love of his life, Gabi, and in 2022, they welcomed a son, Avery. Since becoming a solo artist, the Triple Tigers recording artist has garnered five number-one hits, including the fan favorites “Five More Minutes” and “Damn Strait.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Skip Ewing
Donald Ralph “Skip” Ewing is a musician’s musician. To say that his singing and songwriting are brilliant is an understatement. And he can play almost any stringed instrument.
He said, “I don’t remember when I couldn’t play a guitar. I took a woman’s pink foam curler, took the plastic out of it, and stuck it up under my strings so I could play late into the night without the guitar making a sound.”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight Follow-Up: Donny Van Slee
Since I interviewed Donny Van Slee back in 2022, I’ve always been intrigued by the chiropractor/country music singer who unashamedly goes to the beat of his own drummer. He was the first person to bring artists like Zach Bryan and Jack Johnson to my attention as they are performers that Van Slee likes to emulate.
Because his life is spread in so many directions, you can imagine my surprise when Van Slee showed up on Reba’s team on NBC’s The Voice earlier this spring. When he sang Lanco’s “Greatest Love Story” he was so good that Reba blocked Dan & Shay so she could have him all to herself. He was confident, showing that he was having the time of his life.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Nicolette and The Nobodies
I’ll confess. Sometimes I get so many emails I can’t read them all. The downside to that is I am sure I have missed several great artists. But thankfully, I did open Taran’s Smith email when she pitched Nicolette & the Nobodies to me.
When I heard the song “Better Days,” my audible response was, “What is this?” When I saw Nicolette Hoang, I wondered, “Where did she learn to sing like that?”
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Presley Tennant
One thing I have learned about TV singing shows is that the finalists are nearly always as good (if not better) as the actual winner. So, I try to interview as many country singers from these shows as possible.
Presley Tennant is a powerhouse singer from Norco, California, a horse town that is 35 miles east of Los Angeles. She was a finalist on Season 16 of NBC’s The Voice in 2019 when she was just 16. She has often been compared to Whitney Houston and Carrie Underwood.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Lindy Boone
Lindy Boone, daughter of Pat Boone and sister to Debby Boone, Cherry Boone, and Laurey Boone, has been singing all her life.
They attended a church that didn’t use musical instruments, so everyone learned to sing instead. Their mama, singer Shirley Lee Foley, taught her daughters to sing harmony.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Flat River Band
Flat River Band consists of three brothers Andy Sitze, Chad Sitze, and Dennijo Sitze, who grew up in a multi-generational family band. Performing alongside their parents and grandparents, they held residencies at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, and at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
No strangers to success, the Missouri natives have charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts and have opened for Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard, and more.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Bettin’ On The Mule
Anyone who follows my blog knows I like a good hometown rockin’ country band. When I first heard Bettin’ On the Mule (BOTM) from Rockmart, Georgia, I instantly loved their energy.
The “Hometown Rock” pioneers consist of Jacob Wilson on lead vocals, bass, and rhythm guitar, who also serves as the band’s lead songwriter, new member Phil Beavers on lead guitar and backing vocals, Rick Norris on drums and backing vocals, and Shannon “Beef” Wilson on bass and backing vocals for the band.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Due West
Due West is a trio of country musicians who met at a house party in 2004. Tim Gates, Matt Lopez, and Brad Hull are from the western U.S., but like many aspiring artists, they found themselves in Music City.
The three of them were all invited to the same party. As happens in Nashville, when everyone gets together, they usually sing. When Gates started singing, Hull and Lopez chimed in, playing and singing harmony.
Read the full storyClint Black Announces 2024 World Tour Celebrating 35 Years of ‘Killin’ Time’
Following three sold-out shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Clint Black is going on tour to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the award-winning album Killin’ Time. He and his electrifying band will play the album top to bottom, along with many other number-one hits.
Black moved to Nashville over 35 years ago with his bandleader and longtime songwriter colleague, Hayden Nicholas, where he readily signed a deal with RCA Records.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Josh Abbott Band
One of the bands I have been wanting to feature for a while is the Josh Abbott Band. With multiple hit songs having multi-million streams, they are hugely popular in their home state of Texas and across the globe. You may be familiar with the perennial favorites, “Settle Me Down” and “She’s Like Texas.”
They have also teamed up with megastars like Kacey Musgraves in “Oh Tonight,” Carly Pearce in “Wasn’t That Drunk” and Pat Green in “My Texas” to bring their music to an even wider audience.
Read the full storyBecca Bowen Releases New EP, County Line
An artist that I have featured a few times in the past is Becca Bowen. I love her energy, passion, and big, beautiful voice. The South Carolina native mixes her authentic country charm with her background in gospel music and musical theater to bring us a traditional country sound with a soulful approach.
While Bowen has been releasing singles since 2020 and her debut album in 2022, it wasn’t until recently that she became brave enough to release an entire EP, County Line, where she co-wrote every song.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Ashley Anne
Occasionally, you meet an artist, and you know they were born with a gift. At age 17, Ashley Anne wrote/released her first single, “Dear Dolly,” a song that she penned entirely on her own.
And while Dolly Parton is arguably the most popular country star on the planet, most people of Anne’s peer group only know “Jolene” and probably don’t realize that Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” and may not have ever heard Whitney Houston’s version of it.
Read the full storyTy Herndon Releases ‘Jacob; Deluxe Edition
Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning country artist Ty Herndon has released the deluxe edition of his highly acclaimed album, ‘Jacob’ which has two new tracks and four reimagined tracks.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Meghan Patrick
A name that kept popping up in my feed and on socials was Meghan Patrick. She is a Canadian Country music singer who moved to Nashville a few years back to make a fresh start. When I interviewed Mitchell Tenpenny in April, I learned he and Patrick had recently wed.
But it wasn’t until I saw her interview on the I Am Second platform, that I found out what all she has conquered to get to where she is today. I knew then that I wanted to tell her story.
Read the full story2023 Country Christmas Round-Up: Your Guide to the Best Songs for the Holidays
I have previewed many new Christmas releases to share many original songs along with a few covers in my 2023 Country Christmas round-up
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: David Morris
One thing that I have learned by writing my column is that even though I prefer traditional country music, hip-hop, and rap are tremendously popular with the younger set. There have been a few country artists who have dipped their toes into the hip-hop music scene, but the most successful one I have encountered is David Morris.
Hailing from Charleston, West Virginia, country, hip-hop artist Morris is trailblazing a path by mixing trap-style beats with slide guitars, banjos with catchy hooks, and lyrical mastery with relatable lyrics. Morris has over 120 million global streams and has supported Kidd G and Jelly Roll on tour. The song, “Dutton Ranch Free Style,” recently received its RIAA Gold Certification.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Drew Haley
The first time I heard of Drew Haley was when I interviewed a remarkable group of country vocalists in 2020 called The Highway Women. I was impressed at how good each artist was and how they easily blended their unique voices.
But like so many who got their start during a pandemic, they just couldn’t keep the momentum going without being able to get out and tour.
Read the full storyBrei Carter Releases ‘Twinkling Tales of Christmas’
Crossover country and southern pop recording artist, and U.S. Army veteran and Music Spotlight artist, Brei Carter just can’t wait to usher in the holiday season with her new seven-song debut Christmas EP, Twinkling Tales of Christmas. Known for having a festive and vivacious personality year-round, Carter’s new EP is a multi-faceted genre-hopping collection of originals that draws upon her established country, southern pop, soul, and R&B musical influences.
And while many cling to the cherished Christmas carols on which we were raised, at one time, each of those familiar favorites had their debut.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Storme Warren
I often ask artists who influenced their careers. Well for me, not being a musician, the person who has most influenced me is the television and radio broadcaster, Storme Warren. Although I have little desire to become a television personality, I have learned so much about interviewing artists by listening to Storme nearly every day for 16 years on Sirius XM’s The Highway.
Besides having attended events in person where I saw Storme in action, I have heard how he interacts with the artists on his shows, especially on his fascinating podcast, Exit 209 (named after the actual exit you take to get to Music Row and downtown Nashville) where he delves into the very beginning of an artist’s life and career.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Adam Hood
When I was sent the artist Adam Hood to consider, I listened to one of his songs, “22 Days Too Long.” I wondered, “How in the world has he not crossed my radar until now?”
Hood has labeled his music as “southern soul” and has collaborated with artists like Brent Cobb, Josh Abbott, Jason Eady, and Miranda Lambert (to name a few). He is known to the music world as a songwriter’s songwriter as he effortlessly tells stories of everyday life in a meaningful way.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: William Michael Morgan
William Michael Morgan has been in Nashville since he was 19. Many country music fans will remember his gold-certified hit “I Met a Girl” from 2016, which continues to be a favorite at engagement parties and weddings.
Morgan hails from Vicksburg, Mississippi, which is the heart of the Delta Blues and a seven-minute drive from the Louisiana state line. His dad introduced him to country music by covering Marty Robbins and George Jones tunes on his guitar. Then, when he was 12, he got his own guitar, locked himself inside, and learned to play by watching YouTube videos.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Alexandra Kay
Alexandra Kay hails from the small town of Waterloo, Illinois, right outside of St. Louis. Like most people I’ve interviewed, Kay grew up singing in church. At a young age, she discovered she had a gift for creative writing/poetry. Her work was entered into contests for young writers. She got some national recognition from her short stories, and her parents were like, “Okay, She ‘s a pretty creative kid.”
Like many her age, Kay was greatly influenced by Taylor Swift. She wrote down her feelings in a journal, and many of these poems eventually turned into songs.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Orlando Mendez
I’ll admit that I don’t watch music competition shows like I did when I was younger. When I watch TV, it’s usually a mind-numbing procedural or mystery.
But thankfully, a lot of the people I interview got their start on a show and if they are country, they often find their way into my email inbox. Because the competition is so fierce, most of the artists pitched to me are outstanding performers. Orlando Mendez is one such artist and I feel privileged to tell his story.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Onoleigh
Onoleigh is a Nashville singer-songwriter from Mohomet, Illinois, outside Champaign. Growing up, she was involved in her school band and choir. She sang in musicals and variety shows and even won a talent contest.
But her goal in life was always to help others. That is why she studied to become a school counselor.
Read the full storyJenny Tolman Releases New Music
In March of 2022, I featured Jenny Tolman in my column as she was releasing her sophomore album and was on the cusp of getting married to GRAMMY-nominated producer Dave Brainard in Jackson, Wyoming, in a beautiful snow-covered ceremony. We did not expect that nine months later, Tolman would give birth to a bouncing baby boy, “Bear” Brainard.
Her songs, “Married in a Honky Tonk” and “I Know Some Cowboys” will always be two of my favorites.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Whey Jennings
Whey Jennings is as great a performer as you would expect him to be, but his path to stardom has not been an easy one.
When the singer was around six years old, he picked up a microphone that Jessi Colter left on a chair backstage at his grandpa’s show. Young Whey Jennings pranced out onto the stage and began singing “Mamma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.” Jennings’s grandpa Waylon Jennings shouted out, “Hey hold up there Hoss…wait for me!” Waylon went to pickin’ and when the song was finished, the crowd went nuts.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Erin Kirby
Erin Kirby is a country music singer from the small town of Jasper, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. She got her start in music by being in pageants, the kinds that have talent as part of the criterion. She did community service-based, natural pageants that don’t allow makeup for ages nine and under. Erin completed in pageants singing pop tunes until she was about 12 years old. Pageants gave her a place to sing and showcase her talent.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Levi Hummon Releases ‘Rock Bottom’
Music Spotlight artist Levi Hummon teamed up with actor and alternative pop-rocker Sam Tinnesz, to bring us his latest single, “Rock Bottom.”
The native Nashvillian is now 32. He was signed to Big Machine Records in his early 20s and has had a decade of putting out music and touring.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Johnathon Heilbroun
When I went to see Music Spotlight artist 12-year-old Brooklyn Summer play at Opry Mills last year, her then 14-year-old friend, Johnathon Heilbroun, played too. I already knew how good Brooklyn was but was quite surprised at how talented Heilbroun was. I knew I would eventually get around to learning his story as well.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: William Beckmann
When I was sent William Beckmann’s song, “She Can’t Be Found,” I was mesmerized. It sounded like something from Johnny or Waylon with a little bit of Elvis thrown in. Surely that young man who I saw on Instagram wouldn’t be singing a song that sounded like it was straight out of 1970s country. I was impressed.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Lewis Brice
Lewis Brice is a singer/songwriter from Sumter, South Carolina who has been on my short list of artists that I wanted to interview for several years. He and his talented brother Lee Brice have an innate gift for putting words to music in a manner that relates to so many.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Austin Moody
Don’t let his Hollywood good looks fool you. When it comes to being a genuine country boy, Austin Moody is the real deal. Born several miles south of the birthplace of country music (Bristol, Tennessee) in Kingsport, Moody was raised on a farm and surrounded by music. They raised cattle and sheep, and he was a proud member of the 4H Club.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: BoomTown Saints
NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Country duo Chris Ramos and Ben Chism who make up BoomTown Saints are an unlikely pair. Until a few years ago, they didn’t know the other existed. I wanted to find out how they ended up together, especially since being a professional country music artist was never on either of their radars.
Ramos is from southwest Florida but has been in Nashville for 25 years, where he started his career being an IT guy and then became a pharmaceutical representative. Eventually, Ramos became an independent consultant helping pharmaceutical companies commercialize their products.
Read the full storyMusic Spotlight: Anne Wilson
As I continued writing my Music Spotlight column, a new name kept popping up: Anne Wilson. In 2022, Wilson won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year, “My Jesus.” She won Songwriter of the Year and New Artist of the Year. She also sang a duet with Hillary Scott which won Bluegrass/Country Roots Song of the Year, “Mamas.”
The reason I had never heard of her before is because Anne Wilson, who is 22, has only been singing for a few years.
Read the full story