For those waiting for either new music from Jamey Johnson, or some sort of resolution to the convoluted contractual situation in which he finds himself entwined in, you might want to get comfy. Ahead of a benefit in Nashville that Johnson played Wednesday night, the songwriter let it be known that he’s still not writing, and there’s no resolution to his label issues in sight.
Well, we still don’t know the “what” exactly, but now we now know the “when.” Just in the last 24 hours, the announcement “The Wait Is Over … 7/7” has appeared on Garth Brooks’ official website, hinting that the long-anticipated official end to his retirement, and potential announcements about a tour, and maybe even new music are eminent.
Outlaw country music legend David Allan Coe was scheduled to play at the Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill in Dallas, TX on Wednesday night (7-2), but a dispute between Coe and the venue forced a cancellation of the show. The venue, owned by Discovery Channel personality Richard Rawlings claims that the singer attempted to extort them.
It looked like the crisis for Studio ‘A’ had been averted, and a Studio ‘A’ rally that transpired Monday morning in the historic spot turned out to be less about saving Studio ‘A’, and more about saving many of Music Row’s historic buildings and properties by asking the City of Nashville to designate the area as a historic district. Now the current owners of the building have written a letter…
Houston traditional country artist Josh Ward was involved in a tragic boating accident on Tuesday. Josh was treated and released from Conroe Regional Hospital for a fractured elbow, but multiple other injuries, as well as two fatalities and a missing person are also being reported as part of the multi-boat incident. The accident happened on Lake Conroe, just north of Houston.
It was bound to happen. Despite the 55 year age difference, Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson seem to be cut from the same country music cloth; kindred spirits if you will. They both are songwriters, both Texans, are performers by default that don’t seem to have much desire for showbiz, and now both have achieved critical acclaim.
Raleigh, North Carolina’s American Aquarium had their van and trailer stolen late last night (Wednesday, 6-25) between 1 AM and 9 AM in Indianapolis at the Wyndham Hotel on the west side of town. The band was in Indianapolis playing a show with the Turnpike Troubadours at the Old National Centre.
Willie Nelson, who just released his latest record Band of Brothers on June 17th though Sony’s Legacy Recordings, has crested at the very top spot on Billboard’s Country Music Album’s chart, landing at #1. It is Willie’s first #1 in 28 years, since his 1986 album The Promiseland. It is also his second-best showing ever on Billboard’s all genre Billboard 200 chart, coming in at #6.
One of the largest and most important collections of country music memorabilia is finally going to get a permanent home, and it’s part of much bigger plans for a historic building in Marty Stuart’s hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi. Marty’s “Congress of Country Music Hall” will include a theater for musical performances, and classroom space.
Actor Tom Hiddleston was announced on June 12th as the leading role in an upcoming biopic about the life of Hank Williams called I Saw The Light. Tom Hiddleston recently spoke to The Daily Mail about the film, reassuring concerned country music fans about the reverence with which he will approach the role. “I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
When it comes to country music artists still making country music the right way, and doing it criminally under-the-radar in a selfless manner, Caleb Klauder might be at the top of the list. That is why is was so alarming to hear that the long-time touring musician had developed vocal chord polyps from years of performing.
It happened again. For the love of God, it happened again. Despite last year’s public outcry, despite movements to ban the event from happening again this year, despite an aggressive effort by organizers to attempt to stem the littering issues by handing out garbage and recycling bags to tailgaters as they entered the grounds it all transpired again: mounds of trash, multiple arrests, and many fights.
The bayou cries out in mourning, but the music will live on. Jimmy C. Newman, the ‘C’ standing for “Cajun,” known as one of country music’s most passionate champions of the Cajun influence and nicknamed “The Alligator Man,” passed away on Saturday, June 21st due to Cancer. He was 86-years-old. Jimmy C. Newman, “The Alligator Man”, is now sitting on the banks of the great bayou in the sky.
The grandson of Hank Williams, Hank Williams III, aka Hank3, is not happy with the casting of English actor Tom Hiddleston in the upcoming biopic about his grandfather. Hank3 reached out to TMZ to clarify his statements, but they refused to post anything further. So early Friday morning, Hank3 released a statement about why he feels the casting of Tom Hiddleston was the wrong move.
On Wednesday it was announced that NASH Icons had made its first hire, and it’s a heavy hitter in the music business. Jim Weatherson, a 35-year veteran of music management has been tapped to be the NASH Icons General Manager; a move that signals a deep commitment from both Cumulus and Big Machine to the endeavor.
Tuesday night at Boston’s Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, country music legend Willie Nelson took the stage with his well-known Family Band behind him, sporting one extra member in tow playing incognito. Famous A-list actor Johnny Depp joined Willie for the Boston set, strapped down with a silver-fronted Danelectro guitar and wearing his signature spectacles.
Willie Nelson’s private town called Luck, TX that sits on the edge of his ranch just west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country was heavily damaged in storms that moved through the area late last week. “Our beautiful Luck wasn’t so Lucky recently,” the Willie Nelson camp said in a statement, “Last week’s tornado force winds ripped several buildings apart…”
Pop country cash cow Luke Bryan and pop star progeny Miley Cyrus could have a collaboration in the works according to various sources, including country music artist and co-host of NASH’s America’s Morning Show Chuck Wicks. On Monday morning’s program, Wicks conveyed to listeners that Luke Bryan and Miley Cyrus have a duet coming, though he gave no specifics…
This week the House of Representatives convened the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology to discuss further dissolving the ownership rules governing media in the United States regulated by the FCC. At question were rules that limit radio companies from owning more stations.
Country music legend Hank Williams will be getting a brand new retrospective in an upcoming movie called “I Saw The Light” that will be based off of the Colin Escott biography of Hank’s life, and directed and written by Marc Abraham, an American film producer known for such movies as Spy Game and most recently The Man With The Iron Fists.
Within the new rules is the establishment of only one new category for the 2015 awards, but it is one that will benefit many of America’s roots musicians. An award for “Best American Roots Performance in the American Roots Music Field” will be handed out for the first time in 2015, and both the nominees and winner will enjoy the distinction of being recognized….
Dale Watson released his first album of exclusively truckin’-inspired songs in 1998 called The Truckin’ Sessions. The album became a favorite amongst devoted Dale Watson fans over the years, which inspired Dale to release a second installment The Truckin’ Sessions, Vol. 2 in 2009. Now Dale aims to make it a perfect three by releasing yet another 14-song volume of truckin’ songs…
King George Strait played what is expected to be his final show as a big ticket touring musician to a packed audience at Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, TX on Saturday night, and the event that saw people travel from all over the world to witness, and drew some of country music’s biggest names in support, shattered previous attendance records for an indoor concert.
Ever since the health problems started for Randy Travis on July 7th, 2013 when the singer was admitted to the hospital for viral cardiomyopathy, and then suffered a stroke as a complication to his treatment and had to have emergency surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain, fans have been concerned for the welfare of Randy, and real news on his status and progress has been scarce.