Valory Music Co’s Conner Smith had plenty to celebrate over the weekend as the country crooner released his latest album, Smokey Mountains, and sold out his show at the Brooklyn Bowl in his hometown of Nashville on 1/26. Pictured just before the room got extra smokey are (l-r) WME’s Aaron Tannenbaum, Homestead Music’s Brad Hersh, producer Zach Crowell, Homestead Music’s Brad Belanger, BMLG’s Sandi Spika Borchetta and Scott Borchetta, Smith, Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, BMLG’s Allison Jones, Homestead Music’s Chelsey Block and Pat Pekala.

Photo Credit: Cooper Smith

It should be a great night for pup culture as Dolly Parton and CBS present Dolly Parton's Pet Gala. Hosted by Jane Lynch, Kelly Osbourne and Parton herself, the two-hour special will air on Wednesday, 2/21, with performances from some of country music’s biggest stars along with a pet runway featuring fetching fur-baby fashions from Dolly’s Doggy Parton pet line.

Parton and such canine-loving stars like Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce and Chris Janson will take the stage for performances of such “ulti-mutt” Dolly classics as “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Puppy Love” and “Jolene." We can’t “fur-get” to mention celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth, Margaret Cho, Neil Patrick Harris, Carson Kressley and Jessica Simpson along with their beloved pets will also be attending the “paw-ty.” Yes, these are the worst pooch puns we could provide. Throw us a bone.

"There is so much fun stuff, and I know all the animal lovers out there are going to love this show,” goes a quote from Parton.

Because she’s paw-sitively a legend, Parton also serves as executive producer on the television special along with Frank Garritano, Danny Nozell and Van Toffler.

Viewers can watch the special on CBS Television Network and stream it on Paramount+.

A packed house threw goat during the Big Loud Rock showcase at Winston House in Venice on 1/23. Proud papa Greg Thompson introduced the show, which included sets from Yam Haus, BIZZY and Letdown. Seen just before showing us how to big and loud they can really get are (back row, l-r) Dave Barbis; Lloyd Norman; AJ Kasen; Letdown.; Thompson; BIZZY; Delaine Halpin; Colleen Kennedy; Ava Boney; (front row, l-r) Yam Haus’ Lars Pruitt and Zach Beinlich; Nicole Rich; and Yam Haus’ Jake Felstow. Moments before, Greg endured the indignity of a photo op with HITS’ Simon Glickman like the seasoned pro he is.

Eight-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney has announced 23 stadium shows for his Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour as he gears up for his first collection of music since 2020’s Here and Now.

On the new album, Chesney says, “I’m ready. Because of the amount of time we’ve had to work… and not just work, but really just hang out, write, experiment and play with different kinds of music… I got to go places, do some things we wouldn’t normally try because we have such a clear vision of what we’re trying to do.”

Slated for release later this year, the album will feature several of the CMA Album of the Year and ACM Single of the Year winner’s co-writes. Fans can also expect the album to contain more songs than usual.

And in addition to tour mates Nick Buda, Kenny Greenberg and Danny Rader, Chesney and co-producer Buddy Cannon have enlisted musicians Pat Buchanan, Chad Cromwell, Dan Dugmore, Michael Rojas and Dan Tyminski.

The Sun Goes Down Tour will kick off on 4/20 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium and will run through 8/23 at Foxborough, Mass.’s Gillette Stadium.

Peep Chesney’s tour dates here.

Photo credit: Allister Ann

Warner Music Nashville’s Gabby Barrett has revealed the track list for her forthcoming sophomore album, Chapter & Verse.

Due 2/2, the 14-track album—which features her latest Top 20-and-climbing single, “Glory Days”—is co-produced by Barrett and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter-producer Ross Copperman, who also served as a co-producer on her platinum debut, Goldmine, and its deluxe version.

Barrett is also a co-writer on nine of the 14 tracks and brought in collaborators such as Miranda Lambert and Hillary Linsdey on the recently released “You’re My Texas,” Phil Wickham, who’s featured on “The Verse: Doxology (Amen),” and Luke Combs, who provides background vocals on “Dance Like No One’s Watching.”

Pre-save Chapter & Verse here.

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

RECORDS Nashville is kicking off 2024 with new milestones from breakout artists George Birge and Dax.

Birge—who is one of five artists to be featured on CRS 2024’s New Faces of Country Music Show—earned his first Country radio #1 with “Mind on You.” The track, which also has a remix with charlieonnafriday and Kidd G, is the label’s third Country radio topper and first #1 for a non-major label in more than two years.

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter/rapper Dax has garnered 100m+ audio and video streams as well as 400k singles sold to date with his latest offering, “To Be a Man” f/Darius Rucker. Following his morning TV debut on NBC’s The Today Show on 12/28, the single also returned to #1 on U.S. Country iTunes.

“We are so thrilled for George Birge and this major accomplishment,” said RECORDS Nashville EVP of promotion & commercial strategy, Josh Easler. “His years of hard work and honing his craft have paid off with his first number one single. I’m proud of George and am proud of the RECORDS team as well for their incredible efforts.”

“So much of today’s market is driven by moments and trends, but George Birge and Dax’s successes were years in the making, and we couldn’t be happier to be partners in the process of helping develop two amazing acts who will be around for years to come,” added RECORDS SVP, David Enriquez.

Last week, Toby Keith made his triumphant return to the stage with his three-show run at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas. Tickets for the show sold out within minutes, becoming one of the fastest selling tickets in the venue’s history. Seen just before heading to the nearest slot machines to celebrate are (l-r) BMLG Records’ Ryan Dokke, IHeartMedia’s Michael Jordan, BMLG’s Sandi Borchetta and Scott Borchetta, Keith, BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen, iHeartMedia's Rod Phillips and KWNR’s Mojoe Roberts.

Photo credit: Greg Watermann

Warner Music Nashville has tapped Stephanie Wright, who joined the company as a consultant in October, as SVP of A&R. She will report to WMN Co-Chair/Co-President Cris Lacy.

Wright joins WMN from UMG Nashville, where she spent more than 23 years in A&R and signed and worked with the likes of platinum chart-toppers Jordan Davis, Sam Hunt, Parker McCollum and Grammy-winner Kacey Musgraves.

Prior to that, Wright began her career as an assistant at Capitol and worked her way up to SVP. The Salt Lake City native came to the biz through her cousins—the platinum-selling sibling trio SHeDAISY.

Since then, she’s been instrumental in albums like Lee Ann Womack's Call Me Crazy, Musgraves' Same Trailer Different Park and Hunt's Montevallo.

“Ben [Kline] and I have known and respected Stephanie for many years – quite often we've been on the other side of her at another label, actively battling it out to sign an artist,” said Lacy. “Her reputation and long-standing relationships will strengthen our incredible A&R team exponentially.”

“Over the course of my 23 years in A&R, I’ve known Cris [Lacy] as a friend, passionate label competitor and overall industry leader. Likewise, I’ve known Ben my entire career, starting when we worked together for Mercury Nashville. When the opportunity to join Cris, Ben and the WMN team arose, the decision was easy,” added Wright. “Great talent knows no boundary and I’m grateful, and excited, to be in this new home that puts the artist’s story first.”

Photo credit: David Bradley