Ricky Skaggs News

Sam Bush to perform at the Boulder Theater on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Tickets on sale at 10AM Friday, November 22nd HERE.

Monday night, at the 57th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, American music icon Randy Travis was presented the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award. Performing two of Travis' biggest hits were Garth Brooks, singing “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and Carrie Underwood, singing “Promises.” The duo then joined ASCAP President and Chairman, Paul Williams, in presenting the award, which will join the top shelf of Travis' award room alongside a Country Music Hall of Fame plaque, a Grand Ole Opry member trophy, seven GRAMMY Awards, 11 ACM statuettes, five CMA honors, 10 American Music Awards, two People's Choice awards, eight Dove Awards and many more honors.

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the initial lineup for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “For over 30 years, one of the major factors that has built and sustained MerleFest has been the quality of the artists and performances that our guests see over the 4-day festival,” says Ted Hagaman, Festival Director. “People truly feel that the festival is a great value and that is why music fans and families return year after year. We feel that the 2020 lineup again reflects the diversity and quality of performers, and we look forward to another successful festival in April.” The complete lineup for MerleFest 2020 will be announced over the next few months. 

Musco Center for the Arts will present internationally acclaimed acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, with special guests Jim and Morning Nichols, on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 7:30 pm. 

Music distribution service CDX Nashville has launched CDX TRACTION POSITIVE COUNTRY with Mark Piland serving as Chart Editor. This new format features positive message music with themes of faith, family and home. The new initiative includes music delivery to all radio stations who program this incredibly inspirational music, a new monitored national singles chart to show everyone what is happening at radio, and a new chart newsletter that will deliver every week (to all the stations and industry operatives) where artists, labels and managers can showcase their releases through trade ads.    Sign up here to receive the CDX Traction Positive Country newsletter. 

Merle Haggard's memory lives on, thanks to his sons, Ben and Noel, whose national tour brings them to Arizona this weekend.

Trailblazing Bluegrassers, Sideline, are set to headline select dates at a variety of venues throughout the Fall. The group will wrap up a milestone year with a #1 single ('Crash Course In The Blues') and 125 shows (that included tours of Canada and Ireland) under their belts. Additionally, Sideline is nominated for their first IBMA awards - for Song of the Year ('Thunder Dan') and Instrumental Recording of the Year ('Cotton Eyed Joe'). 

Amid a galaxy of country music stars gathered in downtown Nashville for its annual awards shows, industry VIPs will celebrate one of the brightest when Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis receives the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at the 57th annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Country Music Awards. The exclusive, invitation-only gala, which celebrates the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most-performed country songs of 2018, takes place on Monday, November 11 and will include special guest performances to honor Travis.

Country hitmaker T. Graham Brown is set to guest host SiriusXM's new show LIVE WIRE, premiering Wednesday, September 4th at 10/9con Prime Country, Channel 58. LIVE WIRE is a one hour show that will showcase live cuts & interviews with some of his closest friends and heroes, sharing fun stories and candid moments about life on the road. With continued airings throughout September the show will feature live cuts from artists including The Highwaymen, Merle Haggard, and Ricky Skaggs plus interviews and live cuts from Lorrie Morgan and Gene Watson. Listen closely to hear never-before-told stories and rare live performances from your favorite Prime Country superstars!

Celebrate the start of cooler fall weather at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. There are plenty of performances for everyone from rockin' concerts and classical evenings to laugh-out-loud comedy shows and intimate cabaret-style dance performances.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is excited to announce additional experiences for the upcoming season. The 2019a?"20 season is bursting with performances for everyone, from acclaimed singer-songwriters and must-see dance companies to renowned classical musicians, returning favorites and more. Marc Cohn, Spanish Brass with Chano Domínguez, the return of Live & Local performances and the always-funny Louie Anderson join the beloved Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel series, internationally known violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and Broadway veteran Patti LuPone to round out the Center's 2019a?"20 season.

Last Thursday, July 18, country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs celebrated his 65th birthday, marking 60 years since he struck his first chords on the mandolin. At a concert stop in Stephenville, Texas, Skaggs' good friend and Texstar Ford Summer Concert Series sponsor Doug Montgomery made sure to host the celebration appropriately by surprising him with a guitar-shaped birthday cake.

Sweetwater's GearFest 2019 was a record-breaking success that attracted the largest crowds ever in the event's 18 year history. GearFest is the nation's only music and pro audio festival and trade show open to the public, eliminating barriers between customers, vendors, and artists.   

Grammy nominated artist, Christian Davis, announces the release of his second solo single 'The Simple Things,' to Bluegrass radio via CDX. 

Following the release of his incredible new album Absolute Zero, Grammy award winning pianist, singer and songwriter Bruce Hornsby today announced he will return to the UK on November 3rd , 2019 at Shepherd's Bush Empire  for a special intimate, solo-piano performance.

Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music offers a comprehensive look at bluegrass — its origins, the pioneers who shaped its sound, and its worldwide appeal. The documentary, narrated by actor and bluegrass enthusiast Ed Helms, will air nationally on PBS stations Friday, August 30, 2019, at 9/8 pm ET. Check local listings.

Pianist, singer and songwriter Bruce Hornsby's summer tour kicks off tomorrow, June 18 inCharleston, SC. The run of dates includes additional stops in Denver, Charlotte,Asheville, Charlottesville and Atlanta that will feature a collaborative performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music's Rob Moose.

CMA Fest has announced additional performances and appearances at Xfinity Fan Fair X, CMA Fest's Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, where fans get up close and personal with their favorite artists. Xfinity Fan Fair X returns to Music City Center for action-packed entertainment daily from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, featuring three stages with artist panels and performances, meet-and-greets, music and lifestyle exhibits, prize giveaways and more. Admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X is open to all four-day CMA Fest pass holders and Xfinity Fan Fair X ticket holders. Tickets can be purchased for $10 per day or $25 for all four days at CMAfest.com/tickets. 

The guest lineups for the upcoming episodes of Live from Here with Chris Thile in St. Louis, MO on May 25, Vienna, VA on June 1, Louisville, KY on June 8 and Lenox, MAon June 15 are set, featuring Ben Folds, Bruce Hornsby, Guster, Anaïs Mitchell, Adia Victoria, Lucius, I'm With Her and Ian Edwards.

Superfly and A.C. Entertainment are proud to announce the return of the world renowned Grand Ole Opry to the 2019 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. An unqualified highlight of last year's event, the Grand Ole Opry will be back with another star-studded lineup, once again celebrating Bonnaroo's very special connection with its home state of Tennessee. The 18th annual four-day multi-stage camping festival will take place June 13 - 16, held as always at Great Stage Park, the spectacular 700-acre farm and event space located just 60 miles southeast of Nashville in Manchester, TN.