Willie Nelson News

One of the longest-running musical partnerships in Broadway history, lyricist and director Richard Maltby, Jr. and composer David Shire, will be honored, along with a diverse group of 17 other outstanding artists, at the 35th Annual Bistro Awards on Monday, March 9 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St.

One of the longest-running musical partnerships in Broadway history, lyricist and director Richard Maltby, Jr. and composer David Shire, will be honored, along with a diverse group of 17 other outstanding artists, at the 35th Annual Bistro Awards on Monday, March 9 at Gotham Comedy Club (208 West 23rd Street). As is the Bistro Awards tradition, the evening will feature performances by the winners.

Chris Stapleton's “All-American Road Show” will return this summer and fall with an extensive new run of shows including stops at Washington State's Gorge Amphitheatre on June 20, Atlanta's Truist Park on July 18, Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on October 2 and New York's Madison Square Garden on October 10. Additionally, on August 29, Stapleton will make his headline debut at Chicago's famed Wrigley Field with special guests The Highwomen, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and The Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell. Additional guests along the tour include (in alphabetical order) Dwight Yoakam, Elle King, Hank Williams Jr., Kendell Marvel, Margo Price, Nikki Lane, Sheryl Crow, The Marcus King Band and Yola.

The GRAMMY AWARDS Premiere Ceremony took place at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. PT. Preceding the 62nd Annual GRAMMY AWARDS telecast, the Premiere Ceremony was hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Imogen Heap and featured a number of performances by current GRAMMY nominees. Performers included classical violinist Nicola Benedetti, jazz legend Chick Corea, folk music supergroup I'm With Her, West African sensation Angélique Kidjo and Best New Artist nominee Yola.

Head down to Ponce de Leon, Fla. April 17-19 for the first Vortex Springs Songwriter Festival at Vortex Spring Adventures. Throughout this festival fans will enjoy songs written by some of the best writers and artists in country music including Max T. Barnes, Wynn Varble, Jim McBryde, Jim (Moose) Brown and Rafe Van Hoy as well as horizon artists Dallas Remington, Kelli Johnson, Matt Wynn, Casey Lambert, Aliie Colleen and Lizzie Cates. There will also be a songwriting contest with over $1,000 in cash and prizes. Buy tickets here.

The Wittliff Collections, an internationally acclaimed collection of Southwest writing, photography, film and music, announces a limited availability of a?oeDate-Nighta?? tables-for-two for their inaugural Festival, taking place April 18, 2020. Just in time for Valentine's Day, these intimate Date-Night Tables are priced at $1,000 and include gala seating for two at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, access to two full bars and a buffet dinner on the mezzanine level, a chance to bid on silent and live auction items, and a great view of the program, which will include an acoustic performance by Robert Earl Keen and Ray Benson. The Wittliff Collections will host this debut festival in Austin, Texas, with a one-day event celebrating the unbridled imagination of Texas, Mexico and the Southwest. For information on attending the Festival and sponsorship opportunities, email here.

The Recording Academy® welcomes the newest inductions to its distinguished GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®, continuing its ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating timeless recordings. This year's additions recognize a diverse range of both single and album recordings at least 25 years old that exhibit qualitative or historical significance. Recordings are reviewed each year by a special member committee comprised of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts, with final approval by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. With 26 new titles, the Hall, now in its 47th year, currently totals 1,114 recordings. The 2020 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inductions are available to stream via a playlist here.

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the extension of Outlaws and Angels, celebrating the “outlaws” of country music and the “angels” who loved them.

MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. Melissa Etheridge, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, The Marcus King Band, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and John Cowan will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Raise a glass and get ready to take one last ride to The Ranch. With Iron River Ranch now in a competitor's hands and more trouble on the horizon, Colt, Beau and the rest of the Bennetts must band together as they face an uncertain future. The series stars Ashton Kutcher, Elisha Cuthbert and Sam Elliott. Created by Don Reo and Jim Patterson, The Ranch was the first comedy series produced by Netflix. Executive produced by Reo, Patterson, Kutcher, Jeff Lowell, Max Searle and Matt Ross. Part 8 consists of 10 episodes.

MerleFest, presented by Window World®, is pleased to announce Trent Wagler (of The Steel Wheels), Darrell Scott, and David Holt as judges for the 28th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (CASC). 

The Justin Kemp Band released their new country single 'Legends Never Die' on December 20, 2019. This original classic country song is a clever tribute to Country Music legends whose song titles compose most of the lyrics. Each line has been skillfully gleaned from many classic country hit songs from legends such as George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens & Hank Williams Sr.  Their songs continue to inspire Country Music fans, and Justin hopes that this 'new' single will in fact showcase how relevant they are today and will keep country music alive for generations to come. 

Gabriel Ayala has earned nationwide accolades for his classical guitar performances both in concert and for his three albums. He has broken stereotypes among Native and Non-Native people not just for performing classical music, but also by playing jazz, flamenco and new compositions of his own. Ayala has performed for Pope Benedict, President Obama and even Willie Nelson and has shared the stage with legendary groups The Four tops, The Temptations, Richie Havens and Dr. John, among others.

Charley Pride: I'm Just Me, a documentary about the life and career of legendary Country music superstar Charley Pride, will debut on CBC's documentary Channel on Wednesday, January 1 at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT as part of their All Day Music Marathon. It will repeat on Sunday, February 2 at 9:00 pm ET/PT.

The Peterborough Players rings in the New Year - and new decade! - with an audience favorite, Always...Patsy Cline, created and originally directed by Ted Swindley, from January 16th-26th. This rousing musical, featuring classic Patsy Cline hits, has not been seen on the Players' stage since 2003. The Players has a long history with the music of the country legend, having produced a separate look at Patsy Cline's life in a different show, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, in 2014.

Acclaimed musicians Jakob Dylan, Dhani Harrison, Amos Lee, Lukas Nelson, Micah Nelson and Willie Nelson have joined forces to record “For Real—For Tom,” honoring the late Tom Petty. The moving tribute is a cover of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' song “For Real,” which was released in February as part of The Best Of Everything (Geffen Records/UMe), the first career-spanning collection of Petty's hits—including songs from his solo projects, songs with The Heartbreakers and essentials from the reformed Mudcrutch.

Jake Hoot, a 31-year-old country artist originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and currently living in Cookeville, Tenn., was crowned champion of “The Voice” tonight.

Steven John Simon, rising country artist released his debut EP 'Story To Tell' on December 13, 2019. Steven John Simon's debut EP rounds out his first full year as a new country artist. This has been a year of 'firsts' for Steven John Simon.  The Marine Veteran went from working off-shore full time, single father of two to a whirlwind of studio time, song writing, taking care of his fast growing fan base to performing at festivals and venues in the south east. 

On Friday 24th January 2020 Dublin record label, Heresy Records (www.heresyrecords.com) will release a digital single version of Joni Mitchell's iconic song, Both Sides Now, in an Irish language translation sung by Caitríona O'Leary, accompanied on the recording by guitarist, Dick Farrelly.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2020 winter and spring season at The Colonial Theatre and The Garage. Tickets are now available for purchase by contacting the Colonial Ticket Office (111 South Street, Pittsfield) at 413-997-4444 or online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.