Artist News (6-27-13)

• Music icon Brenda Lee traced her half-century career for Leadership Music’s quarterly Off the Record series on Wednesday (June 26) at Nashville’s Sambuca. Music historian, MusicRow contributor, Leadership Music alum and co-author of Brenda Lee’s biography, Bob Oermann interviewed the legend during the 90-minute lunch-and-learn presentation.

Pictured (L-R): Bob Oermann, Lee, incoming Leadership Music President Sally Williams and outgoing Leadership Music President, Jeff Gregg.

Will Hoge

• Will Hoge has partnered with Thirty Tigers to release his ninth studio album, Never Give In, via the independent company on Oct. 15, 2013. “Will Hoge is a versatile talent who has found success as a writer, performer, and recording artist and we are honored to work with him. We look forward to many more successes to come!” shared Thirty Tigers’ David Macias.

Said Hoge, “The team at Thirty Tigers are all great folks that I’ve either worked with before in other arenas or have always wanted to work with. The music they’ve been able to build already and the things we can do together have me really excited to be part of the roster.”

• Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood will trace their family ancestries on TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are?. The new season is slated to begin Tuesday, July 23. Other celebrities featured include Christina Applegate, Cindy Crawford, Zooey Deschanel, Chelsea Handler, Chris O’Donnell and Jim Parsons.

• The Commorative Air Force’s (CAF) Boeing B-29 Superfortress will visit Smyrna Airport near Nashville for a six-day stay, beginning Tuesday, July 2. Aaron Tippin will be flying copilot when the airplane arrives. Tippin, a CAF member and a spokesperson for the organization, is part of the B-29 crew and also flies their B-24 Liberator. The aircraft will be on display through July 7 for cockpit tours and rides.

Tippin dedicates his time and talent appearing and performing at various Commemorative Air Force events across the country, including the Red, White & Loud Tour celebrating America’s freedom through song and the flight of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, FIFI. “For me, this is an opportunity of a lifetime to bring aviation enthusiasts and country fans together,” says Aaron, “I’m blessed because my kind of country music is patriotic and all-American. My involvement with the CAF caters to both aviation and country music enthusiasts.”

Aaron Tippin