Artist Updates (1/14/14)

Maggie Rose. Photo Credit: Gina Binkley

APA Nashville has signed singer/songwriter Maggie Rose. Rose’s Cut To Impress CD was produced by James Stroud and Blake Chancey, and her new single, “Looking Back Now,” from RPM Entertainment will be released on Jan. 21.

“Maggie is an amazing young woman with a wealth of talent,” Sr. VP of APA Steve Hauser said. “Her songwriting is top-drawer and her live show is remarkable. We are thrilled to have her join our APA family.”

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BMI recently invited Austin-based singer-songwriter Brennen Leigh to the Nashville office to perform a set for Nashville’s industry tastemakers. Leigh has written songs for Country artists Lee Ann Womack, Sunny Sweeney and the Carper Family.

Pictured are (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Noel McKay, Leigh, manager Tamara Saviano and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo credit: Drew Maynard

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Vince Gill and steel guitarist Paul Franklin performed the Buck Owens classic “Together Again” Thursday (Jan. 9) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The song is from their album Bakersfield: Deluxe Edition, which will be available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and crackerbarrel.com beginning Jan. 27. The performance, as well as Gill’s interview with Leno, can be viewed online.

Vince Gill and Paul Franklin perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

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Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler will join forces with Nashville Ballet to perform at the organization’s annual fundraising event, Ballet Ball 2014. On Saturday, March 8, Pickler will sing two songs from her recently released project, The Woman I Am, providing a live soundtrack to original dance performances by Nashville Ballet company dancers, choreographed by Artistic Director and CEO Paul Vasterling.

Tickets for the main Ball are by invitation only; however, arts patrons can purchase tickets to the Ballet Ball’s Late Party, which features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a seat at the performance. Late Party tickets are $125 per person and will be available beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tickets can be purchased at bblateparty.com

“I am so honored Nashville Ballet chose me to perform as part of their Ballet Ball this year,” Pickler said. “My passion is music, but last year I discovered how much I love to dance, so to have Nashville Ballet dance to two of my songs is really exciting for me. I cannot wait to see how they choreograph their dances for the Ball.”