Artist Updates: Bonnie Bishop, NAWAS, LeAnn Rimes, Dolly Parton, Ty Herndon

Nashville BMI Artists Shine at Loufest

BMI’s Nina Carter, guitarist Ford Thurston, BMI singer-songwriter Bonnie Bishop, Tunespeak’s Tom Pernikoff and BMI’s David Claassen hang out back stage at the BMI/Tunespeak stage at Loufest. Photo: Jason Gonulsen.

BMI/Tunespeak’s Stage at Loufest this past weekend (Sept. 10-11) in St. Louis, Missouri featured soulful Texas country rocker Bonnie Bishop and R&B group NAWAS among other talents.

NAWAS. Photo: Jason Gonulsen.

LeAnn Rimes Launches Christmas Tour, Preps UK Project

LeAnn Rimes. Photo: Sara Hertel

LeAnn Rimes‘ annual holiday tour, called Today is Christmas Tour 2016, is set to span 12 dates through December. Fan club presale and VIP Packages will be available on Sept. 13 with public on-sale Sept. 16. The outing shares a name with Rimes’ 2015 holiday album, Today is Christmas, which will be re-released at Target retailers for 2016. The project had been the No. 1 new Christmas music seller at the box chain.

Concurrently, Rimes is preparing an album in the UK, available for preorder ahead of its Oct. 28 release with lead single, “The Story.” Last week, the star shared a new track with fans, co-written by Lori McKenna and Barry Dean titled, “How To Kiss A Boy.”

Today is Christmas Tour 2016 Dates:
Dec 1. 2016 — Norfolk, Neb.; Divots
Dec 2. 2016 — Waukegan, Ill.; Genessee Theatre
Dec 3. 2016 — Granite Falls, Minn.; Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort
Dec 6. 2016 — Merrillville, Ind.; Star Plaza Theatre
Dec 8. 2016 — Deadwood, S.D.; Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Ctr
Dec 9. 2016 — Mitchell, S.D.; Corn Palace
Dec 10. 2016 — Ralston, Neb.; Ralston Arena Presents
Dec 14. 2016 — Albuquerque, N.M.; Isleta Resort & Casino
Dec 16. 2016 — Kamas, Utah; Dejoria Center
Dec 17-18, 2016 — Las Vegas; Orleans Casino Theater
Dec 30. 2016 — Beaver Creek, Colo.; Vilar Performing Arts Center

Dolly Parton Celebrates First Chart-Topping Solo Album In Quarter-Century

Pictured (L-R): Shane Carter, President, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Inc.; Dolly Parton; Danny Nozell, President/CEO, CTK Management; Simon Rayner, Director, Marketing, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Inc.; Kirt Webster, President, Webster Public Relations

Dolly Parton recently celebrated her August 19th full-length project, Pure and Simple, has become her seventh album to top the charts—and first since Eagle When She Flies (1991).

The icon has partnered with Cracker Barrel for a deluxe Pure and Simple album, in addition to a contest that will give fans a chance to win two VIP concert tickets for her Pure & Simple Tour, which recently announced a Canadan leg.

Ty Herndon Signs With BFD, Announces Nov.  11 Album

Pictured (L-R) Front: Ty Herndon, Amy Aylward (Buddy Lee Attractions); Back: Erik Halbig (producer), Chuck Rhodes (BFD/Nashville), Dewayne Brown (Sony/RED Distribution)

Ty Herndon has signed with BFD to release his anticipated full-length album, House On Fire, on Nov. 11.

Co-produced with Erik Halbig and Drew Davis (on six tracks), Herndon’s 12-track collection features contemporary songs and is available for pre-order starting Oct. 12. BFD is distributed through Sony/RED Distribution. Herndon’s four No. 1s and numerous top 10 hits in the ’90s came when he was signed with Sony.

Dewayne Brown of Sony/RED Nashville states, “We are very excited to be working with Ty again. As soon as I heard this amazing project I couldn’t wait to share it with the world.”

“This album is 18-months in the making,” says Herndon. “The writing was intense at times, but we had a lot of fun throughout the process! This album is Ty Herndon to the very core of my heart and it is without a doubt the most honest and vulnerable album I’ve ever done. It is an album about heart and soul, with songs that everyone can relate to. My hope is that anyone who hears these songs will catch a small piece of his or her life through the music and my story.”

Bob Frank of BFD commented, “House on Fire is one of the best albums I’ve heard in the last 10 years. Ty has demonstrated once again that he is one of the best male vocalists in the format.”

Chuck Rhodes of BFD/Nashville added, “I have been a Ty Herndon fan since ‘What Mattered Most.’ When I first heard this new project, I was reminded that he is still making great music. The hardest decision we would have in this process is trying to figure out what song to lead with!”

Herndon recently debuted songs from the album to enthusiastic fans in London as a headliner act for the Nashville Meets London festival, an appearance that led to international radio airplay and expansive media coverage.