Darryl Worley will conduct his first live chat via Twitter on Monday (5/7) at 8 pm CT, using #CMchat, one of the site’s largest hashtag communities. Jessica Northey, creator of #CMchat, will host the talk. Worley’s brand new single “You Still Got It” (Tenacity/Crazytown Records) is currently at No. 33 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.
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Grammy-winning artist Dwight Yoakam has signed with Paradigm for booking representation, reports Billboard. Yoakam is also planning to release his first album since 2005’s Blame The Vain.
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Joe Nichols will discuss his musical journey, the abuse he suffered in childhood, and his ongoing struggles with alcoholism in Backstory: Joe Nichols, which will premiere on GAC Saturday, May 12 at 10 pm CT. Featured in the special are Nichols’ brother, wife, manager, producer and more.
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Show Dog-Universal has released newcomer Rose Falcon’s 19th Avenue EP to iTunes, and she’s already finding some high profile fans. Bon Jovi leader Jon Bon Jovi recently updated the band’s Facebook page and called Falcon a “true artist who has the ability to make you listen as well as feel.” Grab the EP here.
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Sony Music Nashville’s Joanna Smith ran 13.1 miles at the St. Jude Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon presented by Nissan on Saturday (4/28), and started the morning off by singing the National Anthem for the runners. Prior to the race, she visited with St. Jude executives at the start line.
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WMN’s The Dirt Drifters have canceled all upcoming tour appearances, according to a Facebook status update. Yesterday, the band posted the following: “Hi all…we hate to disappoint you guys, especially after all the support you have given us over the past few years, but due to some private, personal issues we will not be going out on the road and will be canceling all upcoming shows and appearances. We apologize for any inconvenience to anyone who had plans to come see us this summer, you know there is nothing we love more than playing music and we will miss you. We cannot thank you enough for your support and for standing by us. Peace. The Dirt Drifters.”
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Trace Adkins will help send 33 World War II veterans to Washington, DC, courtesy of Brookshire’s/Super 1 Foods WWII Heroes Flight on May 31. That day, Adkins will perform the national anthem at a public sendoff in Tyler, TX, and the veterans will fly to DC to visit the WWII Memorial, Capitol, and more through June 2. Brookshire Grocery Company, the exclusive retailer of Adkins’ Hightower’s Country Smoked Sausage, is sponsoring the trip.
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University of South Carolina alumna Julie Roberts has written and recorded “Sweet Carolina,” a song honoring her home state and university, as part of USC’s “Carolina Promise” campaign. Roberts will perform the song live Thursday, May 10, in Columbia, SC, at the official kick off for the campaign. More info here.
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Singer and actress Claudia Lee will present at the 33rd Annual Young Artist Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (5/6). The program honors performing artists under the age of 18 in TV, film, theater, and music and raises scholarship money for physically and financially challenged young performers. Lee’s “Hollywood Sunset” recently charted on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart, and she also plays Magnolia Breeland on the CW Network’s Hart of Dixie.
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Cody Collins, the former singer of Lonestar and now headliner of Country Superstars in Las Vegas, recently released his self-titled solo EP to iTunes. The collection was produced by John Edwards in Nashville at Benchmark Sound.
