Steve Nedved

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkStockSongwriter, musician and producer Freddy Powers passed away June 21 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 84. Powers, who was inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006, was a frequent Merle Haggard collaborator, and wrote “Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room” and “Natural High,” among other songs recorded by Haggard. He also penned George …

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Capitol Records NashvilleWhat started out as a songwriting collaboration between Little Big Town and artist, producer and The Voice coach Pharrell Williams turned into a mini album for the country band, although the songs on the newly released Wanderlust are not country at all. Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook calls working with Williams “an amazing musical experience” that began as an “off the cuff” pairing. …

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Warner Music NashvilleFor an Illinois native like Brett Eldredge, just setting foot in Chicago’s Wrigley Field can be exciting. So it’s no surprise the rising country star was over the moon when he actually got to shoot his new music video, “Wanna Be That Song,” in the historic baseball venue. Eldredge says he has been a …

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Image Group LA/ABC via Getty ImagesWhile she has yet to comment on her departure from the artist roster at record label Black River Entertainment, Kellie Picker seems to be taking it in stride. The singer and her husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, are currently visiting Japan. Tweeting from Tokyo, Pickler wrote, “Blessed to see the world with my adventure and life …

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UMG NashvilleLittle Big Town will be spending next month’s Independence Day holiday in Boston, where the band has been been tapped to appear on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. They join previously announced performers Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, who are set to perform their hits in conjunction with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and its conductor, Keith Lockhart. The two-hour special …

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ComStock/ThinkStockWhat year did future superstar Garth Brooks sign his first recording deal with Capitol Records in Nashville? ANSWER: 1988. Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkStockPrior to his June 19 performance at the Buckeye Country Superfest in Ohio, Randy Houser awarded a decked out new truck to a U.S. military veteran as a “thank you” for his service. The Chevrolet Colorado was outfitted with more than $50,000 in tailgating and grilling items. The service member and his family also received free …

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UMG NashvilleFans eager for new music from Sam Hunt will have to wait a little longer, and they can blame his busy touring schedule for that. “It’s hard for me to balance writing with touring,” he says. “Last year I was so busy it was hard to write on the road, especially when we were going so …

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Courtesy Hickory FilmsSinger/songwriter Rory Feek, formerly half of the country music duo Joey + Rory, is remembering his late wife and musical partner Joey Martin Feek with a new documentary. To Joey, With Love will be shown in more than 500 movies theaters nationwide just once, on Sept. 20. The film follows the birth of their now two-year-old daughter, Indiana, and Joey’s …

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ABC Television NetworkFans of the television series Nashville have a new reason to celebrate. Following recent news that the ABC-cancelled series would be picked up by CMT and Hulu for its fifth season comes word that the show’s production team will auction off 270 mementoes from the first four years. The site VIPFanAuctions.com is hosting the “Nashville is Back” …

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