Inside Music Row

Shawna Russell released her self-titled sophomore project last year, and has since split her time between Nashville, her home in Oklahoma, and shows out on the road.  Since her debut album "Goddess" in 2008, Shawna has matured as a writer and as an artist, and we had a chance to sit down with her between writing sessions to check in on her new music.  

Nashville's "Tin Pan South" Songwriters Festival turns twenty next week, with shows set to kick off Tuesday.  Writers from all genres of music take over some of Nashville's most popular nightspots for a week of incredible shows.  Last year, more than 300 songwriters performed in over 70 shows around town, playing to over 9-thousand fans, and this year's lineup is already proving to be quite popular.  We caught up with a few people instrumental in the festival's success to talk about why it's been such a huge hit. 

As far as country stars go these days, Jason Aldean is right there at the top of the list.  It's no surprise he hit the top of the charts again with his latest "Tattoos On This Town," The fourth number one off his "My Kinda Party" disc and eighth overall.  We had a chance to catch up with the former Pepsi deliveryman and the writers of that hit at a very special celebration at Nashville's own Bound'ry.

We kick off another Inside Music Row with the mention of Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner.  Kevin is coming back to his country roots again, with a new Modern West tour set to kick off later this month in Lakeland, Florida.  We also mention Clay Walker as he is set to host his third annual Multiple Sclerosis benefit concert "Chords of Hope" June 5th in Nashville.  We also mention that construction has started on a new 18-thousand square foot museum devoted to the Man in Black.  The Johnny Cash Museum will include permanent and traveling exhibits, plus an intimate music venue, food services, and working archives.  Ricky Skaggs is also in the news as he is putting together for the first time a four-day class designed to improve your performing skills.  Finally,we go Inside The Song with Dierks Bentley as he talks about his number one hit "Am I the Only One." 

Allen Karl is a very traditional country artist, with a tremendous worldwide following.  We recently had the opportunity to catch up with him in the studio here in Nashville to get a preview of his latest music.  Here's Kelly with more.

You've heard of big stars like Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band, and the last time we met up with producer Keith Stegall, he still had plenty more stories to share behind the music we all love.  Here's Kelly back with Bigger Picture Music Group head Keith Stegall.

David Nail recently celebrated his very first number one song with his hit "Let It Rain" ...a song he co-wrote with Jonathan Singleton.  The song made history as the longest rising track to hit the top spot since the inception of the country radio charts.  Kelly Lynn caught up with David and Jonathan at an ASCAP party to celebrate.

We kick off another edition of Inside Music Row ith the mention of BamaJam as the three day event is scheduled to kick off June 14th.  We also discuss American Idol finalist Bucky Covington as he has joined forces with the good guys to honor and support our country's injured firefighters and police officers.  Also mentioned is Mel Tillis as he was just awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.  The Country Throwdown tour is also mentioned as it is set to take off beginning May 18th in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Finally we go Inside The Song with Dallas Davidson as he talks about the song he co-wrote with Rob Hatch and Brett Jones "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away" (performed by Justin Moore).

Legendary U-S Route 23 winds through the Eastern corridor of Kentucky, and has seen the early days of artist such as Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Crystal Gale, Loretta Lynn, and many many more.  Today...that 144-mile stretch of road is called the Country Music Highway, and a group is working on bringing attention to the area with a new "Arts Education Fund and a "Road To Fame" talent competition.  We headed up to Frankfort, Kentucky to hear all about it.

Billy Bob's is a legendary nightspot in the Stockyards of Fort Worth, and Casey Donahew is making a name for himself there, selling out his last few appearances.  The Casey Donahew Band has an extremely strong fan base in the Lonestar state, but is now reaching a more national audience.  We caught up with Casey backstage before yet another sold-out show at Billy Bob's to talk about his style of music.