Inside Music Row

Since breaking onto the country music scene in 1996 with ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California,’ Jo Dee Messina has always tried to do things a little differently.  Now with nine number one singles under her belt, she’s started her own independent label… Dreambound Records… to release her fifth full-length album.  “Me” is Jo Dee’s most personal album to date, with most of the songs written or co-written by her.  Not only did her fans help choose the title, but they also helped pay for it through the crowd-funding website Kickstarter.  We had a chance to catch up with Jo Dee to learn all about that new project.

In the Fall of 2012…a new group burst onto the scene with their hit ‘Musta Had A Good Time.”  We caught up with Parmalee on the set of their debut music video.  Since then…the guys have seen tremendous success with the release of their debut album ‘Feels Like Carolina,’ which featured the number one hit ‘Carolina.’  We caught up with the guys of Parmalee along with their co-writer Rick Beato at a party at B-M-I to celebrate that song going to number one!

Welcome to “Inside Music Row!”  Today we’ll celebrate “Carolina”…the first number one hit for Parmalee.  We’ll also check out the latest independent project from Jo Dee Messina.  Finally, we’ll sit down with Austin Webb to hear all about his new music.  All this and more coming up “Inside Music Row!”

Roll Open  :30

Hey everybody!  I'm Kelly Sutton… so glad you’ve joined us for another Inside Music Row.  We've got a great show for you today, so let’s get started with some entertainment headlines!  If you’re waiting to get your tickets to this year’s CMA Music Festival, you might have waited a little too long.  The nightly concerts at L-P Field sold out early this year, setting a sales record for the C-M-A.  Tickets sold out before the first artist was even announced, which was nine weeks earlier than last year.  Even though the nightly shows are now sold out, there are still plenty of other entertainment venues, stages, activities and special events lined up for the festival, which runs June fifth through the eighth.  Check out C-M-A Fest dot com for all the details.

“Take It To The Bank” is the latest project out from Chris Janson.  He puts on at least 150 shows each year, and has recently become a regular on the Grand Ole Opry.  Chris has been described as a cross between Waylon Jennings and Mick Jagger.  Look for the new E-P on sale now, which features five hand-picked songs, four of which were written by Chris.

The Grand Ole Opry is releasing a new book this weekend that treats fans to an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at country music’s most famous show.  “Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry” coincides with the 40th anniversary celebration of the Opry House.  You’ll find many rare photos, stories, and personal memories throughout the book, so look for it at many Nashville retailers or online at the Opry Shop.

Dolly Parton is a very busy woman right now.  Fresh off the Australian leg of her new “Blue Smoke” tour, Dolly is set to release a new album of the same name May 13th.  She’ll then hit the road hard here in the States for a handful of shows before heading over to Europe for about five weeks.  It doesn’t look like she’ll be slowing down any time soon.

Now it's time to go “Inside The Song.”  Sarah Darling wrote a song 7 years ago that was inspired by her grandfather when she thought she was losing him.  Here is Sarah talking about her song “Knowing What I Know About Heaven.”

This next young artist has music in his blood.  Dylan Scott got his first label deal with Curb’s Sidewalk Records at the age of 19 after honing his skills through plenty of practice and competition in his home state of Louisiana.  His debut E-P includes the single “Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy,” and the video was released last fall.  Kelly Lynn caught up with Dylan on Music Row to talk about his musical journey.

Maggie Sajak began playing the guitar when she was twelve years old, and in the last seven years, her skills as an artist and musician have grown!  Her debut video “First Kiss” was featured on her father’s television show “Wheel of Fortune” for her 17th birthday.  Just in the last year, she’s released another single “Wild Boy” and also “Live Out Loud,” which honors a Maryland teenager courageously battling cancer.  Maggie is back at work now on new material, and we had an exclusive invitation to visit her in the studio.  Here’s Kelly Lynn with more.

“Bottoms Up” is the first new single from Brantley Gilbert in over four years, and fans are anxious for more!  The video, which was shot here in Nashville, has already scored millions of online views.  It flashes between 1930’s vintage scenes and a modern day party.  We had a chance to check in behind-the-scenes with Brantley and director Shane Drake on the set of that new video.

Hey there!  I'm Jennifer Vickery… we are so glad you’re here for another Inside Music Row.  We've got lots in store for you today, so let’s get started.  Hunter Hayes is set for his “We’re Not Invisible” tour, which kicks off later this month.  He debuted the new single at the Grammy Awards, where he was nominated for ‘Best Country Solo Performance’ for his number one single “I Want Crazy.”  Look for Danielle Bradbery and country duo Dan and Shay to join Hunter when the tour kicks off March 20 in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Elton John’s Las Vegas concert event has been captured on film and will be released only in cinemas across the world.  “The Million Dollar Piano” can be seen in the U-S on the big screen March 18th with an encore showing March 26th.  This project will be seen in over 12-hundred theaters in forty countries, and tickets are selling quickly.  All of Elton’s biggest hits will be performed on the one-point-four million dollar custom-made Yamaha piano that features more than 68 L-E-D screens in the piano’s design. 

With the announcement of rock group Motley Crue’s final tour, Nashville’s Scott Borchetta revealed plans for a country music tribute album.  Details are still being finalized, but Florida Georgia Line, LeAnn Rimes, Brantley Gilbert, and many more are already on board.  Look for the project to be released this summer.

After six decades of performing together, you might think the Oak Ridge Boys have a huge library of live recordings.  In reality, the Oaks have never released a live concert album…until now.  “Boys Night Out” will hit stores April 15th in three formats…vinyl, CD, and digital download.  You’ll be able to listen to some of their biggest hits on the project like “Elvira,” “American Made,” and “Y’all Come Back Saloon.”

The Bellamy Brothers have always had a dedicated international audience, as they’ve been touring the world for almost four decades.  To celebrate their 40th Anniversary as artists, the brothers will perform their usual 150 dates here in the States, and will also visit plenty of other countries, like Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, Australia, and many more.  Howard Bellamy jokes that they are recording a new song called “Jet Lag Journey.”

Now it's time to go Inside The Song.  Tyler Farr hit it big with ‘Redneck Crazy,’ and his follow up single ‘Whiskey In My Water’ is also doing well with his fans.  We had a chance to ask Tyler why he picked this as his next single.

Ben and Emily Roberts met in Memphis and fell in love while making sweet music together as Carolina Story.  Since 2009, the duo has been hard at work touring, writing, and putting out music they believe in.  Last fall they released their latest E-P “Chapter One,” which is still rising on the Americana charts.  We had a chance to catch up with the couple on the set of their music video for “Your Children’s Children.”

Fans that come to Music City for the annual C-M-A Music Fest each summer are treated to one of the most intimate festivals around the world.  Between fan club parties, autograph signings, and showcases, people truly get to see their favorite artists in a new light.  When fans pay for festival tickets, they also help fund music education right here in Nashville, as the C-M-A donates a portion of the proceeds from the four-day event to help “Keep The Music Playing.”  Here’s Kelly Lynn with more from this year’s “All Stars Concert” at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Wall Street Journal initially dubbed Rhonda Vincent the new “Queen of Bluegrass,” and the title is certainly appropriate.  As one of the most awarded female vocalists in the genre, Rhonda performs hundreds of shows each year with her band “The Rage.”  In between hectic tour schedules, Rhonda found a way to record another incredible project.  Kelly Lynn caught up with her to hear more about “Only Me.”