Music City Minute

Over the weekend, artists, across several disciplines, gathered in the oval office where they were recognized as Kennedy Center Honorees. During a speech preceding the medallion ceremony, the President called the class of 2025 "icons" that are the very best in arts and culture who have uplifted, inspired and unified millions. First in line to receive his medallion was George Strait, who was also complimented on his "good hair" by the Commander in Chief after removing his signature hat. The eclectic group of fellow honorees included Sylvester Stallone, the band KISS, Gloria Gaynor and actor/comedian Michael Crawford. The weekend long festivities were capped off with a dinner as well as the Kennedy Center Honors Program, which was taped and will air on CBS and Paramount+ later this month. Needless to say, the "The King" is in good company as far as high-profile country artists who are also bona fide Kennedy Center Honorees, such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, "The Possum" George Jones, Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and Reba McEntire.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

The Happy Cowboy, Niko Moon and his wife, Anna, have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, exclusively sharing with "People" magazine their family is expanding. The songwriting duo admits their journey into parenthood has not been an easy one. However, they are endlessly grateful for resources like IVF, because it has given them the opportunity to grow their little family. Niko and Anna will be welcoming a baby boy this time around and their 3-year-old, Lily, is overjoyed to be big sister.

 

The American Cancer Society put out a call for action in Nashville, and the response was incredible. Over $350,000 was raised to support the society's programs and research during the annual Country vs. Cancer benefit show. The night's lineup included Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Hardy, who said it was an honor to unite thousands of people for an uplifting and inspirational evening of music and charity to support folks impacted by cancer.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

 

There is no denying Cody Johnson is tough as nails. Before hitting it big and country music, Johnson was a professional bull rider and prison guard. However, even those experiences were not enough to prepare him for the physical and mental toll of a severely perforated eardrum. The "Till You Can’t" singer admits the recovery from emergency eardrum surgery has been excruciating. Compounded by the maddening inability hear correctly made Cody a dull and bristly boy. Despite the long healing period, limited travel and canceled shows, the Texas native recognizes the ordeal has also been a blessing in disguise. Cody’s convalescence has forced him to slow down, take care of himself and taught him to be a more patient man. Furthermore, the uninterrupted time with his growing family is perhaps the greatest gift of all.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

As 2025 winds down, several major country stars are giving their fans a lot to look forward to in the New Year. Your boots and cowboy hat will be clocking overtime two-stepping at country shows across Denver. Empower Field at Mile High will be hosting Morgan Wallen for back-to-back shows May 29 and 30. Russell Dickerson's Russellmaina will shake the boulders loose May 13 at Red Rocks. On April 16, Warren Zeiders (and his glorious hair) stops off at the Mission Ballroom and the "Gold Chain Cowboy," Parker McCollum, brings the Texas heat to Red Rocks July 29. However, the latest concert announcement is as massive as that turducken Uncle Bob insists on frying for Thanksgiving. Zach Bryan will be bringing his special brand of beatnik country rock back to Broncos Stadium, August 13 and 14! Fans can sign up to win a pair of tickets for the August 13 show through the free 98.5 KYGO app. In addition, separate registration is open for an opportunity to participate in one of the presales leading up to the official on-sale date of December 5. Information for all of these concerts is available under the "Events" page at kygo.com.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

No doubt Ella Langley is making good money. While saving earnings are important, Langley hilariously admitted spending it is a lot more fun. I feel like this is a super relatable situation. How many artists do we know that went from one jar of peanut butter in the fridge to superstardom practically overnight? Fortunately, the "Choosing Texas" singer made a responsible choice and invested in a house. There is also her Gibson acoustic-electric "dealer select" guitar that averages about $7,000. However, we can call that a career investment. Then, there are the impulse buys such as $200 candle and clothes hauls. Thankfully, it sounds like she has a good business manager who keeps her feet on the ground, because they literally stepped in and told her no more splurge purchases!

 

Speaking of superstar spending, did you happen to catch the vintage Omega watch Luke Combs was wearing on the red carpet at the CMA Awards? Apparently, he picked the timepiece up for $103,000 in an auction over the summer. Here is the kicker though: Johnny Cash presented this specific watch to Elvis on his birthday in 1969!

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

Last week, Miranda Lambert celebrated her birthday and her husband, Brendan, got her a unique gift. Apparently, the Texas native is a big fan of dinosaurs, and so her husband was able to procure a life-size metal dinosaur statue. Although Lambert calls it a T-Rex, I would say it looks more like a velociraptor, but that is neither here nor there. The fact is I am sure Miranda Lambert has everything and so her husband, choosing this gift, goes to show he truly understands her quirky personality. By the way, she named the dinosaur statue Patina because it will live outside.

 

Morgan Wallen has reached another huge career milestone. The country star recently received three separate plaques for the songs “Whiskey Glasses,” “I Had Some Help” and “Last Night” reaching one billion streams. In typical redneck fashion, Wallen dismantled the awards, drilled holes into them in order to fit them as hubcaps on his ATV with zip ties! Hey, at least he is going to get some use out of plaques instead of letting them collect dust.

 

I'm Sheena, and that’s your Music City Minute.

 

 

Artificial intelligence is all around us, just like the sci-fi movies predicted. However, AI has moved far beyond things like Alexa and Siri, with creators producing chart-topping AI-generated songs under the guise of a band or singer, who are as equally artificial as the music. Recently, one of these characters called Breaking Rust made history with the song "Walk My Walk," reaching No. 1 on Billboard's country digital songs sales chart. Naturally, the song's very existence could be considered a threat to the livelihoods of human artists who’ve spent their entire lives perfecting their craft. Recently, Martina McBride, Lainey Wilson and Randy Travis expressed their AI concerns in front of congress will advocating for stronger regulations and protections, especially in cases where creators use AI technology to perpetrate intellectual property theft. Indeed, there was a time when this type of digital creation would never have been taken seriously. Truth be told, the market seems to be growing, considering the AI created song from Breaking Rust, "Walk My Walk," is approaching four million streams.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute, brought to you by Bellco Credit Union, Banking for Everyone.

Typically, most folks do not consider music a “fallback” career. However, a surprisingly high number of (mainly male) country artists casually landed in Nashville after their professional sports dreams evaporated. For instance, George Birge and Jake Owen both played championship level golf in college with plans to go pro before changing trajectory. While being naturally competitive and equipped with high levels of confidence definitely helped each artist build their career, unfortunately, those traits can also lead to trouble. Apparently, a feud has been simmering between the two singers. Sometime ago, George Birge crowned himself the best golfer in country music and could "smoke" Jake Owen.  Naturally, the "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" singer was not going let this whippersnapper run his mouth. Rather, he publicly challenged the "Cowboy Songs" singer to meet him on the green. Seriously though, I cannot be the only one who sees an opportunity for a "Happy Gilmore" style tourney but in the form of a charity event. Moreover, the rivalry is the perfect element to fuel an annual fundraiser.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

This week, America pauses to honor our veterans. Originally observed to commemorate the end of World War I, November 11 officially changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize all American veterans. As you know, patriotism runs deep country music. Therefore, in a way, it is not surprising to hear that some of country's biggest stars such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, George Strait, James Otto and George Jones all served in the United States military before finding their way to Nashville. Now, I understand this list would not be complete without mentioning Craig Morgan, who is a 17-year vet of the US Army and US Army Reserve. Not only that, the "International Harvester" singer is the only artist with the distinct honor of active duty status. Morgan proudly reenlisted into the Army Reserve, in front of a packed house, at the Grand Ole Opry in 2023! To all our veterans everywhere, thank you for your service!

 

I'm Sheena, and that’s your Music City Minute.

This week, Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks are celebrating 20 years of marriage (which in the entertainment industry is more like 100 years). While speaking at an event, Miss Trisha admits being present is one of the most important foundations of a relationship. Drawing from her personal experience, Yearwood declared marriage isn’t going to work if the couple are never together. That is why she made the bold decision to step back from the spotlight for a quieter life in Oklahoma with her husband and three girls. On a side note, that life change was good for Mama T. The "Georgia Rain" singer was able to focus on new opportunities showcasing her talents in the kitchen, resulting in numerous bestselling cookbooks and a popular daytime TV show.  Now 20 years into family and marriage, there is no sign of slowing down. As a matter of fact, Yearwood and her husband have been able to focus more on what brought them together initially – music. Along with recording several duets together, both have released new solo projects and launched several full-scale tours.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

The 2025 CMA Awards are just over a week away. Excitement is palpable across Nashville, especially among artists who are nominated for major categories such as Album of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the year. That same buzz of anticipation can be felt right here in the studio, as 98.5 KYGO is nominated for the CMA Major Market Radio Station of the Year. The academy has not yet revealed a list of presenters, but hopefully those folks take the time to rehearse in order to avoid another "Morgan Waylon" gaffe. The three leading ladies with the most nominations, Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley and Megan Moroney, are gearing up to rock the stage along with Luke Combs, Stephen Wilson Junior, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top. Country music's biggest night, the 2025 CMA Awards, hosted by Lainey Wilson, will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on ABC as well as Hulu on demand November 19.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

While several families in our neighborhood have been slow to take down their Halloween decorations, there are just as many (or more) families who are full speed into the holidays. Thankfully, for those of us having a hard time moving forward, Nashville's biggest stars come to the rescue, serving up a giant helping of Christmas spirit, which will pair nicely with our eggnog. The "CMA Country Christmas" special has become a staple of holiday programming. This year, Jordan Davis and Lauren Daigle accepted the honor of hosting duties. Talk about big Christmas shoes to fill. Considering the legends who have helmed the show in years past, like Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Jennifer Nettles and Amy Grant...there is no pressure at all. Joining Davis and Daigle for a magical evening of performances include Riley Green, Megan Moroney, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, plus many more. "CMA Country Christmas" will air Tuesday, December 2, on ABC, or stream the next day on Hulu and Disney Plus.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

A stroll down the Honky Tonk Highway in Nashville will confirm the city is overflowing with spirits. However, a few of Music City's famous haunts are serving up a lot more than high-octane cocktails and live country music. One of the most gorgeous destinations is the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where guests can enjoy luxury amenities or take in a live show at the Grand Ole Opry. Moreover, very lucky visitors could catch a glimpse of hotel's famous, albeit reclusive, permanent resident: a hovering spectral woman in a black antebellum style gown. Staff report she is friendly and keeps to herself while quietly roaming the grounds. Next up is the Ryman Auditorium. The Mother Church of Country Music has several famous phantasms wandering the hallowed halls, including a man in gray resembling Hank Williams Sr., as well as the singing woman thought to be Patsy Cline. Interestingly, the most opinionated spirit is the venue's founder, Captain Thomas Ryman. The pious former riverboat captain's apparition will express his displeasure with angry stomps, loud enough to interrupt performances he deems indecent.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.

 

 

Over the decades, plenty of country music stars have appeared in TV shows and movies. Of those, a select few went on to develop a successful second career in acting. Folks like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Trace Adkins immediately come to mind, and of course, Tim McGraw. For a better part of his professional life, McGraw has had one foot firmly planted in both music and film – flexing his acting chops in projects like "Friday Night Lights," "The Blind Side" and "1883." Reflecting on his body of work, the "Humble and Kind" singer opened up about the biggest differences between the two facets of entertainment. For instance, writing, recording and performing music offers artists little downtime, a lot of quick feedback and instant gratification (especially from fans at shows). On the flip side, actors spend a surprising amount of time waiting around on set. When a scene is finished, there are no hoots, hollers or applause and practically zero feedback as the cast and crew transition to the next set up. The 58-year-old entertainer admits those confusing and jarring aspects of filming were a tough adjustment during his earliest roles.

 

I'm Sheena, and that's your Music City Minute.