John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery, part of the ’90s wave of honky-tonk hitmakers, rose to fame as a romantic balladeer with strong country roots. Born in 1965 in Danville, KY, he learned to play the guitar from his father, a local musician. His musical journey began at the young age of five when he performed with his father’s band, alongside his mother on drums. By 15, he was a regular on the local music scene, and at 17, he became the lead singer of a group formed with his father and brother. After being discovered in Lexington, he signed with Atlantic in 1991, paving the way for his debut album ‘Life’s a Dance’ in 1992.
The success of his debut single propelled him into stardom, leading to the release of the multi-platinum album ‘Kickin’ It Up’ in 1994. This album produced several number one country hits, solidifying his position as a chart-topping artist. Throughout the ’90s and into the early 2000s, Montgomery continued to dominate the country music scene with a string of successful albums and hit singles, showcasing his versatility as an artist. Despite facing vocal cord surgery in 1995, he bounced back with subsequent releases, including ‘What I Do the Best’ in 1996 and ‘Leave a Mark’ in 1998, displaying his evolution as a polished artist. Montgomery’s music transcended genres, appealing to both country and adult contemporary audiences, although his crossover-friendly approach started to impact his country sales. His musical journey continued with albums like ‘Home to You’ in 1999 and ‘Brand New Me’ in 2000, featuring collaborations with renowned artists such as Alison Krauss. Over the years, he explored mature themes in albums like ‘Pictures’ in 2002 and ‘Letters from Home’ in 2004, showcasing his growth as an artist. Montgomery’s enduring legacy in country music was further established with releases on Stringtown Records, including ‘Time Flies’ in 2008, highlighting his timeless appeal and musical craftsmanship.
Runaway June
Strong-minded, soft-hearted, and wildly free-spirited, each member of Runaway June possesses the kind of powerhouse talent and radiant charisma that fully commands the spotlight. When the three musicians Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall, and Stevie Woodward sing together, their crystalline harmonies create an impact well beyond the sum of its parts and instantly stir up a whole world of feeling: sweet relief from heartache, escape from the everyday chaos, an unabashed freedom to shake off inhibitions.
Gifted, celebrated creators from the writing room to the studio and concert stage, Runaway June consists of Jennifer Wayne (vocals, rhythm guitar), Natalie Stovall (vocals, fiddle, mandolin), and Stevie Woodward (lead vocals and guitar, harmonica). Their career highlights include nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards, touring with icons like Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, and achieving a radio hit with their GOLD-certified single “Buy My Own Drinks.” Now, they are ready to unveil a new chapter with their latest song release “New Kind of Emotion,” produced by Kristian Bush.
Jameson Rodgers
Jameson Rodgers likes to say he just knows when a song feels right for him, whether he wrote it or not. “Some Girls,” the Batesville, Mississippi native’s debut single under Sony Music Nashville, is one of those songs — a hard-edged tune penned by Michael Hardy, Jake Mitchell and C.J. Solar that existed in demo form for years before Rodgers got to take a crack at it. Following the countless open mic nights of his early days in town, Rodgers eventually signed his first publishing deal with Combustion Music. There he focused on developing his songwriting voice, landing his first cut on Florida Georgia Line’s Dig Your Roots album, with “Wish You Were On It.” In the meantime, he also released his self-titled EP. He followed that with a second EP, which was released independently in 2018.
That dedication has brought Rodgers a whole truckload of new success in 2019. He helped pen the song “Talk You Out of It,” which Florida Georgia Line released as the second single from their latest album Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, as well as Chris Lane’s recent single “I Don’t Know About You.” He was chosen to participate in CMA’s inaugural KixStart Artist Scholarship program, which afforded Rodgers the opportunity to perform on the Nissan Stadium stage during CMA Fest and a year of mentorship and support. And to top it off, he signed his new record deal, through a partnership with River House Artists and Columbia Nashville.
The Band Perry
Grammy Award-winning superstar family trio The Band Perry are an unstoppable presence in modern Country music. After selling two and a half million albums, twelve million singles, and racking up over a billion total song streams, the story of the trio is evolving yet again.
Since releasing their groundbreaking crossover #1 single ‘If I Die Young’ in 2010 (with its current nine time platinum status and over 100 million video views), The Band Perry have forged a unique identity and built an international fan base leading to sold-out world tours, six No. 1 singles, six songs reaching gold or platinum status, and a Grammy Award.
Travis Tritt
Three decades after Travis Tritt launched his music career, the Southern rock-influenced artist continues to stay true and relevant to country music fans across the globe. A Marietta, Georgia native, Tritt incorporated his lifelong influences of Southern rock, blues, and gospel into his country during a honky-tonk apprenticeship that led him to Warner Bros. in 1989. Tritt’s albums, seven of which are certified platinum or higher, have amassed more than 30 million in career album sales, two GRAMMY® Awards, four CMA Awards, an invitation to become a member of the world’s famous Grand Ole Opry and a devoted fan base that fills venues coast-to-coast.
Travis Tritt is dubbed one of “The Class of ‘89,” which included Country music superstars Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson; all of whom dominated the charts in the early ‘90s. Among his 12 studio albums and numerous charted singles are nineteen Top 10 hits, including “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” “Here’s A Quarter” and “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive.” Tritt’s talents, however, are not limited to music as he has also appeared in numerous feature films and TV shows throughout his extraordinary career.
Tritt is currently on tour performing shows across the country. For more information on him, visit his website TravisTritt.com.
Josh Ross
UMG Nashville/Universal Music Canada artist Josh Ross is one of Nashville’s most promising singer-songwriter-performers. On an unconventional path of his own design, Ross pairs a dark, mellow blast of modern country rock with a warm vocal rasp, heart-on-his-sleeve writing and addictive hooks that respect no borders – genre or otherwise. His dusky power ballad “Trouble” rose to #1 in Canada, leading Ross to a CCMA Breakthrough Artist of the Year win. Now breaking through in the US, the rising star has tallied more than 350 million career streams and been hailed as a Hot Country Artist to Watch by Spotify. Touring alongside hard-rocking superstars like Nickelback, Brantley Gilbert and Bailey Zimmerman, he has already headlined his own sold-out run and embarked on select dates of Luke Bryan’s ‘Mind of a Country Boy Tour’ this summer. Ross recently released his debut EP Complicated co-writing seven of the project’s eight tracks. With thundering drums meeting steel guitars and the melodies of heartland pop, tracks like his current chart-climber “Single Again” show off Ross’ rich, edgy vocal set to a barroom anthem. Josh will be hitting the road on his first US headline tour late this summer.
Read MoreKassi Ashton
Kassi Ashton, a talented musician hailing from California, Missouri, has been captivating audiences with her powerful songwriting and soulful voice since the young age of 15. Her music, raw and authentic, carries the spirit of roadhouses while aiming for the grandeur of stadiums. With a stage presence that demands attention, Kassi has quickly established herself as a rising star in the music industry. Her songs reflect the diverse and magnetic essence of her life, offering listeners a genre-bending experience akin to a thrilling motorcycle joyride.
Read MoreSugarland
Sugarland is a platinum-selling country duo from Georgia that emerged in the mid-2000s with a contemporary approach blending rock, pop, and country traditions. The group, consisting of singer/songwriters Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, achieved crossover success with their 2008 album Love on the Inside, which topped both country and pop charts. Their fifth album, The Incredible Machine, released in 2010, showcased a steampunk-inspired sound and also reached the number one spot on the U.K. country chart. After taking a hiatus until 2017, Sugarland returned with their album Bigger in 2018 under the Big Machine label, featuring a collaboration with Taylor Swift.
Originally starting as a trio of renowned songwriters from Atlanta, Sugarland brought together talent from Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush, and Kristen Hall. Nettles, with a background in gospel music, took the lead as the vocalist and songwriter, while Bush, known for his multi-instrumentalist skills, contributed to the duo’s unique sound. Hall, who later pursued a solo career, was part of the group before their major breakthrough. Sugarland’s journey included hits like “Baby Girl” and “Stand Back Up” from their debut album Twice the Speed of Life, followed by successful albums Enjoy the Ride and Love on the Inside. The duo’s achievements include Grammy Awards, platinum status, and chart-topping singles, solidifying their superstar status in the music industry.
John Morgan
Multi #1 hit songwriter John Morgan brings a blue-collar toughness to country that’s pulled straight from the only life he knows. Hailing from a tiny town deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, John grew up immersed in bluegrass tradition and even toured the festival circuit in a family band, before diving into songwriting, inspired by six-string legends from Tony Rice to John Mayer. Now, he has earned cuts with Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett and an outstanding 16 for Jason Aldean, including the superstar’s #1 songs – “Trouble With A Heartbreak” and the GRAMMY® nominated, ACM Single of the Year “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, along with Aldean’s latest single at country radio “Whiskey Drink” currently climbing the charts. Praised by People as an “accomplished songwriter…establishing himself as a solo artist intriguing enough to watch,” Aldean signed the sought-after, powerhouse artist to Night Train Records, his imprint with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Having opened for Aldean, ERNEST, Riley Green and Jameson Rodgers, John released his critically acclaimed debut EP, Remember Us? in 2023 that launched his barn-burner fan-favorite anthem “Friends Like That.” Hitting the road with Nate Smith, the party starter smash – now featuring Jason Aldean – is his debut single at country radio. Having just released the heartrendingly smooth “Long Ride Home,” John Morgan is currently in the studio readying even more new music.
Read MoreKip Moore
Known as “one of country’s more thoughtful artists” (Billboard), Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore has toured the world earning acclaim and a rabid fanbase as an all-in performer in each setting, consistently selling out headlining shows internationally with huge followings in The U.S, The U.K, Europe, Australia and Canada. Praised by Noisey as “an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders” Moore has blazed his own trail, with “a bit more Southern rock than traditional country… to be a Kip Moore fan suddenly became a marker of your having a certain refinement in your country-music taste” (Chicago Tribune). Moore first splashed into the mainstream with the double-PLATINUM “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” in 2012, then followed up with three more best selling No. Ones (“Hey Pretty Girl,” “Beer Money” and “More Girls Like You”), a trio of ambitious, critically-praised albums and two gritty EPs that landed Moore on multiple “Best Of” lists. Moore recently garnered resounding acclaim for his fourth studio album, WILD WORLD. The set, co-written and co-produced by Moore, was spotlighted by critics as “especially vital; occasionally, even rare,” (Esquire). For more information visit kipmoore.net, and follow Moore on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Read MoreLittle Big Town
GRAMMY, ACM, CMA, AMA, and Emmy Award-winning group Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook – are one of modern Country music’s most iconic acts with their hit songs such as “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” “Girl Crush” and “Better Man.” In September 2022, Little Big Town released their tenth studio album, Mr. Sun, which debuted as the Top Country Album released by a Group in 2022. They have earned more than 45 award show nominations and have taken home nearly 20 trophies. Most recently, Little Big Town reunited with longtime friends and collaborators Sugarland at the 2024 CMT Music Awards to deliver a stunning rendition of Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home.” To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Little Big Town will embark on a U.S. tour – The Take Me Home Tour – this fall, with special guests Sugarland.
Read MoreTucker Wetmore
Having notched back-to-back spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with his RIAA GOLD certified debut singles “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You,” surpassing 400M streams in just six months, Washington-born singer-songwriter Tucker Wetmore is well on the way to becoming one of 2024’s certified breakout country stars. Wetmore brought his music directly to the fans earlier this year on Kameron Marlowe’s Strangers Tour, and this fall, he joins Luke Bryan on the country superstar’s FARM TOUR 2024 before setting off on his highly anticipated headlining tour: Waves on a Sunset Tour. Wetmore is currently climbing the Country airplay charts with his debut single, “Wind Up Missin’ You.”
Recently named Billboard’s May Country Rookie of the Month, Wetmore is carving a path of his own in the country world: the 24-year-old’s songs reflect his cross-genre musical upbringing, embracing all manners of country, reggae, rock and hip-hop, albeit anchored by classic country storytelling. Wetmore signed a major-label record deal this summer with UMG Nashville in partnership with Back Blocks Music, had two songs featured on the star-studded soundtrack of “Twisters” (“Already Had It” and “Steal My Thunder” (with Conner Smith)), made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and is now setting his sights on his debut EP, Waves on a Sunset due October 4.