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Jason Isbell Announces ShoalsFest 2025 Lineup Featuring Jackson Browne, Waxahatchee More

Eric Alper
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Jason Isbell Announces ShoalsFest 2025 Lineup Featuring Jackson Browne, Waxahatchee More

Jason Isbell has announced the fourth edition of ShoalsFest, which will make its return to McFarland Park in the historic area of Muscle Shoals, Alabama on October 11 & 12, 2025. The two-day festival boasts a lineup of Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Jackson Browne, Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Garrison Starr, and Steve Trash. Full lineup below. This year will also include another “In The Round” set from Isbell, Patterson Hood & Chris Tompkins.

General Admission and VIP tickets go on sale on Friday, April 11 at 10 am CT. A special ShoalsFest local sale for Alabama residents will take place for one day only on Friday, April 11 at Rocker Gallery from 12 pm – 6 pm CT. During the local presale, GA tickets will be $75 for a two-day pass, limit 4 tickets per customer with an Alabama driver’s license.

Fresh off the release of his critically-acclaimed solo acoustic album Foxes in the Snow, six-time Grammy Award-winner and area native Jason Isbell developed his guitar playing and his deep reverence for music history as a teenager working at FAME Studios and playing with local musicians and members of the studio’s revered house band, The Swampers. Isbell once again teamed up with his manager Traci Thomas and Outback Presents to bring this special event back to the place that has given him, and the world, so much.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back ShoalsFest for 2025,” Isbell says. “The lineup is going to be incredible, and I love having the opportunity to play a hometown show and bring world-class artists to the Shoals.”

Muscle Shoals, and the surrounding towns of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Florence (collectively referred to as “The Shoals”) had an immeasurable impact on popular music with what was dubbed the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Artists ranging from soul/gospel pioneers The Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin, to contemporary/folk/rock artists of the day such as Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan descended upon the unlikely “Hit Recording Capital of the World” to record at FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where they made some of their most seminal recordings that changed the face of music.

FULL SHOALSFEST 2025 LINEUP:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jackson Browne
Waxahatchee
MJ Lenderman
“In The Round” with Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood & Chris Tompkins
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham
Garrison Starr
Steve Trash
And more!

 

Kirk Hammett Announces Live Book Tour for ‘The Collection,’ a Deep Dive into His Legendary Guitar Arsenal

Eric Alper
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Kirk Hammett Announces Live Book Tour for ‘The Collection,’ a Deep Dive into His Legendary Guitar Arsenal

Join Kirk Hammett, legendary guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling and 9X GRAMMY Award-winning band Metallica, for an intimate, live discussion that will take a deep dive into KIRK’s storied music career, and celebrate the launch of his new coffee table book, The Collection: Kirk Hammett available online here.

Tickets for the “Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live” book events are limited and on sale starting Friday, April 11, at 10:00 AM local time in the following cities and venues, April 25 in Toronto, Ontario at Tiff Lightbox, May 2 in Nashville, TN at Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame, May 10 in Columbus, OH at Columbus Metropolitan Library, May 24 in Philadelphia, PA at The Fillmore, on June 7 in Tampa, FL at TBD, and on June 28 in Denver, CO at TBD.

Newly released worldwide via Gibson Publishing, The Collection: Kirk Hammett is a premium, hardcover coffee table book in which KIRK tells the stories behind the rare and highly collectible instruments he has used on hit records and on stages worldwide in front of millions of fans. The Collection: Kirk Hammett is available globally via Gibson.com and the Gibson Garage locations in three premium formats: limited signed and numbered Custom and Deluxe Editions and a Standard hardcover.

For tickets, full event details, and book formats, visit here, tickets for Kirk Hammett’s The Collection Live will be available at this location.

A 400-page premium coffee table book, The Collection: Kirk Hammett explores in unprecedented detail the extraordinary guitar collection and life in music of one of heavy metal’s true pioneers, Gibson signature artist, KIRK HAMMETT. Shot on location in Hawaii and Los Angeles by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin and featuring rare imagery from Halfin’s photo archives, this latest release from Gibson Publishing features exclusive new interviews with HAMMETT conducted by Chris Vinnicombe (Gibson Editor-in-Chief) and Mark Agnesi (Gibson Director of Brand Experience). The Collection: Kirk Hammett takes the deepest-ever dive into the Metallica star’s eclectic guitar collection, documenting the instruments he has leaned on throughout his career, from his early days with Bay Area thrash trailblazers Exodus to selling over 125 million albums worldwide and rocking out with Metallica for over 40 years on the world’s biggest stages. Guitars under the microscope include HAMMETT’s storied 1979 Gibson Flying V and Greeny, the legendary 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard formerly owned by guitarists Peter Green and Gary Moore, and so much more. The Collection: Kirk Hammett is a must-have for fans of Kirk Hammett and Metallica and anyone with an interest in fine guitars.

And for Metallica’s full M72 Takeover 2025 schedule, visit here.

Isles & Glaciers’ Acclaimed EP ‘The Hearts of Lonely People’ Returns on Ghost Mix Vinyl

Eric Alper
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Isles & Glaciers’ Acclaimed EP ‘The Hearts of Lonely People’ Returns on Ghost Mix Vinyl

Equal Vision Records has launched a new vinyl press of The Hearts of Lonely People, the 2010 debut EP from punk/post-hardcore “supergroup” Isles & Glaciers.

Comprised of current and former members of Pierce the Veil, Chiodos, Sleeping with Sirens, Dance Gavin Dance and The Receiving End of Sirens, the songs on The Hearts of Lonely People have been streamed over 32 million times, and the collection still serves as a breathtaking testament to the power of creation, whatever the medium or mechanism may be. The brand new press features 500 units of ghost mix vinyl and is available now through the Equal Vision Records store here.

In order to accommodate the hectic touring and recording schedules of the various members of Isles & Glaciers, the core writing team behind the project collaborated mostly online by swapping digital files, gradually shaping the group’s debut EP, The Hearts Of The Lonely People. As oddly animatronic as that process may seem, listeners will barely make it through the opening track, “Kings and Chandeliers,” before the stunning success of the union is apparent. Instead of seeming cold or disjointed, there’s a fire to every aspect of the EP that burns as brightly as anything you’ll hear. Yet somehow, the nature of the experience seems to have driven each Isles & Glaciers member to achieve their personal best, and the sum total of those efforts is astonishing.

The Hearts of Lonely People track listing:
Kings and Chandeliers
Hills Like White Elephants
Clush
Empty Sighs and Wine
Oceans for Backyards
Viola Lion
Cemetery Weather

Skunk Anansie Drop Haunting New Single “Lost And Found” Ahead of Their Fearless ‘The Painful Truth’ Album

Eric Alper
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Skunk Anansie Drop Haunting New Single “Lost And Found” Ahead of Their Fearless ‘The Painful Truth’ Album

British rock icons Skunk Anansie have released their new single “Lost And Found,” following its worldwide premiere on BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq show. Opening with Skin’s lone vocal before a staccato piano motif starts to accompany her, “Lost and Found” is a striking example of the beauty and drama contained on the band’s forthcoming album ‘The Painful Truth,’ out on May 23rd via FLG.

The video for “Lost And Found” was scripted and directed by Skin. Shot in Munich by the band and India Fleming, the video tells the story of Skin splitting into two personalities after bumping into a demon (Mark Richardson) disguised as a human. The story is told backwards starting with ‘Lost’ Skin bloody, bruised and broken, intermingled with her as ‘Found’ Skin performing with the band.

On the new single, Skin comments: “We wanted to evoke the loneliness and desperation that can occur in a split second by one tiny mistake. Any of us at any time can lose the security built up over a lifetime whether it be via an accident, or a sudden twist of fate.”

‘The Painful Truth’ is a truly mesmerizing, provocative, powerful and emotional album demonstrating a band at the absolute peak of their powers, yet with everything to prove.

“I don’t care that we were big in the Nineties,” states vocalist Skin. “Creatively it’s irrelevant because in my rock bible the first commandment states, ‘If thy rest on them laurels thy shall wither up and die artistically, musically, mentally. And then financially.'”

And for Skin, the past counts for nothing. Even when you’ve been a band for 30 years and history seems on your side. ‘The Painful Truth’ is the sound of SKUNK ANANSIE facing up to who they are and what they want to become. It is more than an album title. It is a reality that they have lived through.

A combination of parenthood, illness, and the departure of their longstanding manager seemed to conspire against them and add to their uncertainty, forcing singer Skin, guitarist Ace, bass player Cass and drummer Mark to question their place in the world as a band, as well as their own personal ambitions. For a while, they came close to calling it a day.

Unsure of what to do, and failing to write on zoom, the four-piece retreated post-Covid to a farmhouse in Devon where amid frank conversations and home-cooked dinners, they slowly began collating their feelings into songs.

“When we write it’s just the four of us in a room with no outside distractions or interference, getting to know each other again. We’d done the Greatest Hits tour and we realized that things needed to change. If we didn’t do something fresh and forward thinking, we couldn’t really be a band anymore. We’d just be doing SKUNK karaoke,” says Skin bluntly.

And ‘The Painful Truth’ is anything but SKUNK karaoke. Produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio fame, it’s a fresh, frank, uplifting, and textured album, with the band’s knack for writing big pop songs remaining defiantly undiminished. If anything, their hooks this time around are sharper and sink in quicker.

The first single, “An Artist Is An Artist”, is proof of that; a witty, provocative, pulsating slice of spiky, new-wave brilliance has been greeted with a rapturous reception from fans and media alike, proving a radio smash with playlists on BBC6Music, Kerrang Radio, Planet Rock and Absolute alongside being championed by Jo Whiley on Radio 2. And, today’s brand new single “Cheers”, which rides along on a deeply infectious, pulsating rhythm and boasts a truly euphoric chorus, demonstrates once more the sheer quality and ambition of the new album.

‘The Painful Truth’ is a radical record made for these uncertain times. Their first release on the newly formed FLG Records, and with new management in place, also comes with a freshness that belies their storied career and previous multi-platinum achievements. It’s a record that will see SKUNK ANANSIE reclaim their place as one of the most exciting, visionary, and important bands in British music.

“When I really think about it, yes, we have made some good records in our time but it’s been a long time since we have made a great album. And that is the painful truth,” confesses Skin. “Understanding that, led us to making what I genuinely think is our greatest record yet.”

Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen Release “Outlaw” Lyric Video From Acclaimed ‘Black Light / White Noise’ Album

Eric Alper
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Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen Release “Outlaw” Lyric Video From Acclaimed ‘Black Light / White Noise’ Album

Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen released their brand new studio album Black Light / White Noise via BMG on Splatter vinyl, black vinyl, digipak CD and DSPs to widespread global acclaim last Friday (April 4th). Now following its release they have also just unveiled the lyric video for the track “Outlaw.”

“It’s been a minute since we got this record back from Jay Ruston’s studio and pressed the button for it to be mastered and the artwork created so I’m just proud for it to be out there,” admits Richie.

“Yeah, it feels like a lot has happened in that gap,” adds Adrian with overwhelming understatement. “I’m just excited for our fans to hear the rest of the tracks and see how it all sits together. It’s been another great experience working with Richie and playing much more with Julia and Bruno in the studio this time.”

Recorded at The House, Los Angeles, California, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Jay Ruston, Black Light / White Noise showcases Adrian and Richie’s prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians and vocalists. The ten-track album is a truly magnificent collection of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of their finest work to date.

Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and brilliant, it not only features stratospheric guitar solos and phenomenal rock vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing, beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to mind a host of legendary bands and musicians (Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, Deep Purple) yet is undeniably the work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.

Deliciously varied, exquisitely composed and rounded out by a breadth of flavours that can only come with years of experience, Black Light / White Noise is undoubtedly going to be one of the most compelling rock albums of 2025.

After 15-Year Hiatus, Dropsonic Returns with “So Long” and Upcoming Self-Titled Album Co-Produced by William DuVall

Eric Alper
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After 15-Year Hiatus, Dropsonic Returns with “So Long” and Upcoming Self-Titled Album Co-Produced by William DuVall

After a fifteen-year hiatus, Atlanta-based rock trio Dropsonic is back with “So Long,” the second track from their upcoming self-titled album, co-produced by the band, and Alice In Chains frontman William DuVall. The album will be released on May 16th via Spartan Records.

“So Long” follows the band’s previously released single, “Honeytrap,” which set the stage for the album’s bold new direction. Singer Dan Dixon shares, “‘So Long’ was the first riff I wrote for this record… it has the feel of something that could’ve fit on any of our last 3 or 4 albums, until the sweet sounds of a 70’s synthesizer and a slide guitar solo kick in…”

In an era dominated by digital production and home recordings, Dropsonic delivers something powerful and unrestrained. While the band’s signature mega riffs, scorching guitar solos, and tight three-piece rhythm section remain a hallmark, this new record brings a newfound depth and clarity that elevates their sound to new heights.

DuVall reflects on the creative process, saying, “Dan had been sending me works-in-progress to get my feedback, but the real joy came from watching Dan work and being a part of the recording process. Dropsonic is simply one of the best rock bands to come out of America in the last thirty years.”

Known for their relentless touring and a rich six-album discography, Dropsonic initially disbanded in 2011, with Dan Dixon focusing on other projects like PLS PLS and producing for various artists. The spark for the reunion came during the pandemic, when Dixon remixed and re-released past Dropsonic albums. This led to the band’s reconnection, the addition of drummer Chandler Rentz, and the creation of a new record.

Dixon notes, “William has been a longtime friend who understands what Dropsonic is about. His opinion is one I fully trust, and when I needed an outside perspective, he was the first person I called. He was the perfect advisor throughout this process and even added his backup vocals on ‘Honeytrap.'”

Lyrically, the album explores themes of desperation, love, addiction, narcissism, and money, blending high-fidelity production with raw, spontaneous moments. DuVall’s co-production helped shape an album that both honors Dropsonic’s legacy and ushers in a bold new chapter.

With their seventh studio album just around the corner, the energy and passion behind this new era of Dropsonic are undeniable. This is only the beginning.

Dropsonic new album is available to pre-order now via Spartan Records and will be released on Friday May 16th 2025.

Briston Maroney Announces Explosive New Album ‘JIMMY’ Out May 2

Eric Alper
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Briston Maroney Announces Explosive New Album ‘JIMMY’ Out May 2

What do you get when you have a storied singer-songwriter introduced to the world of psychedelics reminiscing on the lives that surrounded his divorced-home childhood (the devil-may-care spirit of the north Floridians and the relatively privileged but pressured Catholic school student of Tennessee)? The answer is Briston Maroney’s guitar-heavy, explosive and engrossing new album, JIMMY, out May 2nd via Atlantic Records. At its core, the new record has Maroney stepping into the minds of the two worlds he straddles between, and ultimately letting them meld to life’s true masterpiece: simply being yourself.

With the album announce, Maroney shares two songs depicting these two worlds at work: “Tomatoes” and “Bullshit.” “Tomatoes” is a grungy portrait of post-adolescent confusion and willful idiosyncrasy that arcs into a defiant hook while “Bullshit,” is a three-minute encapsulation of all the conflict in JIMMY.

These two new songs come off the back of “Real Good Swimmer,” a masterful and magnetic rock song over which Maroney presents a snapshot of the people who he grew up knowing, as simultaneously hard and tender as Flannery O’Connor.

Maroney, whose catalog has been over 500 million streams, recently opened for The Kooks in Australia and is currently playing across the UK and Europe supporting Peach Pit. This summer, he’s hitting the road with the group for their co-headlining Long Hair, Long Life Tour which includes stops at New York’s Pier 17, Colorado’s infamous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre. Tickets are available now, purchase HERE. Full routing below.

At least at first, Briston Maroney didn’t want to call his explosive and engrossing third album JIMMY. He wanted to call it Jellyfish, the name taken from a poem he wrote when he was nine: “Jellyfish/The whole ocean/But nowhere to go.” That was a year before Maroney wrote his first song and many years before he had the language to describe what he was feeling, depression. That poem was a pivotal moment for Maroney, since he suddenly understood that he could use art and self-expression—at that point, poetry; for the last two decades, mostly music—to help make sense of the turmoil in his mind, heart, and life. But Maroney eventually realized that the idea of the jellyfish was too hopeless for what’s actually happening on JIMMY, a song cycle about scraping the bottom of mental, social, and emotional barrels and holding on long enough to do what can sometimes seem like life’s true masterpiece: simply being yourself.

Maroney’s folks split up before he was a teenager. Like so many kids, he spent the rest of youth shuttling between two places. With his father in the small and quiet city of Knoxville, Tenn., he was relatively privileged but pressured, a Catholic school student on whom great expectations were placed. With his mother in north Florida, a landscape more raw and real than almost any other in the continental United States, he was surrounded by country folks who only seemed to give a damn about one another. They’d show up for oyster roasts and get red-wine drunk on Saturday, then be spiffy for church by Sunday morning.

Maroney didn’t fit in with either deme, really. He was the country guy who loved fishing at dams with his dad in Knoxville, the city slicker Catholic schoolkid back among the mangroves and slash pines. But he was drawn to the devil-may-care spirit of the Floridians, the folks who only wanted to look after each other and themselves. There was one man in particular—perpetually clad in denim shorts and a white Margaritaville T, occasionally a durag—that caught Maroney’s attention. Sure, maybe he was a redneck, but “he was a good friend who people loved,” Maroney remembers. He became the inspiration for JIMMY, for these songs about trying to be nothing more than yourself.

4/9 – Leeds, United Kingdom – O2 Academy ^
4/10 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester Academy ^
4/11 – London, United Kingdom – O2 Academy Brixton ^
4/12 – London, United Kingdom – The Blue Basement
4/14 – Paris, France – Le Trianon ^
4/15 – Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia – Bürgerhaus Stollwerck ^
4/17 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix ^
4/18 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg ^
5/3 – San Luis Opisbo, CA – Shabang Festival
5/20 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia *
5/22 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *
5/23 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17*
5/25 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill *
5/26 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater *
5/28 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Harris Pavilion *
5/29 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island *
5/30 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory *
6/1 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
6/3 – Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater *
6/5 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery*
6/6 – Burnaby, BC – Deer Lake Park, Festival Lawn *
6/7 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield *
6/10 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium *
6/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre *
6/13 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square *
6/14 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre *
6/16 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater *
6/17 – Dallas, TX – Gilley’s South Side Ballroom *
6/18 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston*
6/20 – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park *
6/21 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *
6/22 – Washington DC – The Anthem *
6/24 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
6/25 – Shelburne, VT – The Green at Shelburne Museum *
6/26 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage *
^supporting Peach Pit
*with Peach Pit

Oodaredevil and jetsonmade Team Up for High-Flying Collaborative EP ‘SKYDIVIN’

Eric Alper
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Oodaredevil and jetsonmade Team Up for High-Flying Collaborative EP ‘SKYDIVIN’

Oodaredevil has made his name in Dallas and online with wavy melodies and an uncommon swag that caught the attention of industry tastemakers, including jetsonmade. The South Carolina-born superproducer’s investment in Oodaredevil is much more than a co-sign-the rapper and producer have united for SKYDIVIN, a new collaborative EP.

Produced by jetson and his Spaceboy associates, the new EP is as exhilarating as the titular activity, as the Dallas rapper ping-pongs off futuristic synths and trampoline 808s with freewheeling cadences and dynamic, sticky melodies. SKYDIVIN spans 8-tracks, including recent single “AITE,” a new version of “GET GEEKED,” previously performed solo by Oodaredevil on From The Block and now featuring a guest spot from underground hero Zukenee, and “WYWO,” a new collaboration with Cochise.

Along with the EP, the rapper-producer duo shares “WIN!,” a new video from the project. Produced by jetsonmade, EJ Stellar, and austinpyo , “WIN!” is built around triumphant sliding 808s and euphoric bells, as Oodaredevil touts his accomplishments with subterranean triplets. In the video, jetson and Oodaredevil take a tour through Atlanta, as they pose for photos, get fits off, and plan their takeover in the rap capital.

Oodaredevil (pronounced “two-oh-daredevil”) grew up steeped in the Texas rap scene, idolizing rappers like UGK’s Bun B and Pimp C and admiring how his region’s rappers would manipulate their voice through chopped-n-screwed mixes. He started to post his own music on SoundCloud, building a cult following that appreciated his singular sense of melody. His 2023 album, Diary of a inky kid, vol. 3, earned praise from Pitchfork, who called the tape “hypnotic” with “beats that sound as digital as possible.” In 2024, Oodaredevil dropped multiple mixtapes, including Texas Tycoon, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.

Born and raised in South Carolina, jetsonmade has become one of the most in-demand hitmakers in the hip-hop scene. He first drew attention as the producer behind DaBaby’s run of massive hits, including Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “Suge (Yea Yea),” which earned jetson two GRAMMY Award nominations. jetson also produced Jack Harlow’s breakout hit “What’s Poppin’,” reaching #2 on the Hot 100. Since then, jetson has collaborated with many of the hottest rappers in the game, including 21 Savage, Playboi Carti, Rod Wave, NLE Choppa, Roddy Ricch, and many more. jetsonmade is the founder of the Spaceboy, a record label and collective of producers and artists.

With the SKYDIVIN making imminent landfall, Oodaredevil and jetsonmade aim to change the trap conversation.

Country Music Hall of Fame to Open “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker” Exhibit on May 20

Eric Alper
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Country Music Hall of Fame to Open “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker” Exhibit on May 20

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will explore the life and career of Country Music Hall of Fame member Dolly Parton in a new exhibition, Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker. The exhibit will focus on turning points throughout Parton’s more than 60-year career where she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities across the world. The exhibit will be open from May 20 until Sept. 2026.

“Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame was one of the greatest moments of my life, and being able to have a personal exhibit for the fans that put me there is a very big deal to me,” said Dolly Parton. “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.”

“After accomplishing enough for three lifetimes, Dolly Parton continues to astound and amaze us with her boundless talent, her vivacious wit and her tremendous generosity,” said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Like all great artists, Parton has demonstrated consistently that she can transform adversity and setbacks into works of stunning beauty and insight into the human condition.”

Access to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit is included with museum admission. A limited number of timed tickets for the exhibit are available each day. Advance reservations are encouraged and ticket availability can be found on the museum’s website.

The exhibit will include clothing, awards, handwritten lyrics, instruments, photographs, exclusive interview footage and more. Examples of items to be displayed include:

  • Parton’s first draft of handwritten lyrics to her classic song and #1 country hit “Jolene.”
  • A custom-built Gibson five-string banjo with a white metallic finish, rhinestone embellishments and butterfly motifs used by Parton at performances in 1992 and on her “Halos & Horns Tour” in 2002.
  • A Sony portable cassette tape recorder Parton used when she wrote the songs “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene” and “The Seeker.”
  • A cowgirl outfit Parton wore in scenes in the 1980 Hollywood film “9 to 5.”
  • Hand-painted and beaded boots, designed by Bambi Breakstone, which Parton wore at the photoshoot for her 2002 album, Halos & Horns.
  • The Kennedy Center Honors medallion Parton was presented with in 2006 to honor her lifetime of contributions to American culture.
  • A Tony Chase-designed lace dress, embellished with pearl beading, Parton wore when she performed the R&B classic “I’m a Hog for You Baby” as a duet with the Muppets character Miss Piggy on an episode of Parton’s ABC-TV variety series “Dolly!” in 1987.
  • A Lucy Adams-designed dress, with lace sleeves and skirt and a butterfly-shaped rhinestone design, which Parton wore at appearances on “The Porter Wagoner Show” and the cover of the 1974 album Porter ‘n’ Dolly.
  • The Gibson L-30 archtop acoustic guitar, built around 1935 – given to Parton as a gift from her brother Floyd Parton – which she played in the 1991 music video for “Silver and Gold,” from her album Eagle When She Flies.
  • The dress, with balloon sleeves, chiffon skirt, bugle beading and rhinestone accents Parton wore at a 1978 photoshoot by celebrity photographer Harry Langdon Jr. The likeness of her on a Dolly Parton-themed pinball machine, made by Bally in 1979, was based on one of Langdon’s photos of her in this dress.
  • A Steve Summers-designed metallic dress, with mesh fabric, spikes and beaded fringe, was worn by Parton in photos promoting her singles “World on Fire” and “We are the Champions/We Will Rock You,” from her 2023 album, Rockstar.
  • The Andreas-designed, rhinestone-covered platform mules Parton wore at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2019. The ceremony included a tribute to Parton, in which Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Katy Perry performed a medley of her songs. Parton joined them onstage to sing “Jolene” with Cyrus.

Dolly Parton was born the fourth of 12 children 15 miles east of Sevierville in a remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with no plumbing, electricity or access roads. Embracing her father’s enterprising work ethic and her mother’s love of traditional Scots-Irish folk music, she pursued her dream of becoming an entertainer despite limited opportunities. By age 10, Parton performed regularly on radio and television shows in Knoxville, Tennessee; recorded teen-pop tunes in Louisiana at age 13; and signed with Mercury Records in Nashville at age 16 – moving there to pursue her career the day after finishing high school.

Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker will explore many times during Parton’s life where her persistence established a pattern to not let critics or business-as-usual policies discourage the pursuit of her dreams. Some of the themes include:

At age 13, Parton made her Grand Ole Opry debut, but only after she and her uncle Bill Owens persuaded singer Jimmy C. Newman to give her one of his time slots after an Opry manager refused to schedule her, citing her youth.

After establishing herself in Nashville, Parton resisted advice from record executives who warned that her flamboyant fashions would overshadow her talent – determined to present herself as boldly as she dreamed as a young girl with a vivid imagination and a desire to stand apart and experience life beyond the Smoky Mountains.

When Parton collaborated with L.A. pop producer Gary Klein for her 1977 album Here You Come Again, many in the Nashville community accused her of abandoning country music in search of pop success. The album became Parton’s first million-selling album, earning her first Grammy Award and led to her film debut as Doralee Rhodes, in Jane Fonda’s upcoming film “9 to 5,” when Fonda heard Parton’s hit “Two Doors Down” from the album.

To encourage an interest in reading in children five and under in Sevier County and to honor her father, who never learned to read but insisted on his children becoming readers, she founded Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 – shocking skeptics when 1,700 books reached mailboxes from the first month on. She launched the Dollywood Foundation in 1998, with the Imagination Library as its flagship program, which is now active in all 50 states, as well as in Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Nu-Blu Releases First AI-Generated Bluegrass Music Video with “Time (Still On Your Side)”

Eric Alper
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Nu-Blu Releases First AI-Generated Bluegrass Music Video with “Time (Still On Your Side)”

Known for their heartfelt bluegrass sound and their ability to blend traditional acoustic elements with contemporary storytelling, North Carolina-based band Nu-Blu is about to push the boundaries of music technology with the release of their groundbreaking music video for the song “Time (Still On Your Side).” The video is the first fully AI-produced music video in the bluegrass genre, marking a significant step into the future of music production and visual storytelling.

Nu-Blu, comprised of husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh, along with bandmates Austin Hefflefinger (banjo) and Justin Harrison (mandolin), has long been known for their unique, soulful sound and innovative approach to bluegrass music. With five Top Ten Billboard albums, critical acclaim, and an ever-growing fan base, they have firmly established themselves as one of the leading forces in the genre. The release of “Time (Still On Your Side)” signals a new era for the band, embracing the exciting possibilities offered by artificial intelligence in music video production.

The song, “Time (Still On Your Side),” is a conversation with time personified in human form. It reminds us that it is unstoppable. We all have a limited amount given to us and should take advantage of what we have. The AI-produced video offers a visually stunning, otherworldly experience that perfectly complements the song’s lyrical depth. Using the latest in AI and machine learning technology, the video features breathtaking landscapes, surreal imagery, and emotive visuals that tell the song’s story in a way that has never been done before.

“We’ve always been about pushing the envelope, whether it’s with our music or our visual art,” said Daniel Routh, lead guitarist and vocalist for Nu-Blu. “The idea of integrating AI into the creative process while maintaining authenticity was a concern, but it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. The AI allows us to bring our vision to life in ways that we couldn’t do with a live action video. We can’t wait for our fans to experience it.”

This release marks another exciting chapter for Nu-Blu, who have captivated audiences for over two decades with their emotionally rich music and personal storytelling. Having recently joined forces with Turnberry Records for their latest release “Where You’ve Been,” the band’s willingness to experiment with new technologies underscores their commitment to innovation and excellence.

“We’re excited to be able to merge tradition with technology,” said Carolyn Routh, bassist and lead vocalist. “Bluegrass music is all about storytelling. Using AI as a new artistic element helps us connect with our audience on a deeper level. AI might seem like an unlikely partner for bluegrass, but in this case, it’s allowed us to elevate the song in a way that feels incredibly authentic and moving.”

Nu-Blu’s journey has been marked by resilience, artistry, and an unwavering commitment to their fans. From overcoming adversity, including Carolyn’s near-fatal stroke and ongoing battle with Type 1 diabetes, to becoming the permanent hosts of the nationally-syndicated TV show Bluegrass Ridge, the band has shown that no challenge is too great. Their latest project is no exception.

“The use of artificial intelligence is controversial, but AI is just a continuation of the technology we’ve been using for decades,” Daniel says. “The first Pro Tools system was launched in 1991. Auto Tune and studio plug-ins have become commonplace in music production. We still support the true, original, human element of music creation, be we also embrace new technologies in production. It’s sort of like our music — tradition meets innovation.”

With “Time (Still On Your Side),” Nu-Blu is once again proving that they are not afraid to take bold risks, blending the timeless sound of bluegrass with the cutting-edge tools of the future.

“Time (Still on Your Side)” was written by Bobby Terry, whose career has seen cuts by the likes of Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Lonestar, Trisha Yearwood, and Faith Hill; and Kevin Brandt, the 5-time gold and platinum album writer. It is a conversation with time itself. It reminds us that it is unstoppable. We all have a limited amount given to us and should take advantage of what we have. There is no promise of tomorrow. Live life to its fullest.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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