STAGES DUE AUGUST 28

THE RUN WILL FEATURE SPECIAL GUESTS SHANE PROFITT, ASHLEY KUTCHER, AND HANNAH HARPER ACROSS SELECT DATES

NASHVILLE, TENN. – On the heels of announcing her forthcoming album Stages, multi-Platinum Country star Lauren Alaina is hitting the road this fall with her headlining The Stages Tour. Named after the highly anticipated album due August 28, the run will spotlight every era of Alaina’s career, blending new music with the fan-favorite anthems that have defined her rise from small-town dreamer to Country music powerhouse and entertainer.

“This tour feels like my most personal yet,” says Lauren Alaina. “Stages is all about the different chapters I’ve lived through: the highs, the heartbreaks, the growth, and finding joy in who I am today. Every stage of my life has shaped this music, and now I finally get to bring all of these songs to stages around the country and share them with the fans who’ve been with me through it all. I hope people leave these shows feeling seen, healed, and maybe even a little more hopeful.” 

Support across select dates of The Stages Tour will include rising artists Shane Profitt, Ashley Kutcher, and Hannah Harper.

THE STAGES TOUR DATES:

Oct 1 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater *
Oct 2 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place *
Oct 3 – Clear Lake, IA – Surf Ballroom *
Oct 8 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa ^
Oct 9 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s ^
Oct 10 – Jacksonville, FL – FIVE ^
Oct 15 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre >
Oct 16 – Little Rock, AR – The Hall >
Oct 17 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note >
Oct 22 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall >
Oct 23 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland >
Nov 5 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre *
Nov 6 – Troy, OH – Arbogast Performing Arts Center *
Nov 7 – Jackson, MI – Potter Center * 
Nov 12 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium >

* with Shane Profitt

^ with Ashley Kutcher

> with Hannah Harper

Tickets for all dates of The Stages Tour (except Nov 7) are on sale this Friday starting 10a.m. local. For more information, visit Lauren Alaina’s Official Website.

Produced by hitmakers Joey Moi and Ben Johnson, Stages captures the defining moments that shaped Alaina’s journey from growing up in Georgia to becoming one of Country music’s most recognizable voices. The album builds on the momentum of chart-climbing collaboration “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew)” and current crowd-favorite “Raining Whiskey.”

The announcement adds to a major season for Alaina. On May 17, she presented at the 61st ACM Awards during a very special segment for ACM Lifting Lives. The moment honored late music industry leader Ben Vaughn before welcoming Dan + Shay for a moving performance of “Say So,” centered on mental health awareness. Watch the touching intro here.

A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2022, Alaina has earned multiple No. 1 hits including Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female Country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification.

ABOUT LAUREN ALAINA

Lauren Alaina, praised by Rolling Stone for her “powerhouse, honey-toned vocals that meld timeless twang with modern sass,” continues her “limitless upward trajectory” (American Songwriter) as one of Country music’s most magnetic entertainers. Her forthcoming new album Stages, due out August 28, builds on the momentum of smash “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew)” that marked the biggest first-week streaming numbers of her career. A dynamic live act, she will support Darius Rucker on his Songs of Summer Tour this year along with various festivals. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2022, Alaina has earned three No. 1 hits: Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” the 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female Country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification. The vocalist has performed on some of the highest-profile stages in the world including PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, CBS’ Beyond The Edge, ABC’s The Bachelorette, TODAY, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s CMA Fest specials, CMA and ACM Awards, Nickelodeon’s All That, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime performance, MLB’s World Series national anthem performance, a performance at the White House for President Obama, and more.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN ALAINA

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | X | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

Media Contacts

Sarah Beth Watson | Greener Grass PR

sarahbeth@greenergrasspr.com

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post LAUREN ALAINA TAKES HER NEXT CHAPTER ON THE ROAD WITH HEADLINING THE STAGES TOUR appeared first on Big Loud.

MADE APPEARANCES ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!, CBS SATURDAY SESSIONS, THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW, NPR WORLD CAFE ANDTHE TAMRON HALL SHOW

COVER STAR: SPIN (FEBRUARY 2026) + GUITAR.COM (MAY 2026)

ACT I HIT #4 ON AMERICANA ALBUM CHART; #1 AMERICANA AND TOP 10 TRIPLE A SINGLE “BELIEVE”

“HE SUMS UP WHAT THE AMERICANA MOVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT”

– NPR ALL SONGS CONSIDERED

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, acclaimed artist-writer Kashus Culpepper earns his first nomination for Americana Honors & Awards Emerging Act of the Year. The recognition follows a whirlwind season for the Alabama-born crooner who released his debut album Act I to widespread acclaim earlier this year. He has been touted by Elton John as “if Bill Withers made country music,” here; made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Kelly Clarkson Show, NPR World CafeandThe Tamron Hall Show.

The depth of influences in Culpepper’s musical rolodex is reflected within Act I‘s 18 tracks – and features collaborations with GRAMMY® winner Sierra Ferrell (“Broken Wing Bird”) and Marcus King (“Southern Man”). He chose to record Act I in Muscle Shoals, a decision rooted in both state pride and musical history: “So much history between the soul giants of the world, like Aretha and Wilson Pickett, and then some of my favorite bands, like the Allman Brothers.”

Nearing two years since his first release (the lyrical masterwork “After Me?”), Culpepper has been named one of the 2026 Shazam Fast Forward Class, WXPN’s Artist to Watch for January 2026, 2026 Nashville Scene Artist to Watch, GRAMMY.com’s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe’s 25 Artists for ’25, 2025 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Opry NextStage Class of 2025, Billboard‘s February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, Apple Music’s February 2025 Country Riser of the Month, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch and Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025.

Culpepper’s notable sound has taken him on the road with Leon Bridges, Sierra Ferrell, Darius Rucker and more. This year he embarked on a headlining run in major markets, as well as dates with Niall Horan, Eric Church, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett and Wyatt Flores. For more information or tickets, visit kashusculpepper.com.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR KASHUS CULPEPPER

“His kaleidoscope of music residing at the central point of various genres has allowed him to traverse various musical communities.” – Billboard

“Kashus Culpepper is steadily proving that he has the potential to become a prominent figure in country music.” –Country Central

“Culpepper is already making a strong case for one of country’s most thought-provoking albums this year.”  

– EARMILK

“…one of Nashville’s most exciting new voices.” – Garden & Gun

“Kashus Culpepper is turning heads in roots music – and the mainstream.” – Good Country

“…Culpepper has revived the melodic crooning of ’80s and ’90s country, buoyed by his blues influence…” 

– GRAMMY.com

“…Culpepper has cemented himself as a critical darling among the country industry, while building a loyal, burgeoning fanbase.”  – Holler

“One of Nashville’s most exciting new voices.” – MusicRow

“…the scene-stealing talent is just getting started.” – Nashville Lifestyles

“He sums up what the Americana movement is all about as he brings country, soul, blues, folk and rock together and spins it and creates something really iconic with it, never far from his Southern roots and willing to explore all kinds of different tonalities and intensities. He’s not afraid of any of it and he brings it all together. The songs are amazing.” – NPR All Songs Considered

“…he seems like one of those inevitable artists who has always been here.” – Paste 

“Bursting at the seams with cool, soulful hooks, Act I, as the legendary ‘Rocket Man’ singer so notably put it, in part, to Culpepper, is like if an old school honky tonk crooner merged with Bill Withers…” – PEOPLE

“If what we’ve heard so far is any indication, expect 2026 to be a breakthrough year for this Alabama singer.” – Rolling Stone

“Act I introduces him as a supremely self-possessed artist with a casually soulful voice, an ability to find boundless emotional gradients in even the most straightforward lyric, and a willingness to collide all sorts of genres. – SPIN

“…it’s obvious why his career has been fast-tracked. The handful of songs he’s released so far take a smart, often witty route…performed in a style he classifies as ‘southern sounds’…”  – The Guardian

“Culpepper’s style is measured and soulful, like the best blend of fury and sound.” – The Tennessean

“Act I is truly one of the most impressive debuts you’ll hear not only in country music but in music in general in 2026.”  – Whiskey Riff 

ABOUT KASHUS CULPEPPER

Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk and rock – Culpepper’s husky, sandpaper growl bellows like a freight train over self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence, Culpepper sold out headline club shows throughout the South before formally releasing a single song. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records. Culpepper has joined Leon Bridges, Sierra Ferrell and Darius Rucker on tour – embarking this year on a headlining run as well as dates with Niall Horan, Eric Church, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, Thomas Rhett and Wyatt Flores. Named one of the 2026 Shazam Fast Forward Class, WXPN’s Artist to Watch for January 2026, 2026 Nashville Scene Artist to Watch, GRAMMY.com‘s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe’s 25 Artists for ’25, 2025 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Opry NextStage Class of 2025, Billboard‘s February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, Apple Music’s February 2025 Country Riser of the Month, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch and Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025, Culpepper’s debut album Act I is out now. 

CONNECT WITH KASHUS CULPEPPER

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK |YOUTUBE

Media Contacts

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post KASHUS CULPEPPER EARNS FIRST NOMINATION FOR AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR appeared first on Big Loud.

LISTEN TO “BETTER THAT WAY,” FEATURING LUKE COMBS

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD CHRISTIAN NAME

SUPPORTING KACEY MUSGRAVES THIS FALL,

CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH DYLAN GOSSETT THIS SUMMER

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, Charles Wesley Godwin announces The Christian Name Tour, in support of his highly anticipated new album Christian Name, out July 24. The tour kicks off July 11 in Fargo, ND and runs through mid-November. In addition to his own headline shows, Godwin will be doing a co-headline run with Dylan Gossett this summer, and he’ll open for Kacey Musgraves on her Middle of Nowhere tour this fall.

Christian Name is an intensely personal collection of songs, but it’s more than just another body of work; it’s how Godwin learned to live again. Through moments of mourning. Through tales of redemption. And ultimately, through a tried-and-true reaffirmation of his faith.

“These songs really meant a lot to me,” Godwin explains. “There’s parts of me and parts of the things that I’ve gone through in the last couple years that are in each and every song on this album.”

While Christian Name is without question a highly personal affair for Godwin – he took direct inspiration for both the album title and album cover from his late grandfather, Charles Godwin, a Methodist preacher – he’s quick to note how critical a role his creative community of friends and musical collaborators played in the album’s conception.

Not only does Christian Name include a pair of thrilling feature collaborations – the earworm “Better That Way” with Luke Combs and the remarkable “Hey There, Son” featuring Wyatt Flores – but it’s also the result of Godwin partnering with some of music’s most treasured songwriters: Stephen Wilson Jr. (“Brand New”),  Liz Rose (“I Caught The Sunrise”), Lori McKenna (“Hey There, Son”), Aaron Ratiere (“God’s Been Good To Me”), Travis Meadows (“Try Again,” “Every Once In Awhile”), Scooter Carusoe (“Better That Way,” “Hallelujah High,” “Place I Know”), and Tom Douglas (“Street Advice”).

“I had a lot of help with this album — I sought out people and they brought a lot of the hope and the light and the lighter moments of the album,” Godwin offers. “That was a lot of their influence. The album needed that.”

Perhaps few played as critical a role, however, as Godwin’s Alleghany High bandmate and Christian Name‘s producer, Al Torrence. While Christian Name was recorded over several months at a variety of studios in Nashville and New York City, Godwin recorded the bulk of the LP at a familiar place: Torrence’s Music Garden Studios in Pennsylvania.

“He’s world-class,” Godwin says of his longtime friend, Torrence, with whom he’s now been working for a decade. “Al knew exactly what I was going through throughout this process. We have a mutual respect for each other, and we each bring our own ear to every project we work on together.”

Charles Wesley Godwin 2026 Tour Dates

Jul 2 – Calgary, AB – Cowboys Music Festival

Jul 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota Country Club Festival

Jul 11 – Fargo, ND – UP District Festival Field

Jul 14 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District

Jul 17 – Emigrant, MT – The Old Saloon

Jul 18 – Kalispell, MT – Majestic Valley Arena

Jul 19 – Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky Festival

Jul 22 – Jackson, WY – Teton County Fair

Aug 4 – San Francisco, CA- Regency

Aug 6 – Sacramento, CA – Channel 24

Aug 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

Aug 8 – San Diego, CA – SOMA

Aug 13 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto

Aug 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren

Aug 21 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

Aug 22 – Toronto, ON – History

Aug 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Criterion

Aug 28 – Lubbock, TX – Cook’s Garage*

Aug 29 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater*

Sept 11 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six

Sept 12 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner

Sept 17 – Landmark Theatre – Syracuse, NY

Sept 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Fillmore

Sept 23 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center#

Sept 26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle*

Sept 29 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17*

Sept 30 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena#

Oct 1 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater*

Oct 9 – North Charleston, SC – Riverfront Revival

Oct 17 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House

Oct 18 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom

Oct 21 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory

Oct 22 – Seattle, WA – SoDo

Oct 24 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theater

Nov 5 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre

Nov 6 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum

Nov 7 – Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion

Nov 12  – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed

Nov 13 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside

Nov 14 – St. Louis, MO – Factory

* co-headline with Dylan Gossett

# supporting Kacey Musgraves

CONNECT WITH CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN

Website | Instagram | TIKTOK | X | Facebook

#    #    #

Media Contacts

Rob Krauser | Missing Piece Group

rob@missingpiecegroup.com

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com 

The post CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN ANNOUNCES THE CHRISTIAN NAME TOUR appeared first on Big Loud.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Announced today, dynamic artist-writer and producer Brock Phillips has joined Big Loud Records and Local Hay Records, shepherded by the Nashville-based Records’ team and Local Hay’s Scott Cooke and hitmaker Dallas Smith. Coinciding with the news, Phillips released “Rich Man,” out now. 

“I’m beyond excited to be joining the team at Big Loud and Local Hay,” shares Phillips. ”Working with Scott Cooke, and watching the career Dallas Smith has built as a Canadian artist in Nashville, has been a huge inspiration for me. ‘Rich Man’ is just the beginning. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what else we’ve been working on.” 

“Brock Phillips is the kind of artist who checks every box you can’t teach — an undeniable, powerhouse voice paired with a pen that knows exactly where to land,” shares Sara Knabe, SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records. “That combination creates a dynamic that feels fresh in today’s landscape, but built for longevity. We’re proud to welcome him to Big Loud and get to work.”

“The moment I heard Brock’s voice I knew he was something special,” shares Cooke, President of Local Hay Records. “His work ethic and raw talent are second to none, we are so excited and proud to be part of this journey with him.”

Today’s “Rich Man” was written by Phillips alongside Cody Lohden and Cole Miracle, with production by Cooke. The new song cleverly describes the weight of heartbreak with monetary value: 

That I’d be a

Rich man a rich man

If I had a dime every time I was dealt a

Bad hand a bad hand

And wiser men might fold

Yeah I’d be worth a fortune

If misfortune could be sold

And all these silver linings

Were worth their weight in gold

His previously released debut song, “Something Else,” was named one of Holler‘s “Best New Country Songs,” which explores a familiar, temporary relationship becoming more permanent. Phillips relocated to Nashville in 2024, previously attending Berklee College of Music in addition to gigging in Vancouver for weekly shows at clubs and bars. Earning a publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing and Local Hay last year, his freshly signed record deal marks the beginning of a promising journey for the talented new artist. 

Announced this week, Phillips will play the Calgary Stampede on July 5 on the Nashville North stage. To stay up to date with Brock Phillips, please visit https://brockphillipsmusic.com/. 

ABOUT BROCK PHILLIPS

Canadian-born singer-songwriter / producer Brock Phillips has been immersed in music all his life. Wearing many musical hats out of both passion and necessity, Phillips began his journey studying music in high school before continuing to Berklee College of Music, where he began creating his own personal style and sound influenced by Chris Stapleton, John Mayer, Kings of Leon and Ariel Posen. Returning to Canada, Phillips took his skills to Vancouver, booking weekly residencies at clubs and bars that morphed into opening gigs for multi-platinum artists like Dallas Smith, Josh Ross and MacKenzie Porter. In 2024, Phillips relocated to Nashville and inked a publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing/Local Hay. Signing a record deal with Big Loud Records and Local Hay Records this year, the Nashville-based artist has more new music on the horizon. 

CONNECT WITH BROCK PHILLIPS

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

#  #  #

Media Contacts

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post BROCK PHILLIPS INKS DEAL WITH BIG LOUD RECORDS AND LOCAL HAY RECORDS appeared first on Big Loud.

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD CHRISTIAN NAME HERE

SUPPORTING KACEY MUSGRAVES THIS FALL, CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH DYLAN GOSSETT THIS SUMMER

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, Charles Wesley Godwin announces his highly-anticipated new album Christian Name, out July 24 via Big Loud Records, and releases the first single “Better That Way” featuring Luke Combs. Christian Name is an intensely personal collection of songs, but it’s more than just another body of work; it’s how Godwin learned to live again. Through moments of mourning. Through tales of redemption. And ultimately, through a tried-and-true reaffirmation of his faith. 

“These songs really meant a lot to me,” Godwin explains. “There’s parts of me and parts of the things that I’ve gone through in the last couple years that are in each and every song on this album.”

In 2024, Godwin and his wife, Samantha, suffered an unthinkable tragedy when their third child, Samuel, was stillborn. “To put it simply, my heart was broken,” Godwin says. “It took me a few months to get myself back up off the ground, so to speak, and get back into the game and to write songs again.” And while the human instinct following such loss might be to turn away from the divine, Godwin says the devastating experience recommitted him to God and firmly cemented his faith. “Coming out of that, I recommitted to my faith in God more so than I have at any point in my life. It really changed me,” he says, speaking to not only his personal transformation over the past few years but also to how this distinctly spiritual quest is reflected in Christian Name. “The point of this project was to point to God,” Godwin continues, “and let people know he’s really helped me through this time in my life.”

“Learning to trust / Ready to get back up / Hard things hurt but my faith still works,” Godwin sings on the heartwrenchingly beautiful “Try Again,” which, following a powerful opening sermon, kicks off a tantalizing narrative through line on the LP that captures the singer’s meditation on finding hope again amid the darkness. Later, on the contemplative “I Caught The Sunrise,” a reflection on forever carrying one’s memory with you, Godwin proclaims, “Was blind but now I see / Today, I caught the sunrise.” And on the magnificent closing track “Brand New,” Godwin declares, “Heaven humbled me in fire / Damn near melted all the tire tread / Radiator couldn’t burn no hotter / You made me, you made me / You made me brand new.”

While Christian Name is without question a highly personal affair for Godwin – he took direct inspiration for both the album title and album cover from his late grandfather, Charles Godwin, a Methodist preacher –  he’s quick to note how critical a role his creative community of friends and musical collaborators played in the album’s conception.

Not only does Christian Name include a pair of thrilling feature collaborations – the earworm “Better That Way” with Combs and the remarkable “Hey There, Son” featuring Wyatt Flores – but it’s also the result of Godwin partnering with some of music’s most treasured songwriters: Stephen Wilson Jr. (“Brand New”),  Liz Rose (“I Caught The Sunrse”), Lori McKenna (“Hey There, Son”), Aaron Ratiere (“God’s Been Good To Me”), Travis Meadows (“Try Again,” “Every Once In Awhile”), Scooter Carusoe (“Better That Way,” “Hallelujah High,” “Place I Know”) and Tom Douglas (“Street Advice”). 

“I had a lot of help with this album — I sought out people and they brought a lot of the hope and the light and the lighter moments of the album,” Godwin offers. “That was a lot of their influence. The album needed that.”

Perhaps few played as critical a role, however, as Godwin’s Alleghany High bandmate and Christian Name‘s producer, Al Torrence. While Christian Name was recorded over several months at a variety of studios in Nashville and New York City, Godwin recorded the bulk of the LP at a familiar place: Torrence’s Music Garden Studios in Pennsylvania.

“He’s world-class,” Godwin says of his longtime friend, Torrence, with whom he’s now been working for a decade. “Al knew exactly what I was going through throughout this process. We have a mutual respect for each other, and we each bring our own ear to every project we work on together.”

Godwin will tour extensively in support of Christian Name. In addition to his own headline shows, Godwin will embark on a co-headline tour with Dylan Gossett this summer. This fall, Godwin will join Kacey Musgraves on her Middle of Nowhere Tour. More Godwin tour dates should be announced soon.

Christian Name Tracklist

1. Sermon [Al Torrence, Dave Stacy]
2. Try Again [Charles Wesley Godwin, Travis Meadows]
3. Better That Way (feat. Luke Combs) [Charles Wesley Godwin, Scooter Carusoe, Al Torrence]
4. Hallelujah High [Charles Wesley Godwin, Scooter Carusoe]
5. Hey There Son (feat. Wyatt Flores) [Charles Wesley Godwin, Lori McKenna]
6. I Caught the Sunrise [Charles Wesley Godwin, Liz Rose]
7. Place I Know [Charles Wesley Godwin, Scooter Carusoe]
8. Street Advice [Charles Wesley Godwin, Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas]
9. Every Once in a While [Charles Wesley Godwin, Travis Meadows, Dave Stacy]
10. Christian Name [Charles Wesley Godwin]
11. God’s Been Good to Me [Charles Wesley Godwin, Aaron Raitiere]
12. Gospel of the South [Craig Boyd, Tony Lane, David Cory Lee]
13. Brand New [Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr.]

Charles Wesley Godwin 2026 Tour Dates

Jul 2 – Calgary, AB – Cowboys Music Festival

Jul 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota Country Club Festival

Jul 11 – Fargo, ND – UP District Festival Field

Jul 14 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District

Jul 17 – Emigrant, MT – The Old Saloon

Jul 18 – Kalispell, MT – Majestic Valley Arena

Jul 19 – Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky Festival

Jul 22 – Jackson, WY – Teton County Fair

Aug 28 – Lubbock, TX – Cook’s Garage*

Aug 29 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater*

Sept 23 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center #

Sept 26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle*

Sept 29 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17*

Sept 30 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena #

Oct 1 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater*

Oct 9 – North Charleston, SC – Riverfront Revival

* Co-headline with Dylan Gossett

# Supporting Kacey Musgraves

CONNECT WITH CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN

Website | Instagram | TIKTOK | X | Facebook

#    #    #

Media Contacts

Rob Krauser | Missing Piece Group

rob@missingpiecegroup.com

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com 

The post CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN’S VIVIDLY COMPELLING, DEEPLY PERSONAL NEW ALBUM CHRISTIAN NAME OUT JULY 24 appeared first on Big Loud.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters’ Tennessee songbird Lauren Watkins enters a new season of music with the release of her new song “Heartbreakaholic,” out now. The track arrives just days after announcing the renewal of her publishing deal with powerhouse independent publisher Big Loud Publishing, further cementing her place as one of country music’s most promising young artist-writers.

Written by Watkins with award-winning writers Will Bundy, Nicolle Galyon and Rodney Clawson, “Heartbreakaholic” ushers in the Nashville native’s next chapter with a sharp sense of perspective and a hook rooted in real-life heartbreak patterns. Inspired by her own experiences, she looks back on the old heartbreak habits that once felt hard to shake – the kind you know might not be good for you, but can’t quite quit. 

“I may be settled down now, but don’t be fooled, I’m no stranger to a good old-fashioned heartbreak,” shares Watkins. “There was always something strangely addicting about it to me. Just when I’d get over something, I needed something else to get over. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m just a person who feels things deeply, and I kinda get restless when I don’t have an excuse to drive around and cry to my favorite sad songs,” Watkins laughs. “Heartbroken or not, I’m a creature of habit, and that’s really what this song is about. I hope some people out there can relate!”

Arriving as the first new song since her 2025 10-track album In A Perfect World, “Heartbreakaholic” opens the door to a more self-aware season for Watkins. After an album that found her embracing the balance between the fast lane of life on tour and the quiet calm of home, “Heartbreakaholic” turns the page again – looking back on the messier patterns that came before with honesty, wit and her signature “direct-yet poetic songwriting” (Billboard). 

Last year, Watkins made her debut on some of music’s biggest stages, including the Grand Ole Opry, NBC’s TODAY and Madison Square Garden. After touring with Zach Top, Riley Green and Lainey Wilson throughout 2025, she’ll bring her new music on the road with Dylan Scott and Luke Bryan in 2026. For tour dates and more information, keep up with Watkins at laurenwatkins.com and on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT LAUREN WATKINS

After an acclaimed album debut and a year-plus on the road with stars like Morgan Wallen, Riley Green and Lainey Wilson – plus Billboard accolades and a monumental first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters artist Lauren Watkins has emerged as a proudly defiant projection of pure country-music moxy. A Nashville native inspired by crowd-pleasing outlaws like Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Lee Ann Womack and Miranda Lambert, Watkins’ 17-track 2024 debut, The Heartbroken Record, introduced a mainstream maverick with a thirst for lyrical truth – and an old-school country rebel whose modern instincts never succumb to trends. Coming to know the fast lane by heart, the modern-classic singer-songwriter has racked up millions of streams and rocked full-on stadiums, while learning from legendary songwriters like Nicolle Galyon, Luke Laird and The Warren Brothers. Yet In A Perfect World finds Watkins in a fresh phase, with her dreamy vocal awake to new charms and challenges. Featuring an earthy mix of sunset country and hazy heartland grit, she’s no longer expecting to get her heart broken, and not pushing the idea of home away. Produced by husband and CMA/ACM Award winner Will Bundy, with additional co-production from hitmaker Joey Moi on select tracks, Watkins builds on her of-the-moment and always-organic sound; 10 co-written songs capturing the passion and promise of a new outlook. Steel guitars and ethereal atmosphere create a sense of wide-open space, while bold twang and rootsy rhythms keep the Tennessee songbird’s vocal grounded. With In A Perfect World, Watkins captured a season of growth and self-discovery, setting the stage for new music led by “Heartbreakaholic,” out now. She will also bring that sound to stages across the country while touring with Dylan Scott and Luke Bryan throughout 2026.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN WATKINS

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

Media Contacts

Olivia Hanceri + Lexi Leatherwood | OH Creative

olivia@theohcreative.com, lexi@theohcreative.com

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post LAUREN WATKINS GETS HONEST ABOUT OLD HABITS WITH “HEARTBREAKAHOLIC” appeared first on Big Loud.

JUST ANNOUNCED: LAUREN ALAINA TO PRESENT AT 61ST ACM AWARDS THIS SUNDAY

“ALL MY EXES (FEAT. CHASE MATTHEW)” LOGS 75+ MILLION STREAMS;

CURRENTLY TOP 25 ON COUNTRY RADIO

NEW SMASH “RAINING WHISKEY,” OUT NOW

PERFORMING AT ACM LIFTING LIVES COUNTRY ON THE GREEN THIS WEEK

NASHVILLE, TENN. – The world has watched Lauren Alaina grow up in the spotlight. Introduced as a small-town Georgia girl on American Idol, she has evolved into a country superstar, devoted wife and mother. Her journey with music the throughline of it all, today she announces her long-awaited and most self-assured body of work to date: Stages, due on August 28. Announced earlier today, Alaina will make a triumphant return to the 61st ACM Awards stage this Sunday as a presenter, following last year’s emotional viral post praised for its vulnerability. 

Pre-Save/Pre-Add Stageshere.

“I’m fifteen years into a ten-year town and 31 years into a lifelong dream,” shares Alaina. “Stages represents every version of me along the way: the dreaming, the breaking, and, ultimately, the becoming. There’s something on this album for everyone, no matter what stage of life they’re in. Stages is letting everyone see behind the curtain of the girl in the spotlight. It’s a reflection of the moments that shaped me and the dream that carried me through. It’s always been the same dream, different stages.”

Produced by hitmakers Joey Moi and Ben Johnson, Stages chronicles the defining chapters of Alaina’s life with the lyrical candor she’s known for, and signature powerhouse vocals. Over the course of the album, she explores coming of age and sowing wild oats on Nashville’s Lower Broadway to starting a family and much more. The project due in August builds on the momentum of chart-climbing “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew),” the smash that earned Alaina the biggest first-week streaming numbers of her career and was twice most-added at country radio, and anthemic new jam, “Raining Whiskey.” 

A Grand Ole Opry member since 2022, Alaina has previously notched three No. 1 hits: Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification. Last year was momentous with the release of resonating singles like “Those Kind of Women,” “Household,” “Heaven Sent” and “Little Things.” 

The magnetic entertainer is fresh off a home-state stadium date with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Zach Top for Live Between The Hedges at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. Later this week she will perform at ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green in Las Vegas alongside Riley Green, Rodney Atkins and Randy Houser. All ticket proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives. Alaina will support Darius Rucker on select dates of his Songs of Summer Tour and play a variety of festivals throughout the spring and summer like Carolina Country Music Festival, CMA Fest and more. 

For more information visit laurenalaina.com and follow Lauren Alaina on socials.

Lauren Alaina 2026 Tour Dates

May 15 – Las Vegas, NV – ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green

May 16 – Las Vegas, NV – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

May 19 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry

May 23 – Reno, NV – Drifters Music Festival >

May 25 – Orem, UT – SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

May 29 – Oceanside, CA – Frontwave Arena

May 30 – Portland, OR – Ponderosa Lounge & Grill

June 4 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Country Music Festival >

June 5 – Roanoke, VA – Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges

June 7 – Nashville, TN – CMA Fest >

June 12 – Decatur, AL – Rock The South >

June 20 – Rockton, IL – Old Settlers Days >

June 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater ^

June 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center ^

June 27 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre ^

July 3 – O’fallon, MO – City of O’Fallon Heritage & Freedom Fest >

July 5 – Aurora, IL – RiverEdge Park

July 6 – Traverse City, MI – National Cherry Festival >

July 10 – Bristol, VA – Hard Rock Live Bristol

July 11 – Ashland, KY – Rock The Country >

July 17 – Kimberly, WI – Paperfest >

July 24 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino

July 25 – Uncasville, CT – Sun Country Fest >

July 26 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

August 7 – Elkhorn, NE – The Club at Indian Creek

August 8 – Lincoln, IL – Logan County Fair >

August 14 – Bloomfield Trailer Court, NE – Knox County Fair

August 15 – Galva, IL – The Back Road Music Festival >

August 28 – Ocala, FL – Rock The Country Ocala >

August 29 – Biloxi, MS – Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 

September 4 – Colville, WA – FarmJam Music Festival >

^ Supporting Darius Rucker

> Festival 

ABOUT LAUREN ALAINA

Lauren Alaina, praised by Rolling Stone for her “powerhouse, honey-toned vocals that meld timeless twang with modern sass,” continues her “limitless upward trajectory” (American Songwriter) as one of country music’s most magnetic entertainers. Her forthcoming new album Stages, due out August 28, builds on the momentum of smash “All My Exes (feat. Chase Matthew)” that marked the biggest first-week streaming numbers of her career. A dynamic live act, she will support Darius Rucker on his Songs of Summer Tour this year along with various festivals. A proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2022, Alaina has earned three No. 1 hits: Platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” the 4x Platinum “ONE BEER” with HARDY and Devin Dawson, and Diamond-certified “What Ifs” with Kane Brown. With “What Ifs,” Alaina became the only solo female country artist in history to receive the RIAA’s Diamond song certification. The vocalist has performed on some of the highest-profile stages in the world including PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, CBS’ Beyond The Edge, ABC’s The Bachelorette, TODAY, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s CMA Fest specials, CMA and ACM Awards, Nickelodeon’s All That, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime performance, MLB’s World Series national anthem performance, a performance at the White House for President Obama, and more. 

CONNECT WITH LAUREN ALAINA

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | X | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

Media Contacts

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post COUNTRY SUPERSTAR LAUREN ALAINA SETS LONG ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM: STAGES  appeared first on Big Loud.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, country hitmaker Ashley Cooke announces the baby blues world tour — a global headline run launching on September 17 and continuing through February 25 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. General on-sale for the 28-date trek begins this Friday (5/15) at 10 a.m. local time with $1 of every ticket sold going towards the Ashley Cooke Fund to benefit The Onsite Foundation’s Creatives Support Network, which provides free mental-health support, education, and resources specifically designed for members of the songwriting community. Visit ashleycooke.com for more info, and see below for the full list of tour dates and venues.

With stops at bucket-list venues like 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (September 18), Irving Plaza in New York City (September 24), and El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles (October 8), Cooke’s latest headline tour borrows its name from the longtime live favorite “baby blues” — a recent No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown. The soulful and smoldering track is set to appear on Cooke’s highly anticipated self-titled sophomore album, due out via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music on August 14. Go here to pre-order/pre-save ashley cooke now.

After kicking off at Globe Iron in Cleveland, the baby blues world tour will make its way through major cities like Boston (September 19), Seattle (October 14), and Austin (February 18). Early next year, Cooke will bring her star-making live show overseas for a run of UK dates, including stops in Belfast (January 22), Glasgow (January 24), London (January 29), and Manchester (January 30). Along the way, she’ll be supported by a packed lineup of breakout talent: Big Loud labelmate Timmy McKeever (September 17 – 26), Florida-bred singer/songwriter McCoy Moore (October 1 – 3 and November 5 – 7), all-female trio Just Jayne (October 8 – 10), Country up-and-comer Aniston Pate (October 14 – 16) and Alabama-born rising star Hannah McFarland (February 18 – 20).

Whether she’s delivering a stripped-down acoustic moment or a full-band anthem, Cooke captivates crowds with her soul-baring honesty and effortless charisma. Last year, she wrapped up her coast-to-coast your place tour (a U.S. headline trek named after her Gold-certified country radio No. 1 hit), then spent much of 2025 on the road with the likes of Kane Brown and Parker McCollum. Fresh off her recent run as support for Jon Pardi‘s HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR, she’s also toured with heavy-hitters like Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis and more.

This weekend, Cooke will co-host and perform at “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” — an Academy of Country Music Awards Week event slated for May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas, also featuring Flatland Cavalry, Tucker Wetmore, Braxton Keith and more. (Go herefor ticketing details.) Before embarking on the baby blues world tour, Cooke will also take the stage at can’t-miss summer festivals like Hoofbeat (June 27 in Cadott, WI).

ANNOUNCED DATES FOR ASHLEY COOKE’S THE BABY BLUES WORLD TOUR

SEPTEMBER

17 | Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron 

18 | Washington, DC – 9:30 Club 

19 | Boston, MA – Royale 

24 | New York, NY – Irving Plaza 

25 | Portland, ME – Aura 

26 | New Haven, CT – Toad’s 

OCTOBER

1 | Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live 

2 | Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon 

3 | Milwaukee, WI – Rave II 

8 | Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre 

9 | San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theatre 

10 | Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades 

14 | Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo 

15 | Portland, OR – Revolution Hall 

16 | Boise, ID – Knitting Factory 

NOVEMBER

5 | Raleigh, NC – The Ritz 

6 | Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s 

7 | Athens, GA – Georgia Theater 

JANUARY

22 | Belfast, N.I. – The Limelight 1

24 | Glasgow, UK – SWG3 TV Studio

26 | Bristol, UK – Trinity

28 | Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy 2

29 | London, UK – Koko

30 | Manchester, UK – Manchester Club Academy          

FEBRUARY

18 | Austin, TX – Antone’s 

19 | Fort Worth, TX – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall 

20 | Lubbock, TX – Cook’s Garage – Indoors 

25 | Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

Support from Timmy McKeever

 Support from McCoy Moore

Support from Just Jayne

 Support from Aniston Pate

 Support from Hannah McFarland

ABOUT ASHLEY COOKE

One of country’s most magnetic young storytellers, Ashley Cooke made her unforgettable debut with 2023’s shot in the dark and soon scored her first country radio No. 1 with “your place” — a Gold-certified, Billboard Hot 100-charting hit that later won a 2024 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. With a voice that carries both tenderness and quiet confidence, she’s since garnered nominations for New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. While building up an acclaimed body of work including 2025’s ace — a nine-song project featuring her Country radio smash “the hell you are” and longtime fan favorite “baby blues” (a No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown) — Cooke has collaborated with major artists ranging from Pop superstar Joe Jonas (“All I Forgot”) to Country hitmaker Brantley Gilbert (“Over When We’re Sober”). Known for her emotionally charged and high-energy live show, she’s also toured with heavy-hitters like Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, Kane Brown, and recently hit the road as support for Jon Pardi’s HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR. As her profile continues to rise, Cooke made a cameo appearance in March on CBS’ Marshals (the newly launched spinoff of the blockbuster Western saga Yellowstone), just before heading overseas for C2C: Country to Country 2026 (including a performance at the iconic O2 Arena in London). With her self-titled sophomore album due out August 14, she’s now gearing up to take the stage at leading festivals like Hoofbeat (6/27 in Cadott, WI). Later this year, Cooke will embark on the baby blues world tour — a 28-date international headline run launching on September 17 and continuing through February 25 at the legendary Ryman Auditorium.

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY COOKE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

# # #

Media Contacts

Jensen Sussman | Sweet Talk Publicity

jensen@sweettalkpr.com 

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post ASHLEY COOKE ANNOUNCES THE BABY BLUES WORLD TOUR appeared first on Big Loud.

PRE-SALE BEGINS WEDNESDAY (5/13) AT 9 A.M. CT

PUBLIC ON-SALE BEGINS FRIDAY (5/15) AT 9 A.M. CT

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Wrapping up their headlining Nonsense All Night Tour this month with stops in Florida, New York, New Hampshire and more, The 502s will embark on their The Up, Up, Up The Coast and Across The Pond Tour beginning in August. Making stops in Richmond, Nantucket, Queens and across the pond in the United Kingdom, Ireland, The Netherlands and Germany, they will play a handful of festivals including The Long Road Festival and Once In A Blue Moon Festival. 

Pre-sale begins Wednesday (5/13) at 9 a.m. CT followed by public on-sale on Friday (5/15) at 9 a.m. CT.

Affectionately dubbed “the happiest band on Earth,” the band recently released their official music video for infectious song“Your Nonsense Makes Sense”watch here. Featured on their fourth studio album Easy Street, the song has had a meteoric rise. 

Released last fall, Easy Street includes songs like “Summer Fling” that the band debuted on Good Morning America, introspective “Quicksand” and exuberant “End of the World.” On their headlining Easy Street Tour last year, with stops in New York’s Irving Plaza and West Hollywood’s Troubadour, “The band spent the whole set smiling at the audience and at each other, clearly enjoying their time together onstage and making the show all the better for it” (Artist Atlas Group). 

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.the502s.com/. 

Nonsense All Night Tour Dates

May 21 – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL

May 22 – Terra Fermata – Stuart, FL

May 23 – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

May 24 – Good Time Fest – Charleston, SC

May 27 – Empire Live – Albany, NY

May 28 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH

May 29 – Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows – Simsbury, CT

May 30 – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA

The Up, Up, Up The Coast and Across The Pond Tour Dates

August 1 – Spruce Street Harbor Park – Philadelphia, PA

August 2 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA

August 4 – The Pyrle – Greensboro, NC

August 5 – Oceanfront Concert Series – Virginia Beach, VA

August 7 – Rocking The Docks Music Series – Lewes, DE

August 8 – The United Theatre – Westerly, RI

August 9 – The Chicken Box – Nantucket, MA

August 11 – Levitate Backyard – Marshfield, MA

August 13 – The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ

August 14 – Performing Arts Center At Simsbury Meadows – Simsbury, CT

August 15 – Archer Music Hall – Allentown, PA

August 16 – Rockaway Hotel – Queens, NY

August 28 – The Long Road Festival – Leicestershire, UK $

August 30 – Set Theatre – Kilkenny, IE

August 31 – Cyprus Avenue – Cork, IE

September 1 – Dolan’s – Limerick, IE

September 2 – Róisín Dubh – Galway, IE

September 4 – De Oosterpoort – Groningen, NL

September 5 – Once in A Blue Moon Festival – The Hague, NL $

September 6 – Sound of Nashville – Cologne, DE $

$ Festival

ABOUT THE 502s

The 502s are a beach folk band from Florida, often called “the happiest band on Earth.” With breezy banjos, shout-along choruses and an energy that bursts like a cannonball into a swimming pool, their music feels like sunshine you can dance to. Their song “Just A Little While” made a viral splash with over 150M streams to date. Last fall the band embarked on their Easy Street Tour which hit iconic stages across North America including New York’s Irving Plaza and West Hollywood’s Troubadour. Pouring their unbridled energy and eclectic musicality into their most adventurous offering to date, The 502s’ new album Easy Street is out now. The 13-song collection will have you barefoot in the sand, laughing with friends and singing at the top of your lungs—even if it’s just in your kitchen. The 502s will wrap their headlining Nonsense All Night Tour this month. 

CONNECT WITH THE 502S

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

# # #

Media Contacts

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post THE 502S ANNOUNCE THE UP, UP, UP THE COAST AND ACROSS THE POND TOUR, BEGINNING IN AUGUST  appeared first on Big Loud.

Lauren Watkins Renews Publishing Deal with Big Loud Publishing | Images by Jessie Addleman | Download here

LEFT PHOTO ID (L-R):

Front Row: Seth England (Partner/CEO, Big Loud), Lauren Watkins, Katie Flynn (Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing)

Back Row: Kimberly Gleason (SVP, Big Loud Publishing), Bethany Mako (A&R Manager, Warner Chappell Music), Sara Knabe (SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records)

RIGHT PHOTO ID (L-R):

Kimberly Gleason (SVP, Big Loud Publishing), Bethany Mako (A&R Manager, Warner Chappell Music), Seth England (Partner/CEO, Big Loud), Lauren Watkins, Katie Flynn (Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing), Sara Knabe (SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records)

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters songstress Lauren Watkins has renewed her publishing deal with powerhouse independent publisher Big Loud Publishing.

“When I walked into Big Loud for the first time five years ago, I instantly felt they were the right team for me. What started in that room has turned into years of encouragement, challenge, support, and of course, hundreds of songs that were waiting to be written,” shares Watkins. “I’m so grateful to be signing a new publishing deal with Big Loud and to start this brand-new chapter with the same hardworking, song-loving folks who believed in me from the very beginning. I feel so blessed to keep writing songs under this roof.”

“Lauren is such a brilliant songwriter and, we feel incredibly fortunate to continue working with her. She consistently writes some of the most compelling songs coming out of Nashville, and she’s only getting started. Her creativity, storytelling and energy are propelling her into a really exciting new chapter and we can’t wait for what’s next,” adds Katie Flynn, Big Loud Publishing Creative Director.

The renewed deal arrives as the Nashville native readies her first new release of 2026 with “Heartbreakaholic,” out this Friday, May 15. Written by Watkins with Will Bundy, Nicolle Galyon and Rodney Clawson, the song offers the first glimpse at what’s ahead as she leans into the honest, self-aware storytelling she has built her name on. After touring with Zach Top, Riley Green and Lainey Wilson throughout 2025, she’ll bring her new music on the road with Dylan Scott and Luke Bryan in 2026.

For tour dates and more information, keep up with Watkins at laurenwatkins.com and on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT LAUREN WATKINS

After an acclaimed album debut and a year-plus on the road with stars like Morgan Wallen, Riley Green, and Lainey Wilson – plus Billboard accolades and a monumental first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters artist Lauren Watkins has emerged as a proudly defiant projection of pure country-music moxy. A Nashville native inspired by crowd-pleasing outlaws like Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Lee Ann Womack and Miranda Lambert, Watkins’ 17-track 2024 debut, The Heartbroken Record, introduced a mainstream maverick with a thirst for lyrical truth – and an old-school country rebel whose modern instincts never succumb to trends. Coming to know the fast lane by heart, the modern-classic singer-songwriter has racked up millions of streams and rocked full-on stadiums, while learning from legendary songwriters like Nicolle Galyon, Luke Laird and The Warren Brothers. Yet In A Perfect World finds Watkins in a fresh phase, with her dreamy vocal awake to new charms and challenges. Featuring an earthy mix of sunset country and hazy heartland grit, she’s no longer expecting to get her heart broken, and not pushing the idea of home away. Produced by husband and CMA/ACM Award winner Will Bundy, with additional co-production from hit maker Joey Moi on select tracks, Watkins builds on her of-the-moment and always-organic sound; 10 co-written songs capturing the passion and promise of a new outlook. Steel guitars and ethereal atmosphere create a sense of wide-open space, while bold twang and rootsy rhythms keep the Tennessee songbird’s vocal grounded. With In A Perfect World, Watkins captured a season of growth and self-discovery, setting the stage for new music led by “Heartbreakaholic,” out May 15 – a song that finds Watkins turning her deep-feeling instincts and old heartbreak habits into something sharp, relatable and distinctly her own. She will also bring that sound to stages across the country while touring with Dylan Scott and Luke Bryan throughout 2026.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN WATKINS

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

ABOUT BIG LOUD PUBLISHING

Tailor-made by GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter Craig Wiseman in 2003, the man in the “big loud shirt” has inspired the same bold, creative statement that cements Big Loud Publishing as one of the most successful independent music publishers in Nashville. Their stable of top-tier songwriters includes Wiseman, Joey Moi, Ashley Cooke, Blake Coddington, Brock Phillips, Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden, Grady Block, Hailey Benedict, Jacob Durrett, Jake Worthington, John Byron, Jordan Dozzi, Kashus Culpepper, Larry Fleet, Lars Pruitt, Lauren Watkins, Luke Preston, Mark Holman, Matt McCartney, Max Martin, Rafe Tenpenny, Rhys Rutherford and Rocky Block. To date, the Big Loud Publishing lineup has penned over 300 singles including three GRAMMY® Award winners (Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and “Blown Away”), and 90 No.1 hits for artists like George Strait, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Faith Hill, Thomas Rhett and more.

Media Contacts

Olivia Hanceri + Lexi Leatherwood | OH Creative

olivia@theohcreative.com, lexi@theohcreative.com

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post LAUREN WATKINS RENEWS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH BIG LOUD PUBLISHING appeared first on Big Loud.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, Country hitmaker Ashley Cooke calls out petty behavior with her self-possessed new song “high school sweetheart.” The latest release from her sophomore album ashley cooke (due out via Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music on August 14), “high school sweetheart” offers a breezy critique of the type of people who use gossip to soothe their own insecurities. Go here to listen to “high school sweetheart,” and pre-order/pre-save ashley cooke here.

Written by Cooke, Boy Matthews, Cleo Tighe, Lauren Hungate and AFTERHRS, “high school sweetheart” is a perfect distillation of the free-and-easy self-assurance that defines all of ashley cooke — the highly anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed debut album shot in the dark, a 2023 LP featuring the Gold-certified country radio No. 1 hit “your place.” With a potent dose of sharp-tongued humor, Cooke shines a light on the persistence of high-school dynamics in adult relationships and reveals the utter absurdity of growing older without growing wiser.

Produced by the legendary Dann Huff (Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift), “high school sweetheart” glides in on sunlit grooves and glossy guitar tones as Cooke turns her attention to a trash-talking adversary who can’t stop fixating on her (hey ain’t you tired? / just a little worn out / a hundred miles / of running your mouth). Despite her deep frustration, Cooke rises above the drama and stands at a cool remove, loading up the track’s soaring chorus with a string of wickedly funny one-liners (e.g. you catch more flies with honey / girl I’ll even give you a jar). Anchored by a supremely laid-back vocal performance from Cooke, “high school sweetheart” ultimately captures the quiet triumph of outgrowing someone who’s perpetually stuck in the same old toxic patterns.

In a gorgeous contrast to its sardonic mood, “high school sweetheart” channels a euphoric energy by way of its lush and luminous coastal country sound — the defining sonic aesthetic for Cooke’s forthcoming album. Arriving on the heels of ace (a2025 project built on her most personal work to date), ashley cooke doubles down on its predecessor’s unfiltered honesty and delivers what Cooke refers to as a “coming-of-age record disguised as a relationship album.” Co-written with luminaries like Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Ashley Gorley, ashley cooke will feature “high school sweetheart” alongside standouts like the longtime fan favorite “baby blues” (a recent No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown), “the hell you are” (currently climbing the country radio charts), and “xs” (a March release that inspired Country Swag to hail Cooke as “one of the most exciting rising artists in the genre today”).

Next weekend, Cooke will co-host and perform at “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” — an Academy of Country Music Awards Week event slated for May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas, also featuring Flatland Cavalry, Tucker Wetmore, Braxton Keith and more. (Go herefor ticketing details.) As summer heats up, Cooke will also take the stage at can’t-miss festivals like Hoofbeat (June 27 in Cadott, WI). For more info on all upcoming live dates, visit ashleycooke.com.

ABOUT ASHLEY COOKE

One of country’s most magnetic young storytellers, Ashley Cooke made her unforgettable debut with 2023’s shot in the dark and soon scored her first country radio No. 1 with “your place” — a Gold-certified, Billboard Hot 100-charting hit that later won a 2024 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. With a voice that carries both tenderness and quiet confidence, she’s since garnered nominations for New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. While building up an acclaimed body of work including 2025’s ace — a nine-song project featuring her country radio smash “the hell you are” and longtime fan favorite “baby blues” (a No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown) — Cooke has collaborated with major artists ranging from pop superstar Joe Jonas (“all I forgot”) to country hitmaker Brantley Gilbert (“Over When We’re Sober”). Known for her emotionally charged and high-energy live show, she’s also toured with heavy-hitters like Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, Kane Brown and recently hit the road as support for Jon Pardi’s HONKYTONK HOLLYWOOD TOUR. As her profile continues to rise, Cooke made a cameo appearance in March on CBS’ Marshals (the newly launched spinoff of the blockbuster Western saga Yellowstone), just before heading overseas for C2C: Country to Country 2026 (including a performance at the iconic O2 Arena in London). With her self-titled sophomore album due out August 14, she’s now gearing up to take the stage at leading festivals like Hoofbeat (6/27 in Cadott, WI).

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY COOKE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

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Media Contacts

Jensen Sussman | Sweet Talk Publicity

jensen@sweettalkpr.com 

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post ASHLEY COOKE TAKES AIM AT PETTY DRAMA ON NEW SONG “high school sweetheart” appeared first on Big Loud.

NASHVILLE, TENN. / AUSTIN, TEXAS  – Today GRAMMY®-nominated artist-writer and guitarist in Willie Nelson’s band, Waylon Payne, releases “Holding On To Lonely.” Listen here. 

“Honestly, I was a bit reluctant to record this song; maybe it just seemed too personal,” shares Payne. “My producer Frank Liddell really stood up for this song and encouraged me to push through. It’s really special, very personal and I deeply relate to it. I wrote it with Charlie Worsham and I can say it’s one of my favorite things about the upcoming album.”

The new song is his second release via Big Loud Texas and follows his timeless debut The Drifter (2003) and acclaimed Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020). Last month Payne returned to the spotlight with “Looking For A Feeling,” a brilliant showcase of his razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Penned alongside Pam Tillis, Holler called it one of the “Best New Country Songs.”

Today’s “Holding On To Lonely” explores the fear of letting love back in and was penned alongside beloved storyteller and musician Charlie Worsham. For Payne, the chain is on the door because “lonely seems to be the safest place.” He sings:

I’m holding on to lonely

I’m just wrestling

With my needs

It’s feast or famine

It’s lust or greed

I’ve gotta feel something

To be alive

I’ve got a habit

Of always pushing things away

Yeah, lonely seems to be the safest place

An outlaw poet, Payne comes by it honestly with a storied musical pedigree. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he even dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. Writing for and playing with other musicians throughout his career, Payne has penned award-winning songs for Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and more. Between his standout projects, Payne focused on acting. He appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005) as Jerry Lee Lewis and was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).

With his two latest releases, the acclaimed artist-writer sets his sights on a new masterful body of work. To stay up to date, connect with Waylon on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

ABOUT WAYLON PAYNE

A poetic outlaw, Waylon Payne made an indelible mark with his timeless debut album The Drifter (2003). Building on the legacy of that album and the widespread acclaim of Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020), Waylon sets his sights on a new masterful body of work. “Looking For A Feeling” and “Holding On To Lonely” are the first glimpse of his triumphant re-emergence, showcasing his signature razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Waylon’s musical pedigree is storied. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. He began his prolific career writing for and playing with other musicians. Multi-talented with the charm of a seasoned entertainer, Waylon has pursued acting in earnest; he appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005). After, he was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).

CONNECT WITH WAYLON PAYNE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

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Media Contacts

Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud

corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com

The post OUTLAW POET WAYLON PAYNE IS “HOLDING ON TO LONELY” appeared first on Big Loud.