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NASHVILLE, TN (January 16, 2026) – Acclaimed bluegrass hitmakers Carson Peters & Iron Mountain are set to release their latest single, a fresh, high-energy, “grassified” take on a beloved Jim Croce classic, “Walkin’ Back to Georgia,” January 16 to digital service providers and radio. The track marks the second single from the band’s upcoming album Hold On Heart, due March 27. 

Known for their fearless arrangements and virtuosic musicianship, the youthful Carson Peters & Iron Mountain bring new life to Croce’s timeless songwriting with blazing instrumentals, rich harmonies, and the kind of storytelling that bridges generations of music lovers.

“We are so excited to release this ‘grassified’ Jim Croce tune. Croce is one of the best singer/songwriters of all time, and all of us in the band love his stuff,” says Carson Peters. “We have talked about cutting this song for a long time and we’re looking forward to putting it in our upcoming performances this year. We hope our fans love it as much as we do!”

The single follows the success of the band’s first release, titled “Used to Be,” from the upcoming album and continues their reputation for blending bluegrass authenticity with mainstream-ready energy — making Carson Peters & Iron Mountain favorites on festival stages, radio playlists, and streaming platforms alike.

The song will be available on all DSPs and radio outlets beginning January 16. The full album, Hold On Heart, produced by Peters and Jerry Salley, will follow on March 27.

"Walkin' Back to Georgia"

Jim Croce. © Croce Publishing/Time In A Bottle Publishing/ASCAP. All rights Reserved. Used by permission. 

Producers: Carson Peters & Jerry Salley

Lead Vocal, Fiddle and Mandolin: Carson Peters

Guitar: Ethan Ratliff

Bass: Taylor Parks

Banjo: James McDowell

Harmony Vocal: Carson Peters and Jerry Salley

ABOUT CARSON PETERS & IRON MOUNTAIN:

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain are one of today’s most electrifying young bluegrass bands, known for jaw-dropping musicianship, dynamic live shows, and an adventurous approach to classic and contemporary material. Fronted by prodigy fiddler and vocalist Carson Peters, the group has built a devoted fanbase through national television appearances, major festival performances, and a growing catalog of acclaimed releases. Their music honors bluegrass tradition while pushing it boldly forward.

Website: https://www.carsonandironmt.com/

Socials: https://www.facebook.com/carsonandironmt

ABOUT BILLY BLUE RECORDS

Billy Blue Records is a boutique bluegrass label, home to an award-winning roster of artists including Adam McIntosh, Alan Bibey and Grasstowne, Appalachian Road Show, Bob Minner, Caroline Owens, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Chris Davis Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Dave Adkins, Grascals, Jason Barie, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Kristy Cox, Marty Raybon, NewFound Road, the multi-artist projects Blue Collar Gospel, Country Faith Bluegrass, and the Grammy-nominated recording Gonna Sing Gonna Shout. Founded in 2018 by Jerry Salley, Ed Leonard, and Dottie Leonard Miller, Billy Blue is distributed to retail by the Orchard (Sony) and New Day Distribution.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 27, 2026) — IBMA Bluegrass Award- winning recording artist Bob Minner is releasing today “Kentucky Bluebird” featuring Grammy ® Award winners Tim McGraw and Lori McKenna. 

Minner has a decades-long relationship with the legendary McGraw as one of his touring guitar players. The song, first recorded by Country Music Hall of Famer, Keith Whitley, is known among McGraw’s inner circle as a favorite pre-show warm-up tune. 

What began as a ritual behind the curtain has now become a recorded moment, offering an intimate, reverent, and deeply-rooted country classic in a contemporary fashion while not breaking from the song’s natural, emotive approach.  

“This is one of those songs that never lets go of you,” Minner shares. “One of the things Tim and I had in common from the beginning was our love and appreciation for Keith Whitley. Tim was more familiar with Keith’s country work, and I, being a bluegrass kid, knew Keith’s work with JD Crowe and his time with Ricky Skaggs when both were playing as teenagers with Ralph Stanley.” 

Minner continues, “When it came time to do my album for Billy Blue Records, Tim offered to record one for it. It made sense to do a Keith song, so we agreed on the classic ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ from the 1991 posthumous Keith Whitley record of the same name. Tim delivers it with such honesty and raw emotion, and having the amazing Lori McKenna sing harmony was the cherry on top. Our take on this classic is a full-circle moment for me and a way to pay musical respect to a legend gone way too soon.”

McGraw’s unmistakable vocal presence brings familiar warmth, while McKenna’s harmony and interpretive depth add a layer of quiet gravity, honoring Whitley’s influence without attempting to outshine it. The result is a stripped-down, soul-forward recording that feels more like a front-porch session than a studio cut.

“Keith Whitley was a big influence on me,” shares Tim McGraw. “I moved to Nashville the day he died. Bob has played acoustic guitar for me for 33 years, and we’ve played ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ more times than I can remember before a show. When he asked me to sing it on his record, I was happy to help out. And having Lori McKenna singing harmony makes it even more special.”

GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter, Lori McKenna, adds, “Singing harmonies on ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ with Tim on lead on Bob’s incredible interpretation of this classic is a dream—a ‘pinch-me’ moment. I don’t know how I get to spin in the same orbit as Bob and Tim, but working with them is always a master class. I’m so glad the world gets to hear this record Bob Minner has put together. The talent, care, and experience he brings to everything he does is a true inspiration.”

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and producer Don Cook proudly notes, “This is now my favorite version of the song I wrote with Wally Wilson for our friend Keith Whitley in 1986. The track is organic acoustic music at its finest. Wish the guitar solo was longer!”

The release stands as both a tribute and a testament to friendship, to the songs artists carry with them night after night, and to the enduring power of country music when it tells the truth simply.

ABOUT BOB MINNER
Bob Minner is one of Nashville’s most respected acoustic guitarists, best known for his 33-year tenure touring and recording with Tim McGraw. A bluegrass-rooted musician with deep traditional influences, Minner’s career bridges the worlds of country, bluegrass, and Americana.
Equally at home on the road or in the studio, Minner is known for his tasteful, emotional playing and deep musicality qualities that have made him a trusted collaborator for decades. His work reflects a reverence for song, storytelling, and tradition, placing feel and authenticity above flash.
As a songwriter, he has had success with numerous cuts in bluegrass, most notably winning the prestigious IBMA 2024 Song of the Year for “Fall in Tennessee.”
Minner’s solo recordings showcase a lifetime of experience and musical relationships, capturing the organic, acoustic spirit of the music that shaped him and continues to inspire his work today.

ABOUT TIM MCGRAW
TIM MCGRAW is a GRAMMY® Award-winning entertainer, author, and actor who has sold more than 106 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 49 number one singles. He is one of the most played country artists since his debut in 1992, has four New York Times bestselling books to his credit and has acted in such movies as Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side. McGraw recently starred beside Sam Elliott and his wife Faith Hill in the Yellowstone prequel and three-time Emmy nominated 1883.  McGraw is considered one of the most successful touring acts in the history of country music.

ABOUT LORI MCKENNA
From her home base in Boston, Lori McKenna has carved out an enviable niche for herself as one of Nashville's most in-demand songwriters, all while maintaining a prolific and remarkably consistent career as a solo artist. The recent release of her anticipated album,1988, adds to a series of landmark years for McKenna and follows three widely-acclaimed albums: 2016’s The Bird &The Rifle, 2018’s The Tree, and 2020’s The Balladeer, of which the Associated Press praised, “McKenna has by now long established herself as one of the best songwriters working in any genre. And she does it again and again,” while The Tennessean asserted,  “one of the sharpest pens in modern country and folk songwriting.” 

In addition to her career as a solo artist, McKenna continues to enjoy success as one of the music industry’s most in-demand songwriters. In 2023, she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song for co-writing “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),”performed by Taylor Swift. In 2017, McKenna became the first woman to win the Academy of Country Music’s Songwriter of the Year award and the first woman to win the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year award two years in a row. She also won back-to-back Grammys for Best Country Song: for “Girl Crush,” performed by Little Big Town, in 2016, and “Humble and Kind,” performed by Tim McGraw, in 2017. In 2021, McKenna won her third Best Country Song Grammy for co-writing “Crowded Table,” performed by the Highwomen, with Brandi Carlisle and Natalie Hemby. In addition to writing songs for a multitude of award-winning artists—including Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, and Carrie Underwood—McKenna also co-wrote “Always Remember Us This Way,” which was featured in the Oscar-winning 2018 film A Star Is Born.

"Kentucky Bluebird"
Written by Don Cook and Wally Wilson
(c) Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/ASCAP. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
ISRC US3U82500024

Bob Minner – Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo
Tim McGraw – Vocal
Lori McKenna – Harmony Vocal
Mike Bub – Bass
Jesse Brock – Mandolin
Aaron Till – Fiddles
Jeff Partin – Dobro

ABOUT BILLY BLUE RECORDS

Billy Blue Records is a boutique bluegrass label, home to an award-winning roster of artists including Adam McIntosh, Alan Bibey and Grasstowne, Appalachian Road Show, Bob Minner, Caroline Owens, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Chris Davis Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Dave Adkins, Grascals, Jason Barie, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Kristy Cox, Marty Raybon, NewFound Road, the multi-artist projects Blue Collar Gospel, Country Faith Bluegrass, and the Grammy-nominated recording Gonna Sing Gonna Shout. Founded in 2018 by Jerry Salley, Ed Leonard, and Dottie Leonard Miller, Billy Blue is distributed to retail by the Orchard (Sony) and New Day Distribution.

For Linda Boles, sharing music has always been a way to encourage others and point them toward faith and hope. With “Remember Me,” she offers a song that speaks both to the bond between parent and child and to the greater truth of Christ’s enduring love. As the song’s closing refrain repeats the words “Remember Me,” the message becomes a quiet invitation to reflect on the love that never leaves and the faithfulness that never fades.

Nashville, Tenn. (February 20, 2026) – Acclaimed bluegrass artist Kristy Cox is set to release her powerful new single, “Hurricane,” on February 20. The track arrives via Billy Blue Records and marks Cox’s first new music of 2026. 

Co-written by Cox and her labelmate, Bob Minner, “Hurricane” explores the emotional terrain of transformation — leaning into uncertainty, growth, and the courage it takes to embrace life’s unexpected turns. With heartfelt lyrics and Cox’s unmistakable vocal clarity, the song delivers both vulnerability and strength, capturing a season of personal change through a soaring bluegrass lens.

“I’m so excited to be releasing new music. ‘Hurricane’ was written with my friend, Bob Minner, and is all about getting ready for and embracing change. The last two years of my life have brought more change than I ever expected, and this song became a way of leaning into that instead of fighting it. I’m incredibly proud of this one and can’t wait for you to hear it,” says Kristy Cox.

“Hurricane” showcases Cox’s signature blend of contemporary storytelling and traditional roots, reinforcing her reputation as one of bluegrass music’s most authentic and emotionally resonant voices. The release follows a period of major personal and creative evolution for Cox, making this single a defining moment in her current chapter.

Chorus
Is that a storm on the horizon or just our memories
Clouding up my mind with the way things used to be
I thought by now the skies would clear up
But the forecast still says pain
I don’t mind the winds of change
But I don’t need a hurricane

"Hurricane"
Written by Kristy Cox and Bob Minner

Copyright ©  2026 Billy Blue Music, a div. of Daywind Music (BMI). Billy Blue Music, a div. of Daywind Music/Bluestring Songs International (BMI). All rights reserved.
ISRC US3U82500470

Produced by Jerry Salley
Guitar - Cody Kilby
Mando and resophonic guitar - Justin Moses 
Banjo - Matt Menefee
Fiddle - Andy Leftwich 
Bass - Tyler Griffith 
Guitar - Cody Kilby 
Harmony vocals -  Magnolia Williams & Jerry Salley

ABOUT KRISTY COX
Billboard-topping artist Kristy Cox has been awarded with radio success and accolades for her talent. Having signed with bluegrass label Billy Blue Records, Kristy released her debut album for the label, Shades of Blue, in February 2022, following her latest award winning releases No Headlights and Ricochet. 

Kristy has been awarded 6 Bluegrass Recording of the Year  awards in the Australia’s CMA Awards (Golden Guitar Awards), her latest in 2023 for her track “Good Morning Moon.”

Praised for her performance and songwriting capabilities, Kristy has been shortlisted in the International Bluegrass Music Awards the past five years for Emerging Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year and was finalist in the 2019 IBMA Momentum Awards for Vocalist of the Year.

From a young age, Kristy has captured attention with her distinct singing style and positive outlook, going on to open shows for major acts, and appearing on television and major festivals across Australia, Europe, and the USA.
ABOUT BILLY BLUE RECORDS
Billy Blue Records is a boutique bluegrass label, home to an award-winning roster of artists including Adam McIntosh, Alan Bibey and Grasstowne, Appalachian Road Show, Bob Minner, Caroline Owens, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Chris Davis Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Dave Adkins, Grascals, Jason Barie, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Kristy Cox, Marty Raybon, NewFound Road, the multi-artist projects Blue Collar Gospel, Country Faith Bluegrass, and the Grammy-nominated recording Gonna Sing Gonna Shout. Founded in 2018 by Jerry Salley, Ed Leonard, and Dottie Leonard Miller, Billy Blue is distributed to retail by the Orchard (Sony) and New Day Distribution.

About Marshal McKellar

Usually known as a songwriter more than a Christian Country artist, Marshal McKellar has written songs for himself to sing around the house and at church all his life.  He says he did not do anything else with his songs for many years.  Then, he became friends with the Crabb Family, and they began to encourage him about his writing.  

 Marshal has been married to his wife, Karen, for thirty years.  They have two sons and three grandchildren.  Reminiscing about his early life, Marshal says he was quite the surprise to his older parents.  

“My dad was 57 and my mom 42 when they had me.  They had each been married and their spouses had died when they married each other.  They didn't know if they could have children.  I was quite a surprise."

Marshal played music with his mom and sang his first solo at age five in church.  At 7 years old, he learned to play guitar, so his parents bought him a nice guitar to play and later to write songs.  

As a teenager, Marshal worked a part-time job, but found out from musicians he knew, if he played country music in a band, he could make a lot more money.  His parents knew he was playing in a band, but they did not know he was playing country music.  They also did not know the places he was playing.  As elderly parents, they were a little removed from what their teenage boy was doing.

In the country band, Marshal got to open for major country artists like Keith Whitley, Eddie Rabbit, Tracy Byrd, Vince Gill, Conway Twitty, and Joe Diffy.  Joe actually gave him a guitar stand he still has and holds dear since Joe has passed.  He also received a capo from Keith Whitley, items he could never replace.  When he was playing in the places his parents did not know about, Marshal’s conscience bothered him.  However, he continued to live the country music lifestyle for a while.

One night, after his parents were both deceased, Marshal says he came home late after playing in a bar and turned on the television.  He could not sleep and found himself listening to David Ring, the evangelist with cerebral palsy who travels the world.  As David Ring spoke, Marshal heard him say, “If I can serve God with the limitations I have, you can serve Him, too.”

“Listening to David Ring, God really got ahold of my heart,” says Marshal.  “I called a preacher friend of mine right after that and told him I couldn’t live the way I was anymore,” Marshal relays.  “He prayed with me.  I was ready to change at age thirty-three.  My life really did change.  Not long after that is when I became friends with the Crabb Family, and they encouraged my songwriting.  I kept my songs for only myself for a long time.  I didn’t do anything with them until the early 2000s.”

Marshal continues, “I don’t listen to country music or play at country shows anymore unless they are willing to let me sing Gospel music.  Going into those places or singing that music would take me right back to when I wasn’t living for the Lord.  I don’t ever want to go back there!  Since I got saved, I have lived for the Lord continually and sung Gospel music,” says Marshal.

However, one day Marshal was impacted by a different kind of Christian music.   

“Recently, I heard some Nashville Christian Country music, he shares.  “I was friends with Micah Schweinsberg when he was the drummer for the Crabb Family.  He was playing on recording sessions for his dad Rick, a producer in Nashville.  Having a background in country music, I was really interested in what they were doing, combining country and Christian music.  I started writing some songs that leaned more toward Christian Country and sent them to Rick.  Gary Russ picked up one of my songs and recorded ‘God Don’t Waste the Hurt.’  As I continued to write more songs and send Rick demos, he asked if I had ever considered recording one myself. He didn’t know it, but that had been a bucket list item, a life long dream for me.  I had wanted to record one of my songs and release it to radio for a very long time.”

Marshal did just that.  He had co-written a great new song with Cynthia Reamy called “Talking to Your Chair” and brought it to Nashville to record. 

“When a childhood friend talked to me about taking care of her elderly father at home, I knew there was a song in there,” says Marshal.  “She told me after he passed, she found herself talking to his old chair and finding comfort in that.  I asked her permission to write a song about it.  I thought about many people who had lost family members, and how comforting it might be to talk to the chair they used to sit in.  I hope the song will be a blessing to those who hear it, especially those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.”

To contact Marshal for station liners, interviews, or bookings, call  903-277-6317, email marshalmckellar@yahoo.com or contact New South Artists Agency at 615-830-4351 or newsouthartistsagency@gmail.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 6, 2026) — Billy Blue Records is proud to announce the release of “Bend in the River,” the latest single from bluegrass mainstays The Grascals. Written by acclaimed songwriters Billy Droze and Michael Wright, the track is the newest preview of the group’s upcoming album, Not That Gone.

Set to an upbeat groove, “Bend in the River” tells a darker story than its melody might suggest. Through traditional bluegrass storytelling, the song unfolds with imagery of heartbreak, regret, and a sharp twist at the end. From a tear on a lover’s cheek to a rusty knife by the riverbank, it’s a tale that grows more intense with every verse.

Band member John Bryan shared the band’s first reaction to hearing the demo:
 

“Danny Roberts got the song demo from the writers, Billy Droze and Michael Wright, and shared it with all of us. We were hooked immediately—it’s such a happy melody for a song with such tragic lyrics, and by the time the plot twist hit, we knew we had to record it. ‘Bend In The River’ proves there’s nothing more dangerous than a scorned lover.”

“Bend in the River” follows the Grascals’ hit collaboration with country legend,  Dolly Parton, "Broken Angels," a song of hope and redemption, co-written by Dolly and original Grascal member, Jamie Johnson. 

Today’s new single release is steeped in The Grascals’ signature sound: tight harmonies, expert musicianship, and a knack for songs that balance tradition with a bold, modern edge.  “Bend In The River” sets the tone for an album that promises grit, heart, and a few surprises along the way.

The single is now available to all radio programmers. Fans can catch The Grascals performing this track and more during their upcoming tour dates in support of the new album.

"Bend in the River"
Billy Droze and Michael Wright.
© 2025 Different Kind of Crown Publishing (ASCAP) / Ivy Manor Songs (BMI).
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Produced by Grascals and Ben Isaacs
John Bryan - lead vocal
Jamie Johnson - harmony vocal
Danny Roberts - mandolin
Kristin Scott Benson - banjo
Jamie Harper - fiddle/guitar/harmony vocal
Kyle Perkins - bass 
Recording Engineer - Marcus Hyatt
Mix Engineer - Ben Isaacs

Just in time for Easter programming prep, Daywind Records is honored to release a new single from The Nelons, “Three Nails Instead,” from their project Loving You.

This song is powerful, reminding us that Christ's love was spoken most clearly by His actions on the cross. Available for airplay now.

The cross must have whispered

And the spear must have shouted

The crown of thorns revealed what must be said

Though I love you wasn’t spoken

From the lips of the Savior

He said I love you

With three nails instead

Songwriters: Jason Clark, Wayne Haun, and Joel Lindsey.

Publishing: ©2024 Christian Taylor Music (BMI/Daddy Sang Bass (BMI)/ Candleshoe Music International (BMI)/Mike Curb Music (BMI)/ Songs From The Inside (BMI). All rights reserved.

Official Press Release - 02.03.2026 

EMG is excited to announce the release of Tina Adair's new single "Don't Stay A Stranger".

"Don't Stay A Stranger" is the newest single from Tina Adair.

Written by Sarah Siskind, "Don't Stay A Stranger" is a beautiful song that features Tina's incredible tone and vocal presence, with a strong lyric, instrumentation, and harmonies. 

Featuring Cody Kilby & Pat McGrath (acoustic guitars), Ron Stewart (fiddle), Seth Taylor (mando), Scott Vestal (banjo), Byron House (bass), Rob Ickes (dobro), and Jeff White & Ron Block (harmonies).

Produced by Tina Adair & Adam Engelhardt.

Written by Sarah Siskind.

"Don't Stay A Stranger" is available everywhere Feb 4th.

EMG is excited to announce the signing of Frank Evans and the release of his debut solo single "TJ's Last Ride".

Featuring Frank Evans (Banjo & Lead Vocals), Shad Cobb (fiddle),

Casey Campbell (mandolin), Justin Moses (dobro & tenor vocals),

Mike Bub (bass), Jake Stargel (acoustic guitar).

Produced by Frank Evans & Casey Campbell.

Written by Dennis Linde. First recorded by Roger Miller.

"I’ve been listening to Roger Miller since I was a kid—from the Robin Hood soundtrack to always having a “best of” tape playing in the car—which is why I wanted to include one of his tunes. “T.J.’s Last Ride” felt like the perfect choice: it has the kind of river-gazing imagery John Hartford might write, paired with the mournful, heartfelt tone of a Stanley Brothers song about a dear friend who has passed on. When I brought it into the session, the whole band unanimously agreed not to overthink it and to let the song speak for itself—and it did. We played it three times, and the version you hear is almost entirely the complete third take. It was a real honor to have such an incredible band on this track: Casey Campbell on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, Justin Moses on dobro and tenor, Shad Cobb on fiddle and Jake Stargel on guitar."

- Frank Evans