The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently hosted a captivating program featuring renowned photographer Ed Rode. During the event, Rode engaged in a discussion about his extensive career and photography with museum writer-editor Angela Stefano Zimmer in the Ford Theater. Following their insightful conversation, celebrated songwriters Tony Arata, Matraca Berg, and Don Henry, all of whom have been subjects of Rode’s lens, took to the stage to perform.
Rode’s upcoming book, titled Songwriter Musician: Behind the Curtain with Nashville’s Iconic Storytellers and Players, is set to showcase decades of stories captured through his photography. The book includes memorable moments such as playing snooker with John Prine, celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans with Brad Paisley, and exploring Tennessee alongside Ketch Secor and documentarian Ken Burns. This program was part of the museum’s ongoing exhibit, “Writers, Pickers, and Stars: The Photography of Ed Rode,” which will be available for viewing until July and features a selection of photographs from Rode’s book.
In other news, country star Brantley Gilbert has taken a significant step into the beverage industry as an investor and equity partner with Real American Beer. The launch of Real American Beer ZERO marks the company’s first venture into non-alcoholic beer, a project close to Gilbert’s heart as he celebrates fourteen years of sobriety. This initiative is further enhanced by a national partnership with the USO, with RAB committing to donate $1 for every case of RAB ZERO sold to support active-duty service members and their families, reinforcing the brand’s dedication to American values and community support.
Meanwhile, the Christian music group We The Kingdom has achieved a significant milestone with the RIAA Gold certification for their hit single “God So Loved.” The award was presented at the Capitol Christian Music Group offices, recognizing the song’s remarkable success on radio and streaming platforms. “God So Loved” has reached over 18 million views on social media and continues to attract more than three million streams each month. This accolade coincides with the celebration of their new album, Dear Jesus, marking an exciting new chapter for the band.
Lastly, Sarah Marie Burke has announced the launch of SARMAR Management, a venture aimed at providing comprehensive Production Management services to artists and creative teams. With over two decades of experience in A&R Production, Burke’s new company will oversee recording projects from pre-production to final delivery, ensuring efficient management of schedules, budgets, and communication with labels. Additionally, SARMAR Management will offer live show Production Management, drawing on Burke’s extensive experience in producing events at prestigious venues. Burke has also partnered with VEVA Sound, a music tech company focused on audio verification and metadata integrity, to enhance the production workflow for her clients.
