AGP Executive Report

CMA Fest Buzz (Nashville): CMA Fest kicked off in a big way at Nissan Stadium and on the riverfront, with Ty Myers making his Chevy Riverfront Stage debut and fans flooding downtown for opening-night performances and standout fashion moments. Country Music Releases: Taylor Swift dropped “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a country-leaning track for Toy Story 5, and Florida Georgia Line reunited at CMA Fest—“We Back Baby”—after their 2022 hiatus. Tour News: Ashley Cooke announced the “Baby Blues World Tour,” ending with a milestone Nashville Ryman Auditorium date; Evanescence extended its world tour with 2027 Australia/New Zealand dates; Bryson Tiller set “The Neo Trapsoul Tour” with major stops including Nashville. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: Japan’s World Cup squad had to switch training venues twice in Mexico due to field conditions, with the team expected to practice in Nashville next week. Tech/Finance Watch: SpaceX’s IPO plans are drawing fresh scrutiny as Goldman Sachs forecasts massive AI revenue growth through 2030.

CMA Fest 2026: Nashville kicked off the four-day country party Thursday, with free daytime stages downtown and ticketed nights at Nissan Stadium running June 4–7. Music Philanthropy: Trend’s “Off The Record” with HARDY & Friends at Marathon Music Works raised $400,000+ for The HARDY Fund, featuring surprise sets from Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and more. TV & Country Spotlight: NBC announced “Alan Jackson: The Last Show,” airing as a primetime special documenting his final Nashville concert on June 27, directed by Sam Wrench (who also made the Eras Tour movie). Local Arts & Community: UT Gardens will host a “Beary” fun art exhibit all summer, and Knoxville’s Zoo is using “hog-upuncture” as part of its care approach. Nashville Zoo Backlash: A petition against a proposed AI data center next to Nashville Zoo surged past 30,000 signatures in hours. Entertainment Pop Culture: Matt Damon says he bartended in Knoxville in the late ’90s to nail a Southern accent for “The Rainmaker.”

Nashville Music Buzz: Weezer teased a second single, “We Might As Well Be Strangers,” from their upcoming “Gold Album” (Aug. 21), featuring Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman and guest vocals/production from Kenneth Blume and Klas Åhlund, ahead of a fall tour. Country Spotlight: Shania Twain announced “Little Miss Twain” (July 24), a rootsy mix of country, rock, and R&B, plus the new single “Dirty Rosie.” Memphis Live & Local: Memphis Parks brings back free “Family Fun Friday” events with games, music, bounce houses, and food/dessert for the first 500, starting June 5. Arts & Community: Memphis City Council is moving to revive Mud Island Amphitheater with ADA upgrades, budgeting about $96,000 with possible cost overruns up to $150,000. Sports (Tennessee): Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly’s long WCWS run ended again with a Texas semifinal loss, leaving her 0-for-10 in championship games. College Sports: MTSU is seeking a 4.5% tuition and 5.27% fee increase for 2026-27, with public comment open until June 11.

Nashville Music & Culture: The Peace Center is bringing “The Notebook” to Greenville as a national tour, with Coastal Carolina grad Connor Richardson starring in the new Johnny role. Live Music Calendar: Nashville-area fans get a CMA Fest weekend boost with Country Living’s “Great American Picnic” at Fan Fair X, plus a free Starved Rock Songwriters Series launch in Tennessee via Walls 102. AI & Media Visibility: Publicity For Good founder Heather Holmes releases “Seen by AI,” arguing brands need earned-media authority to win AI search citations. Tech for Everyday Life: A new Lake360 app adds on-water route planning for Smith Mountain Lake boaters, and Hydro Flask teams with Universal Music Group to cut single-use drinkware in music studios. Community Spotlight: “Opportunity Knocks” returns with Memphis-area single mom Kristina Bell featured in season three. Local Entertainment/Events: AXS expands support for independent venues through renewed partnerships, including Marathon Live’s Nashville footprint.

Country Music Charity Spotlight: Darius Rucker’s “Darius & Friends” benefit at Nashville’s Ryman kicked off CMA Fest week, again raising millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with guests including Lauren Alaina and Jason Aldean. Local Sports: Chattanooga FC battled back for a 1-1 draw at Tennessee Tempo FC, with Claire Palya scoring the equalizer in the 81st minute; the club hosts Georgia Impact June 7. Music & Touring: Kehlani announced her EU/UK arena run for late 2026, with tickets going on sale today; support includes Odeal and WASEEL. Pop Culture/Entertainment: Gracie Abrams revealed her “Look at My Life” winter tour dates, with major guest lineups and ticket info now available. Sports Media: Reuters published the full World Cup call-ups list for June 11–July 19, including squads for Group A. Community & Education: Keyser High School released its 2025-2026 honor roll, while DSCC held its 56th annual commencement ceremony for 555 graduates.

Nashville Music & Culture: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is hosting a Kendra Scott x Dolly Parton pop-up in the Museum Store this Friday and Saturday, with custom jewelry and Dolly-themed shopping. Local Sports Spotlight: The Nashville Predators hired Chris MacFarland as president of hockey operations and GM, bringing him in from the Colorado Avalanche. Arts & Entertainment Industry: MicDrop Nation is launching a July 20–23 Nashville artist intensive for ages 14–18, featuring vocal coaches Jake Hoot and Tom Jackson, plus Kim Sandusky, with a record-deal prize. Community Events: Chattanooga’s America 250 calendar is set, including “Pops on the River,” a Hamilton sing-along, and a July 4 finale with a 500-drone show over the Tennessee River. Health & Local Legacy: Longtime WSM radio host and Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody remains in critical condition as his family asks for prayers.

Nashville Music & Nightlife: CMA Fest’s food-and-drink game plan is out, with where to grab bites inside the grounds (Food Truck Alley, near the Country Music Hall of Fame) and where to eat along Broadway when you want a break from the stages. New Music: Vince Staples keeps building toward Cry Baby with “Cotton,” plus he’s got Bonnaroo in Tennessee on deck and more tour stops after the June 5 album drop. Country Touring: Riley Green adds fall 2026 dates for his Cowboy As It Gets Tour and previews new album-era material with “Think As You Drunk,” including a charity tie-in to the Toby Keith Foundation. Sports (Tennessee): Tennessee softball’s WCWS run ends after another Texas semifinal win, while the broader WCWS title series is set for Texas vs. Texas Tech. Local Arts/Community: Nashville Opera is teaming up with actors with disabilities for The Sound of Music performances, bringing more inclusive casting to the stage. Food & Home: A Southern-fried cabbage recipe makes the case for turning a “boring” veggie into a crowd-pleaser.

NFL Blockbuster: The Eagles traded star WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder (better of New England’s two fifths), reuniting Brown with former Titans coach Mike Vrabel and giving Drake Maye a clear No. 1 target. Sports Legacy: Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry, a Colts icon and later Patriots coach, died at 93 in Murfreesboro. WCWS Update: Texas beat Tennessee twice in the semifinals to reach the finals, ending the Lady Vols’ season again at the semifinal stage. Local College Hoops: Fred Smith Jr. officially signed with Memphis basketball, a 6-7 forward and top-100 recruit. Hospitality & Travel: Hilton launched Undergraduate by Hilton, aiming at college-town stays, with a first property expected in 2027. Music Spotlight: Little Big Town previewed its upcoming album “It’s a Dying Art” in Nashville, with Miranda Lambert joining for “Over and Over.” Tech/AI (Memphis tie-in): SpaceX signed a major computing deal with Anthropic, giving access to Colossus 1 in Memphis.

Nashville Music & Live Shows: Luke Bryan announced an all-star “Luke Bryan & Friends” concert at Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 24 to celebrate his new album, “Signs.” Nashville Arts & Festivals: Landry Butler will debut a new spoken-word performance piece, “Utopias,” at the Kindling Arts Festival July 23–26. Local Culture Spotlight: Oak Ridge’s Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival (June 5–6) adds a “Homegrown Teller” contest sending the winner to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. Music Industry Tech: Auddia’s Discovr Radio is partnering with Beatcave as its official membership partner to expand independent artist discovery in Canada. Nashville Entertainment Calendar: CMA Fest safety volunteers are gearing up, and the broader “month of June in the arts” roundup points to what’s next for Tennessee audiences. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: Denny Hamlin won the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in a late three-wide battle, giving Toyota its first Cup win at the track.

NASCAR Nashville Spotlight: Denny Hamlin is on the pole for the Cracker Barrel 400 after qualifying was rained out, with the Cup race set for about 6:20 p.m. CT on May 31 and streaming on Prime Video. Music & Local Culture: Jelly Roll shared that his daughter’s high school graduation is “breaking generational curses,” tying the milestone to a childhood story about imagination and hope. Softball (Tennessee Angle): Kaitlyn Terry, the UCLA two-way star, is set to face Texas Tech in the WCWS after a standout season at the plate and in the circle. Sports (Tennessee Angle): Texas Tech advanced after a 3-1 win over Nebraska, setting up a Monday matchup with Tennessee in the WCWS. Memphis Music Loss: Foster Sylvers, the Memphis-born R&B child star behind “Boogie Fever,” has died at 64 after cancer. Travel/Outdoors: A Cookeville getaway guide spotlights waterfall hikes at state parks plus local beer and spirits. Food Note: A Southern chefs roundup calls out the best biscuits—starting with Nashville’s Loveless Cafe.

NASCAR in Nashville: Rain canceled qualifying for the 2026 Cracker Barrel 400, so Denny Hamlin takes pole for Sunday’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, with Tyler Reddick alongside him and Daniel Suárez starting third. Women’s sports spotlight: Tennessee softball keeps rolling in the WCWS, and Saturday’s big matchup has the Lady Vols facing Texas Tech in a winners’ bracket game with semifinal stakes. Music & culture: Roots Picnic day one at Belmont Plateau kicked off with optimism as Jaÿ-Z headlines the two-day festival in Fairmount Park. Local entertainment buzz: Dolly Parton is bringing a new “Tennessean Travel Stop” to Cornersville, opening June 24 with food, merchandise, and live music. Community & arts: Nashville Opera is set to perform alongside actors with disabilities in “The Sound of Music.” Road-trip vibes: A new piece looks at the joy of chasing America’s open roads—starting with Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

NASCAR Spotlight (Nashville): Layne Riggs surged late to win the rain-delayed Allegiance 200 in the Truck Series at Nashville Superspeedway, taking the Victory Guitar trophy and dedicating the moment to Kyle Busch. Women’s Sports (WCWS): Mississippi State’s first-ever WCWS run ended with a 4-0 loss to Texas, while Tennessee kept its momentum in the winners’ bracket with a 6-3 win over Texas. Local Live Music (Chattanooga): The Chattanooga Lookouts teamed with the Tivoli Theatre Foundation to bring concerts to Erlanger Park, aiming to use the ballpark beyond baseball. Arts & Culture (Music): Nashville-based music executive/producer David May, a two-time Grammy winner, died at 68. Community & Travel (Chattanooga): The Women in Travel Conference drew hundreds of creators to the Chattanoogan, with organizers pitching real business impact for women in tourism. Sports TV Guide: Coverage also included what to watch across NASCAR and WCWS matchups this weekend.

NCAA Baseball: East Carolina punched past Tennessee 7-3 in 14 innings in the Chapel Hill regional, setting up an ECU next game vs. the UNC/VCU winner. Sports TV & Events: Murray State will face Georgia Tech at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 6 as part of a Nashville doubleheader with Tennessee vs. NC State. Music & Culture: Steven Curtis Chapman added the final fall leg of his SPEECHLESS 25th Anniversary Tour, performing the album front-to-back in 14 cities. Music Business: Weverse Company named Zooil Yang president effective June 1, as the superfan platform pushes into its next growth phase. Local Arts/Community: Americanafest revealed more 2026 lineup additions for its Sept. 15-19 Nashville run. Tennessee Spotlight: The Tennessee Supreme Court vacated Antonio Demetrius Adkisson’s second-degree murder convictions over an involuntary confession. Nashville News: Front Street in downtown Memphis stayed closed between Jefferson and Poplar after a water main break.

Live Theater: South Baldwin Community Theatre is staging an original Vietnam-era family drama, “Livin’ and Comin’ Back,” running June 5–14 in Gulf Shores. Arena Music: Kehlani announces THE KEHLANI WORLD TOUR: EU & UK, with arena dates across Europe and UK stops at The O2 (London) and Co-op Live (Manchester), plus support from Odeal and WASEEL. Pop-Punk Tour News: Good Charlotte and Yellowcard team up for a big EU/UK run, with Yellowcard also continuing its “Up Up Down Down Tour” in the U.S. Memorial Day Community Events: West Township’s Memorial Day service at Moultrie Chapel features local performances and a student Gettysburg Address recitation. Local Arts & Culture: Hartsville’s historic train depot restoration gets an Open House fundraiser May 31 with music, food trucks, and artisan booths. Memphis Music/Crime Court Update: A judge orders Pooh Shiesty’s father released from custody in a case tied to the alleged kidnapping/robbery of Gucci Mane. Sports Spotlight (Tennessee): Tennessee opens the Women’s College World Series with a 6-3 win over Texas, with Elsa Morrison and Sage Mardjetko starring in the early-round momentum.

Music Spotlight: Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop is set to open June 24 in Cornersville, bringing a Dolly-themed general store, café/restaurant, stage entertainment, and a “Doggy Parton” dog park. Live Music & Tours: Gracie Abrams announced her “Look at My Life Tour,” with a Nashville stop and a full North America run starting December 2026, plus Europe dates. Pop Culture & Film: “The Breadwinner” review calls out heavy product placement and a tired “Mr. Mom”-style premise. Sports (Local Pride): Tennessee softball stunned defending champ Texas 6-3 in the WCWS opener, setting up a winner’s bracket matchup vs Texas Tech. Tech/Community: Totem Compass hit 4% adoption at EDC Las Vegas, helping festivalgoers connect when phones fail. Health & Safety (Chattanooga): YMCA summer meal program coverage and an Erlanger Summer Outreach Safety Fest highlight community support and kid-focused safety events.

Women’s College World Series: Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens is driving the Lady Vols’ run, with a 1.53 ERA and 180 strikeouts as UT opens WCWS play May 28 vs. Texas in Oklahoma City. Country Music Spotlight: Hannah Harper, fresh off winning “American Idol,” will open for Lauren Alaina on select Stages Tour dates this fall, with a Nashville stop kicking off CMA Fest weekend. Nashville Live Music: Luke Combs joined Alex Warren at Bridgestone Arena for a live “Ordinary” duet, plus Warren debuted two unreleased tracks (“Passenger” and “Same Stars”). Big Country Tour News: The Chicks announced their “Taking the Long Way” 20th anniversary tour, performing the album in full and adding Nashville to the run. Alan Jackson Finale: George Strait and Lainey Wilson are set to join Jackson’s Nashville “Last Call” finale concert June 27 at Nissan Stadium. Local Festival Calendar: John Prine Folk Festival lands June 19-20 at Ozark Folk Center State Park.