An A-list group of artists—including Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Brad Paisley and more—have been tapped to record songs curated from Johnny Cash’s poetry, lyrics and letters.
The new 16-song album, Johnny Cash: Forever Words, will be released on April 6.
When Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash died in 2003, they left behind what son John Carter Cash described as a “monstrous amassment” of things, including Johnny Cash’s handwritten letters, poems and documents.
Over the past two years, album producers John Carter Cash and Steve Berkowitz invited a stellar cast of musicians to create new music to accompany these newly discovered writings. Artists featured on the new album included Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Ruston Kelly, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley, Chris Cornell, Alison Krauss and Union Station, T. Bone Burnett, Rosanne Cash, John Mellencamp, Jewel, Elvis Costello, Carlene Carter, Daily and Vincent, I’m With Her, Robert Glasper, Ro James, Anu Sun, The Jayhawks and Jamey Johnson.
“Determining the artist for each song was truly a matter of the heart,” said John Carter Cash. “I picked the artists who are most connected with my father, who had a personal story that was connected with Dad. It became an exciting endeavor to go through these works, to put them together and present them to different people who could finish them in a way that I believed that Dad would have wanted.”
A couple of the album’s highlights include “Forever/I Still Miss Someone,” which features Kris Kristofferson reciting the last poem Johnny ever wrote alongside guitar accompaniment from Willie Nelson, as well as “To June This Morning,” a letter Johnny wrote to his wife that was interpreted by real-life couple Ruston Kelly and Kacey Musgraves.
Watch the Johnny Cash: Forever Words trailer below.
Johnny Cash: Forever Words Track List & Artists
“Forever/I Still Miss Someone” – Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson
“To June This Morning” – Ruston Kelly and Kacey Musgraves
“Gold All Over the Ground” – Brad Paisley
“You Never Knew My Mind” – Chris Cornell
“The Captain’s Daughter” – Alison Krauss and Union Station
“Jellico Coal Man” – T. Bone Burnett
“The Walking Wounded” – Rosanne Cash
“Them Double Blues” – John Mellencamp
“Body on Body” – Jewel
“I’ll Still Love You” – Elvis Costello
“June’s Sundown” – Carlene Carter
“He Bore It All” – Daily and Vincent
“Chinky Pin Hill” – I’m With Her
“Goin’, Goin’, Gone” – Robert Glasper featuring Ro James, and Anu Sun
For the first time in more than 13 years, legendary troubadour John Prine will release an album of new material—The Tree of Forgiveness—on April 13.
Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, The Tree of Forgiveness features 10 new songs that were penned or co-penned by John. Other contributing songwriters include Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector.
The album features special guests Brandi Carlile (harmony vocals on tracks 2, 4 and 10), Jason Isbell (electric guitar on track 7, slide guitar and background vocals on tracks 9 and 10) and Amanda Shires (fiddle and background vocals on track 9, background vocals on track 10).
Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) helmed the project.
Today (Feb. 8), John released the lyric video to his new song, “Summer’s End,” which you can watch below.
The Tree of Forgiveness Track List & Songwriters
“Knockin’ On Your Screen Door” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
“I Have Met My Love Today” ft. Brandi Carlile (by John Prine and Roger Cook)
“Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
“Summer’s End” (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
“Caravan of Fools” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, and Pat McLaughlin)
“The Lonesome Friends of Science” (by John Prine)
“No Ordinary Blue” (by John Prine and Keith Sykes)
“Boundless Love” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, and Pat McLaughlin)
Dierks Bentley is embracing his Arizona roots with the launch of his new clothing line, Desert Son.
Dierks partnered with Flag & Anthem to create the new lifestyle collection that features vintage-washed tees, raglans, hoodies and hats.
“This has been such a fun thing to create and develop,” says Dierks. “I love clothes that are perfectly worn-in like you’ve had them a lifetime, but can also take the wear and tear that comes from an active lifestyle. I’ve learned over the last few months that there’s a real art to getting that just right. The Flag & Anthem guys have been doing it at the highest level and have helped me put together a collection that I think is totally authentic to me and one that hopefully people all over the country will dig too.”
Desert Son is now available at retailers Buckle, Von Maur, Dillard’s and online.
Big Machine Label Group hosted a lunch at Nashville’s Omni Hotel on Feb. 7 as part of Country Radio Seminar.
During the showcase, attendees were treated to performances by a bevy of artists in BMLG’s stable, including Sugarland, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Drake White, Trent Harmon and Tyler Rich.
Thomas Rhett opened the show by performing his Top 10 hit, “Marry Me,” before Drake White performed a trio of tunes, including “Livin’ the Dream.”
Tyler Rich debuted two new tracks, “Adrenaline” and “The Difference,” while Brett Young treated the industry insiders in attendance to a couple of his No. 1 hits, “Sleep Without You” and “In Case You Didn’t Know.”
Former American Idol winner Trent Harmon previewed his new single, “You Got ’Em All,” and Sugarland belted out a number of their past fan-favorites, including “Something More,” “Stuck Like Glue” and “Baby Girl.”
Take a look at the performance photos below, courtesy of Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.
Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt held his National Signing Day 2018 press conference Wednesday afternoon. He talked about the class overall, shared his thoughts on all 20 players in the class and answered questions.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee football program welcomed six more Vols on National Signing Day to increase its 2018 signing class to 20 newcomers.
“We’re excited about the 20 young men that we’ve added to this class,” Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt said at Wednesday afternoon’s press conference. “These guys are going to lay the foundation for the next four to five years. These are the guys that wanted to be a part of what we’re trying to get done, and we’re excited to have them.”
The 2018 class features players from Tennessee (nine), Georgia (four), California (three), Florida, South Carolina, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
Pruitt and his staff signed 14 recruits, including seven early enrollees, during the Early Signing Period in December.
Pruitt and his assistant coaches will discuss each of the 20 signees at Wednesday night’s 2018 Tennessee Football Signing Day Celebration presented by First Tennessee Bank at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with a live stream HERE.
Here are the six Vols who signed on National Signing Day:
Trevon Flowers
Freshman, DB, 6-1, 185
Tucker, Ga. / Tucker HS
Composite Ranking: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 84 S
State Rank: No. 100 in GA
247 Sports: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 58 S
State Rank: No. 72 in GA
Rivals: 3-star
High School
Originally committed to play college baseball at the University of Kentucky
Took a three-year break from high school football to focus on baseball but played his fall 2017 senior season of football, starring at free safety for Tucker High School
Helped lead the Tigers to a 12-2 overall record and the Georgia Class 6A State semifinals as a senior in 2017
Three-sport star who also played basketball, earning GACA Class 6A North All-State honors for the 2016-17 season
Chose Tennessee over several Power 5 offers, including Clemson and Kentucky
Kurott Garland
Freshman, DL, 6-3, 250
Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS
247 Sports: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 42 SDE
State Rank: No. 101 in GA
High School
2017 AJC Class 6A Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Lineman
2017 GSWA Class 6A Second Team All-State Defensive Lineman
Played in 12 games for Heritage High School and made 125 tackles, including 82 solo. He sacked opposing quarterbacks 12.5 times, caused one fumble and caught one interception
Led Heritage High School to the second round of the state playoffs
National Rank: No. 17
Position Rank: No. 7 DT
State Rank: No. 4 in TN
ESPN: 4-star
National Rank: No. 37
Position Rank: No. 9 DT
247 Sports: 3-star
National Rank: No. 36
Position Rank: No. 10 DT
State Rank: No. 5 in TN
Rivals: 4-star
National Rank: No. 14
JUCO
2017 NJCAA Second Team All-American
2017 Stats: 81 tackles, 6.5 TFL, one sack
2016 Stats: 55 tackles, 13.5 TFL, four sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
Helped Independence C.C. finish the 2017 season ranked No. 5 nationally after finishing the year with a 9-2 overall record
Helped lead Independence C.C. to the Kansas Jayhawk Conference league title and its first-ever bowl victory with a 30-20 win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the 2017 Midwest Bowl Classic
High School
Was a three-year starter at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee
Career High School Stats (MaxPreps): 29 GP, 213 tackles, 81.0 TFL, 24.5 sacks
Named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Class 4A Lineman award winner as a senior in 2015
Named 2015 All-West Tennessee Lineman of the Year
2015 TSWA Class 4A All-State selection
John Mincey
Freshman, DL, 6-4, 255
Homerville, Ga. / Clinch County HS
Composite Ranking: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 38 SDE
State Rank: No. 79 in GA
ESPN: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 69 DT
State Rank: No. 87 in GA
247 Sports: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 39 SDE
State Rank: No. 92 in GA
Rivals: 3-star
Position Rank: No. 40 SDE
State Rank: No. 68 in GA
High School
Named to Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) Class A (Public) All-State team in 2017
Named to Georgia Sports Writer’s Association (GSWA) Class A (Public) All-State first-team defense in 2017
Collected Defensive Player of the Year honors from Region 2-A
Helped lead Clinch County to a 12-2 record and the GHSA Class A-Public State Championship in 2017, the program’s seventh state title
Also played basketball for Clinch County
ESPN scouting report described Mincey as flashing “strong point of attack skills with ability to fire out, uncoil and shoot hands and use his reach to press blockers”
Held numerous Power Five offers and chose Tennessee over Arkansas, South Carolina and Auburn among several others
JJ Peterson
Freshman, LB, 6-2, 231
Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County HS
Composite Ranking: 4-star
National Rank: No. 48
Position Rank: No. 3 OLB
State Rank: No. 7 in GA
ESPN: 4-star
National Rank: No. 44
Position Rank: No. 1 OLB
State Rank: No. 7 in GA
247 Sports: 4-star
National Rank: No. 74
Position Rank: No. 8 OLB
State Rank: No. 8 in GA
Rivals: 4-star
National Rank: No. 71
Position Rank: No. 5 OLB
State Rank: No. 9 in GA
High School
Selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
Competed at the Nike The Opening Finals
Named to the All-USA Georgia First Team by USA Today
Named to Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) Class 7A All-State first team as a senior in 2017
Named to Georgia Sports Writer’s Association (GSWA) Class 7A All-State second-team defense in 2017
Was an GSWA Class 7A All-State Honorable Mention as a junior in 2016
Led Colquitt County High School to the GHSA Class 7A state championship game in 2017
Totaled 199 tackles (28 TFLs) and 14.5 sacks in three seasons at Colquitt County
Had a career-year in 2017, making 110 tackles, including 19 TFLs and five sacks, while forcing one fumble and recovering three loose balls
During his junior campaign, he totaled 59 tackles and 6.5 sacks
Made 30 tackles as a sophomore, including four TFLs and three sacks
Selected Tennessee over offers from several schools, including Alabama, Auburn and Florida
Helped lead Bishop Gorman to its third straight USA Today High School Football National Championship in 2016 after posting a 15-0 record and extending the school’s win streak to 54 games
Helped lead Bishop Gorman to a pair of Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Class 4A State titles in 2016 and 2017
Earned second-team NIAA All-State honors as a senior in 2017
Earned first-team All-Southwest League honors as a senior in 2017
Josh Ward’s take: Gooden is a former Tennessee commit who went the junior college route to improve his academics. Gooden, whose uncle Tyrone Hines played linebacker at Tennessee, should help fill a very big need on Tennessee’s defensive line. The Vols need help right away.
Composite Ranking:
National Rank: No. 17
Position Rank: No. 7 DT
State Rank: No. 4 in TN
ESPN:
National Rank: No. 37
Position Rank: No. 9 DT
247 Sports:
National Rank: No. 36
Position Rank: No. 10 DT
State Rank: No. 5 in TN
Rivals:
National Rank: No. 14
JUCO
2017 NJCAA Second Team All-American
2017 Stats: 81 tackles, 6.5 TFL, one sack
2016 Stats: 55 tackles, 13.5 TFL, four sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
Helped Independence C.C. finish the 2017 season ranked No. 5 nationally after finishing the year with a 9-2 overall record
Helped lead Independence C.C. to the Kansas Jayhawk Conference league title and its first-ever bowl victory with a 30-20 win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the 2017 Midwest Bowl Classic
High School
Was a three-year starter at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee
Career High School Stats (MaxPreps): 29 GP, 213 tackles, 81.0 TFL, 24.5 sacks
Named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Class 4A Lineman award winner as a senior in 2015
Josh Ward’s take: Garland is another example of Tennessee’s new coaching staff evaluating as many players as possible after arriving in Knoville. Garland is an under-the-radar prospect who Tennessee’s coaching staff hopes can develop in the weight room and contribute in the future.
247 Sports:
Position Rank: No. 42 SDE
State Rank: No. 101 in GA
High School
2017 AJC Class 6A Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Lineman
2017 GSWA Class 6A Second Team All-State Defensive Lineman
Played in 12 games for Heritage High School and made 125 tackles, including 82 solo. He sacked opposing quarterbacks 12.5 times, caused one fumble and caught one interception
Led Heritage High School to the second round of the state playoffs
Josh Ward’s take: Peterson chose Tennessee over Alabama and Georgia and should play a major role in Jeremy Pruitt’s defense in the future. Peterson is an elite athlete and the type of player Tennessee will have to land in the future if Pruitt’s defense is going to become what he plans.
Composite Ranking:
National Rank: No. 48
Position Rank: No. 3 OLB
State Rank: No. 7 in GA
ESPN:
National Rank: No. 44
Position Rank: No. 1 OLB
State Rank: No. 7 in GA
247 Sports:
National Rank: No. 74
Position Rank: No. 8 OLB
State Rank: No. 8 in GA
Rivals:
National Rank: No. 71
Position Rank: No. 5 OLB
State Rank: No. 9 in GA
High School
Selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
Competed at the Nike The Opening Finals
Named to the All-USA Georgia First Team by USA Today
Named to Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) Class 7A All-State first team as a senior in 2017
Named to Georgia Sports Writer’s Association (GSWA) Class 7A All-State second-team defense in 2017
Was an GSWA Class 7A All-State Honorable Mention as a junior in 2016
Led Colquitt County High School to the GHSA Class 7A state championship game in 2017
Totaled 199 tackles (28 TFLs) and 14.5 sacks in three seasons at Colquitt County
Had a career-year in 2017, making 110 tackles, including 19 TFLs and five sacks, while forcing one fumble and recovering three loose balls
During his junior campaign, he totaled 59 tackles and 6.5 sacks
Made 30 tackles as a sophomore, including four TFLs and three sacks
Selected Tennessee over offers from several schools, including Alabama, Auburn and Florida
Johnny Cash: Forever Words Track List & Artists
The Tree of Forgiveness Track List & Songwriters
