Hear country music’s biggest songs and the stories behind them at DAYTIME hit songwriters show - BACKSTAGE NASHVILLE! 

Featuring:

Mark D. Sanders
- “I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack)

- "Heads Carolina, Tails California" (Jo Dee Messina) 

- "She Had Me At Heads Carolina" (Cole Swindell)

- "Mirror, Mirror" (Diamond Rio)

- “Blue Clear Sky" (George Strait)

- "It Matters To Me" (Faith Hill)

- "Runnin' Behind" (Tracy Lawrence)

- "Daddy's Money" (Lonestar)

- "Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy" (Chris LeDoux)

- "There You Are" (Martina McBride)

- "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing" (Trace Adkins)

- "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" (Reba McEntire)

- "Money In The Bank" (John Anderson)

- "That'd Be Alright" (Alan Jackson)

- "Vidalia" (Sammy Kershaw)

- "They're Playin' Our Song" (Neal McCoy)

- "I'd Rather Ride Around With You" (Reba McEntire)

- "Don't Get Me Started" (Rhett Akins)

Marv Green

- "Amazed" (Lonestar)

- "It Just Comes Natural" (George Strait)

- "Proud of the House We Built" (Brooks & Dunn)

- "Let's Make Love" (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill)

- "True" (George Strait)

- "Creepin'" (Eric Church)

- "Wasted" (Carrie Underwood)

- "I Called Mama" (Tim McGraw)

- "Who I Am With You" (Chris Young)

- "Love Done Gone" (Billy Currington)

- "Farmer's Daughter" (Rodney Atkins)

- "Consider Me Gone" (Reba)

RAY STEPHENSON

- “Hemingway’s Whiskey” (Kenny Chesney, Kris Kristofferson & Guy Clark)
- “Red River Blue” (Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert)
- “Willie’s Guitar” (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard & John Anderson)
- “Honkytonk Road” (Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers, Cody Canada, Sean McConnell & Walt Wilkins)
- “Magdalene” (Guy Clark, Joe Ely and Kevin Welch)
- “Heroes” (Guy Clark)
- “Leanin’ On A Lonesome Song” (Gord Bamford)
 

BACKSTAGE NASHVILLE DISCOVERY ARTIST: SJ MCDONALD

BACKSTAGE NASHVILLE PRE-SHOW FEATURING: GLORIA ANDERSON (beginning at 12:15 PM)

SPECIAL GUEST HOST: PEYTON KENNEDY

You can purchase tickets at this link!

midsxmmr is the project of 20 year-old Ethan Hedgecock, a Belmont University music business major from a small town in Oregon. Blending indie, alt-rock, post-punk, and hyperpop, midsxmmr creates a raw, and emotional feel in his music which is inspired by artists like glaive, aldn & thxsomch. Each song is a reflection of his intensity, offering listeners a place to connect, escape, and feel understood.

The show 18+ and doors open at 8:30pm

The show starts at 9:00pm

The End Presents Your Biggest Fans:

Emo four piece from Nashville “Your Biggest Fans” writes undeniably boppable bangers.

Creek Beagle: Creek Beagle is an alternative rock trio active in Nashville, TN.

Too Far Forward: Just a little rock band.

Super Puller: 3 Piece Rock Band

If you purchase the tickets in advance: $12.00

If you purchase at the door: $15.00

The Event is ages 18+

Ella Maddux – At just 20 years old, Ella Maddux brings a timeless charm to modern pop, blending jazz-infused melodies with witty, colorful lyrics that perfectly capture her playful spirit. Originally from Southern California and now based in Nashville, Ella is currently crafting her debut project—poised to make her mark as one of 2026’s most exciting new singer-songwriter talents.

Rachel Rivelle unveils The Catalyst—a debut EP where grace meets fury, born from heartbreak and steeped in shadowed opulence. Written entirely by the California native, this collection of songs feels like leafing through a weathered diary in an abandoned estate—haunted, elegant, aristocratic—each song heavy with secrets, weighted with heartache describing a past love that refused to die quietly.

The event is ages 21+, and tickets are $10 at the door.

TennesseeDead is a Nashville-based Grateful Dead cover band performing at the Exit/in on February 28th. The doors open at 6:00pm, and their opening act, Tennessee Woodpile is on at 7:00pm. The event is ages 18+ and up, and the tickets can be purchased at this link.

Music has never felt so much like home. Mario Williams perfectly encapsulates that hometown feeling, with all of its joys and woes, and translates it into country melodies and rhythms that carry a contagious case of homesickness.

Mario Williams, a Pittsburgh native, has been creating music for the past two years. Now in Nashville, Tennessee, Mario has recorded and released three singles with the most popular release being “Nosedive”, which has amassed over 10,000 streams. Drawing from artists like Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, and Glenn Campbell, Mario seeks to revive a country sound that is truly for everyone to enjoy. Williams brings a hot fire and cool charm to the stage, which infects audiences and turns any space into a dance floor. For Mario, making music is not about pursuing a dream of grandeur, it's about sharing experiences from his life and creating lasting memories with those who enjoy his stories

Join him on February 26th at Hop Springs. Doors open at 6:30, and the show begins at 7:00pm. The event is all ages and you can purchase tickets at this link.

LIE from Southeast Houston visits Nashville on Feb 19th, alongside Headtrip and Caught Lackin’. LIE has been tearing up the road, and this stop in Nashville is one you shouldn’t miss.

The doors open at 7:00pm, and the show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets are $12 when purchased online, and $16 at the door. The show is 18+.

Nashville-based artist Caleb Hearn crafts indie folk-pop that reflects both personal evolution and the courage to move forward. Blending bright, uplifting melodies with unguarded lyricism, his music resonates like a cinematic snapshot of growth, vulnerability, and hope. Since debuting in 2019, the Mount Airy, North Carolina native has built a devoted audience drawn to his open-hearted storytelling, amassing nearly 1 billion global streams (driven by his 2024 viral hit “Little Bit Better” with ROSIE). In September 2024, Hearn released his debut album Left on McKinney and received praise from outlets such as Atwood Magazine, EUPHORIA., Sweety High, and garnered Spotify editorial support with New Music Friday, Pop Rising, New Pop Picks, Fresh & Chill, Folk Pop, Chill Pop, and more.

Hearn’s sophomore album, LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, out February 20, 2026 via Nettwerk, is a 13-track coming-of-age album capturing Hearn’s evolution at 25—a moment defined by growth, clarity, and learning to release the past. Written over the past year during a retreat in Gatlinburg, TN with co-producers Colin Foote & Alex Borel (Dean Lewis, Matt Hansen) and Ruslan Odnoralov (The Chainsmokers, Charlotte Sands), and completed through sessions in Nashville and Los Angeles, the album marks his most vulnerable and sonically adventurous work yet, incorporating organic textures and vintage tape recordings.

The event is ages 18+, and the doors open at 7:00pm. Tickets are $15 online at this link.

Savio Productions presents the Rusty Nail held at the Get Up. Savio productions is owned and operated by jesse Savio. Jesse Savio is a Nashville based Producer, Mix Engineer, Musician, and Songwriter. After a decade of experience as a touring musician, Jesse decided to set up shop in Nashville Tennessee to help local artist create, produce, mix, and master a series of projects ranging across multiple genres. The event is hosting 16 artists, has free parking and free admission. The event is 21+.

Hunt Pearson is a singer/songwriter based out of Nashville, TN. he is performing at the Nashville Palace, and the event is free to the public. Hunt Pearson takes the stage at 4:00pm, and the front room is all ages allowed, but the back room is 21+.

Gracie is a pop artist, singer, songwriter, and vocal coach living in Nashville, TN. When she’s not fervently chasing her dreams of writing music that can impact the world, singing her heart out, or teaching people how to sing from their souls, she can be found reading self development books, practicing yoga, and hanging out with her dog. She is performing at the Exit/In on February 15th, hosting a Galentine’s Day celebration. Doors open at 6:00pm, and the show starts at 7:00pm. Tickets online are $18, and tickets at the door are $23.

Grab tix at the link below!

https://www.ticketweb.com/event/marrying-myself-female-exitin-tickets/14115504?REFID=clientsitewp

Over the years, The East Room has cultivated a reputation as a DIY hub and proving ground for creatives—giving space to comedians, musicians, and organizers to experiment and build audiences outside mainstream circuits. It has played a significant role in Nashville’s cultural growth, especially in East Nashville’s arts ecosystem. Sarah Lightman will be joined by friends on stage to celebrate the one year anniversary of her single “Baby I Love You”.

Doors open at 7:30 and the event starts at 8:00pm. The event is age 18+. You can purchase tickets here.

Kylie Morgan has quickly proven herself to be a relatable storyteller and an engaging live performer. The Oklahoma native is known for baring her soul in her confessional lyrics and leaving her heart on the stage. At 14, she began touring full-time and hasn’t slowed down, checking off bucket-list appearances including her Grand Ole Opry debut and a successful first-ever headlining tour. She performed at Nissan Stadium for CMA Fest, has taken the stage at major festivals, and is currently on the road with Old Dominion for her first arena trek on the band’s No Bad Vibes Tour. The CMT Music Awards-nominated “If He Wanted To He Would” hit country radio’s Top 40 and helped set the stage for Kylie’s new album Making It Up As I Go (available 10/13). The EMI Records Nashville recording artist wrote or co-wrote each of the project’s 12 tracks – authentic, reflective, and empowering. Resonating with fans, Kylie’s music has amassed nearly 400 million streams. Kylie aims for listeners to see themselves within the songs on Making It Up As I Go. In turn, she hopes they can find the words they may not know how to say through her music.

Doors open at 7:00pm and the show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets online are $25 and the event is age 18+ and up.

Inglewood Lounge is a cozy, neighborhood cocktail bar and lounge on 3914 Gallatin Pike in Nashville’s Inglewood area that’s been a local favorite. It blends a relaxed, intimate vibe with creative drinks and quality bar food, making it a popular spot away from the more tourist-centered Broadway scene. The cocktail bar hosts weekly live music writers’ rounds, with one on Tuesday— featuring Heather Mae, Ancestral Tongue, Jordie Lane, and Kristina Murray.

There is no entry fee.

Cam Newby:

Cam was born in Oklahoma City and raised on Keith Whitley. When he turned 18, he grabbed his guitar and his passion for storytelling, and headed to Nashville. In 2023, he signed a joint-venture publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music Publishing and the Magnolia Sky Music Group. With a handful of cuts under his belt, and more on the way, Cam is looking to make an impact in country music for years to come.

Ray Fulcher:

Ray Fulcher was born & raised in the small town of Harlem, Georgia and grew up on many of country music’s best songwriters & storytellers. Some of his biggest influences were Alan Jackson, Keith Whitley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Church & George Strait. Inspired to go out and buy a guitar after seeing Eric Church In concert at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, Georgia when he was 21 years old Ray finished school at the University Of Georgia & moved to Nashville to chase the dream of writing songs & being an artist himself.

Today he is one of music city’s most in demand songwriters having co-written two number 1 singles with Luke Combs. The triple platinum “When It Rains It Pours” & 5 week number 1 single “Even Though I’m Leaving” are just two of his 16 cuts on Luke’s debut & follow up releases.

Ray’s most recent EP he released as an artist, “Somebody Like Me” has amassed over 16 million streams since its release in the summer of 2019 & features the single “Anything Like You Dance”. Ray has toured with Morgan Wallen, Chris Janson, Matt Stell & many more & will be on Luke Combs’ “What You See Is What You Get” Fall Tour which will include a two night stand at New York City’s legendary Madison Square Garden.

Ray signed a worldwide publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing/River House Artists in the fall of 2019.

Avery Roberson:

Avery Roberson is a rising country singer-songwriter from Rutherfordton, North Carolina. He first gained national recognition as a contestant on Season 20 of NBC’s The Voice, where his blind audition earned him a four-chair turn and a spot on Team Blake. He is now living in Nashville Tennessee to pursue his dream in country music.

Purchase tickets at this link.

J Dilla Day is being hosted by Alternative Music creator BBOY ZERO. The event will be held at the National Museum of African American Music. The event will feature music from five different artists displaying their hip hop music. The styles of music will range from producers to DJs, The event is meant to cheer up the Nashville Area after the ice storm that caused power outages across the city. The event is free entry and free parking (validation inside) on Saturday, February 7th, 2026.

3 Ring Circus Music is an independently owned and operated music publishing company established by Hall of Fame Songwriter and Producer Jeffrey Steele. With offices based in Nashville, TN we are at the heart of the industry.  We are focused on embracing the creativity and unique talents our writers and artists bring to the table. We are dedicated to finding, creating and sharing stellar music worldwide. Live music will start at the Omni Hotel, featuring songs and stories from barlines on February 4th, 2026.