Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 1 October 2025
NEWS
Nashville singer/songwriter Brett James, 57, died September 18 when his Cirrus SR22T went down in a field in Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. His wife, Melody Carole, and stepdaughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson, 28, also died in the crash. There were no survivors, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement. Flight records showed that Brett James Cornelius owned the plane that departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. According to Country Now, Brett was born in 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. He dropped out of college, where he was studying medicine, to pursue a career in music. Signed under Arista Nashville’s Career Records as a solo artist, he released his debut album in 1995. His most famous songwriting hit is Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” He also wrote Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down,” Dierks Bentley’s “I Hold On,” and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights.”
The last member of Buddy Holly and The Crickets is gone. Sonny Curtis, 88, died September 19 in Tennessee. Born in 1937 in Meadow, Texas, he played and recorded with Buddy Holly before they became Buddy Holly & The Crickets. He then toured more than 50 years with The Crickets following Buddy’s death in 1959. He wrote “Walk Right Back” (The Everly Brothers), “I Fought the Law” (The Bobby Fuller Four), “Love Is All Around” (the theme song he wrote and recorded for the Mary Tyler Moore Show), and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” (Keith Whitley).
When Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrated its new Night Flight Expedition ride attraction on September 17, Dolly Parton, 79, was not there. She appeared on video to explain how a health issue kept her from attending. “Hello Dollywood! It’s me. I know — and I’m here, and you’re there. And you’re wondering why that is? Well, I had a little problem,” PEOPLE reports her as saying in the video. “I had a kidney stone that was causing me a lot of problems, turned out it’d given me an infection, and the doctor said, ‘You don’t need to be traveling right this minute, you need a few days to get better.’ He suggested I not go to Dollywood today, but I’m there with you in spirit.”
On September 29, Dolly Parton announced on Instagram that she is postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency until September 2026. Her six Live In Las Vegas shows at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace were scheduled for this December. She’s been dealing with some health issues, and her doctors told her she “must have a few procedures.” She jokes that “it must be time for my 100,000-mile check-up, although it’s not the usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.” She explains that she won’t be able to rehearse and put together the show her fans want and deserve to see. She will continue working on projects in Nashville while taking time to get the show ready. “And don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet.” She thinks He’s telling her to slow down for a while.
Steve Earle was formally inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, reports MusicRow. Fellow Opry member Emmylou Harris inducted him, saying, “Steve is my captain. We have done so many shows together. He has been my friend. He has been an inspiration. . .. I can’t think of a better way to begin the next 100 years than with these words, ‘Steve Earle, congratulations on becoming the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.” Steve sang his hits “Guitar Town,” “Hillbilly Highway,” and “Copperhead Road.” He said, “There has never been any time since I had a guitar that I didn’t want to be on the Grand Ole Opry. Being a member is about as good as it’s ever going to get for me.” Other Opry members on the show were Vince Gill, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Don Schlitz, and Deana Carter. Vince had surprised Steve in April with the Opry invitation. He was the first artist invited to join the Opry in the Opry’s 100th year.
The Music of My Life: An All-Star Tribute to Anne Murray is coming to the Opry House on October 27, reports The Music Universe. The tribute to Anne Murray includes Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, K.D. Lang, Kathy Mattea, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Shenandoah, The Gatlin Brothers (Larry, Steve & Rudy), Collin Raye, Victoria Shaw, and many more to be announced. Brenda Lee and Randy Travis will be there. In a career that spanned half a century, Anne sold over 55 million albums worldwide and surpassed one billion global streams. She toured the USA for over 40 years and performed across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Pacific Rim, and her home country of Canada. My favorite of her songs is “Could I Have This Dance,” which appeared on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack.
Guitarist William Bagby announced September 29 on Facebook that he is now playing guitar for Zach Top: “Tonight we’ll be playing our second sold-out show at Red Rocks. I’m tickled to death to be a part of what I feel like is the return of country music, playing behind one of the greatest country singers alive today.” He says, “After four great years with the Randy Travis band, I was given an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down.” William has been touring with Randy’s band on the More Life series, filling the slot of Randy’s long-time lead guitarist, L D Wayne. He will now experience with Zach the excitement Randy’s original band members lived through forty years ago.
Brennan Kelly of Whiskey Riff reviewed that second performance at the Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, by saying, “As we inch closer to the end of the year, it’s becoming increasingly clear that 2025 will go down as the year of Zach Top. . .. As we all know by now, Top has quickly become the king of covering classic country songs over the past few years. From his rendition of Keith Whitley’s ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ and George Strait’s ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ to Billy Currington’s ‘Good Directions’ and Shenandoah’s ‘Two Dozen Roses,’ he’s proved time and time again that he can cover just about everything. The highlight of last night came from another classic cover — none other than Conway Twitty’s ‘Slow Hand.’ Though I wouldn’t say Top’s performance last night surpasses Twitty’s rendition, it comes pretty damn close. It’s simply that good.”
Music Row reports that Zach Top will bring his Cold Beer & Country Music Tour overseas next year, beginning on February 21 in Zurich, followed by headline dates in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo. He will then headline the C2C Festival. He is currently on the U.S leg of the tour, through February 5, with performances in Seattle, Las Vegas, Louisville, Charleston, Vancouver and more.
TMZ reports that Keith Urban, 57, and Nicole Kidman, 58, have separated. They have been living apart since the beginning of summer. Sources say Keith acquired his own residence in Nashville and moved out of their family home in Nashville. Nicole did not want the separation and has been trying to save the marriage. She is taking care of their two daughters, ages 14 and 17. The couple married in 2006 and has lived in Nashville since 2007.
Breaking news: PEOPLE reports that Nicole filed for divorce on September 30 in Nashville, just one day after TMZ broke the news that the couple had separated after 19 years of marriage. She listed their date of separation as the date of filing and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Due to overwhelming demand, Kenny Chesney, 57, has added five stops (Philadelphia, Bergen NJ, Beverly Hills, Key West, and Tampa) to his Heart Life Music book tour. According to Country Now, those in attendance at Heart Life Music: The Book Tour will listen to a conversation between Kenny and co-author Holly Gleason. They will talk about his music journey, legends who inspired him, his love of sports, and the ocean he fell for long before he ever picked up a guitar.
Richard Sterban, 82, shared a health update on September 25 on the Oak Ridge Boys’ website: “In March of this year, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. But I am under the care of the best cancer doctors in the country and, with the help of the Good Lord above, I believe I will be able to get through this.” The Oak Ridge Boys plan to schedule performances in 2026. Ben James has replaced Joe Bonsall, who died in July 2024 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) complications at age 76.
The crown for the highest ticketed concert in U.S. history no longer belongs to George Strait, reports Taste of Country. On September 27, Zach Bryan played to a crowd of 112,408 fans at Michigan Stadium (the largest stadium in the U.S. and third largest in the world) and surpassed George’s 2024 Kyle Field performance by 1,500 tickets. Four of the top drawing concerts have been by country singers:
#1 Zach Bryan – 112,408 – 9/27/2025 – Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan
#2 George Strait – 110,905 – 9/15/2024 – Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
#3 Grateful Dead – 107,019 – 9/3/1977 -Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey
#4 George Strait – 104,793 – 6/7/2014 – AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
#5 Garth Brooks – 102,000 – 4/3/2022 Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Rod Stewart’s 1994 show in Rio still holds the record for the largest concert ever, with 3.5 million people in attendance — but it didn’t require a ticket.
LETTERS
Bobby Fischer in Nashville reminisces, “Fun stuff looking at the autographs on my guitar. 265 great names. I asked some, have fun with your hit titles. Dickey Lee put, ‘Bobby, do you think I steal cars?’ Richard Leigh: ‘Bobby you never made my brown eyes blue.’ Dewayne Blackwell: ‘I got pains in low places.’ And my pal Sonny Curtis just passed away, we’ll miss him. He put ‘I’m no stranger to Lorain.’”
Carol Grace Anderson writes, “Happy belated birthday. Another informative newsletter. So sad about Chris Gage. We were in Roy’s band together for years. What a phenomenal talent.”
Jackie Allen Thomas in Arizona says, “Great newsletter as usual. Thanks for Remembering Marty Robbins. We have a group that meets monthly, REMAR Remembering Marty Robbins, since this is where he was born and reared. It’s an open mic and musicians sing some Marty songs. But other songs are also welcome. We want to keep his memory alive and happy that you do that also. Thank you and please keep this great newsletter coming to us!!!”
Dave Barton writes from Barefoot Bay, Florida, “Hey! Captain ………good newsletter. I don’t know how you find the time to write and research all this stuff. And you do it for free! Thanks for keeping me somewhat up to date on what’s happening in the music business. Since I have retired and moved to Florida with all the Sown Birds, I’m a little out of touch.”
Doug Lippert writes from Carmel, Indiana, “So great to learn that ET’s record shop will soon be open again. Loads of history from that late-night/early morning stage.”
Martha Moore of so much MOORE media in Nashville announces, “Nashville-based LuckySky Music celebrates its third #1 with artist/songwriter Tori Martin in Arlington, TX. Martin’s ‘Cowgirls Ride,’ produced by Bill Warner and written by Bill Diluigi, Kirsti Manna, and Martin, has topped the Texas Regional Radio Report (TRRR). The ‘Cowgirls Ride’ music video, which features an all-female cast of real cowgirls (Escaramuza Riders, cutters and barrel racers), has just been released. Billy Jam recording artist Alex Miller kicked off his new single, ‘Secondhand Smoke’ (written by Alan Jackson and Jim McBride), with an in-studio appearance in Lexington, Kentucky, on FOX56’s morning show Live From Chevy Chase.”
Ron Wood says, “I see mention of pedal steel guitar in your latest Music Newsletter. Great to see that instrument receiving more recognition. I own and play pedal steel just for my own satisfaction. Have never played it to back a singer. I would like to see it get more recognition in church music. Jeff Newman (bless his soul) did some in a booklet called A Gospel Steel Guitar Course which included an LP. Newman was a great teacher (as well as a great player) and I attended some of his Steel Seminars. Mary Mitchell mentioned she has CDs converted from LPs. I plan to ask if she has a list. I have LPs (about 190) and rarely listen to them anymore. Too much work for an 80s age guy. Thanks for a continuing knowledgeable newsletter.”
Gary Busselman in Sioux Falls says, “Thanks for the newsletter. I sometimes have the radio on in my shop, and I noticed that 540 AM KWMT from Fort Dodge, Iowa, plays some older country music and a few newer artists. About 2000 I was listening and I heard a sound that stopped my work. It was Justin Trevino singing ‘Waltz of the Wind’ written by Fred Rose. I kept listening and they played it every day. I needed more from Justin and I bought the CD Travlin’ Singin’ Man. Justin played in Johnny Bush’s band and now lives in Brady, Texas, is very active recording and doing live shows. He’s been on several episodes of Country Family Reunion and produces other artists from a studio in Brady. I count 16 of his albums in my collection. Justin is a current traditional country music artist using pedal steel, twin fiddles, and a walking bass. So thanks to KWMT in Fort Dodge, Iowa for playing Justin 25 years ago and introducing us.”
Diane: Justin is one of my favorites, too. He is also a longtime reader of this newsletter. I spotlighted him in 2018: https://dianediekman.com/dianes-country-music-newsletter-28-november-2018/
SOUTH DAKOTA FESTIVAL OF BOOKS Me and daughter Amanda at the South Dakota Festival of Books in Spearfish, South Dakota, this past weekend. Next year the festival will be in Brookings, and I hope to be a presenter instead of a vendor.
