CMT
John + Fiona Prine — Country Music’s Greatest Love Stories
John Prine had been married twice before he found his wife Fiona. The pair met in 1988, in Dublin, Ireland — far away from Nashville — and their relationship was a bit of an uphill battle at first, Fiona Prine admits.
“There were a lot of things stacked against us,” she told Rolling Stone in 2017. “He was on the road and had been through two marriages.”
“I was a high risk,” John Prine admitted to Men’s Journal in 2018. Nonetheless, for him, “it was love at first sight.”
An Irish actress introduced the pair, at a concert after-party at the Blooms Hotel. “Fiona said, ‘I saw you play when I was 17. When will I hear you next?'” Prine recounted. “And I said, ‘Right now,’ and walked up onstage with her and just started playing.”
At the time, Fiona was working in Dublin as a business manager for a recording studio, and despite those less-than-favorable odds, she and Prine kept in touch. She moved to Nashville in 1993, and in 1995, the couple welcomed their sons Tommy and Jack; they’re “Irish twins,” John Prine jokes, born 10 months apart. (Prine would also adopt Jody, Fiona’s son from a previous marriage.)
The Prines tied the knot in Nashville on April 6, 1996.
“It put my feet right on the ground. I didn’t know that I was missing that until I found it. All of a sudden I felt normal with a capital N,” John Prine said of his new marriage and family. “I didn’t realize it, but it was something that I was striving for after years and years of being a total daydreamer.”
Together, the Prines weathered the struggles that came with Prine’s music career and frequent traveling — and his two battles with cancer, first in 1998 and then in 2013. However, music is a family business, too: Fiona was her husband’s manager, and son Jody works for his record label, Oh Boy Records. In fact, it was Fiona who convinced Prine to record his 2016 album For Better or Worse, a project of collaborations with Miranda Lambert, Amanda Shires and other women.
“What you see with him is what you get,” Fiona Prine says of her husband. “What I saw when I met him is exactly what I got. He’s the real deal.”
The Zac Brown Band has released a jam-heavy version of “Baba O’Riley,” on all streaming platforms. The track is the newest single from the group’s first ever live covers album, From the Road, Vol. 1: Covers, out Nov. 10.
“Baba O’Riley” was recorded live in 2016 at Boston’s Fenway Park, which holds a special place in both the band’s heart and career. As Fenway Music Hall of Fame members, Zac Brown Band made history in August, selling out the iconic stadium for the 14th time and marking the Park’s 100th concert.
Releasing via Brown’s own label Home Grown Music, From the Road, Vol. 1: Covers includes tracks spanning over 11 years and showcases a selection of performances in iconic venues from the ZBB, joined by John Mayer, Steven Tyler, Darrell Scott, Mark O’Connor Band and Marcus King. ZBB’s rendition of Queen’s British-rock anthem “Bohemian Rhapsody,” as well as the recently released cover of “The Way You Look Tonight” made popular by Frank Sinatra, are on the the guilty pleasures album, along with tracks ranging from quintessential rock with “Sweet Emotion” and “Baba O’Riley,” to the Beatles’ pop cult classic “Eleanor Rigby,” to Jimmy Buffett’s tropical escape “Margaritaville” and more.
From the Road, Vol. 1: Covers Tracklist:
1. Bohemian Rhapsody (Live at The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, UK, 09.25.2015)
2. Baba O’Riley (Live at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 08.20.2016)
3. Enter Sandman (Live at Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL, 09.14.2014)
4. Sabotage (Live at Windy City Smokeout, Chicago, IL, 7.16.2023)
5. Sweet Emotion feat. Steven Tyler (Live at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 08.09.2015)
6. Whipping Post feat. Marcus King (Live at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 10.17.2021)
7. Margaritaville (Live at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC, 10.05.2023)
8. It’s A Great Day To Be Alive feat. Darrell Scott (Live at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 06.16.2018)
9. Eleanor Rigby feat. Darrell Scott & Mark O’Connor Band (Live at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 06.16.2018)
10. With a Little Help From My Friends feat. Darrell Scott & Mark O’Connor Band (Live at Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 06.16.2018)
11. Neon feat. John Mayer (Live at the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival, Nashville, TN, 09.22.2012)
12. Use Somebody (Live at Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA, 08.25.2019)
13. The Way You Look Tonight (Live at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA, 06.04.2016)
The post Zac Brown Band Releases Song From New Covers Project.
FlipsideMediaET eMagazine • “Everything Music”
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) hosted its annual Gold & Platinum Gala at the Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday night (Oct. 25). With throngs of songwriters and publishers fellowshipping together, the night was abuzz with reunions and celebrations.
The NMPA Gold & Platinum Program honors the songwriters of RIAA-certified singles. In an exciting carousel of honors, NMPA gave out plaques to 85 multi-Platinum songwriters Wednesday night, including hitmakers such as Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby, Chris DeStefano, Dallas Davidson and many more. As each songwriter joined the stage to receive their plaque, their peers and colleagues hooped and hollered as the hit song they wrote played over the speaker.
Flanking the plaque presentations were some awesome performances, with Ian Munsick kicking off the show with his Gold-certified single “Long Live Cowgirls,” which got a big reaction. Newly-inducted Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member, Keith Urban, gave a rousing performance of his “Blue Ain’t Your Color”—and was subsequently presented with a plaque for his 18 Gold and Platinum certifications.
The event culminated with the honoring of the top male and top female songwriters of the past year. Over the eligibility period, Ashley Gorley achieved an astounding 26 certifications, making him the Top Male Songwriter of the Year.
When speaking about Gorley, NMPA President & CEO David Israelite compared his success to that of star footballer Tom Brady, sharing that as a Kansas City Chiefs fan, he used to feel that he hated Brady because of his success, but eventually realized he admired his excellence. Rightly so, he encouraged those in the room to acknowledge the privilege of working with Gorley.
“Appreciate this moment. If you got to see Tom Brady play, or if you have gotten to see Ashley Gorley write, you are witnessing something that is greatness,” Israelite said.
Gorley was honored with a performance of “Rumor” from Lee Brice.
Top Female Songwriter of the Year went to Hillary Lindsey, who scored 10 certifications overall. Israelite spoke about Lindsey’s impact as one of the most succesful country songwriters of her generation.
“She has been such an inspiration to all songwriters, [especially] to all women songwriters. What she’s done with Liz [Rose] and others, I don’t think we’re going to see much in our lifetimes.”
Lindsey was honored with a hair-raising rendition of “Girl Crush,” performed by Brittney Spencer.
During the event, Israelite officially launched the Gold & Platinum (G&P) Club. The Club encompasses all songwriters who have achieved Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum certifications. Israelite also announced that the Club’s Co-Chairs are Rose and Ryan Tedder.
Israelite said, “The NMPA Gold & Platinum Program is the most definitive measurement of a song’s success. We are thrilled with the growth of the Gala and the opportunity to recognize the most elite songwriters in Nashville. The unprecedented number of honorees at this year’s event demonstrates the expansion and dominance of country music. We congratulate the brilliant minds behind these songs and are excited about the launch of the Gold & Platinum Club which will foster community among them.”
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FlipsideMediaET eMagazine • “Everything Music”
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