Rodeowave Entertainment’s Phil Vassar recently received the 2012 VAB Distinguished Virginian Award by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters at the organization’s 75th Annual Summer Conference in Virginia Beach. The award honors those who, by their own actions, have contributed substantially to the wellbeing of the Commonwealth of Virginian, its citizens, or the broadcast industry.

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News Briefs: Recently it was announced Brad Paisley would be taking his tour to Scandinavia in November. Concerts are currently set in Stockholm (8) and Gotenborg, Sweden (9), Oslo (10) and Stavanger (11), Norway, and Dublin, Ireland (13).The Band Perry is special guest on the international dates. ••• Josh Turner’s fifth studio album,  Punching Bag, debuted at the top of the Country Billboard charts and currently resides in the Top 10. He will return to The Late Show with David Letterman Aug. 23.  ••• Whisperin’ Bill performed at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic in Ft. Worth, Tx. It was Anderson’s first appearance on what he has tagged the “Willienic”. •••  Kix Brooks’ 12-song solo debut album, New To This Town, to be released on 9/11/12, is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com. ••• The 46th Annual CMA Awards will air Thursday, Nov. 1 on ABC live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. •••  Jerrod Niemann will release his sophomore major label album release, Free The Music on Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville Oct. 2nd. He co-wrote the album’s first single,‘Shinin’ On Me,’  with friends Lee Brice, Rob Hatch and Lance Miller.

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The Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, has always dreamed of releasing an all-gospel CD and that dream is about to come true! Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ LIVE!, the first all-gospel release from the five-time Grammy® nominee will be available in retail stores and online July 10. Recorded live at Rhonda’s childhood home church, Greentop United Methodist Church in Greentop, MO, this release captures Rhonda, along with her multi-award winning band The Rage, singing gospel classics alongside new favorites with exquisite musicianship and heavenly harmonies resounding through the over 100 year old church.  Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ LIVE! is available on the Upper Management Music label and distributed by Universal Music Distribution. The CD will be available on release at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, online at iTunes, Amazon and wherever great music is sold!  Order autographed copies at her website: RhondaVincent.com.

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The Joey+Rory Show has just debuted on RFD-TV. Filmed entirely at their farm and in their community of Pottsville, Tenn, the first 13 episodes of  the show will invite the viewer into their small-town world with a mix of live performances of songs from their third album, His and Hers, which hits stores July 31, recipes from their family-owned Marcy Jo’s café, behind-the-scenes looks into their life together, intimate acoustic performances from the duo and a select group of singers and songwriters that inspire them. The show will air every Friday at 9:00 pm Eastern on RFT-TV. Episodes will re-air Saturdays and Mondays (check schedule for time).

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News Briefs: Wynonna Judd and drummer Cactus Moser were married June 10 in a sunset service on Judd’s farm in Leiper’s Fork, Tenn. The ceremony was attended by her children Grace, 16 and Elijah, 17. ••• Farm Aid 2012 is coming to Pennsylvania in September. Details to be announced. ••• In additon to  Lee Greenwood’s new book, Does God Still Bless the USA; A Plea for a Better America, he has just released a new seven-track EP entitled, I Want to Be in Your World, which includes the original track, ‘Here Comes Love, There Goes My Heart’.  ••• The band Exile has released People Get Ready, its first new studio album in 15 years, to radio via Airplay Direct. The 5-track EP features four new songs written by the band and the title song originally written by Curtis Mayfield. People Get Ready is on Exile’s own Big Horse Recordslabel, \distributed digitally by GMV Nashville. The title cut is currently available for download at most digital retailers.

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The Grand Ole Opry announced last week that a second show has been added to the schedule for Tues., July 10. Among the performers scheduled for both shows that night: Trace Adkins, Eric Church, and Easton Corbin. Kix Brooks will appear on the night’s first show. The Opry recently added a series of four Wednesday night show starting July 18. The lineup includes Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, and Josh Thompson.

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Independent Music Fest / Nashville. Come Play! Three days of music experiences on  Music Row in Nashville, set for October 4-7. Choose to perform as an artist seeking new material or singer songwriter looking for cuts. Let your hair down at the Indie Music Masquerade Ball, attend Music Info Areas when you want and ask the questions you want covering the music business from top to bottom in over 17 categories… more at www.IndependentMusicFest.org

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The 18th Annual ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards, to be held Oct. 18 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, has announced Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville as their charity of choice for this year’s week-long celebration.The ICM Faith, Family and Country 20 Year Homecoming Concert Celebration, Oct., 14-18 at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, is open to the public and includes showcases, a songwriting contest, seminars, a talent competition and more. A small nightly donation required – part of the proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville.

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LifeNotes: Beloved television actor and singer Andy Griffith passed away July 3rd at his home in Dare County, NC. He was 86. Known for his down-to-earth leading roles in The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) and Matlock (1986-1995), Griffith became a symbol of small town America as Sheriff Andy Taylor. Also a talented vocalist and musician, Griffith recorded several country and gospel albums throughout his lengthy career. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. Andrew Samuel Griffith was born in Mount Airy, NC, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Griffith was originally studying to be a preacher, but changed his major to music. Following graduation, he taught high school English before launching his entertainment career. Griffith was laid to rest buried on Roanoke Island near the coast of North Carolina by family less than five hours after he died. A funeral spokesman told CNN:“It had been planned for some time. This was the wish of his family.” Griffith is survived by his third wife, Cindi Knight, and daughter from his first marriage, Dixie Griffith. Son Andy “Sam” Griffith, Jr. is deceased. ••• Donna Hilley, one of Music Row’s most prominent female executives, died June 20 after an extended illness. She was 65.  Hilley spent 31 years working with Sony/ATV – eventually serving as the company’s president and CEO, prior to her retirement in 2005. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Hilley served on the board of directors for both ASCAP and the NMPA, the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Country Music Association, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Gospel Music Association, and theRecording Academy. She is survived by her loving husband, Ray Hilley; daughters, Vickie (Kirk) Arney, Debbie (Mitch) Tenpenny, Whitney (Richard) Stewart; brother, Jim (Gloria) Whitten; sister, Diane (Dr. Sheldon) Whitten-Vile; brother-in-law, Ron Hilley; sisters-in-law, Nelda Hilley Davis and Jeanine Hilley; grandsons, Jay Arney, Mitchell Tenpenny, Rafe Tenpenny, Jackson Stewart; nephews and nieces, Jason Hilley, Evan Hilley, Jamie Brown, Wes Whitten, Jerrica Beams, Hannah Whitten-Vile and Avi Whitten-Vile.

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• Jul 13-15 – Craven Country Jamboree, Cravan, Sask., Canada

• Jul 20-29 – Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, WY

• Sept. 12-15 – Americana Music Assn. Fest & Conference, Nashville, TN

• Sept. 21-22 – Country Night Gstaad Festival, Gstaad, Switzerland

• Oct. 4-7 – Independent Music Fest, Nashville, TN

• Oct. 7 – Nashville Songwriters Awards, Nashville, TN

• Oct. 18 – ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards, Nashville, TN

• Nov. 1 – CMA Awards, Nashville, TN