“This voice is courtesy of Blake Shelton last night,” said a hoarse Jon Loba, president of recorded music at BMG North America, while on stage at BMG’s annual ACM kick-off brunch at Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 8.
And while he spent the night before celebrating Shelton’s 30th No. 1 country radio single, “Texas” – and his first No. 1 hit with BMG, after signing with BMG/BBR Music last September – Loba noted the week was full of celebratory moments for the label, with the Jelly Roll & Friends benefit concert on Tuesday, May 6 and Lainey Wilson performing at the ACM Lifting Lives gala honoring Brooks & Dunn on Wednesday evening.
But, said Loba, the brunch wouldn’t be about celebrating past accomplishments. “Everyone keeps asking what’s next?” he shared. “So, we decided this brunch would be about what’s next for the BBR Music Group…We continue to be in a growth mode.”
After a tip of the hat to new music coming from Dustin Lynch, who Loba called “a bedrock of our label,” second only to Jason Aldean who has been with the company from the beginning—the two-hour brunch at the Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas, demonstrated exactly that, as a handful of rising stars were spotlighted.
Drew Baldridge, whose current hit “Tough People” is No. 15 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, then took the stage to perform a new song, “Rebel,” also sharing that in just three more weeks, he will be getting his first tour bus: “I’ve been in a van for 12 years… with seven dudes,” he said with a laugh. And following a brief presentation on Alexandra Kay, who is currently touring Europe after opening for Jelly Roll last year, former American Idol contestant Colin Stough spoke about what’s next for him. “I’ve actually never been inside a country club,” he said with a laugh, scanning the packed room. He then debuted “White Trash,” a song inspired by his difficult relationship with his father.
Up next was Lanie Gardner, who performed a new track, “The Hills Have Eyes,” followed by her hit “Cry.” And before she stepped off stage, she had the surprise of a lifetime: an invitation from the Opry to make her Grand Ole Opry debut this year. And after a brief cry, she of course said, “yes.” John Morgan, who’s duet with Jason Aldean “Friends Like That” became his first Country Airplay Top 10, performed next, unveiling new music from his forthcoming album. That included a song he co-wrote with Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard based on an idea he’d been kicking around for well over a year.
And lastly, to close the brunch, Frank Ray delivered a high-energy set that included his latest track, the Latin-influenced “Miami in Tennessee,” which Loba was proudly singing along to while sitting to the side of the stage.
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Frank Ray
Image Credit: Rich Polk Frank Ray at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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JoJamie Hahr, Camille Kenny & Kerri Edwards
Image Credit: Rich Polk BMG’s JoJamie Hahr and Camille Kenny with Artist Manager Kerri Edwards at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Lanie Gardner
Image Credit: Rich Polk Lanie Gardner at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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JoJamie Hahr, Chayce Beckham & Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk JoJamie Hahr, Chayce Beckham and Jon Loba at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Drew Baldridge
Image Credit: Rich Polk Drew Baldridge at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Katie Kerkhover, JoJamie Hahr, Colin Stough, Drew Baldridge, Lanie Gardner, Jon Loba, Frank Ray, John Morgan, Chayce Beckham & Peter Strickland
Image Credit: Rich Polk Katie Kerkhover, JoJamie Hahr, Colin Stough, Drew Baldridge, Lanie Gardner, Jon Loba, Frank Ray, John Morgan, Chayce Beckham and Peter Strickland at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Frank Ray and Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk Frank Ray and Jon Loba at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Lee Adams
Image Credit: Rich Polk Lee Adams at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Frank Ray, Katie Kerkhover, Lanie Gardner, Jon Loba, Chayce Beckham & John Morgan
Image Credit: Rich Polk Frank Ray, Katie Kerkhover, Lanie Gardner, Jon Loba, Chayce Beckham and John Morgan at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Lexie Lampkin, Jordan Pettit, Lanie Gardner, Jenn Tressler & Samantha Kane
Image Credit: Rich Polk Lexie Lampkin, Jordan Pettit, Lanie Gardner, Jenn Tressler and Samantha Kane at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Ken Tucker
Image Credit: Rich Polk Ken Tucker at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Jon Loba, Shelley Hargis & Joey Tack
Image Credit: Rich Polk Jon Loba, Shelley Hargis and WIVK’s Joey Tack at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Adrian Michaels, Drew Baldridge, Lanie Gardner & Frank Ray
Image Credit: Rich Polk Adrian Michaels, Drew Baldridge, Lanie Gardner and Frank Ray at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Colin Stough
Image Credit: Rich Polk Colin Stough at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Jon Loba, Frank Ray & Oscar Chavira
Image Credit: Rich Polk Jon Loba, Frank Ray and Ray’s Manager Oscar Chavira at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Shawn McSpadden
Image Credit: Rich Polk Artist Manager Shawn McSpadden at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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John Morgan, Brent Lane, Frank Ray & Shelley Hargis
Image Credit: Rich Polk John Morgan, Cat Country 98.7’s Brent Lane, Frank Ray and Shelley Hargis at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
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Frank Ray & Katie Kerkhover
Image Credit: Rich Polk Frank Ray and Katie Kerkhover at BBR Music Group Brunch at 2025 ACM Awards at Stonebriar Country Club on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
