John Scott Sherrill is not one to sit quietly by, even  during a worldwide pandemic.  The hit songwriter returns on August 20 with a new EP, Copper Tears. A keen observer, Sherrill has spent the past couple of years watching the changes all around him, including divisions stemming from politics, COVID-19 isolation and over-development.  His response is a collection of songs that address what he (and the rest of us) have been experiencing. Songs on the EP, produced by Sherrill with Ronnie Bowman and Scott Paschall, include a call for unity (“You Are Still Great”), a plea for humanity (“Copper Tears”), a reflection on the loss of the family farm (“Five Generations of Rock County Wilsons”) and historic sites (“Boomtown”), the longing of separation (“Far Away Angel”) and the passing of  time (“Shot From A Cannon”).  Copper Tears features the same acoustic instrumentation and country charm as his 2018 acclaimed release, Mr. Honky Tonk.  The songs deliver Sherrill's trademark clear-eyed lyrics and memorable melodies. Over the years, Sherrill has written 11 #1 hits and countless covers for the likes of Patty Loveless, John Anderson, Josh Turner, Peter Wolf & Mick Jagger, Steve Wariner, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, and Alison Krauss, among others. His co-writes include such legends as Michael McDonald, Steve Cropper, Peter Frampton and Dave Loggins. Top shelf musicians enlisted for the project include Rod McCormack (guitars), Josh Matheny (dobro), Dave Pomeroy (bass), Michael Spriggs (acoustic guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums) and Patrick McAvinue (fiddle).

Emerick played guitar from the age of six and before he reached his teens was working professionally as a performing artist. Raised in Vero Beach, Florida, after leaving school, he briefly trained as a fireman before deciding to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where he eventually was hired as a songwriter. With Bryan White he composed some songs that were taken up by Sawyer Brown, among them the mid-90s country hits ‘I Don’t Believe In Goodbye’, ‘Round Here’ and ‘She’s Gettin’ There’. Another songwriting partner has been Toby Keith, with whom Emerick has often toured. Several of the duo’s songs were recorded by Keith in the late 90s and early 00s, notably the chart-topping singles ‘I’m Just Talkin’ About Tonight’, ‘Beer For My Horses’, ‘I Love This Bar’, ‘Whiskey Girl’, and ‘As Good As I Once Was’. Emerick played guitar and sang background vocals on a number of tracks. Other Emerick collaborative songs have been recorded by Ronnie Milsap and George Strait. In 2004, Emerick was named Songwriter Of The Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He released his debut album The Coast Is Clear in 2003. Two years later he signed a new recording contract with Keith’s Show Dog Records label.

Some careers can be described with a couple of words, but GRAMMY award winning producer Shawn Camp’s isn’t one of them. The Arkansas native has earned wide respect as the top-tier penman behind #1 Billboard hits for George Strait (“River of Love”), Josh Turner (“Would You Go With Me”), Brooks and Dunn (“How Long Gone”), in addition to the Garth Brooks smash hit “Two Pina Coladas.” Camp frequently splits pages with legendary tunesmiths like Guy Clark (“Sis Draper,” “Magnolia Wind”) and Jim Lauderdale (“Forever Ain’t No Trouble Now"). Shawn also penned Blake Shelton’s “Nobody But Me.” A true artist, Camp’s previous solo albums – including 1993’s Shawn Camp, 2004’s Live at the Station Inn and 2006's Fireball  – consistently have turned heads.   The accomplished instrumentalist, who has accompanied luminaries including Guy Clark and John Prine, frequently backs seamless lyrics with his fiery fiddle, guitar and mandolin riffs. Shawn is also a talented producer; a skill that won him a GRAMMY nomination in 2013 and a GRAMMY win for 2014’s Best Folk Album of the Year (Guy Clark’s, My Favorite Picture Of You). Most recently, Shawn formed the band with NRBQ’s “Big Al” Anderson to make the World Famous Headliners (along with Pat McLaughlin, Greg Morrow and Michael Rhodes). Their debut album spent over 6 weeks in AMA’s top 20 and was named one of the Top 100 Americana Albums of 2012.