The Boot News Roundup: Joe Nichols Leaves BBR Music Group + More

Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.

Joe Nichols has parted ways with BBR Music Group, MusicRow reports. Nichols had been signed to the label group's Red Bow Records, which launched in 2012 and folded in July. Nichols released two albums with the label: 2013's Crickets and 2017's Never Gets Old; he also earned two gold-selling singles, "Sunny and 75" and "Yeah," during that time.

The Lumineers' Neyla Pekarek is leaving the trio to pursue a solo career, the band announced Thursday (Oct. 18) via Twitter. According to a press release, Pekarek has signed with S-Curve Records and will release her debut solo album in 2019. "A band is like an organism -- it grows, changes and evolves. These changes aren’t easy but are an unavoidable part of life," say Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites. "We wish her nothing but the best."

Lauren Alaina has canceled her weekend shows in Sugar Land and New Braunfels, Texas, on Cole Swindell's Reason to Drink ... Another Tour "due to a family medical emergency," a tweet explains. Alaina's stepfather is battling Stage IV cancer; in late August, she canceled two concerts for the same reason.