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.

Randy Travis and more country stars are in the lineup for a Nashville concert that will celebrate the songs of contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith. Scheduled for this spring at Music City's Bridgestone Areana, Michael W. Smith: 35 Years of Friends will feature performances of Smith's more than 35 No. 1 songs from artists including Travis, Rascal Flatts, the Oak Ridge Boys, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bob Goff, and more. Tickets for the event, which will take place on April 30, are on sale now via Ticketmaster. -- AM

The Infamous Stringdusters Laws of Gravity
Photo by Scott McCormick, courtesy of Reckoning PR
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Reigning Grammy Awards Bluegrass Album of the Year winners the Infamous Stringdusters have announced the release of their forthcoming album. Titled Rise Sun, the album is intended to serve as a "message of taking care of each other, our planet and ourselves," according to the Stringdusters' dobro player, Andy Hall. The record, which will feature 13 tracks, is due out on April 5 via Tape Time Records. -- AM

Old Dominion
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Jake Owen, Old Dominion and Tim McGraw will each headline a night of the three-day Country Summer festival in Sonoma County, Calif. Set for June 14-16 at the Sonoma County Event Center, additional performers for the event will be announced in the coming months. Fans can find out more information about tickets for Country Summer 2019 via the festival's website. -- AM

john paul white solo album beulah
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John Paul White, formerly of the Civil Wars, will release a new solo album this spring. Titled The Hurting Kind, the 10-song effort includes tracks from iconic writers such as Whisperin' Bill Anderson and Bobby Braddock, and a vocal cameo from Lee Ann Womack; it was recorded in Alabama, at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and Sun Drop Sound, White's home studio in Florence. The Hurting Kind is set for release on April 12 via Single Lock Records; a special edition of the album with a bonus 7" will be released on April 13 for Record Store Day 2019. -- AM

tyler childers 2019 tour dates
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Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Tyler Childers and more are in the lineup for Pickathon 2019. Scheduled for Aug. 2-4 in Happy Valley, Ore., the annual event will also feature performances from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Courtney Marie Andrews, Town Mountain, Mike & the Moonpies and many more. Ticketing details and more information are available at Pickathon.com. -- AS

Tennessee sexual harassment laws
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The Tennessee Arts Commission has implemented a new, $1 million program to bring music to nursing home residents living with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Partnering with the Country Music Hall of Fame and the nonprofit organization Music & Memory, the Tennessee Arts Commission will use the funds to provide digital listening devices that will offer residents "personalized music that could help enhance their engagement and socialization, heighten their ability to communicate, increase calmness and decrease agitation," according to the Associated Press. The program begins on Feb. 1. -- AM

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