Gene Watson Celebrates 50 Years of Country Music; The Jayhawks Announce Tour Dates; Carl Jackson Honored with Historical Marker

• Sarah Jarosz, Joshua Britt (Farewell Drifters), Tom Russell, and more offer up their thoughts on Bob Dylan to kick off American Songwriter’s “30 Days of Dylan.”

• The Jayhawks announced new tour dates: they’ll start in Colorado at the end of this month.

• Guitarist Lincoln Meyers has left bluegrass band Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen.

• Tift Merritt tweeted that on January 30, she’ll be debuting new song “Sweet Spot” on television show Hart of Dixie. Merritt and her band will be playing a Valentine’s Day dance on the episode, and on January 24, an acoustic recording of Tift’s songs from the show will be available exclusively on iTunes.

• Carl Jackson was honored with the latest historical marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail.

• Nuci’s Space (an organization that focuses on the mental and physical health of musicians) is raffling off a guitar autographed by The Drive-By Truckers.

• Gene Watson is celebrating 50 years in country music with Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits. The album, which features re-recorded versions of his hits, will drop on February 14. Check out the track listing here.

• Bloodshot Records signed roots singer-songwriter Cory Branan. His label debut, Mutt, will be released this spring.

• Go see The Goat Rodeo Sessions Live (or tape-delayed for you West Coasters) at a movie theater near you on January 31. Country California’s got the info for you.

• Vince Gill will close this year’s MerleFest.

• This week’s Quotable Country features Martina McBride, Shooter Jennings, and David Nail, to name a few.

• Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum got married over the weekend.

• Here’s the video for Cumberland River’s “Justified.”

• This week’s album releases:

Dailey & Vincent – The Gospel Side of Dailey & Vincent

Mark Wayne Glasmire – Mark Wayne Glasmire

The Little Willies – For the Good Times

Cornflower Blue – Run the Rails