Hank Cochran Documentary to Premiere April 25; Golf & Guitars Update; New Music Videos

• People Magazine has a free playlist for you to download that includes music from The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Eli Young Band, Montgomery Gentry, Love and Theft, Brantley Gilbert, and Hunter Hayes.

• Taylor Swift is far-off cousins of Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn according to Geni.com.

• Ellen DeGeneres and Emma Stone had some fun at Tim McGraw’s expense on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

• CNN did an interview with Merle Haggard to commemorate his 75^th birthday. Peter Cooper also celebrated Hag with a Tennessean article.

• Billboard’s Chuck Dauphin wrote a column about the Country Music Hall of Fame’s new Bakersfield exhibit: “Walk through The Bakersfield Sound, and we think you will hear that musical legacy loud and clear. You will also see it — up close and personal. The rhinestones still shine, and the instruments are all there in full view. If only they could talk.”

• Several biographies about country music artists are scheduled to be released this year. Artists covered included Loretta Lynn, Elvis, Marty Robbins, Faron Young, Ricky Skaggs and more.

• Garth Brooks remembered Patsi Bale Cox in an interview.

• A new documentary on Hank Cochran is scheduled for an unveiling April 25 at the Nashville Film Festival.

• Sarah Darling is in the studio with Dann Huff putting the finishing touches on her third album.

• The playing of her song “I Will Always Love You” at Whitney Houston’s funeral devastated Dolly Parton. “The fact that they used it at her funeral just killed me. That’s when I really lost it. I was … shocked and hurt and disheartened when she passed, but it was one of those things where I hadn’t really fell down and wept over it,” Parton said. “But when they lifted her coffin and started playing that song, man it just stabbed me in the heart. I just boo-hoo’d for every single reason — her loss, the fact that it was our song, and I was also thinking that was probably what they’d be playing at my funeral too! It was such an overwhelming emotion.”

• Country California has some of the week’s best country quotes.

• Jake Owen got engaged on stage.

• Charlie Daniels regained full sight after a suffering from limited vision since he was seven years old with a unique surgery.

• Cyndi Thompson has signed a songwriting deal with Young Guns Publishing: “Signing this deal is a new beginning for me and my music. Although I have missed the business, the past few years away have given me invaluable moments and a lot to say! I am approaching this phase of my career with a renewed strength and drive for which I am grateful. I look forward to recording my new music and sharing it.” (via press release)

• Engine 145 gets to share an update on the event that it is sponsoring. E145 is the official online media sponsor for the Golf & Guitars Children’s Charity Golf Tournament and Concert on May 21 and May 22 in Sacramento, CA. This past week, two musical additions were made to the event. Both Uncle Kracker and Summerlin Road will be playing, bringing the total artists involved up to a whopping 19 music acts. Find out more information here.

• New music videos from the past week or so:

Darryl Worley – “You Still Got It”

Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Yim Yames – “Careless Reckless Love” 

Rachel Holder – “In Your Arms”

Make Do and Mend – “Unknowingly Strong” 

Dierks Bentley with Jon Randall, Sam Bush & Jeff Bush – “What Was I Thinking?” (live Tin Pan South performance)

Mariah McManus – “Say It Again” 

Stephanie Jansen – “Risky” 

Aly Cook – “Midnight Sun” 

Emma Barlow – “Jaded” 

Tori Darke – “Great Mistake” 

Camille & Stuie – “Beverly Joy”

Christie Lamb – “Mr. Wrong”