For a bit more than two years wrapped around the beginning of IBMA, I was a contributing writer for Country News, a monthly tabloid that was the #2 country music publication at the time. Its circulation of 150,000 was the largest of any monthly for which I have enjoyed a long term relationship. I wrote a column focused on bluegrass for each issue called “Another Country” and a few standalone features. Through its editor, Vernell Hackett, I joined a wonderful community of thirty-something Nashville music writers. Before I became Executive Director of IBMA, my profile in the field was through these columns, my work with “Fire on the Mountain” on The Nashville Network, covering roots music in the Triangle for the News and Observer, and writing cover features for Bluegrass Unlimited about the leading artists of the time. The increasing volume of writing for Country News suggests that I was starting to develop a career as a freelance writer, but it remained hard to make a living.
In April 2016 I discovered my cache of columns and features for Country News and began to digitize them.
Chris Hillman Country News October 1984
The Liberty Flyer Country News March 1985 (uncredited)
Hot Rize Country News March 1985
[Another Country June 1985 missing]
Another Country September 1985
Tony Rice Country News October 1985
Doyle Lawson Country News October 1985
IBMA officers January 1986 (uncredited)
Another Country September 1986
Another Country November 1986 (uncredited)
Another Country December 1986 (uncredited)
Another Country January 1987 (uncredited)
Art Menius 