• Program seeks to discover and elevate next generation of country music talent
• To enter, artists can submit an original song inspired by Life Out Here at tractorsupply.com/emergingartists
• Emerging Artists Program includes mentorship by acclaimed singer-songwriters, a premier Nashville studio recording session, live performances during country music’s biggest week in Nashville and more

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced today the launch of the company’s inaugural “Emerging Artists Program” in partnership with country music artists Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Jimmie Allen, Dustin Lynch and Kat & Alex, along with Opry Entertainment Group. The program will discover and support emerging country artists who live and love what Tractor Supply calls “Life Out Here.”

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Tractor Supply Emerging Artists featuring the Mentors (Graphic: Business Wire)

Now through March 15, emerging artists can submit an original song inspired by the Out Here lifestyle to tractorsupply.com/emergingartists. Tractor Supply will name the final five emerging artists in May and pair each one with an established mentor. Two-time CMA Awards winner and Tractor Supply Brand Ambassador Lainey Wilson will curate the program, and will be joined by Jimmie Allen, Dustin Lynch, Ashley McBryde, and Kat & Alex.

The five selected emerging artists will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to collaborate with their mentors, record their songs at a premier studio, meet with industry executives and open for Wilson at an exclusive event during country music’s biggest week in Nashville in June. The selected artists will also earn a spot on “Ole Red on the Rise Presented by Tractor Supply,” an Opry Entertainment Group series kicking off June 7 at Ole Red on Broadway. Finally, each artist will have the opportunity to perform alongside Wilson on the Grand Ole Opry stage and appear in an upcoming Circle Network 30-minute special set to premiere this fall.

“It really hits home that I get to help an aspiring artist through this program,” said Wilson. “I’m so excited to guide my mentee through this complex music industry as best I can, and I hope we get to build a relationship that lasts a long time. I always say I only take advice from people around me who are where I want to be, so I’m hopeful I can be that person for somebody else through Tractor Supply’s program.”

For 85 years, Tractor Supply has been an essential part of rural America, communities that have produced some of the most successful names in country music and have inspired many of their greatest hits.

“Our Emerging Artists Program will offer emerging artists unparalleled access to Lainey and these other chart-topping artists, while opening the door for them to share their music with the world,” said Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer at Tractor Supply. “This program is a wonderful way for us to engage with people across the country – many of them our customers – and support the communities we serve through music. We are excited to see how these up-and-coming artists will translate the spirit of the Out Here lifestyle into song.”

“Knowing that Lainey personally wanted our Opry family to be involved in this program is such an honor. Since making her Opry debut in 2020, Lainey was part of our Opry NextStage class in 2021 while on her way to becoming one of the most electrifying superstars in country music! We are thrilled to continue to support her, our participating Opry members and other emerging artists through this exciting new partnership,” said Jordan Pettit, Director of Artist Relations at Opry Entertainment Group.

“Songwriting is what country music is all about. It’s amazing to see Tractor Supply shine a light on songs inspired by a lifestyle that we can all relate to no matter where we live,” said McBryde. “Growing up in Arkansas and writing my first song at 12 years old, Life Out Here has its own meaning and ties to my story as an artist. I’m excited to be a part of this program and hear these songs inspired by Life Out Here.”

“Lainey is a good friend, and I’m excited to work with Tractor Supply and these incredible artists to help launch the careers of new country music talent,” said Allen. “I truly believe in the impact this genre has on people’s lives. I know how being given a shot can change your life, and I hope we can do that for these new artists.”

“It takes true passion to want to make a career out of playing music and I can’t wait to hear these new songs and help play a role in launching these emerging artists' careers with Tractor Supply,” said Lynch. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to mentor a rising artist and use the knowledge I’ve gained over the years to help them chase their dreams.”

“We’re honored to be a part of this program and work alongside some of the most talented artists in this business,” said Kat & Alex. “Tractor Supply has been a consistent destination for us in our personal lives as we’ve celebrated numerous milestones as a couple. From bringing home our new puppy to buying our first home in Nashville, Tractor Supply has met all our needs and we can’t wait to bring country music into the mix.”

Follow along on Tractor Supply’s Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels for more information on and announcements about the Emerging Artists Program. Visit tractorsupply.com/emergingartists to enter through March 15.

About Tractor Supply Company

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, has been passionate about serving its unique niche, targeting the needs of recreational farmers, ranchers, and all those who enjoy living the rural lifestyle, for more than 85 years. Tractor Supply offers an extensive mix of products necessary to care for home, land, pets and animals with a focus on product localization, exclusive brands, and legendary customer service for the Out Here lifestyle. With more than 50,000 Team Members, the Company's physical store assets, combined with its digital capabilities, offer customers the convenience of purchasing products they need anytime, anywhere and any way they choose at the everyday low prices they deserve. As of December 31, 2022, the Company operated 2,066 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states, a consumer mobile app and an e-commerce website at www.TractorSupply.com. In October 2022, Tractor Supply acquired 81 stores from Orscheln Farm and Home that will be rebranded to Tractor Supply by the end of 2023.

Tractor Supply Company also owns and operates Petsense by Tractor Supply, a small-box pet specialty supply retailer focused on meeting the needs of pet owners, primarily in small and mid-size communities, and offering a variety of pet products and services. As of December 31, 2022, the Company operated 186 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information on Petsense by Tractor Supply, visit www.Petsense.com.

About Opry Entertainment Group

Rooted in the unparalleled country music history of the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Entertainment Group produces multi-platform entertainment experiences through its growing portfolio of entertainment venues, including the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, the iconic Ryman Auditorium, ACL Live at the Moody Theater and the Blake Shelton-inspired Ole Red brand. Through concerts, tours, music-inspired restaurants, digital content, and its WSM Radio and Circle Network platforms, Opry Entertainment Group connects millions of music fans to the artists they love through experiences they’ll never forget. Opry Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP)

About Lainey Wilson

CMA 2022 Female Vocalist of the Year, CMA 2022 New Artist of the Year, and ACM’s 2022 New Female Artist of the Year, Lainey Wilson has earned the enthusiasm of the industry. Having been named to nearly every “Artist to Watch” list, being crowned Billboard’s “Top New Country Artist of 2021,” and earning CMT’s 2022 “Breakout Artist of the Year” honor, the Louisiana native is one of Nashville’s hottest and most buzzed-about new artists. Landing her first No. 1 with her PLATINUM Certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams, she has won over legions of fans with her signature Bell Bottom Country sound and aesthetic, which blends traditional Country with a modern yet retro flare. A prolific and sought-after songwriter (having co-writer credits on songs by artists including Luke Combs, Flatland Calvary and more), Lainey is a fresh, fierce voice in Nashville, delivering CMA nominated album of the year with her label debut, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. With a rockstar stage presence, her artistry has taken her across the globe, performing for sold-out crowds throughout the US, UK, and Germany with notable names like Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Ashley McBryde, and more. After topping the country radio charts for a second time with the two-week No. 1 hit, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, her current single “Heart Like a Truck” is Top 5 and climbing, while HARDY collaboration “wait in the truck” sits just behind in the Top 10. Her critically acclaimed album, “Bell Bottom Country,” reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart, quickly rose to No. 1 on iTunes charts, and has amassed over 161 million streams to date. Most recently, she made her acting debut in Season 5 of the smash hit series “Yellowstone” and was named “Tractor Supply Brand Ambassador,” adding to her growing list of endeavors. For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.laineywilson.com or follow on Instagram @laineywilsonmusic / Twitter @laineywilson / Facebook.com/laineywilsonmusic.

About Ashley McBryde

GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde cut her teeth playing country songs in rural biker bars – and it shows. The Grand Ole Opry member’s 2018 major label debut Girl Going Nowhere (Warner Music Nashville) charmed The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Paste, The Washington Post and more, all en route to landing a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. McBryde closed out 2019 with ACM New Female Artist, CMT Breakout Artist, a New Artist of the Year win at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards and two nominations for the 2020 GRAMMYs for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Her follow-up Never Will was tagged by Rolling Stone as one of the most anticipated of the year alongside NPR, who also ranked her Top 10 RIAA Platinum-Certified single “One Night Standards” as one of the best songs of 2019. The album earned McBryde a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making Never Will the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. Her GRAMMY-winning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” went all the way to No. 1 and earned McBryde and Pearce the ACM and CMA award for Musical Event of the Year. McBryde was also honored with the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award for the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States. The Arkansas-native invites listeners to Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, a collaborative project featuring Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, Pillbox Patti, Caylee Hammack, Aaron Raitiere and more, earning McBryde her third consecutive GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making her a six-time GRAMMY nominee. Upon its release on September 30, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville garnered applause from The New York Times, NPR, Variety, Vulture, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Billboard and Stereogum, among many more. McBryde recently wrapped The Judds: The Final Tour with Wynonna and will join her collaborators and special guests for two sold-out nights at the Ryman Auditorium for Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville Live on February 15-16. McBryde is slated to play headlining shows, festivals and three dates with Eric Church on The Outsiders Revival Tour this spring and summer. For more information, visit AshleyMcBryde.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @AshleyMcBryde and TikTok @AshleyMcBrydeMusic.

About Jimmie Allen

Signed to BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records, multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter Jimmie Allen has been blazing trails since the beginning of his breakout career. Allen was nominated for Best New Artist at the 64^th Annual GRAMMY Awards, his first ever GRAMMY nomination. He was also nominated for Male Artist of the Year nominee at the 57^th ACM Awards and Outstanding New Artist nominee at the 53^rd NAACP Image Awards. Allen launched his career with two consecutive No. 1 hits off his 2018 debut album Mercury Lane (which The New York Times dubbed as one of 2018’s strongest) – the first being his RIAA 2x Platinum debut single “Best Shot,” which claimed the No. 1 spot on Country radio for three weeks, and second being Platinum-certified “Make Me Want To.” In July 2020, Allen released his star-studded collaboration project Bettie James that garnered a slew of critical acclaim for the music, the historic nature of various collaborations, and its subsequent place in country music history. Named for his late grandmother, Bettie Snead, and late father, James Allen, Bettie James has been hailed as an “announcement of [Allen’s] arrival” and a “huge step for country” (NPR), and “a powerful statement from a developing voice” (Billboard). On June 25, 2021, Allen released the project’s follow up album Bettie James Gold Edition. Doubling down on Allen’s expansive love for music across genres, the album “broadens country’s borders” (Billboard) and includes nine brand new songs featuring Babyface, BRELAND, Keith Urban, LANCO, Lathan Warlick, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, LOCASH, Monica, Neon Union, Pitbull, teamwork. and Vikina in addition to the previous collaborations on Bettie James with Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw. His single “Freedom Was A Highway” with Paisley went #1 in February 2022. Allen won the both the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award and CMA New Artist of the Year award in April and November 2021, respectively. He has amassed more than 1 billion on-demand streams and is a current member of the 45^th Kennedy Center Honors Artists Committee. Allen has graced the cover of Billboard Magazine and performed on The Kennedy Center Honors, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, TODAY, American Idol, Tamron Hall Show, Nick Cannon, The Steve Harvey Show, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. He has also enthusiastically ventured into the world of hosting, having co-hosted the 57^th ACM Awards alongside Dolly Parton & Gabby Barrett and New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash on CBS in 2022 with Elle King and Rachel Smith. Much like his approach to music, Allen’s other creative pursuits know no boundaries. His debut picture book, My Voice Is a Trumpet – a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in, at any age – was published in July 2021 with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. Allen also serves as Executive Music Producer for Netflix’s series Titletown High, which premiered globally in August 2021; his song “Big In A Small Town” is the theme song for the series. He reached the quarterfinals as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars’ landmark 30^th season on ABC in Fall 2021. In February 2022, Allen embarked on his Down Home Tour 2022, his first headline tour. He is currently on Carrie Underwood’s The Denim & Rhinestones Tour as special guest on all 43 U.S. arena dates through Spring 2023. Allen’s third album, Tulip Drive – named for the street in Lewes, DE that his late grandmother lived on – was released June 2022. Its lead single “down home” reached the top of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart in January 2023, marking Allen’s fourth career No. 1 song. For more information on Allen, visit www.jimmieallenmusic.com or follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch has "built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving eight #1s, four Top 5 albums, ten GOLD and PLATINUM certified singles, and tallying over 4.04 BILLION global on-demand streams. His fifth studio album, BLUE IN THE SKY (Broken Bow Records), delivered the history-making PLATINUM, six-week #1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter),” which became the most-played song at Country radio in 2022 landing at #1 on the Mediabase and #2 on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts. The acclaimed project also features current single “Stars Like Confetti” and latest hit “Party Mode.” “Dustin Lynch's New Music Will Have You Embracing the Party 24/7,” hails E! News, as the good time follow-up to TULLAHOMA – which delivered consecutive PLATINUM chart-toppers: “Ridin’ Roads” and “Good Girl,” in addition to GOLD, Top 5 “Momma’s House.” Since his PLATINUM breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, Lynch’s headlined packed venues and toured with Country’s biggest names like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Kane Brown this spring. Likewise, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member, as well as high-profile nominations for the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards. Keep up with Dustin Lynch: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK

About Kat & Alex

For as much as Kat & Alex embody classic country stylings and values, the Nashville-based duo also rewrite the rules altogether with a Latin twist. The husband-and-wife pair shake up country with full-bodied soulful delivery, engaging live instrumentation, and bilingual lyrics, introducing themselves as Nashville’s most compelling outliers. Kat is a Miami native and first-generation American from a Cuban family. Alex, who is of Puerto Rican descent, grew up in Northwestern Georgia and moved to Miami by middle school. Their paths crossed after Kat witnessed Alex singing one day at their church, and the two quickly forged an eternal bond after meeting up to collaborate. They appeared on American Idol individually before returning home to focus on writing and recording original music as a duo, and then made their way to Nashville in 2020, igniting a life-altering couple of years. Last year Kat & Alex released Side A of their self-titled, debut EP, which featured songs such as “I Want It All” and “We Bought A House.” The duo then made history by releasing Lado B, an entirely Spanish version of the EP. The project received acclaim in The Tennessean, Billboard, CMT and others. Kat & Alex were named to Nashville Lifestyle’s “Most Beautiful People” list last year, singled out as an Emerging Latin Artist to Discover by Billboard, and deemed “well on their way to stardom” by People Magazine. This year, the pair continues representing Hispanic culture in country music with a sound that’s rich and soulful with velvet harmonies, pop-like vocal riffs, and hooky lyrics.

KatandAlex.com | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

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