Skip Ewing Releases Mae Estes Duet as Eric Paslay Steps In for Nashville Ballet Ball

New music release and a last-minute gala change converge in Nashville’s busy early-March calendar

Nashville’s country and performing-arts communities saw two developments land in the same week: a new duet release from veteran songwriter-performer Skip Ewing and a headliner change for the Nashville Ballet’s annual fundraising gala at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Skip Ewing and Mae Estes team up on “Stronger Where You’re Broken”

Ewing’s latest single, “Stronger Where You’re Broken,” features Nashville-based country artist Mae Estes and arrived Feb. 20, 2026, as the third release tied to Ewing’s forthcoming “Dragonfly” project on his Write! Records imprint. The track is credited as a solo write by Ewing, continuing a roll-out that has paired new recordings with renewed attention to his catalog as both an artist and a hit songwriter.

The pairing links two different career stages: Ewing, whose writing credits have long circulated through mainstream country releases, and Estes, part of a younger cohort building momentum through touring and Nashville releases. The duet format places them in complementary roles rather than a re-recording of an earlier cut, positioning the single as a fresh, front-facing release for both artists’ current cycles.

• Song: “Stronger Where You’re Broken” (feat. Mae Estes)
• Release date: Feb. 20, 2026
• Project context: third release tied to Ewing’s upcoming “Dragonfly” project
• Label: Write! Records

Eric Paslay to headline Nashville Ballet’s 37th Annual Ballet Ball

On the events side, Nashville Ballet’s 37th Annual Ballet Ball is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, with a “Swan Lake”-inspired theme. In a change announced in the days leading up to the gala, singer-songwriter Eric Paslay is now set to headline the evening, stepping in after Jamey Johnson withdrew due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Ballet Ball is one of the company’s largest annual fundraising events, traditionally structured as a formal black-tie gathering that supports organizational programming. The late substitution underscores the logistical reality of high-profile benefit events: headline entertainment often anchors ticketing and sponsorship expectations, but programming can shift quickly when tours, health, or scheduling conflicts intervene.

Event: Nashville Ballet 37th Annual Ballet Ball; Date: March 7, 2026; Venue: Schermerhorn Symphony Center; Headliner: Eric Paslay (substituting for Jamey Johnson).

Why the two updates matter for Nashville’s cultural economy

While the single release and the gala headliner change are separate items, both reflect how Nashville’s music ecosystem intersects with civic and nonprofit stages. Country artists routinely appear in benefit settings, and arts organizations increasingly rely on recognizable names to broaden audience reach beyond core patrons. In parallel, collaboration-driven releases like Ewing and Estes’ duet remain a staple of Nashville’s recording culture, connecting established writers and emerging performers through new product timed to album cycles and live appearances.

The result is a snapshot of the city’s dual identity in real time: a recording hub where songs roll out in rapid sequence, and an arts town where major institutions lean on event nights to fund seasons that extend well beyond the concert calendar.