• James Otto has canceled two shows in Clarksville, Tenn. (9/10) and Berea, Ohio (9/11) after being hospitalized Sept. 7 with an unspecified “abdominal illness.” In a statement released Sept. 8, Otto said, “I have been feeling badly on and off for a while now but didn’t think it was serious… I’ll be down for a few days but hope to be back in action and on the road again soon.”

•Artist Matt Gary has affiliated with Quarterback Records, which will handle radio promotion for his second single, “I’m Just Sayin’” (written by Frank Myers, Gary B. Baker and Billy Montana). The single’s release date is Oct. 11. Mike Meade’s Meade Group, Inc. continues to oversee marketing, sponsorship and touring opportunities for Gary.

•Trailer Choir’s Mark “Butter” Fortney and Carter’s Chord’s Emily Robertson (pictured) turned a birthday party into a wedding September 6, surprising family and friends. The couple, who have been dating for almost two years, are both signed to Show Dog-Universal Music with their respective bands. They gathered everyone together at Nashville’s 12^th and Porter under the guise of a birthday party for Butter. But after the cake had been served, Butter told their guests he was about to change the evening’s course, and proposed to Robertson. Then, a curtain dropped to reveal flowers, a preacher and an altar made out of PVC pipe, where they tied the knot.