Good morning, Nashville! A new week is upon us.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 79 and a low of 50.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Patty Wright!

Situational awareness: The Nashville Symphony's season is back on after the tech company Oracle committed $10 million yesterday to help the symphony address its financial emergency. All musicians and staffers who were set to be furloughed this month will remain at work.

• "Oracle's partnership gives us the ability to bring our musicians and our music back to the stage, and it gives us momentum as we build toward a stronger, more sustainable long-term future," Mark Tillinger, the president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony, said in a statement.

Today’s newsletter is 1,062 words — a 4-minute read.

Top Republicans say they are open to changing Tennessee's approach to the death penalty following the unprecedented failure last week that left Christa Pike alive after two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital.

Why it matters: As fallout from the failed execution continues to mount, more government leaders are discussing substantive policy changes, including new methods for implementing the death penalty.

Catch up quick: Pike survived two rounds of Tennessee's lethal injection drug on Wednesday night. Her attorneys said the skin around the needle turned purple as the execution attempt wore on. She described sharp pain in her arm and the lawyers said burns developed around the injection site.

• Medical experts say that is consistent with an IV that wasn't appropriately connected with a vein, suggesting the pentobarbital did not go directly into her bloodstream and instead went into the surrounding tissue in her arm.
• Gov. Bill Lee ordered an outside review to determine what went wrong and halted the state's next execution scheduled for December. Former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton, who also investigated the state's previous lethal injection protocol, was brought on for this investigation as well.
• Pike remains in the hospital, where her attorneys said yesterday she remained unconscious and was getting help breathing with a ventilator.

Driving the news: Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) tells Axios that "[i]f the investigation finds that lethal injection is not a reliable method of carrying out lawful death sentences, we must consider alternative methods and improved protocols."

• House Speaker Cameron Sexton said lawmakers would examine changes to the drugs used in lethal injections, as well as alternative methods.
• U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee to replace Lee as governor next year, called for Tennessee to "bring back the electric chair."

Between the lines: Lethal injection is Tennessee's primary execution method, but the state permits electrocution as a backup in certain circumstances.

• Prisoners whose capital offenses occurred before 1999 may choose the electric chair.

The big picture: Other states have turned to different methods, often driven by the difficult process of sourcing lethal injection drugs, which major pharmaceutical companies refuse to provide.

• Idaho made firing squad its primary execution method on July 1.

Flashback: A proposal to bring the firing squad to Tennessee stalled in 2023 due to concerns over the cost and logistical hurdles.

The other side: Democrats say the failed execution last week exposes deeper problems that require legislative oversight.

• "The Department of Correction says it followed every step of its protocol. If that is true, then the protocol itself is a problem," Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari said in a statement.

The latest: Tennessee's top prison official Frank Strada announced his resignation over the weekend.

• Strada was initially hired in 2023 to oversee the implementation of a new lethal injection protocol. Read the full story

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💸 President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill passed more costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on to states. As a result, Tennessee may have to pay an additional $220 million to keep the program running. (Tennessee Lookout)

🤝 Goodwill opened a 100,000-square-foot career-training hub in MetroCenter, where free programs include a construction class that builds a house indoors. (Tennessean)

🚇 The Boring Co. is negotiating to put passenger pickup and drop-off stations at several locations within Nashville Yards. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

The three actors who will play Dolly Parton in her autobiographical musical coming to Broadway in December were announced Friday.

Why it matters: Parton hand-picked the leads for the musical before she died in August. The show, which features Parton's music and a script she co-wrote, is certain to become a nightly tribute to the icon's astonishing life story.

How it works: The three actresses playing Parton will portray her at different points in life.

🎭 State of play: Katie Rose Clarke tops the bill playing Parton as the established superstar.

• Carrie St. Louis will capture Parton's journey to Nashville and her early days with "The Porter Wagoner Show."
• Norah Nunes, who was an open casting call finalist, will play "Little Dolly," capturing Parton's childhood in the Smokies.

Zoom out: Grammy nominee John Behlmann will play Parton's beloved husband Carl Dean. Tony winner Gabriel Ebert will play Wagoner, her champion and sparring partner in the early days of her career.

Flashback: Clarke, St. Louis and Behlmann played their roles during a 2025 test run of the musical in Nashville.

What's next: "DOLLY: A True Original Musical" will begin performances in New York on Dec. 7.

• The official opening night will be on Jan. 19, which would have been Parton's 81st birthday.

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Thirty-five years after Brooks & Dunn's first album "Brand New Man" was released, their breakthrough hits are still raking in recognition.

Driving the news: "Neon Moon" is now certified eight-times platinum and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" five-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, the duo announced last week.

• Both songs appeared on their 1991 debut album.

Between the boots: Certifications recognize physical sales as well as U.S. downloads and streams. For digital singles, 150 qualifying streams count as one download sale.

What's next: An anniversary vinyl release of "Brand New Man" arrives Oct. 23.

▶️ State of play: The new recognition inspired our latest Axios Nashville playlist. This week's edition celebrates the best country hits of the early 1990s.

Follow our playlist on Spotify

Our picks:

Nate's song of the day is "Dead and Buried" by the Carmonas.

Adam is still feeling spooky after watching the fun new "Resident Evil" movie.

This newsletter was edited by Jen Burkett.