[release/v1.44.x] Prepare release 1.44.1 (open-telemetry#6868)

[release/v1.44.x] Prepare release 1.44.0 (open-telemetry#6863)

[release/v1.43.x] Prepare release 1.43.0 (open-telemetry#6783)

[release/v1.42.x] Prepare release 1.42.1 (open-telemetry#6706)

[release/v1.42.x] Prepare release 1.42.0 (open-telemetry#6690)

[release/v1.41.x] Prepare release 1.41.0 (open-telemetry#6638)

[release/v1.40.x] Prepare release 1.40.0 (open-telemetry#6556)

[release/v1.39.x] Prepare release 1.39.0 (open-telemetry#6508)

[release/v1.38.x] Prepare release 1.38.0 (open-telemetry#6446)

[release/v1.37.x] Prepare release 1.37.0 (open-telemetry#6355)