Asleep At The Wheel’s Ray Benson has revealed he has tested positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, sharing the diagnosis on Tuesday (March 31) on social media.

Benson noted that he went to be tested on March 21 after feeling tired for several days. He says no tests were available at that time, so he returned home. He was able to be tested yesterday (March 30) and received a call this morning saying he had tested positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

“Hoping for the best don’t have the usual symptoms but feel tired head ache [sic] no fever no cough!!” he said via a post on Facebook. “I’ll be ok sure do miss playin [sic] music and seein [sic] everyone!”

He also issued a warning to others to stay safe, noting that he “wore mask washed hands used hand sanitizer still got it!”

Benson is only the latest artist to reveal he has contracted the virus. On Sunday, country artist Joe Diffie died from complications with COVID-19, while songwriting legend John Prine has been hospitalized with the virus. “F U Forever” singer Kalie Shorr was also diagnosed with COVID-19.

According to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, there are more than 177,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and more than 3,400 deaths in the United States to date.

25-year-old singer-songwriter Kalie Shorr has revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

Shorr called into The Bobby Bones Show this morning (March 31) to talk about her experience.

“About a week ago I woke up in the morning and felt completely fine. I was already self-quarantining, so it was just business as usual that day. At the middle of the day I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I needed to fall asleep. I’m a pretty high-energy person, I haven’t felt that tired in so long,” Shorr told Bones.

Shorr said she soon developed a fever and body aches. She was tested the next day.

“I think that there might be a misconception, at least in the greater Nashville area, about how difficult it is because I went in and I was probably out in 45 minutes. I just went to the Urgent Care through Vanderbilt [Hospital],” Shorr said.

Shorr suspects that she contracted the virus at the CMT’s American Red Cross Telethon for Tornado Relief, where there was a confirmed case.

“I did the tornado telethon and then they found out that somebody had had coronavirus there. I hadn’t interacted with him directly, I hadn’t been in the general vicinity as him but we’re still learning how contagious this is and that’s the one person I know that was confirmed to have it that I saw within a two-week period,” she said.

Shorr said that her roommates, songwriters Taylor Acorn and Emma Lynn White, also had it, but that all are recovering.

Shorr released her first full-length album Open Book in 2019, which includes the singles “Lullaby” and “F U Forever.”

Hear Shorr’s call to The Bobby Bones Show below:

The Country Music Association has announced that CMA Fest will not take place in 2020, in an abundance of caution and to follow guidance from national, state and local authorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual festival had been set for June 4-7, 2020 in Nashville.

“Today… is a first for our organization in 49 years and I share it with a heavy (but practical) heart. We have made the decision not to move forward with CMA Fest this year,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement to CMA members. “Please know the decision was not made overnight. Our team has been relentless in working through every scenario on behalf of our industry and fans. But after careful deliberation, and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local authorities, we felt it was time to start looking ahead to 2021.”

Next year’s CMA Fest is set for June 10-13, 2021.

A statement from the CMA is below:

After careful deliberation, and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local authorities, we are sad to announce that CMA Fest will not take place in 2020.

Whether you planned to attend CMA Fest for the first time, or you have attended many times throughout the last 48 years, we know how special this festival is for Country Music fans around the globe and that many will be disappointed by this decision. As the world is still greatly affected by the spread of COVID-19, we cannot in good conscience risk the health and wellbeing of our fans, artists, staff and Country Music community.

We will honor four-day passes purchased for this year’s event for CMA Fest 2021. However, if you prefer a full refund, we will provide one upon request if your passes were purchased through Ticketmaster or the CMA Fest Box Office. Those who purchased passes through non-official channels should contact the seller directly. Within the next 24-48 hours, all four-day pass purchasers will receive an email with further instructions.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience, as our actions are always in the best interest of our Country Music community. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to bring Country fans and artists together to celebrate the unique spirit and sense of unity that is at the heart of what CMA Fest stands for. We will also share information about future CMA events and ways to support those within our community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe, and we hope you will join us for CMA Fest next year, June 10-13, 2021.

Several organizations have made significant contributions to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was established by the Recording Academy and its affiliated charitable arm MusiCares.

The organizations donating funds include The Latin Recording Academy, StubHub, labels Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, City National Bank, Bill Silva Entertainment, charitable foundations and trusts including the William, Jeff, and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation, George Harrison’s Material World Foundation, the Michael Jackson Estate, Alicia Keys and She Is The Music, and the Yoshiki Foundation America.

Last week, streaming services including Amazon Music, Facebook, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube Music donated to the fund.

The COVID-19 Relief Fund launched two weeks ago, with initial donations of $1 million each from MusiCares and the Recording Academy. The fund allows music industry professionals, including artists, production crews, technicians, and anyone impacted by the loss of income due to live music event cancelations, to apply for basic living assistance.

“It’s incredible to see how many within the music industry have continued to show support for COVID-19 Relief efforts,” said Steve Boom, chair of MusiCares. “The impacts of this virus are very real, as many struggle to know where their next rent payment is coming from, or how next week’s groceries are going to be paid for. Our fund is there to help meet those needs as much as it can, and every gesture of support counts.”

“So many people in our community remain in desperate need and many are living day to day whether they are a gigging musician, sound engineer or event logistics person,” said Harvey Mason Jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “We are thrilled that so many in our community are coming forward to support each other and we are grateful for all the organizations who are standing in the gap for music people in need.”

If you wish to support efforts to assist music professionals in need, visit: grammy.com/musicares/coronavirusrelieffund.

If you are a member of the music industry in need of assistance, visit: musicares.org.  

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has pushed back their 51st Annual Induction & Awards Gala to next June due to the current pandemic. The gala originally set for June 11, 2020 has now been moved to June 10, 2021, at the Marriott Marquis New York.

The 2021 date will honor previously announced inductees including Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox / Dave Stewart p/k/a Eurythmics, Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley / O’Kelly Isley / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley / Chris Jasper p/k/a The Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Pharrell Williams / Chad Hugo p/k/a The Neptunes, Rick Nowels and William “Mickey” Stevenson. Paul Williams will be receiving the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award and Universal Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award.

“In facing the reality of the future being unknown and the extraordinary number of schedules which would have to be rearranged, although sad and very disappointing, it seemed to be more prudent and in the best interests and well-being of everyone, especially our inductees, honorees, and guests to move the 2020 class of inductees and honorees in its entirety to next year’s gala when they can be truly celebrated,” said SHOF President & CEO, Linda Moran.

SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, “We talk all the time about great songs making the world a better place but that’s never been more true than at challenged times like these which are unprecedented. The wonderful songs that members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame have created are currently bringing comfort to billions of people all over the world in their time of uncertainty and need and that is something I believe we can all find gratitude in. We are family, please be safe.”