Lady A has announced they will not be taking part in the CMA Awards this evening (Nov. 11), due to COVID-19 exposure.

“Sadly, one of our immediate family members has just tested positive for COVID-19 this week,” Lady A stated via Instagram and Twitter.  “So far, the three of us continue to test negative, and out of caution and love for everyone involved with the CMAs, we’ve decided to stay home from the awards tonight. We’re bummed that we won’t be able to perform with Darius Rucker and Thomas Rhett, but luckily Charles already taped his performance with Carly Pearce so you will still be seeing him take the stage! We’ll be cheering on our friends at home like the rest of y’all! Stay safe out there.”

Lady A’s Charles Kelley previously taped a performance of “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce, stepping in for Lee Brice, Pearce’s duet partner on the recorded version of the song, after Brice canceled his CMA appearance earlier this week after testing positive for COVID-19.

Lady A was set to perform with Darius Rucker on Rucker’s single “Beers & Sunshine,” while Lady A’s Hillary Scott was set to join Thomas Rhett for a performance of “Be A Light,” alongside Reba McEntire and Chris Tomlin.

Along with Brice, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard also revealed earlier this week that he would not be appearing on the CMA telecast due to a positive COVID-19 result.

See Lady A’s full statement below:

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— Lady A (@ladya) November 12, 2020

A free livestream festival aimed at supporting those in the live events and music touring industry affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is set for Dec. 16 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

The Live Events Lift Up Festival, also called LEVL Up Fest, will stream live from the Ryman beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT that evening, featuring 25 artists and entertainers spanning the genres of country, pop, Americana, and more. A lineup will be announced in coming weeks. In addition to music, the virtual attendees will hear stories from artists and crew members about the efforts it takes behind the scenes to produce live events and entertainment.

When quarantine and social distancing mandates forced live events to shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live events industry slammed to a halt. More than 12 million jobs were lost and more than 70% of live events workers lost 100% of their income.

“We’ve seen depression and anxiety take hold across our community, loss of life due to suicide, families in fear of losing homes and generational small businesses closing their doors,” says Shannon Cook, Co-Founder of LEVL UP Fest.  “With large-scale gatherings not expected to return until mid to late 2021, workers across this industry face a very uncertain future.”

Co-Founder of LEVL UP Fest Eileen Valois said via a statement, “In times of crisis, the entertainment and events industry have always stepped up with a call to action and so many incredible events like Live Aid and Farm Aid to the more recent Global Citizen events. Behind the scenes of every one of those benefits are the millions of people in our workforce. The average concert requires nearly 500 people to make it possible, from concessions and security to tour bus drivers, technical crew and everyone in between. This is OUR crisis and now we need to take care of our own.”

Valois, who is the Senior Vice President of Sports & Fan Entertainment at leading production solutions provider PRG and Cook, who is the Chief Operating Officer for TOURtech, are joined by five additional co-founders, representing a cross-section of the events industry including entertainment and private events.

The festival will benefit MusiCares, The Roadie Clinic, and the Country Music Association Foundation (with funds donated to the CMA Foundation to be used for the CMA EDU program). The LEVL Up Fest team will also launch a merchandise store this week; East Wind Screenprint has partnered with the organization to design merch and will donate 50% of the net proceeds back to the festival.

More than 30 professionals were brought together as an “Industry Council” to provide insight throughout the planning process; as well as organizations including Roadies of Color United, Event Safety Alliance, and We Make Events. Show Makers, a 501(C)(3) organization that provides resources for people who make events, is the Philanthropic Partner to LEVL UP Fest and will facilitate all funds raised in association with the event. TOURtech, a company that provides Wi-Fi and public safety technologies for live events and among the many suppliers impacted by the shutdown of live events, has stepped up as the supporting entity of record for LEVL UP Fest. The group says they are grateful to all of the partners who are providing a myriad of production and venue services and support.

Go West Creative CEO and Chief Creative David Fischette will executive produce the event, while Keith Levenson (conductor/composer for The Who since 1994 and co-founder of Fustercluck Music) will serve as music supervisor.

Dolly Parton will team with CBS for a one-hour entertainment special, A Holly Dolly Christmas, set for Sunday, Dec. 6 beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS Television Network, and streaming live and on demand at CBS All Access.

A Holly Dolly Christmas is produced by Sandollar Productions and NOZ Entertainment, and executive produced by Parton and Danny Nozell. The special will find Parton telling stories and performing songs from her recently-released album A Holly Dolly Christmas.

“I am so proud to be a part of the CBS family this holiday season with my new Christmas special,” said Parton.

“When Dolly Parton calls and tells you she wants to do a Christmas show, you don’t hesitate,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music & Live Events/Alternative & Reality for CBS. “A special with the multi-Grammy Award-winning, prolific songwriting, epic live performer of all time? She had us at hello. There’s only one Dolly Parton, and we are so excited to be bringing her to viewers this holiday season.”

Jordan Feliz has landed his third No. 1 radio hit this week with “Glorify,” which topped the Billboard Christian Hot AC/CHR National Airplay chart. The multi-format hit is the first single from his upcoming third album, Say It, set for release Dec. 18 from Centricity Music.

“Glorify” features a full Gospel choir backing Feliz’s recognizable falsetto along with a soaring praise-heavy chorus and propulsive beats, and was co-produced by Jordan Mohilowski and Colby Wedgeworth.

Feliz’s trajectory for his new album Say It was fraught with personal trials after success began to feel less like a blessing and more like a burden over the past few years. Feliz quickly became a household name when his first radio single, “The River,” the title track from his critically-acclaimed debut, became a smash. Spending an unprecedented 12 weeks at No. 1, the chart-topping single was named ASCAP’s “Christian Music Song of the Year” and garnered Feliz his first Gold certification. But he suffered his first panic attack as he and his wife, Jamie, welcomed their second child and he struggled to carry the weight of the spotlight and the livelihoods of multiple families connected to his career on his shoulders. Realigning his priorities and surrendering his anxiety to God, the hitmaker entered the studio to craft his third full-length project, Say It, with a renewed sense of identity and purpose.

“I’ve worked harder for this record than I’ve worked for almost anything in my life,” said Feliz. “With these songs, I want to encourage people to talk more about the beauty and the miracles that God does in our lives when we invite Him into our struggles…this record is all about what God has done in my life.”