Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network.
The Country Music Association’s 50th Annual Awards spectacle was an adept blending of star power, tradition, progression, and of course, music.
For a show 50 years in the making, the evening’s first eight minutes paid homage to a good portion of the major stars the genre has produced in the past five decades. Vince Gill, who hosted the CMAs from 1992-2003, paid tribute to Merle Haggard by performing “Mama Tried” with Haggard’s son Ben. Brad Paisley and Roy Clark teamed for Buck Owens‘ “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail,” while Carrie Underwood performed Tammy Wynette‘s classic “Stand By Your Man.” Charley Pride joined Paisley for “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” followed by Alabama‘s rendition of “Mountain Music.” Charlie Daniels lent a blazing fiddle performance to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” followed by Reba (“Fancy”), Dwight Yoakam (“Guitars, Cadillacs”), Clint Black (“Killing Time”), Ricky Skaggs (“Country Boy”), and Alan Jackson (“Don’t Rock The Jukebox”).
And those were just the stars onstage…the audience was brimming with prior and current CMA winners, including Lorrie Morgan, Loretta Lynn, Lee Greenwood, and more.
The medley ended in one of the most touching moments of the evening, as Randy Travis was brought to the stage to take part in an all-star performance of his signature “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Travis, still recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2013, provided the final “Amen” at the end of the song, to the delight of the crowd.
Maren Morris wins New Artist of the Year at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network.
Throughout the evening, video clips highlighted past CMA award winners from across the decades, while country’s brightest stars teamed for unique performances, such as George Strait and Alan Jackson’s collaboration on “Remember When” and “Troubadour.”
In the hours leading up to the awards, it was confirmed that pop superstar Beyonce would perform during the event. She was joined onstage by The Dixie Chicks for a mashup of “Daddy’s Lessons,” from Beyonce’s album Lemonade, and The Dixie Chicks’ “Long Time Gone.” The Chicks may not be ready to make nice, but they were ready to give the CMA event one of its most talked-about moments.
Several of country’s top female vocalists, including Reba, Jennifer Nettles, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves and Martina McBride teamed to pay tribute to Dolly Parton. The ladies’ illustrious harmonies earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
Beyoncé and The Dixie Chicks perform “Daddy Lessons” and “Long Time Gone” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
Parton accepted the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award with her signature wit. “This is an absolute high,” Parton quipped, before plugging her upcoming Christmas movie Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which airs on NBC on Nov. 30.
Kenny Chesney was honored with the Pinnacle Award, presented by Peyton Manning.
Awards co-host Underwood took home her fourth Female Vocalist of the Year honor, after a foot-stomping, pyro-laced performance of “Dirty Laundry.” The performance was heightened further by an all-female backing band, which included Lindsay Ell, Lindi Ortega, Rachel Loy, Elizabeth Chan,Orianthi and trio Runaway June.
Chris Stapleton was the evening’s only double winner, taking home both Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Fire Away.” He later shared the stage with Dwight Yoakam for a tribute to Willie Nelson with “Seven Spanish Angels.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise winner of the evening was Brothers Osborne winning Vocal Duo of the Year over Florida Georgia Line, who had taken the trophy each year since 2013.
Maren Morris took home the evening’s New Artist of the Year honor, fresh off a soulful, rousing performance of “My Church,” backed by The McCrary Sisters and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The performance was a big alert to country music fans that this newcomer has the vocal chops and onstage charisma (not to mention the songwriting skills) that could translate well as a future headliner.
Lori McKenna wins Song of the Year for “Humble and Kind” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
Songwriter Lori McKenna was honored with Song of the Year for “Humble and Kind.” Tim McGraw later performed the heart-warming song surrounded by students from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. Interestingly, the past two times that the Song of the Year category was won by a solo writer, they were also female writers–Kimberly Perry won in 2011 for her solo write of “If I Die Young,” and Jennifer Nettles won in 2008 for “Stay.” Prior to that was Alan Jackson’s win for penning “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” in 2002.
Eric Church featured vocals from the soulful Rhiannon Giddens during his rendition of “Kill A Word.” Church’s Album of the Year win for Mr. Misunderstood was a full-circle moment, seeing that Church announced the album’s surprise arrival last year during the CMA Awards. Church and his team always put Church’s fans first, and in staying true to that tradition, made loyal fans the first to receive copies of Mr. Misunderstood upon its surprise release.
Garth Brooks emerged the winner of a hotly contested Entertainer race this year, edging out Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban to win. Brooks’ last win in the Entertainer category was in 1997; this marks his fourth CMA Entertainer of the Year honor. Taylor Swift made an appearance to honor Brooks with the award.
Earlier in the evening, Brooks and country superstar wife Trisha Yearwood treated the crowd to a medley of country classics, including “Golden Ring,” “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” “Rose Garden,” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
“We are so dang lucky to be part of this thing called country music,” Brooks told the crowd. Amen.
Click here for a recap of the evening’s winners.
Alan Jackson and George Strait perform “Remember When” and “Troubadour” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
Sony Music Nashville Celebrates CMA Wins
/by Lorie HollabaughSony Music Nashville celebrated Carrie Underwood and Maren Morris‘ wins following the CMA’s 50th with a party at the Bell Tower. Underwood took home the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy, while Morris was honored with Best New Artist.
Kenny Chesney was also awarded one of the CMA’s highest honors, the Pinnacle Award, presented by Peyton Manning. Meanwhile, Vanner Records/RCA Nashville artist Miranda Lambert performed her hit single, “Vice.”
(L-R) At Sony Music Nashville’s CMA Awards post party at The Bell Tower are: Doug Morris, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment; CMA Awards co-host Brad Paisley; co-host and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood; CMA New Artist of the Year winner Maren Morris; and, Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville.
Photo credit: Erika Goldring
(L-R:) Sony Music Nashville’s VP of A&R Jim Catino and EVP & COO Ken Robold, CMA Pinnacle Award winner Kenny Chesney, and Sr. Director of A&R Taylor Lindsey.
Photo credit: Erika Goldring
(L-R:) ShopKeeper Management’s Marion Kraft; Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman; Vanner Records/RCA Nashville’s Miranda Lambert; Rob Stringer, Chairman & CEO, Columbia Records; and, Doug Morris, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment.
Photo credit: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman, Arista Nashville/RCA Records’ Cam, Vanner Records/RCA Nashville’s Miranda Lambert, Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying, CMA Awards co-host and Female Vocalist of the Year winner Carrie Underwood and Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris. Photo credit: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman, Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey, and Sony Music Entertainment’s CEO Doug Morris and EVP & CFO Kevin Kelleher. Photo: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): Savannah Chrisley of USA Network’s Chrisley Knows Best, RCA Nashville/Zone 4’s Kane Brown, EFG Management’s Martha Earls and Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman. Photo: Erika Goldring
50th Annual CMAs: Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Beyonce, Dixie Chicks Shine
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network.
The Country Music Association’s 50th Annual Awards spectacle was an adept blending of star power, tradition, progression, and of course, music.
For a show 50 years in the making, the evening’s first eight minutes paid homage to a good portion of the major stars the genre has produced in the past five decades. Vince Gill, who hosted the CMAs from 1992-2003, paid tribute to Merle Haggard by performing “Mama Tried” with Haggard’s son Ben. Brad Paisley and Roy Clark teamed for Buck Owens‘ “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail,” while Carrie Underwood performed Tammy Wynette‘s classic “Stand By Your Man.” Charley Pride joined Paisley for “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” followed by Alabama‘s rendition of “Mountain Music.” Charlie Daniels lent a blazing fiddle performance to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” followed by Reba (“Fancy”), Dwight Yoakam (“Guitars, Cadillacs”), Clint Black (“Killing Time”), Ricky Skaggs (“Country Boy”), and Alan Jackson (“Don’t Rock The Jukebox”).
And those were just the stars onstage…the audience was brimming with prior and current CMA winners, including Lorrie Morgan, Loretta Lynn, Lee Greenwood, and more.
The medley ended in one of the most touching moments of the evening, as Randy Travis was brought to the stage to take part in an all-star performance of his signature “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Travis, still recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2013, provided the final “Amen” at the end of the song, to the delight of the crowd.
Maren Morris wins New Artist of the Year at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network.
Throughout the evening, video clips highlighted past CMA award winners from across the decades, while country’s brightest stars teamed for unique performances, such as George Strait and Alan Jackson’s collaboration on “Remember When” and “Troubadour.”
In the hours leading up to the awards, it was confirmed that pop superstar Beyonce would perform during the event. She was joined onstage by The Dixie Chicks for a mashup of “Daddy’s Lessons,” from Beyonce’s album Lemonade, and The Dixie Chicks’ “Long Time Gone.” The Chicks may not be ready to make nice, but they were ready to give the CMA event one of its most talked-about moments.
Several of country’s top female vocalists, including Reba, Jennifer Nettles, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves and Martina McBride teamed to pay tribute to Dolly Parton. The ladies’ illustrious harmonies earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
Beyoncé and The Dixie Chicks perform “Daddy Lessons” and “Long Time Gone” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
Parton accepted the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award with her signature wit. “This is an absolute high,” Parton quipped, before plugging her upcoming Christmas movie Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, which airs on NBC on Nov. 30.
Kenny Chesney was honored with the Pinnacle Award, presented by Peyton Manning.
Awards co-host Underwood took home her fourth Female Vocalist of the Year honor, after a foot-stomping, pyro-laced performance of “Dirty Laundry.” The performance was heightened further by an all-female backing band, which included Lindsay Ell, Lindi Ortega, Rachel Loy, Elizabeth Chan,Orianthi and trio Runaway June.
Chris Stapleton was the evening’s only double winner, taking home both Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Fire Away.” He later shared the stage with Dwight Yoakam for a tribute to Willie Nelson with “Seven Spanish Angels.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise winner of the evening was Brothers Osborne winning Vocal Duo of the Year over Florida Georgia Line, who had taken the trophy each year since 2013.
Maren Morris took home the evening’s New Artist of the Year honor, fresh off a soulful, rousing performance of “My Church,” backed by The McCrary Sisters and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The performance was a big alert to country music fans that this newcomer has the vocal chops and onstage charisma (not to mention the songwriting skills) that could translate well as a future headliner.
Lori McKenna wins Song of the Year for “Humble and Kind” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
Songwriter Lori McKenna was honored with Song of the Year for “Humble and Kind.” Tim McGraw later performed the heart-warming song surrounded by students from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. Interestingly, the past two times that the Song of the Year category was won by a solo writer, they were also female writers–Kimberly Perry won in 2011 for her solo write of “If I Die Young,” and Jennifer Nettles won in 2008 for “Stay.” Prior to that was Alan Jackson’s win for penning “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” in 2002.
Eric Church featured vocals from the soulful Rhiannon Giddens during his rendition of “Kill A Word.” Church’s Album of the Year win for Mr. Misunderstood was a full-circle moment, seeing that Church announced the album’s surprise arrival last year during the CMA Awards. Church and his team always put Church’s fans first, and in staying true to that tradition, made loyal fans the first to receive copies of Mr. Misunderstood upon its surprise release.
Garth Brooks emerged the winner of a hotly contested Entertainer race this year, edging out Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban to win. Brooks’ last win in the Entertainer category was in 1997; this marks his fourth CMA Entertainer of the Year honor. Taylor Swift made an appearance to honor Brooks with the award.
Earlier in the evening, Brooks and country superstar wife Trisha Yearwood treated the crowd to a medley of country classics, including “Golden Ring,” “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” “Rose Garden,” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes.”
“We are so dang lucky to be part of this thing called country music,” Brooks told the crowd. Amen.
Click here for a recap of the evening’s winners.
Alan Jackson and George Strait perform “Remember When” and “Troubadour” at “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,” live Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and broadcast on the ABC Television Network. Photo: CMA
50th Annual CMA Awards Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks and Chris Stapleton were big winners during the 50th Annual CMA Awards. Brooks took home Entertainer of the Year, while Stapleton was a double winner, earning Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Fire Away.” Read MusicRow‘s CMA recap here.
Full list of 50th Annual CMA Award Nominees (Winners in red):
Entertainer Of The Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))
Winner: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
Produced by Dann Huff and Jesse Frasure
Mix Engineered by Justin Niebank
The Valory Music Co.
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
Produced by Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw
Mix Engineered by Byron Gallimore
Big Machine Records
“My Church,” Maren Morris
Produced by busbee and Maren Morris
Mix Engineered by Dave Clauss and busbee
Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville
“Nobody To Blame,” Chris Stapleton
Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineered by Vance Powell
Mercury Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville
“Record Year,” Eric Church
Produced by Jay Joyce
Mix Engineered by Jay Joyce and Jason Hall
EMI Records Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville
Album of the Year
Black
Dierks Bentley
Producer: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
Capitol Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Hero
Maren Morris
Producer: busbee, Maren Morris, Brad Hill
Columbia Nashville / Sony Music Nashville
Winner: Mr. Misunderstood
Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
EMI Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Ripcord
Keith Urban
Producer: Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Dann Huff, Greg Wells, Nile Rodgers, busbee, K-Kov, Nathan Chapman, Jonny Price, Keith Urban
Hit Red Records / Capitol Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Storyteller
Carrie Underwood
Producer: Jay Joyce, Mark Bright, Zach Crowell
19 Recordings / Arista Nashville / Sony Music Nashville
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Burning House,” Camaron “Cam” Ochs, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker
“Die a Happy Man,” Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, and Joe Spargur
Winner: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
“My Church,” busbee and Maren Morris
“Record Year,” Eric Church and Jeff Hyde
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Winner: Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Winner: Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Winner: Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Musical Event of the Year
Winner: “Different For Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
[Capitol Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville]
“Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
[Capitol Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville]
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban (featuring Carrie Underwood)
[Hit Red Records / Capitol Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville]
“Think Of You,” Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope)
[RCA Nashville / Sony Music Nashville]
“You Are My Sunshine,” Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
[Low Country Sound / Elektra Records]
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas, Dobro / Lap Steel Guitar
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Winner: Dann Huff, Guitar
Brent Mason, Guitar
Derek Wells, Guitar
Music Video of the Year
Burning House
Cam
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Winner: Fire Away
Chris Stapleton
Directed by Tim Mattia
Humble and Kind
Tim McGraw
Directed by Wes Edwards
Record Year
Eric Church
Directed by John Peets and Reid Long
Somewhere On A Beach
Dierks Bentley
Directed by Wes Edwards
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Winner: Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Industry Ink: WMN, Charlie Daniels, Erin Duvall
/by Jessica NicholsonWarner Music Nashville Celebrates CMA Awards Week
John Esposito and Warner Music Nashville artists celebrated CMA Awards week at Espo’s annual cocktail party, as well as at CMT’s Next Women of Country event on Tuesday.
Pictured (L-R): Brett Eldredge, John Esposito, RaeLynn, Dan Smyers, CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Cole Swindell and William Michael Morgan.
Espo joins CMT Next Women of Country honorees and WMN artists RaeLynn, Aubrie Sellers and Brandy Clark.
Country Music Hall of Fame Welcomes Charlie Daniels
Pictured (L-R): the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael McCall, Charlie Daniels, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia, and manager David Corlew
Following his recent Country Music Hall of Fame induction and exhibit opening, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum welcomed Charlie Daniels to the CMA Theater for an intimate performance and interview. Moderated by museum editor Michael McCall, Daniels reflected on his legendary career and performed a number of acoustic songs.
The Charlie Daniels: Million Mile Reflections exhibition runs through March of 2017.
Erin Duvall To Sign Copies Of Country Music Hair At Parnassus Books
Country Music Hair highlights mullets, bobs, beehives, and bouffants that country artists have sported throughout the decades.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Parnassus Books is located in Nashville at 3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 14.
Duvall is a freelance writer and editor who has specialized in country music for more than a decade. She was an associate producer for CMT Radio, and editor and reporter at TheBoot.com.
Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini To Headline Second Music & Miracles Superfest
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, and Kelsea Ballerini will headline the 2017 lineup for the second Music and Miracles Superfest Show on April 22, 2017, which will also include performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Michael Ray. The concert was created by Chicken Salad Chick Foundation board members Kevin and Stacy Brown and Betty and Earlon McWhorter to raise funds for cancer research and help combat hunger. The first Music and Miracles Superfest, headlined by Kenny Chesney, was the first major concert ever held in Jordan-Hare Stadium’s 75-year history, on April 23 in Auburn, Alabama.
Chicken Salad Chick Foundation’s Stacy Brown and the McWhorters recently presented a $200,000 check to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center to support cancer research from funds raised through the Music and Miracles Superfest, among other initiatives.
“This was the dream and the vision of my late husband, Kevin Brown, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in Nov. 2013,” said Brown, co-founder of the Auburn-based Chicken Salad Chick restaurant and catering firm. “Thankfully, our business was successful and we were already talking about how we were going to give back. It became clear very quickly that this should be our focus.”
In conjunction with the McWhorters, the Browns launched the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, with a mission to help feed the hungry and fight cancer. Kevin Brown, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013, started dreaming of a giant fundraising concert headlined by Chesney, which resulted in the inaugural Music and Miracles Superfest. Monies from the event will go to clinical research designed to generate new knowledge that will enable physicians and scientists to make more rapid advances in cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Vanderbilt is one of the leaders of a nationwide research effort to align promising therapies with patients with advanced cancer who are mostly likely to benefit from targeted therapies.
Artist Updates: Brett Eldredge, Easton Corbin, Cole Swindell, Mary Sarah
/by Jessica NicholsonBrett Eldredge Surprises Nashville Target Shoppers With Christmas Cheer
Brett Eldredge. Photo: Target
Christmas came early in Nashville this week when Target and Brett Eldredge gave unsuspecting Halloween guests a special holiday treat. Opening the door to reveal a winter wonderland complete with ice skaters and snow, Eldredge serenaded lucky trick-or-treaters with “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” a track from his new holiday album Glow. The full surprise video, directed by prankster Jeff Tremaine, will roll out on Target’s social channels this week.
The Target exclusive deluxe edition of Eldredge’s new holiday album is available now and includes three bonus tracks: “Blue Christmas,” “O Holy Night” and “The First Noel.”
Easton Corbin To Perform During Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Easton Corbin will perform and participate in the 90th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 24. Corbin will be the guest on the Colonel’s Roadtrip to NYC by Kentucky Fried Chicken float.
Corbin will take a break from opening for Carrie Underwood’s The Storyteller Tour to head to New York City to be part of America’s Thanksgiving Day tradition, that is seen by over 3.5 million spectators who line the streets of Manhattan and more than 50 million viewers on television. The Florida native will resume with the The Storyteller Tour that Friday, Nov. 26 in Las Vegas.
Cole Swindell Celebrates First Weekend Of CMT On Tour Headlining Trek
Cole Swindell headlined at the Cotillion Ballroom in Wichita, KS. Photo: Nate Mahy
Cole Swindell wrapped the first weekend of his headlining CMT On Tour Presents the Cole Swindell Down Home Tour with sold-out shows. The tour kicked off last week with fans packing a sold-out Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and continued to Wichita, Kansas, Denver, Colorado, and Odessa, Texas.
Swindell takes a brief detour back to Nashville this week for the 50th Annual CMA Awards where he is nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year. The Down Home Tour will continue Friday (Nov. 4) at the Lyric Oxford in Oxford, Mississippi.
Mary Sarah Performs With The Time Jumpers
Pictured (L-R): Jeff Taylor, Joe Spivey, Kenny Sears, Larry Franklin, Mary Sarah, Ranger Doug and Vince Gill. Photo: Patricia Gross
Newcomer Mary Sarah performed as a guest during The Time Jumpers‘ show at Nashville venue Third & Lindsley on Monday (Oct. 31). Mary Sarah, who finished in the Top 5 during The Voice‘s 2016 season, performed “Heartaches By The Numbers.”
“It was just so surreal, standing up there singing with these guys,” Mary Sarah said. “They are such amazing musicians!”
Song Dillon, Daughter Of Dean Dillon, Joins BMI
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, BMI songwriter Song Dillon, BMI Icon Dean Dillon and BMI’s Jody Williams.
Song Dillon, daughter of BMI Icon and country music legend Dean Dillon, stopped by the Nashville office of performing rights organization BMI on Nov. 2 to officially sign as a songwriter.
A lifelong songwriter, Song is currently in high school in Knoxville, Tennessee, and plans to move to Nashville after graduation to pursue a career as a writer and an artist.
Beyonce Confirmed For Tonight’s CMA Awards
/by Sarah SkatesLast year, A-list pop star Justin Timberlake took to the CMA Awards stage. He teamed with Chris Stapleton to perform “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away,” which sent the then-rising star’s career into overdrive.
The 50th Annual CMA Awards will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Previously announced performers include Alabama, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Clint Black, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Roy Clark, 2016 CMA Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Jennifer Nettles, Paisley, Pentatonix, Charley Pride, Thomas Rhett, Reba, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Underwood, Keith Urban, and Dwight Yoakam.
Earlier today, CMA Awards were presented to Bentley, Stapleton and King.
Belmont University Will Sponsor Ken Burns Country Music Documentary
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (seated): Ken Burns. Standing: Ricky Skaggs; Dr. Bob Fisher, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Belmont University; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.
Belmont University announced Wednesday morning (Nov. 2) a deal to sponsor the upcoming eight-episode, 16-hour documentary series Country Music, helmed by revered filmmaker Ken Burns.
Among those celebrating the announcement were Nashville mayor Megan Barry, artist Ricky Skaggs, Belmont University president Bob Fisher, and producer Burns.
While the exact amount was not revealed, Fisher noted that Belmont would help underwrite a significant amount of the production and distribution costs for the series.
Burns has directed and produced for 30 years, including award-winning documentaries The Civil War (1990), Baseball (1994), Jazz (2001), The War (2007), The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2009), Prohibition (2011), The Central Park Five (2012), and The Roosevelts (2014). He was also executive producer of both The West (1996, directed by Stephen Ives), and Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies (2015, directed by Barak Goodman). Burns’ work has been nominated for two Academy Awards and has earned two Emmy Awards (for Baseball and The National Parks).
“In some ways I don’t know why in almost 40 years we haven’t done [a country music documentary] before,” said Burns. “We are interested and each of our films asks one question: ‘Who are we? Who are these people who call themselves Americans? What does investigation of the past tell us about who we are and where we are going as people?'”
As part of the deal, Belmont University students will have the opportunity to intern with Burns’ Florentine Films in New Hampshire and New York. Belmont will also host a screening and Q&A session for the series.
Pictured (L-R): Dr. Bob Fisher; Ken Burns; Ricky Skaggs (speaking); Marty Dickens; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.
Burns has already been working with Belmont’s Don Cusic for the past four years, as well as with the Country Music Hall of Fame to tell the story of country music’s history. He noted that the series includes interviews with Holly Williams, Belmont alumna Trisha Yearwood, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton and more.
“There is no better place to center our base of operations than in Music City,” said Burns. “And while we do go to the Appalachian Mountains; Memphis, Tennessee; Del Rio, Texas; Bakersfield, California; Bristol, Tennessee; and Nova Scotia, Canada and the way it’s taken on around the world, it is centered here. The story of country music is this glorious tension of Nashville and these hillbillies that invaded…that tension is one of the driving forces of country music and this town. One of our earliest alums is Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, better known as Minnie Pearl. She helped the established gentry of Nashville accept the new people who came in. In every single episode, all eight episodes, we are on the cusp of that great story. We are thrilled to work with Belmont to help tell that story.
Belmont University announces major sponsorship of Ken Burns’s new documentary, the highly anticipated “Country Music” which is slated to premiere nationally on PBS in 2019, on the front steps of Freeman Hall at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. November 2, 2016.
“We’ve digitized 20,000 still photos,” said Burns, who noted the documentary is in the early days of editing. “We’ve done 98 interviews for this and I’m sorry to say, but happy to say, we included several people who have passed away, including Ralph Stanley and Little Jimmy Dickens.”
The documentary is set to air in 2019 on PBS.
“I can’t think of a better subject than country music,” said Burns. “It is American history firing on all cylinders.”
30A Songwriters Festival Announces Initial 2017 Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe 8th annual 30A Songwriters Festival has revealed the initial lineup for its 2017 celebration. The festival, held in venues along scenic Highway 30A in Florida’s South Walton County, will feature headline performances from artists John Prine, Cheap Trick, Dr. John and the Night Trippers, Shawn Colvin, Parker Millsap, Drivin N Cryin, and Motel Mirrors (featuring Amy LaVere and Will Sexton).
Held January 13-16, 2017, the festival will also feature performances in venues on 30A by John Fullbright, Over the Rhine, JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic), Chely Wright, Murray Attaway (Guadalcanal Diary), Matthew Sweet, Tom Gray (The Brains), Shawn Mullins, Peter Case, Sarah Lee Guthrie, John Gorka, Nicole Witt, and Farewell Angelina.
Over 175 songwriters will also perform during the four-day event, including Jeffrey Steele, Kyle Jacobs, Derek George, Jaren Johnston, Abe Stoklasa, and more. Festival weekend passes are now available for $265 and can be purchased at 30asongwritersfestival.