It’s fall, and there’s bluegrass pollen in the air.
The awards celebration by Nashville’s International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) was staged in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 2, and several of the winners are in the DisClaimer column’s spotlight today.
The Disc of the Day, however, goes to a recording that I predict will be a winner at next year’s IBMA celebration. The Earls of Leicester album was released by Rounder on Sept. 16, and it has been in my CD player chronically ever since. It is everything a great bluegrass record should be.
The DisCovery Award goes to Jim & Lynna Woolsey with a sincere wish for recognition and success in the months to come.
BALSAM RANGE/Moon Over Memphis
Writer: Mark W. Winchester; Producer: Balsam Range; Publisher: WB, ASCAP; Mountain Home
-Balsam Range cleaned up at the IBMA Awards earlier this month, picking up Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year accolades. Plus, the group’s Buddy Melton won Male Vocalist of the Year. Its current CD, Five, kicks off with this firing-on-all-cylinders, rapidly executed, minor-key, bluesy, murderous lament. His baby done him wrong, so he guns her down. Melton is way-up “high lonesome” vocally, and everyone else is dazzling on the instrumental work. The track is powering its way up the bluegrass chart, and is poised to enter the top-10 next month.
THE EARLS OF LEICESTER/On My Mind
Writers: Tom James/Marljohn Wilkin; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Publishers: Universal Songs of Polygram/Universal Cedarwood, BMI; Rounder (track)
-Assembled by CMA Instrumentalist of the Year nominee Jerry Douglas, the Earls are an all-star tribute band to the music of Flatt & Scruggs. In addition to Douglas, the members are Tim O’Brien, Shawn Camp, Charlie Cushman, Barry Bales and Johnny Warren. The 14-track CD includes this honky-tonk moaner wherein Camp bends vocal notes masterfully while fiddler Warren weaves around him and Douglas “answers” on Dobro, phrase for phrase. Country music in excelsis deo.
FLATT LONESOME/So Far
Writer: Randall Hylton; Producers: Andrea Roberts/Tim Surrett; Publishers: Hytone/Teague Town, BMI; Mountain Home
-Flatt Lonesome won the Emerging Artist of the Year honor at this year’s IBMA Awards. As is the case with more and more new bluegrass bands, female voices are at the forefront. In this case, Charli Robertson and Kelsi Robertson Harrigill lead the way on a sunny, bright celebration of freedom with Buddy Robertson chiming in with a hearty third harmony part. The Bluegrass Unlimited chart has this currently at No. 21 and climbing. Promising and exciting, to say the least.
VALERIE SMITH/That’s All
Writers: Michael Rutherford/Phil Collins/Tony Banks; Producer: Mike Scott; Publishers: none listed; Bell Buckle (track)
-Down in tiny Bell Buckle, TN, Valerie Smith has been quietly building an independent bluegrass career for several years. Her new CD, The Human Condition, contains a number of surprises. Not the least of them is this haunting, imaginative, acoustic re-working of the 1984 Genesis rock hit. There’s plenty more head-turning and ear-catching stuff elsewhere, from Gloria Estefan’s “Reach” and George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” to Buck Owens’s “Just as Long as You Love Me” and Martina McBride’s “Where I Used to Have a Heart,” plus Jessi Colter’s “I’m Not Lisa.” Also don’t miss the stunning album graphic design.
DOLLY PARTON/Blue Smoke
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Dolly (track)
-The title tune to Dolly’s current CD is in the top-20 on this month’s bluegrass chart. She’s at her fervent, female-survivor, inspirational best on this gospel-flavored bluegrass romp. If you don’t feel better by the time she finishes this hand clapper, you must be deaf.
PHIL LEADBETTER/I’m A Ramblin’ Rolling Stone
Writers: Paula Breedlove/Brad Davis; Producers:Phil Leadbetter/Steve Thomas; Publishers: PaulaJon/Brad Davis, ASCAP/BMI; Pinecastle (track)
-Leadbetter is the newly crowned IBMA Dobro Player of the Year (he also won in 2005), but the victory must be bittersweet. He recorded his current CD, The Next Move, while he was in remission from lymphoma, and the cancer has since returned. But during that interim, he gathered a “bucket list” of dream collaborators for the collection, including Bela Fleck, Steve Wariner, Joe Diffie, Marty Raybon, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Ken Mellons, Dale Ann Bradley, Con Hunley, Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp and Rob Ickes. On this lead-off track of the CD, his fleet-fingered, lickety-split Dobro notes are matched by a fiery lead vocal by John Cowan. The sound of a true champ.
BRYAN SUTTON/That’s Where I Belong
Writers: none listed; Producer: Bryan Sutton; Publishers: none listed; Sugar Hill (track)
-The IBMA Guitarist of the Year is again Nashville’s Bryan Sutton. This is his eighth win in this category. He’s on the current bluegrass chart with this lilting, breezy outing from his new Into My Own album. As always, his awesome acoustic tone and technique are flawless. Look for him on the road this fall with the reunited and wildly entertaining Hot Rize.
KATHY KALLICK BAND/Time
Writer: Kathy Kallick; Producers: Kathy Kallick/Tom Size; Publisher: Red Shirt, BMI; Live Oak (track)
-Banjo player and journalist Murphy Hicks Henry has a delightful new book titled Pretty Good for a Girl: Women in Bluegrass. In it, you’ll find a lengthy appreciation of the talents of veteran singer-songwriter Kathy Kallick, from her days in the all-female Good Ol’ Persons band to her great duet works with Laurie Lewis. Not to mention her pioneering work as a female bandleader. At age 62, the feminist bluegrasser returned last year with a CD titled Time. Its title tune finds her singing and writing with as much heart and spirit as ever. Of particular note is the deft fiddling and vocal harmony support of band member Annie Staninec.
LARRY SPARKS/Bitterweeds
Writers: Barbara Wilkison/Sonya Wood; Producers: Larry Sparks/Steve Chandler; Publishers: Draw Four/Target Top Ten, BMI; Rebel (track)
-Making a debut on this month’s bluegrass chart is this 50-year veteran. Drawn from his new Lonesome and Then Some CD, this enigmatic story song of a dead spinster reflects this 67-year-old legend’s famous ability to spot terrific country craftsmanship. Guests on the durable stylist’s collection include Judy Marshall, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Bobby Osborne, Curly Seckler and Jesse McReynolds. As a bonus, there’s a previously unissued 1995 track with Bill Monroe.
JIM & LYNNA WOOLSEY/Road That Brings You Home
Writers: James Woolsey/Lynna Woolsey/Gary Clendenon; Producer: Randy Kohrs; Publishers: Notes From Home/Toasted Squirrel, BMI; Broken Record
-Jim Woolsey sings in a heart-tugging, countryboy tenor, and his songs are full of honesty and homespun truth. He and his wife wisely came to Nashville and tucked themselves under the generous wing of Dobro man Randy Kohrs. The result is a lovely debut disc that warms you like a good fireplace. This is its sweet title tune.
Brooke Eden Inks Deals With BBR Music Group, Fitzgerald Hartley
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Nick Hartley; Sherrie Austin; BBR Music Group’s Benny Brown; Brooke Eden; Fitzgerald Hartley’s Larry Fitzgerald; BBR Music Group’s Jon Loba
BBR Music Group has signed singer-songwriter Brooke Eden to its artist roster. Eden also recently inked a deal with Fitzgerald Hartley for artist management, where she will be repped by Nick Hartley. Songwriter/artist Sherrie Austin has also joined Eden’s team for additional management needs.
Brooke Eden
Eden is a BMI songwriter and is signed to Magic Mustang Music/Warner Chappell, and booked by Creative Artist Agency.
The Florida native’s song “American Dreamin'” was featured on SiriusXM The Highway’s “Highway Find” initiative this summer, and was included in The Highway’s “Fresh Female Voices of Country Music Week.”
“Brooke knows exactly who she is as an artist and a songwriter and is one of the strongest female vocalists I’ve ever heard. It’s time for a new female artist to break in our format and we believe she will,” said Benny Brown, President/Owner of the BBR Music Group.
“All the pieces of this crazy puzzle came together when I met with BBR and Fitzgerald Hartley,” said Eden. “Both companies understood my musical vision from our first meeting. I am humbled to be a part of the BBR and Fitzgerald Hartley families, not only because of the talent that these companies employ, but because of the people that these companies employ. I believe that passion is the fuel that creates the energy it takes to work hard enough to break a new act. I am fully confident that this team possesses the passion it takes to turn this vision into a reality. Yo, here we go!”
Brad Paisley, Boot Barn Launch Clothing Collection
/by Jessica NicholsonBrad Paisley in attire from the Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley collection. Photo: Jeff Lipsky
A line of Brad Paisley-inspired clothing merchandise will be soon be available to fans. Boot Barn has partnered with Paisley to develop an exclusive line of boots, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts. The line, titled Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley, is aimed at males ages 18-40, and prices range from $20 for baseball caps to $299 for a leather jacket.
The collection will debut during the grand opening of Nashville, Tenn.’s, Boot Barn store on Oct. 24, 2014. The collection will be available online and in all Boot Barn stores Dec. 1.
“We specifically chose Brad Paisley to create this line, because his values align beautifully with those of our customers and employees,” said Jim Conroy, Boot Barn’s chief executive officer. “He is authentic, and that’s the essence of every Boot Barn customer.”
Ed Hardy Named Music City Music Council Co-Chair
/by Jessica NicholsonEd Hardy
Mayor Karl Dean has announced former Great American Country president Ed Hardy as the new co-chair of the Music City Music Council. Dean has served as co-chair of the Music Council since its inception in 2009. Hardy was most recently the interim CEO at the Country Music Association, and previously served as chairman of the board for the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. He is also chairman of the CMA Board of Directors.
“Ed has a wealth of experience that will help us continue to promote our Music City brand and attract entertainment companies to our city,” Mayor Dean said. “Ed is well liked and highly respected, and with his work with two giants in the music industry –the Country Music Association and Great American Country — we are fortunate to have him lead the efforts of our Music Council.”
Randy Goodman, who formerly served as president at Lyric Street Records in Nashville and is now with Spalding Entertainment, is the outgoing chairman. Mary Ann McCready, co-founder and president at Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, was the first co-chair.
“I have watched the evolution of the Music Council and the great things it has achieved under Mayor Dean’s leadership, so it’s a real honor to be asked by Mayor Dean to serve in this role,” Hardy said. “Mayor Dean’s passion for our thriving music scene and the talented people who work in it, in addition to his general support for the music industry, is unsurpassed. His leadership is respected and appreciated by all of us. I look forward to advancing our Music Council projects and working with the dedicated Council members, who have done so much.”
The Music Council will continue to primarily focus on recruitment of entertainment companies to Nashville. Recent expansions include Sony/ATV’s expansion to downtown with 60 new jobs and Eventbrite’s expansion into Nashville earlier this year with an initial 45 new jobs. Among the organization’s other priorities are supporting and expanding live music in Nashville, and music education in public schools.
'MusicRow' Launches New Print Issue: 2015's Next Big Thing
/by Sherod Robertson“As Nashville’s music industry trade publication, we are uniquely positioned to see the incredible talent on the cusp of breaking new ground. Whether reaching new heights in an already successful career, or poised to make their first significant entrance to the national stage in 2015, the Next Big Thing artists are worthy of the spotlight and destined to become an integral part of America’s music,” says MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson.
In addition to spotlighting artists as MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing, this issue will offer exclusive editorial content and compelling features for Nashville’s music industry members.
Advertising inquiries should be made to Sherod Robertson at 615-499-5418 or emailed to sales@musicrow.com.
To be sure you will receive a copy at your doorstep, subscribe today.
#MusicRowNBT
Weekly Register: Aldean Notches One of Year's Biggest Debuts
/by Sarah SkatesAldean’s total surpasses other top debuts of 2014, including Brantley Gilbert’s Just As I Am, which sold 211K units during its debut week in May. Aldean lands behind Eric Church’s The Outsiders, which sold 288K upon release in February.
The year’s highest debut on the overall chart, was Coldplay’s Ghost Stories which sold 383K in May.
Aldean’s previous album, 2012′s Night Train, sold 409K units in its first week.
YTD Country album sales are down -16.7 percent, but with numerous high profile releases coming before year’s end, there is a chance for retail redemption. The hotly anticipated album from Florida Georgia Line hit shelves yesterday, and will be followed by Little Big Town next week, with many more due before the end of 2014 (full list here).
On this week’s tracks chart, the top debut is FGL’s “Sippin’ On Fire,” selling 79K and landing at No. 1 Country. Rounding out the top 5 are Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” 53K, FGL’s “Dirt” 45K/1 million RTD, Blake Shelton’s “Neon Light” 35K, and Sam Hunt’s “Leave The Night On” 30K.
Eric Church Announces Second Leg Of World Tour
/by Kelsey_GradyEric Church
Eric Church has a lot to celebrate, including his top-selling album, The Outsiders, his rising single, “Talledega,” and the unveiling of the second leg of The Outsiders World Tour.
The Chief will take on the New Year with the launch of the second leg of the tour in New Orleans on Jan. 8, 2015.
The Outsiders World Tour dates:
Jan. 8| New Orleans, LA| Smoothie King Center
Jan. 9| Tupelo, MS| BancorpSouth Arena
Jan. 10| Nashville, TN| Bridgestone Arena
Jan. 14| Oklahoma City, OK| Chesapeake Energy Arena
Jan. 16| Las Vegas, NV | The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Jan. 17| Las Vegas, NV| The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Jan. 18| San Diego, CA| Valley View Casino Arena
Jan. 22| Fresno, CA| Save Mart Center
Jan. 23| Los Angeles, CA| Staples Center
Jan. 24| Phoenix, AZ| US Airways Arena
Jan. 27| Denver, CO| Pepsi Center
Jan. 29| Spokane, WA| Spokane Arena
Jan. 30| Boise, ID| Taco Bell Arena
Jan. 31| Salt Lake City, UT| EnergySolutions Arena
Feb. 4| Sacramento, CA| Sleep Train Arena
Feb. 5| San Jose, CA| SAP Center
DISClaimer: Bluegrass In The Air
/by Robert K OermannThe awards celebration by Nashville’s International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) was staged in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 2, and several of the winners are in the DisClaimer column’s spotlight today.
The Disc of the Day, however, goes to a recording that I predict will be a winner at next year’s IBMA celebration. The Earls of Leicester album was released by Rounder on Sept. 16, and it has been in my CD player chronically ever since. It is everything a great bluegrass record should be.
The DisCovery Award goes to Jim & Lynna Woolsey with a sincere wish for recognition and success in the months to come.
BALSAM RANGE/Moon Over Memphis
Writer: Mark W. Winchester; Producer: Balsam Range; Publisher: WB, ASCAP; Mountain Home
-Balsam Range cleaned up at the IBMA Awards earlier this month, picking up Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year accolades. Plus, the group’s Buddy Melton won Male Vocalist of the Year. Its current CD, Five, kicks off with this firing-on-all-cylinders, rapidly executed, minor-key, bluesy, murderous lament. His baby done him wrong, so he guns her down. Melton is way-up “high lonesome” vocally, and everyone else is dazzling on the instrumental work. The track is powering its way up the bluegrass chart, and is poised to enter the top-10 next month.
THE EARLS OF LEICESTER/On My Mind
Writers: Tom James/Marljohn Wilkin; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Publishers: Universal Songs of Polygram/Universal Cedarwood, BMI; Rounder (track)
-Assembled by CMA Instrumentalist of the Year nominee Jerry Douglas, the Earls are an all-star tribute band to the music of Flatt & Scruggs. In addition to Douglas, the members are Tim O’Brien, Shawn Camp, Charlie Cushman, Barry Bales and Johnny Warren. The 14-track CD includes this honky-tonk moaner wherein Camp bends vocal notes masterfully while fiddler Warren weaves around him and Douglas “answers” on Dobro, phrase for phrase. Country music in excelsis deo.
FLATT LONESOME/So Far
Writer: Randall Hylton; Producers: Andrea Roberts/Tim Surrett; Publishers: Hytone/Teague Town, BMI; Mountain Home
-Flatt Lonesome won the Emerging Artist of the Year honor at this year’s IBMA Awards. As is the case with more and more new bluegrass bands, female voices are at the forefront. In this case, Charli Robertson and Kelsi Robertson Harrigill lead the way on a sunny, bright celebration of freedom with Buddy Robertson chiming in with a hearty third harmony part. The Bluegrass Unlimited chart has this currently at No. 21 and climbing. Promising and exciting, to say the least.
Writers: Michael Rutherford/Phil Collins/Tony Banks; Producer: Mike Scott; Publishers: none listed; Bell Buckle (track)
-Down in tiny Bell Buckle, TN, Valerie Smith has been quietly building an independent bluegrass career for several years. Her new CD, The Human Condition, contains a number of surprises. Not the least of them is this haunting, imaginative, acoustic re-working of the 1984 Genesis rock hit. There’s plenty more head-turning and ear-catching stuff elsewhere, from Gloria Estefan’s “Reach” and George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” to Buck Owens’s “Just as Long as You Love Me” and Martina McBride’s “Where I Used to Have a Heart,” plus Jessi Colter’s “I’m Not Lisa.” Also don’t miss the stunning album graphic design.
DOLLY PARTON/Blue Smoke
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producer: Kent Wells; Publisher: Velvet Apple, BMI; Dolly (track)
-The title tune to Dolly’s current CD is in the top-20 on this month’s bluegrass chart. She’s at her fervent, female-survivor, inspirational best on this gospel-flavored bluegrass romp. If you don’t feel better by the time she finishes this hand clapper, you must be deaf.
PHIL LEADBETTER/I’m A Ramblin’ Rolling Stone
Writers: Paula Breedlove/Brad Davis; Producers:Phil Leadbetter/Steve Thomas; Publishers: PaulaJon/Brad Davis, ASCAP/BMI; Pinecastle (track)
-Leadbetter is the newly crowned IBMA Dobro Player of the Year (he also won in 2005), but the victory must be bittersweet. He recorded his current CD, The Next Move, while he was in remission from lymphoma, and the cancer has since returned. But during that interim, he gathered a “bucket list” of dream collaborators for the collection, including Bela Fleck, Steve Wariner, Joe Diffie, Marty Raybon, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Ken Mellons, Dale Ann Bradley, Con Hunley, Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp and Rob Ickes. On this lead-off track of the CD, his fleet-fingered, lickety-split Dobro notes are matched by a fiery lead vocal by John Cowan. The sound of a true champ.
BRYAN SUTTON/That’s Where I Belong
Writers: none listed; Producer: Bryan Sutton; Publishers: none listed; Sugar Hill (track)
-The IBMA Guitarist of the Year is again Nashville’s Bryan Sutton. This is his eighth win in this category. He’s on the current bluegrass chart with this lilting, breezy outing from his new Into My Own album. As always, his awesome acoustic tone and technique are flawless. Look for him on the road this fall with the reunited and wildly entertaining Hot Rize.
KATHY KALLICK BAND/Time
Writer: Kathy Kallick; Producers: Kathy Kallick/Tom Size; Publisher: Red Shirt, BMI; Live Oak (track)
-Banjo player and journalist Murphy Hicks Henry has a delightful new book titled Pretty Good for a Girl: Women in Bluegrass. In it, you’ll find a lengthy appreciation of the talents of veteran singer-songwriter Kathy Kallick, from her days in the all-female Good Ol’ Persons band to her great duet works with Laurie Lewis. Not to mention her pioneering work as a female bandleader. At age 62, the feminist bluegrasser returned last year with a CD titled Time. Its title tune finds her singing and writing with as much heart and spirit as ever. Of particular note is the deft fiddling and vocal harmony support of band member Annie Staninec.
LARRY SPARKS/Bitterweeds
Writers: Barbara Wilkison/Sonya Wood; Producers: Larry Sparks/Steve Chandler; Publishers: Draw Four/Target Top Ten, BMI; Rebel (track)
-Making a debut on this month’s bluegrass chart is this 50-year veteran. Drawn from his new Lonesome and Then Some CD, this enigmatic story song of a dead spinster reflects this 67-year-old legend’s famous ability to spot terrific country craftsmanship. Guests on the durable stylist’s collection include Judy Marshall, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Bobby Osborne, Curly Seckler and Jesse McReynolds. As a bonus, there’s a previously unissued 1995 track with Bill Monroe.
JIM & LYNNA WOOLSEY/Road That Brings You Home
Writers: James Woolsey/Lynna Woolsey/Gary Clendenon; Producer: Randy Kohrs; Publishers: Notes From Home/Toasted Squirrel, BMI; Broken Record
-Jim Woolsey sings in a heart-tugging, countryboy tenor, and his songs are full of honesty and homespun truth. He and his wife wisely came to Nashville and tucked themselves under the generous wing of Dobro man Randy Kohrs. The result is a lovely debut disc that warms you like a good fireplace. This is its sweet title tune.
Luke Bryan Congratulates 2014 CMA Broadcast Winners
/by Troy_Stephenson“Country radio has been so supportive of me and my career,” said Bryan. “I was honored to be the one to call and tell them about this huge honor. Congrats to all the winners!”
The winners of the 2014 CMA Broadcast Awards are:
2014 CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Winners
National – Lon Helton, “Country Countdown USA” – Westwood One
Major Market – “Laurie DeYoung Show” (Laurie DeYoung, Mark Williams, Jeff St. Pierre, and Claire Scattergood) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
Large Market – “Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Jeff “Maverick” Bolen, and Jason Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
Medium Market – Buzz Jackson – KIIM, Tucson, Ariz.
Small Market – “Gator & The Styckman” (Gator Harrison, Greg “Styckman” Owens, and “Cowboy” Kyle Croft) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
2014 CMA Radio Station of the Year Winners
Major Market – KKBQ – Houston-Galveston, Texas
Large Market – WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Medium Market – KXKT – Omaha, Neb./Council Bluffs, Iowa
Small Market – WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
“CMA recognizes the influence that Country radio stations have on the genre,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “I would like to congratulate these winners and thank them for their contributions to the format.”
Winners will be recognized at The 48th Annual CMA Awards to be held Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET and broadcast live on the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night” for the seventh time.
Luke Bryan Extends 'That's My Kind of Night' Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonLuke Bryan’s 2014 Farm Tour. Photo: Jim Wright
Luke Bryan will extend his highly successful That’s My Kind of Night Tour with a winter leg in early 2015. The 2014 tour has produced sell outs in each market it’s played including four sold-out stadium shows with crowds of 225,000 fans, two sold-out concerts in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, a string of double-play dates that broke venue attendance records and he became the debut country act to play Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Randy Houser and Dustin Lynch will open the 2015 winter leg. Ticket on sales begin this Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. for the Louisville, Ky. date.
2015 “That’s My Kind of Night” Tour:
Feb. 10 Grand Rapids, Mich. Van Andel Arena
Feb. 11 Evansville, Ind. Ford Center
Feb. 12 Louisville, Ky. KFC Yum! Center
Feb. 14 New Orleans Endymion Extravaganza *
Feb. 18 Estero, Fla. Germain Arena
Feb. 21 Orlando, Fla. Amway Center
*not TMKON Tour
Live Nation is the national tour promoter for the 2015 “That’s My Kind of Night Tour” and Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is sponsoring the tour.
Bryan wrapped his 2014 Farm Tour over the weekend, with 110,000 attending.
CMA Reveals Three Additional Awards Performers
/by Eric T. ParkerThe three-hour ABC-TV broadcast from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena has already announced performances by Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Keith Urban and hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.
Church has received four 2014 CMA Awards nominations including Male Vocalist; Album; and Single and Song of the Year. Florida Georgia Line is nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year. Musgraves has three nominations this year, including Female Vocalist; Song; and Music Video of the Year (although she is the featured artist and co-director, Musgraves only receives one nomination, but is able to receive a second trophy for video director).
The final CMA ballot to determine the 2014 winners is due from eligible voting members by Oct. 27 (5 p.m.CT).