New Music Video From Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims - "Somethin' Bout A Woman"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett - "Country Again"

Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood & Thomas Rhett Among Big Winners In 55th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Winners have been announced for the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards, live from Nashville. 15-time ACM Award-winning artist Keith Urban hosted the show featuring three iconic Nashville venues including Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. For the first time in ACM Awards history, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood tied for the Academy’s highest honor Entertainer of the Year Award – the first ever tie in that category. This is Rhett’s first win in the Entertainer of the Year category, and Underwood’s third win, making her the most awarded female in the ACM Entertainer of the Year category.

Old Dominion won Group of the Year Award for the third consecutive year and won their first Song of the Year Award for “One Man Band” with Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi each receiving an additional win as songwriters. This marks two overall wins as a group, with Ramsey, Rosen and Tursi leading the night with three individual wins, each.  Miranda Lambert continues her reign as most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history with 35 wins, after taking home this year’s trophy in Music Event of the Year category for “Fooled Around And Fell In Love.” Dan + Shay won Duo of the Year marking their second win in a row in the category.

The evening continued with more first-time wins including Luke Combs earning his first Male Artist of the Year Award and his first-ever win for Album of the Year for What You See Is What You Get. Maren Morris won her first Female Artist of the Year Award and her first Music Event of the Year for “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” alongside Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King. Blake Shelton won Single of the Year Award for “God’s Country” making this his first-ever win in the category.

Previously announced, Riley Green won New Male Artist of the Year and Tenille Townes won New Female Artist of the Year. Townes also won her first Music Event of the Year Award and both performed on the telecast and are featured on the newly released “On The Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives® Edition)” single, Willie Nelson’s timeless hit, featuring the ACM New Artist Nominees Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Caylee Hammack, Cody Johnson, and Morgan Wallen, joined by Nelson. Produced by Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins. Proceeds from the single will benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to be disbursed to individuals in the Country Music community who are currently in need of pandemic relief assistance.

This year’s 55th ACM Awards featured an all-star lineup of collaborations and memorable performances featuring 24 performances, including 41 hit songs. The awards telecast kicked off with Entertainer of the Year nominees performing a medley of each of their greatest hits. Luke Bryan performed “Rain Is A Good Thing,” Eric Church performed “Drink In My Hand,” Luke Combs performed “When It Rains It Pours,” Thomas Rhett performed “It Goes Like This” and Carrie Underwood performed “Before He Cheats.”

Global superstar and two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift, returned to the ACM Awards stage for the first time in seven years with a world premiere performance of “betty” off her record-breaking new album Folklore.  55th ACM Awards host Keith Urban performed the world television premiere of his new single, “One Too Many” with international pop icon P!NK, from  Urban’s new album out Friday, Speed of Now. Mickey Guyton made her solo ACM Award performance debut with “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” featuring surprise guest Urban on piano. Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani performed their latest single “Happy Anywhere.” Eric Church opened his performance with “Ragged Old Flag” a poem read by Johnny Cash which led into his single “Stick That In Your Country Song.”

In celebration of the 95th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, newly crowned three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year winner, Carrie Underwood, honored trailblazing female Opry members by performing a medley of songs including Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing,” Reba McEntire’s “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia,” and Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That.”

Additional performances included first-time ACM Awards performer Jimmie Allen (“Make Me Want To”), Kelsea Ballerini (“hole in the bottle”), Gabby Barrett (“I Hope”), Kane Brown (“Worldwide Beautiful”), Luke Bryan (“One Margarita”), Luke Combs (“Better Together”), Dan + Shay (“I Should Probably Go To Bed”),  Florida Georgia Line (“I Love My Country”), Riley Green (“I Wish Grandpas Never Died”), Miranda Lambert (“Bluebird”) featuring Songwriters Natalie Hemby & Luke Dick, Tim McGraw (“I Called Mama”), Maren Morris (“To Hell & Back”), Old Dominion (Medley of “One Man Band,” “Written in the Sand,” “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” “Break Up With Him,” “Snapback,” “Song For Another Time,” “Hotel Key” & “Make It Sweet”), Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi (“Beer Can’t Fix”), Tenille Townes (“Somebody’s Daughter”), and Morgan Wallen (“Whiskey Glasses”). Presenters included Lauren Alaina, Lily Aldridge, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, ACM National Radio Personality of the Year Winner Bobby Bones, Cam, Darius Rucker, Runaway June and CeCe Winans. Rucker also gave a sneak peek of the National Museum of African American Music, scheduled to open this Fall in Downtown Nashville.

For the first time in the show’s history, the 55th ACM Awards took place in Nashville, broadcasting from three iconic Country Music venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. Artists who performed from the Ryman include Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, and Tenille Townes. Performances from the Grand Ole Opry House included Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Mickey Guyton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen. Artists at The Bluebird Cafe included Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert featuring songwriters Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick, and Tim McGraw. Fans also enjoyed a virtual collaboration by Keith Urban and P!NK as well as a virtual Bluebird Cafe performance with Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani. Multi-ACM Award winning artist Trisha Yearwood delivered a special performance from the Opry House of “I’ll Carry You Home” from her critically acclaimed album Every Girl for the In Memoriam, paying tribute to those we have lost in the Country Music industry.

Following is the list of winners in the 13 categories voted on by Academy members:

MAIN AWARDS:

Entertainer of the Year:
Thomas Rhett
Carrie Underwood

Female Artist of the year
Maren Morris

Male Artist of the year
Luke Combs

Duo of the year
Dan + Shay
 
Group of the Year
Old Dominion

New Female Artist of the Year
Tenille Townes

New Male Artist of the Year
Riley Green

Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs

Producer: Scott Moffatt
Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

Single of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
God’s Country – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros. (Nashville)
 
Song of the Year [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
One Man Band – Old Dominion
Songwriter(s): Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi
 
Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
Remember You Young – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison

Songwriter of the Year *(Off Camera Award)
Hillary Lindsey

Music Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Miranda Lambert Featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

Deep Cut Challenge Making The Rounds Around Country Music

Tim McGraw decided to create his own internet web challenge called the #DeepCutsChallenge. He first posted a video over the weekend explaining that all artists have a song they love to sing or jam out to when alone, even if it may not be a very popular song to perform. These songs are more commonly referred to as "deep cuts" or songs on an album that never made it to radio and are therefore not very well known or popular.

McGraw sang his favorite song "Take the Long Way Home" by John Schneider and then nominated Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and Kenny Chesney to sing one of their favorite "deep cuts" and post it to Instagram while tagging other artists to also participate. It's gone on to include the likes of Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Vince Gill & more.  Here's a collection of some of the performances and the songs they chose- click on the song title to watch/hear the performances. 

Tim McGraw - John Schneider's "Take The Long Way Home"

Vince Gill - Bob McDill's "Last Dance At The Old Texas Moon"

Luke Combs - Chris Stapleton's "What Are You Listening To?"

Morgan Wallen - Jason Aldean's "Water Tower"

Brad Paisley - Steve Wariner's "What I Didn't Do"

Darius Rucker - Foster and Lloyd's "You Can Come Cryin' To Me"

Charles Kelley - Temple of the Dog - "Call Me A Dog"

Russell Dickerson - Tim McGraw's "Seventeen"

Thomas Rhett - Hank Williams, Jr's "Blues Man"

And keep an eye on Faith Hill's Instagram account this week. She was the most recent to be nominated by Vince Gill... 

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett - "Look What God Gave Her"

That Nashville Sound Saturday Newsbytes: New Albums, New Videos & A Get-Well For a Legend

Lots of things to get to this fine Saturday morning, so with out further hesitation, let's get to it...

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Actor Kiefer Sutherland has announced the April 26 release of his next album, Reckless & Me. Not too many details are out on the new project, but you can assume that business party and co-owner of the Ironworks Music Label Jude Cole (Clay Davidson/Lifehouse) is bound to be involved in some of the co-writes and producing duties.

“I asked myself ‘What is the thing that I love about acting and music? What is the common denominator?’ And for me, it’s storytelling. And music is a very different way of doing it, but it’s still storytelling nonetheless. Life is tricky. It’s not easy, and we’re all going through it. If you can have that dialogue at a show, then that can really matter. Understanding that was a real turning point for me. I’m not playing a character. As soon as I allowed myself to be me, a connection started to happen,” Kiefer shared.

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New music videos:

- Hailey Whitters - "Ten Year Town"

- Lee Ann Womack - "Dusty Skies"

- Jimmie Allen - "Best Shot" (YouTube Sessions)

- Logan Brill - "Walk of Shame"

- Gone West - "This Time" (Live on WSM)

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The Band Perry continue their wildly divergent ways from what set them on the country music map with a new single and music video for a song called "Marfa Prada."

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The Eli Young Band announced yesterday that their album This Is Eli Young Band (Greatest Hits) will be released on March 29 via The Valory Music Co.. The band announced the new tunes and preorder details via Facebook Live yesterday (Feb. 28) while in New York City for a tour stop honoring their home state of Texas.

“This is the first time you’ve ever been able to get some of that older music, new music, and the hits all in one place,” shared EYB’s Mike Eli during the Facebook Live.

The Greatest Hits will feature Eli Young Band No. 1’s “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and “Crazy Girl” as well as new songs “Where Were You” and their current charting single, “Love Ain’t.”

Track Listing:
1. “Love Ain’t” (Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane Mcanally)
2. “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Will Hoge, Eric Paslay)
3. “Drunk Last Night” (Laura Veltz, Josh Osborne)
4. “Crazy Girl” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)
5. “Always The Love Songs” (David Lee Murphy, George Ducas)
6. “Dust” (Jon Jones, James Young, Kyle Jacobs, Josh Osborne)
7. “Saltwater Gospel” (Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley)
8. “Guinevere” (Mike Eli, James Young, Scooter Carusoe)
9. “Skin & Bones” (Mike Eli, Phil Barton, Lori Mckenna)
10. “When It Rains” (Eli Young Band)
11. “Small Town Kid” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
12. “Highways And Broken Hearts” (Mike Eli, Chris Thompson)
13. “Where Were You” (Luke Dick, Matt Jenkins, Josh Osborne)

14. “Crazy Girl (Acoustic)” (Lee Brice, Liz Rose)

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Thomas Rhett will be releasing his next album on May 31- it's titled Center Point Road.

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Jake Owen announced his next project as well - it will come out on April 26 and be titled Greetings From Jake Owen.

Greetings marks Owen’s first full-length album in nearly three years and his debut with Big Loud, which signed him in late 2017. Joey Moi, who recorded Owen’s hits “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “Alone With You,” is back is in the producer role.

No track listing has come out yet, but it would be assumed his last few strong-performing  singles will be included. His John Mellencamp-referencing 2018 track “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” returned the singer to the top of the charts for the first time since 2016, while its follow-up “Down to the Honky Tonk” is currently at Number 12 and rising. “Honky Tonk” was also recently nominated for an ACM Award for Single of the Year.

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And good wishes go out to country legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis who had a minor stroke at the age of 83.

"He is with his family, recuperating in Memphis and the doctors expect a full recovery," a family statement said. "The Killer looks forward to getting back into the studio soon to record a gospel record and on the road performing live for his fans. His family requests privacy at this time. Well wishes and prayers are greatly appreciated."

Brooks and Dunn Collaborating With 12 Current Artists On Upcoming Reboot Album

Artist: Brooks and Dunn
Album: Reboot
Label: Arista/Sony Music Nashville
Release date: April 5, 2019

Word came out yesterday that Brooks and Dunn have been back into the recording studio- this time with friends- and will be releasing a new project titled Reboot in the coming months.

Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, LANCO, Ashley McBryde, Midland, Luke Combs, Brothers Osborne, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi and Tyler Booth are among the artists taking part in the project.

"This whole experience has been humbling to say the least. What a cool rush to hear somebody do one of your tunes in a unique way, and it still holds up,” said Ronnie Dunn in a statement. “That’s the greatest compliment you can get as an artist. People used to ask us all the time about the legacy we wanted to leave, and it’s honestly just that – you hope the music stands up over time. This is the first opportunity we’ve had to run it up a new flagpole...and it really flies.”

“They’re making their own music,” Kix Brooks added about the Reboot guest list. “But just like we did, they still remember and respect the music they grew up with. It makes you feel good that these acts were inspired by us in some small way.”

“Brooks & Dunn’s music absolutely had a tremendous impact on me,” said Luke Combs. “To me, they invented that foot stomping, driving sound. And it’s so cool that this has turned into such an awesome album, with artists that actually grew up listening to Brooks & Dunn. Their music was so influential to us that having the chance to come in and bounce ideas off the guys and sing with them in the studio was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I’ve never really sung in the studio with someone else, especially not with someone whose voice is as good as Ronnie’s,” said Kane Brown. “For him to be looking at me on the other side of the glass, and both of us singing, it was just awesome. It felt like we just got comfortable around each other, so we were really able to kill it.”

A preview of the album on iTunes shows Combs collaborating with the duo on "Brand New Man," while Brown joins them for "Believe." Reboot will be Brooks & Dunn’s first studio album since Cowboy Town in 2007. Since parting ways in 2009, Brooks and Dunn have embarked on solo projects. In 2011, Dunn released his self-titled solo album, which included the singles "Let the Cowboy Rock," "Bleed Red," and "Cost of Livin'." Brooks released his solo album New to This Town in 2012. Since 2014, the duo has performed a series of Las Vegas shows with Reba McEntire.

New Music Video From Danielle Bradbery and Thomas Rhett - "Goodbye Summer"

That Nashville Sound Friday Newsbytes - New Projects From Margo Price, Eric Palsay, Thomas Rhett, Marc Cohn & Pistol Annies

Today is National Get Gnarly day. I'm sure those in charge naming it had intentions of just encouraging Ray Wylie Hubbard to get out his slide and do some picking.  On a separate note, there's lots more news this morning with some exciting album announcements.

- Marc Cohn has announced a new album to come out in early 2018 and has gone to PledgeMusic to offer fans some unique opportunities at autographed and custom memorabilia connected to the project.

- Save your Christmas money, for in early 2018, the Pistol Annies will be having their third album released.

- The final studio album from the late rocker Gregg Allman, titled Southern Blood, will release via Rounder Records on Sept. 8. The torchbearer for Southern rock died earlier this year on May 27, at the age of 69, at his home near Savannah, Georgia.

- Margo Price had a surprise EP released yesterday. Price offers up four new tracks on her EP Weakness, released via Third Man Records.

- Michael Johnson, the voice behind the smash hit "Bluer Than Blue," passed away at age 72 while in hospice care in Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 25.

- The Voice veteran Jake Worthington released a new lyric music video for "Big Time Lonesome."

- Eric Paslay released a surprise EP as well this last week entitled The Work Tapes. Listen to him talk about the new project a bit here.

- Shania Twain released her new music video for "Life's About To Get Good."

- On September 8, Thomas Rhett will release his next album Life Changes via Valory Records. "I am and will always be a country artist,” Thomas Rhett said. "It's who I am, it's in my blood. I will always try to push boundaries because that rebellious side has been in me since I was a kid. My voice and my journey that inspired these songs is the glue that makes this album cohesive. This is where I'm at musically, and these are my stories."

 

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett & Maren Morris - "Craving You"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett - "American Spirit"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett - "Star of the Show"

A List of the 50th Anniversary CMA Award Winners

For those that missed the 50th Anniversary of the (undoubtedly the most-ever DVR'd) CMA Awards last night because they were distraught over their Cleveland Indians blowing a 3-1 World Series Lead or because they were giddy over their Chicago Cubs breaking a 108 year-old curse, here's the details you missed about last night's award-winners. I'd say CMA voters got it really really right this year. We'll have video on the site as the CMA gets it prepped and releases it.

Here is a complete list of winners at Wednesday's Country Music Association Awards:

Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
Female Vocalist — Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist — Chris Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year — Little Big Town
Vocal Duo — Brothers Osborne
New Artist of the Year — Maren Morris
Album of the Year — Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
Song of the Year — Humble and Kind, Lori McKenna
Single of the Year — Die A Happy Man, Thomas Rhett
Musical Event of the Year — Different For Girls, Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
Musician of the Year — Dann Huff (guitar)
Music Video of the Year — Fire Away, Chris Stapleton
Pinnacle Award — Kenny Chesney
Lifetime Achievement Award — Dolly Parton

WATCH: Country Music Hall of Famer @RandyTravis performs at the #CMAawards50! @CountryMusic https://t.co/av1BKSvbCq

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 3, 2016

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "Die A Happy Man"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "I Feel Good"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "T Shirt"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "Vacation"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "Crash and Burn"

New Music Video From Thomas Rhett- "Make Me Wanna"

New Music Video From Brantley Gilbert (featuring Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett)- "Small Town Throwdown"