Awards
Carly Pearce Set to Host 2021 ACM Honors
As previously reported, Hillary Lindsey — known for penning “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” among many other major country hits — will be honored with the songwriter of the year award, whileJay Joyce will receive the award for producer of the year for the fifth time. “We look forward to having industry and fans join us as we recognize the significant accomplishments of our 55th and 56th studio recording awards, industry awards, songwriter of the year and special awards winners with a night of unforgettable performances,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the ACM. The 14th annual ACM Honors will be livestreamed for viewers on Circle network’s channels. Alternatively, tickets to the live show are available for purchase on&...
The Grammys Have Never Won a Top Program Emmy: Could This Be the Year?
1977The 19th annual Grammy Awards was nominated for outstanding achievement in coverage of special events. The nod went to the show’s producer, Marty Pasetta. This was the first nomination (in any category) for a Grammy telecast. About the show: This was the seventh and final show hosted by Andy Williams, whose TV star power in the early ’70s helped get the Grammys on the air in 1971. Stevie Wonder won album of the year for Songs in the Key of Life and performed via satellite from Africa. (The satellite transmission was glitchy, to say the least.) George Benson took record of the year for “This Masquerade.” Barry Manilow’s signature hit “I Write the Songs” won song of the year for songwriter Bruce Johnston. Starland Vocal Band won best new artist on the back of their wimpy smash “Afternoon...
2021 Stellar Gospel Music Awards: Full Winners List
Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Jonathan McReynolds each won three awards each during the show. Leonard took the Albertina Walker female vocalist of the year award, contemporary female vocalist of the year and praise and worship album of the year, all for her album Royalty: Live at the Ryman. McReynolds, who co-hosted the 2020 Stellar Awards, won male vocalist of the year, contemporary male vocalist of the year and shared the award for producer of the year, all for his album People. Maverick City Music, J.J. Hairston, Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard each received two awards. Tye Tribbett and Carr hosted the event and also performed on the show. Other performers were Yolanda Adams, Avery*Sunshine, Tamela Mann, Jason Clayborn, Hezekiah Walker, CeCe Winans and several of the night’s top winn...
Amy Grant, Toby Keith & More Selected for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
This year’s inductees bring the total number of songwriters in the Hall to 218. Though country songwriters predominate, the body includes “writers from all genres of music,” according to a NaSHOF mission statement. The Nashville Hall dates to 1970 – the same year the Songwriters Hall of Fame launched. The announcement was made Tuesday (July 13) by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, its executive director. Four of the five inductees have received Grammy nominations for best country song: Akins in 2018 for co-writing Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It,” Cannon in 2007 for co-writing George Strait’s “Give It Away,” Keith in 2003 for co-writing his own “Beer for My Horses” (a collab with Willie Nelson), and Grant in 2011 for co-writing Vince Gill’s “Threaten M...
Steven Van Zandt Praises Educators While Being Honored by American Federation of Teachers
“There are no wrong answers in the arts,” Van Zandt said. “The arts provide a comfort zone, and that extends to other disciplines. I can’t overstate my appreciation for all you do and for this award. I salute you. You are helping to create the next generation of engineers, scientists, doctors, nurses, artists, activists, writers and even musicians.” Van Zandt is a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and also leads his own group, the Disciples of Soul. Additionally, he is an award-winning actor and a noted activist. With the E Street Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical excellence category in 2014. With the rest of the cast of HBO’s The Sopranos, Van Zandt received two SAG Awards (and seven nominations) for outstanding performance in a dr...
As Voting Opens for 2021 CMA Awards Nominations, Here Are the Races We’re Watching
The CMA has announced that it will allow Morgan Wallen, who is under a cloud because of his videotaped use of the N-word in January, to compete in categories in which there are other collaborators on the project, such as album of the year, but not in individual categories, such as male vocalist of the year. It will be interesting to see if CMA voters nominate Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album for album of the year. The blockbuster is in its 22nd week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. Long-running No. 1 albums are usually nominated in this category. Of the 27 previous albums that have topped the country chart for 20 or more weeks, 20 have been nominated in this category. The most recent album to hit that mark before Wallen’s album, Luke Combs’ What You See Is What Y...
‘Framing Britney Spears’ & More Music Docs That Are Vying for 2021 Emmy Nods
Another music doc, Tina (HBO), about rock legend and survivor Tina Turner is also seen as a very likely nominee in the category, while still others are seen as having a reasonably good chance of receiving a nod: The Boy From Medellín, which follows musician J Balvin as he prepares for a concert in his hometown (Medellín, Colombia); The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, a look at the famed brother trio, of which Barry Gibb is the sole survivor; and The Go-Gos, a look at the iconic female rock band. The last two winners in the category — Leaving Neverland and The Apollo, about the legendary Harlem club — were both music docs, and both aired on HBO. Two other music docs have won in the category in the past decade: George Harrison: Living in the Material World, a...
Karol G, CNCO, El Alfa & More Win Big at Heat Latin Music Awards 2021: Full List
Special awards were handed out throughout the night, including Premio Oro to Wisin for his remarkable 18-year career and Premio Compromiso to Gloria Trevi for her social commitment to her Ana Dalai Foundation. The 2021 Heat Latin Music Awards followed all COVID-19 safety procedures, which included temperature checks, hand-sanitizing stations and mask coverage for all staff. The audience sat in separate pods of four people and wore masks as well. Below check out all the winners for the sixth edition of the awards: BEST MALE ARTISTCAMILOMALUMAJ BALVINNICKY JAM — WINNER PRINCE ROYCEFARRUKOOZUNABAD BUNNY BEST FEMALE ARTISTROSALÍAKAROL GGREEICYFARINAKALI UCHISNATTI NATASHAANITTANATHY PELUSODANNA PAOLA — WINNER BEST BAND OR GROUPCNCO — WINNERREIKPISO 21MORATZION & LENN...
Adam Lambert Addresses Lil Nas X’s Same-Sex Kiss at the 2021 BET Awards
The 39-year-old singer knows what it means to be a young star making waves through talked-about performances. Back in 2009, just after ending his run on American Idol, Lambert gave a performance of his song “For Your Entertainment” at the American Music Awards that shocked some viewers. Much like Lil Nas X at the BET Awards, Lambert’s performance culminated in a same-sex kiss (in Lambert’s case, with his keyboard player) while the cameras were rolling. The reactions to the two performances differ significantly. For Lil Nas X, while his stoked some controversy (though not nearly as much as his music video for the song did back in April), the vast majority of the public response has been positive — stars like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kevin Abstract, Tegan ...
Saweetie Reveals How Meeting Cher Made Her Push Back Her Album Release
The other nominees for best female hip hop artist were Cardi B, Coi Leray, Doja Cat and eventual winner Megan Thee Stallion. Saweetie’s single “Best Friend,” alongside fellow nominee Doja, is her highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 hit yet, reaching No. 14. The track also climbed to No. 1 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart. Saweetie’s debut album, Pretty Bitch Music, was slated to release last week alongside Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost and Doja Cat’s Planet Her, but thanks to none other than pop icon Cher, the project was postponed and Saweetie headed back to the studio. “Me and Cher are working on a really big campaign. I can’t share too much because of contracts,” Saweetie tells Billboard. ...
All the 2021 BET Awards Performances Ranked
Here’s how we rank the 16 performances from Culture’s Biggest Night, from worst to best. 16. Moneybagg Yo!, “Time Today” Moneybagg Yo! certainly had time today to party with a live rendition of his lead single from his Billboard 200 No. 1 album A Gangsta’s Pain. But it wasn’t as rich as the Benjamin Franklins that flashed on the screen and on the stage. 15. DaBaby, “Ball If I Want To” DaBaby was outbabied at his own performance with the giant baby figure. Staying true to the “Ball If I Want To” music video, the self-proclaimed Billboard Baby took a break from topping the charts and decided to top a gym class rope-like braid, where elsewhere in P.E., a group of older men were shooting hoops. 14. Roddy Ricch, “Late At Night” While the evening skyline came alive within the ...
Klymaxx Members Say Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Is Inducting the Wrong Band
Cooley did not respond to emails and voicemails asking her to comment for this story. This story will be updated if she contacts Billboard following publication. From 1985 to 1987, Klymaxx scored five Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “I Miss You,” which hit No. 5 on the chart; “Meeting in the Ladies Room”; and “Man Size Love.” By late 1988, Cooper, Malsby and bassist, vocalist and producer Joyce “Fenderella” Irby had left the band, leaving Cooley, Stewart and keyboardist Robbin Grider to record the group’s last album, The Maxx Is Back, which was released in 1990. In the early 2000s, Cooley fell out with her former bandmates when she unsuccessfully attempted to register the Klymaxx trademark for her sole usage — beef that was touched upon in a 2004 VH1 Bands Reunited episode. The Tru...
