Country
2021 CMAs: Best Moments You Didn’t See on TV
Additionally, Luke Bryan marked his first time as host of the CMA Awards, welcoming several of his fellow artists to join him during several moments throughout the show. Besides Combs, Chris Stapleton was the evening’s biggest winner, taking home honors in four categories, including album of the year (Starting Over), male vocalist of the year, and single and song of the year (both for “Starting Over”). But even with all of the special moments happening onstage during the ABC broadcast, several artists reflected on their big night to reporters in attendance during the annual CMA Awards press conference, which was held virtually this year. Luke Bryan on Taking Inspiration From Elvis For Upcoming Las Vegas Residency: “I grew up listening to Elvis’s Vegas album and I always said one day I’d li...
Blake Shelton to Open $30 Million Ole Red in Las Vegas
With an estimated 100,000 people passing by each day, the plot of land in front of Bally’s Grand Bazaar Shops, owned by Caesars Entertainment, is prime property and ideal for a music-superstar backed venue. “This is truly the best piece of undeveloped real estate in Las Vegas, it sits right across from the Bellagio fountains,” says Reed. “This will be a wonderful place for us to rotate the young artists that we are building relationships with. And hopefully Blake [when you do a] residency at Caesars Palace you can then come and play [here] as well.” The $30 million, four-story theater and restaurant with nearly 700 seats will feature Las Vegas’ first rooftop patio with its own music venue. Inside, the 360-degree concert experience takes center stage with lighting, sound and acoustics to gi...
Blake Shelton Offers Fiery Live Debut of ‘Come Back As a Country Boy’ at 2021 CMA Awards
Dressed in all black, Shelton made sure that his darker theme got across to the crowd, with faux lightning crashing in the background and during the song’s riled-up guitar solo. “When I die, I wanna come back as a country boy,” he sang in front of a weathered fence. “No, there ain’t no better life if you ask me.” The performance came just hours after Shelton officially unveiled his new music video for the single (written by “God’s Country” co-writers Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt), in which Shelton makes his declared wish a reality — as a meteor comes crashing to the earth, the country star emerges in flames, back to his life as the titular country boy. Shelton wasn’t the only one at the 2021 CMA Awards to deliver some memorabl...
Jimmie Allen Tearfully Accepts New Artist of the Year Award at 2021 CMAs
The singer recalled living in his car as he launched his country career. Jimmie Allen took home the new artist of the year award at the CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 10) — making him the first Black artist to win the honor since Darius Rucker in 2009. Allen was overcome with emotion when his name was announced, and he launched into a touching speech that saw him tearfully reflecting on his humble beginnings that led to where he is in his career today. “First, I want to thank my father who is no longer with us for introducing me to country music,” the 36-year-old started his speech. “Five years ago, I spent my last $100 to see the CMA 50th and see Charley Pride perform onstage. And I got to perform with him last year. Everyone who voted for me, thank you. My wi...
Mickey Guyton Teaches Black Girls Everywhere How to ‘Love My Hair’ During Potent 2021 CMAs Performance
Mickey Guyton embraced her natural hair for an emotional performance of “Love My Hair” at the 2021 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards Wednesday evening (Nov. 10) live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Faith Fennidy, who was removed from her Catholic school at age 11 for wearing braids, presented the performance by opening up about how she personally inspired the song “Love My Hair.” “A few years ago, I was sent home from school because my braids were said to be a distraction. It was devastating for me. But this next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved,” she said before pausing in the midst of roaring applause. “And that’s how you turn something very painful into something very positive. Wit...
Chris Stapleton Brings On the Chills With ‘Cold’ Performance at 2021 CMA Awards: Watch
The country superstar was backed by a string orchestra as he sang his bluesy single. Donning a dark suit and an embellished cowboy hat, Stapleton and his band were framed by spotlights that lit up their audience during the performance. “Cold” is the third single from Stapleton’s 2020 LP Starting Over, which is his fourth album to reach No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. In addition to the previously mentioned awards, Stapleton is still in the running for entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year. Stapleton was first awarded at the CMA Awards in 2015 with album of the year for Traveller, male vocalist of the year and new artist of the year. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a datin...
CMA Awards 2021 Predictions: Who Will Win?
Entertainer of the yearEric ChurchLuke CombsMiranda LambertChris StapletonCarrie Underwood Newman: As many artists returned to the road as the pandemic began to wane, the focus on this award once will again will lean toward live efforts, even though that is not the only criteria. Church seemed a little befuddled when he finally captured the award last year, despite the shutdown, after three previous nominations — but he, Combs and Stapleton are the legitimate front runners this year as neither Lambert nor Underwood have mounted full tours in 2021. Combs just keeps getting stronger, and it feels like his time has come. Will win: Luke Combs Nicholson: Church is the presiding CMA entertainer of the year, and is poised to continue his reign. Over the past year, as the COVID-19 pandemic h...
Walker Hayes’ ‘Fancy Like’ Tops Country Airplay Chart: ‘The Impossible Can Happen’
“Fancy Like” is Hayes’ seventh Country Airplay entry. His output includes one additional top 10, “You Broke Up With Me,” which hit No. 10 in January 2018. Meanwhile, Monument lands its first Country Airplay No. 1 since Sony Music Entertainment revived the label in 2017. Formed in 1958 (in Washington, D.C., and named for the Washington Monument), it notched six leaders in 1998-2003, all by The Chicks. On the airplay-, sales- and streaming-based Hot Country Songs survey, “Fancy Like” dominates for a 17th week. Buzz for the track, which shouts out Applebee’s menu highlights and sparked a commercial synch with the chain, grew early on thanks to TikTok, where Hayes, whose following on the platform has surged to over 2 million, has posted multiple ...
Gabby Barrett, Blanco Brown & More Among 2022 CRS New Faces of Country Music Finalists
This year, Barrett earned her second No. 1 hit with a three-week run at the pinnacle of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart with “The Good Ones.” Also among those earning No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Country Airplay over the past year were Brown (“Just The Way,” with Parmalee), Moon (“Good Time“), Shane (“My Boy“), Wilson (“Things a Man Oughta Know“), McCollum (“Pretty Heart”), and Rodgers (who earned his second No. 1 hit with “Cold Beer Calling My Name” featuring Luke Combs). Hayes, who released his debut single in 2010, has earned one of the biggest all-genre hits of the year with “Fancy Like,” which has reached No. 1 on several Billboard charts, including Hot Country Songs and Cou...
ASCAP Country Music Awards: Josh Osborne Earns First Songwriter of the Year Win
Ashley Gorley’s “One of Them Girls” (recorded by Lee Brice) was named ASCAP country music song of the year. ASCAP social media will highlight Gorley’s award acceptance for the certified platinum single, which hit the pinnacle of the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Sony Music Publishing was named publisher of the year at the ASCAP Country Awards for the first time since 2012. The company’s winning songs included “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Hole in the Bottle” (Kelsea Ballerini), “Lady” (Brett Young) and “Things a Man Oughta Know” (Lainey Wilson). Sony Music Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston will be featured on ASCAP’s social media platforms, thanking their songwriters and staff. The ASCAP Country Music Awards social media rollout will also feature performances of t...
The Pursuit of Happiness: Oliver Tree On New Country Album, Antarctica Headlining Dreams
On December 25th, 2001, Oliver Tree wasn’t just a kid on Christmas. Instead, once gifted with his first ever Razor scooter, he suddenly held the keys to his future. Fast-forward two decades and the artist has racked up nearly 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify and half a billion lifetime streams. He’s even got over 11 million followers on TikTok, a platform practically tailor made for his signature brand of quirky comedic bullshit—just check out his badass platinum blonde haircut. Half bowl, half mullet, he’s dubbed it the “bowlet.” Always on the go, Tree is now hard at work on Cowboy Tears, a full-blown country album whose release will reportedly mark his retirement from music. It’s a far cry from the funky blends of pop, hip-hop and el...
Dr. Cleve Francis, Rissi Palmer, Frankie Staton, Louis York & More to Lead Inaugural Rosedale Summit
Initiating the summit is the Rosedale Collective, which launched in March 2021. Part foundation and part label, the company is aimed at supporting and bringing greater awareness to BIPOC country music artists. The Rosedale Collective is also using the summit to launch their label division, dedicated to providing opportunities for country artists of color. “We started trying to figure out where there was space within the industry for these conversations and where do these conversations need to be amplified,” Rosedale Collective’s co-founder and chief executive Locher Grove tells Billboard. Grove also says the timing of the event is deliberate. “It’s a moment where all eyes are turning to Nashville and the collective zeitgeist in the music community,” Grove says. “It’s a perfect time to take...
