Country
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...
Country Music Association Teams With Solo Music For NFT Collection
“Our mission at CMA is to grow country music globally. By partnering with Solo Music on a CMA Awards NFT, we have the opportunity to reach new audiences, further engage with existing fans and create a whole new digital community,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer. “We could not be more excited about this venture and the opportunity it brings to country music. What a perfect time to launch as we celebrate ‘The 55th Annual CMA Awards’!” “We could not be more thrilled to partner with CMA for a drop on our platform and the launch of their digital community. CMA has shown a commitment to embracing this new medium and clearly understands the dramatic impact this technology is making world-wide,” said Solo CEO/Founder Barron Solomon. “We are thrilled for today and excited about wha...
Matthew West’s ‘What If’ Tops Christian Airplay Chart: ‘Hope Can Be Found Even When Hope Is Hard to See’
How did West find about his new leader? “I was at my doctor’s office when my team called about ‘What If’ hitting No. 1,” he tells Billboard. “And, like most celebrations in the past 20 months or so, it was virtual … with my doctor awkwardly waiting to resume my eye exam. “I’m so thankful to all of the radio stations around the country and their listeners who continue to let my music be part of their lives. To have my fourth No. 1 in a row during such a hard season in our world means so much to me, because my hope in all of this has always been to write songs that remind people where hope can be found even when hope is hard to see.” “What If” marks West’s fourth consecutive proper single to top Christian Airplay, follow...
Eddie Montgomery on Getting Real With First Solo Country Album: ‘The Good, Bad and Ugly — And the Party on the Weekend’
“It’s my heart and soul poured out,” Montgomery tells Billboard via Zoom. “With ‘Alive and Well,’ I’m talking about my two sons and T-Roy [his nickname for Gentry]. It was opening up my soul and it kind of helped me a little bit. I ain’t going to lie about it and that’s the stuff that I tried to write about — the good, bad, and ugly, and the party on the weekend.” The title track was inspired by Montgomery transforming his garage into a gathering place during the pandemic. “They closed all the restaurants and bars down,” he says of COVID restrictions in his home state of Kentucky. “Of course, we’re bar flies. We’ve got to find that place. You can’t take that away from us… I’ve got a pretty good size garage, so I started to hang a few TVs, then a disco ball and an old dart board...
