Country
Morgan Wallen Banned from Attending the CMA Awards, Still Nominated for Album of the Year
Well, this is awkward: Disgraced country star Morgan Wallen — who in February was caught on video hollering the N-word in the midst of a “72-hour bender” — has been banned from attending the Country Music Association Awards next month, despite still being nominated for Album of the Year. This news is pretty mind-boggling, considering Wallen was also banned from the Academy of Country Music, revoking his eligibility for any 2021 ACM Awards. Apparently, the CMA’s decision came about in an effort to acknowledge the team behind the album, Dangerous, while still trying to limit Wallen’s association with the awards show (because “separating the art from the artist” has always worked well in the past). “This was something we looked at from so many angles,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern told the LA T...
Jason Aldean Reacts to Backlash Over Wife’s Anti-Biden Post: ‘I Will Never Apologize for My Beliefs’
When one Instagram user accused Brittany of using the couple’s children as “political props,” Aldean also defended his family. According to The Washington Post, Aldean commented, saying, “Watch ur mouth lady! We will teach our kids what we think is right and what we think is best for their future. If you think what is happening right now is ‘great’ for the future of our kids and grandkids, u are delusional!” When a commenter stated, “If you thought Trump’s path for America was any better, you’re delusional!,” to which Aldean responded, “Definitely better than what we got now! Please tell me one thing that the current administration has done that is positive? Just 1!!!” Previously, Aldean has kept his political beliefs close to the vest so as not to alienate a ...
Billy Strings Is Top Winner at 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Appalachian Road Show, Dale Ann Bradley and Sierra Hull were also two-time winners. Appalachian Road Show took instrumental group of the year and new artist of the year. Bradley took female vocalist of the year for the sixth time and tied for gospel recording of the year. Sierra Hull took mandolin player of the year and was among the featured artists on the winner for collaborative recording of the year: Bobby Osborne‘s “White Line Fever.” Other repeat winners in marquee categories included Sister Sadie, which won vocal group of the year for the third consecutive year; and Danny Paisley and Del McCoury, who tied for male vocalist of the year. This was Paisley’s second straight win in that category (and his third overall). It was McCoury’s fifth win in the category, ...
Sturgill Simpson Cancels Remaining Tour Dates Due to Vocal Cord Injury
Bad news for those planning to catch Sturgill Simpson on tour this year: The country musician has cancelled all his upcoming shows, saying he hemorrhaged his vocal cords and is unable to sing for the time being. “Turns out I did in fact unfortunately hemorrhage /rupture my vocal chords after all,” Simpson wrote on Instagram, alongside a gnarly-looking photo of the diagnosis. “I am currently getting the best treatment available and should fully recover but its gonna be a long hot minute before I can return to stage.” Simpson was in the middle of touring in support of his most recent album, including residencies at both New York City’s Webster Hall and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. “I just wanted to turn this thing back on for about 15 seconds to say Im sorry to everyone that had tickets to ...
Man of Steel: Will Paul Franklin’s 30th CMA Nomination Translate To His First Win?
“I gave up on winning,” he says candidly. But there’s no malice or self-pity in his response. At age 67, he’s still a first-call studio musician, playing on such recent hits as Thomas Rhett’s “Country Again,” Kane Brown’s “Homesick,” Brett Young’s “Catch” and Justin Moore’s “Why We Drink.” When Franklin listens to country radio, he rarely goes an hour without hearing himself, and that confirmation of his daily successes in the studio trenches outstrips the once-a-year status as an also-ran. “Everybody that gets nominated wants to win, of course,” he says. “But I can’t believe at my age that I’m still being nominated. That’s flattering.” Franklin’s absence from the winner’s circle may have something to ...
Chart Rewind: In 1991, Garth Brooks Lassoed History With ‘Ropin’ the Wind’
After moving 300,000 in its first week, Ropin’ the Wind has sold 9.6 million to date. Remarkably, Brooks, then 29, achieved these feats without the benefit of pop crossover airplay. Rather, it was his electric live concerts and a string of modern country classics from his first two albums, Garth Brooks and No Fences, that helped rocket his third album to a No. 1 launch and propel country radio to new ratings highs in the early ’90s. Ropin’ the Wind, which yielded five Hot Country Songs top 10 singles, including the No. 1s “Shameless” (written by Billy Joel), “What She’s Doing Now” and “The River,” became the first of nine No. 1 albums that Brooks has landed on the Billboard 200. With 73.2 million albums sold in the U.S. since 1991...
Jana Kramer on Working with Richard Marx and Her Upcoming Lifetime Holiday Movie
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Jana Kramer sits down with Kyle Meredith to talk about her latest single, “Voices,” and her new Lifetime Original Holiday Movie, The Holiday Fix Up. The singer/actress discusses her newest track’s spotlight on self-esteem and mental health, and how she finds herself in a transitional state of self-improvement. That all comes as the media and tabloids amplify her every move, especially her recent divorce. Advertisement Related Video Kramer also emphasizes the importance of her work/life balance while raising two children, how they’ve influenced her music, and having more control as an independent artist while she readies w...
14 Things That Changed (or Didn’t) at Farm Aid 2021
Here are 14 things that changed — or didn’t — at Farm Aid 2021. Neil Young bowed out Citing his concerns with “the COVID pandemic surging,” Neil Young announced Aug. 18 that he would not join his fellow Farm Aid board members — Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price — at this year’s show, after playing every Farm Aid since it launched in 1985. “I don’t want to let anybody down, but still can’t shake the feeling that it might not be safe for everyone,” Young said in a statement. “While I respect Willie, John and Dave’s decisions to stick with it and play, I am not of the same mind. It is a tough call.” He added: “We will be back. There is much work to do together.” Proof of vaccination or COVID tests were required Farm Aid in mid-August announced...
Ashley McBryde Recovering After Horseback Riding Accident That Left Her With a Concussion and Unable to Walk ‘Without Assistance’
“A few of us went to ride horses on a ranch in Montana before the scheduled show on Wednesday,” McBryde wrote in a note posted to her Facebook page and her Instagram Stories. “I’m not an inexperienced horseman by any means, I grew up riding a fair amount. The horses we were on are ridden a lot and cared for each day. Very good horses.” She continued, “The older mare I was riding was determined to go faster than the pack. Eventually I swapped onto a younger mare named Jenny. We got along famously. We crossed a suspended bridge without any problems. We stayed with the others. We crossed a river that was chest deep to her with no problems. Even up the embankment with no unexpected jumps. On our last little journey back to their barn, something spooked her. ...
Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish & More Urge Entertainment Execs to Demand Congressional Action on Climate Change
The artists have joined forces with the NRDC Action Fund in an effort to urge the CEOs to use their voices and call on Congress to pass the most ambitious climate change plan in U.S. history this fall, President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. In a statement, Cabello — who initiated the effort along with the NRDC — said, “Climate change is threatening our communities and future — the time to act is now to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Entertainment companies have the opportunity to show leadership and push Congress to enact bold action on climate. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect our communities, create a just transition away from fossil fuels, and create millions of new jobs.” Read the full text of the letter here. Other...
Five Burning Questions: Walker Hayes’ ‘Fancy Like’ Hits Top 5 on Hot 100
1. Completing a climb to the Hot 100’s top 5 is rare for any new single these days, let alone a country one. What’s been the key to Walker Hayes being able to grow this song into one of the year’s biggest crossover hits? Katie Atkinson: Any time you can get someone to accidentally listen to your song, you’ve won. Between the song’s TikTok omnipresence and its too-good-to-be-true (for Walker and the restaurant chain) placement in Applebee’s commercials, this song is basically inescapable. And with pop culture as splintered as it is these days, there aren’t a whole lot of ways to get this many people to listen to your song without specifically seeking it out. So… Applebee’s ads are the new radio, basically. Jason Lipshutz: He stumble...
Morgan Wallen Has Only Donated a Portion of the $500,000 Promised to Black-Led Organizations: Report
Morgan Wallen addressed his use of the N-word during a July sitdown with Good Morning America, in which the country singer also claimed he and his team donated $500,000 to Black organizations. According to a new Rolling Stone report attempting to trace the donations, it appears the money hasn’t materialized with any organizations besides the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), which Wallen specifically mentioned by name in the interview. Calling the $500,000 number “exceptionally misleading,” BMAC told Rolling Stone that they received $165,000 from Wallen in April, which was used to make grants for Black musicians through a COVID-19 emergency relief fund. However, the organization said it was “disappointed that Morgan has not used his platform to support any anti-racism end...
