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Taylor Swift to return to the ACM stage for the first time in nearly a decade to perform "Betty"

• No Comments • Country Music News

Kevin Kane/WireImageTaylor Swift‘s music has evolved so much since she first burst into the spotlight with the 2006 debut single “Tim McGraw” and, come Wednesday, she’ll pay homage to her roots at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

For the first time in seven years, Swift, 30, will give her first performance at the country awards show.  She’ll grace the ACM stage to perform her country hit “Betty” live from the Grand Ole Opry House.

Swift confirmed her participation on Sunday, teasing on Twitter, “Bout to show up at your party @ACMawards.”

The “cardigan” singer’s performance not only marks her long awaited return to the country stage, but also serves as the first time she’ll perform any song off of folklore, her record-breaking new album.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ACM Awards will look a little different this year and divide its slate of performances across three separate Nashville venues.

In addition to the Opry, performances will take place at The Ryman and Bluebird Cafe.

Besides a performance from Swift, Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Gabby Barrett, b Ballerini, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Trisha Yearwood are just a fraction of country stars gearing up to sing their hearts out on Wednesday night.

Other artists like Lauren Alaina and Darius Rucker are set to present awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards as well.

The show airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Tyra Banks reveals how 'Dancing with the Stars' is ready to tackle age of COVID-19

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Laretta Houston(LOS ANGELES) — Dancing with the Stars finally returns Monday night for its enthralling 29th season. 

Normally, the big news would be focused on the array of famous faces signed on to compete for the upcoming season, such as AJ McLean, Carole Baskin, Nelly — or even new host Tyra Banks.  However, the attention this year is on the biggest challenge DWTS is facing in show history– the COVID-19 pandemic.

New host Banks sat down with ABC Audio to explain how the long-running dancing competition is completely prepared to ensure everyone’s health and safety, which called for big changes and sacrifices.

“There’s not going to be an audience. So that’s a huge difference,” the 46-year-old supermodel relayed.  However, she says the married professional dancers face the biggest challenge because “they will have to live separately for the entire duration of the show” until both are no longer competing.

That’s not all that DWTS is doing to ensure no one contracts COVID-19, which Banks says has been intense.

“The amount of testing, the amount of safety, the police of like, ‘No, you guys are too close.’ The masks, the face shields, the pattern of how you’re supposed to walk…It was pretty impressive,” enlightened Banks. “I had never seen anything like that in my life.”

2020 has certainly challenged every profession, including television, which is why Banks says she finds the extensive preparations on DWTS so fascinating.

Even more impressive, she says there’s a plan for everything — even if one of the competitors, pro dancers or judges contract the novel coronavirus.

“There are things set up for, of course, if somebody tests positive…including me!,” she exclaimed. “The show must go on. The show will definitely go on.”

Dancing with the Stars premieres Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

By Megan Stone and Jason Nathanson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Keith Urban promises "so many firsts" as the ACM Awards make their Nashville debut

• No Comments • Country Music News

Academy of Country MusicThe show must go on — even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. And this Wednesday night, that’s exactly what will happen, as the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards — originally scheduled for April in Las Vegas — embrace a much different reality, hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban. 

“I’m glad it’s going ahead,” the Australian superstar tells ABC Audio. “I’m glad the ACMs are doing it.”

“You know, we’d never done it in Nashville,” he continues. “We’ve never done it without an audience. We’ve never done it in September. So there’s so many firsts.”

For its inaugural outing in Music City, the ACM Awards will showcase multiple iconic locations.

“I’m gonna be live at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville,” Keith explains. “We’re gonna cross over to some performances at other venues in Nashville.”

“We’re gonna utilize the Bluebird Cafe, which a lot of people around the world know about, but haven’t seen it before,” he adds. “So that’ll be a great opportunity for people to see it.”

“And then the Ryman Auditorium as well, which is one of my favorite venues to play in, in all the world. So I think we’re gonna make it a really fun show,” he predicts.

Expect performances by Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert,Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, Tenille Townes, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen and Trisha Yearwood, with Lauren Alaina, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, Cam, Darius Rucker and Runaway June set to present awards as well.

You can tune in for all the action and surprises Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. 

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

West Coast wildfires: At least 25 dead in past week, 3.3 million acres scorched

• No Comments • National News

David Ryder/Getty ImagesBY: JULIA JACOBO, ABC NEWS

(SAN FRANCISCO) — California fire officials are emphasizing the historic nature of the devastating wildfires currently raging through the state as the death toll and total number of scorched acreage continue to grow.

More than 3.3 million acres have been burned in the Golden State this year — more than 27 times more than in 2019, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Firefighters in the state have not seen anything like this season in more than a century, when the Great Fire of 1910 blazed through more than 3 million acres.

Currently, 29 major fires are burning in California. The August Complex Fire in Mendocino and Humboldt counties is now the largest in state history — currently at more than 877,000 acres and 28% containment — while three other fires this season rank in the top 10 all-time, according to the department.

More than 13 people are currently missing in Butte County, where the North Complex Fire has raged through more than 258,000 acres. It is currently at 26% containment.

Residents in the City of Arcadia were ordered to evacuate Sunday morning due to the Bobcat Fire, which has been causing poor air quality in Los Angeles for the past week. That fire has scorched through more than 31,000 acres and is 6% contained as it travels up the mountains.

Crews in California are currently exhausted, with some battling fires for nearly two months. Nearly 8 million gallons of water and 4.6 million gallons of retardant have been used so far.

Fire crews attempted to get the containment up over the weekend as temperatures cooled and humidity levels increased.

However, the season is far from over, as the Santa Ana wind season has yet to begin. Monday could bring elevated fire risk while a fire weather watch is in effect over the Northern Sierra, potentially impacting the North Complex with gusty winds. A red flag warning is also in effect this afternoon through this evening for much of Northeastern California due to gusty winds and low humidity, which could bring the return of critical fire next week.

The death toll on the West Coast also continues to climb. In the past week, 25 people in three states have died. Thirty-three people have died this year.

On Saturday, Oregon state fire marshal Jim Walker was placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons and then submitted his resignation. Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton appointed Mariana Ruiz-Temple as Walker’s replacement.

More than a million acres have burned in Oregon. On Sunday, the Riverside Fire burned more than 133,790 acres and was 0% contained and the Lionshead Fire had burned through more than 146,000 acres and was 5% contained.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Tropical Storm Sally forecast to hit Gulf Coast as a slow-moving hurricane

• No Comments • National News

ABC NewsBY: DANIEL MANZO, ABC NEWS

(NEW YORK) — Tropical Storm Sally is now predicted to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane late Monday.

The storm has reached winds of 60 mph and is about 135 miles West of St. Petersburg, Florida. The storm is moving west-northwest at 12 mph.

Sally is expected to strengthen today and Monday. Life-threatening storm surge, hurricane winds and torrential rain are expected along the Gulf coast beginning Monday

Heavy rain continues to fall on the eastern side of Sally, especially from the Florida Keys to Sarasota.

Key West, Florida, recorded nearly 4 inches of rain in just one hour overnight causing flash flooding there. Additionally, Key West, also observed 9.37 inches of rain yesterday.

Flood watches have been issued for a large part of the Southeast U.S.

Regardless of the wind speed of Sally, the primary and most major concern remains the water because Sally is expected to slow down dramatically as it approaches the coast line.

Sally’s outer bands should begin to reach the Gulf Coast tomorrow morning. As we move through time, it is evident that Sally does not make significant progress inland until Wednesday morning.

This likely allows for up to 48 hours of storm surge and rainfall which could be a very dangerous situation.

The rainfall forecast now calls for up to 20 inches along the Gulf Coast. As with all hurricanes, this rainfall will be realized east of the center and could cause major flash flooding.

The storm surge forecast is now up to 11 feet, again east of the center. Sally is expected to be a very slow moving storm, with the ability to bring very dangerous storm surge and flash flooding.

In a statement Sunday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said the state is “keeping a close eye” on the storm and that “it is likely that this storm system will be impacting Alabama’s Gulf Coast.”

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Grand Isle, Louisiana, according to a press release from Grand Isle Mayor David Carmadelle’s office. The town of Grand Isle will open an evacuation center at the Raceland Recreation Center, located at 221 Recreation Drive, Raceland, Louisiana.

Sally is just one of seven tropical systems in the Atlantic basin.

Paulette became a hurricane overnight and is the sixth hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic season and will arrive in Bermuda Sunday night and Early Monday. Hurricane Paulette has winds of 80 mph and remains a Category 1 hurricane. Paulette is heading northwest towards Bermuda. Hurricane conditions will arrive in Bermuda later Sunday night.

There are also two more tropical waves pushing off Africa as well as Tropical Depression 20.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.