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Brett Young to take the “Live at the Ryman” stage as venue doubles its in-person capacity

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAAfter closing its doors to live audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium is slowly and carefully reopening.

Last week, the venue kicked off its “Live at the Ryman” hybrid concert and livestream model, with Scotty McCreery delivering a performance that fans could either watch at home or in person. The Ryman hosted 125 in-person guests, with a strict mask mandate and social distancing regulations in place.

This Friday, September 11, Brett Young will take the stage for the next “Live at the Ryman” event. This time around, the live audience capacity will increase to 250. Nashville Public Health Department personnel will be on hand during the show, enforcing socially distanced seating and compliance with other regulations.

In-person and livestream tickets to the show are both available at the Ryman’s website. Next week, the “Live at the Ryman” series will continue with a performance from Old Crow Medicine Show. 

During quarantine, Brett has been spending precious time with family. He and his wife, Taylor, welcomed their first child last October. Baby girl Presley makes a special appearance in the music video for his latest release, “Lady,” which the singer originally wrote as a gift for his wife and daughter.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley film starring Tom Hanks to resume filming this month

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Craig Sjodin (QUEENSLAND) — Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming film about Elvis Presley will resume filming in Australia later this month.

Elvis, a biopic co-written and directed by Luhrmann, was in advanced pre-production in March when co-star Tom Hanks was diagnosed with COVID-19, halting production.

Hanks recently returned to Australia and is in mandatory quarantine for two weeks before filming resumes on September 23 in Queensland. He stars as Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker, opposite Austin Butler in the title role. 

“We’re back to, as Elvis liked to say, ‘taking care of business!'” Luhrmann says in a statement to Variety. “It is a real privilege in this unprecedented global moment that Tom Hanks has been able to return to Australia to join Austin Butler and all of our extraordinary cast and crew to commence production on Elvis.” 

Hanks and his wife, actor and singer Rita Wilson, both contracted COVID-19 while in Australia in March. Hanks later described his symptoms as “crippling body aches” and fatigue, while Wilson experienced “severe nausea,” high fever and lost her sense of taste and smell.  

Elvis is slated for release in late 2021.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

2020 CMT Awards announce air date, outdoor performances to take place in Nashville

• No Comments • Country Music News

CMTThe 2020 CMT Awards will return this fall, taking place on Wednesday, October 21 at 8PM ET. The show will air across CMT, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop & TV Land.

The event, which is country music’s only fan-voted awards show, will adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations but will continue on as planned this fall in celebration of country’s biggest superstars.

For example, the show will feature a number of outdoor performances, broadcast from various locations in Music City. Details about who will perform, who will be nominated for awards and who will host the show have yet to be announced.

This year’s CMT Awards show comes in the middle of an awards show season that’s a bit busier than usual. The ACM Awards, which typically take place in April in Las Vegas, were pushed to September 16 and moved to Nashville due to continuing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. After the ACM Awards and the CMT Awards take place, the CMA Awards will happen in November. 

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jennifer Nettles will be a judge on TBS’ new extreme talent competition 'Go-Big Show'

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LATBS has an hour-long, televised talent competition called the Go-Big Show in the works, which will follow talents like alligator trainers, monster truck drivers and stunt archers as they vie for the $100,000 prize.

Jennifer Nettles will serve as one of the celebrity judges choosing which competitors advance to the next level. She’ll appear alongside fellow judges rapper Snoop Dogg, actor and activist Rosario Dawson and professional wrestler Cody Rhodes. Comedian Bert Kreischer will host the show.

While extreme talent judging may seem like a bit of a leap for the Sugarland band mate and solo country act, Jennifer just might feel close to home in her new role: Go-Big Show has begun production for its 10 episodes at the Macon Coliseum in her home state of Georgia.

There, the contestants and staff are operating under strict COVID-19 protocols, and are isolating together in accordance with local social distancing regulations. For example, the show will forgo a live audience in favor of an interactive drive-in audience.

Go-Big Show is being broadcast simultaneously across TBS, TNT and truTV.

In addition to her country career, Jennifer has been enjoying being in front of the camera as an actor in recent years. She portrayed the character of Aimee-Lee Gemstone on the HBO show The Righteous Gemstones, and also is among the cast of Harriet, a biopic about the life of Harriet Tubman.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Eva Longoria and Airbnb curate virtual Latinx-focused activities for National Hispanic Heritage Month

• No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Image Group LA(LOS ANGELES) — Eva Longoria is teaming up with Airbnb for a series of virtual events in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Tuesday, September 15.

The Desperate Housewives star, in collaboration with the housing company, will offer a variety of events that celebrate the Latinx culture through 25 online experiences curated from across the U.S. and Latin America.

Some of the virtual activities you can participate in include a salsa dance class and an exploration of the tradition of Mexico’s Day of the Dead that also teaches viewers how to make decorative papel picadopaper decorations and sugar skulls. 

Attendees at a Cigar Tasting from Miami’s Little Havana will learn about cigar smoking, rum and coffee pairings, while Ricardo, a Mexican National Coffee Judge, will teach a masterclass on how to brew the finest cup of coffee.

The month culminates in a one-time-only cooking class hosted by Eva called TexMex Cooking Online Experience, where she’ll prepare an authentic TexMex meal that features one of her favorite dishes.

“There’s no better time to come together and celebrate the vibrant traditions, diversity, and richness of our heritage,” Eva says in a statement. “There’s a deep-rooted connection between our culture and food, and I’m delighted to invite you into my kitchen and share some of my most cherished memories as we cook one of my favorite TexMex dishes that remind me of home.” 

Prices for the individual activities range from $6 – $100 per person.

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.