December 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesCountry and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs is opening up about a scary health situation he dealt with back in June.

After months of noticing that he got winded more easily than usual, the Hall of Famer and his wife, Sharon, were planning a family visit to North Carolina. The day before they were set to depart, Ricky got a call from his doctor explaining that his last visit had revealed some concerning symptoms that needed further investigation.

Ricky explains to People that originally, he considered putting the appointment off until after his trip. But before he could vocalize that thought, he remembers, “it was like I saw the Lord with a jeweler’s eye glass on. He was peering at me, but never said a word. But just by His look, I knew He was saying, ‘Absolutely no.’”

With the confidence that God was telling him he needed to take care of his health right away, Ricky went in for the appointment, and underwent a quadruple bypass in Nashville four days later.

“It was a major blessing I didn’t have a heart attack,” the “Country Boy” singer adds. “Nothing was hurt, and nothing was destroyed or irreparable. It was just by the mercy and grace of God that all of this happened in this way.”

Ricky spent four days in the hospital, surrounded by his family. Now, he says he feels “150%” better than he did before the surgery. Plus, he’s found renewed perspective on the importance of taking care of his health.

“Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today,” Ricky advises. “That surgery gave me a brand-new heart. Not only a real heart, but a spiritual heart that has been cleaned out, so I can hear Him better than ever before.”

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

December 31, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Kevin Mazur/BBMA2020/Getty Images for dcpBack in July, when seven-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks announced his intention to remove himself from consideration for the coveted category, little did he know he might be ushering in a new era. 2020 seemed to welcome a new age, where stars who were newcomers only five years ago stepped to the forefront.

Indeed, Entertainers of the Year for both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association were completely different from only a year before. Reigning ACM Entertainer Keith Urban presented the trophy to first-time winner Thomas Rhett, who tied in the voting with Carrie Underwood.

Some saw the history-making tie as controversial, feeling the first female winner since Taylor Swift in 2012 shouldn’t have to share the honor. Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the Academy has given Carrie its top award twice before, in 2009 and 2010. 

Critical favorite Eric Church managed to finally clinch CMA Entertainer in November, though he and pal Luke Combs good-naturedly bantered about who would win, as they were seated together.

Indeed, Combs seems to be on an Entertainer-worthy trajectory. Just this year, he took home Album and Male Vocalist trophies from both the ACM and CMA organizations, while Maren Morris could very well be the next Female artist staking her claim on Entertainer. In 2020, Maren accepted Female Vocalist honors from both the CMA and ACM for the first time, while the CMA named “The Bones” Single and Song of the Year. 

Old Dominion first broke Little Big Town’s string of six wins for CMA Vocal Group in 2018. Now, they’ve taken home the CMA trophy three times, and the accompanying ACM honor thrice as well. This year, the Academy also named “One Man Band” Song of the Year. 

Similarly, Dan + Shay have become the ones to beat in the Duo category, assuming the previous momentum held by Brothers Osborne and Florida Georgia Line.

But don’t count out your legendary favorites just yet. In 2020, Miranda Lambert still took home CMA Music Video honors for “Bluebird” and the ACM Music Event trophy for “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” Ex-husband Blake Shelton also walked away with ACM Single recognition, for “God’s Country.”

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

December 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCDarius Rucker has scored his first top 10 country hit in two years. 

The Hootie & the Blowfish star officially ascends into the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week as his latest single, “Beers and Sunshine,” moves up from #11 to #10. 

The song marks the first time that Darius has appeared in the top 10 on the chart since 2018 when “For the First Time” claimed the #1 spot for a week. 

“Beers and Sunshine” gives the South Carolina native his 12th top 10 hit on the chart, in addition to previous hits including “Alright,” “This,” “Wagon Wheel” and more. 

The summery tune serves as the lead single off Darius’ impending sixth studio album. He performed the track during the 2020 CMA Awards where he was co-host alongside Reba McEntire. 

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

December 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABCAt the end of the whirlwind year that was 2020, Dierks Bentley is looking forward to a mellow New Year’s Eve.

Dierks recalls that New Years past have been spent partying after playing a live show, and admits that the back-to-back events can be a bit overwhelming. 

“New Year’s is rough. New Year’s hurts no matter what’s going on,” he says. “I’ve played a lot of New Year’s shows, but I’ve honestly found that it’s not my favorite night to throw down.”

Admittedly feeling exhausted after a show, Dierks says he often relishes in the low-key New Year’s celebrations that don’t include a hangover the next morning.  

“A lot of times on New Year’s, I’m looking for a really mellow hang, a good party, good friends, pretty chill. Some of my best New Year’s have been actually hearing fireworks go off while I’m in bed,” he continues. 

To ring in 2021, the “Burning Man” hitmaker plans to take it easy with his family as they retreat in Colorado, hoping to enter the new year with a sense of rejuvenation. 

“The goal this year is to go into it feeling pretty good and the kids help with that, because you really just don’t want to be hungover with children. It’s not a good feeling,” he describes. “You would probably admit to any crime to get them, just feel better, and get them leave you alone. So, [I’m] gonna try to hit New Year’s this year in stride.”

Dierks is entering the new year with a top-25 hit on his hands, as his current single, “Gone,” climbs the charts.

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

December 30, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LALuke Bryan and family are beachside for a post-holiday vacation. 

In a series of photos and videos posted on Instagram by Luke’s mother, LeClaire Bryan, the family is vacationing somewhere tropical with palm trees and crystal blue waters. 

Among the other family members on the trip are Luke’s wife, Caroline, their two sons Bo and Tate, nephew Til, and nieces Jordan and Kris.

Part of the trip includes a ziplining adventure, with Luke’s wife Caroline sharing a video of her mother-in-law saying “I can’t wait” just before takeoff, while another clip shows LeClaire and Tate soaring above a beautiful sandy beach as the rest of the family cheers them on.

“Not sure where I am, but I ain’t coming home. Just me and the family alone for 5 days,” LeClaire shares alongside the video.  

This isn’t the first time LeClaire has hit the beach with the family.  She also makes an appearance in her son’s video for his #1 hit, “One Margarita.”

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