November 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

John ShearerFlorida Georgia Line bandmates Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley had some fans worried this week, as some social media moves sparked rumors of a fall-out between them. But per Billboard, a source close to the group says that all is well.

The drama all started this week when both Tyler and his wife Hayley un-followed Brian on Instagram. 

Furthermore, the bandmates seemed to be a bit at odds politically in the wake of last week’s U.S. presidential election. As Billboard notes, both Tyler and his wife follow president-elect Joe Biden, while Brian follows conservative media outlet Breitbart as well as Donald Trump, Jr.

However, the source tells Billboard that there is “no truth” to rumors that the duo’s considering calling it quits. Tyler has since re-followed Brian on Instagram, though neither of the bandmates have addressed the rumors.

The duo had planned to perform their new single, “Long Live,” at tonight’s 2020 CMA Awards, but Tyler got benched from the show after testing positive for COVID-19.  FGL is nominated in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.

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

November 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

CMA/ABCMaren Morris will go head to head with Ashley McBryde, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert at tonight’s 2020 CMA Awards.

That’s some steep competition, but Maren points out ahead of the show that she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Honestly, when the nominations were announced a few months ago, I was — I feel like every single woman in that category deserves it and has had a banner year,” she explains. “I love that we’re all so different from one another. So honestly, like, it’s tough competition. It’s good competition, with those women.”

In September, Maren was named Female Artist of the Year at the ACMs. At the CMAs, she’ll see if she can two for two with that title. For the singer, that category, along with Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, is always one of the biggest moments of any awards show.

“Yeah, those are the juggernaut nominations of the night, it seems like,” Maren adds

She’s also up in a handful of other categories, including Song and Single of the Year for her cross-genre hit, “The Bones.”

The 2020 CMAs air Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Katie KaussEach year, the CMA Country Christmas special brings artists together for a musical celebration of everything that’s magical about the holiday season. This year, Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, are set to co-host the show.

The couple made their festive announcement on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday, also sharing that the special will air on November 30. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

After a difficult and tumultuous 2020, the couple agreed that Christmas can’t come soon enough.

“I feel like this year, everyone’s needed things to celebrate and look forward to, and so it was like, the second Halloween was over…I started decorating for Christmas,” Lauren shares.

Before we get to the holiday season, however, you can tune into the CMA Awards tonight to watch Thomas perform his powerful “Be a Light” alongside Reba McEntire, Chris Tomlin and Lady A’s Hillary Scott.

The show kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

CMA/ABC2020 has been a huge year for Luke Combs, and it just keeps getting bigger. At the 2020 CMA Awards, the singer is a first-time nominee in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category.

But Luke says he’s not letting himself imagine what it might be like to win the trophy, especially because the competition in the category is so fierce. Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert are all in the running alongside Luke, which he admits is a little “intimidating.”

“I’m in there with some people I would consider heroes of mine,” the singer points out. “You know, as songwriters and artists and people who I view as, you know, a heck of a lot more talented than me.”

Still, no matter what happens when the winner is announced, Luke believes that just being nominated in the category is worth celebrating.

“It’s going to be fun, man. We’ll see what happens if we take it home,” he continues. “Obviously, that would be the achievement of a lifetime for me. But it would also be the achievement of a lifetime for anyone else nominated. And I would be so happy for them. They’re all great folks.”

Luke’s Entertainer mention is one of six nominations he nabbed at the CMAs. He’s also up for Album, Male Vocalist, Single and Song of the Year.

The 2020 CMA Awards air tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 11, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/John FleenorIf by February, you still aren’t able to go out to a restaurant and have a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, then tune into the premiere of American Idol instead.

The show returns for its new season ABC February 14, 2021 — earlier than in the past few years.  Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are all returning as judges, albeit on socially-distanced sets.  Ryan Seacrest is also returning as the host.

Last season’s show — which crowned New York singer Just Sam as the winner — was forced to switch to at-home performances and remote judging as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most live TV productions.

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.