November 10, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

John ShearerJimmie Allen, Sheryl Crow, Jon Pardi and Scotty McCreery are among the genre-spanning artists teaming up with Musicians on Call (MOC) to give back to our nation’s heroes this Veterans Day. 

To continue bringing the gift of music to veterans safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, MOC has partnered with Wrangler to present the Concert for Veterans, in which several artists offer uplifting, virtual performances at the bedsides of veterans in more than 140 VA facilities across the country to thank them for their service. 

Brad Paisley, Michael Ray, Chris Janson, Nashville star Charles Esten, Terri Clark and up-and-coming duo Walker County are among the other country artists taking part in the program, along with Grammy-winning soul singer Leon Bridges and actress and singer-songwriter Alexis Wilkins. 

Some of the hit songs the veterans get to hear include Jon’s “Head Over Boots,” Scotty’s “This is It” and Sheryl’s “Every Day is a Winding Road.”  

Though Veterans Day is Wednesday, veterans in the VA facilities will be treated to the performances throughout the week.

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

November 10, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

CMALuke Combs is one of the most nominated artists at the 2020 CMA Awards, and he feels a deep sense of humility in the accomplishments. 

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the multi chart-topper was asked which award of the six awards for which he’s nominated he wants more: Entertainer of the Year or Album of the Year, for What You See Is What You Get. 

“That’s a loaded question. I feel like either one,” Luke admitted. “I feel like I was never supposed to make it this far in the sense of I can’t believe all the things that have happened to me have happened to me. I think just doing anything like this is incredible. So just being nominated is great.”

Luke is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and two appearances in the Song of the Year category: for “Even Though I’m Leaving,” and as a co-writer on Carly Peace and Lee Brice‘s “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

Luke will perform “Cold as You,” one of the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, during the CMA Awards broadcast tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 10, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAFor Miranda Lambert, being nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards is a little different this year. 

The country superstar, who will be performing a stripped down rendition of her new single “Settling Down” during the show, says that an EOTY win this year is more about one’s impact on the genre and less about the spectacle of live shows in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic kept artists from touring. 

“I think it’s a well-rounded category this year, and it’s also a year where it’s less about shows,” Miranda says in an interview with Extra. “It’s about your whole image and the whole thing that you encompass and how you represent yourself in the industry and what you mean to country music,” she continues. “I think that’s a cool way to celebrate Entertainer of the Year.”

This year, Miranda is nominated alongside Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Combs and Keith Urban. She acknowledges that while she faces tough competition, she’s grateful to be nominated alongside Carrie in a category often dominated by men, remarking how she’s long been a fan of her peer.  

“Entertainer is definitely special, it’s one of those that you kind of work for your whole career,” “It’s a stiff competition this year, but there’s two women in it which makes me really happy because Carrie [Underwood] and I have kind of come up together through this the last decade. I’m always such a supporter of hers and I would love to see her take it.”

The Entertainer of the Year will be crowned tomorrow night when the CMA Awards air live from Nashville’s Music City Center at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 10, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Robby KleinGabby Barrett‘s rendition of “I Hope,” featuring Charlie Puth, has officially cracked the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and set a new record in the process. 

The pop remix of “I Hope” has jumped from six to five in its 45th week on the chart, making it the longest journey to the top five in the chart’s 30-year history.

The trek surpasses the second-longest climb: Imagine Dragon‘s 2013 hit, “Radioactive,” which took 42 weeks to reach the top five on the all-genre chart. 

Gabby also beats out fellow country acts Florida Georgia Line, whose debut single “Cruise,” featuring Nelly, took 34 weeks to hit the top five in 2013, along with Lonestar‘s “Amazed,” which had a 30-week climb to the top five in 2000.

Like FGL and Lonestar, Gabby’s solo edition of “I Hope” was a country hit before it crossed over to pop, claiming the number-one spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart earlier this year. 

Gabby and Charlie’s collaboration is also at number one on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart and sits in the top 10 on the Pop Songs and Adult Contemporary charts.  

The country singer and pop star will unite for the debut performance of their collaborative “I Hope” at the CMA Awards, airing tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

November 10, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Alysse GafkjenJust days ahead of the 54th Annual CMA Awards, both Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line‘s Tyler Hubbard have had to drop out of country music’s most prestigious night, after testing positive for COVID-19.

Both nominees were set to perform, but now, they’ll be recuperating instead of taking the stage.

“It’s definitely a bummer…” double-nominee Ingrid Andress reflects. “It’s a reminder that it can happen to anybody. Anybody can get it. And just because you’re famous doesn’t mean COVID doesn’t come after your body.”

With the rigid protocols the Country Music Association has in place, Old Dominion‘s Matthew Ramsey says there’s no doubt he feels safe. 

“You have to go through a million tests and shields, and masks,” he explains. “And they’re really working hard to keep everybody safe.”

“And I do wish that the cases in Tennessee were different right now,” he adds, “but that’s just kind of the way it goes… You know, you’re gonna have people test positive. That’s just… what happens in a pandemic.”

Triple nominee Ashley McBryde is enjoying seeing her colleagues — from a social distance — and thinking about the ones who aren’t there.

“We’re following the rules, and I’m so glad because we get to at least be in the same building together,” she tells ABC Audio. “And I hope Lee’s feeling okay, and I hope Tyler’s feeling okay. But that’s just the reality we’re living in.”

Lady A‘s Charles Kelley will step in to sing Lee’s part with Carly Pearce on their hit duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” while FGL is no longer listed as a performer on the official CMA site.

You can tune in to watch Country Music’s Biggest Night, hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker — Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.  

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