October 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of CMTAshley McBryde has been added as the third and final host of the 2020 CMT Music Awards, joining Kane Brown and Modern Family actor Sarah Hyland.

It’ll be an evening of firsts for all three stars, as none of them have hosted before. Still, Ashley says that the exciting lineup of nominees takes some of the pressure off for her first-time hosting gig.

“I am beyond excited, and maybe a little nervous, to host an awards show for the very first time,” the singer gushes. “Luckily, it’s not all about me – it’s about celebrating…music videos and the brilliant men and women that help us create them.”

Ashley earned her first CMT Awards trophy in 2019, and she scored nominations in three more categories this time around: “Female Video of the Year,” “CMT Performance of the Year” and “Video of the Year,” all for her “One Night Standards.” She was eliminated from the “Video of the Year” running in the first round of voting.

In addition to her hosting duties and role as nominee, Ashley will also perform during the show.

The awards show has had to remain flexible as it plans an unusual, socially-distanced and, per the Tennesseean, outdoors show due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMT Awards first said that four co-hosts would be helming the event; now, that number has been adjusted to three.

However, an exciting new lineup of presenters has been revealed. Brandi Carlile, Taylor Swift, Tanya Tucker and Kelly Clarkson will all present awards, as will pop stars Demi Lovato, Katy Perry and Rob Thomas, actors Idina Menzel and Jessica Chastain and producer and DJ Diplo.

The CMT Music Awards will air on Wednesday, October 21 at 8PM ET.

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

October 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

RECORDS Nashville/Arista Nashvilel

If you keep an eye on Matt Stell‘s socials, you may’ve noticed he recently got a new tattoo. And based on his mother’s reaction, it’s likely his first. 

“The headline should read ‘Matt Stell Gets Tattoo! Mother Furious!'” he laughs. “Because she’s so p*****, y’all. She’s so mad!”

It all came about because two of Matt’s longtime friends celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary with a group trip to Vegas, complete with themed party nights.

“They hired a tattoo artist to come to the party,” he explains. “How are you gonna pass that story up? You’ve got a guy that’s up there just like, ‘Hey man, the needle’s hot. All I need is some skin!'”

Matt had already been contemplating the ink he’d like on his chest.

“I’ve had that idea for a little while about that Galileo quote…” he reveals. “The quote it is: ‘And yet it moves.'”

“Legend has it,” he continues, “Galileo said, ‘Hey, funny story. The [Earth] revolves around the [sun], not the other way around.’ The church at the time was not cool with that. And so they put him in house arrest.”

“And when they got him out,” he goes on, “[they] said, ‘Well, how does it feel to know that the Earth is stationary?’ And he said, ‘Yeah. And yet it moves.'” 

It’s a notion that appeals to Matt on several levels.

“I think about it like ‘truth to power,'” he says, “but also, there’s really no reason that my heart gets to beat every day and that all of ours does, you know. We’re just lucky to be here.”

Matt’s new EP, Better Than That, featuring his top-five hit “Everywhere But On” and his debut number one, “Prayed for You,” is out today. 

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

October 15, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of St. Jude/ALSACTyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line are the latest country artists to receive the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award for their work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

They picked up the new honor during the hospital’s annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids event, which took place via livestream on Thursday afternoon. Typically, Country Cares is an in-person weekend of education and celebration in the hospital’s hometown of Memphis, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually this year.

FGL were honored for their longstanding support of St. Jude. They’ve made several appearances at St. Jude events and even played a special show at the hospital last year while on their 2019 tour.

“There is truly no place like St. Jude,” Tyler explains. “Whenever we visit, we are continually inspired by the kids’ strength and their amazing stories of bravery. Giving back is in our hearts and to be presented this award is an absolute honor.”

Lady A was the most recent country act to receive the Angels Among Us Award. The trio accepted it in January 2020 from Alabama‘s Randy Owen, the award’s namesake, who’s has been at the helm of Country Cares since its inception.

Other honorees from previous years include Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and many more.

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

October 15, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Paras Griffin/Getty ImagesFans and fellow musicians everywhere turned out to mourn Eddie Van Halen’s death earlier this month, and Kenny Chesney was among those to pay tribute to the rock guitar legend.

On social media, Kenny remembered a time when Eddie and his brother, Van Halen drummer Alex, joined the country star onstage for a show in Los Angeles. Now, Kenny further reflects to People that that show was a dream come true, as he was a lifelong Van Halen fan.

“It was one of those moments that every kid who dreams about rock music dreams of,” Kenny says. “It was so alive, so in the moment, and both Van Halen brothers [Eddie and Alex] played like it was their show, their fans.”

Making a personal connection with a longtime musical hero is a memory Kenny will never forget.

“You can imagine how I felt having [Van Halen manager] Irving Azoff ask, ‘Is it all right if Eddie Van Halen gives you a call?’ And then looking down a little bit later to see that 818 area code and thinking, ‘That’s Eddie Van Halen,’” Kenny continues.

“I answered, and he sounds just like you’d think, but then he falls into talking to you about music, life, road life and all these things,” Kenny recounts, adding that the two musicians quickly fell into an easy rapport.

“It’s like you’ve always been friends,” he says, “and he knows your life and he understands.”

The legendary rocker died of cancer on October 6 at the age of 65.

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

I am devastated at the news of the passing of my friend Eddie Van Halen. pic.twitter.com/hUyIdKXsdG

— Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) October 6, 2020

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October 15, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Christie’s/Academy of Country MusicThe guitar that Taylor Swift used to perform at the 2020 ACM Awards is one of the latest items to join an online auction called NASHVILLE: An Auction to Benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund.

The black 2018 acoustic Gibson instrument includes a hard-shell case and embroidered Levy guitar as well as a plectrum caddy with five personalized guitar picks. The instrument is personally inscribed and dated by Taylor herself. Its value is estimated between $25,000-$40,000.

Taylor’s guitar joins a number of other hot-ticket items up for auction. Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Keith Urban and Dwight Yoakam are all also among those who’ve donated guitars to the cause. Also up for bidsg are several items of performance wear, donned by the legendary likes of Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert and Billy Bob Thornton.

Several other instruments are on the docket, too, including Clint Black’s harmonica, Sheryl Crow’s accordion, and a a jaw-dropping Swarovski crystal-studded dulcimer that Dolly Parton owned for three decades.

All of those items and more will auction to benefit the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, supporting those in the music industry affected by the pandemic. The online event is organized in partnership with auction company Christie’s.

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