October 6, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Jason Kempin/ACMA2020/Getty Images for ACMKane Brown is set to take the stage at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. 

The country star will unite with collaborators Khalid and Swae Lee for the debut performance of “Be Like That.” The track is the third single on Kane’s latest EP, Mixtape, Vol. 1, and is currently sitting at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is in the top 15 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart. 

Kane is up for three trophies at the ceremony in the categories of Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album for Experiment.  

The hitmaker won’t be the only country act performing at the all-genre show. Luke Combs will also take the stage, along with a special performance by Garth Brooks as he receives the Icon Award. 

The BBMAs air on October 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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

October 6, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesTim McGraw marked his and wife Faith Hill‘s 24th wedding anniversary with a touching social media post. 

The 53-year-old singer turned to Instagram today to commemorate the milestone. Set to the tune of his new song, “Hard to Stay Mad At,” Tim shares a slideshow of more than two decades worth of memories that shows the couple as young artists, to recent red carpet photos and every romantic moment in between.

Tim accompanies the video with a caption professing his love for Faith, chronicling a lifetime of happiness and challenges while citing her as a role model for their daughters Gracie, Maggie and Audrey.

“These years have rushed by in a series of beautiful, painful and unexpected moments…We have loved, laughed and cried through exciting, inspiring and heartbreaking events in our lives together,” Tim says.

And while McGraw admits that the future is bound to include more of the same kinds of moments, he concludes that walking through life together with Hill is what makes it all worth it. 

“It only matters if I’m with you. It only works if I’m with you,” Tim proclaims. “My oxygen only exists if you’re by my side. Forever and always living and loving our way through anything.”  

The two wed in 1996 and have since recorded hit duets including “It’s Your Love” and “I Need You,” in addition to embarking on their joint Soul2Soul Tour throughout the 2000s.

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

October 6, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

CMTSeveral of Nashville’s breakout stars will get a chance to stand in the spotlight at the 2020 CMT Awards. 

CMT has announced the lineup for the Ram Trucks Side Stage that will feature performances by Mickey Guyton, Ingrid Andress, Travis Denning, Hardy, Riley Green and Caylee Hammack. 

Each artist will perform their current singles, with Travis offering his #1 hit “After a Few” while Hardy serves up “One Beer.”

All the while, Ingrid will be “Lady Like” as Caylee proclaims “Just Friends,” with Mickey professing “Heaven Down Here” and Riley driving home “If It Wasn’t for Trucks.” 

The newcomers join a vast roster of their peers including Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay and more who will also perform during the ceremony. 

Ingrid, Travis, Riley and Caylee are among the first-time nominees who are all up for Breakthrough Video of the Year, alongside Gabby Barrett and Blanco Brown. 

The CMT Awards air on October 21 at 8 p.m. ET.

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

October 6, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Curb RecordsLee Brice remains steady on top of the country charts with “One of Them Girls.”

Lee sits in the number-one spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the second consecutive week, marking his first song to top the chart for two weeks in a row.

It’s also his third consecutive #1 — following “Rumor” and his duet with Carly Pearce on “I Hope You’re Happy Now” — and his eighth hit overall.

“Two weeks and still going strong?! Well I guess you know you’re writing with some great songwriters when you get a two-week number one!” Lee says in a statement, acknowledging co-writers Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ben Johnson. 

“One of Them Girls” is the lead single off Lee’s forthcoming album, Hey World, set for release on November 20.

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” has also scored Lee and Carly three nominations at the 2020 CMA Awards for Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year.

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

October 6, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyGarth Brooks is getting the band back together. 

The superstar announced during the Monday night installment of Inside Studio G that he’ll be performing at the Billboard Music Awards next week with nearly all of his original band members. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, artists are only allowed to bring a limited number of personnel to the ceremony, and Garth hinted that longtime fans will likely recognize the five musicians who are joining him onstage.  

“If you’ll notice, for anybody that’s been with us since the beginning, it will be the same guys that started this whole ship together,” he says. “To think that there’s five of the original seven of us on that stage is really cool.”

Garth will also be presented with the prestigious Icon Award at the ceremony. He’s the ninth artist to earn this designation, alongside Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.

The BBMAs will be hosted by Kelly Clarkson and air live from The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on October 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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