September 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAThe 2020 ACM Awards hasn’t even happened yet, but Maren Morris is already a winner: She nabbed a Vocal Event of the Year trophy for her work in Miranda Lambert’s collaborative cover, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”

But as tonight’s awards show nears, Maren is looking ahead to two more categories. She’s in the running to win Female Artist of the Year as well as Album of the Year, for her latest project, Girl.

“Yeah, I am just floored to be in both [categories],” the singer tells ABC Audio. “So I think either would be really special.”

Still, she admits that winning Album of the Year would have particular significance.

“Just because, you know, it’s my last piece of work with my collaborator busbee before he passed away,” she notes. The producer and songwriter died unexpectedly of brain cancer in 2019.

In addition to being a nominee at tonight’s show, Maren is also a performer. She’ll deliver “To Hell & Back,” off Girl, from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium.

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

September 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

Capitol Records NashvilleKeith Urban and pop collaborator Pink swap bar-room stories, regrets and battle scars in “One Too Many,” their just-released duet.

“I spend all my money drinking on my own, yeah / In this bar, just sat here staring at my phone,” the pair harmonize in the chorus. “And I keep second guessing, where did I go wrong? / I know I’m proud, but I’ve had one too many / Come take me home…”

The song is one of three collaborations on Keith’s just-around-the-corner album, The Speed of Now Part 1. He also teams up with up-and-comer Breland and guitarist Nile Rodgers on another track, and includes a duet version of “We Were” with one of the song’s writers, Eric Church.

Keith’s new song is out just in time for tonight’s ACM Awards ceremony, where he and Pink will deliver the debut live performance of “One Too Many.”

He’s also hosting the show, and is the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year. Tune in to watch on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

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

September 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LABecause 2020 just can’t get any crazier, Justin Bieber is nominated for three Academy of Country Music Awards tonight.  The nods come for his hit “10,000 Hours” collaboration with Dan + Shay — and the duo tells ABC Audio that not only is Justin “very excited” about them, but they’ve promised to “hand-deliver” the trophies to him if they win.

“Yeah, he’s definitely informed,” says Shay Mooney when asked if the pop superstar is even aware that he’s up for a bunch of awards tonight.

“He is very excited and it’s really cool for him: He’s always been a huge country music fan. So to be able to be in this genre — something that he’s not normally involved in — I think was…kind of a cool check off his bucket list,” Shay adds.

And if they win?

“We’ll hand-deliver [the trophies],” laughs Dan Smyers. “[Like], ‘Hey man, [remember] we put out a song together?'”

“No, it’s awesome. It’s super exciting to have him on the song,” Dan adds, all joking aside. “I know he was super-pumped…when we first got it going, he was like, ‘Man, thank you guys for putting me on country radio. This is amazing.’ And we’re like, ‘Thank you for introducing us to listeners in China!'”

“He has such a big fan base and whenever the song dropped it, you know, exposed our music to so many people and we’ll always be grateful for that, man,” Dan admits. “It’s a big one.”

“10,000 Hours” scored nods for Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Music Event of the Year at the ACMs (Music Event went to Miranda Lambert in a pre-ceremony announcement.)  The show airs live from Nashville tonight on CBS with host Keith Urban.

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

September 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LASeattle-based singer Anita White filed a new lawsuit this week against the country trio formerly known as Lady Antebellum, as part of the ongoing battle over use of the name Lady A.

According to court documents, White’s complaint was filed for “trademark infringement under federal state law.” The singer further alleges that the band’s decision to assume the name Lady A was made “with willful disregard Ms. White’s rights in her Lady A trademark, which she has used for nearly thirty years.”

In filing her lawsuit, White says she wishes to protect herself from “consumer confusion” and further obfuscation of her “brand identity.”

The country trio dropped the “Antebellum” from their name this summer in acknowledgement of the term’s associations with slavery. The name change came in the wake of a newly galvanized Civil Rights movement and nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.

But White objected to the band’s new name, explaining that there would be no way to avoid burying her brand if she had to share the name with the massively popular group.

Back in July, the trio said that they’d been forced to file a lawsuit against White in order to affirm their right to use the name, after she asked for $10 million in exchange for the name. That money, the singer said, would be split between her rebranding efforts, Black Lives Matter and other artists facing similar situations.

The battle continues to rage on over use of the Lady A name. In a recent interview with The Washington Post, White argued that the band’s gestures toward compromise have ultimately been hollow, adding, “You can’t be halfway woke.”

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

September 16, 2020 • No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LAKelsea Ballerini is bringing her current single, “hole in the bottle,” to the 2020 ACM Awards tonight, and she’s warning fans to be prepared for her to serve a serious look onstage.

“There’s some boots! You’re not ready,” she laughs to ABC Audio. “They’re so good.”

After all, the singer put out her new album, kelsea right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was hoping to be able to play these songs live all summer, and though things didn’t go as planned, she’s saving up all that live show energy for the ACMs.

“I’m [performing] from the Ryman because the Ryman is near Broadway. Get it? ‘Hole in the bottle’? Broadway?” she jokes, in a nod to the fact that her drinking song will fit right in along Broadway’s many honky tonks and bars.

It’s an especially apt time for Kelsea to get back onstage, as she just celebrated her 27th birthday last Saturday.

“Getting to be back on stage was like the biggest birthday present of them all,” she admits. But Kelsea could be walking away with another birthday present if she wins the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy at this year’s ceremony.

“I mean, nothing is ever guaranteed, ever. And I absolutely feel very grateful to be a part of the category this year. Especially having a new record out and all of that,” she comments. “It feels like I’m doing something right.”

To watch Kelsea’s performance, tune into the ACM Awards tonight at 8PM ET on CBS.

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