March 8, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

CBSMiranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Mickey Guyton will perform at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

They join an all-star roster of performers that also includes Taylor Swift, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Lil Baby, Maren’s fellow The Highwomen member Brandi Carlile, and more.  

Miranda is the most-nominated country act, with three nods, while Mickey makes history as the first Black female solo artist to be nominated in a country category, for “Black Like Me,” which is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance.

Maren has two nominations in the category of Best Country Song, for “The Bones” and The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table.” 

The Grammys will also pay tribute to live venues that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with employees from the Troubadour in LA, Nashville’s Station Inn and more presenting various categories throughout the show. 

The 2021 Grammy Awards will be hosted by The Daily Show‘s Trevor Noah and air on March 14 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 8, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Big Machine

As Thomas Rhett namechecks more than a dozen country smashes in his latest hit, “What’s Your Country Song,” he’s sharing his story — as well as yours.

For TR, one of the cornerstones is his dad, singer/songwriter Rhett Akins.

“It was really interesting the way that we started to progress the song,” he explains. “I actually threw one of my dad’s song titles, ‘That Ain’t My Truck,’ in the second verse.”

“So, we picked a lot of songs that I feel like really shaped me as an artist,” he continues, “and put those into the verses. And then hopefully when the listener’s listening they don’t really hear the song titles, but it sounds more like a story.”

Thomas also hopes “What’s Your Country Song” will set you on a trip down memory lane — and make you feel young again.

“The more they listen to the song, I hope they can kinda go through and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love that song.  I love that song,'” he reflects.

“But I’m also wanting them to make their own interpretation of the song,” he adds, “and go, ‘Man, what were my songs that kind of defined my life? What songs did I hear on the radio, that when I hear ’em today as a 30-year-old or a 40-year-old, it makes me feel 17 again?'”

“What’s Your Country Song” is just the first taste of TR’s upcoming double album, Country Again, with the eleven-track Side A set to arrive April 30.

If that weren’t enough to keep the father-of-three busy, he’s also just launched his own Dos Primos brand of premium tequila with his cousin, Georgia pecan magnate Jeff Worn.

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of Matthew West & Carly PearceCarly Pearce makes a guest appearance on a new duet version of “Truth Be Told,” a song that was previously a hit for Christian artist Matthew West.

On the new version, Carly and Matthew trade verses, harmonizing over the song’s message of choosing honesty in a world where so many people choose to share only the “highlight reels” of their lives.

That’s an especially timely message for Carly, who confronts the pain of her divorce from Michael Ray in her newly-released project, 29. In her own recent work, the singer has doubled down on how important it is to tell the truth in her music.

Plus, she’s been vocal about what an important role faith plays in her life, and Carly adds that collaborating on “Truth Be Told” felt like a great way to highlight that side of her identity.

“I’ve been praying for the right opportunity to share more of my heart, and ‘Truth Be Told’ felt meant to be,” the singer says. “Not only am I such a fan of Matthew’s, this lyric has been the anthem of my life over the last year. Being transparent and vulnerable is how we connect with others. I’m so excited to be a part of this collaboration!”

The original version of “Truth Be Told” comes off of Matthew’s 2020 album, Brand New.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Courtesy of Shore Fire Media/Pepper EntertainmentIn a time when in-person concert events are few and far between, Justin Moore and Tracy Lawrence are planning an arena show for a good cause.

Along with opening act Lainey Wilson, the two performers will head to South Dakota’s Sioux Falls Arena on April 10 for the Salute 2 Frontline Workers concert. Tickets will be available beginning March 12 via a unique passcode on Ticketmaster, and healthcare workers, law enforcement and frontline workers will receive an email from their employers with details on how to download free tickets.

It’s not the first time Justin and Tracy have teamed up: In fact, Justin’s long been vocal about what a musical hero the “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” star has always been to him.

The two Arkansas natives also hit the road together during their Late Nights and Longnecks tour in January of 2020, a run named for Justin’s Late Nights and Longnecks album. Prior to that, Justin was also a guest vocalist on a re-recording of Tracy’s ’90s hit, “Alibis,” which the latter singer included on his 2017 Good Ole Days album.

The Salute 2 Frontline Workers show is a partnership with Pepper Entertainment. Any frontline workers who haven’t received info about how to attend by March 18 can request an email invite to download tickets on the venue’s website.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 5, 2021 • No Comments • Country Music News

Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevent many country fans from visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a special video will premiere this spring to offer a virtual look into its new American Currents: Celebrating the State of the Music exhibit.

Each year, the CMHOF’s American Currents documents the previous year in country music history, spotlighting the artists who helped shape it. 

Opening later this month, this year’s exhibit will feature artists such as Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Miranda Lambert, Mickey Guyton and more. The video special will introduce fans to the exhibit with the help of a diverse roster of artists.

Hall of Fame member Vince Gill will introduce the new American Currents, with the help of rising bluegrass star Billy Strings. Meanwhile, Luke Combs and Rissi Palmer will appear in conversation during the program, discussing the past year and how it changed and shaped their perspective as artists. Luke, Rissi and Billy will all perform during the video special, too.

The video special premieres on March 19 on YouTube and Facebook, and it will be available to watch after the premiere on CMHOF’s YouTube channel.

For more information about the exhibit, which opens March 12, visit the museum’s website.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.