Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett to perform at 55th Annual CMA Awards

Host Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett and more are set to perform at the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards. Gabby Barrett, Jennifer Hudson, Zac Brown Band and Dierks Bentley, featuring Breland and Hardy, will also be taking the stage.

The artists join formerly announced performers Jason Aldean with Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osbourne, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton with Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce with Ashley McBryde, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Chris Young with Kane Brown.

The 55th annual CMA Awards will air live Wednesday from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC. Church and Stapleton lead the nominees with five nominations each.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com


Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde team up in the video for “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”

Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde have released the music video for their collaboration ‘Never Wanted To Be That Girl’ taken from Pearce’s album '29: Written In Stone.'

The video, directed by first-time director Alexa Campbell, sees both singers shown from the perspective of two women who learn their partner is involved with someone else. Pearce and McBryde will perform ‘Never Wanted To Be That Girl’ on the CMA Awards on November 10th, where they are both nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.   Take a look at their video - here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com


Darius Rucker announces intimate theater tour for 2022

Darius Rucker has announced a special tour next year that will visit theaters in 12 cities across the U.S. The tour is set to kick off on February 17th in Philadelphia, Pa. at The Met and will be wrapping up on April 1st in New Orleans, La. at the Saenger Theatre. Caylee Hammack will join Rucker on the road as his special guest.  Tickets go on sale on December 17.

Rucker said about the tour: "It's been a dream of mine for a while to bring our show to these beautiful theaters. Some of my favorite venue memories over the years are at places like the Apollo in New York or the Royal Albert Hall in London, as it's just a different experience when you're that close. With Hootie, we went straight from playing dive bars to arenas, so there are still a lot of theatres I've never had the opportunity to play. I'll just say that this tour will have a lot of firsts, even for me."

He had this to say about the song, "One of the most common questions I got asked last year was if I had picked up a new hobby during quarantine. I always answered that I was trying to learn piano, and someone asked if I was any good yet. J.T. Harding heard my response in that interview - 'I can't play piano like Ray Charles' - and knew we had to write a song around that line."

Editorial credit: Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock.com


Deluxe version of Adele’s album ’30’ to feature a duet with Chris Stapleton

The tracklist for the deluxe version of pop star Adele's next album '30' has been revealed, and it features a collaboration with country superstar Chris Stapleton.

The duet will be a new version of Adele's current single, "Easy on Me." She recently shared the solo version of that song as a first taste of the collection, which comes out — in both its basic and deluxe editions — on Nov. 19. The version of "Easy on Me" that includes Stapleton's vocals is on the deluxe version of 30, which expands the track list from 12 to 15 songs and will be available exclusively at Target.

Adele has been a fan of Stapleton's for years, performing "If It Hadn't Been for Love," a song that Stapleton co-wrote and performed during his days as a bandmate in bluegrass outfit the SteelDrivers. "If It Hadn't Been for Love" was a staple of Adele's live set in her early days, and she even included it as a bonus track on the U.K. limited edition of her second album, 21.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com


Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts Amy Grant, Steve Earle, Toby Keith, Rhett Akins and more in a star-studded gala

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame welcomed ten new members as the Classes of 2020 and 2021 were officially honored during NaSHOF's 50th and 51st Anniversary Hall of Fame Gala at Nashville's Music City Center.  Sarah Cates, Board Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, said: "This year we are belatedly celebrating our Golden Anniversary - more than 50 years of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Though we were unable to gather last year, we're making up for lost time by honoring two stellar classes. It's gratifying to have these legendary songwriters join us at last!"

The Class Of 2020 included: Kent Blazy and Brett James in the songwriter category; Spooner Oldham in the veteran songwriter category, Steve Earle in the songwriter/artist category and Bobbie Gentry in the veteran songwriter/artist category.

The Class of 2021 included: Rhett Akins and Buddy Cannon in the songwriter category; John Scott Sherrill in the veteran songwriter category; Toby Keith in the songwriter/artist category and Amy Grant in the veteran songwriter/artist category.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com


Dan + Shay cancel two tour dates due to COVID-19; release new Christmas track

Dan + Shay have cancelled a pair of upcoming dates on "The (Arena) Tour" due to a member of their team contracting COVID-19. The duo shared in a letter to their fans on socials sharing that they had "some good news + some bad news."

The bad news was that a member of their touring crew has tested positive for the virus, forcing them to cancel shows in Orlando, Florida on Nov. 4 and Atlanta on Nov. 5.  As for the 'good news,' the twosome teased some "Christmas surprises" in the works, and followed that up by dropping a new holiday track on Wednesday titled "Pick Out A Christmas Tree".  Dan + Shay wrote on InstagramPICK OUT A CHRISTMAS TREE🎄we’re so excited to share the first of our 2021 holiday surprises 👀 whether you’re picking out a christmas tree, putting one up, or just trying to get in the spirit, this is the soundtrack for you. hit the link in our bio/story to check it out exclusively on @amazonmusic, or say “hey alexa, play pick out a christmas tree!” also, drop a comment and let us know if you’re team live tree or fake tree. gonna tally the results. 

Pick Out A Christmas Tree, an exclusive Amazon Original, can be purchased - here.

Dan + Shay are currently scheduled to be on the road until Dec. 7.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com


Kenny Chesney to launch ‘Here and Now’ tour beginning April 2022

Kenny Chesney is going on tour in 2022, shared plans for his Here and Now stadium tour. Chesney wrote on Instagram:  "I'm so excited to finally be able to say we're bringing the music back to the road in 2022 with @danandshay, @olddominionmusic and @carlypearce."  Chesney released his 19th studio album, 'Here and Now,' in May 2020. The album features the singles "Tip of My Tongue," "Here and Now," "Happy Does" and "Knowing You."

The Here and Now tour begins April 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla., and ends Aug. 27 in Foxboro, Mass. Chesney will be joined by Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce as opening acts. Chesney said in a statement: "No matter who you are, someone who's been coming since the very beginning or is curious what the fuss is all about, I wanted to give No Shoes Nation the best lineup of music that's gonna give them the kind of celebratory night we all deserve after waiting so long."

Tour information can be found here: https://www.kennychesney.com/tour.  American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets beginning Wednesday, Nov 3 at 10 a.m. ET before tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. ET.

Editorial credit: pasphotography / Shutterstock.com


Walker Hayes to hit the road on ‘The Fancy Like Tour’ in 2022

Walker Hayes has announced his headlining "The Fancy Like Tour" for 2022, with rising artist MacKenzie Porter serving as support on all tour dates.

Walker shared on social media: “Fancy Like Tour comin at cha…jacked to be playin all these cities. MacKenzie Porter will be joinin and if you don’t know her yet…you should. Tix on sale everywhere Friday OR you can text me for the presale code 615-808-8426.”

Walker continued: “When you get up on stage and you sing a song…especially that you wrote, and you look out, and there’s just lines of people reciting your lyrics back to you…I don’t know, it just kind of affirms all that work you did. And not just on that song, but maybe every one that you wrote to get to that one. You know, it’s such a gratifying feeling.”

Walker Hayes’ The Fancy Like Tour launches on January 27th in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrapping up late April in Louisville, Kentucky. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 5th.  For more information head to Walker's official website.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com


Take a look at the video from George Strait “The Weight Of The Badge”

In honor of 'First Responders Day' last week, George Strait released a powerful new video for his song “The Weight Of The Badge”, one of the 13-tracks included on his 2019 album Honky Tonk Time Machine.

Said George: “The men and women in this music video are our friends and neighbors who carry the weight of the badge each day,” and he adds, “Thank you. We appreciate you and the sacrifices you and your families make.”

Watch the video for “The Weight Of The Badge” - here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com


Miranda Lambert is inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall Of Fame

Country superstar Miranda Lambert has been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Lambert joins a class of women who embody the adventurous, self-reliant spirit of the old American frontier. The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame is meant to honor and celebrate women “whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the West, and fosters an appreciation” for those ideals. Miranda Lambert was being honored for her fundraising and pet-adoption efforts through her non-profit, MuttNation, and she’s joined by fellow inductees Pop Chalee, Lari Dee Guy, Lavonna “Shorty” Koger and Kathryn Kusner are the other women recognized this year, along with Patsy Montana Award recipient Christina Voros and Sergeant Reckless Award recipient Lucca K458.

Lambert returned to her home state with her husband, Brendan McLoughlin, for the ceremony and posted on social media about the honor, writing in part:  “Tuesday October 26 2021 is a day I will never forget as long as I live. That is the day I got inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall Of Fame in Ft. Worth Texas,” she wrote. “It is truly one of the greatest honors of my life. I am beyond grateful to join such an amazing group of women. I’m still processing this and will be for a long time.”

The honor comes just days after the release of Lambert’s new single, “If I Was a Cowboy”; take a look at the video for the song - here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com