Carrie Underwood named top artist at CMT Music Awards
In this video image provided by CMT, Carrie Underwood accepts the female of the year award for Drinking Alone during the Country Music Television awards airing on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (CMT via AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ Carrie Underwood already had the most CMT Music Awards of any artist, but she'll need to make more room on her shelf. The superstar picked up two more trophies for video of the year and female video of the year in a remotely shot awards show. "I am so proud to be a part of this legacy of women in country music with you. Singer Granger Smith won for his on-the-nose music video called โDon't Cough On Me!"
Shania Twain reflects on breakout album that changed country
FILE - Shania Twain appears during a portrait session in New York on June 14, 2019. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ The record that turned Shania Twain from a struggling singer-songwriter from Canada into a global superstar also changed country music for years to come. But her life changed after โThe Woman in Me,โ her Grammy-winning second album released in February 1995, which was the best-selling release by a woman in country music at the time. But she was also taking a risk as a country artist to be so forward with her sexuality and her classic supermodel looks. Despite taking a long break from recording between 2002โs โUp!โ and 2017โs โNow,โ Twain is still the best-selling female country artist, according to the Recording Industry of America.
Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs top CMT noms
NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett top the 2020 CMT Music Awards nominations with three each. In nominations announced Wednesday for the pandemic-delayed show, 14 videos are vying for the top prize of video of the year. The fan-voted show will air on CMT and other networks on Oct. 21 with outdoor performances. The Highwomen, a group made up of Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires, also got their first nomination for group video. Electronic producer and DJ Marshmello also earned a nomination in collaborative video for the crossover hit โOne Thing Right" with Kane Brown.
ACM Awards brings live performances back to TV amid pandemic
This combination photo shows country singers, from left, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown and Mickey Guyton who will perform at this year's ACM Awards in Nashville. (AP Photo)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ At the Academy of Country Music Awards on Wednesday, there wonโt be fake fans, canned applause or pre-taped acceptance speeches. After a five-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the awards show wants to bring the live television experience back again. The 55th annual ACM Awards, normally held in April in Las Vegas, were delayed this year and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, for the first time. โI donโt know if itโs gonna look like an NFL Draft night when we hand out the awards,โ Urban said laughing.
Apple Music launching shows with Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain
NEW YORK Apple Music is launching several new radio shows hosted by A-list musical acts, including Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. The streaming service announced that it will debut two new radio stations Tuesday: Apple Music Hits, focused on popular songs of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, as well as Apple Music Country, dedicated to the country music genre. Both channels will have daily on-air hosts but will also include several shows hosted by well-known musicians. Apple Music Hits will include shows hosted by Snoop Dogg, Twain, Alanis Morissette, Backstreet Boys, Meghan Trainor, Ciara, blink-182s Mark Hoppus and Huey Lewis. Apple Music also announced Tuesday that its popular Beats 1 radio station featuring shows hosted by Billie Eilish, Elton John and Lil Wayne will be renamed to Apple Music 1.
Critics slam country artists for playing for unmasked crowds
Musicians and fans alike are criticizing country artists like Janson and Rice who performed at outdoor concerts this weekend where social media pictures showed large crowds without masks. Rice performed in front of a large crowd in Tennessee and Janson performed at an outdoor festival in Idaho. (AP Photo)NASHVILLE, Tenn. Fellow musicians and fans alike are criticizing country artists who performed at outdoor concerts this weekend where social media pictures showed large, tight crowds without masks, even as COVID-19 cases resurge in the United States. Country star Kelsea Ballerini called Rice selfish for risking people's health by playing in front of a large crowd. But the owner of the venue where Rice played said the concert was approved by both city and county officials.
CMA Awards 2019: How to Watch, Who's Hosting, Presenters, Performers and More
The 2019 County Music Association Awards are almost here! ET is your go-to resource for all things CMA Awards, as we'll be on the scene with the biggest stars for the night's biggest moments. : Follow along on ET Live, by downloading the ET Live mobile app from the Google Play store or Apple App Store. Or stream ET Live on your Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV device. RELATED CONTENT:CMA Awards 2019 Nominees: Carrie Underwood, Lil Nas X, Maren Morris and MoreCarrie Underwood Will Host 2019 CMA Awards Alongside Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire
Ocala boy battling cancer gets surprise from country music star Kelsea Ballerini
A blind Ocala boy battling brain cancer was brought to tears when he opened a special gift that arrived in the mail on Tuesday. Ayden Morgan, 9, pulled a guitar sent from country music star Kelsea Ballerini out of the box. (Credit: Tiffany Henke)During the meet and greet, the pair connected about their love for music and playing different types of instruments, including the electric guitar. It seems Ayden really touched Ballerini as her sweet gift arrived almost six months after. Ayden was born with a very rare brain cancer that left him completely blind since the age of 3.