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Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson lead CMT Music Awards noms
Read full article: Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson lead CMT Music Awards nomsJelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Cody Johnson are the leading nominees for the 2024 CMT Music Awards, celebrating the best in country music videos.
On 'Carolyn’s Boy,' Darius Rucker pays loving tribute to his greatest inspiration: his late mother
Read full article: On 'Carolyn’s Boy,' Darius Rucker pays loving tribute to his greatest inspiration: his late motherOn Friday, Darius Rucker released “Carolyn's Boy,” an album in tribute to his late mom, who died in 1992 from a heart attack.
Amid Musk Twitter chaos, athletes & celebs cope just like us
Read full article: Amid Musk Twitter chaos, athletes & celebs cope just like usMuch like many of Twitter's hundreds of millions of users, professional sports stars and celebrities from the entertainment world are dealing with the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the microblogging app since Elon Musk took it over and began trimming the staff and making other changes.
New this week: Mellencamp, Hilary Duff and 'Fraggle Rock'
Read full article: New this week: Mellencamp, Hilary Duff and 'Fraggle Rock'This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album of rootsy rock from John Mellencamp, the return of puppet friends from “Fraggle Rock” and a virtual Sundance Film Festival where all the selections can be streamed.
Biden, Harris: Protect voting rights to honor John Lewis
Read full article: Biden, Harris: Protect voting rights to honor John LewisPresident Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are both marking the one-year anniversary of the death U.S. Rep. John Lewis by urging Congress to enact laws to protect voting rights.
CMT to honor Black country music pioneer Linda Martell
Read full article: CMT to honor Black country music pioneer Linda MartellLinda Martell, one of the pioneers for Black acts in country music and the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry, will be honored at the 2021 CMT Music Awards.
Charley Pride overcame racial barriers as country music star
Read full article: Charley Pride overcame racial barriers as country music starAnd he did it by winning over millions of country music fans. Until the early 1990s, when Cleve Francis came along, Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label. “Then it was ‘first Negro country singer;’ then ‘first Black country singer.’ Now I’m the `first African-American country singer.′ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. Throughout his career, he sang positive songs instead of sad ones often associated with country music. Even a country singer,” said country singer Rissi Palmer on Twitter.
New this week: 'I Am Greta,' Chris Stapleton & CMA Awards
Read full article: New this week: 'I Am Greta,' Chris Stapleton & CMA AwardsThis image released by Hulu shows activist Greta Thunberg, center, in a scene from the documentary "I Am Greta" the story of Thunberg, the teenage Swedish schoolgirl who is leading the global school strike for action on climate change. The film premieres Friday on Hulu. (Hulu via AP)
New this week: 'I Am Greta,' Chris Stapleton & CMA Awards
Read full article: New this week: 'I Am Greta,' Chris Stapleton & CMA AwardsThis image released by Hulu shows activist Greta Thunberg, center, in a scene from the documentary "I Am Greta" the story of Thunberg, the teenage Swedish schoolgirl who is leading the global school strike for action on climate change. (Hulu via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— When Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Swedish Parliament two years ago, it only took days for director Nathan Grossman to start trailing her in her mission to prod government leaders on the climate crisis. “I Am Greta,” which premieres Friday on Hulu, documents the enormous movement fueled by Thunberg’s one-person school strike, and a few very surreal years for the Swedish teenager. — After releasing two chart-topping albums in 2017, superstar country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is back with a new collection of songs coming out Friday.
Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris to play CMAs
Read full article: Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris to play CMAsFILE - Eric Church performs at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on March 28, 2017. Church will perform at this year's CMA Awards in Nashville. The show will air on ABC on Nov. 11. (Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP, File)
Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris to play CMAs
Read full article: Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris to play CMAsFILE - Eric Church performs at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on March 28, 2017. Church will perform at this year's CMA Awards in Nashville. (Photo by Rick Scuteri/Invision/AP, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Luke Combs and more are set to take the stage at the CMA Awards in November. The country music awards show promised that the genre’s biggest stars will be together in one room again for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak started. Lambert, the leading nominee with seven nods including entertainer of the year, will perform “Settling Down" from her album of the year nominated record ”Wildcard."
Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker take over as CMA Awards hosts
Read full article: Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker take over as CMA Awards hostsNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country stars Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker are promising laughs and good music when they co-host this year's CMA Awards in November. McEntire, a Country Music Hall of Famer and veteran host of country music awards shows, returns after hosting last year with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton. Pride was the first Black country artist to co-host the awards show, in 1975 with Glen Campbell. And to be here 14 years later hosting with Reba freaking McEntire? Although the pandemic may change some behind-the-scenes production, McEntire promised she would keep up her awards show tradition of multiple outfit changes throughout the broadcast.
Country music reckons with racial stereotypes and its future
Read full article: Country music reckons with racial stereotypes and its futureThis combination of photos shows country singer Rissi Palmer, from left, Chuck Harmony, left, and Claude Kelly of Louis York and country rapper Breland. Black artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. The genre has historically been marketed to white audiences and reinforced white male artist stereotypes. (Chris Charles via AP, left, Jeremy Ryan via AP, center and Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)
Country music reckons with racial stereotypes and its future
Read full article: Country music reckons with racial stereotypes and its futureBlack artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. I was called colored, like, I didnt know colored people like country music, said Palmer, who had three singles reach the Hot Country Songs Chart. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association started diversity task forces more than a year ago when country music was being criticized for a lack of female voices and women were being left out of major categories like entertainer of the year. But just as country artists outwardly reflect a predominantly white image, there are few Black country music executives working behind the scenes. Theres a dismantling of culture that needs to happen.Palmer, who is recording a podcast that focuses on the experiences of women of color in country music, said she feels optimistic that the current discussions about race and country music can lead to progress, if real changes are implemented.
Amid pandemic, Live Nation announces drive-in concert series
Read full article: Amid pandemic, Live Nation announces drive-in concert series(AP Photo)NEW YORK Tour promoter Live Nation has announced its first-ever drive-in concerts series in the U.S. for July, months after the live music industry has been on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. All venue staff are required to wear masks, and Live Nation requests that attendees wear masks upon arrival, where there will be contact-less ticket scanning through their windows. Masks are not required once fans are in their designated tailgate areas, and Live Nation is not requiring that fans wear gloves. Tom See, president of Live Nation Venues-US Concerts, said the company spent months working to find a safe, enjoyable way to put on live shows during the pandemic. A menu of hot food items and nonalcoholic will be available for purchase, Live Nation said.
CMT special focuses on good news work of everyday heroes
Read full article: CMT special focuses on good news work of everyday heroesNASHVILLE, Tenn. Country stars highlighted the heroic work of citizens and communities around the country who were coming together to help each other in the middle of the coronavirus epidemic during the "CMT Celebrates Our Heroes" TV special. CMT started the show with a simple text introduction: As social unrest grips the nation, we want to say thank you to those taking action against injustice. There are heroes all around us." The special aired in place of their CMT Music Awards, which were postponed to October. The special, which appeared to be mostly pre-recorded performances and dedications from artists like Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs and Darius Rucker, focused on good news stories of healthcare workers, educators, first responders and more.
NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatus
Read full article: NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatusFILE - In this May 11, 2012, file photo, drivers take the green flag for the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will re-fire the engines moments after mask-clad drivers climb into their cars at Darlington Raceway. (Tyler Barrick/Pool Photo via AP, File)DARLINGTON, S.C. NASCAR will not be as you remember it when racing returns at old egg-shaped Darlington Raceway. He tested at Darlington shortly before the season was suspended and determined then he was fit to race again. Busch and Hill are adding Xfinity Series races at Darlington and Charlotte, and a Truck Series race at Charlotte to their calendar. His only victory so far this season was the Truck Series race at home track Las Vegas.