Month: September 2020

ABC/Image Group LAJimmie Allen will take the stage of Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe at the ACM Awards tonight to perform his chart-topping second single, “Make Me Want To.”

It’s a stage he’s pretty familiar with: So much so, in fact, that the singer can draw a comparison between the Bluebird and another very different — but equally iconic — venue.

“It’s the white version of the Apollo Theater in New York,” he tells ABC Audio, cracking up. “But at the Apollo, if you suck, they’ll boo you. At the Bluebird, if you suck, they’ll go, ‘Awww. Bless your heart. God’s still workin’ on you.’”

When it comes to his own performance, Jimmie’s looking forward to getting on stage and just enjoying himself. “I’m gonna have fun, you know? That’s all that matters,” he notes.

Last year, Jimmie picked up his first-ever ACM nod in the New Male Artist of the Year category. He hasn’t yet won a trophy at the show, but for now, the singer’s just excited to be onstage and close to all the action.

The Bluebird is one of three Music City venues hosting performances during tonight’s ceremony. Also participating in the ACM Awards are the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry House.

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

ABC/Chris HolloLady A look back at their ACM Awards history this week, as they’re heading into tonight’s show nominated for two awards they’ve won in the past.

Bandmates Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood won Group of the Year from 2009-2011, and took home the Single of the Year honor in 2009 for “Need You Now.” But their first-ever trophy from any awards show happened in 2008, when they were the ACM’s New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year.

“The ACMs was our first award, you know?” Dave reflects to ABC Audio. “…Man, that was so special. I think that really kicked off and kind of propelled the beginning of our career, getting recognized for that.”

Today, the trio is in the running for Group of the Year once again, and they’re also a contender in the Single category with “What if I Never Get Over You.”

Dave adds that the band is particularly excited for that song to be honored, because they’re such big fans of the songwriters behind it. Sam Ellis, Laura Veltz, Jon Green and singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd penned the tune.

“The songwriters, oh my gosh. They did such a fantastic job writing that. So we’re honored to be the voices of that [song],” he notes.

Tune into the 2020 ACMS tonight on CBS beginning at 8PM ET.

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

Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesRunaway June will appear onstage at tonight’s ACM Awards as presenters, and it’s an exciting landmark for the group: It’s the first awards show since Natalie Stovall joined the trio, following Hannah Mulholland’s departure earlier in 2020.

The band always brings their A-Game, both in terms of music and in terms of fashion. But this year’s ceremony posed some unique challenges in terms of assembling their awards show outfits.

“So here’s the thing: The mail system has been a little odd since the hurricanes, and the stuff that we had coming in was from New Orleans,” bandmate Naomi Cooke reveals to ABC Audio. “So we’re literally a little bit down to the wire with wardrobe.”

It’s not a typical year for anyone, and country stars attending the ACMs are noticing plenty of differences in the way the ceremony will proceed.

“Honestly, we’re gonna be kind of in and out,” Naomi goes on to say. “The show is really, really doing their best to protect everyone, and putting in the proper precautions to make sure everybody stays safe. So we’re gonna be kind of in and out.”

The 2020 ACMs will kick off tonight at 8PM ET on CBS.

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

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.

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.

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.

Comstock/Thinkstock51 years ago today, this legendary country performer had a number one hit on his hands with “A Boy Named Sue.” The song told the story of a young man who vows revenge on his absentee father for giving him a feminine name. Can you name the artist who released it? ANSWER: Johnny Cash.

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

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.