Month: September 2020

Joseph LlanesThis weekend, Carrie Underwood returned to NBC’s Sunday Night Football for her eighth season of providing the theme song.

SNF will look considerably different this year, with the NFL’s annual show open revamped to comply with COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. No fans attended live; instead, the Sunday night opening show this weekend highlighted virtual content from viewers at home.

Of course, there’s no substitute for the excitement of live football with fans in the stands. However, Carrie did her best to provide some extra drama and glamor to the occasion with a high-octane performance of the Sunday Night Football theme, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”

Interspersed with clips of NFL football teams at the top of their game, Carrie delivers the swagger-filled theme song from a dazzling stage decked out in lights.

The SNF opening show took place on Sunday, September 13. After the show, the Los Angeles Rams beat the Dallas Cowboys 20-17.

Capitol Records NashvilleOne year after the release of his critically-acclaimed third studio album, Heartache Medication, Jon Pardi is doubling down on the project. Next month, he’ll put out a deluxe version of Heartache Medication that features three bonus tracks.

The new songs are called “Bar Downtown” and “Beer Light,” and another track re-imagines his single “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” with a new “Western Version” remix. Fans can pre-order the deluxe version of Heartache Medication beginning September 18.

The project drops in full on October 2, which is the one-year anniversary of the first of two headlining, back-to-back shows Jon played at the Ryman to celebrate his album’s release. 

Jon’s got plenty of reason to celebrate Heartache Medication as he heads into awards show season, too. The album is nominated for Album of the Year at the ACM Awards this week, with Jon standing to gain a trophy both as an artist and producer. The project is also an Album of the Year nominee at the 2020 CMA Awards, which will take place in November.

Jon also recently released a new EP called the Rancho Fiesta Sessions, an eight-track collection of cover songs pulled from his favorite artists’ discographies and recorded at his home with his band.

Dennis Leupold/Triple Tigers/RCA RecordsCam is shedding more light on The Otherside, her sophomore studio album, as she reveals the 11-song collection’s track list. Fans have already heard four songs off the project, including her current single, “Classic.”

The singer explains that making The Otherside was an emotional journey for her, one that started in disappointment and disillusionment with the world.

“These past few years, my expectations for the world were severely undercut,” Cam notes. “Honestly, my idealist heart needed some reworking in order to survive. All the same time all this inner development was happening, I was touring the world and getting better at singing & songwriting. Now in hindsight, from the Otherside, I can hear the through-line of how it’s all made me more myself.”

The singer’s new project was also an opportunity to work with some songwriters and artists that she deeply admired, who brought outside perspectives to her country songwriting. Harry Styles co-wrote one track, “Changes,” and Sam Smith co-wrote another, “Happier for You.”

The late EDM producer Tim Bergling, aka Avicii, also lent his songwriting expertise to the title track of the album.

The Otherside is due out October 30. Here’s the full track list:

“Redwood Tree”
“The Otherside”
“Classic”
“Forgetting You”
“Like a Movie”
“Changes”
“Till There’s Nothing Left”
“What Goodbye Means”
“Diane”
“Happier for You”
“Girl Like Me”

Courtesy of SpotifyCross-genre country superstar, noted actress and now…podcast host? Reba McEntire revealed the next step in her career this week, announcing her new Spotify podcast, Living & Learning with Reba McEntire.

In each episode, Reba sits down with actress Melissa Peterman, who appeared alongside the country superstar as part of the cast of her sitcom, Reba. The two friends tackle a different topic in each installment of the show, which airs on Mondays beginning September 21.

But that’s not all: The co-hosts enlist an array of superstar special guests to offer thoughts on each episode’s topic. The stars making appearances on the podcast include Dolly Parton, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Fonda, Glennon Doyle and many more.

The first episode of Living & Learning with Reba McEntire premieres next week, but in the meantime, you can check out the trailer now. The show will be available exclusively on Spotify.

Disney Channel/Image Group LAThe artists nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards will kick off the show in style, the Academy of Country Music announced today.

In the running for the show’s most coveted trophy are Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Luke Combs. Their performance at the top of the event will be a medley of the five artists’ greatest hits, Billboard reports.

The 2020 ACMs are set to take place on Wednesday night, and big-name performances and appearances are being announced leading up to the ceremony. It was also recently revealed that Taylor Swift will take the ACMs stage for the first time in years, performing her new country single, “Betty.”

Keith Urban is also on deck to deliver what’s sure to be an unforgettable performance: He’s bringing Pink to the stage, where the two will perform their new duet, “One Too Many.”

Keith is also hosting the 2020 ACMs, which airs this year from three separate Music City locales: The Grand Ole Opry House, the Bluebird Cafe and the Ryman Auditorium. You can catch the show live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Courtesy of the Academy of Country MusicAhead of Wednesday night’s ACM Awards show, three off-camera category winners have already been announced, according to CMT.

Miranda Lambert takes home the trophy for Vocal Event of the Year with “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” along with her collaborators Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King. The group of women toured together in 2019 on Miranda’s Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars run; the song is their spin on Elvin Bishop’s 1975 hit. 

It’s an especially exciting win for Tenille, who’s already picking up her second ACM trophy even though the show hasn’t happened yet. She was previously awarded a win in the category of New Female Artist of the Year.

Next up, Thomas Rhett is celebrating an early victory. He picks up the Video of the Year trophy for his “Remember You Young.” That song comes off of Thomas’ 2019 album, Center Point Road, and was also a chart-topping radio hit.

Finally, Hillary Lindsey wins in the category of Songwriter of the Year. Ever since her first number-one song with Martina McBride’s 2002 hit, “Blessed,” Hillary has become one of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters, working with Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Lady A and many more.

The rest of the winners at the 2020 ACM Awards will be revealed during the show on Wednesday, September 16. The event will broadcast live on CBS.