Month: September 2020

Country Music AssociationLuke Combs and Carly Pearce revealed the first contenders for the 2020 Country Music Association Awards this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Here are the initial nominees for the 54th CMA Awards, with more to be unveiled shortly:

New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen 

Album of the Year
Heartache Medication — Jon Pardi
Never Will — Ashley McBryde
Old Dominion — Old Dominion
What You See Is What You Get — Luke Combs
Wildcard — Miranda Lambert

Musical Event of the Year
“10,000 Hours” — Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
“Be a Light” — Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
“The Bones” — Maren Morris with Hozier
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” — Miranda Lambert (featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack”
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” — Carly Pearce and Lee Brice 

Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

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

Matthew BerinatoJameson Rodgers is nearing the top ten with his debut single, “Some Girls,” but the Mississippi native’s made several trips to the top of the country charts already. 

You see, the former college baseball player co-wrote Chris Lane‘s number one, “I Don’t Know About You,” as well as the title track of Luke Bryan‘s chart-topping Born Here Live Here Die Here album. 

Still, it turns out his friendships have more to do with his first hit as an artist than his own writing talent.

“It’s funny because I moved here writing songs and, you know, it’s kind of ironic that my first song is one I didn’t write,” Jameson tells ABC Audio. “But it’s one that three of my best buddies wrote back in the day.”

“And this was like four or five years ago when none of us had anything going on,” he recalls. “You know, you come up with all these other amazing songwriters and become like brothers.”

“Some Girls” was written by HARDY, C.J. Solar, and Jake Mitchell, who’ve individually played a part in smashes like Blake Shelton‘s “God’s Country,” and Morgan Wallen‘s “Up Down.” 

“You share demos, and this was just a demo that was shared with our buddies,” Jameson explains. “And I just always thought it was a hit. Like I would always get in my truck and play it, you know, before anybody liked it or anybody knew about it.”

“And somehow it fell through the cracks, and I got to record it,” he adds. “And it’s been fun watching people react to it.”  

Right now, Jameson’s busy working on following up his two independent EPs with his full-length major-label debut. This morning, he makes his first national TV appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna at 10 a.m. on NBC. 

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

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockCharlie Daniels Jr., the son of the late Charlie Daniels, is honoring his father’s legacy with a new licensing venture that will change CDB, Inc. into Charlie Daniels Brand, Inc. The re-brand includes merchandising and legacy projects that honor the singer’s memory. 

Lauren Alaina is hosting a new series on the Circle network called Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith. It will feature interviews with several stars including Randy and Mary Travis, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, actress Kristin Chenoweth and more. The series premieres on October 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. 

Sara Evans is embarking on a virtual book tour this week in support of her upcoming memoir, Born to Fly. The five-city tour begins on September 2 with a Premiere Live book signing and concludes on September 11 at Rainy Day Books in Fairway, Kansas. Born to Fly will be released on September 8.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.