Month: September 2020

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Go Country 105

Luke Combs, Maren Morris lead country nominees at 'Billboard' Music Awards

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ABC/Mark LevineDan + Shay, Luke Combs and Maren Morris are the most nominated county acts at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. 

Each act scored four nominations a piece, with the “Tequila” duo appearing in the categories of Top Duo/Group, Top Country Artist, Top Country Duo/Group and Top Country Song for their collaboration with Justin Bieber on “10,000 Hours.”

Luke is also up for Top Country Artist, along with Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album, for his record-breaking What You See Is What You Get. He’s also nominated for the fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement Award next to multi-genre heavy hitters Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Mariah Carey and Lil Nas X.   

Maren is also vying for Top Country Artist, along with Top Country Album for Girl, while “The Bones” is up for Top Country Song. She’s also nominated for Top Country Female Artist alongside Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves. 

Coming in behind them are Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown, who picked up three nominations each in the categories of Top Country Artist, Top Male Country Artist and Top Country Album.  In the latter category, Kane is nominated for Experiment and Thomas for Center Point Road. 

Florida Georgia Line, George Strait and Eric Church are among the other country nominees.

The 2020 Billboard Music Awards will be hosted by Kelly Clarkson and air live on October 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.  Here are all the nominees in the country categories: 

Top Country Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Dan + Shay
Maren Morris
Thomas Rhett
 
Top Country Male Artist:
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
 
Top Country Female Artist:
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
 
Top Country Duo/Group:
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
 
Top Country Tour:
Eric Church
Florida Georgia Line
George Strait

Top Country Album:
Kane Brown, Experiment
Luke Combs, What You See Is What You Get
Maren Morris, GIRL
Thomas Rhett, Center Point Road
Morgan Wallen, If I Know Me

Top Country Song:
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris, “The Bones”
Old Dominion, “One Man Band”
Blake Shelton, “God’s Country”
Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Glasses”

Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Fan Voted):
Mariah Carey
Luke Combs
Lil Nas X
Harry Styles
Taylor Swift

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

Categories
Go Country 105

Country star trivia

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Comstock/ThinkstockOn this day in 1999, this music icon known for such hits as “9 to 5,” “Jolene” and “Coat of Many Colors,” was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside Conway Twitty and Johnny Bond. Can you name her? Answer: Dolly Parton. 

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

Categories
News Daypop

CDC Reverses New Guidelines On Airborne Spread Of COVID-19

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Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) continued to modify the agency’s guidelines on COVID-19. On Monday, the CDC abruptly pulled down a days-old change suggesting that the virus can spread from person to person among those greater than 6 feet apart, particularly indoors. 

The agency’s guidance has long said that respiratory droplets, emitted from the nose and mouth of an infected person, “are the main way the virus spreads.” In an update posted Friday, the CDC said these microscopic particles could travel distances greater than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, like “restaurants and fitness classes.” That language, however, was removed late Monday morning. 

The CDC said in a statement posted on the guidelines home page:  “A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to the agency’s official website. CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of [COVID-19 and] once this process has been completed, the update language will be posted.”

CDC abruptly removes new guidance on coronavirus airborne transmission

Via abcnews.go.com
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday abruptly removed new guidance that the…
 

Editorial credit: Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Lady A's Hillary Scott is finding “peace” and a “reset” for “mind and heart” in TR's “Be a Light”

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ABC/Image Group LALady A‘s Hillary Scott has been pulling double duty lately, as she’s not only climbing the chart with her band’s “Champagne Night,” but also with her contribution to Thomas Rhett‘s uplifting “Be a Light.” 

“It was an honor,” she says of singing on the hit with Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, and Christian artist Chris Tomlin.

“I said this the other day, once I heard that the song went number one,” Hillary continues. “But it’s almost like God gave Thomas Rhett a message that he knew the world would need months later.”

“So to be asked to be a part of that,” she adds, “towards the tail end of last year, to then record it, and to see just what this song has done — I mean, gosh, it’s been one that I go to just to find peace and kind of reset my mind and heart in just the midst of everything that’s been going on over these last several months.”

As a second generation country star just like TR — Hillary’s mom is Linda Davis, while TR’s dad is Rhett Akins — Hillary couldn’t be happier for her friend’s success.

“It’s his sixteenth number one,” she tells ABC Audio. “I mean, it’s just so incredible to see his career, just the trajectory it’s been on. And to be a part of it is truly just — I’m just really thankful I got invited.”  

“Be a Light” is nominated for Musical Event of the Year at November’s 54th CMA Awards. 

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

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockCaylee Hammack will perform her new single “Just Friends” on the Today show this morning at 10 a.m. local time on NBC. 

Texas country band Asleep at the Wheel is at the center of an upcoming show chronicling the group’s appearances on Austin City Limits. Titled ACL Presents: 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel, the retrospective show will include clips of the band’s 11 appearances on the long running public TV series over the course of their 50-year career. It airs on PBS on October 31.  

Trea Landon has released a cover of Ronnie Milsap‘s “He Got You” as part of his monthly Classic Cover Series.

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

Categories
News Daypop

Justice Department Labels NYC, Portland, Seattle ‘Anarchist’ Over Protest

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On Monday, the Justice Department labeled New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle as “anarchist jurisdictions” to be evaluated for possible cuts in federal funding for failing to rein in “violent” anti-racism protests.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement that an executive order from President Donald Trump this month threatens to withhold federal funding from cities where local officials have cut police department funding or have refused to accept federal forces.

Barr cited rising gun violence in New York, cuts to the city’s police budget and other criteria for justifying its designation as an “anarchist jurisdiction.”  Barr said that Portland endured “100 consecutive nights of protests marred by vandalism, chaos, and even killing,” and Seattle’s was cited for “[permitting] anarchists and activists to seize six square blocks of the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.”

The ‘anarchist’ designations mean all federal agency heads must submit reports to the Office of Management and Budget detailing all funding in those cities for review and possible cuts.

Justice Dept. deems New York City, Portland and Seattle ‘anarchist jurisdictions’

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

Editorial credit: bakdc / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Take Your First Look At Chris Stapleton’s New Video For “Starting Over”

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Chris Stapleton has released a new video for his latest single, “Starting Over,” the title track to Chris’ upcoming album. The video features footage from the song’s recording process at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A.

Chris’ upcoming 14-track album features 11 songs that he co-penned, as well as three covers: John Fogerty’s “Joy Of My Life” and Guy Clark’s “Worry B Gone” and “Old Friends.”

Stapleton’s album “Starting Over” will be released on Nov. 13. You can watch the new video for the title track at the link: here.

Chris Stapleton Debuts Music Video for ‘Starting Over’

Via www.broadwayworld.com
The music video for Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” is out now (watch…
 

Editorial credit: Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Jennifer Nettles Teams Up With Bon Jovi For Single “Do What You Can”

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After releasing their single “Do What You Can” back in July, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles have reunited for a country take on the track. The newly released music video includes additional footage “dedicated to everyday heroes fighting to rise about this pandemic.” You can view the video: here. Bon Jovi and Nettles previously collaborated on the band’s single “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” from their 2005 album Have a Nice Day. 

“Do What You Can” comes from Bon Jovi’s 15th studio album Bon Jovi: 2020, due out October 2 via Island Records after being pushed back in May due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pre-order Bon Jovi 2020 at the link: here.

Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles Duet Again After 2006 Smash ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’

Via people.com
They’ve teamed up to record a new version of “Do What You Can,” which was written by Jon Bon…
 

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Rihanna Announces Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Will Feature Travis Scott, Roddy Ricch & More

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Rihanna has announced the “Savage x Fenty Vol 2” will showcase the Fall 2020 collection of her lingerie brand. The star-studded extravaganza will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on October 2.

Travis Scott, Roddy Ricch, Miguel, Rosalía, Bad Bunny, Mustard, and Ella Mai were named as performers for the event and many other famous faces such as Lizzo, Big Sean, Normani, Rico Nasty, Chika, Willow Smith, and Christian Combs will make appearances.

Fenty made the announcement on social media with a teaser video and a caption that read: “Y’ALL NOT READY.” The teaser shows Rihanna wearing a mask and a visor as she walks behind-the-scenes at the show, before showing glimpses of models wearing Savage X Fenty garments.

Rihanna Returns to Amazon Prime Video For Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2

Via www.essence.com
Rihanna just keeps raising the bar. On Thursday, the beauty mogul took to her Instagram to…
 

Editorial credit: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Lady Gaga Releases Short Film For “911”

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Lady Gaga has released a short film for “911,” off of her critically acclaimed #1 album Chromatica. The film, directed by award-winning director Tarsem, made its global broadcast premiere.

Take a look at the video for “911” at the link: here

Watch Lady Gaga’s New “911” Video

Via pitchfork.com
The Chromatica song gets a dramatic visual
 

Editorial credit: Trina Stewart / Shutterstock.com