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Go Country 105

Country star trivia

On this day in 1986, this “Like a Rose” singer was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is one-third of the Pistol Annies alongside Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley. Can you name her? ANSWER: Ashley Monroe

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Go Country 105

Thieves steal sign in Taylor Mill, KY honoring Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce is celebrating receiving two CMA Awards nominations this week, but it hasn’t all been good news for the singer. Carly, who was recently honored with an official Carly Pearce Day on September 2, in her hometown of Taylor Mill, KY, had a sign placed at the entrance to the town, which read “Welcome to Taylor Mill, Hometown of Country Music Star, Carly Pearce.” 

Unfortunately, the sign was stolen less than a week after it was erected.

“She was nice enough to take pictures with a lot of the police officers that helped protect her that day. Unfortunately, just yesterday morning, somebody had stolen that sign,” Taylor Mill Police Chief Steve Knauf told WKRC TV, adding that someone removed the bolts and took it off of the metal poles where it was attached.

“They purposely put it up high so people could see it but also to deter theft,” he added. “We are thinking it was probably a two-person job.”

Pearce was also given a key to the city, a place she credits with instilling in her a love of country music.

“This is where my love of country music began, and I'm so grateful and proud Taylor Mill, KY is my hometown,” Carly said at the time.

Carly received CMA Awards nominations for both Album of the Year (for 29) and Female Vocalist of the Year.

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News Daypop

U.S. Attorney general announces lawsuit against Texas abortion law

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a lawsuit against Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Garland criticized the new state law, Texas Senate Bill 8, for banning nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many women know they’re pregnant. The law makes no exceptions in cases of rape, sexual abuse or incest.

Said Garland: “Today, after careful assessment of the facts and the law the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas. The act is clearly unconstitutional under longstanding Supreme Court precedent. Those precedents hold in the words of Planned Parenthood versus Casey, regardless of whether exceptions are made for particular circumstances, a state may not prevent any woman form making the ultimate decision to terminate her pregnancy before viability.”

Garland said the Justice Department also is bringing the suit because SB 8 conflicts with federal law by prohibiting federal agencies from exercising their authorities and carrying out their responsibilities under federal laws in relation to abortion services. The suit seeks a declaratory judgment that SB 8 is invalid under the supremacy clause and the 14th Amendment, is pre-empted by federal law, and violates the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity. “The Department of Justice has a duty to defend the constitution of the United States and to uphold the law,” Garland said. “Today, we fulfill that duty by filing the lawsuit I have just described.”

Editorial credit: Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Scotty McCreery mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, a day “that shook the whole world”

Twenty years ago Saturday, the 9/11 attacks took place. Two decades later, it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t remember where they were when they first heard the news.

Scotty McCreery was a second grader. 

“I think they even let us out of school early…” he recalls. “I’m still so young at that point. So, I had the basketball in my right hand. And I was like, ‘Can I go see if Michael wants to play or something?’ And Mom’s like, ‘No. We have to sit down and watch the news. Something terrible’s happened.'” 

Luke Bryan had just moved to Nashville ten days earlier.

“I was in the bed and my sister woke me up kind of frantically on the phone,” he remembers, “and she goes, ‘Hey, turn on the news.’ A plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center.”

Meanwhile, Keith Urban was in Florida on vacation, having stayed over after playing a show.

“I remember that morning,” he reflects. “I didn’t turn the news on, and I’m really grateful that I didn’t because I had a few extra hours before I was aware of this reality that was going on that would change everything… I couldn’t take it in. It was too surreal.”

Since air travel came to a halt, Keith was stuck in the Sunshine State until his bus could come and get him.

“My mom was staying with me at the time,” he remembers, “and she was panicked and worried about me being away, and was anxious for me to get home.”

For Luke as well, it was “a really trying time” when he just wanted to drive home to be with his family in Georgia.

“It was certainly something that shook the whole world,” he says, looking back on that day. 

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News Daypop

President Biden issues COVID-19 vaccine mandates for all federal workers

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced COVID-10 vaccine mandates for federal workers, along with plans to encourage businesses to require vaccinations and efforts to expand testing. Biden signed a pair of executive orders requiring all federal workers, contractors and healthcare workers employed by institutions that accept Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to get vaccinated. Those affected by the mandate won’t have the ability to opt out by subjecting to frequent testing. It would also require 300,000 educators in federal Head Start programs to be fully vaccinated.

During his speech at the White House Thursday, the President also called on governors throughout the nation to require vaccinations for all teachers and staff. Biden said that if governors do not help to beat the pandemic, he would use his power as president to “get them out of the way.” Further, Biden called on entertainment venues to require vaccination for entry and for physicians to encourage their patients to get vaccinated.

Biden also directed the Department of Labor to require all businesses with 100 or more employees to require that workers be fully vaccinated or get tested for the virus once a week. Employers who fail to meet these requirements could face fines of up to $14,000 per violation.

The president also moved to make testing more accessible, announcing Walmart, Amazon and Kroger will begin selling at-home rapid tests for no profit, a 35% price cut, by the end of the week. The federal government will also expand free testing programs to 10,000 pharmacies and Medicaid will cover the costs of at-home tests for beneficiaries.

Editorial credit: RedhoodStudios / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

CMT has launched an online series called Viral to Verified that spotlights emerging acts in country music — BrelandLily RosePriscilla BlockAshley Cooke, CB30 and Alexandra Kay. The series continues with a new episode each week through October 19. 

Willie Jones is embarking on his six-city Barnstorming Tour. It kicked off last night and concludes on September 27 at Whiskey Jam in Nashville. 

Brandi Carlile has shared a live performance video of “Right on Time,” filmed at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. It features Shooter Jennings on piano. 

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Country Daypop

Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean release video for “If I Didn’t Love You”

The video for Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s new duet “If I Didn’t Love You” has arrived, directed by Shaun Silva and filmed at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The song was produced by Aldean’s longtime collaborator Michael Knox and written by his bandmates Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy alongside Lydia Vaughan and John Morgan.

“If I Didn’t Love You” is the lead single from Aldean’s forthcoming tenth studio album, and the single quickly became the highest debut of a solo male/female duet since the inception of the Billboard Hot Country charts. Aldean said in a press release: “Carrie was made for this song, but also for this video. I’m glad that she was down to get together to make it…it’s something that turned out a little outside of what I’d normally do, which is always cool.”

Take a look at the video for “If I Didn’t Love You” – here.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

2021 CMA Nominations: Chris Stapleton, Eric Church and Gabby Barrett lead the list of nominees

Nominations for the 2021 CMA awards have been announced, with Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Gabby Barrett leading the list of nominees. Church — the reigning entertainer of the year — and Stapleton are both up for the same five awards: entertainer male vocalist, album, single and song of the year. Barrett is up for new artist, female vocalist, single and song of the year. (single and song awards are for “The Good Ones.”) In addition, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris and Chris Young all earned 3 nominations each.

CMA CEO Sarah Trahern in a press release: “This year, we have the opportunity to honor the superstars, new artists and emerging creators who are paving the way for Country Music. These nominees exemplify the creativity, passion and heart that make our Country Music community unlike any other genre. The breadth of voices is evident in this year’s nominations, and we could not be more thrilled to celebrate our deserving nominees in November!”

The 55th annual CMA Awards will air Wednesday, Nov. 10, live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

‘Justin Bieber: Our World’ documentary to premiere on Amazon Prime this October

Justin Bieber’s new documentary, titled “Justin Bieber: Our World,” is coming to Amazon Prime Video on October 8. Bieber shared a teaser trailer for the documentary on Twitter, which gives viewers a backstage view of the singer’s return to the stage after a three-year hiatus from performing live.

Bieber said in a statement: “Performing live and connecting with my fans through music is deeply meaningful to me. Especially during the past year, being able to provide a service and share my gifts to bring some happiness to people during such a sad and scary time has meant the world to me. This film documents an intense and exciting time, preparing for a return to the stage during this season of real uncertainty. Coming together with my team, overcoming the obstacles, and delivering a special show, surrounded by friends and family; it’s all here.”

The documentary follows Bieber as he prepares for his New Year’s Eve concert. The intimate concert of 240 invited guests took place on the rooftop of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and streamed live as 2020 came to a close. The film also includes self-shot footage from the singer and his wife Hailey.

Editorial credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Normani, along with Alicia Keys, Swae Lee, Jack Harlow and The Kid Laroi, announced as performers at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards

After fans petitioned on her behalf,  MTV announced that Normani has been added to the list of performers for this year’s  2021 MTV Video Music Awards. The network also announced earlier this week that Alicia Keys, Swae Lee, Jack Harlow, Tainy and Ozuna and The Kid Laroi will perform at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards show, to be held Sunday, September 12 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Other previously announced performers include Justin Bieber, Camila Cabello, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly and Olivia Rodrigo. Doja Cat will also serve as the host for the VMAs. Bieber leads the field of nominees with seven nominations, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for appearing in DJ Khaled’s music video for “Popstar.”

The MTV VMAs will air Sunday, September 12th at 8 p.m. EDT on MTV.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com