Month: November 2021

Luke Bryan feels a deep sense of responsibility and pride in hosting the CMA Awards for the first time, viewing himself as a stalwart of country music.

“To be a representative of the music that I love, to be someone to carry on a tradition and to be the the host and to conduct this show with elegance, class, humor, reverence,” he remarks of his approach to the gig. “To really make the show an example of country music and to represent the show to the best of my ability to the people watching at home is a big task and it’s something that I’m so honored to have the chance to do.”

Reflecting on some of his CMA highlights, Luke points to his rowdy performance of his hit “Country Girl, Shake It for Me” at the 2011 CMA Awards and taking home the night’s biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year, at the 2014 and 2015 ceremonies as personal milestones that validated all of his hard work over the years.  

“When I look back on my experiences, when I did ‘Country Girl, Shake It for Me’ for the first time on the CMAs, I was about to literally have a full-on panic attack. I was so nervous about it,” he recalls. “Winning the Entertainer of the Year was the highlight of my musical achievements. To have won that really put a peace in my heart for everything, why I moved to Nashville, why I moved away from my family, why I gambled on so much. To win that award put my mind and my heart at peace.” 

Luke hosts and performs at the CMA Awards live in Nashville on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Kelsea Ballerini ?has debuted a video for her poem “A Rose,” featured in her book of poetry ?Feel Your Way Through. 

Gabby Barrett, Priscilla Block, Blanco Brown, Callista Clark, Walker Hayes, Ryan Hurd, Parker McCollum, Niko Moon, Jameson Rogers, Elvie Shane and Lainey Wilson are the nominees for the New Faces of Country Music Show at THE 2022 CRS. Voting takes place November 15-19. 

Runaway June‘s Jennifer Wayne is expecting her first child, a girl, with husband Austin Moody. The baby is due in April 2022. 

Belmont University in Nashville has named the ballroom at its on-campus performing arts center the Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Ballroom, in honor of their work with The Store. The couple opened the non-profit grocery store in partnership with Belmont in 2020.

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After spending three years as a judge on American Idol, Luke Bryan is well-prepared for his hosting gig at the 2021 CMA Awards. 

While he acknowledges that judging and hosting are two different tasks, Luke notes that being in front of an audience of millions on American Idol is the ideal boot camp for hosting the CMAs for the first time. 

“Being in front of the TV a lot with American Idol has gotten me more comfortable with the role of doing these things. I’m excited to be in the role and be confident in the role,” he explains. “You don’t ever want to be out there and you’re so nervous and freaked out that you can’t do a great job, which I’ll still be nervous and freaked out.” 

It’s through Idol that the hitmaker met future country superstar Gabby Barrett. The “I Hope” singer competed on season 16, where she came in third place. Soon after, she made the leap to Music City and has scored two consecutive #1 hits and is nominated for multiple CMA Awards.  

“I thought she was incredible from the start. I thought that she was amazing throughout the whole process and I always really loved the way she used her voice,” says Luke. “She’s a powerhouse singer, and what I really love the most is right when American Idol got finished, she moved straight to Nashville and went to work.”

Luke continues: “She really took her career and took the reins of it. And to be a four time nominee, from the world getting to meet her on Idol, to present day is something that Gabby Barrett should hold her head high about because she earned every second of it.” 

The CMA Awards air on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Ahead of the CMA Awards this week, ABC is catching up with some of country music’s biggest acts to get a behind-the-scenes look at their lives in Backstage Pass: Countdown to the CMA Awards. 

One of those artists is Jimmie Allen, who in the midst of a run on Dancing with the Stars and prepping for the awards show, says he’s intentional about carving out me-time into his schedule.

“You got to make time for yourself. The one thing I’ve learned and that I try to tell artists all the time is ‘people will put everything in your schedule. The one thing they will never put in your schedule is a break,'” he reveals.

Among the activities the hitmaker uses to unwind is fishing, calling himself an “outdoorsy guy.” “You have to still chase your dream, but make time for you,” he continues. “Mental sanity is very important.” 

The special also includes interviews with Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and a look at family time at home with Lady A.

Backstage Pass: Countdown to the CMA Awards airs tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. 

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The teaser for the Yellowstone prequel 1883, starring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, is finally here.

A preview of the spin-off series debuted Sunday during the Yellowstone season 4 premiere, giving fans a first look at the Grammy-winning country music couple as James and Margaret Dutton.

“I heard a thousand stories, but none could describe this place,” a voiceover says in the minute-long clip. “The road west is filled with failures. It was a dream, and the dream is coming true. We are in the land of no mercy now.”

Tim and Faith, both 54, are joined in the show’s cast by Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabel May and LaMonica Garrett.

1883 is described as “a stark retelling of Western expansion” and will follow “the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America … fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.”

Tim has previously starred in films such as Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side, while Faith starred in The Stepford Wives and Dixieland.

The series premieres Dec. 19 on Paramount+.

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The CMA Awards have unveiled a star-studded list of presenters including Kelsea Ballerini, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line and American Idol judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. 

The lineup boasts a wide variety of singers, actors and major names in country music including Lady A, Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery, Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert‘s “Drunk And I Don’t Wanna Go Home” duet partner Elle King, along with country icons Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Amy Grant and “Strawberry Wine” singer Deana Carter.

Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon is also set to present, along with ?The Goldbergs’ ?actress-turned-country singer Hayley Orrantia, ?The West Wing ?star Dulé Hill, Chuck actor Zachary Levi and Tony Award-nominated Broadway performer Saycon Sengbloh.

“You Say” singer Lauren Daigle, social activist Faith Fennidy, MLB player Freddie Freeman ?and former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner round out the presenters. 

Luke Bryan hosts the 2021 CMA Awards live from Nashville on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. 

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