Month: November 2021

If the CMA-nominated video Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd made for “Chasing After You” leaves you dizzy, it’s possible for you to practically step into it.

“The tabletop/spinning part… was done in a studio,” Maren explains. “But the rest of the video, we shot at The Hermitage Hotel here in [Nashville], which I had never been to before, but it’s beautiful.”

“And they were nice enough to let us shoot for the day,” she continues. “But [it] just really had that kind of arched ceiling and walkways and kind of old vibe that we wanted.”

Shot while the legendary Music City destination was shut down due to COVID-19, the clip was largely centered in  the hotel’s restaurant and renowned watering hole.

Ever the supportive husband, Ryan reveals his wife did a lot more than just show up and lip sync.

“Maren did a lot of the video conceptualizing with the director, TK McKamy, so she actually deserves most of the credit for all of that,” he says, adding, “That bar is so cool… Oak Bar, yeah.”

“I know it’s a historic hotel…” Maren interjects. “We should tell more people like, ‘Hey, come to the Hermitage Hotel. It’s where we shot “Chasing After You.'” 

The hotel’s revamped restaurant and bar, Drusie & Darr, is set to open around the middle of the month, perhaps an appropriate place for Ryan and Maren to celebrate, should they take home trophies for Musical Event or Music Video for their duet.

Maren also defends her Female Vocalist title on the 55th CMA Awards, which air live from Nashville Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.  

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Jimmie Allen will hit the red carpet ahead of the 2021 CMA Awards, joining forces with Good Morning America's Lara Spencer and ABC's George Pennacchio to report live on all the action before the big night.

On the Red Carpet will be a first-ever simulcast event, and will stream on ABC News Live beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on November 10. It'll feature interviews with some of country music's biggest stars as they walk the red carpet before the show.

You can catch the first hour of coverage on ABC News Live and across ABC Owned Television Stations' TV apps. Starting at 7:30 ET, coverage will air on ABC owned TV stations, too. Check local listings to find out how to watch.

Aside from serving as a star reporter from the pre-show carpet, Jimmie's also nominated for Best New Artist at this year's CMA Awards show.

The CMAs air November 10 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Trisha Yearwood is planning a Thanksgiving-themed new Food Network special. Called A White House Thanksgiving, the show will feature first lady Jill Biden and give fans a look at what holidays are like in the White House.

On November 19, Randy Travis will release a deluxe version of his Christmas album, An Old Time Christmas, featuring three “from the vault,” never-before-heard tracks.

Los Angeles-based ABC entertainment reporter George Pennacchio will host On the Red Carpet: Countdown to the CMA Awards, a 30-minute special featuring interviews with country stars and nominees. The special airs on November 6 and November 7; check local listings to learn how to watch.

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Fans will be able to go behind the scenes with the likes of Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Lady A ahead of the 2021 CMA Awards. ABC just announced a special lineup of pre-awards show programming, including “Backstage Pass: Countdown to the CMA Awards.”

Airing Monday, November 8 from 10:00PM-11:00PM EST, the special will follow Keith, Luke, Lady A, Jimmie Allen, Lauren Alaina and Carly Pearce for one week of life on the road. Over the course of the show, fans will get a first-hand glimpse into the artists' lives as they navigate their returns to tour life.

Filmed across 24 cities and 168 hours, the special will share behind-the-scenes moments as the artists themselves prepare to converge in Nashville, getting ready for the CMA Awards ceremony. All the featured acts have exciting plans for the CMAs, including performances and nominations. Luke is set to host this year's show.

The CMAs are set for November 10; they'll air from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena beginning at 8:00PM EST on ABC.

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Keith Urban's never been a stranger to embracing different musical styles, but in a new Rolling Stone interview, the singer says he's feeling more musically free now than he ever has before in his two decade-plus career.

“I've just now been able to express more broadly what I felt inside,” Keith details. “Even my ability to express myself was a bit limited for a lot of years, just for…all manner of reasons, really.”

A few of those reasons have to do with Keith's ever-growing confidence in who he is as an artist, especially after getting sober 15 years ago. From a musical standpoint, Nashville has grown and changed over the years, allowing for a broader definition of what country music is. Often collaborating with artists like Pink and Taylor Swift, Keith's fan base is used to hearing sounds from the fringes of mainstream country.

On his latest album, The Speed of Now Part 1, Keith furthers those sounds, duetting with up-and-comer Breland on “Out the Cage.” Keith says that when he first heard Breland's music, he was immediately captivated.

“I just went, I love this kid,'” he says, remembering a phone call that quickly turned into a co-writing session that produced multiple new songs. “Like, let's make it happen. None of this, Yeah, let's do lunch someday,' you know.”

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