Month: April 2022

Last August, Hardy got down on one knee on the rose-strewn floor of a historic Mississippi theater and proposed to his longtime love, Caleigh Ryan.

While the newly affianced couple’s special moment was certainly the stuff of fairy tales, organizing the wedding hasn’t always been nearly so romantic in the months since, Hardy admits. “We just fired our wedding planner,” the singer said with a chuckle backstage at the ACM Awards in February. “That’s an update.”

In between co-writing sessions and a rigorous touring schedule, Hardy says it’s been difficult to nail down dates, details and just about everything else about the ceremony.

“We’re just trying to get married in October sometime. We’re still looking at venues. It’s tough, man,” he continues. “We want to have a big wedding with a lot of people, and we’re trying to figure out the right venue for it. It’s been tough, but I think we’re getting there.”

He says “we,” but Hardy is quick to give his bride-to-be the credit for most of the planning. “Caleigh’s taking the reins, no doubt,” he acknowledges.

“And she’s got a little bit more time on her hands. But I’m very responsive,” Hardy goes on to say. “I told her from the beginning: I care, but I don’t have an opinion. So it could be whatever she wants.”

The ceremony may still be in the works, but the couple have already put together one heck of an engagement party. In February, Caleigh shared a string of snapshots of the dazzling, impeccably decorated event, complete with a muted pastel color scheme, wedding-themed duds for the future bride and groom, and a gigantic lit-up sign that reads “Engaged.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Last August, Hardy got down on one knee on the rose-strewn floor of a historic Mississippi theater and proposed to his longtime love, Caleigh Ryan.

While the newly affianced couple’s special moment was certainly the stuff of fairy tales, organizing the wedding hasn’t always been nearly so romantic in the months since, Hardy admits. “We just fired our wedding planner,” the singer said with a chuckle backstage at the ACM Awards in February. “That’s an update.”

In between co-writing sessions and a rigorous touring schedule, Hardy says it’s been difficult to nail down dates, details and just about everything else about the ceremony.

“We’re just trying to get married in October sometime. We’re still looking at venues. It’s tough, man,” he continues. “We want to have a big wedding with a lot of people, and we’re trying to figure out the right venue for it. It’s been tough, but I think we’re getting there.”

He says “we,” but Hardy is quick to give his bride-to-be the credit for most of the planning. “Caleigh’s taking the reins, no doubt,” he acknowledges.

“And she’s got a little bit more time on her hands. But I’m very responsive,” Hardy goes on to say. “I told her from the beginning: I care, but I don’t have an opinion. So it could be whatever she wants.”

The ceremony may still be in the works, but the couple have already put together one heck of an engagement party. In February, Caleigh shared a string of snapshots of the dazzling, impeccably decorated event, complete with a muted pastel color scheme, wedding-themed duds for the future bride and groom, and a gigantic lit-up sign that reads “Engaged.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Backstage at the Grammys Sunday night in Las Vegas, artists answered questions from both reporters who were actually backstage at the MGM Grand Arena, and reporters who’d logged in on Zoom from around the country.  But some of the night’s biggest winners didn’t appear backstage.

Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic, both of whom won multiple awards Sunday night, posed for photos, but didn’t talk to reporters. Doja Cat, who won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Kiss Me More,” also declined to speak with reporters, but her duet partner, SZA, did come backstage, despite the fact that she was on crutches due to, as she put it, “falling out of bed” the day before.

“That’s the way it goes,” she laughed. “Everything awesome in my life has always come with something very random, but it just adds to the energy.”

SZA’s Grammy was her first win after 11 nominations, and R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan and country duo Brothers Osborne were two other artists who finally won for the first time Sunday night after multiple nominations.  Backstage, Sullivan, who actually won two trophies, said, “After losing so many times, I feel like I kinda gave up [hope of ever winning]…so it’s surreal to actually hold these babies!”

TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who admitted that his mother “hates” that he dyed his hair blond, spoke about how “incredibly fulfilling” it’s been to perform for their fans since he came out as gay last year.

But country’s big winner was Chris Stapleton, who took home three trophies, including Best Country Album. Asked backstage who out there he’d like to collaborate with, Stapleton, who’s worked with Taylor Swift, Adele and Santana, among others, said he wouldn’t mind working with Harry Styles.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood won the Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for her faith-based project My Savior and cried backstage as she spoke about how it “means the world” to her that she won because she’s wanted to make that kind of album “literally my whole career.”

H.E.R., who won the Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammy, was still buzzing from her performance with Lenny Kravitz on the show.  “I was having so much fun…growing up, I’d literally study all his videos…he’s one of the reasons why I even wanted to play guitar, so having this full circle moment…I was at a loss for words.”

And The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste, who had the most Grammys going into the show, also cited Lenny Kravitz as HIS full circle moment: Kravitz announced that Batiste had won the Album of the Year for his project We Are. “We played together when I was 16, so it was surreal,” Batiste told reporters, adding, “Seeing Uncle Lenny up there, it was just like a whole vibe, like, ‘This is far out.'”

Foo Fighters swept the rock categories, but sadly, they didn’t attend due to the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. St. Vincent won Best Alternative Album for Daddy’s Home and backstage, she mentioned how happy she was that Jack Antonoff, her co-producer on the album, had been named Producer of the Year.

She also spoke about how “times are changing” in terms of women in alternative rock, while rock legend Bonnie Raitt, who won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, praised the new crop of young female artists, including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.

“Across all genres, I think women are kickin’ it,” said Raitt.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Backstage at the Grammys Sunday night in Las Vegas, artists answered questions from both reporters who were actually backstage at the MGM Grand Arena, and reporters who’d logged in on Zoom from around the country.  But some of the night’s biggest winners didn’t appear backstage.

Olivia Rodrigo and Silk Sonic, both of whom won multiple awards Sunday night, posed for photos, but didn’t talk to reporters. Doja Cat, who won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Kiss Me More,” also declined to speak with reporters, but her duet partner, SZA, did come backstage, despite the fact that she was on crutches due to, as she put it, “falling out of bed” the day before.

“That’s the way it goes,” she laughed. “Everything awesome in my life has always come with something very random, but it just adds to the energy.”

SZA’s Grammy was her first win after 11 nominations, and R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan and country duo Brothers Osborne were two other artists who finally won for the first time Sunday night after multiple nominations.  Backstage, Sullivan, who actually won two trophies, said, “After losing so many times, I feel like I kinda gave up [hope of ever winning]…so it’s surreal to actually hold these babies!”

TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, who admitted that his mother “hates” that he dyed his hair blond, spoke about how “incredibly fulfilling” it’s been to perform for their fans since he came out as gay last year.

But country’s big winner was Chris Stapleton, who took home three trophies, including Best Country Album. Asked backstage who out there he’d like to collaborate with, Stapleton, who’s worked with Taylor Swift, Adele and Santana, among others, said he wouldn’t mind working with Harry Styles.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood won the Best Roots Gospel Album Grammy for her faith-based project My Savior and cried backstage as she spoke about how it “means the world” to her that she won because she’s wanted to make that kind of album “literally my whole career.”

H.E.R., who won the Best Traditional R&B Performance Grammy, was still buzzing from her performance with Lenny Kravitz on the show.  “I was having so much fun…growing up, I’d literally study all his videos…he’s one of the reasons why I even wanted to play guitar, so having this full circle moment…I was at a loss for words.”

And The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste, who had the most Grammys going into the show, also cited Lenny Kravitz as HIS full circle moment: Kravitz announced that Batiste had won the Album of the Year for his project We Are. “We played together when I was 16, so it was surreal,” Batiste told reporters, adding, “Seeing Uncle Lenny up there, it was just like a whole vibe, like, ‘This is far out.'”

Foo Fighters swept the rock categories, but sadly, they didn’t attend due to the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. St. Vincent won Best Alternative Album for Daddy’s Home and backstage, she mentioned how happy she was that Jack Antonoff, her co-producer on the album, had been named Producer of the Year.

She also spoke about how “times are changing” in terms of women in alternative rock, while rock legend Bonnie Raitt, who won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, praised the new crop of young female artists, including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.

“Across all genres, I think women are kickin’ it,” said Raitt.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 64th annual Grammy Awards kicked off live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena Sunday night, hosted by Trevor Noah.

Chris Stapleton won big, snagging the award for Best Country Album for Starting Over during the televised portion of the awards ceremony. He also won Best Country Song for “Cold,” which he later took the stage to effortlessly perform.

Another amazing performance came from Brandi Carlile, who, after being introduced by music icons Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell, sang her Grammy-nominated hit “Right On Time.”

Looking fierce, Carrie Underwood performed her new song “Ghost Story” for the first time ever. Showing off her powerhouse vocals, she was slowly raised into the air on a platform as the song came an end.

Ending on a high, Brothers Osborne closed out the show giving an electric performance of “Dead Man’s Curve,” which comes after the duo, consisting of brothers TJ and John Osborne, won their first ever Grammy award for Best County Duo/Group Performance for “Younger Me.”

Accepting the award, TJ, joined by his brother at the podium during a pre-telecast premiere ceremony, said, “For those of you who do not know, this song was written really in response to me coming out.”

“I never thought I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality,” he continued. “And I certainly never thought I would be here on this stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life-changing, potentially in a very negative way. And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy award with my brother, who I love so much, but I'm here with a man that I love and who loves me back. I don't know what I did to get so lucky.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 64th annual Grammy Awards kicked off live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena Sunday night, hosted by Trevor Noah.

Chris Stapleton won big, snagging the award for Best Country Album for Starting Over during the televised portion of the awards ceremony. He also won Best Country Song for “Cold,” which he later took the stage to effortlessly perform.

Another amazing performance came from Brandi Carlile, who, after being introduced by music icons Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell, sang her Grammy-nominated hit “Right On Time.”

Looking fierce, Carrie Underwood performed her new song “Ghost Story” for the first time ever. Showing off her powerhouse vocals, she was slowly raised into the air on a platform as the song came an end.

Ending on a high, Brothers Osborne closed out the show giving an electric performance of “Dead Man’s Curve,” which comes after the duo, consisting of brothers TJ and John Osborne, won their first ever Grammy award for Best County Duo/Group Performance for “Younger Me.”

Accepting the award, TJ, joined by his brother at the podium during a pre-telecast premiere ceremony, said, “For those of you who do not know, this song was written really in response to me coming out.”

“I never thought I would be able to do music professionally because of my sexuality,” he continued. “And I certainly never thought I would be here on this stage accepting a Grammy after having done something I felt like was going to be life-changing, potentially in a very negative way. And here I am tonight, not only accepting this Grammy award with my brother, who I love so much, but I'm here with a man that I love and who loves me back. I don't know what I did to get so lucky.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.