Month: July 2022

If you're wondering what to expect from Brothers Osborne's performance on the CMA Fest TV special, the bandmates have a little hint to share.

“We were allowed to bring a prop from our live shows. Actually, two props,” says one-half of the band, John Osborne. “Without giving anything away — keep your eyes peeled for that. Props. Yeah.”

The special will feature the brother duo playing “Skeletons,” the title track from their latest album, on the big stadium stage. For Brothers Osborne, taking the main stage for their performance is a reminder of how far they've come, especially compared to the CMA Fests they played at the outset of their career.

“We've been playing it for a long time,” says TJ Osborne. “We've played these small little stages, sometimes three or four of them in a single day…labels got to see us, publishers got to see us, and then [we got to] make some fans.”

It's a lot of work to build a grassroots fanbase like that, but the Brothers wouldn't have it any other way. “Now to be here, playing the stadium, it really is like a snapshot — these different stages we would play and grow in,” TJ continues.

“It really puts into perspective, you know, what hard work can do,” he adds, “but also having these opportunities, how incredibly helpful they are.”

The CMA Fest special was filmed during the annual festival in downtown Nashville in June. Dierks Bentley and Elle King are hosting the show, which airs on August 3 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It will also be available to watch on Hulu the next day.

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Ahead of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix event next month, Tim McGraw has a special T-shirt available in his merch store: a vintage-inspired McGraw NASCAR tee.

Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans and more will perform at a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of Barbara Mandrell's induction to the Grand Ole Opry this Saturday, July 30. The living legend will attend both shows that day. Tickets are available now.

American Idol champ Laine Hardy returned to social media this week to debut an unreleased new song called “Party I Can Play.” It's his first appearance on social media since April, when he was arrested and accused of planting a recording device in an ex-girlfriend's dorm room.

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Life is “Grand” for Kane Brown, and he's proving it with a dazzling light show-themed music video that goes along with his fast-paced new pop song.

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Lainey Wilson is bowing out of two scheduled shows in Iowa this weekend due to a family emergency.

The singer shared the news on social media, offering her apologies to fans who were excited to see her play. “I'm so sorry to cancel last minute,” she explained, “but please trust I would not be backing out if it weren't critical. Please keep my family in your prayers.”

The affected shows are in Maquoketa and Arnold Park. There's no word yet on whether they'll be rescheduled, but there will be plenty of chances for fans to see Lainey on the road this summer. She's on tour with Jon Pardi through the fall, and she's scheduled to join Luke Combs' Middle of Somewhere Tour starting in October.

Meanwhile, Lainey's newest single, “Heart Like a Truck,” is climbing up the country radio charts.

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ABC's CMA Fest special is fast approaching, hosted by Dierks Bentley and Elle King and featuring all the highlights from CMA Fest 2022.

Ahead of next week's show, the Country Music Association is revealing the set list, and it's a high-energy blend of classic hits, fast-rising new singles and megawatt duets.

Old Dominion is performing their latest single, “No Hard Feelings,” while Kane Brown's rocking the stage with his brand-new “Like I Love Country Music” as well as his chart-topping “One Mississippi.”

Carrie Underwood and Cole Swindell are both bringing new songs to the stage, too. Cole will also be joined by Lainey Wilson for a performance of their hit, “Never Say Never.”

Meanwhile, lots of artists are revisiting old favorites from their catalogs. Dierks will perform “Drunk on a Plane,” Luke Bryan is dusting off “Kick the Dust Up” and Darius Rucker will treat fans to his modern-day country classic “Wagon Wheel.”

Every year, collaboration is a major highlight of CMA Fest, and that will be represented in the special, too: Wynonna Judd and Carly Pearce will share their performance of “Why Not Me,” and Lady A is teaming up with Breland for a rendition of “Need You Now.” Zac Brown Band will share the stage with Darius for “Chicken Fried,” and Elle and Ashley McBryde will come together for Elle's hit, “Ex's and Oh's.”

CMA Fest airs on ABC on August 3 at 8 p.m. ET. It’ll be available to watch the next day on Hulu.

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Former U.S. President Barack Obama put out his annual summer playlist this week, and both Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves made the cut.

It seems that the ex-president is more than just a casual fan, as he selected album cuts — not singles — from both country stars. His pick from Maren was “The Furthest Thing” off her 2022 Humble Quest album. From Kacey's catalog, he selected “Keep Looking Up,” featured on her most recent album, Star-Crossed.

“Every year, I get excited to share my summer playlist because I learn about so many new artists from your replies,” Obama wrote on social media when sharing his favorite summer songs this year. “It's an example of how music really can bring us all together.”

Obama's 2022 summer playlist features 44 songs from across all genres and musical eras. In addition to several recently released tracks, like Kacey and Maren's songs, the former president included Bruce Springsteen's “Dancing in the Dark,” Prince's “Let's Go Crazy” and more.

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