Month: October 2022

Categories
Go Country 105

CMA Awards 2022: Initial lineup of performers announced

abc-rss-feed-20221025063049

The first batch of performers for the upcoming 2022 CMA Awards has been announced.

The 56th annual CMA Awards, airing Wednesday, Nov. 9, live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, will be filled with performances from artists including Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, HARDY, Marcus King, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Zac Brown Band.

Luke Bryan, who is co-hosting the show with Peyton Manning, will also take the stage to perform.

The night will open with a powerful with tribute to late country music legend Loretta Lynn, who died on Oct. 4 at the age of 90. Artists participating in the tribute performance have not yet been revealed.

The night’s star-studded performances will of course be filled with plenty of epic collaborations with fan-favorite country stars. Ballerini will sing her new song “YOU’RE DRUNK, GO HOME” with Clarkson and Pearce, HARDY and Wilson will take the stage to sing their duet “wait in the truck,” and Zac Brown Band will perform their song “Out in the Middle” with Allen and King.

Additional artists performing at the 2022 CMA Awards will be announced ahead of the show on Nov. 9.

The nominations for country music’s biggest night were revealed in September. Lainey Wilson leads this year, with six nods in major categories including album of the year, song of the year, female vocalist of the year, music video of the year, musical event of the year and new artist of the year.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
News Daypop

Gunman is killed after 2 are fatally shot at St. Louis high school

shutterstock_1935517810-2

Authorities confirm that a woman and a teenage girl were killed Monday morning in a shooting inside a St. Louis high school, adding that the gunman was also killed in the shooting, and six others were taken to hospitals with injuries.  The gunman was about 20 years old and hasn’t been positively identified.

St. Louis Police Commissioner Michael Sack said at a news conference that the injuries ranged from gunshot wounds to shrapnel wounds:  “This is a heartbreaking day for all of us. It’s going to be tough. While on paper we might have nine victims … we have hundreds of others. Everyone who survived here is going to take home trauma, even the officers who responded here and the firefighters and the paramedics who worked on people here are going to experience some degree of trauma.”

The shooting just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. St. Louis Public Schools said on Twitter that the shooter was “quickly stopped” by police and Superintendent Kelvin Adams said seven security guards were in the school at the time, each at an entry point of the locked building. One of the guards noticed the man was trying to get in at a locked door, but couldn’t. The guard notified school officials and ensured that police were contacted.

Central Visual and Performing Arts High School is a magnet school specializing in visual art, musical art and performing art. The district website says the school’s “educational program is designed to cre­ate a nurturing environment where students receive a quality academic and artistic education that prepares them to compete successfully at the post-secondary level or perform competently in the world of work.”

Editorial credit: EVA CARRE / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

DOJ announces arrest of Chinese nationals charged with stealing confidential information

shutterstock_86061208

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Monday the arrest and indictment of Chinese nationals accused of stealing confidential information and harassing Chinese victims living in the United States to return to China.

Garland said, “Over the past week, the Justice Department has taken several actions to disrupt criminal activity by individuals working on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China.  The defendants believed they had recruited the U.S. employee as an asset, but in fact, the individual they recruited was a double agent working on behalf of the FBI. As the complaint alleges, the defendants paid a bribe to the double agent to obtain non-public information, including files from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District.”

Garland said that the Chinese spies had sought confidential information on witnesses, trial evidence and potential new charges to be brought against the company, “The double agent provided the defendants with documents that appeared to present some of the information they sought. In fact, the documents were prepared by the U.S. government for this investigation and did not reveal actual meetings, communications or strategies. This was an egregious attempt by PRC intelligence officers to shield a PRC-based company from accountability and to undermine the integrity of our judicial system.”

An indictment also was unsealed Monday in New Jersey charging four individuals including three Chinese intelligence officers with conspiring to act in the United States as illegal agents on behalf of a foreign government. Separately, the Justice Department charged seven people in New York for working on behalf of China “in a multi-year campaign of threats and harassment” to force a U.S. resident to return to China. Two of those defendants were arrested last Thursday.

Editorial credit: ruskpp / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Joe Nichols admires how his single “Good Day For Living” is “filled with gratitude”

abc-rss-feed-20221025030000

Joe Nichols is living with an attitude of gratitude that’s reflected in his new single, “Good Day For Living.” 

The title track of his most recent album, “Good Day For Living” captures how he shapes his reality through positive thinking.

The song’s lyrics allow him to see the bright side of life’s unfortunate situations, such as when the air conditioning blows out or money falls out of his pocket. He vows to not make “no worry no bigger than it is when it isn’t.” 

Though Joe didn’t write the track, it does capture how he walks through life with gratitude.

“I think the number one take away for me emotionally is that it’s filled with gratitude, the kind of happiness that comes along with gratitude. In my personal life, I feel like the happiest moments of my life are always followed by gratitude,” he explains of the “fun song.” “That changes my perspective on the way I live. Situations or circumstances or things in life, good and bad, don’t change how I think — the way I think changes how I see things. So this song in a very lighthearted, ditty, ‘what’s a guy got to do’ kind of way, represents that very thinking.”

“Good Day” is nearing the top 30 on country radio, serving as his biggest hit since his 2014 chart-topping single, “Yeah.” Joe is also known for hits “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Gimme That Girl” and “Sunny and 75.”

Joe wrapped his Good Day For Living Tour in September and has shows booked through the end of the year. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Country Daypop

Wynonna Judd extends ‘The Judds: The Final Tour’ into 2023

shutterstock_123890503-2

Wynonna Judd is extending The Judds: The Final Tour into 2023. Judd made the announcement on Monday morning (Oct. 24) during an appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show, and also posted to social media. The Judds: The Final Tour kicked off on September 30 and serves as a tribute to the legacy of The Judds and the late Naomi Judd.

Judd shared on Instagram: “IT WAS A NO-BRAINER TO ADD 15 MORE SHOWS!!! 🤩 In my 39 years of performing, this tour has truly been one of my favorite experiences ever. You all have been such a gift during my time of grieving and honoring my mother in song. Getting to experience all the different generations of Judds fans each night (with your vintage tees, homemade signs, flashlights in the air, singing every word to every song), has been other-worldly. I look so forward to continuing this celebration of the music that has changed my life forever. 💙 Tickets & info at the link in bio! *Presale begins TODAY at 12pm for select dates! Use code: JUDDS23″

The upcoming leg of  The Judds: The Final Tour kicks off on January 26 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and runs through February 25 in Hollywood, Florida. The newly added dates follow the current run, which has featured Wynonna singing alongside artists such as Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, and Martina McBride, all of who will be returning for the just-announced second leg.

Citi card members have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, October 24th at 10 AM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. The Judds artist presale for fans begins at 12 PM local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, October 28th at 10 AM local time at TheJudds.com.

Editorial credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Russell Dickerson shares video for ‘Big Wheels’

shutterstock_1422820043

Russell Dickerson has released a music video for the new track, “Big Wheels,” written by Dickerson, Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps and Ben Johnson. The new release is the third song to be released from Dickerson’s self-titled, upcoming third studio album, joining the other tracks “I Wonder” and “She Likes It,” featuring Jake Scott. Dickerson’s album will be available November 4th. Fans can pre-save/pre-order the album here,

In addition to new music, Dickerson will launch his headlining She Likes It Tour throughout the US starting in November; for tickets, head to Dickerson’s website.

Check out the video for ‘Big Wheels’ – here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Elton John and Britney Spears release Joel Corry ‘Hold Me Closer’ remix video

shutterstock_1399299383

Elton John and Britney Spears have released the official music video for the ‘Joel Corry Remix’ of their smash hit, “Hold Me Closer.”  The video — shot in London and staring renowned English DJ and producer Joel Corry — features a group of dancers paying homage to John and Spears legendary careers. The Joel Corry Remix clip follows the release of the audio of the first official remix earlier this month, which Corry surprised fans with at his final Ushuaia and Ibiza Rocks show last week. Elton and Britney also dropped the second official remix of “Hold Me Closer” with world-renowned German producer and DJ Purple Disco Machine.  The animated video for the Hold Me Closer (Purple Disco Machine Remix) can be viewed – here.

As previously announced, three collectible, limited edition CD single formats of “Hold Me Closer” are set for release in November. Each of the three unique discs will feature different artwork, one with the original single sleeve and the remaining two with fan-voted art as the cover. Additionally, each CD will carry a different track list, all with the original “Hold Me Closer” song, with the second track varying between an extended version, the Joel Corry Remix, or the Purple Disco Machine Remix on the remaining two.

Check out the Joel Corry ‘Hold Me Closer’ remix video – here.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

5 Seconds Of Summer share their video for “Older”

shutterstock_1647023083

5 Seconds of Summer shared their music video for “Older,” directed by Frank and Ivanna Borin. The love ballad features vocals from lead singer Luke Hemmings’ fiancée, Sierra Deaton.

5 Seconds of Summer said of the video:  “The video for ‘Older’ poses this question and portrays humans of all walks of life on their last day on earth. The song is about not wanting to get older because that means you’re one day closer to either your own eventual demise or that of your loved ones. Usually, in life, the end comes without warning, but we wanted the video to capture what could happen if we knew exactly when the end was coming. We made the video with our long-time friends and collaborators, the brilliant Frank and Ivanna Borin… we hope you enjoy it.”

Older is taken from the band’s fifth studio album, 5SOS5. Check out the video for Older on YouTube.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Go Country 105

Nashville notes: Trisha Yearwood, The Judds Tour & more

abc-rss-feed-20221024140000

Trisha Yearwood is being inducted into the TASTE Hall of Fame for her impact in the world of “taste and broadcast entertainment.” She is one of 21 inductees into the 10th class. 

Hit singer-songwriter Nicolle Galyon has released the video for her song “younger woman.” It’s featured on her debut album, firstborn. 

Presale tickets for 2023 dates on The Judds: The Final Tour are available now. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Categories
Go Country 105

Reba McEntire awarded plaque for selling nearly 60 million albums

abc-rss-feed-20221024130635

Reba McEntire is “fancy” when it comes to selling records. 

During her debut solo headlining show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday night, the country legend was presented with a plaque backstage for selling more than 58 million albums worldwide. 

After the set, Reba took to Instagram to reflect on the experience, calling it a “very special night.” “Thanks for being such a wonderful crowd. It will sure be a night I'll never forget,” she shares in the caption alongside a gallery of photos from the show. 

The Nashville show is part of the fall leg of her Reba: Live in Concert tour, which continues through November 19 and picks back up again in March 2023. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.