Month: November 2023

Lainey Wilson on her CMA Awards performance: “It's a nod to the folks who raised me”

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
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Lainey Wilson is set to take the CMA Awards stage to sing her autobiographical “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”

The track, which Lainey co-wrote, pays homage to her hometown roots and the people part of her formative years.

“This one is a nod to my family, it’s a nod to the folks who raised me and the place who raised me. It’s one of those songs that talks about the kind of people that I come from, and they are tough, hardworking and give you the shirt off your back kind of people,” Lainey tells ABC Audio. “I’m excited to be able to get up there and sing about that. It’s going to be fiery. It’s going to be a force. I’m ready.”

Another thing Lainey’s ready for is to win Album of the Year or the coveted Entertainer of the Year award.

“It’s obvious that Entertainer of the Year is the biggest, baddest award of the night. So I’d love to take that thing home,” shares Lainey, who snagged early wins for Musical Event and Music Video of the Year. “But also Album of the Year because I feel like it’s a win for everybody. But there’s something about when you hear the words ‘Entertainer of the Year.'”

Could she take home all nine awards she’s nominated for?

“I don’t know about all of them,” says Lainey. “But I feel it’s going to be a good night.”

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Go Country 105

Jelly Roll recalls finding out about his CMA Awards nods + previews opening performance with surprise guest

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on Jelly Roll recalls finding out about his CMA Awards nods + previews opening performance with surprise guest

Being the most nominated male artist for this year’s CMA Awards is something Jelly Roll didn’t see coming.

His wife, Bunnie XO, initially thought he didn’t get a nod.

“I woke up and went straight online. I didn’t send it to my wife. I just looked at my phone and I said, ‘You’re not going to believe this.’ And she’s such a good wife. She immediately put her arm on my shoulder and said, ‘Baby, you’re new to the genre. It’s okay.’ She started consoling me and I said, ‘We’re the most nominated male,'” Jelly recounts.

“She said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘We’ve got five nominations, Bunnie…And we just started cheering,” he shares.

One of the nods is for is Male Vocalist of the Year.

“Just to be even involved in that is just unreal,” Jelly says. “Frankly, I feel like when it comes to Male Vocalist of the Year, I am low on the hog of that chain of people. I mean, one, I think we should call it the Chris Stapleton Award and he should just give it away every year, you know? And I think to think about me being next to Cody Johnson, who I think is one of the best singers in country music.

“Morgan Wallen, who is just incredible in every way. Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton. I mean, we’re talking about guys that are really singing-singing, you know?” Jelly adds.

Jelly will open the CMA Awards with “Need a Favor” alongside a surprise, as-yet-unannounced guest.

“If you want to see a surprise, I would not miss opening the show, he says. “I got somebody coming out to sing with me, but I don’t think anybody’s going to see [that] coming.”

The 57th CMA Awards air Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Go Country 105

Ashley McBryde hopes to evoke nostalgia with her CMA Awards performance

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
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As Ashley McBryde readies to deliver her “Light On in the Kitchen” performance on the CMA Awards, she spoke with ABC Audio about the autobiographical song and what she hopes to evoke in the audience.

“I was just looking on my phone during glam this morning, and right now my mom is taking care of her sister who had her shoulder replaced. I spent an awful lot of time with my mom’s sisters growing up. And mom texted me and said, ‘Have fun today. We’ll leave the light on.’ And that just lets me know that they’re thinking about me,” Ashley shares of the personal sentiment behind “Light On in the Kitchen.”

“I can remember when we were writing it how mom’s oldest sister’s kitchen smelled, and it smelled a little bit like dish soap and a little bit like pastries. It’s just so comforting,” she fondly recalls. “I hope it feels that way during the performance to anybody that’s taking it in.”

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Go Country 105

Morgan Wallen is HARDY's pick for CMA Entertainer of the Year

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on Morgan Wallen is HARDY's pick for CMA Entertainer of the Year

HARDY knows who his pick for 2023 CMA Entertainer of the Year is, and it’s none other than his Big Loud Records labelmate and buddy Morgan Wallen.

“Morgan should win. Nobody in the format has entertained more people than Morgan Wallen this year. Morgan Wallen should win,” HARDY tells ABC Audio.

“He’s played multiple nights at stadiums that hold over 40,000 people. That’s a number that I don’t think anybody else in country music is doing or has done in a very long time,” he says.

Also in the running for Entertainer of the Year are Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.

HARDY’s an early winner at the CMA Awards thanks to his Lainey Wilson-assisted “Wait in the Truck,” which was named Musical Event and Music Video of the Year. The track’s also up for Song and Single of the Year.

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Go Country 105

Carly Pearce talks CMA wins + teases performance with Chris Stapleton

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on Carly Pearce talks CMA wins + teases performance with Chris Stapleton

Carly Pearce is ready to add to her collection of trophies if she notches more wins at the 2023 CMA Awards.

“I have like a wall, a shelf. It has the five records that my grandmother always played for me. It has now my Grammy on it. It has my CMAs, my ACMs,” Carly tells ABC Audio. “It’s quite the collection now, which a lot of times just for perspective, if I’m feeling like down or whatever, I’ll just look at it and be like, ‘Oh, you’re fine.'”

In addition to being a Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, Carly and Chris Stapleton will take their Musical Event of the Year-nominated song, “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” to the CMA Awards stage. The performance, as Carly shares, will showcase a different side of Chris.

“It’s our first time singing it together. We had rehearsal this morning,” says Carly. “I’ve never seen this side of Stapleton in the best way and we really play into it. It’s shot so beautifully. I think it’s really going to be a moment.”

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Go Country 105

HARDY + Lainey notch early 2023 CMA Awards wins for Music Video, Musical Event of the Year

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on HARDY + Lainey notch early 2023 CMA Awards wins for Music Video, Musical Event of the Year

HARDY and Lainey Wilson have snagged early wins ahead of the official 2023 CMA Awards broadcast.

Their hit duet, “Wait in the Truck,” has been named CMA Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. The announcement was shared on ABC’s Good Morning America by the show’s Lara Spencer live from Nashville.

“Wait in the Truck” is also up for Song of the Year and Single of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

News Daypop

Special counsel Weiss says that he has full authority to pursue criminal charges against Hunter Biden

Post author By Staff
Post date November 8, 2023
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Special counsel David Weiss told lawmakers in closed-door testimony on Tuesday that he had full authority to pursue criminal charges against Hunter Biden. Weiss, who was appointed the U.S. attorney for Delaware to lead the investigation into President Joe Biden’s son,said he voluntarily agreed to appear before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee before the submission of his special counsel report to “address misunderstandings about the scope of my authority” in the Hunter Biden criminal probe but would not divulge information that could impede the ongoing investigation.

According to a copy of his opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee, Weiss said: “I am, and have been, the decision-maker on this case. At no time was I blocked, or otherwise prevented from pursuing charges or taking the steps necessary in the investigation by other United States Attorneys, the Tax Division or anyone else at the Department of Justice.”

Weiss’ testimony comes as investigations into Hunter Biden’s finances and business ventures continue to probe whether senior officials took any steps to obstruct or disrupt criminal investigations into Hunter Biden. Case agents – and IRS whistleblowers – Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who were previously assigned to the Hunter Biden investigation, told lawmakers they recommended federal charges be brought against the president’s son for tax violations but testified that Weiss said he had been denied special counsel status and was “not the deciding person” to bring charges in the case. They alleged intentional slow-walking and “an undeniable pattern of preferential treatment” in the federal investigation.

Weiss has repeatedly refuted Shapley’s claims and said he did not request special counsel status until August when the request was “promptly granted” by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Weiss had informed him that his investigation had reached a stage where he believed his work should continue as a special counsel, a designation that confers greater autonomy in conducting a probe.

Editorial credit: DCStockPhotography / Shutterstock.com

News Daypop

Police investigating after Jewish man dies in confrontation during Israel/Palestinian demonstrations

Post author By Staff
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on Police investigating after Jewish man dies in confrontation during Israel/Palestinian demonstrations

Authorities are seeking information after a Jewish man in California died following a confrontation during dueling protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Police said Tuesday they had identified a suspect who called 911 after the altercation in which 69-year-old Paul Kessler died from a head injury.

Witnesses reported that Kessler was involved in a “physical altercation” during pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations at an intersection in Thousand Oaks, a suburb northwest of Los Angeles. Authorities said that te event started as a pro-Palestine demonstration and was advertised as a peaceful gathering and that pro-Israel demonstrators turned out with about 75 to 100 people total attending.

Ventura County Medical examiner Dr. Christopher Young said at a news conference Tuesday that an autopsy found Kessler died from a blunt force head injury, and that the injuries were consistent with a fall; however, it remains unclear if a blow to the face caused his fall or not.

Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said no arrests have been made, though authorities identified a suspect who stayed at the scene and told officers he had called 911 to help Kessler. Sheriff Fryhoff said that deputies determined Kessler fell backward and struck his head on the ground, but ‘what exactly transpired prior to Mr. Kessler falling backward isn’t crystal clear right now,’ and were still trying to sort out what happened and whether a crime had been committed; adding that investigators also hadn’t ruled out the possibility that the act was a hate crime. Fryhoff stated that the suspect, who has been cooperating with authorities, was detained briefly for questioning and authorities searched his home.

The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement calling Kessler’s death a “tragic and shocking loss,” and added: “while we strongly support the right of political debate, CAIR-LA and the Muslim community stand with the Jewish community in rejecting any and all violence, antisemitism, Islamophobia, or incitement of hatred.”

Editorial credit: Glenn Highcove/ Shutterstock.com

Go Country 105

Luke Combs on taking country music global on his 2023 World Tour

Post author By abookbinder
Post date November 8, 2023
No Comments on Luke Combs on taking country music global on his 2023 World Tour

Luke Combs is up for four awards at the 2023 CMA Awards, including one in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category.

The nod arrives after Luke spent the bulk of 2023 taking the world by storm on his World Tour. The global trek included stateside stops as well as shows in countries like Australia, Germany, Scotland, France, Denmark and England.

Speaking with ABC Audio, Luke reflected on his international feat, his view from the stage and a personal sacrifice made.

“It was really difficult, to be honest. You know, Beau was born while I was in Australia, so that was very difficult,” Luke shares. “But from the stage, man, I mean, it’s amazing. It’s different. We played this year everywhere from, I believe it was 800 people in Paris to 65,000 people. So that was the range of shows that we played this year. It was pretty wild.”

Will Luke win CMA Entertainer of the Year for a third consecutive year? Find out Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Country Daypop

Russell Dickerson drops ‘Russell Dickerson: The Afterparty Deluxe’

Post author By Staff
Post date November 8, 2023
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Russell Dickerson released the deluxe edition of his self-titled album, titled ‘Russell Dickerson: The Afterparty Deluxe’. In addition to its 15 original tracks, the deluxe album includes 10 additional tracks, including five unplugged acoustic versions four live recordings, and a new track featuring Needtobreathe called “Red Dirt Church.”

The unplugged acoustic versions on Russell Dickerson: The Afterparty Deluxe include “God Gave Me A Girl,” along with “Beers To The Summer,” “I Remember,” “Drink To This” and “Over and Over.” The project also has four new live recordings including “She Likes It,” along with songs “Big Wheels,” “I Wonder” and “I Still Believe.”

Says Dickerson: “This deluxe album is a more complete picture of this record and of me as an artist. Getting to dive deeper into who I am and showcase live recordings in a way I haven’t done before. It’s almost as if the self-titled album wasn’t finished yet and the deluxe completes this record and this moment in my life.” Of the track ‘Red Dirt Church’, Dickerson shares, “I have been a fan of Needtobreathe for the longest time. Getting to feature them on this deep woods, uplifting anthem just felt right.”

Take a listen to Red Dirt Church (feat. NEEDTOBREATHE) – here.
To stream ‘Russell Dickerson: The Afterparty Deluxe’, head here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com