Month: May 2024

The Academy of Country Music won’t hand out most of their trophies until Thursday night when the show streams on Prime Video, live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. But Tuesday evening, the ACMs started the action early, passing out the newcomer honors during the fan party leading up to the big show.

Megan Moroney is the New Female Artist of the Year, on the strength of her breakthrough hit, “Tennessee Orange,” as well as the two songs she has climbing the chart now, “I’m Not Pretty” and “Can’t Break Up Now” with Old Dominion. She’s also the most-nominated female artist heading into the show, with recognition for Female Artist, Song, Visual Media and Music Event of the Year. 

Nate Smith takes New Male Artist, just days before he performs on the show with pop star Avril Lavigne.

“@natesmith's WORLD is ON FIRE since he just won ACM New Male Artist of the Year!” he shared on his socials, referencing his recent number one that spent ten weeks at the top.

Sisters Tigirlily Gold took New Duo honors, on the strength of their breakthrough hit, “Shoot Tequila,” which they followed with “I Tried a Ring On,” which is making its way up the chart now. 

“We just won our first ACM AWARD!!!” Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh said on Instagram. “This is 11 years of long days, short nights, ups and downs, and never giving up. Thank you to the @acmawards for this incredible honor. We are absolutely beside ourselves. More to come later.”

Superstar Reba McEntire will preside over the handing out of the rest of the awards Thursday night. Even if you don’t have a Prime Video subscription, you can stream it live on Amazon.com starting at 8 p.m. ET on May 16.

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It’s been almost eight years since Dylan Scott released his first chart-topping single, “My Girl,” and since then, he’s gone on to have three more number ones, as well as a top-five hit. So he might not be the most obvious contender for ACM New Male Artist of the Year.

In fact, Dylan was up for the same award last year.

“I don’t feel new either, dude,” Dylan jokes in response to the observation his experience may be out of kilter with his nomination. “We’ve had some hits now and it’s cool to be recognized, right?”

“But there’s so many great new artists having success right now that I feel like, ‘Man, they need to be in this category, not me,'” he observes.

But given how difficult it can be to bring home a nomination, Dylan doesn’t take the pat on the back for granted.

“It’s very hard to break into anything in the music industry,” he points out. “And we’ve … literally been in the trenches and fought and clawed our way up to where we are now. And it does, it feels good, man, having some success.”

For Dylan, that’s the real reward.

“It would mean a lot from the standpoint of just, I’ve been doing this a long time,” the Louisiana native tells ABC Audio. “But man, I don’t need a trophy, you know?”

“I’m 33 years old, got my kids and my wife, and we’re touring all over the place selling out shows, and life is good,” he continues. “And that’s the trophy right there. So it ain’t about who wins to me.” 

ERNEST, Kameron Marlowe, Conner Smith and Nate Smith are also in the running for New Male Artist.

You can watch the 59th ACM Awards free Thursday night on Prime Video.

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Dolly Parton has teamed with Krispy Kreme to launch an all-new Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection. Running for a limited time only, fans can sink their teeth into four new flavors: Dolly Dazzler, Peachy Keen Cobbler, Banana Puddin' and Chocolate Crème Pie. “Having some of my very favorite Southern flavors in one, unique doughnut collection from Krispy Kreme is so special to me,” says Dolly. “So, I’m excited for folks to share them with their own family and friends. They’re pretty sweet, if I do say so myself!” For more information, visit Krispy Kreme’s website.

Rock band The Black Crowes have dropped a music video for their Lainey Wilson-assisted track, “Wilted Rose.” The visualizer features footage of their performance at the historic Grand Ole Opry House as well as backstage clips of Lainey and the band. You can watch the video now on YouTube.

“Burning House” hitmaker Cam recently spoke with People about contributing to Beyoncé‘s chart-topping country album, Cowboy Carter, and how that’s inspired her third studio record, which is currently in the works. You can read the full interview on People‘s website.

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HARDY‘s dropping a new track, “Psycho,” on Friday.

The country rocker shared the news on social media alongside a snippet of the soon-to-be-released song.

“Hey, I hope you never have to see the day/ But if you ever walk away/ Well, everybody you know, everybody I know’s/ Gonna know you fell in love with a psycho,” HARDY sings in the preview clip.

The 24-second visualizer also features shots of HARDY in a padded room donning a straight jacket.

“Psycho” will preview HARDY’s forthcoming as-yet-untitled rock album. 

Coming up, HARDY will kick off his Quit!! tour May 30 in Rogers, Arkansas. Tickets are available now at hardyofficial.com/quittour.

HARDY’s also up for Artist-Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards. You can stream the show live Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

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Get ready to be blown away with Luke Combs‘ Twisters-featured single, “Ain't No Love in Oklahoma.”

Though it’s not out yet, Luke has shared a preview clip of the uptempo song alongside its accompanying music video.

“Scared of nothing and I’m scared to death/ I can’t breathe and I catch my breath/ But I keep chasing that same old devil down the same old dead-end highway,” Luke declares in the stormy visualizer, before delivering the chorus.

“Ain’t no love in Oklahoma/ Just the whistle of a lone black train/ You’ll know when it’s coming for ya/ Riding in on the wind and rain,” he sings as clips from Twisters flash across the screen.

“Ain't No Love in Oklahoma” drops Thursday, May 16, and is available for presave now.

Twisters will hit movie theaters July 19.

Luke leads the 2024 ACM Awards nominations with eight nods, including one for the coveted Entertainer of the Year. You can stream the show live Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. 

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More of your favorite country stars will be performing at this year’s CMA Fest.

Old Dominion has been added to the main stage lineup at Nissan Stadium, joining Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Jordan Davis, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, HARDY, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney and Bailey Zimmerman, among others.

Opening the main stage shows are Josh Turner, Terri Clark, Craig Morgan and Gretchen Wilson.

Additionally, Jackson Dean, Shaboozey and Brittney Spencer will deliver special performances from Nissan Stadium, and newcomers Zach Top, Dylan Marlowe, Tanner Adell, Chapel Hart, Wyatt Flores, Dylan Gossett, Dasha and Puddin (K. Michelle) will sing on the Platform Stage inside the stadium. 

But wait, that’s not all.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Redneck Woman,” Gretchen will take the CMA Close Up Stage inside Fan Fair X for a special Q&A discussing her hit and career. Other previously announced stars set for a conversation at the CMA Close Up Stage include Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett and Cody Johnson. 

CMA Fest runs June 6-9 in Music City. Tickets and the full festival schedule are available now at cmafest.com.

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Little Big Town will spread festive cheer with a new NBC special, Little Big Town's Christmas at the Opry.

The two-hour television event will be filmed at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It’ll feature performances from the group’s Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, as well as as-yet-unannounced special guests.

A press release also teases that more exciting Little Big Town news is on the way.

In the meantime, you can catch the Group of the Year nominee presenting at the 2024 ACM Awards, which streams live Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Tickets to Little Big Town’s upcoming Take Me Home Tour with Sugarland are also available now at littlebigtown.com.

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Toby Keith will be honored with a special tribute at the ACM Awards, courtesy of Jason Aldean.

Jason will perform his rendition of the late icon’s 1993 hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”

“Honored to pay tribute to my friend, the one and only @tobykeith with a special performance of ‘Should’ve Been A Cowboy’ at the @ACMawards. Join me as we celebrate his legacy and the mark he left on country music,” Jason shares on X, formerly known as Twitter.

During his multidecade career, Toby scored 14 ACM Award trophies, including two for the coveted Entertainer of the Year in 2002 and 2004.

Other country stars on the performance bill include Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton and Nate Smith.

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Reba, will stream live Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

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Jordan Davis has scored his seventh #1 hit with “Tucson Too Late.”

“Thank you to everyone at country radio, my team, and thank you to the songwriters,” shares Jordan, who co-wrote the song with Matt Jenkins, Josh Jenkins and Jacob Davis. “I will never take for granted the support you've all shown over and over again, especially across this latest album.”

“The risks it’s allowed me to take in my writing and music, and the creative space that freedom has kept me in, is invaluable, and I cannot thank you all enough,” he adds. “Simply put, you all have changed my life, and I can't wait to share more music with everyone soon.”

“Tucson Too Late” is the fourth single off Jordan’s latest album, Bluebird Days, and was preceded by the Luke Bryan-assisted “Buy Dirt,” “Next Thing You Know” and “What My World Spins Around.”

Jordan’s set to take the stage as a presenter at the upcoming ACM Awards. His smash hit “Next Thing You Know” is also up for four nominations, including Single of the Year and Song of the Year.

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live May 16 at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Meanwhile, to see Jordan on his ongoing Damn Good Time Tour and Luke Combs‘ Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour, visit jordandavisofficial.com.

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