Nominees for CRS 2021 Virtual New Faces of Country Music Announced

The 2021 CRS New Faces of Country Music nominees have been revealed today, November 16th.

2021 New Faces of Country Music Nominees

For three years in a row, our team has had the pleasure of attending Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville, where country music and radio industry gather to exchange ideas, check out new talent, and celebrate the country music genre. Although the 2021 seminar will be virtual, members of the country music and country radio community will still come together through technology to celebrate the year in music.

The CRS New Faces of Country Music is one of the most coveted showcases of the weekend that spotlights five emerging artists that have achieved significant success at Country Radio. This year, nine deserving artists have been nominated for the honor, including Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, HARDY, Ryan Hurd, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Niko Moon, Jameson Rodgers, and Matt Stell.

Here at NYCountry Swag, we pride ourselves on being tastemakers and introducing our followers and country music fans to the freshest and newest talents in country music. We are proud to say that we have been able to interview most of the nominees, as well as, witness their talents in different capacities, and can honestly say that they all are deserving of the accolades. We even named Parker McCollum, Jameson Rodgers, and HARDY in our 2020 Artists to Watch.

CRS 2021: The Virtual Experience will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, through Friday, Feb. 19.  The New Faces of Country Music Show closes out the event on Friday, Feb. 19.

Voting for the Class of 2021 will open Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. CST and will run through the end of the day (11:59 p.m. CST), Friday, Dec. 4 at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.  The five acts with the most votes will make up the lineup for the show. To view the New Faces of Country Music® qualification criteria, visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com.

We look forward to seeing which five artists make up the New Faces of Country Class of 2020, and we cannot wait for the showcase. In the meantime, check out our recap from our experience at Country Radio Seminar last year and watch our exclusive interviews and performances with each of the artists nominated below.

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Kelsea Ballerini Duets with Shania Twain on “Hole In The Bottle”

Kelsea Ballerini’s new version of her fun song “hole in the bottle” with Shania Twain is available everywhere now, November 13th. The track perfectly combines the two female’s artistry styles. Think of your perfect girls night with just a splash of nostalgia. After a week of teasers on socials, we finally get to hear what they’ve been up to.

This version marks technically the third release of the song, the first being its original release as a single off of the singer’s third studio album, kelsea, and the second being the re-imagined version on her fourth album ballerini, her previous albums second half.

To no surprise at all, the Ballerini-Twain collab is everything we had hoped for and more! Their voices layered together show off the very best of each of their styles that we love so much. You can imagine how much fun they must have had singing together, especially if a bottle was in fact involved, by the friendly back and forth convo that was placed in the middle of the song. Of course, some classic Shania one-liners were thrown in there too. 

“Let’s go / Alright / Look, it’s our prerogative / to have a little fun? / Right? / Right! / Ooh, just look at that hole in the bottle / I’m gonna go get us another one / You go, girl”

The two superstars had been throwing teasers of a collab all week on their socials, but the rumors all clicked during Ballerini’s CMA performance of “Hole in the Bottle” Wednesday night.

The first hint came a week ago when Ballerini posted a photo wearing cow print boots with the caption “whose bed have your boots been underrrr”, where Twain commented, “I just came here to unwind and have one drink”. A few days later, she posted another picture with the caption “the prerogative to have a little fun”, where Twain commented, “Let’s go girl”. Finally, a day before the CMA awards, both women posted a TikTok of each of them sitting on their couches, both in big boots, to the intro of “Man! I feel like a woman”.

The rumors all made sense once Ballerini performed at the 54th Annual CMA Awards. Her black tie-themed jumpsuit and black top hat gave off a very “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” vibe. Although, this wouldn’t have necessarily given it away considering this matched one of the looks she wore in the music video for the song. However, the singer-songwriter has said that the particular look highlighted in the video was in fact an ode to her hero,  Shania. If the upcoming collab wasn’t obvious solely from the look, it certainly was once she threw the iconic “let’s go girls” into the mic at the end of the song.

Just a few minutes after Ballerini’s CMA performance, she posted on Instagram and Twitter the photo cover for the single with the caption “time to spill the wine…hole in the bottle with @ShaniaTwain…”, officially announcing what the two had been hinting at all week long. As did Shania, saying “we’re leakin’ all this wine…”.

Back in 2016 during a Teen Vogue interview, Ballerini called Twain her biggest influence. She certainly follows in her footsteps as a country-pop female artist that crosses genre lines. Ballerini also considers Britney Spears and Taylor Swift to be strong influences of hers, perfectly blending her up-beat pop sounds with her country story-telling writing.

The bonafide star definitely picked the right song to be her first drinking song, as it continues to be successful through several versions and is now the reason she can say she shares a song with her idol.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kelsea Ballerini releases.

To keep up with Kelsea Ballerini, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with Shania Twain, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

“hole in the bottle” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police, and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Lauren Davidson’s New Song “Halfway to Hungover” Rounds Out EP

Lauren Davidson’s final song of her Love Ain’t Fair EP is here. “Halfway to Hungover” is an edgy breakup song that everyone trying to forget about someone needs to hear.

Lauren Davidson Halfway to Hungover

Written by Davidson and Tommy Cole, “Halfway to Hungover” opens with a fierce guitar chord that sets the rocker tone for the whole song. Throughout the track, the singer-songwriter sticks to who she is, a talented artist who continues to put her own spin on country music.

Breakups are hard. And while there’s no easy way to get over someone, our Swag Spotlight Alum reminds us that alcohol can certainly help. The song takes place at a bar, a setting where we can’t wait to be able to fully enjoy again, where the heartbroken subject sits down ready to forget about their ex by taking a few shots. By the end of the track, we are reminded that while it is not an easy thing to do and may take some time, it is possible to get over the person who broke our heart.

“Halfway to hungover / Giving me that feeling that I still got inside/ Not drunk but I ain’t sober / Betting that I’m getting over you tonight / Almost there with the hurt and the burn go down smooth / Halfway to hungover and hardly over you.”

The New Jersey native began releasing bits of her EP on Valentine’s Day, with the title track “Love Ain’t Fair”. The five-song project is a must listen. This Saturday Davidson will be virtually performing on Facebook Live for Urban Country Jam Crowdfunded Live Stream Addition. She will be joined by Brandon Ray and Nick Hickman. For more information and to tune in click here.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lauren Davidson releases.

To keep up with Lauren Davidson follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Halfway to Hungover” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Kameron Marlowe: Self-Titled Debut EP – Review

Kameron Marlowe’s brand new self-titled EP is available now, November 13th on all streaming platforms. Take a look below as we recap our first impression of the songs off the new EP.

Kameron Marlowe

Kameron Marlowe EP, out now November 13th

Here at NYCountry Swag, we pride ourselves on truly having an ear for good music and incredible singer-songwriters. We can honestly say that recording artist and songwriter, Kameron Marlowe is the real deal, and it is only just the beginning for the budding star. Marlowe just released his debut major label self-titled EP today, and you are going to want to listen, and listen again!

Beginning with his debut single and solo-write, “Giving You Up,” Marlowe takes fans on a journey through the other side of a breakup when you are finally just about over someone and moving on, and then your ex calls. He sings about putting an end to the back and forth nature of a messy breakup. The song was a hit with fans, garnering over 27 million spins on Spotify, and with its catchy tune and touching lyrics, it is clear why.

“Cause I’m giving you up, just like I did them Marlboro Lights / And I’m giving you up, the same way I did the whiskey on ice”

Marlowe transitions into another relatable song, “Sober As A Drunk.” The song is full of play on words and enticing comparisons, as you navigate the unwanted feelings of missing someone. Although comprised of melancholy lyrics, the singer finds a way to highlight the mid-tempo nature of the catchy tune.

Continuing to tug at our heartstrings and showcase vulnerability, Marlowe emotes on “Goin’ There Today” with one of the best vocal performances on the project. One of our favorites off the EP, the story-telling song walks us through the emotions of a guy trying to stay clear from the person that broke his heart. The title is a way to express avoiding memories that are associated with pain and heartache.

“I sure could go for a cup of black coffee / They serve the best at the corner cafe / But it’ll have to wait ‘cause truth is / I don’t feel like goin’ there today”

On the next song, “Burn ‘Em All,” which was also released earlier this year, Marlowe relates to the everyday man, paying homage to the blue-collar workers and all the hardworking people out there. The track perfectly highlights the singer’s gritty growl and enticing vocals. Similarly, “Hungover,” one of the most upbeat tunes on the EP features killer vocals. This time the singer aims to get away from the heartache by doing what we all have done, drinking. “I’m in the middle of a heartbreak bend,” sings Marlowe in one of the most relatable lyrics there is.

The EP ends with another impressive vocally-driven song entitled “Leavin’ to Me.” On the track, Marlowe pleads with his partner to break up with him. It’s clear that the relationship is toxic, but we all know how hard it is to leave something that we thought would be our forever. This song is just another example of how well Marlowe can emote, sing, and write.

After listening to the six songs off the EP, fans will be able to understand both the type of music that Marlowe makes and his journey to choosing these songs for his record. Laced with songs for the everyday, hardworking fans and breakup songs that everyone can relate to, Marlowe has tapped into a side of country music that all fans can appreciate.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Kameron Marlowe releases.

To keep up with Kameron Marlowe follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kameron Marlowe EP Tracklist:

  1. Giving You Up
  2. Sober As A Drunk
  3. Goin’ There Today
  4. Burn ‘Em All
  5. Hungover
  6. Leavin’ to Me

Kameron Marlowe EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Chris Stapleton: ‘Starting Over’ – Album Review

Chris Stapleton’s new album, Starting Over is available now, November 12th, on all streaming platforms. With eleven songs written by Stapleton and his longtime friends, take a look below as we give our first impression of the album.

Chris Stapleton manages to isolate the exact emotions felt by his listeners while providing comfort in being fully seen by someone and solace that others feel similar. Starting Over captures the timeliness of our current state and simultaneously creates a timeless relic of the truth of our existence. Written beginning in February right before the shutdown, these words surpass the current processing of our situations and in hindsight will epitomize our sentiments.

“Starting Over” kicks off the album with a lighthearted take on beginning anew, much like what many of us had to do recently in all aspects of our life. Whether meant as motivation or just the soundtrack to a new dawn, it initiated the fresh start tone of the album. Stapleton recorded this album back in Nashville, surrounded by old friends and new collaborators, providing the optimal place for a reflection of a journey. The album features his wife, Morgane Stapleton, on background vocals and tambourine, creating an elevated emotional dynamic for the tracks.

“Cold”, one of Stapleton’s early releases, is one of the most iconic songs of the year, in lyrics, tone, and vocalization. Billboard called in “earth-shattering…this is the finest rip-your-heart-out song you’ll hear all day…or any day.” The next few tracks tell happy stories, with a cover of John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life”, and a tale of picking up a puppy in “Maggie’s Song.” “Whiskey Sunrise” seems to combine the straight tone of some of his iconic songs with the rock feel of some of his newer creations resulting in a masterpiece.

“Old Friends” oscillates between a quiet monologue and a legato comforting chorus, praising the stability and reliability of the people who have always been there for you. “Watch You Burn” takes a sharp contrast, turning anger to those who have hurt others, ensuring they’ll get their turn, and that the Devil will watch them burn.

The heart of country music, Nashville, is the item of homage paid in the closing track, “Nashville, TN.” Though it tells the story of a Stapleton’s relationship to the city, it reflects the growth that anyone has with a place or a time in their life. Whatever it taught you was yours to learn and take with you when you leave, and even though a part of you will still be there, it won’t take what’s left as you say goodbye to those memories and start a new chapter.

Starting Over runs the gamut, commencing with the excitement and possibility of starting over, through all the rough patches that come, and finalizing with the acceptance of the journey. Whether meant as the ultimate metaphor for the acceptance of what is in this and every season in our lives or not, Stapleton continues to exceptionally seize the moment and the ceaseless joys and perils of what it means to live a life.

Chris Stapleton’s 'Starting Over' is available now, November 12th

Chris Stapleton, ‘Starting Over’

Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” tour is planned to resume next year, with very special guests, and a special concert in his home state of Kentucky, benefiting the Blue Grass Community Foundation, focusing on music and arts education.

NYCS Picks

1. “Starting Over”
2. “Cold”
3. “Whiskey Sunrise”
4. “Old Friends”
5. “Nashville, TN”

Chris Stapleton’s 'Starting Over' is available now, November 12th

Chris Stapleton’s ‘Starting Over’ is available now, November 12th

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Chris Stapleton releases.

To keep up with Chris Stapleton, follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Starting Over is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Carrie Underwood’s ‘Hallelujah’ To Be Featured in Empire State Building Holiday Light Show

Carrie Underwood and John Legend’s new Christmas duet “Hallelujah” will sync up with the 2020 Empire State Building light show in New York City.

Carrie Underwood "Hallelujah" John Legend

Christmas came early for Carrie Underwood fans when she dropped her highly anticipated holiday album My Gift earlier this fall. And now the festivities continue with a special announcement from the historic Empire State Building in New York City. One of the original songs from the project will sync with the annual light show playing on the famous downtown Manhattan landmark, providing fans near and far with a new way to experience the track. 

“Hallelujah”, written by John Legend and Toby Gad, is a fan favorite from the album and is sure to get people in the holiday spirit. The song will broadcast on iHeartRadio’s Z100 and LiteFM at 8PM ET every night from Saturday, December 19 through Christmas Day. The accompanying light show was choreographed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman. 

“I’m honored to be able to join the Empire State Building for this wonderful tradition,” said Underwood in a press release earlier this week. “More than ever, it’s a time to embrace the hopefulness and joy of the holiday season, and to share that magic with people around the globe.”

Fans outside New York City can watch the spectacle live online via Earthcam hereAfter the debut performance on December 19, the entire show will also be uploaded to the Empire State Building’s YouTube channel, here.

“Hallelujah” and My Gift are available now everywhere you stream music.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Carrie Underwood releases in the coming weeks.

To keep up with Carrie Underwood, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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The Best Deep Cuts from Kane Brown

Kane Brown is a bonafide superstar! He has accomplished the unprecedented, including being one of the first country artists to sell out the Staples Center in less than two hours, as well as, continues to break down genre barriers, proving his talent does not fit into a box. With two records and some collaborations under his belt, we decided to look back at some of our favorite deep cuts by the multi-platinum entertainer.

“Don’t Go City on Me” – Closer EP

“Don’t go city on me / Please girl keep it country / Life so different since you cross those tracks / Bring that pretty little accent back”

Back in 2015, this was one of the first songs we had heard by the promising young talent. Before his platinum-hits and his incredible fanbase, “Don’t Go City on Me” was a killer song by a new artist. The track showcases Brown’s vocals, country drawl, and songwriting skills all in just a few short minutes.

 

“It Ain’t You It’s Me” – Experiment

“But it ain’t you that’s been going through hell / It ain’t you with a heart for sale”

The heart-wrenching song off Brown’s sophomore record, Experiment, is a hidden jam. The song explores feelings associated with dealing with a break-up, truly focusing on the singer’s ability to emote and express vulnerability. The latter is something that we have come to love and appreciate from the innovative artist.

 

“Granddaddy’s Chair” – Kane Brown

“I may not be there now / But I hope one day I’ll be man enough to be sitting in my granddad’s chair”

“Granddaddy’s Chair” is one of Brown’s most personal songs to date. Talking about how he aspires to be the man his grandfather once was, just shows how important family and honest story-telling is to him. This song is one that any Brown fan know all the words to!

 

“My Where I Come From” – Experiment

“There’s a few more churches than there are bars / A hell of lot more trucks than there are cars”

Brown does not shy away from expressing his truth and his journey in his music. “My Where I Come From” is another example of that gift he chooses to share with the world. The singer is clearly indebted to his experiences and his Georgia-raising.

 

“Better Place” – Kane Brown

“Six feet below, you know / I’m gonna make your world a better place / Till we’re both in a better place”

A heartfelt love-song, Brown reminds us that his love for his wife is boundless. “Better Place” is another gem on his debut project. Interestingly enough, a lot of the things he promised in the song, still ring true today!

 

“For My Daughter” – Experiment (Extended)

“And not just say I love you, but show you what it means / Yeah, I grew up without a dad / I’m gonna be the best one I can be”

Our list would not be complete without this incredible cut, “For My Daughter.” An honest song that Brown wrote for his daughter Kingsley, the track embodies everything Kane is as an artist and as a person, honest, loyal, and fiercely himself.

 

How does our list match up to yours? Let us know and be sure to follow our ‘Deep Cuts’ playlist on Spotify. Check out more deep cuts from some of our favorite artists like Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Brett Young, and Luke Combs here.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Kane Brown releases in the coming weeks.

To keep up with Kane Brown, follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

 

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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Country Artists to Perform During Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The list of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performers was just announced and several country acts are on the bill.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Although so many events have been canceled or postponed during this pandemic year, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which is an absolute staple for most families across America, will still happen this year. Looking very different from years in the past, this virtual event will air nationwide as a television-only event with no audience on NBC on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. In order to prevent large crowds from gathering, there will be no actual parade down the 2.5-mile route in Manhattan but plenty of great performances are planned for the show.

Some incredible country artists are on the lineup for a morning filled with music include Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen featuring Noah Cyrus, Dolly Parton, and Brett Young. These artists will perform amongst several theatrical performances including Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, and Mean Girls – giving these incredible actors a chance to bring their craft to an audience for the first time in months. It also wouldn’t be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without a performance from the infamous Radio City Rockettes, officially kicking off the Christmas season.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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2020 CMA Awards: The Complete Recap

The 54th annual CMA Awards took place last night (November 11th) in Nashville, Tennessee. Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker hosted country music’s biggest night, featuring performances by the industry’s most prevalent stars. Keep reading below to see which artists took home the awards.

Although it looked different than previous years, the 2020 CMA Awards was the most “normal”-looking award show so far in the COVID-era. Although socially-distanced at separate tables, all the artists and nominees were in the same room, bringing back the feeling of togetherness that makes the country community so special. Eric Church took home the night’s most prestigious award, Entertainer of the Year.

Entertainer of the Year Eric Church

The night started off which multiple artists–Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBryde, and Jason Aldean paying tribute to the late Charlie Daniels, who passed away in July. They came together to perform a medley of hits including “Long Haired Country Boy,” “Trudy,” “Texas,” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

Maren Morris had a huge night, winning the first two awards, Single and Song of the Year with “The Bones,” and later winning Female Vocalist of the Year. “The Bones,” written by Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz and produced by Greg Kurstin, spent 19 weeks at the top spot on the Hot Country Charts. She performed this song later in the show and used her last acceptance speech to shout-out under-recognized black women in country music.

“There are so many amazing black women who have pioneered and continue to pioneer this genre…you’ve made this genre so so beautiful. I hope you know that we see you; thank you for making me so inspired as a singer…”

Morgan Wallen was the first solo act to take the stage, performing “More Than My Hometown.” He accepted the next award, New Artist of the Year, later in the night.

Last night featured many first-time live collaborations, including Gabby Barret and Charlie Puth, performing their chart-climbing hit song, “I Hope;” McEntire and Christian artist, Chris Tomlin joined Thomas Rhett on stage for their number one song, “Be A Light;” and Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber performed “10,000 Hours” from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Dan + Shay took home yet another Duo of the Year award last night, as well.

Many country legends were lost in 2020, but the CMA and country’s current artists honored them all last night. Along with the Charlie Daniels tribute, Jon Pardi honored Joe Diffe with a performance of his biggest hit, “Pickup Man;” McEntire and Rucker paid tribute to Mac Davis with his song, “In the Ghetto;” and Little Big Town honored Kenny Rodgers with a rendition of “Sweet Music Man.” Artists and guests in attendance were up on their feet, singing and dancing along in loving memory of their idols growing up.

After performing a snippet of his number-one song, “Best Shot,” Jimmy Allen introduced the distinguished Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary Charley Pride. Allen joined Pride for a special performance of his hit song, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

Sandwiched between two beautiful ballads, Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” with his wife, Morgan, and Ingrid Andress’ “More Hearts Than Mine,” Old Dominion took home another Vocal Group of the Year award, making it their third straight. They also won Vocal Group of the Year at ACMs the past three years as well. They later took the stage to perform “Lookin’ for Love,” from the 1980 iconic western film, Urban Cowboy.

Luke Combs continued his success at award shows with two more wins for Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. Combs and his album, What You See Is What You Get, set numerous streaming records this past year. He performed a song off the deluxe version of the album, “Cold As You,” earlier in the night.

“Everybody watching this tonight is just as important as I am in this and I’m just happy to be the guy standing up here holding this trophy for all of us,” Combs praised after accepting album of the year.

Eric Church, who performed a new song, “Hell of a View” earlier in the show, took home the final award of the night, Entertainer of the Year. In 2019, Church headlined the famous Double Down Tour, in which he performed back-to-back nights in the same city with a different setlist for each show—a very unique and difficult task that not many artists could pull off.

“This award this year, at least for me, has been about the loss of this year,” Church admitted. “The loss of life; the loss of playing shows; the loss of freedom; the loss of kids being in school. You know what the win is? The win is we all were here tonight, together…It’s going to be music that brings us out of this. That is the one thing that is going to save the entire world. Politicians are about division, music is about unity.”

Two awards were given out before the show, including Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird” for Music Video of the Year and Lee Brice and Carly Pearce’s “I Hope Your Happy Now” for Musical Event of the Year. Due to a positive COVID-19 test, Lady A’s Charles Kelley filled in for Brice and sang the number one song on stage with Pearce.

Other performances included: “Beers and Sunshine” –Darius Rucker; “One Night Standards – “Ashley McBryde; “All Night” – Brothers Osbourne; “Settling Down” – Miranda Lambert; “Hole in the Bottle” – Kelsea Ballerini; and an acoustic performance of “God Whispered Your Name” by Keith Urban from Australia.

Click here to see a list of all last night’s winners.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.

To keep up with the Country Music Association, follow them on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

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The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Breaking! CMA Entertainer of the Year Is… Eric Church!

Tonight, November 11th, 2020, The 54th Annual CMA Awards show aired live on ABC. Hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker, the special show was full of one of a kind moments and epic performances as the country music family honored the highest talents of 2020 celebrating “Country Music’s Biggest Night”.

Ending the three-hour-long show, was the most prestigious award of the night, “Entertainer of the Year. Up for the honor were Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Eric Church, and Keith Urban. Ultimately taking home the award was Eric Church.

Humbly accepting, Church shared “This award this year, at least for me, has been about the loss of this year. Loss of life, loss of playing shows, loss of freedom, loss of kids being in school… And do you not what the win is? The win is we all are here tonight, together, as country music… in person, live, not on zoom and I think… I believe this, I really believe this, it’s going to be music that brings us out of this. That is the one thing that is going to save the entire world. Politicians are about division, music is about unity.”

2020 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church

2020 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church

Check out the list of winners here and more special moments from the night on our Instagram and Twitter.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music.

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook: