Tag Archive for: Carrie Underwood

5 Carrie Underwood Songs That Should Have Been Singles

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In her incredible career, Carrie Underwood has certified herself as a superstar. Aside from her country radio hits, we’re looking at Carrie Underwood’s stellar catalog and choosing 5 songs that should have been singles.

Carrie Underwood Madison square garden

Photo by: Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for Country Swag

As the current queen of country music (in my humble opinion), any song Underwood puts out is almost guaranteed to be a hit and she rarely misses when it comes to what songs she and her team decide to release as singles to country radio. Problem is, not every song can be a single, so we’re rounding up 5 of our all-time favorite Carrie Underwood tracks that should have been singles. Check it out in the list below…

  1. “End Up With You” – Cry Pretty

“End Up With You” is just a feel-good song that so many people can relate to. When I first heard this song on the Cry Pretty album, I knew it would be a song I’d listen to over and over again. Underwood sings about getting in a car with someone and not caring where your destination is as long as you’re together.

  1. “You Won’t Find This” – Carnival Ride

There’s a million things Carrie Underwood does well and two of them are singing her heart out in a ballad and another is singing about heartbreak. “You Won’t Find This” is about 15 years old and I still find myself listening to it every few weeks. Underwood sings about a breakup and knowing the other person “won’t find this” when they’re looking for someone or something better. This song reminds me of a movie and I wish she had made a music video for it.

  1. “Crazy Dreams” – Carnival Ride

Everyone should have big dreams and this song is just a reminder of that. Carrie Underwood sings about how even the craziest dreams can come true. This song makes me feel like I can conquer the world and reminds me that you should dream big because you just might end up a country music superstar like Carrie Underwood!

  1. “Kingdom” – Cry Pretty

As you listen to Carrie Underwood’s more recent albums you’ll find how her sound and lyrics have matured as she’s gotten older. Instead of singing solely about broken hearts, she has more songs about her family, including her two adorable little boys. “Kingdom” describes the chaos of her home and how it’s “perfectly imperfect,” something I think almost everyone can relate to. This song is so raw and real. You can almost feel the love she has for her family and the life they’ve built pouring out through the lyrics.

  1. “The More Boys I Meet”— Carnival Ride

Anyone who is dating or has dated in the past knows what a process it can be at times. Anyone who also is a dog parent can relate to this song “The More Boys I Meet.” Carrie Underwood sings about a series of bad dates and the more men she meets, the more she loves her dog.

 

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

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

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Carrie Underwood: ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ – Album Review

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Carrie Underwood’s highly anticipated new album, Denim & Rhinestones is officially out now, June 10th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the record below and check out our full review.

The wait is over! Almost four years after her last solo country release, ‘Cry Pretty’, 8-time GRAMMY winner, Carrie Underwood is back with ‘Denim & Rhinestones’, a high-energy project with a nostalgic 90s country feel that is pure fun from beginning to end.

From catchy anthems (“Crazy Angels”, “Poor Everybody Else”, and title track “Denim & Rhinestones”), to love songs (“Faster”, “Pink Champagne”, “Wanted Woman”), to heartbreak (“Burn”, “Velvet Heartbreak”, “Hate my Heart”), to the kind of story tracks Underwood is known for, (“Ghost Story”, “She Don’t Know”), there is something for everyone on this record. Full of theatrical lyrics from top to bottom and even a bit of rock and roll, it is bound to be the soundtrack of the summer. 

“I really just wanted to make an album that felt like fun,” said the American Idol alum ahead of the release. “I feel like this one ended up being a bigger reflection of me as a person and as an artist. We have a lot of songs that could be considered throwback songs, but they sound super fresh. These are influences that are in me and work their way out and I just decided this time not to get in their way.”

The final track, “Garden”, ends the album with the softer side of Underwood; a tribute to the way she grew up and a reminder to us all that we can choose who to be in this world.

“If your words were seeds that were goin’ in the ground // And your love was rain farmers prayed about // If your life was sunlight we all needed // What kinda world would it be? // If you reap what you sow // What kind of garden would you grow?

Produced by Underwood and collaborator David Garcia, ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ features 12 songs, 11 of which the mom of two co-wrote with familiar names found all over her impressive discography, including Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Gorley, and Chris DeStefano.

“We covered a lot of ground,” said Underwood when talking about her mindset going into the writer’s room and studio. “Hopefully it’ll just make people happy to listen to. It’s a very like sing into your hairbrush, in your house, in your room, kind of album, which I think is going to translate well.” 

After spending the pandemic on two Christian passion-projects, Christmas album ‘My Gift’ (2020) and gospel record ‘My Savior’ (2021), this time, Underwood was focused on getting back in front of fans. “I wanted to think about all the songs and how we’re going to perform them live and I feel like what we came up with was everything I wanted it to be and more”.

Neither Underwood or fans will have to wait long; the superstar hits the road this fall for an 8-month tour with fellow denim-and-rhinestone-clad special guest, Jimmie Allen. 

Underwood will also be returning to Las Vegas in 2023 to resume her residency, REFLECTION, which enjoyed sold-out runs in December 2021 and Spring 2022. For all tour dates, visit: Carrieunderwood.com.

Denim & Rhinestones Tracklist:

  1. Denim & Rhinestones (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey)
  2. Velvet Heartbreak (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  3. Ghost Story (David Garcia, Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey)
  4. Hate My Heart (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey)
  5. Burn (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey)
  6. Crazy Angels (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Lydia Vaughan)
  7. Faster (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  8. Pink Champagne (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey)
  9. Wanted Woman (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Miller)
  10. Poor Everybody Else (Carrie Underwood, Chris DeStefano, Josh Miller)
  11. She Don’t Know (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)
  12. Garden (Carrie Underwood, David Garcia, Josh Miller)
carrie-underwood-denim-&-rhinestones

Carrie Underwood’s brand new album, ‘Denim & Rhinestones’ is officially here!

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

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

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

Chris Stapleton Wins Big at 2022 GRAMMYs + Full List of Winners

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The 2022 GRAMMY Awards featured big wins for country music. Check out our full recap and all the winners here.

Artists across all genres gathered Sunday night to celebrate life and music at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Hosted by Trevor Noah, the event aired live on CBS and took place in Las Vegas for the first time ever. Find out which artists received music’s most prestigious honors in the article below.

Chris Stapleton was country music’s big winner, walking away with three awards including Best Country Solo Performance for “You Should Probably Leave,” Best Country Song with “Cold,” and the only televised country award, Best Country Album for his latest project, Starting Over. Shortly after accepting the award, which was presented by Kelsea Ballerini, Stapleton performed “Cold”, which was met with a standing ovation.

Other Nashville-based artists received time in the spotlight towards the end of the show; Keith Urban announced the award for Record of the Year, which was given to Silk Sonic for “Leave The Door Open;” Carrie Underwood sang her new single “Ghost Story” for the first time live; and Brothers Osborne closed out the show with an electric performance of “Dead Man’s Curve” that had many in the audience dancing and clapping along including Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, and Lady Gaga. Brandi Carlile and Billy Strings performed as well.

Brothers Osborne and Underwood also received awards before the show. Brothers Osborne won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Younger Me” and Underwood’s My Savior won Best Roots Gospel Album.

Other big winners outside of the genre included Rodrigo, who won Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance with “driver’s license,” and Best Pop Vocal Album with her debut project, Sour; CeCe Winans won Best Gospel Album, Best Gospel Performance/Song, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song; The Foo Fighters won Best Rock Song, Performance, and Album; and John Batiste took home five awards including Album of the Year for We Are. Batiste led all artists with eleven nominations. 

Check out the full list of winners from the special night below.

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

Looking for new country music to dive into? Follow our ‘New Country Music’ playlist on Spotify.

 

2022 GRAMMYS FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Record of the Year

  • “Leave the Door Open” – Silk Sonic — Winner
  • “I Still Have Faith In You” – ABBA
  • “Freedom” – Jon Batiste
  • “I Get a Kick Out of You” – Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
  • “Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar and Giveon
  • “Right On Time” – Brandi Carlile
  • “Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat featuring SZA
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” – Lil Nas X
  • “drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo

Album of the Year

  • “We Are” – Jon Batiste — Winner
  • “Love For Sale” -Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
  • “Justice” – Justin Bieber
  • “Planet Her”- Doja Cat
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Montero” – Lil Nas X
  • “Back of my Mind” – H.E.R.
  • “sour” – Olivia Rodrigo
  • “Evermore” – Taylor Swift
  • “Donda” – Kanye

Song of the Year

  • “Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic — Winner
  • “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran
  • “A Beautiful Noise” – Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile
  • “drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo
  • “Fight For You” – H.E.R.
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat featuring SZA
  • “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” – Lil Nas X
  • “Peaches” – Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
  • “Right On Time” – Brandi Carlile

Best New Artist

  • Olivia Rodrigo – Winner
  • Arooj Aftab
  • Jimmie Allen
  • Baby Keem
  • FINNEAS
  • Glass Animals
  • Japanese Breakfast
  • The Kid LAROI
  • Arlo Parks
  • Saweetie

Best Pop Solo Performance

  • “drivers license” – Olivia Rodrigo — Winner
  • “Anyone” – Justin Bieber
  • “Right On Time” – Brandi Carlile
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Positions” – Ariana Grande

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

  •  “Kiss Me More” – Doja Cat featuring SZA — Winner
  • “I Get A Kick Out Of You” – Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
  •  “Lonely” – Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco
  •  “Butter” – BTS
  •  “Higher Power” – Coldplay

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

  • “Love For Sale” – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga — Winner
  •  “Til We Meet Again (Live)” – Norah Jones
  •  “A Tori Kelly Christmas” – Tori Kelly
  •  “Ledisi Sings Nina” – Ledisi
  •  “That’s Life” – Willie Nelson
  •  “A Holly Dolly Christmas” -Dolly Parton

Best Pop Vocal Album

  • “Sour” – Olivia Rodrigo — Winner
  • “Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)” – Justin Bieber
  • “Planet Her (Deluxe)” – Doja Cat
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Positions” – Ariana Grande

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

  • “Alive” – Rüfüs Du Sol, Jason Evigan & Rüfüs Du Sol, producers; Cassian Stewart-Kasimba, mixer — Winner
  • “Hero” – Afrojack & David Guetta, Kuk Harrell & Stargate, producers; Elio Debets, mixer
  •  “Loom” – Ólafur Arnalds Featuring Bonobo, Simon Green, producers; Ólafur Arnalds, mixer
  • “Before” – James Blake, Dom Maker, producers; James Blake, mixer
  • “Heartbreak” – Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Simon Green & Orlando Higginbottom, producers; Simon Green & Orlando Higginbottom, mixers
  • “You Can Do It” – Caribou Dan Snaith, producer; David Wrench, mixer
  • “The Business” – Tiësto, Hightower, Julia Karlsson & Tiësto, producers; Tiësto, mixer

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

  • “Subconsciously” – Black Coffee — Winner
  • “Fallen Embers” – ILLENIUM
  • “Music Is The Weapon (Reloaded)” – Major Lazer
  • “Shockwave” – Marshmello
  • “Free Love” – Sylvan Esso
  • “Judgement” – Ten City

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

  • “Tree Falls” – Taylor Eigsti — Winner
  • “Double Dealin'” – Randy Brecker & Eric Marienthal
  • “The Garden” – Rachel Eckroth
  • “At Blue Note Tokyo” – Steve Gadd Band
  • “Deep: The Baritone Sessions, Vol. 2” – Mark Lettieri

Best Rock Performance

  • “Making A Fire” – Foo Fighters — Winner
  • “Shot In The Dark” – AC/DC
  • “Know You Better (Live From Capitol Studio A)” – Black Pumas
  • “Nothing Compares 2 U” – Chris Cornell
  • “Ohms” – Deftones

Best Rock Song

  • “Waiting On A War” Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett & Pat Smear, songwriters (Foo Fighters) — Winner
  • “All My Favorite Songs” – Rivers Cuomo, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson & Ilsey Juber, songwriters (Weezer)
  • “The Bandit” – Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
  • “Distance” – Wolfgang Van Halen, songwriter (Mammoth WVH)
  • “Find My Way” – Paul McCartney

Best Metal Performance

  • “The Alien” – Dream Theater — Winner
  • “Genesis” – Deftones
  • “Amazonia” – Gojira
  • “Pushing The Tides” – Mastodon
  • “The Triumph Of King Freak (A Crypt Of Preservation And Superstition)” – Rob Zombie

Best Rock Album

  • “Medicine At Midnight” – Foo Fighters — Winner
  • “Power Up” – AC/DC
  • “Capitol Cuts – Live From Studio A” – Black Pumas
  • “No One Sings Like You Anymore Vol. 1” – Chris Cornell
  • “McCartney III” – Paul McCartney

Best Alternative Music Album

  • “Daddy’s Home” – St. Vincent — Winner
  • “Shore” – Fleet Foxes
  • “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” – Halsey
  • “Jubilee” – Japanese Breakfast
  • “Collapsed In Sunbeams” – Arlo Parks

Best R&B Performance

  • “Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan — Winner (tie)
  • “Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic — Winner (tie)
  • “Lost You” – Snoh Aalegra
  • “Peaches” – Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
  • “Damage” – H.E.R.

Best R&B Song

  • “Leave The Door Open”  – Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic) — Winner
  • “Damage” – Anthony Clemons Jr., Jeff Gitelman, H.E.R., Carl McCormick and Tiara Thomas
  • “Good Days” – Jacob Collier, Carter Lang, Carlos Munoz, Solána Rowe & Christopher Ruelas, songwriters (SZA)
  • “Heartbreak Anniversary” – Giveon Evans, Maneesh, Sevn Thomas and Varren Wade
  • “Pick Up Your Feelings” – Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Audra Mae Butts, Kyle Coleman, Brittany “Chi” Coney, Michael Holmes and Jazmine Sullivan

Best R&B Album

  • “Heaux Tales” – Jazmine Sullivan — Winner
  • “Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies” – Snoh Aalegra
  • “We Are” – Jon Batiste
  • “Gold-Diggers Sound” – Leon Bridges
  • “Back Of My Mind” – H.E.R.

Best Rap Performance

  • “Family Ties” – Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar — Winner
  • “Up” – Cardi B
  • “M Y . L I F E” – J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray
  • “Way 2 Sexy” – Drake featuring Future & Young Thug
  • “Thot S***” – Megan Thee Stallion

Best Rap Song

  • “Jail” – Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Brian Hugh Warner, Kanye West & Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Jay-Z) — Winner
  • “Bath Salts” – Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Michael Forno, Nasir Jones & Earl Simmons, songwriters (DMX Featuring Jay-Z & Nas)
  • “Best Friend” – Amala Zandelie Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Randall Avery Hammers, Diamonté Harper, Asia Smith, Theron Thomas & Rocco Valdes, songwriters (Saweetie Featuring Doja Cat)
  • “Family Ties” – Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Hykeem Carter, Tobias Dekker, Colin Franken, Jasper Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Latour & Dominik Patrzek, songwriters (Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar)
  • “m y . l i f e” – Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph & Jermaine Cole, songwriters (J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray)

Best Rap Album

  • “Call Me If You Get Lost” – Tyler, The Creator — Winner
  • “The Off-Season” – J. Cole
  • “Certified Lover Boy” – Drake
  • “King’s Disease II” – Nas
  • “Donda” – Kanye West

Best Melodic Rap Performance

  • “Hurricane” – Kanye West featuring the Weeknd and Lil Baby) – Winner
  • “Pride Is the Devil” – J. Cole featuring Lil Baby
  • “Need to Know” – Doja Cat
  • “Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow
  • “WusYaName” – Tyler, the Creator featuring Youngboy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla Sign

Best Country Album

  • “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton – Winner
  • “Skeletons” – Brothers Osborne
  • “Remember Her Name” – Mickey Guyton
  • “The Marfa Tapes” – Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall and Jack Ingram
  • “The Ballad of Dood and Juanita” – Sturgill Simpson

Best Country Solo Performance

  • “You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton – Winner
  • “Forever After All” – Luke Combs
  • “Remember Her Name” – Mickey Guyton
  • “All I Do Is Drive” – Jason Isbell
  • “camera roll” – Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

  • “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne — Winner
  • “If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood
  • “Glad You Exist” – Dan + Shay
  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris
  • “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert

Best Country Song

  • “Cold” – Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton) — Winner
  • “Better Than We Found It” – Jessie Jo Dillon, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Maren Morris)
  • “camera roll” – Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
  • “Country Again” – Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)
  • “Fancy Like” – Cameron Bartolini, Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins & Shane Stevens, songwriters (Walker Hayes)
  • “Remember Her Name” – Mickey Guyton, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram & Parker Welling

Best Progressive R&B Album

  • “Table For Two” – Lucky Daye — Winner
  • “New Light” – Eric Bellinger
  • “Something To Say” – Cory Henry
  • “Mood Valiant” – Hiatus Kaiyote
  • “Dinner Party: Dessert” – Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder & Kamasi Washington
  • “Studying Abroad: Extended Stay” – Masego

Best Traditional R&B Performance

  • “Fight For You” – H.E.R. – Winner
  • “I Need You” – Jon Batiste
  • “Bring It On Home To Me” – BJ The Chicago Kid, PJ Morton & Kenyon Dixon featuring Charlie Bereal
  • “Born Again” – Leon Bridges Featuring Robert Glasper
  • “How Much Can A Heart Take” – Lucky Daye Featuring Yebba

Best New Age Album

  • “Divine Tides” – Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej – Winner
  • “Brothers” – Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster & Tom Eaton
  • “Pangaea” – Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone
  • “Night + Day” – Opium Moon
  • “Pieces Of Forever” – Laura Sullivan

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

  • “Humpty Dumpty (Set 2)” – Chick Corea – Winner
  • “Sackodougou” – Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
  • “Kick Those Feet” – Kenny Barron
  • “Bigger Than Us” – Jon Batiste
  • “Absence” – Terence Blanchard

Best Jazz Vocal Album

  • “Songwrights Apothecary Lab” – Esperanza Spalding – Winner
  • “Generations” – The Baylor Project
  • “SuperBlue” – Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter
  • “Time Traveler” – Nnenna Freelon
  • “Flor” – Gretchen Parlato

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

  • “Skyline” – Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette and Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Winner
  • “Jazz Selections: Music from and Inspired by Soul” – Jon Batiste
  • “Absence” – Terence Blanchard featuring the E Collective and the Turtle Island Quartet
  • “Akoustic Band Live” – Chick Corea, John Patitucci and Dave Weckl
  • “Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)” – Pat Metheny

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

  • “For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver” – Christian McBride Big Band – Winner
  • “Live at Birdland!” – The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart
  • “Dear Love” – Jazzmeia Horn and her Noble Force
  • “Swirling” – Sun Ra Arkestra
  • “Jackets XL” – Yellowjackets + WDR Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

  • “Mirror Mirror” – Eliane Elias with Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés – Winner
  • “The South Bronx Story” – Carlos Henriquez
  • “Virtual Birdland” – Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
  • “Transparency” – Dafnis Prieto Sextet
  • “El Arte del Bolero” – Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo

Best Gospel Performance/Song

  • “Never Lost” – CeCe Winans – Winner
  • “Voice of God” – Dante Bowe featuring Steffany Gretzinger and Chandler Moore
  • “Joyful” – Dante Bowe
  • “Help” – Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
  • “Wait on You” – Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

  • “Believe for It” – CeCe Winans – Winner
  • “We Win” – Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby
  • “Hold Us Together” (Hope Mix) – H.E.R. and Tauren Wells
  • “Man of Your Word” – Chandler Moore and KJ Scriven
  • “Jireh” – Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music featuring Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine

Best Gospel Album

  • “Believe for It” – CeCe Winans – Winner
  • “Changing Your Story” – Jekalyn Carr
  • “Royalty: Live at the Ryman” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
  • “Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition” – Maverick City Music
  • “Jonny X Mali: Live in LA” – Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

  • “Old Church Basement “– Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music – Winner
  • “No Stranger” – Natalie Grant
  • “Feels Like Home Vol. 2” – Israel and New Breed
  • “The Blessing (Live)” – Kari Jobe
  • “Citizen of Heaven (Live)” – Tauren Wells

Best Roots Gospel Album

  • “My Savior” – Carrie Underwood – Winner
  • “Alone with My Faith” – Harry Connick Jr.
  • “That’s Gospel, Brother” – Gaither Vocal Band
  • “Keeping On” – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
  • “Songs for the Times” – The Isaacs

Best Latin Pop Album

  • “Mendó” – Alex Cuba – Winner
  • “Vértigo” – Pablo Alborán
  • “Mis Amores” – Paula Arenas
  • “Hecho a la Antigua” – Ricardo Arjona
  • “Mis Manos” – Camilo
  • “Revelación” – Selena Gomez

Best Música Urbana Album

  • “El Último Tour Del Mundo” – Bad Bunny – Winner
  • “Afrodisíaco” – Rauw Alejandro
  • “Jose” – J Balvin
  • “KG0516” – Karol G
  • “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)” – Kali Uchis

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

  • “Origen” – Juanes – Winner
  • “Deja” – Bomba Estéreo
  • “Mira Lo Que Me Hiciste Hacer (Deluxe Edition)” – Diamante Eléctrico
  • “Calambre” – Nathy Peluso
  • “El Madrileño” – C. Tangana
  • “Sonidos de Karmática Resonancia” – Zoé

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

  • “A Mis 80’s” – Vicente Fernández – Winner
  • “Antología de la Musica Ranchera, Vol. 2” – Aida Cuevas
  • “Seis” – Mon Laferte
  • “Un Canto por México, Vol. 2” – Natalia Lafourcade
  • “Ayayay! (Súper Deluxe)” – Christian Nodal

Best Tropical Latin Album

  • “Salswing!” – Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Winner
  • “En Cuarentena” – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
  • “Sin Salsa No Hay Paraíso” – Aymée Nuviola
  • “Colegas” – Gilberto Santa Rosa
  • “Live in Peru” – Tony Succar

Best American Roots Performance

  • “Cry” – Jon Batiste – Winner
  • “Love and Regret” – Billy Strings
  • “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” – The Blind Boys Of Alabama and Béla Fleck
  • “Same Devil” – Brandy Clark featuring Brandi Carlile
  • “Nightflyer” – Allison Russell

Best American Roots Song

  • “Cry” – Jon Batiste and Steve McEwan – Winner
  • “Avalon” – Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson and Francesco Turrisi
  • “Bored” – Linda Chorney
  • “Call Me a Fool” – Valerie June
  • “Diamond Studded Shoes” – Dan Auerbach, Natalie Hemby, Aaron Lee Tasjan and Yola
  • “Nightflyer” – Jeremy Lindsay and Allison Russell

Best Americana Album

  • “Native Sons” – Los Lobos – Winner
  • “Downhill from Everywhere” – Jackson Browne
  • “Leftover Feelings” – John Hiatt with the Jerry Douglas Band
  • “Outside Child” – Allison Russell
  • “Stand for Myself” – Yola

Best Bluegrass Album

  • “My Bluegrass Heart” – Béla Fleck – Winner
  • “Renewal” – Billy Strings
  • “A Tribute to Bill Monroe” – The Infamous Stringdusters
  • “Cuttin’ Grass, Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions” – Sturgill Simpson
  • “Music Is What I See” – Rhonda Vincent

Best Traditional Blues Album

  • “I Be Trying” – Cedric Burnside – Winner
  • “100 Years of Blues” – Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite
  • “Traveler’s Blues” – Blues Traveler
  • “Be Ready When I Call You” – Guy Davis
  • “Take Me Back” – Kim Wilson

Best Contemporary Blues Album

  • “662” – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Winner
  • “Delta Kream” – The Black Keys featuring Eric Deaton and Kenny Brown
  • “Royal Tea” – Joe Bonamassa
  • “Uncivil War” – Shemekia Copeland
  • “Fire It Up” – Steve Cropper

Best Folk Album

  • “They’re Calling Me Home” – Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi – Winner
  • “One Night Lonely (Live)” – Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • “Long Violent History” – Tyler Childers
  • “Wednesday (Extended Edition)” – Madison Cunningham
  • “Blue Heron Suite” – Sarah Jarosz

Best Regional Roots Music Album

  • “Kau Ka Pe’a” – Kalani Pe’a – Winner
  • “Live in New Orleans!” – Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock and Soul
  • “Bloodstains & Teardrops” – Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
  • “My People” – Cha Wa
  • “Corey Ledet Zydeco” – Corey Ledet Zydeco

Best Reggae Album

  • “Beauty in the Silence” − SOJA − Winner
  • “Pamoja” − Etana
  • “Positive Vibration” − Gramps Morgan
  • “Live N Livin” − Sean Paul
  • “Royal” − Jesse Royal
  • “10” − Spice

Best Global Music Album

  • “Mother Nature” − Angélique Kidjo − Winner
  • “Voice of Bunbon (Vol. 1)” − Rocky Dawuni
  • “East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert” − Daniel Ho & Friends
  • “Legacy +” − Femi Kuti and Made Kuti
  • “Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition)” − Wizkid

Best Global Music Performance

  • “Mohabbat” − Arooj Aftab − Winner
  • “Do Yourself” − Angélique Kidjo and Burna Boy
  • “Pà Pá Pà” − Femi Kuti
  • “Blewu” − Yo-Yo Ma and Angélique Kidjo
  • “Essence” − Wizkid featuring Tems

Best Children’s Album

  • “A Colorful World” − Falu − Winner
  • “Actívate” − 123 Andrés
  • “All One Tribe” − 1 Tribe Collective
  • “Black to the Future” − Pierce Freelon
  • “Crayon Kids” − Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

Best Spoken Word Album

  • “Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis” − Don Cheadle − Winner
  • “Aftermath” − LeVar Burton
  • “Catching Dreams: Live at Fort Knox Chicago” − J. Ivy
  • “8:46” − Dave Chappelle and Amir Sulaiman
  • “A Promised Land” − Barack Obama

Best Comedy Album

  • “Sincerely” – Louis C.K. – Winner
  • “The Comedy Vaccine” – Lavell Crawford
  • “Evolution” – Chelsea Handler
  • “Thanks for Risking Your Life” – Lewis Black
  • “The Greatest Average American” – Nate Bargatze
  • “Zero F***s Given” – Kevin Hart

Best Musical Theater Album

  • “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” – Emily Bear – Winner
  • “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella” – Carrie Hope Fletcher, Ivano Turco, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt and Helen George
  • “Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater’s Some Lovers” – Burt Bacharach, Michael Croiter, Ben Hartman and Steven Sater
  • “Girl from the North Country” – Simon Hale, Conor McPherson, and Dean Sharenow
  • “Les Misérables: The Staged Concert” – Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas
  • “Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots” – Daniel C. Levine, Michael J. Moritz Jr., Bryan Perri and Stephen Schwartz

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

  • “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” – Andra Day – Winner
  • “Cruella” – Various artists
  • “Dear Evan Hansen” – Various artists
  • “In the Heights” – Various artists
  • “One Night in Miami…” – Leslie Odom, Jr. and various artists
  • “Respect” – Jennifer Hudson
  • “Schmigadoon! Episode 1” – Various artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

  • “Soul” – Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers – Winner (tie)
  • “The Queen’s Gambit” – Carlos Rafael Rivera, composer – Winner (tie)
  • “Bridgerton” – Kris Bowers, composer
  • “Dune” – Hans Zimmer, composer
  • “The Mandalorian: Season 2 – Vol. 2 (Chapters 13–16)” – Ludwig Göransson, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media

  • “All Eyes on Me” (from Bo Burnham: Inside) – Winner
  • “Agatha All Along” (from WandaVision)
  • “All I Know So Far” (from Pink: All I Know So Far)
  • “Fight For You” (from Judas and the Black Messiah)
  • “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” (from Respect)
  • “Speak Now” (from One Night in Miami…)

Best Instrumental Composition

  • “Eberhard” – Lyle Mays – Winner
  • “Beautiful Is Black” – Brandee Younger
  • “Cat and Mouse” – Tom Nazziola
  • “Concerto for Orchestra: Finale” – Vince Mendoza
  • “Dreaming in Lions: Dreaming in Lions” – Arturo O’Farrill

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

  • “Meta Knight’s Revenge” – Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman – Winner
  • “Chopsticks” – Bill O’Connell
  • “For the Love of a Princess” – Robin Smith
  • “Infinite Love” – Emile Mosseri
  • “The Struggle Within” – Gabriela Quintero and Rodrigo Sanchez

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

  • “To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version)” – Vince Mendoza – Winner
  • “The Bottom Line” – Ólafur Arnalds
  • “A Change is Gonna Come” – Tehillah Alphonso
  • “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” – Jacob Collier
  • “Eleanor Rigby” – Cody Fry

Best Recording Package

  • “Pakelang” – Winner
  • “American Jackpot / American Girls”
  • “Carnage”
  • “Serpentine Prison”
  • “Zeta”

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

  • “All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition” – Winner
  • “Color Theory”
  • “The Future Bites (Limited Edition Box Set)”
  • “77-81”
  • “Swimming in Circles”

Best Album Notes

  • “The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966” – Winner
  • “Beethoven: The Last Three Sonatas”
  • “Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology”
  • “Etching The Voice: Emile Berliner and the First Commercial Gramophone Discs, 1889-1895”
  • “The King of Gospel Music: The Life and Music of Reverend James Cleveland”

Best Historical Album

  • “Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967)” – Joni Mitchell – Winner
  • “Beyond The Music: Her Complete RCA Victor Recordings” – Marian Anderson
  • “Etching The Voice: Emile Berliner and the First Commercial Gramophone Discs, 1889-1895” – Various Artists
  • “Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music” – Various Artists
  • “Sign O’ The Times (Super Deluxe Edition)” – Prince

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

  • Love for Sale – Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – Winner
  • Cinema – The Marías
  • Dawn – Yebba
  • Hey What – Low
  • Notes with Attachments – Pino Palladino and Blake Mills

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

  • Jack Antonoff – Winner
  • Rogét Chahayed
  • Mike Elizondo
  • Hit-Boy
  • Ricky Reed

Best Remixed Recording

  • “Passenger” (Mike Shinoda remix) – Mike Shinoda, remixer (Deftones) – Winner
  • “Back to Life” (Booker T Kings of Soul satta dub) – Booker T., remixer (Soul II Soul)
  • “Born for Greatness” (Cymek remix) – Spencer Bastin, remixer (Papa Roach)
  • “Constant Craving” (Fashionably Late remix) – Tracy Young, remixer (k.d. lang)
  • “Inside Out” (3scape Drm remix) – 3scape Drm, remixer (Zedd and Griff)
  • “Met Him Last Night” (Dave Audé remix) – Dave Audé, remixer (Demi Lovato featuring Ariana Grande)
  • “Talks” (Mura Masa Remix) – Alexander Crossan, remixer (PVA)

Best Immersive Audio Album

  • “Alicia” – Alicia Keys – Winner
  • “Clique” – Patricia Barber
  • “Fine Line” – Harry Styles
  • “The Future Bites” – Steven Wilson
  • “Stille Grender” – Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & Det Norske Jentekor

Best Engineered Album, Classical

  • “Chanticleer Sings Christmas” – Winner
  • “Archetypes”
  • “Beethoven: Cello Sonatas – Hope Amid Tears”
  • “Beethoven: Symphony No. 9”
  • “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony of a Thousand'”

Producer of the Year, Classical

  • Judith Sherman – Winner
  • Blanton Alspaugh
  • Steven Epstein
  • David Frost
  • Elaine Martone

Best Orchestral Performance

  • “Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3” – Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra) – Winner
  • “Adams: My Father Knew Charles Ives; Harmonielehre” – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
  • “Beethoven: Symphony No. 9” – Manfred Honeck, conductor (Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
  • “Muhly: Throughline” – Nico Muhly, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
  • “Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra; Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy” – Thomas Dausgaard, conductor (Seattle Symphony Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording

  • “Glass: Akhnaten” – Karen Kamensek – Winner
  • “Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle” – Susanna Mälkki
  • “Janáček: Cunning Little Vixen” – Simon Rattle
  • “Little: Soldier Songs” – Corrado Rovaris
  • “Poulenc: Dialogues Des Carmélites” – Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Best Choral Performance

  • “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony Of A Thousand'” – Gustavo Dudamel, conductor – Winner
  • “It’s a Long Way” – Matthew Guard, conductor
  • “Rising w/The Crossing” – Donald Nally, conductor
  • “Schnittke: Choir Concerto; Three Sacred Hymns; Pärt: Seven Magnificat-Antiphons” – Kaspars Putniņš, conductor
  • “Sheehan: Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom” – Benedict Sheehan, conductor
  • “The Singing Guitar” – Craig Hella Johnson, conductor

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

  • “Beethoven: Cello Sonatas – Hope Amid Tears” – Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax – Winner
  • “Adams, John Luther: Lines Made by Walking” – JACK Quartet
  • “Akiho: Seven Pillars” – Sandbox Percussion
  • “Archetypes” – Sérgio Assad, Clarice Assad and Third Coast Percussion
  • “Bruits” – Imani Winds

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

  • “Alone Together” – Jennifer Koh – Winner
  • “An American Mosaic” – Simone Dinnerstein
  • “Bach: Sonatas & Partitas” – Augustin Hadelich
  • “Beethoven & Brahms: Violin Concertos” – Gil Shaham; Eric Jacobsen, conductor (The Knights)
  • “Mak Bach” – Mak Grgić

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

  • “Mythologies” – Sangeeta Kaur and Hila Plitmann – Winner
  • “Confessions” – Laura Strickling; Joy Schreier, pianist
  • “Dreams Of A New Day – Songs By Black Composers” – Will Liverman; Paul Sánchez, pianist
  • “Schubert: Winterreise” – Joyce DiDonato; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianist
  • “Unexpected Shadows” – Jamie Barton; Jake Heggie, pianist (Matt Haimovitz)

Best Classical Compendium

  • “Women Warriors – The Voices Of Change” – Winner
  • “American Originals – A New World, A New Canon”
  • “Berg: Violin Concerto; Seven Early Songs and Three Pieces for Orchestra”
  • “Cerrone: The Arching Path”
  • “Plays”

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

  • “Shaw: Narrow Sea” – Caroline Shaw, composer (Dawn Upshaw, Gilbert Kalish and Sō Percussion) – Winner
  • “Akiho: Seven Pillars” – Andy Akiho, composer (Sandbox Percussion)
  • “Andriessen: The Only One” – Louis Andriessen, composer (Esa-Pekka Salonen, Nora Fischer and Los Angeles Philharmonic)
  • “Assad, Clarice & Sérgio, Connors, Dillon, Martin & Skidmore: Archetypes” – Clarice Assad, Sérgio Assad, Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin and David Skidmore, composers (Sérgio Assad, Clarice Assad and Third Coast Percussion)
  • “Batiste: Movement 11′” – Jon Batiste, composer (Jon Batiste)

Best Music Video

  • “Freedom” – Jon Batiste – Winner
  • “Shot in the Dark” – AC/DC
  • “I Get a Kick Out of You” – Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
  • “Peaches” – Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
  • “Happier Than Ever” – Billie Eilish
  • “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” – Lil Nas X
  • “Good 4 U” – Olivia Rodrigo

Best Music Film

  • “Summer of Soul” – Various Artists – Winner
  • “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Bo Burnham
  • “David Byrne’s American Utopia” – David Byrne
  • “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles” – Billie Eilish
  • “Music, Money, Madness… Jimi Hendrix in Maui” – Jimi Hendrix
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Carrie Underwood Delivers in First Las Vegas Residency

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Carrie Underwood wows fans in her first Las Vegas Residency show, and Country Swag was there to witness it. Check out our recap below.

carrie-underwood-las-vegas-residency

Photo Credit: Denise Truscello

From an Oklahoma farm, to the American Idol stage, and now, the bright lights of Vegas, Carrie Underwood is proving the impossible: that she can continue to raise the bar almost two decades into a phenomenal career.

Underwood closed the first leg of the REFLECTION residency earlier this month; not just her first stint in Sin City but also the first ever at the new Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas, after Celine Dion delayed her own performance dates due to health complications earlier this year. Underwood also paves the way for other country superstars to be in residence at the brand new venue; Luke Bryan moves into the 5,000 seat theater early next year.

Fans who have seen Underwood in concert or on tour have never seen her like this. REFLECTION is a spectacle from start to finish with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a Vegas show. But even the dazzling set, stunning visual effects, show-stopping costumes, and exceptional dancers and aerialists pale in comparison to the impeccable vocals Underwood delivers for 90 minutes straight.

 Photo Credit: Denise Truscello

Performing hit after hit from her impressive discography, Underwood appears to be having the time of her life as she struts the stage; setting fire to a truck during the iconic final chorus of her 2005 smash, “Before He Cheats”, playing off the energy of the dancers, band, and crowd, and pausing to soak in the audience’s adoration after a gospel mashup of “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “How Great Thou Art”. The show ends with a drenched Underwood belting the finale, “Something in the Water” from beneath an active waterfall built into the two-story stage.

Originally announced as a two-week Las Vegas residency, additional shows have now been added in March, April and May 2022 due to popular demand. Get your tickets today at axs.com/carrieinvegas.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more.

Carrie Underwood Releases Surprise Song, “Stretchy Pants”

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Carrie Underwood is giving a gift to fans this holiday season, releasing a surprise digital holiday track called “Stretchy Pants,” out now. Learn about the song below.

Christmas came early this year when Carrie Underwood released a special edition of her acclaimed 2020 holiday album, My Gift, which featured three new tracks. The holiday cheer continued when the superstar dropped a surprise digital track.
“Stretchy Pants”, an upbeat, catchy bop about wearing loose clothing to accommodate eating during the holidays. The comedic song was released on streaming platforms with an accompanying cartoon music video.
In addition to being an earworm, the song is also giving back to the community. A portion of proceeds from streams and downloads of ‘Stretchy Pants’ will benefit The Store, a Nashville-based organization started by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley to provide nutritious and varied food options to families in need.
It’s likely ‘Stretchy Pants’ will not make the setlist when Underwood heads to Vegas next month to headline her first residency, Reflection, but it certainly gives fans a different side of the country queen to enjoy as the holiday season begins.
Fans can listen to ‘Stretchy Pants’ and watch the music video at stretchypantssong.com
carrie-underwood-surprise-track

Carrie Underwoods releases brand new surprise track, “Stretchy Pants,” out now.

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

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

“Stretchy Pants” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes 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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The 55th Annual CMA Awards Recap ft. Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs & More

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Here is the 55th Annual CMA Awards recap featuring big wins by country superstars Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, and more.

 

The 55th Annual CMA Awards took place last night (November 10th), returning to its normal format: one venue, no masks, no social distancing, and most importantly, a live audience! Luke Bryan hosted the historic night from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.  Chris Stapleton took home four awards, winning Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year with Starting Over, and Single and Song of the Year for “Starting Over.” Luke Combs won the final and most prestigious award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, an iconic moment for the artist.

The show began with a medley of hits from Entertainer of the Year nominee, Miranda Lambert. She sang “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “Bluebird,” “Gunpowder & Lead,” and several other hits. The running joke of the night was that host, Bryan was incapable of hosting the show alone, even though he has performed in front of massive crowds, has hosted previously, and is on television every week on American Idol. Other artists felt the need to join in and assist the first-time CMA host. His fellow American Idol judges, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry even joined him to announc the first award of the night, Song of the Year, which Stapleton took home.

One of the best parts of these award shows are the electrifying collaborations that we would not see anywhere else. Chris Young and Kane Brown took to the stage together to sing “Famous Friends;” Breland and HARDY joined Dierks Bentley for a performance of their chart-climbing single, “Beers On Me;” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde teamed up for their brand new song “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” one of the highlights of the night, and Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood performed their number one song “If I Didn’t Love You.”

Early award announcements included Vocal Duo of the Year, which went to Brothers Osbourne, after a two-year run from Dan + Shay, who were also nominated. In a category that was stacked with talent, (HARDY, Mickey Guyton, Gabby Barrett, and Ingrid Andress) Jimmie Allen took home the New Artist of the Year award. Additionally, Old Dominion won the Vocal Group of the Year for the fourth straight year. They also performed their smash-hit “I Was On a Boat That Day” earlier in the show.

Although there were many standout moments throughout the night, there were a few that we loved the most. Some of our favorites include, Luke Combs debuting his brand new song “Doin’ This,” which is now available on all streaming platforms; Russell Dickerson bringing Sarah Frei, an amputee teen from Utah, on the CMA stage as well providing her with a wheelchair-accessible Chevrolet; Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards joining Mickey Guyton to perform her new song, “Love My Hair,” showing off their bountiful curls; and Chris Stapleton and Jennifer Hudson covering some of Aretha Franklin’s biggest hits in respect of the Queen of Soul. Fans and other artists were in awe of Hudson’s incredible vocal range, gathering grand reactions from Breland, Ashley McBryde, and HARDY in particular.

Other performers included Gabby Barrett who sang her number one song “The Good Ones;” Zac Brown Band who performed “Same Boat;” Keith Urban—“Wild Hearts;” Thomas Rhett—“Country Again;” Jimmie Allen—“Freedom Was A Highway;” Brother Osborne—“Younger Me;” Blake Shelton—“Come Back As A Country Boy;” Dan + Shay—“I Should Probably Go To Bed;” Chris Stapleton—“Cold;” and Eric Church—“Heart on Fire” with actual flames surrounding him.

Three categories were awarded before the show—two of them went to Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney for their song “half of my hometown.” The song won Best Musical Event and Music Video of the Year. Jenee Fleenor won the Musician of the Year for her incredible work on the fiddle.

At the end of the show, Carly Pearce was awarded Female Vocalist of the Year. Her fellow nominee, Ashley McBryde joined her on stage to help begin her speech, as she was clearly at a loss for words and overcome with emotion. The last two awards were given to Stapleton and Combs, for Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year, respectively. Bryan, who performed his latest single, “Up” earlier in the show, closed out the CMA Awards with a classic hit “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”

To view the full list of winners, click here.

Keep up with the Country Music Association by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

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Here Are The 2021 CMA Awards Winners (Full List)

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Here is the full list of 2021 winners of ‘The 55th Annual CMA Awards’…

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs – *** WINNER
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
    Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt
  • “The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett
    Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
    Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin
  • “Hell Of A View” – Eric Church
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell – *** WINNER
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) 
  • 29 – Carly Pearce
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins
    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
    Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi
    Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
  • Heart – Eric Church
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell – *** WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)  
  • “Forever After All”
    Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
  • “The Good Ones”
    Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
  • “Hell Of A View”
    Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
  • “One Night Standards”
    Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
  • “Starting Over”
    Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – *** WINNER
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Gabby Barrett
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Maren Morris
  • Carly Pearce – *** WINNER
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton – *** WINNER
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion – *** WINNER
  • Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne- *** WINNER
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)
  • “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
    Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
    Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer
  • “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
    Producer: Martin Johnson
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney) – *** WINNER
    Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)  
  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
    Director: TK McKamy
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Director: Peter Zavadil
  • “Gone” – Dierks Bentley
    Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney) – *** WINNER
    Director: Patrick Tracy
  • “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne
    Director: Reid Long
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Jimmie Allen – *** WINNER
  • Ingrid Andress
  • Gabby Barrett
  • Mickey Guyton
  • HARDY

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Here Is The Full List of Who’s Perfoming at The 2021 CMA Awards

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The Country Music Association has revealed who fans can expect to see performances from during The 55th Annual CMA Awards!
Taking the stage on ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night’ will be:
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Old Dominion
Chris Stapleton
Chris Young and Kane Brown
Jimmie Allen
Brothers Osborne
Eric Church
Dan + Shay
Mickey Guyton ft. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards
Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Blake Shelton
Additional performers and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Hosted by Luke Bryan, the awards show will air on November 10th on ABC at 8PM ET. Check out the full list of nominations below + click the image below to visit us on Instagram and let us know your vote for this year’s Entertainer of the Year.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
    Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt
  • “The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett
    Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
    Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin
  • “Hell Of A View” – Eric Church
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) 
  • 29 – Carly Pearce
    Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins
    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
    Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi
    Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
  • Heart – Eric Church
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)  
  • “Forever After All”
    Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
  • “The Good Ones”
    Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
  • “Hell Of A View”
    Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
  • “One Night Standards”
    Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
  • “Starting Over”
    Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Gabby Barrett
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Maren Morris
  • Carly Pearce
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Lady A
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion
  • Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)
  • “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
    Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
    Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer
  • “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
    Producer: Martin Johnson
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
    Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
  • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
  • Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
  • Aaron Sterling, Drums
  • Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
  • Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)  
  • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
    Director: TK McKamy
  • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
    Director: Peter Zavadil
  • “Gone” – Dierks Bentley
    Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
  • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
    Director: Patrick Tracy
  • “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne
    Director: Reid Long
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Jimmie Allen
  • Ingrid Andress
  • Gabby Barrett
  • Mickey Guyton
  • HARDY

—

Tune in to the show to see who will take home the awards on November 10th on ABC. + Follow us on Twitter while we live-tweet the show, @COUNTRYSWAG.

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

Jason-Aldean-Carrie-Underwood-if-i-didnt-love-you-new-song-if-didn't-love-you

Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood Hit #1 with “If I Didn’t Love You”

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Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s killer collaborative song “If I Didn’t Love You” hit the top of the charts this week, making its way to number one.

Just three months after its debut, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s duet “If I Didn’t Love You” is a hit! The song officially cemented the top spot on the country charts this week. It marks the 26th number one for Aldean, following “Blame It On You.” For Underwood, the song is her 16th number one hit.

“If I Didn’t Love You” is a heartbreaking ballad. The two singers lament about what it’s like to love someone so deeply, but not be able to be with them. Neither lover knows exactly how the other feels, making the feelings, even harder to cope with. Both Aldean and Underwood show off their vocal ability and grit throughout this enticing song.

“If I didn’t love you, I’d be good by now // I’d be better than barely getting by somehow // Yeah it would be easy not to miss you // Wonder about who’s with you // Turn the want you off whenever I want too // If I didn’t love you”

The single will appear on Aldean’s upcoming record Macon, slated for a November 12th release. As for Underwood, fans can stream the special edition of her holiday album My Gift, out now.

Join our Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood announcements and releases.

To keep up with Jason Aldean, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

“If I Didn’t Love You” is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Carrie Underwood: ‘My Gift (Special Edition)’ – Album Review

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Although it’s only September, country music’s queen, Carrie Underwood put us in the holiday spirit today (September 24) with the release of the deluxe version of her Christmas album, My Gift. Check out our full review and listen to the brand new music below.

Underwood has proved she is a superstar in any genre, recording number-one songs and albums in country, pop, Christian, and holiday. My Gift debuted #1 across multiple global charts and remained at #1 on the Christian album chart 11 weeks after it was released. It consistently remained in the Top 5 throughout the 2020 holiday season, and even hit #5 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200. She plans on continuing this success with the release of this special edition project. 

The new version adds “Favorite Time of Year”, which was actually released last year, but only available to Amazon Music subscribers. Underwood performed it during her HBO Max holiday special last holiday season. It’s a fun, up-tempo jingle in which she expresses why Christmas is her favorite time of the year. She loves the decorations, the snow, holidays movies, cinnamon and sugar cookies, and of course, the wishes that turned into presents under the tree.

“Love pouring out like the snow from the sky // Snuggled up together sitting by the fire // Oh, it’s magical, it’s my favorite time // Pretty little wishes tied up in a bow // And every little kiss is like we’re underneath the mistletoe // It’s music to my ears // Christmas is my favorite time of year”

Another new track, “All Is Well” is a brand-new gospel song written by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Although there is only three verses total, the song is almost 4 minutes long, as Underwood lets her voice shine, extending notes beautifully.

The album concludes with the live recordings of “Let There Be Peace” and “Something In The Water.”

Between Christmas albums, Underwood released her debut gospel album, My Savior in March, which went to number one on the Christian Albums chart. It’s now been over three years since she released her last country album, Cry Pretty, which came out on September 14, 2018. She has released singles with Jason Aldean and Dan + Shay, however—“If I Didn’t Love You” and “Only Us” for the new movie, Dear Evan Hansen, respectively.  

My Gift (Special Edition) Tracklist

  1. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Traditional)
  2. O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)
  3. Let There Be Peace (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
  4. Little Drummer Boy (featuring Isaiah Fisher) (Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis)
  5. Sweet Baby Jesus (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
  6. Hallelujah (with John Legend) (John Stephens, Toby Gad)
  7. O Holy Night (Traditional)
  8. Mary, Did You Know? (Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry)
  9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin)
  10. Away In A Manger (Traditional)
  11. Silent Night (Traditional)
  12. Favorite Time Of Year (Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, Chris DeStefano)
  13. All Is Well (Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick)
  14. Let There Be Peace/Something In The Water (LIVE From HBO Max’s MY GIFT: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood) (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia, Chris DeStefano)
Carrie Underwood's holiday album, My Gift (Special Edition) is out now

Carrie Underwood’s holiday album, My Gift (Special Edition) is out now

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

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

My Gift (Special Edition), is 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.